I think Euro 2000 was the first time I used a wall chart and filled it in - love that :-) Am sad that I wasn't aware enough of Euro 96 in England. And I definitely don't remember Italia 90 as some my age claim. Owen's wonder goal and Beckham's sending off at France '98 are probably my clearest first memories. You can read some of my 2002 recollections on the Les Mis post?! Also that year for the quarter final against Brazil it was my AS year. School opened early (Japan/South Korea) on that Friday morning and set up TVs for different parts of the school to watch in. It was awesome, though smaller crowd than was expecting initially, until of course Ronaldihno! That year it was close/on top of the Queen's jubilee so the whole country was going pretty flag crazy. I was really happy Mum was happy/keen to go along with it and we had to keep changing from Union Jack to St George's on the car! By Germany 2006 I had got my large St George's flag and was very happy to be draped in it after my last second year exam and watch England's first match in the JCR coated in it! Getting it out for this year I discovered the champagne (or cava) stains on it! And of course the heart ache sticks in the mind. I felt flat and physically kinda ill after going out on penalties in... how mighty strange, I can't work out if it was 2004 or 2006? Have just looked it up on Wikipedia and it appears we went out in the quarter finals on penalties to portugal in both of them... so maybe not quite so strange I can't remember! Anway, we watched in our friends' garage round the corner. It was mighty strange lying down to bed after and feeling empty. I can still hear the tube trains going past while my windows were open and | was listening to 606.
And so... onto this year! car flag was bought at Easter. Lizzie and I somewhat embarrassedly but also kinda excitedly bought a two pack at Halfords and split it. After a lot of deliberation about when to put it on the car, I somewhat failed and shut it in the car door all weekend and after Lizzie explained (through laughter) my mistake, I turned it round but was so afraid it was going to snap off going down the A34 that I took it off when I got to school!!!
Watched the first match at a friends on Friday night. Good times and we made our World Cup predictions. I decided I didn't want to miss out on the family fun for England's first match the next day so home I popped. I was highly surprised a family watching hadn't been planned but we managed to persuade the grandparents to come round and they showed up on fine form. Here we are all decked out in our supporting finery:
Sister even had real white football socks on! My 12 year old innocent face, kinda confused by the banner!
Match time! And within 5 minutes, Gerard had scored!!! I tend to think, though try to ignore, the worry that thinks I have anticipated greatly, will actually be a big anticlimax, and couldn't believe we actually scored this early!!!
aside, i have been doing a load of blog posts this evening: Photos of the Year Week 18, Rocky-horror-show-with-attitude and a little update to quick-bite, and it's just gone 6pm now and I realise I have totally missed Neighbours as I have been sitting in the garden - totally shocked with myself, but admittedly kinda proud of the blogging!
On our feet at the goal!
Grandma has excelled herself and brought along Beat the Referee cards for people to hold up, handmade of course! We decided to deal them out for ease of access and had great fun remembering to hold them up at the appropriate time. They genuinely did add something to the viewing experience!
Mum got 'NO MORE PRANKS - YANKS' - she must have been holding that up after their equaliser - ultimate humiliation - poor Rob Green! Her hands did get a little tired holding up COME ON ENGLAND most of the time!
Sadly Grampy spent more time with his OH HEAVENS! (so appropriate for his pessimist streak!) up than I did with YOU'RE A STAR!
I love my family. This may seem a mighty strange way to spend an evening, but for me, I just loved it. And am so grateful for all involved for appearing to love it too. Love that sense of coming together for shared enjoyment. I've talked a lot about my loner tendencies, but I can't help enjoy the shared enjoyment lots! Thank you and LOVE YOU! and am not even thinking about the disappointment of the draw now :-)
have just texted grandparents to tell them I appreciate it.
The pressing question at the moment is... what will happen for next week's England match at 3pm on Wednesday. Staff meeting night! ??????
The pressing question at the moment is... what will happen for next week's England match at 3pm on Wednesday. Staff meeting night! ??????
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