Oh damn, still in this dream.

Okay, it's time to admit that Cricket in Pakistan is so totally fucked-up-beyond-all-recognition (or FUBAR, as it is known to those from a certain era who were in the military) that Pakistan can no longer be seen as a credible test nation.

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/nov/09/zulqarnain-haider-pakistan-cricket-retire

This article told me everything I didn't want to know or infer from the information I already had to hand. To the folk that have done this: the criminals, the folk wagering on the game, the teams, and the officials who turned blind eyes for kickbacks, I can only say: 'thanks guys'. What a way to tarnish the greatest sport and oldest team bat-and-ball game. Damn you, you fucking bastards. Damn you to hell. May you and your families be branded with the shame of this for seven generations.

And if anyone from Blighty ever engages in the same trick I think I'll advocate hanging-drawing-and-quartering for them, finishing with their heads upon spiked poles on London Bridge. Fucking tosspot shiteaters.

Something has changed in my Live Journal. The 'Rich text' mode seems more involved than previous. Will have to investigate when appropriate.

Gig at some nightclub called 'Tantra'. It was hired out by a large BBC sub-contracting organisation, and the place was heaving with drunken clever young men and women, all hell bent on having a good time. It may be an old man's envy, but I remember when I was that sort of young person - I'm sure I was much less loutish, but memory gilds history, or so they say. I must have had my loutish moments, in fact...oh dear, I'm sure of it.
'Twas ever thus.
No one vomited on my Strat, so I was up on the evening's deal. And, unsurprisingly, Slade's 'Merry Christmas everybody' went down a storm. Much drunken revelry by punters, engendering much amusement from band, though no one actually got their kit off. (We've played a wedding on the Isle of Wight where this happened - ended up the Wedding band version of 'Hammer of the Gods', but thankfully without the swimming pool to hurl the TV sets into. It was salutary nevertheless: I was encouraged in my view that I'm too old for 'white drugs', though some of the band are even older than I am. All I can say is they must have iron constitutions, my dears, and if not that, at least ferrous nasal passages.)

Am enthused about young Panesar. Good spin bowling is such a rare talent. It's nice to know we've got someone who might be in the same league as Shane Warne (or the 'King of Australia' as ordinary mortals know him). Harmison did well too. Ponting's wicket cheap is a prize unimaginable after the last two tests. Now let's see if our batsmen can perform. The conventional view is that the Aussies, though very long in the tooth indeed, still have enough of a last gasp to thrash us comprehensively. I'm hoping we can win one test, to stop Oz crowing too much. SA (an Aussie chum) will be unbearable if we lose 5-0. As will Em, and both justifiably so.
(I do realise that this will be impenetrable to many, but it's part of my mindset. Nevertheless, in deference to a non-existent audience, I shan't dwell. Also, it should give ammunition to any that need it.)