Unhinged and Bracket

So that was November. Festive fireworks, first frosts, floods, mad moments and a few sparkling images to treasure.

A touch of frost and early morning sun - who needs gunpowder?

November was a pretty bad month for Roberto Di Matteo, sacked by Chelsea six months after leading them to European Champions League and FA Cup victories. Although, no doubt, feeling pretty sore regarding his demise, Roberto can take comfort that his dismissal was a great deal less terminal than that of a certain John Austin. Mr Austin, a convicted forger, also met his end in November when he was the last man to be publicly hung in Britain on the 7^th November 1783 at Tyburn.

This Goldfinch thinks the world is stood on it's head

 

Someone, who of course was not convicted of any financial impropriety, was our old friend Harry Redknapp. Harry probably thinks Christmas came a month early when he signed a contract as the new manager of QPR, reported to be worth £7.5 million over the next two and a half years. Daylight robbery it seems is no longer a crime in Premiership land. Oh well, at least all that tax he will pay, will, no doubt, help the beleaguered British economy?

A departure that certainly did surprise me mid month was that of Paul (Larry) Grayson from Northampton Saints, after 19 years loyal service as first player then coach and finally assistant coach to Jim Mallinder. Without doubt, during his time as a player “Larry” was one of the outstanding English fly-halves and thoroughly deserved his world cup winner’s medal, as backup to Jonny Wilkinson. It seems unclear at the moment what lies behind the “mutual” parting of company, although, I have a suspicion that Paul may be carrying the can for the inconsistent performances by the back division this (and quite a bit of last) season.

Like many long term Saints supporters, I can’t help feeling that the lack of attacking ideas once the forwards have relinquished possession of the ball, may well have more to do with some of the recruitment strategy, rather than any failure on behalf of the coaching set-up. If Paul Grayson had any influence on the decision to import these players, I have no idea (but suspect not), but everything I have heard and seen suggests that Paul is a first class bloke and I hope that all goes well for him in the future.

Rose Hips - Still a little colour to be found in the hedgerows

 

Talking of barmy November decisions, thank goodness all came right for England’s Autumn International Season in the end, after Chris Robshaw’s 78^th minute moment of insanity against South Africa. A match which, by the way, took place three days short of ninety eight years after the first policewoman went on duty, although I don’t think the two events are connected.

The Leveson report was it seems the month’s weightiest matter, in volume (or volumes) if nothing else. Although the speed with which any of it’s recommendation are likely to be implemented, may well be on a par with the equally controversial November decision to increase the speed limit for horseless carriages from 4 to 14mph, in 1896.

Bracket Fungus

I totally agree that the innocent and particularly those grieving a loss or emotional crisis should be protected from the cheap, sensationalist, mud-slinging, gossip mongering, hacks (of all papers) – forgive me if I have left any categories out. But, I do also feel that Ian Hislop has a valid point, when he says the law is already adequate to deal with a lot of these issues if only it was properly prosecuted.

For which of course you need an honest and independent police force without influence from an honest and independent government. Hum!

Now, just run it past me again, you say the fireworks are to celebrate the failure to blow up parliament?