July29

The End of an Era

By: Tim Neale

Time to find a new type of holiday

I’ve just finished uploading my photos from my trip to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. That was my third major sporting tournament I’ve attended and will probably be the last I travel abroad to.

London has the Olympic Games in 2012, maybe England will get the World Cup in 2018. Apart from that, I’m done. It’s not that I am no longer enjoying myself, it’s there are lots of other things I want to do.

There major football tournaments on three different continents in eight years is enough for me.

Continue Reading

Be Sociable, Share!

    Posted in: Breathing In, The Beautiful Game2 comments

    July22

    Strange Light

    By: Tim Neale

    Sun is setting and throwing orange light on some storm clouds. All very ominous.

    strange light

    strange light

    Be Sociable, Share!

      Posted in: Breathing InComments Off comments

      July15

      South Africa 2010

      By: Tim Neale

      Apart from the football, I had a great time.

      I was in South Africa as long as the English team was. South Africa is a country of great contrasts. Each day was like a different holiday.

      As well as the football, I went by cable car to the top of Table Mountain, played football in a township, night clubbed in Cape Town, wine tasted in the Cape Winelands, I went on safari, visited Robben Island and generally played the tourist.

      I met lots of great people and made loads of new friends.

      bafana bafana

      bafana bafana

      I’ve uploaded some of my photos from South Africa. They capture the many different aspects of this trip.

      Continue Reading

      Be Sociable, Share!

        Posted in: Soap Box, The Beautiful Game2 comments

        May28

        So Near and So Far

        By: Tim Neale

        I went to England’s last warm up game at Wembley on Monday, a strange day for an England game. Still it sold out. With both the Mexican and English fans in a party mood the atmosphere was great.

        England won 3-1. A good result, but they missed the Chelsea players who were being rested. This made it difficult to see how the team is progressing. The World cup is only two weeks away now.

        During the match, I took part in a record making event. With the exception of the Mexican part of the stadium, every seat in Wembley had a free t-shirt draped on it before the game. These were either red or white.

        Continue Reading

        Be Sociable, Share!

          Posted in: The Beautiful Game1 comments

          May24

          The Movie Of Your Life is

          By: Tim Neale

          … A Cult Classic

          This is one of those silly potted personality tests that I love.

          Quirky, offbeat, and even a little campy – your life appeals to a select few.
          But if someone’s obsessed with you, look out! Your fans are downright freaky.

          Your best movie matches: Office Space, Showgirls, The Big Lebowsk

          mmmm….no surprises there me thinks.

          Be Sociable, Share!

            Posted in: Who Am I?Comments Off comments

            May17

            A Party Activist’s Election: Afternoon Day 2

            By: Tim Neale

            May 7, 2010 UK General Election 2010

            general election 2010

            general election 2010

            11:00 I’m awake again. I can’t sleep much. I turn on the TV to catch up on the election results. What is going? What will the politicians do next?. I hope they’ve had more sleep than me.

            I eat breakfast and read The Guardian online message boards. Time flies when I do this. A couple of hours later I eat dinner. I’ve not slept properly in 36 hours and everything is fuzzy.

            14:30 I arrive back at Stevenage Leisure Centre. The local count’s in progress. This time I wander around. It’s a similar set up as yesterday but with each ward having a separate couple of tables.

            Continue Reading

            Be Sociable, Share!

              Posted in: Soap BoxComments Off comments

              May15

              A Party Activist’s Election: Morning Day 2

              By: Tim Neale

              May 7, 2010 UK General Election 2010

              00:30 I leave the Red Lion and head for the count at Stevenage Leisure Centre. I am an ‘Official Counting Agent’ tonight. I’ve been advised to get there sometime after midnight, “Not much happens before then.”

              As I walk from the Old Town I fall in with four guys. Three of them are Labour and one Conservative. In Stevenage You can’t tell who’ll be voting for whom from appearances. We’re definitely post-tribal.

              One asks who I voted for today. I decline to say. He apologises for asking. Everyone takes the secret part of voting very seriously. They turn for the leisure park to go clubbing. I carry on to the Leisure Centre for the count. I feel very grown up and sensible.

              Continue Reading

              Be Sociable, Share!

                Posted in: Soap BoxComments Off comments

                © Copyright Tim Neale. All Rights Reserved.