Random Stuff!

[CraigW92]

I was amazed at Warwickshire's dismal season. Worcestershire seem a yo-yo team. I think they've been relegated then promoted from Div 2 to Div 1 six times in the past 15 years.

John Cleese, from Weston-super-Mare, is an avid Somerset CCC supporter as incidentally is Jeffery Archer another Westonian. Cleese used to watch Bristol City when at Clifton College, Bristol and Archer claims to be a Bristol Rovers fan but he doesn't seem to know much about them.

Could always be worse you could be a Glamorgan fan like myself... I think I spent £70 on a T20 season ticket this year and ended up seeing 2 matches I think, thanks to the British Summer again, A pretty poor effort in division 2 again although we did get to finals day this year, funny enough losing Warwickshire (Birmingham bears in T20), Well done to both Somerset and Worcesterhsire this season.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Could always be worse you could be a Glamorgan fan like myself... I think I spent £70 on a T20 season ticket this year and ended up seeing 2 matches I think, thanks to the British Summer again, A pretty poor effort in division 2 again although we did get to finals day this year, funny enough losing Warwickshire (Birmingham bears in T20), Well done to both Somerset and Worcesterhsire this season.

Ah, but Glamorgan have won the County Championship a few times.

I used to love Wilf Woooler. He was both Welsh and Glamorgan CCC through and through, and was never afraid to say what he thought.

When he was secretary of Glamorgan, after his playing days were over, he would also comment on Glamorgan's matches when they were televised live on BBC Wales. This was in the 1960s and early 70s.

Living across the estuary we could pick up BBC Wales tv pictures and I well remember one 3-day County Championship game between Glamorgan and Somerset at Swansea when Wilf was in full flow behind the tv commentary microphone. Somerset were setting about the home bowling and after one particularly spectacular boundary Wilf lamented, "I'm afraid that's going to be another four". No impartial commentator there!

In another match against Somerset Wilf, wearing his secretary's hat, was so annoyed at Somerset's slow batting when they were content to hang on for a draw instead of setting a target that he went on to the public address and apologised for the visitors' tactics and offered to return their entrance money to any spectator who wanted it.

Some years ago someone with a lot of time on his hands (not me this time) delved back into weather records over many decades and discovered that the worst affected counties in respect of hours/days lost to rain were the western ones of Somerset, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan and Lancashire. Probably no surprise there as it was no surprise that the least affected was Sussex on the south coast.

I've watched Somerset since the 1950s and for much of the time it's been a struggle. However during the county's golden years of the late 70s and early 80s I was a member of the county and was able to watch a lot of cricket. The team boasted Ian Botham, Viv Richards, Joel Garner, Brian Rose, Vic Marks - all internationals - plus a lot of good county players. I enjoyed some marvellous times watching those players. Still never won the County Championship but they were near-unbeatable in one-day competitions.

In his later years Viv played for three years at Glamorgan of course.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cr...another-check-on-doctored-pitch-a3646806.html

Angus Fraser, former England bowler and now Middlesex cricket managing director, has accused Somerset of preparing a 'doctored pitch' saying their actions were 'disgraceful'. Middlesex are in talks with the cricket authorities to get two points previously deducted for a slow over rate rescinded - they say the slow over rate was due to a day's cricket being curtailed when someone fired an arrow onto the pitch - and with a demand for Somerset to be punished for the pitch. If they are successful with either demand they would remain in Division 1 and Somerset would be relegated.

Fraser's remarks can be compared with those of the Somerset hierarchy at the end of the previous season when Middlesex robbed Somerset of the Championship by artificially manipulating a dead game in order to win the championship themselves. Although seething at what was a gross violation of the spirit of cricket Somerset maintained a dignified silence.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Further to the Somerset/Middlesex relegation issue, Middlesex have appealed to the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) for the two points they had deducted to be returned. This would mean they would avoid relegation to Div 2 of the County Championship with Somerset being relegated instead.

In the event of this happening Somerset are preparing a legal case against the ECB. The expression, "It's not cricket", might well be appropriate here, whatever the outcome.

http://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/club-news/club-statement-2/

 

[kraktoa]

March 29 th 2019 which is Brexit day isrumoured to be the day when no flights will land or take off from anywhere n the Uk excluding of course domestic flights.

Even the chancellor has said it is a possibility.

Scare mongering or real chance it may happen.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

March 29 th 2019 which is Brexit day isrumoured to be the day when no flights will land or take off from anywhere n the Uk excluding of course domestic flights.

Even the chancellor has said it is a possibility.

Scare mongering or real chance it may happen.

I can't see it happening. Too many countries in the EU have strong trade links with the UK. They'd have as much to lose as the UK.

 

[Jerry]

March 29 th 2019 which is Brexit day isrumoured to be the day when no flights will land or take off from anywhere n the Uk excluding of course domestic flights.

Even the chancellor has said it is a possibility.

Scare mongering or real chance it may happen.

It's a slim possibility but i highly doubt it would happen because as TLY says trade would be badly effected plus the tourist industry in countries like Spain would be badly effected.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/late-departure-leaky-air-con-631804

The new Hitachi bi-mode intercity express train made its debut this morning on the Bristol Temple Meads-Paddington route operating the 0600 service from TM. Not a good start though as it left 26 minutes late reportedly because staff had difficulty coupling coaches and the air conditioning played up in one part of the train causing liquid to seep from vents onto passengers. Local radio said one passenger's laptop had been damaged.

An editor of a rail magazine was interviewed on local radio and he condemned the scheme for its short sightedness. Apart from being years behind schedule and well over budget, with the original electrification network now curtailed, the editor said that the bi-mode trains are heavier than pure electric trains, will have poorer acceleration and will be costlier to maintain.

The full reduced programme of electrification across the GWR system won't be completed until the end of 2019. At least, that's the present estimate. I'll believe it when it happens.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/new-high-speed-trains-taken-654988

More problems for the new Hitachi bi-mode trains with two taken out of service temporarily. I suppose that there are always likely to be some problems with new types. Let's hope they are only minor teething troubles which can be overcome very quickly.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

International Rugby co-operation? Hmm, perhaps

The England and Wales forward squads had a full-on training session together at Clifton College, Bristol yesterday supervised by Welsh international referee Nigel Owens.

The competed in 12 scrums and 16 line-outs, with no holds barred apparently. They went at it as in a competitive match.

It was suggested in a thread yesterday that BRS and CWL might co-operate. Well, this is a start.

Actually the city regions of Bristol and Cardiff have been in talks over the past two or three years about greater co-operation. I'm not sure how much co-operation would be possible given that they would be competing for all sorts of things to further their respective economies.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru.../England-Wales-clash-scrum-line-training.html

 

[Jerry]

I'd forgotten about the training session. It is unique and was probably good prep for both sides and shows a bit of trust between them as well. Which if CWL and BRS were ever to cooperate each side would need.

 

[Jerry]

Squadron Leader George Leonard 'Johnny' Johnson the last survivor of the Dambuster raid today received the MBE from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to World War 2 remembrance and the local community in Bristol.
https://twitter.com/bbcrb/status/927908818167783424

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Virgin Holiday Stores

I was reading an item today about the above and when I checked the list of stores around the country I was amazed to find they don't have one in either Bristol or Bath. They do have one in such cities/towns as Swindon, Gloucester, Exeter and Cheltenham. Many of the stores around the country are housed in Debenham, Tesco or House of Fraser stores all of which have branches in both Bristol and Bath.

There is a store in the regional shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway on the north-western edge of the Bristol conurbation but to many people who live in the furthermost parts of the city from Cribbs Causeway it's not a very good option.

I live on the south-eastern edge of Bristol and although there is a direct 12-minute frequency bus service it takes 90 minutes, and the car isn't much easier as you have to drive through the city or all the way around it both of which can take 45 minutes or longer from where I live.

We rarely go to Cribbs to shop and I doubt whether many Bathonians do either, so I wonder why Virgin hasn't got stores in the centres of Bristol and Bath when they have in places like Cheltenham. Perhaps I'll ask them.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/bristol-coolest-city-in-world-878497

Another of those awards has come Bristol's way. This time National Geographic Traveller editors and writers voted it Europe's trendiest and coolest city and number 11 in the world. Bristol seems to pick up this sort of accolade regularly.

I'm never quite sure how relevant they are. If you read regular comments from Bristolians in the local press you'd think the city was from the Third World.

 

[tpm]

That list is a pretty random collection - mostly countries, but some cities?!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It does seem a bit haphazard. Bristol seems to be viewed in a far more favourable light by people from elsewhere than by many of its citizens. Then again I suspect that's true of many places.

I never cease to be amazed at the negative comments about Plymouth from Plymothians in their local paper. I love going there.

Whenever BRS is in the local news people seem to be queuing up to make disparaging remarks about the place in the Post. Someone posted a few weeks ago that they should look at Cardiff Airport to see how a successful airport is run because from Bristol you can only really fly to Spain. I guess it's the grass is always greener over the hill syndrome.

 

[kraktoa]

Was discussing the issue of dreamliner flights from Bristol with a Greek colleague. He mentioned the flights from Skiathos have to refuel in Thessaloniki sometimes as the runway can be tooshort when taking off on a full load. Similar to our Cancun flights having to refuel sometimes at Manchester.

 

[a300boy]

I for one love Bristol ! Lively and busy with lots to do and I live in Yorkshire.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Was discussing the issue of dreamliner flights from Bristol with a Greek colleague. He mentioned the flights from Skiathos have to refuel in Thessaloniki sometimes as the runway can be tooshort when taking off on a full load. Similar to our Cancun flights having to refuel sometimes at Manchester.

I think the summer weekly TCX flights from Skiathos to Bristol sometimes have to land en route to take on fuel after leaving Skiathos.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Football

Amazing performance by Bristol City last night to beat Manchester United in the quarter-final of the League Cup. That's the fourth Prem team they have beaten in the competition this season: Watford, Stoke and Crystal Palace plus United. It's now a two-legged semi-final against Manchester City.

For a club that was nearly relegated to League One last season with most fans calling for the manager's head (or chief coach as he is styled) the team's turnaround in form and fortunes this season is little short of remarkable.

They are third in the Championship and their performance is even more praiseworthy as they have been without half a dozen key players, including their £5 million striker, for much of the season. Their playing resources are stretched to the limit because of these injuries so how long they can keep up their supremely impressive run is debatable. Fans must enjoy it whilst it lasts but last night showed yet again the potential that exists if a Prem club can be established in the city.

Much credit must go to the club's billionaire owner, Steve Lansdown (one of the founders of the eponymous FTSE 100 Bristol-based financial group Hargreaves Lansdown), for keeping faith in Lee Johnson who is now showing his qualities as a coach. The club's next problem will be in retaining Johnson and some of their young players when 'bigger' clubs come calling. I think that Lee will repay Steve Lansdown's loyalty and remain but you can't blame some of the youngsters if they take the opportunity of joining a Prem club although don't rule out Bristol City being one themselves next season, albeit the odds are still quite long in my view. It might be a joint Severnside promotion with Cardiff City.