The brave, the outlandish, the downright rubbish, the camp and the noble battled it out in style in Moscow for the esteemed title of 'Eurovision Champion 2009'. In the end, it was a fairytale for Norway's Alexander Rybak who marched onto glory with a record total of points, the baby-faced fiddler. A bit Cliff Richard-esque if you ask me, not that it is necessarily a bad thing. Unless one counts the impromptu rendition of 'Congratulations' at Wimbledon. Thank goodness they have finally built a roof over the court!
The political effect had been watered down as the vote was split in two. 50% public vote and 50% from an expert panel. Meaning that the misdemeanours of the UK, around the globe, had a lesser effect on our points tally and we ended up a satisfying fifth place. Even the appearance of Sir Lloyd-Webber was not enough to put off the voters.
Not long to go until I jet off to Selkirk for the annual (and prestigious) Common Riding. I knew I would be exposed to some horses (not in that sense!), but I did not realise that 'some horses' equates to roughly 400 hammering through the streets of Selkirk. If you have never seen a grown man cry then stick a horse in front of me. The (entirely) rational fear stems from an early encounter with a donkey who tried to nibble my leg and a bolshy mare in a field at school. We had running leagues and elf and safety did not permit us to run up the school drive, so we had to run the gauntlet in a field full of excitable horses who made chase. One did catch up with me, but I would rather not talk about it...
Apparently the purpose of the Selkirk Common Riding is to remember the young men who rode around their town’s boundaries checking for encroachments by neighbouring settlements. The job was one often brimming with danger, with risk of murder or kidnapping never far from the minds of those who ventured out - I hope they are a bit more receptive to visitors nowadays. It also remembers how after the disastrous Battle of Flodden Field whereby only one man from the town returned - bodes well with plenty of ladies to spare, in that case!
The men seperate from the women for long periods and gather in a large hall to consume copious amounts of Ale and are invited to sing to the gathering. I shall avoid singing 'Swing Low' or 'Jerusalem' for fear of being run out of town with pitchforks.
Where was I? Ah, yes.
Swine Flu Watch: Nothing to report.
Quote of the Day: 'The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.' - Dolly Parton
Word of the Day: Tripudiate - to dance, skip or leap for joy.
Warning of the Day: Do not watch 'My Girl' with other people and have some tissues at the ready.
Thank you.
Very amusing - subtle and witty... Keep up the good work!
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