Uncertainty and Joy

Behold Charlie Austin scoring the first goal for QPR last Saturday against Middlesborough from the penalty spot. The game ended 2-0 and QPR remain in first position of the Championship. We have equalled a record for consecutive clean sheets (er, if you are a footy novice and still actually reading this then a 'clean sheet' is a euphemism for not letting any goals in during a game :-)  ), and continue to succeed while appearing to still have much potential yet to be fulfilled. Hurrah! Yet, especially after the dire experience of last season when we played so badly and lost so often, I am finding it difficult to enjoy the current achievements. Except for this moment:



which was quite enjoyable, I spend the rest of the time waiting for our opponents to take advantage of our myriad mistakes. I am afraid to jinx it all by believing in it. I'm afraid of feeling foolish and humiliated when it all goes pear-shaped.

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD IT'S ONLY A GAME.

And yet every fan will know and understand this anxiety. Now pardon me while I go fold my lucky shirt that won't be washed again until we lose ...

Bunny Ears

Manu Tuilagi has announced that he will be writing formally to the UK Prime Minister David Cameron to apologise for making bunny ears during a photo op with the triumphant British Lions rugby team outside Number 10.

It seems to have caused a lot of fuss, or at least attracted the attention of those newspapers that look to entertain rather than inform. I think it's a pretty harmless and utterly daft prank, and must admit that there is a daft part of me that did enjoy seeing the photograph.

If one must make more of the situation, then I might agree with the former England rugby player Brian Moore (and U of Nottingham alum) when he tweeted:

"Tuilagi, if he'd unveiled a banner saying "Why is primary school sport funding being cut in 2 years time?" I'd have been impressed."

If one wishes to make more of a situation and use one's powers for good, then that would make sense. Of course, this was just a spur-of-the-moment thing and luckily for Mr Tuilagi the PM has graciously tweeted his forgiveness.

Meanwhile, in other news:

1. Syria tells Russia it has proof that rebels have chemical weapons
2. How mercury is poisoning gold-miners
3. The truth about life on the breadline in the UK (Jack Monroe blogs)
4. Hong Kong's Chief Imam celebrates openness to multi-ethnic worshippers

and finally, sort of back to where we started ...

5. Yes, David Cameron, 'Yid' really is a race-hate word. Here's why:

PS