VI NATIONS: WEEK-END III

© telegraph

Although still on quite a high from yesterday’s Italian victory, I can nevertheless remain objective about the other terrific matches and can say definitely that the better sides won their games this week-end. France, it would seem, are on for the Grand Slam. One good thing from this week-end for England is the arrival of a new centre, oops, sorry: winger, in the form of David Strettle. My, he looks fast and furious. Can’t wait for the next round: England-France!

But more nice things in the press:
“Mirco Bergamasco, who turned 24 on Friday, added: "I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present than this. This is a great victory for us - to have won our first (Six Nations) game away from home is an incredible feeling."” PA

“Also stepping up to the Italian plate were those Bergamasco brothers, Mirco, a fast abrasive centre, and Stade Francais maestro Mauro further enhancing his credentials as a world class performer.” Scotsman

And how this journalist must be eating his words now:
“Italy are being posted as favourites in many quarters for this match, but that’s surely unrealistic. Even if they dominate the scrummage, Scotland have more options to win by other means, and the back-line looks more dangerous.” Fife Courier

BLOODY BRILLIANT !

Jumping for joy!

ITALY HAVE BEATEN SCOTLAND: 37-17!

Now waiting for Ireland–England and France-Wales!

BUON COMPLEANNO!

© stade.fr

It’s Mirco’s birthday today!

DANTE

In the Petit Palais, they are many wonderful works of art, including one of my favourite ever statues: that of Dante. But the great thing is that if ever, at any time, I want to see this bronze statue, I don’t have to wait for the Palais, the original is in the Place Marcelin Berthelot in all its austere severity.

PHEW, SOMETHING OTHER THAN RUGBY ..

© rfi.fr

Thanks to my trusty UGC card, I’ve become very French and have been going to the cinema an awful lot: whenever, wherever, to see whatever I like, however many times I like. And at the risk of sounding like one of those critics, these are my thoughts on some of the films I’ve seen recently:

Les Filles du Botaniste a lovely film, poetic as these oriental films sometimes are but a harsh, cruel ending.
Babel definitely not a feel-good film, at times I found it quite harrowing, at others most unlikely, and I had little sympathy for Brad and Cate.
Cashback a quite ordinary story which mixes beauty and banality in a very English way.
Angel-A I always love black and white films and being set in Paris, the background scenery is really wonderful although it has a completely absurd plot.
Black Book caricatured and uninspired, the most interesting thing was the actors speaking in Dutch.
Harold Crick all I can say about this film is that even if you just watched the trailer and the ending, that would be enough.
Grain in Ear although I saw this film in England, it still had those ubiquitous subtitles I've now got used to seeing, but it was well worth it, if a little esoteric.
La vie des autres touching film dealing with the Stasi big brother in East Germany.
La Môme about the life of Edith Piaf, great film (I’ll forgive some of the annoyingly ‘arty’ shots) and, evidently, brilliant music .. non, rien de rien ..

"THE TEARAWAY NO. 7"

© stade.fr

It looks like Scotland are really steeling themselves for a fight against Italy next week-end and they appear somewhat worried by the return of Mauro, and quite right too! It will definitely be a good spectacle. Anyway, here’s a little treat for someone special whom I was really hoping to see this month next time they’re passing by here: http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=263212007&format=print

HOLIDAYS!

© FIR

I don’t really like week-ends when there is no rugby (well, no French or international rugby, I mean) and Mirco is not exactly setting the VI Nations world on fire with his antics this year. Still, all is not lost, it’s been a beautiful spring day with no need for mittens and it’s the school holidays and the papers have still been saying some nice things about Italy and Mirco:

“Italians to watch are Mirco Bergamasco for his aggression and verve.” planet rugby

“In other respects the line-up is fairly settled - witness the very dangerous centre pairing of Mirco Bergamasco and Gonzalo Canale.” The Independent

“Behind the scrum, Stade Français centre Mirco Bergamasco is a class act but there is precious little threat from the rest of the backs.” BBC

“Weaknesses: Not much idea what to do with the ball once they have it. Apart from the Bergamasco brothers, there is precious little flair. Mirco Bergamasco .. is the go-to man whenever Italy are looking for inspiration. Problem is opponents know that, so he will be heavily marked.” The Sunday Herald

“Against France we wanted to do too many things at the same time, that hindered us because we didn't play as a team. We should have simplified our game instead of each player doing whatever they wanted. We have four more games to play, we've lost the first and there is nothing we can do about it now.” Mirco himself

MIRCO

VI NATIONS: WEEK-END II

Well, the second week-end of the VI Nations was a special one for me because I was there, in person, at Twickenham, with flag, singing the Inno di Mameli! But rest assured, it wasn’t all rugby, rugby, rugby; my life is not sooo limited. Honestly. ;p I also went out and about: enjoyed the National Gallery, met some unusual and special animals at London zoo, got trapped at home by the unexpected overnight snowfall, pretended I was a student again and sneaked into a very interesting herbalism lecture (as well as sampling the delights of greater celandine and other tinctures), enjoyed the tranquility of the Rothko room as well as the view from the top floor bar at Tate Modern, learned that Ulster is a strange land, and of course there was the rugby. But I won’t bore you with all that!

FEBRUARY SNOW

THE WORLD FROM THE WINDOW

© photonet

Recently, it’s been far too cold to cycle or wander anywhere very far without my resembling rudolph but I have found another pleasure which is just as exhilarating: sitting in the warmth of a bus, sometimes even with no destination in mind, gazing out at the sights passing before my eyes, not having to concentrate on which lane I’m cycling in or whether I’m going to bump into other pedestrians. Such a treat!

VI NATIONS: WEEK-END I

© bbc

A great week-end! Well, apart from the browbeaten performance from Italy against France, that is. France won. So did England with genuinely MOTM performances from both scrum half and fly half. But probably the most exciting game of the week-end was Ireland against Wales: really strong team efforts and really fast-paced rugby, really thrilling to watch. I just hope that Italy pull their socks up before next week-end’s game against England, especially so as I’ll be there watching and waving my flag. And I don’t want to be disappointed!

IT’S HERE!

© imagefactory

At last, one of the best times of the year has arrived: the first day of the VI Nations. And the first match could hardly be better: ITALY v. FRANCE, a decisive opener for the whole Tournament. Italy know they can win this match, they just have to play strongly and consistently and make the most of the (inevitable) French mistakes and believe in themselves for the full 80 minutes. Oh, and Mirco needs to score some tries. :)

THE THINKER

RODIN

There is a really interesting exhibition at the Rodin museum at the moment dedicated to the work of an English woman who has spent the last 10 years photographing the sculptures of Rodin in his houses at the Hotel Biron and at Meudon. She shows the works illuminated by the natural and artificial light radiating throughout the museums and how the sculptures are reflected and re-reflected in the various mirrors and windows, capturing the various textures and colours of the sculptures. Entrancing.

INFECT ME

© bovvered

All is not going well in the yatje swimming world. Beloved tutor believes I am the only person in the world who can actually ‘swim’ backwards when they’re pushing with all their might to go forwards, i.e. there, literally, isn’t much progress. Being the insightful person that he is, he’s come to the conclusion that there’s too much thought activity and not enough physical, letting go, stuff. So, I’m now in search of contracting a severe case of French je m’en foutism which unfortunately doesn’t seem easily transmittable to the English. Aïe!