Rugby, Rugby, Rugby, Rugby, Rugby

February arrives and so does the rugby season, Saturday 3rd February sees the start of what should be the start of great rugby season (actually Friday 2nd if you include the Super 14). The schedule is all here on our website all with the Thailand times worked out. Thanks to Simon Quigley. The football and other such games will continue to be played in Jameson's, but rugby will always take precedent. Although of course New Zealanders and Australians might find that a bit unfair as they are getting quite used to seeing the poor old English gets thrashed time and time again by the Southern Hemisphere teams. But we are all looking forward to a good rugby year with most teams holding great hopes for their home nations. We will of course be showing the World Cup Cricket when it starts although I think the amount of games played by the English team might be quite limited. Whilst we are on sport well done to Stevie's boys who mostly play in blue getting through another round of the F.A Cup (how much good that will do them I have no idea, as the reward is a game away against Manchester United still never say die eh!) Plus another glorious victory in their Premier League, only a few more points now and the Reading Football Club, Supporters Brigade Pattaya Division North and South, can throw a huge party (well a pint of Strongbow with 13 straws and some crisps) as we will have avoided relegation, but lets not count our chickens before they have hatched long way to go yet. Also where is our official ratification of being a recognized Supporters club coming through?
We have actually recruited two new members this week in Kimo and Nid Price to the fold, so we could say we now have a Welsh section to our Reading Football Club, Supporters Brigade, Pattaya North and South.

Unfortunately Kim and Nid are off back to the Valleys this weekend, I am sure after a riotous send off on Friday, and double alas Kim and Mark, Andy's daughter and boyfriend have gone too leaving the Landlord as the only Kim in the house. The new T & G Golf Tournament has started off this year with no clear outright winner this year so far although the cup does seem to be leaning more towards Terry Schofield of North Shore Real Estate at the moment. The mighty Scud has also gone back to Blighty but not before nearly drinking us out of Kilkennys on Saturday night, along with Danny Poole (got to think of a nickname for this guy). Of course no weekend would be complete with Graham MacDonald "The Font of All Knowledge”, Simon with his beautiful fiancé Debbie, My Junior Deputy, Trainee, Assistant Manager Ian Harrington, who also double up as hare of the Monday Hash house Harriers run with Fini, even to their shame that the Landlord, Mini Ha Ha (Tracy), Tonto (Ray) and Pathfinder (Tom could not actually find the A site). Bob Brown was in to see if we could rustle up a cricket team to play on Sunday afternoon when there will be a small sixes competition, anybody interested please get in touch with the Landlord. Great to see Colin Duggan with Mellisa and Tim, especially as he bought the Landlord a present of a signed copy of Lemmy's autobiography. Eat your hear out Mark Winslade. Johnnie Live has been dashing around the bar as usual the man must have coiled spring wrapped up inside him. Jason has also left the shores of Jameson's bar, back to South Africa to meet up with Jenny again. Moo and Stuart are still proving very useful propping up the bar. Motorbike Shaun was in on Sunday filling up the library area making up for whilst Sam Peebles in away.

Rick Bryant finally got back from yet more journeys of around the world Rick fly's so much that I think one more flight and he will actually be able to see himself arriving back before he is taking off. Talking of taking off Biggles, (Eoin Quirke) and his trustee companion Ginger (Simon Quigley). Tried yet again to get their model airplane into the air this time with must greater success than the last time as after seven months of building the airplane, the flight time lasted nearly seven seconds and what was left of the aero plane was actually retrieved, which was better than last time as the plane buried itself so far into the ground upon crashing never to be seen again. Shelley has to wait back in the Jameson's hanger waiting for her intrepid heroes to return.

Ray Matti and Curly Wurly have been stalwarts around the bar, Ray desperately trying to recover from the departure of Rudi to the imminent arrival of Uncle Matt, neither of us knows which is worse! Nice to see our little chocolate soldier Stuart Daly checking in before Mum and Dad arrive also Ray and Frank. Paul the Pom gave us an evening’s entertainment last Tuesday. Dennis and Lek, Rob and Wit, Graham, Ian, Nick, and Joules. Mark Stubbs the computer whiz has been quietly for a change solving every bodies computer problems, nice to see Simon Parkes. Excellent to see Paul Jackson, and share more than one or two late drinks with Stuart and Ritchie and Saturday night. Spoke to Big Dave on the phone he seems very happy in Jools and living 81/2 hours drive away, we had a good old chinwag special regards go out to Iris and Tony Ritchie, and also Lisa Lurve and David Foden. Had a good time with the Ponters Steve and Bill. Kevin Fisher keeps on blasting in through the door as quiet as a mouse as ever. Superman and wife Graham and Ung Watkins have been seen a lot, but one feels we might see rather more of them now that rugby season is upon us. Of course on Monday the On-In for the Hash House Harriers was led by the Flying Frog Patrick and a jolly good time was had by all.

Saturday night turned into proper confusion with the arrival of 'The Root of All Evil' Malcolm Clare who arrived destroyed and left what more can be said about this man of mystery. Paul Jackson was down for the weekend for a break away from the madness of Bangkok. The World of Wines continue to supply us with their magnificent wines, all thanks to Richard and Maggie Waller and Buster Williamson. Iain Corness gave us the pleasure of his company on Sunday and very pleasant it was too. The more the England cricket team humiliate them selves in Australia the more and more text messages I get from our good friend Ian Dickson, and there is still the World Cup to go. Always bringing fun and laughter to the bar are Jason, Nui, Leo Payne, Rich Wibrow and Nok (Happy Birthday), Moe Deverende, Mike and Banjob Franklin, as well as being in touch with Keith Mullholand by e-mail I also got a phone call from Mick Devonport on Saturday, which means that I am going to have to get up and do something about getting them over here.

Cheers, see you at the Bar.