A different world

Yesterday started for me at 5am and ended shortly after midnight. It was long slog aided by the following: beer. My first was at seven, just after first light. My last was late on, closer to midnight. That rhymed.

So I went to Twickenham for the Emirates Rugby 7's. I'm going to confess now the actual rules of rugby are a little bit baffling. It looks a great game, played by undoubtedly tough individuals who can run and throw. Skill wise I'd argue the beautiful game (football) is more of an art form than the juggernaught of rugby. However as a fans spectacle the Rugby 7's won hands down.

Beer in the stands: beautiful idea. In an environment with no segregation it just led to and endless stream of banter between people. We had a block of Kenyans somewhere behind us, some Samoans to the right and in front some Chinese (which was odd as they weren't playing).

GwM: Yes I've had one of those to. At around 11am three or four fairly foul mouthed but attractively dressed (ie barely) turned up and positioned themselves close to us. Shortly after more came in identical T-shits and tiny shorts.... then more.... then more. Before we knew it we were completely surrounded by these girls. They were on a 21st birthday and were a hockey team from Hounslow. They were drunk (to excess) and even had inflatable bananas filled with smuggled in booze. To say they livened up the day was an understatement. I felt a little out of place so I remedied that by having 'more beer' before plucking up the courage to mingle. Great girls. One look like Noel Fielding and was incredibly forward (but not in a blokey way. Noel Fielding is kind of feminine anyway). I didn't do number swapping or anything given that they were 21 ish and lived in London, but it was quite an experience.

On the way home we stopped on the M25 hard shoulder so I could relieve myself of some over priced lager that had quickly made its way through my body and accidentally stung myself badly on a bed of nettles. The good news was little Gary hadn't been unleashed so the injuries were restricted to my hands, ankles and somehow one on my face.

For the record England won the shield, which is kinda like a losers trophy. We still celebrated like we'd won an actual trophy. Rugby 7's: The only game where you finish outside the top two and qualify for a quarter final: you then lose that quarter final and still walk away at the end of the day with something to show for it. I'll never understand those daft middle class apes who throw an odd shaped ball around, but I love 'em.

(Love them in an affectionate way. I do not fancy Rugby players. Or Noel Fielding).