THE BRITISH THREAD II

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "Destiny grants us our wishes, but in its own way, in order to give us something beyond our wishes."

1968, wasn't there a similar situation?

It's not the same game now Walt. Hundreds of millions watched the game tonight.

Now is the month of Maying
When merry lads are playing
Especially round the Etihad Stadium
Cos last night's result was amazium
And Sralex threw his dummy out the pram
Which just goes to show what he am.

Last night watching the Hairy Bikers I learned that Santiago is Spanish for St James.

I never knew nor suspected that.

Well I never.

So Iago from Othello is really James? Good job nobody told the king.

Well, since we are situated at the (German part of) El Camino de Santiago (aka "Jakobsweg" aka St. James' Way) ...

Feel up to calling the Chelsea Munich clash yet?

Chelsea 3 Bayern 2 aet. No penalties, please.

I think Chelsea might win it as well, but I'm not brave enough to go for a score, after I called 3-2 on the City/United clash.

I've got a friend from Wigan, and she's worried about them staying up. I've told her I want them to stay up, otherwise I won't be able to point at her and laugh when Saints beat them next season.

1:1 - and Bayern wins the penalty.

If it goes to penalties Bayern will have the advantage, English sides can't do penalty shootouts.

0-o Chelsea win on pens.

Now I feel under pressure, but the only side whose form I know anything about is Southampton. I'll say Chelsea 2-1 Bayern. That's just a stab in the dark.

Andrew Gilligan just said on Sky News that London has escaped the recession. The evidence he offered was that the shops were busy and the restaurants were full. He didn't mention the wine bars.

As if economic success is shopping and troughing without cooking and washing up, or, to put it another way, having short term domestic servants whose welfare is not considered.

The last time I was in London, 1987, I thought I was in a foreign country. There are not so many Londoners in the list of fallen heroes. It's starting to look like Rome did.

And, in case you haven't noticed, London based conglomerates control most provincial newspapers and all TV.

That's where the lottery and the Olympic Games were hatched.

Did you see Cisse's two goals for Newcastle last night?

Suffering succotash.

Man City have got to play them at the weekend. Squeaky bums or what?

I didn't, but they're my third team after Southampton and Gillingham, I used to live there. My best mate supports Chelsea, and I can do a really good Geordie accent. I'm going to be having a 'canny laff,' with him.

Matchday. Unfortunately, I can't watch the last 20 minutes, since I've to count election votes then ... if a wonder happens that is

I really have to leave now ... wonder, wonder ...

Fancy missing that to count ******* election votes when people like Rebekah Brooks have decided what the result will be beforehand.

You're off your head Walt. Public spiritedness has a tendency to cause that.