The Dates Muck Up Zopa Returns
Some weeks ago, I said that my Zopa return since the beginning of the year was over 9 %. It’s now dropped to 8.73 %.
It’s nothing to worry about, as the large payments made on the first of the month, are stuck in the system, due to the four day weekend.
Wonga Might Float in the US for $1.46billion
According to this report in the Telegraph, legalised loan shark, Wonga may float in the US for $1.46billion. Here’s the first paragraph.
The controversial company, criticised by the Office of Fair Trading and shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna, has discussed with investment banks the prospect of a float on the Nasdaq or New York Stock Exchange.
This company and the possible float, shows two of the worst faces of banking.
Let’s hope all the publicity, gets the government to do something about companies like this.
It’s Backs to the Wall Lads!
England at Euro-2012 are starting to look like the last time we fought a war in the Ukraine. And I mean after the Charge of the Light Brigade. At least though the medical services are very much better.
I was listening to Sportsweek on Radio 5 Live and John Barnes, who probably knows more about suffering racism than most, was advising the players to concentrate on the football if the chants got bad in the Ukraine, like they might do. He advised against what Mario Balotelli had said he would do and walk off. He said “Let the referee and UEFA decide.” It might be difficult, but there are some strong characters in the England team. Remember too, in the first match against France, both teams will have quite a few black players and all of the players probably know each other well and will all stick together, if it turns ugly.
We Don’t Do High Jumpers Do We?
All the years, I’ve been following athletics, we have had very few high jumpers of note, despite having some good triple and long jumpers in that time.
I suppose there is one notable exception in that Mary Peters jumped herself to gold in the pentathlon in the high jump. I remember that night in 1972 vividly, as she kept clearing height after height, cheered on by a very passionate crowd, who seemed mainly to support her, despite the fact her rivals were a West and an East German. I think at the time it was said, that quite a few squaddies from the British Army of the Rhine were present and they willed her over. A difficult job, as to put it truthfully, she wasn’t built for high-jumping.
We’ve never won gold in the men’s high jump at the Olympics, but there is always a surprise medal in something and perhaps with a bit of luck it could be Robbie Grabraz, as reported here in the Telegraph. After losing his funding, he’s now number one in the world.
One-Nil to Ing-Er-Land
I’m just listening to the 606 phone in on BBC Radio 5. Everybody is being so negative.
I’ll admit that Roy has a problem, but it isn’t of his making. How many people would relish being dropped into the scenario he found himself, just a few weeks before a major tournament. Only a complete masochist! Or a Leo pig!
I remember 1966, when I was just 18. Were we optimistic? Of course not! We were looking forward to a good summer of football as the World Cup was going to be held in England.
We’re looking forward to a big summer of sport with the Olympics. And judging by the way the torch has been received in the last two weeks the country is getting fired up. If the players we’re sending to Euro 2012 aren’t getting turned on by that, they shouldn’t be going. They’ve also got three Chelsea players and Steven Gerrard, who’ve tasted European glory in the Champions League.
Going back to 1966, if you look at the side that won the World Cup, some were virtually unknown before the tournament. Jimmy Greaves was expected to be the man to score all the goals and Jimmy Armfield was supposed to be the right back. So is Rooney setting himself up for the Greaves role? We need some players to step up and be counted. I’ll put my money on Phil Jagielka, John Terry and Theo Walcott.
They’re still being negative on the phone-in.
The only positive thing I’ve heard is someone saying, he’d take a one-nil win in every game.
The Olympic Torch Goes By
I climbed the hill and then waited on the platform on which the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is built.
The pictures are in the order I took them.
If I’d made a video, you would have heard the bells ring out. Just as they did, when the Relay passed the Anglican Cathedral.
A few thimgs to note in the various pictures :-
2 – This picture shows the platform at the right, where I took the pictures from.
3 – Lloyds Bank TSB’s publicity vehicle was a converted Bedford CF van, that started its life selling ice cream.
18, 19 – You can spot the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly in full regalia. Admittedly, it was mainly red, white and blue. He seemed to be enjoying himself, but I don’t know whether he blessed the relay.
21, 26 – The giant puppets are from Hope Street Ltd. and represent Beatles characters.
23,24,25,26 – The building directly opposite is part of Liverpool John Moores University. In my day it was a Roman Catholic Teacher Training College. Opposite the building and behind the one with all the columns, used to be the Everyman Theatre, which is currently being rebuilt.
35 – Note the man on the crane.
36,37,38,39 – The torch and a kiss is in there somewhere.
40 – Walking back towards Brownlow Hill and the University.
What it was like at ground level is shown by this video.
If C Had Been in Liverpool, She’d Have Been Here
St Luke’s in Liverpool, was one of C’s favourite churches, as sitting there at the bottom of the hill, it says so much about the pointlessness of war.
Every time I go to Liverpool, I always pass the church and contemplate for a few moments about what might have been, had she not got the cancer.
Bluecoat Chambers
Bluecoat Chambers is an arts centre in the middle of Liverpool with a rich history. Despite living in the city for nearly five years and having visited many times since, I’d never been in before yesterday.
It’s well worth a visit and the current exhibition brought back many memories of a wonderful holiday in the Ecuador and the Galapagos, that I had with C.
Liverpool Waterfront in the Sun
It was a glorious sunny day yesterday in Liverpool.
The amazing waterfront, showed itself at its best.
It was a pity, that because of the evening celebrations surrounding the Olympic Torch Relay, the Pier Head was shut off.
What Do You Think of it So Far, Ma’am?
Queen Victoria surveys the scene from Derby Square.
What Do You Think of it So Far, Ma’am?
There is also another statue of Queen Victoria, in Liverpool City Centre. It is outside St. George’s Hall and she is portrayed riding side-saddle. How many of our Queens could do that? Queen Elizabeth used to do in public regularly, and Queen Victoria is in the statue, but could she actually do it?
I suspect her Jubilee wasn’t as manic and of course the Olympics were a few years later.
The Anonymous Widower 