St Landrew

Go on. Do a PM.

I'm not up on the detail, but his technique is undeniable. He knows when to be aggressive and when to be cautious. He seems to know what's possible, and what to protect. He reads the wind and water on a level I can't get near. At least I can appreciate the fact though, which is something. I passed him in The Solent one day. His boat was 'hove to'.

Ah, now Ben Ainslie is one of a kind. I consider myself a seat-of-the-pants sailor, in that I have an instinct to do the right thing. There are manufactured sailors who couldn't do the right thing unless they'd been taught it and remembered the lesson. But Ben Ainslie... has almost got webbed feet. He was born to be in a sailboat.

Blimey, I believe you've spent a few minutes thinking about that one. As it happens, I also think we have a strong enough squad to win the league, probably right now. I'd like a guarantee or two, as in the resigning of Papa and Antonio, or something like their quality. Actually, I just like them both resigned, as they were so good, IMO. But it really doesn't look like that'll happen. Big announcement on the cards though..? I'd settle for them. I don't think anyone else is going anywhere. They all know what's expected of them. They are in THE team of League One, after all, and they know it.

I recommend Sailing. That'll make you try harder. Plus [to get this thread back on course] it certainly isn't a sport where blokes are out of place. In fact, it's a very blokey type sport. Even the women are blokes.

Very good. I spluttered a bit.

Don't tell anyone, especially don't whisper a syllable to anyone connected with SFC, but I think we'll win the League, too. I don't think we'll run away with it, as that would be entirely unlike a Saints team, and besides, I don't know how I would cope without a bit of uncertainty, but I believ we'll do it with a few points to spare. We'll see if it belongs in the Golden Threads area, come the end of August, at the very earliest.

Well good for you.

B-side

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Tom Stoppard's play, or actually the film adaptation of the play. Two fairly insignificant characters in Hamlet, who are called, as Hamlet's old college pals, to question him as to his state of mind. This film is about their own interplay. I've always liked its quirkiness, and quirkiness is its main theme. Watching it now. If you like your Shakespearian style drama in the John Gielgud mould, then avoid.

B-52s [go on, ask me why. Do it quickly, or I'll forget]

That's the best thing anyone has called me all day. In fact, that's the only thing anyone has called me all day.

Oh I see, so, for the Prediction League, you're playing the gambler's/stats, rather than the expectation/fan game. But what do you really think..?

Yep. Played for 4 years for my junior/middle school. Came into the side as a regular substitute in my 2nd year and then played the remaining years. David Stamp was my team captain in my first year, after which I played in every position except LB and GK. I wasn't ultra quick but I had a touch of the Teddy Sheringham's about me. Not that I was thin and lanky either. In my last year I mainly played right-side/central midfield, or Right Half as it was properly called back then. EDIT: Oops forgot. Played for Taranto Terriers [they were awful] so ended up playing for Brendon [bombers] for a while too. I thought that there was a specific U.S. university that Basketball was invented in. Of course, I'm not remotely interested in Basketball, and so any recent knowledge I may have picked up of the sport is probably courtesy of QI. Perhaps the lecturer/coach was Canadian..?

Not one iotum.

That would be minutes, not games, I'm assuming. Or you've had a couple more measures of red wine than I have this evening. Thoroughly honest of you too. Guess what..? Of the 3 league and 1 cup games during August, I've got the lads winning them all..! How's that for realistic optimism..? I reckon they can do it too. Honestly, if they want to win the league, that's the sort of form they're going to have to show anyway.

As to football being a winter sport, I believe these overpaid Premier League superstars want a winter break so they can recharge their batteries. Basically, they want to cut out the only remaining hardship they have, which screws up their Christmas and New Year for the sake of sport. I'm not for it, myself.

Last time I tried, which was about 30 years ago [no hang on, 35], I could skate upto speed and then do a stop where you shower everyone in ice. I could do that pretty regularly too. Interest waned afterwards and I stopped going. I think other people were pleased about that.

Much as I admire your undying support of SFC, I'd say that was a tad optimistic of a Saints team. Would be good though. How many games into the new season do you think before they let us down again..?

Genuine question..! Are you active in the winter or passive. I used to ski, but did my back in, so now I prefer the book of ghost stories, roaring fire and whisky. [

I'm going to do them month by month, I think, and as I've decided that Saints are going to come out of the pre-season blocks faster than a-very-fast-thing-coming-out-of-the-blocks, I only had to adjust one score for August.

Oh really..? Are you the curled up in the armchair type, while reading a good book of ghost stories, with a great roaring fire, or do you like winter sports [and not watching but participating]..?

Exactly..!

Cheek..! You didn't even spot the sarcasm. If I'm a tad slow it's because I'm lazy, plus I do have a headache. A touch of neuralgia like pain, I've always been a bit susceptible to in summer month weather. I'm medicating it with red wine at this moment.

That's ski jumping. Where you jump over a line of skis. Do try to keep up.