Surprise!

Last day in the lakes   :(  It's been a quick, short trip but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  Lovely to see the family and spend time just chatting and sharing thoughts, stunning weather and stupendous scenery.  Still, I'd decided I was going to be heading back to Banbury and needed to be there for the exciting World Cup semi-final between England and Croatia at 7.00pm.

Set off mid-morning with the plan of visiting one or two spots along the way.  High above Keswisk, Ashness Bridge is a favourite and just above that is this spot - Surprise view.  Again, the huge number of people around meant that I sat waiting for clear views for some time, but patience usually pays of, and it did for me.

Further south, through the villages and towns with their narrow streets and quirky houses (built, I guess, before anyone ever even heard of motor cars!), glimpses of lakes such as Rydall Water, (home to William Wordsworth) and then  onto the lowland moors before finally hitting the M6 motorway........3 lanes of southbound speed: trucks, caravans, cars large and small, lorries, middle-lane hogs, roadworks, city on-ramps, city off-ramps, merging motorways, continuous high-speed driving, a toll-gate then a small detour before finally arriving in Banbury some 4 and a quarter hours later at around 6.15 in plenty of time for the game.

The game..........England's biggest game since 1990.........this game a semi final against Croatia.  Unbelievably England found themselves 1-0 up after just 5 or so minutes.  Euphoria across the nation (though not everyone was watching.....or even interested).  Tense times as several near misses kept the score at 1-0.  Disappointment when Croatia leveled during the 2nd half.  Extra time.  Stunned when Croatia scored and finally heartbreak as the final whistle sounded.  A real roller coaster ride of a game.  

It's a new England though - modest, a true team, lacking some of the 'big' names (names that may have been bigger than past teams themselves).  The emerging new England reminds me a lot of the culture of the All Blacks..........no one is bigger than the team, the focus is the team and humility has replaced cockiness.  If they continue to grow in this style they're sure to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.