Yes, friends, on Saturday afternoons are a lonely business for many of our local soccer teams - so why not brave the cold and the fog and go out and "cheer them on" - or if you don't fancy that, just find another fan to spend the afternoon with, but somewhere warm (!) - "There's more than one way to skin a cat", as my old granny used to say !!!
Like these local fans, featured in this morning's local Onion News for East Hampshire - p.94 if you want "chapter and verse" !!!!
But at least when some of Brittany's expected pregnancies come to term, it'll only be another 10 years or so for them maybe to start filling some of those empty seats in the team's stadium.
At present the "stand" for home fans only seats 5, but I dare say the management and shareholders will perhaps be willing to build another one or two of these "shelters", when Larson and Gill's "afternoon sessions" eventually fizzle out - let's hope so!
Poor spotted flycatcher !!!!
Experts agree that Hannibal could easily have stormed Rome and "rewritten history", but at the last minute he decided to move away from Rome and travel further south, leading to history's verdict on him that he "knew how to win battles but he didn't know how to win wars".
This Latin account of Hannibal's weary duties (see below), that our "old codgers" group works through this morning, highlights what a humiliation this must have been for the former great general Hannibal.
flashback to last week: my light-to-moderate wife Lois and I tour the
local team's lavish "clubhouse" (left), walk the hallowed turf [not shown],
and sit in the home fans' "stand" - where the fans - Michael and Brittany
sometimes watch the "squad" play their deadly rivals, Petersfield Town
"United" fans may be an endangered species, but, on our morning walk today through nearby Radcliffe Park, our shiny new "merlin app" identifies a bird that faces a similar dilemma - step up (of flutter up (!)), that most elusive of birds, the humble spotted flycatcher.
But it gives Lois and me an idea which could be a breakthrough. Maybe if more of those little chaps could "get together" or specifically "get it together", whatever "it" is (!), on a Saturday afternoon, say, perhaps that's another "red list species" that could be saved, do you think?
I wonder.....!!!
However, for Lois and me, today (Monday) means another hurried lunch and no afternoon-in-bed at all, sadly (!), because we're going to our second meeting of the local U3A "Intermediate Latin for Old Codgers" group in the church hall at Haslemere Methodist Church.
(top) flashback to last Tuesday: Lois and I attend the local U3A coffee morning
for new members - Lois (centre) talking to the Intermediate French group leader,
and (bottom) the Methodist Church and church hall in Haslemere, where many
of the U3A's local groups meet, and (bottom right) a typical group meeting in the hall
Our little Intermediate Latin group is currently studying the astonishing career of Carthaginian general, Hannibal, who shocked the Romans in the 3rd century BC by collecting together an army of men and elephants, leaving his North African stronghold, and crossing over to Spain, and conquering Spain. Then crossing the Alps on his army's many elephants, despite never having seen snow before, and then occupying much of Italy, and threatening to storm the gates of Rome.
Hannibal's route through Spain, across the Alps
and into southern Italy, bypassing Rome
Poor Hannibal !!!!!
This Monday, our little group of 'old codgers' is studying Hannibal's sad end. Pursued relentlessly by the Romans, Hannibal eventually wound up in Bithynia, in modern-day Turkey, where his pal, King Prisias of Bithynia, a very minor local ruler, let him stay in one of his castles.
And poor Hannibal had to face the humiliation of having to call Prisias his "patron" - what madness!!!
(left) Hannibal, the brilliant Carthaginian general, who almost toppled the Roman Empire,
but who was eventually reduced to seeking shelter in the castle of a very minor ruler,
King Prusias of Bithynia (right), who agreed to become Hannibal's so-called "patron", ie protector
Yes, King Prusias, a bit of a "jumped up" petty local ruler, agreed to be Hannibal's protector, or "patron", with Hannibal signing up to be Prusias's so-called "client".
Unfortunately in those far-off crazy days, if you were a "client" of a "patron", you had to get up early and go round to their house, wait for them to get out of bed (!), bid them a cheery "Good morning!" and then ask them if they wanted you to do any jobs for them that day.
What madness, wasn't it !!!!
flashback to ancient Rome: two "clients" have to wait till
their "patron" wakes up, say "Good Morning, Patron!", and then
ask him if he wants any jobs doing that day - what madness, wasn't it !!!!
Yes, Hannibal had to sit around idly [Latin: sedet] in this very minor king's little palace until the man deigned to wake up [Latin: vigilare], and issue his orders for the day (!). The whole session was the so-called morning-greeting session, [Latin: salutatio"].
Poor Hannibal (again) !!!!
Poor Hannibal (again) !!!!
What a crazy world they lived in, in those far-off days !!!!!
21:00 So, a bit of a stressful day again for Lois and me, all in all, what with this two hour Latin lesson - yes, two hours when we would normally have been in bed (!),.
However, by way of compensation, we find we can wind down this evening with another programme in Welsh comedian Rob Brydon's new series, all about his "Honky Tonk Road Trip" to the American South.
Like many Welsh people, Rob is very musical, plays the guitar and has a great baritone singing voice, so he thoroughly enjoys this road trip through several states, talking to country music players and enthusiasts, and even joining in with some of their "jam sessions", and appearances at local shows.
Welsh comedian Rob Brydon joining in some song about "not wanting
to live in a mansion, preferring a little cabin by the side of the road",
with country music enthusiasts Nate, Afton and Jeff
In some ways, however, this road trip is a bit of a frustrating experience for Rob - he's constantly being told that the roots of the music lay in "England, Scotland and Ireland". "Haven't you heard of a little place called Wales?", we hear poor Rob cry - repeatedly !!!!
At "Dollywood", Rob fails to meet Dolly herself - she's busy somewhere else apparently. However, he does meet Dolly's niece Heidi, who bears a strong resemblance to Dolly in at least one particular part of her anatomy, as Lois is quick to point out!
He also picks up an intriguing clue as to the Parton family's origins.
Result! Back of the net!!!
Which bit of Dolly is the Welsh bit, however? There are plenty to choose from (!) - and I think we should be told, maybe?
For Rob, however, this is the news he's been waiting for, to put it mildly!
Will this do?
[Oh just go to bed! - Ed]
22:00 We go to bed - zzzzzzz!!!!!
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