Albie
Keeping an open eye on the Weeping Angels.
I do think that France should get more credit than what people are giving them for getting were they were today. Yes, the lost twice in the group stages against NZ (expected) and Tonga (shockingly unexpected) but they beat two decent teams in the knock-out stages (top two teams in Europe) and gave NZ a real scare in the final. What you need to remember is that France beating NZ in the world cup, or a test match, is not new (2007 and 1999) so had they won, I would not have been surprised. NZ are a team that can walk any match if they are not put under any pressure. Get under their skin, and they quite often panic. That is why it has taken them 24 years to regain the trophy. Notice how they cautiously saw out the last 5 minutes or so by keeping the ball through many phases and really slowed it down? They were looking to draw the penalty against the French who were getting pretty frustrated by this.
A guy at work is typical of a lot of people - they get all starry-eyed about NZ (like some do with Brazil in football). He told me he was going to bet on NZ winning with a 15 point start to France (i.e. NZ would have had to beat France by more than 15 for him to collect his winnings). I told him not to do it - but I'm not sure if he took my advice. He did exactly the same in 2007 and was going to bet on SA beating England with England getting a 12 point start. Again, I told him not to. I was right then and I was right today. Rugby World Cup finals have almost always been close (i.e. a score difference between winning and loosing).
A guy at work is typical of a lot of people - they get all starry-eyed about NZ (like some do with Brazil in football). He told me he was going to bet on NZ winning with a 15 point start to France (i.e. NZ would have had to beat France by more than 15 for him to collect his winnings). I told him not to do it - but I'm not sure if he took my advice. He did exactly the same in 2007 and was going to bet on SA beating England with England getting a 12 point start. Again, I told him not to. I was right then and I was right today. Rugby World Cup finals have almost always been close (i.e. a score difference between winning and loosing).
Not taking over until December 1st, though, but I see the end of my train commuter existence ... But, shock and horror, for those 53 m2 plus garage I have to pay more than NOK 2 Million ... that translates to between € 250K and € 300K, and that is not small money. Fortunately the interest rates are low - for now.
