“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.“
Pele
Many thanks, Spidey, for channelling my surprising football interest this week! Pele is a true football (soccer) legend, and his words can be applied to everything, not just good old footy.
If you live here in the UK, or anywhere in Europe, you can’t miss the fever pitch that the Euro 2021 football tournament has reached, so far.
I am not a footy fan.
Infact, I would go so far as to say I almost ‘hate’ the sport… Well, maybe hate is a rather strong word to use, but it’s not my cup of tea.
No sport is, to be honest. You’d be fooled by some of my posts. Yes I watch cricket. I ferry my son around to all his matches, and I watch them, because it is him playing, but it’s nothing I follow other than his games, and my brother’s when he plays for Finland.
But, this weekend, we had England in the Quarter Finals. I have seen the England flags hanging from so many houses and businesses. We have aschool sweepstake going, for each class (not financial, just to support!) and my class was handed England as their team. So, I also have a vested interest in this tournament. For the class, obviously!
Aside from wanting our class to be the winning class, I realised how important the idea of it ‘Coming Home’ is, right now, to the whole nation. We have all had a sh!tshow of a year and a half, haven’t we? The whole world. And the handling of this pandemic has left many with no faith in anyone political. But Sports seems to be the way to go, to get morale up, spirits high, and happiness flowing.
I went to pick up a takeaway last night, just as the match started, and as I pulled up to park, it was outside a pub. a huge cheer welcomed me into my parking space, and initially, I thought I was being applauded for my (not so) fabulous parking. Then I noticed the marquee in the car park, and the large screen, and the fans going wild. A goal scored, four minutes into the match.
Just that one positive start, lifted the mood around the area. Smiles passed round as freely as the pints were flowing. Other customers waiting for their food were exchanging excited banter. People were communicating in a away that has been lacking, recently, what with social distancing and masks. Okay, so there was still distance, but there were smiles (it was outside, so no masks needed!), and positive exchanges.
I watched a little but I’m afraid the gargantuan task of ironing oer a weeks worth of laundry was calling me, so, after the first half, I melted slightly, in the warm temperatures, as I pressed umpteen shirts and cricket whites, while listening to the fantastic Sacha Black and Dan Willcocks on the Rebel Author Podcast. I had my ear tuned to the reactions of the two footy fans watching downstairs.
And I heard that the match was going well.
Very well.
Lil Man had predicted a 3 – 0 win, and he wasn’t wrong, until they surpassed his expectations and finished with a 4 – 0 score.
Go on, England!!!!!
Semi finals, here we come! (I suppose I’d better be more excited with the kids in my class, now that our team have a real chance of coming out on top!
So… tell me, are you following the Euro Matches this year?
Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!
But I Smile Anyway... 
Jul 15, 2021 @ 07:33:28
It a good
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Jul 10, 2021 @ 12:16:22
Very exciting!!
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Jul 10, 2021 @ 12:22:26
It is, Jennie! Tomorrow England play in a major final for the first time since 1966!!
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Jul 10, 2021 @ 12:58:05
WOW!!!
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Jul 06, 2021 @ 08:57:01
It’s hard to hate it, when everyone in the house Is tuned on the teli cheering
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Jul 06, 2021 @ 15:46:59
True!
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 12:34:11
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 06:02:00
HI Ritu, I am not a sports fan either. I did try with my boys but they have both gravitated towards the things I like including reading and audiobooks and historical research, but not sport. Geeky mom = geeky kids it seems. So nice to hear all these exciting things and see England getting back to normal.
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 06:12:58
Slow and steady, Robbie. Right now I just need my summer break!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 15:48:46
I’m not a great footie fan either. In fact when I arrived in Edinburgh I couldn’t get a taxi from the station to my parents as there were none to be found due to the footie! But I got the bus and that was quite entertaining with all the Scottish fans out and about. But, yes a cheer here or there to elevate the spirits right now sounds fair! I don’t envy you having to iron all those cricket whites!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 15:58:47
Ironing feels neverending;
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 16:01:42
I don’t tend to do any! We live a crumpled life… used to but my hubby doesn’t need ironed shirts anymore.
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 16:04:33
I was okay for a little while. No office meant no shirts for Hubby, plus Lil Man not at school so no uniform… But now offices starting to function, and dang cricket!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 16:05:18
Yikes, and in the warmer weather too. I didn’t use to mind it too much in the cold weather!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 16:47:09
I know! And, where our ironing board is, it’s a heat trap!
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 10:07:31
Oh no! Perhaps move it to a cooler area?
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 15:42:53
Might have to!
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 16:15:50
Lol. Don’t melt! X
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 16:19:04
I’ll try not to!
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 22:06:39
❤ XXX
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 15:12:46
Sometimes sports is the go to for boosting the moral. We witness it many times here. I hope England can bring it home ⚽
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 15:58:00
Fingers crossed, Brother! 🤞🏼
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 16:34:02
🤞🏾💜
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 14:50:07
Fingers crossed….. I was flinching every time the commentators said we’d won. Not until the last whistle on Wednesday! I can hope…I don’t like football at all but I hope England win we need a collective upper!
And no playing “It’s coming home” until it does!!! 🥺💜💜
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 15:57:31
We need it, Sis, absolutely!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 16:26:35
We do, we do 💜💜
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 14:08:51
I haven’t seen a Pele reference in years!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 15:56:51
But he is a classic, isn’t he?
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Jul 05, 2021 @ 12:49:03
Indeed, he is!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 13:52:26
Now, at least for some added weeks you have to be a football mom too, Sis. 😉 You will not believe how thankful i am for the fact, Germany has lost. 😉 Just here in the small village, its always horrible to hear them scream and honk all night long. How can you watch 22 people chasing a ball for hours? 😉 Have a nice Sunday, Sis! xx Michael
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 13:53:28
I’ll never be a footy mum! But I’ll celebrate if we win!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 13:48:10
Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 13:16:35
I follow from a distance, and I do root for England when they are playing. It is amazing to see how the collective mood improves when your team wins!
I hope you have a great week ahead, Ritu.
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 13:22:49
Thanks, Dan! I hope it does end up giving everyone a boost!
You have a fantastic week, too!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 13:00:26
Even at 3 nill I was screaming at the commentators who dared to suggest we had it in the bag. I’ve goodness knows how many sports scars. We’re nailed on to lose the semi final. That’s not being negative but to protect my mental health. https://youtu.be/FfnhmuZ27eQ
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 13:09:18
Oh, His Geoffleship ! I feel your despair!!!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 12:44:45
Ritu, peace be with you as well. That Pete you quoted is a wise man. Keith
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 12:46:22
Pele, not Pete, but he is, indeed!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 14:52:15
Oops. Well, it won’t be the last mistake today.
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 15:57:40
😁🤣
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 11:04:46
Haha, I predicted a 0:3 for England too… lol! It is cool that they finally get that far again. But I am very very proud of the Swiss team for their achievement. They would have deserved to win!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 11:06:32
Patriotism is never a bad thing, Sis!!!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 11:17:40
💖
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 10:36:50
I don’t do football either, but even I’m a bit excited by the prospect of the semi-final and, dare we hope, the final. I might even go so far as to watch it.
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 10:37:12
I’m at that level, with you, April!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 09:37:45
In a house with three teenage boys it’s hard to avoid, it sort of seeps in by osmosis. I didn’t really watch it, I did some work with headphones on (cafe noise and thunder). I am more of a Wales supporter really. Was there cricket at your end yesterday? Somehow mine managed two full matches with the odd rain break. Far more calming. Although some of the dads still get pretty worked up…
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 09:38:58
We did have cricket, too, here, so yup, a sport filled day!
Dads are so competitive!!!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 08:51:57
I pretty much hate football, too, Ritu – except for the big tournaments like this that bring such involvement. As you say, we all needed to see this wonderful team being so successful… and dream!
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 08:54:04
It’s something for us all to grasp hold of, and look upon with positivity isn’t it? 😊
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 08:41:52
My son roots for Portugal. The only time I was interested in watching soccor was when my daughter played.
I wonder if there’s an “I hate sports” gene?
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Jul 04, 2021 @ 08:44:45
I have that gene, if it exists!!!
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