The Void, British Style

[Holly]

OK so I just completed week 1 of 2 in Woking (Surrey area, about half an hour southwest of London). Nothing to do around here at night or on the weekends -- unless you are apparently about 14, and don't mind wearing essentially NOTHING out in 40-degree weather, to go to underage clubs -- so I've been watching TV. Needless to  say, lots of soccer, and surprisingly enough plenty of coverage of the primaries. Not a peep about baseball, and I have to pay for internet access, so I'm pretty far behind on Astros news. It's what, 2 weeks until pitchers-and-catchers-report is uttered? Looks like Valverde is about to sit across the table from Tal, too.

Limey, I'm curious but what the heck is up with this thing that's on TV all hours of the day... guys rolling balls down blue carpeted pathway. Looks like the goal is similar to marbles where you get your ball as close to some dot on the carpet as possible. The balls always wind face-up when they stop rolling, too. It's about as scintillating as curling, but better than the other mid-day alternatives. Upside is I found a channel entirely in German, so I have all the German reality TV I can stomach! BBC1 and whatever T 4 is appear to be the most palatable. Interesting new program called "City of Vice" starring the guy who played the Emperor in Star Wars.

Anyhow.

Can't wait til Spring Training cranks back up!

[Guinness]

 Bowls is what you're talking about, but you're right, it's pretty dull.  Like watching darts or poker.
I've only been through Woking on the train, but if it's a half hour from London, heck there should be plenty to do!
What is T4?  You mean E4?  E4, Channel 5 and 5US tend to have the most US shows.  If you're in a hotel, you probably aren't enjoying the breadth of British TV, endless gardening and DIY shows, repeats of 70's classic comedies, Carry On movies, football, football, then maybe some football.  Oh, and football.
Enjoy your stay, Surrey is a nice area (quite posh).

[Holly]

Bowls is what you're talking about, but you're right, it's pretty dull.  Like watching darts or poker.
I've only been through Woking on the train, but if it's a half hour from London, heck there should be plenty to do!

Bowls, thanks. They never really said the name of the sport, and all I could see is that "Potter's Holiday" was splashed all over everything (including the balls). Sponsor, eh?

Well, plenty to do in London. Unfortunately I'm 37 and pregnant, so the energy levels go south pretty much right after work. Got back from London on both Friday and Saturday night around midnight, and I was falling asleep on the train back!

What is T4?  You mean E4?  E4, Channel 5 and 5US tend to have the most US shows.  If you're in a hotel, you probably aren't enjoying the breadth of British TV, endless gardening and DIY shows, repeats of 70's classic comedies, Carry On movies, football, football, then maybe some football.  Oh, and football.
Enjoy your stay, Surrey is a nice area (quite posh).

T4 is what they show as the call letters on the breaks. Usually it's some kind of creative presentation of the number 4 (washing machines hanging up in an alley way, lumps of sugar next to a cup of tea, some abstract computer-generated design, etc) with a "T" nearby. Saw "Dancing on Ice" on it, as well as a nifty show on Sunday called "Time Team", and I think "Top Gear" (might not have been channel 4). Anyhow, you're right... there are 25 channels on the TV. 5 are radio, 6 are adult/PPV and the rest are regular programming. As for the area being nice, Horsell looks much nicer than what's in Woking's city center -- feels suburban. Everything else I've only seen from inside a train, and it looks to be mostly foresty messes of trees, with houses crammed up close to the tracks as passing through towns.

[lc_db]

What a shame...

Next week starts Six Nations.  THAT is good stuff.

[Guinness]

Six Nations is my favorite (or favourite) tournament, so I'm really looking forward to it.  Of course, we just cancelled Sky and are on freeview, but we should see most of the matches.
As an Irish citizen, of course I always pull for Ireland, but will also be an England supporter (as long as their not playing Ireland).
Six Nations always reminds me of when we first moved here in 1999.  We started off in Dublin, and in the taxi I heard a sports talk show.  Apparenlty, Ireland did awful in the Six Nations that year (although it was still Five Nations then), and they did a 'Man-in-the-street' interview with the question:  'The Irish rugby club are accused of using performance enhancing drugs during the tournament. do you think they should ask for their money back?'
gotta live the Irish...

[Holly]

What a shame...

Next week starts Six Nations.  THAT is good stuff.

First saw that advertized in an O'Neill's... now I'm seeing the ads everywhere. People sure seem pumped about it!

[Guinness]

it really is a big deal--not quite World Cup status, but an important tournament nonetheless.  It IS some of the best rugby out there, very spirited, especially as it's the national team.

[Limey]

The Six Nations is huge over there mostly because is about the only international sporting event that Scotland, Wales or Ireland has a genuine shot at winning.  I only exclude England from that list because they've made the Rugby World Cup final two times in a row, otherwise they'd be there too.

I also think that international rugby is the only professional sport that rewards one's faith in professional sports as a whole.  These guys train hard, are clearly athletic and skillful, and they absolutely pound each others shit into the turf for a full 80 minutes.  These guys play hard in a manner that is rarely seen today amongst pros.  It's a wholly uplifting experience.

Plus, if you're in Houston, at 8:00am the bar is open!

[Limey]

Limey, I'm curious but what the heck is up with this thing that's on TV all hours of the day... guys rolling balls down blue carpeted pathway. Looks like the goal is similar to marbles where you get your ball as close to some dot on the carpet as possible. The balls always wind face-up when they stop rolling, too. It's about as scintillating as curling, but better than the other mid-day alternatives. Upside is I found a channel entirely in German, so I have all the German reality TV I can stomach! BBC1 and whatever T 4 is appear to be the most palatable. Interesting new program called "City of Vice" starring the guy who played the Emperor in Star Wars.

Anyhow.

Can't wait til Spring Training cranks back up!

As others have said, that ridiculous sport is bowls which is played indoors on carpet or outdoors on grass.  It is basically curling without the ice and brooms.  I believe it is actually an Olympic sport, or at least it used to be.  I have no explanation as to why.

Channel 4 was created to be the arty/edgy channel, at the time when there was just BBC1, BBC2 and ITV - the commercial channel.  Dunno how well C4 has retained its heritage, but they are responsible for Father Ted and Peep Show, which are worth the price of admission on their own.

[Mike S]

Definitely check out the Six Nations next weekend.  It has a tendency to make the NFL look like a bunch of rank amateurs.

[geezerdonk]

the energy levels go south pretty much right after work.

Main reason is you miss your pup.

[BudGirl]

Main reason is you miss your pup.

that or her pregnancy is wearing her out.

[lc_db]

I also think that international rugby is the only professional sport that rewards one's faith in professional sports as a whole....  It's a wholly uplifting experience.

...and if you don't think National loyalty exists, watch the Irish side sing their National Anthem at last year's match versus England in Croke Park.

Of course having said that... I still don't understand how a guy (Lesley Vainikolo) who was born in Tonga and played internationally for the Kiwis can represent England in Six Nations.  I get the parentage exemption, but "residencey"?

[Guinness]

That was a great match (at least to those of us on the Irish side of the fence...)...

[Limey]

...and if you don't think National loyalty exists, watch the Irish side sing their National Anthem at last year's match versus England in Croke Park.

Of course having said that... I still don't understand how a guy (Lesley Vainikolo) who was born in Tonga and played internationally for the Kiwis can represent England in Six Nations.  I get the parentage exemption, but "residencey"?

Reminds me of when England tried to call up New Zealand All Blacks star winger Jonah Lomu.  They claimed he had some English in him because his great grandfather ate Captain Cook.