Why I love my country

Passionate, enthusiastic, optimistic, loyal …eccentric… and funny.

England fans after the trouncing we received by Germany in the World Cup yesterday. 

These guys are utterly deflated but their get-ups made me laugh out loud because they reflect the glorious nuttiness of our nation.  I wanted to win (obviously) but despite our second goal – which a seriously myopic referee failed to spot – Germany were the better team. 

Now that we’re out I can’t even swap my allegiance to the French because they were sent home in disgrace last week.  I guess it’s not my World Cup year, so that’s my interest in the footie for another 4 years! 

Germany however are a nation ‘on a roll’ this year aren’t they?  The planets are clearly generally aligned in their favour, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they win The Cup. 

But don’t worry…We’ll be baaaack. 

Lena’s Satellite

Well, there’s a surprise – the UK completely bombed in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.  I’m not in the slightest bit surprised.  We don’t take this contest at all seriously and our nation, that continues to produce some of the greatest pop music in the world, is represented instead by complete unknowns and some very dull songwriting (sorry Pete Waterman, but this definitely wasn’t your finest hour). 

I’m actually pleased to say that having caught my first listen to our song entry yesterday, I made the conscious decision not to watch and therefore not to be embarrassed. 

Several people predicted that Germany would win… currently being the rich man of Europe and everything.  (We could all be heading to them, cap in hand, pretty soon so we needed to keep ‘em sweet).  That may be a little unfair, having listened this morning to singer Lena with ’Satellite’.  Her ‘mockney’ English accent is slightly dodgy (‘though to be fair she sings English better than I can sing in German), but she’s cute and the song is catchy, young and a bit of fun.  It’s the complete package really …and a far cry from our very poor offering.  

So, well done Lena and well done Germany.  At least you can actually afford to host this next year!

(Last year’s winner – Alexander Rybak, Norway)