Royal Oak

I hadn't realised there was a cricket thread here! Although I am not a huge fan as there is no culture of cricket in France, I have enjoyed watching the last match of the series and I am chuffed England beat the Aussies. What a beautiful performance from Stuart Broad. But have you ever seen a more arrogant muppet than Flintoff?!! I didn't know that guy until last week but never before in my life had I felt this irresistible need to punch somebody's face! His body language and his silly postures when celebrating really made me cringe. Is this guy really a national hero? If it is the case, no wonder that English sportsmen have got the reputation of being arrogant. Anyway, it's nice to see the whole country delighted and elated by the victory. Next stop: Football World Cup? Come on France and England! Very interesting article about Fred by his former England team-mate Matthew Hoggard here: www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/422066.html/

Sorry, I can't have any criticism of Flintoff. If ever there was an Englsih sportsman worthy of the hype, it is (was) Fred. The most wholehearted, talismanic English cricketer since the equally-mythical Ian Botham. I remember watching him bat in the second innings of the Edgbaston Ashes test of 2005 and it was simply mesmerising - all this after disclocating his shoulder early on his knock. I think the pedalo incident added to his lustre if anything.

Yes, two consecutive home series now won. It's almost a shame to see a once-invincible team made to look mortal. I only hope for their sake that the Aussies' decline isn't as steep as that of the West Indies post-1991 (or thereabouts). You'd have to think Ponting's captaincy is at an end, but he showed a lot of character and good grace in defeat.

North now gone.

Helena Bonham-Carter Tim Burton Richard Burton

P J O'Rourke's "Holidays In Hell" Out of date (a lot has changed since 1989 after all) and I wouldn't necessarily agree with O'Rourke's politics, but funny and pithy anyway.

I agree. Two thousand (pounds, not dollars) for a vaccuum cleaner?

then you would have enjoyed today's conversation over lunch at work more than i did... (the subject was "when did you first realize that "michael jackson" (as read and pronounced in german) and "michael jackson" (as pronounced correctly on tv and on the radio) were one and the same person?" surprisingly many people could contribute their experiences...) Would that be pronounced something like "Mish-ale Yack-zen" in German? Been a long time since my German O level, and I've spoken very little since.

Robert Graves's "I, Claudius" (or "Clavdivs" as I used to think as a kid. Saying that, i often wondered who the hell "MUFC" was, and why he was always writing his name on walls).

Are you supposed to give the first answer that pops into your head? I ask, because the longer I look at these things, the more I just see inkblots.

Interesting that the UK's "hotter than average Summer" long range forecast of a few months ago has now been cancelled by the Met Office! Rained almost all day today.

My analyst told me That I was right out of my head

They all look like pelvises to me.........(worried)

Eddie The Eagle Eric the Eel Carlos the Jackal

Read his obit today in The Telegraph; interesting to read that his mother denounced "Angela's Ashes" as lies. This wouldn't be the first "misery lit" book to have been questioned by those who "were there" - didn't Dave Pelzer's family say much the same? I know there has been a recent court case in the UK where the mother of one of these authors has sued her daughter for something like libel or defamation.

Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited. I well remember the British TV adaptation of this. Obviously, being about 12 I really didn't understand why, apart from being able to snigger at the gay thing (it was the 80s, forgive me) and the odd boob shot. Let's see if it makes sense now.

I didn't see it, but I'm amazed Clarke gave Swann the charge with only 6 wickets down. I can't imagine Ponting is happy with him.

Rut-a-tut-tut

rrrrrrrrrrut

Hmm, this could go horribly wrong for England tomorrow.

I read somewhere that the end of the cricket season is when a cricket fan notices that his wife has left him. Clarke and Haddin resisting well here. England still big favourites though.

Hussey gone too, looking good.

Finished "One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich" - stoicism is a virtue not rated highly enough these days. Now reading "Goodbye Columbus" by Philip Roth.

You shouldn't read the Sun, it's bad for you. It depresses me that it's the most popular paper in my country.

Pissing down for much of the day here.