Ippoippo

Last night, Wales played Japan in the Rugby World Cup. You can read about it at the BBC here, or in Japanese (日本語) here.

It wasn’t a full stadium, with attendance at about 44000 people. Ticket costs had put people of I guess, and also some fans travelling from Japan maybe couldn’t justify the cost of going to both France (for three of their games) and Wales for one more game.
Still, there was a reasonable number of Japanese fans there. There were a few Japanese families there, some of which I think were those who live in South Wales because of the Japanese factories based in South Wales. Yuko spoke to some, and they said they had travelled down from the North of England for the game, again familes of people working at Japanese factories there.
The other main contingent of Japanese fans seemed to be older men (and the odd older wife in tow). One chap we spoke to ran a travel agency company, so he was pretty much mixing work and pleasure. Younger women though, it seems, don’t tend to support Rugby much. They all end up being Baseball and Football (soccer) fans.

The game itself was reasonably enjoyable, and the Welsh crowd got behind the Japanese side, appreciating their playing style (running the ball a lot) and their ‘never give up’ attitude.
The Welsh side played pretty poorly in the first half, and the first Japanese try was a corker. The 2nd try the Japanese got in the second half was pretty good too.
In the end though, in the second half, Wales started playing better and we started to score a lot more.

Yuko enjoyed herself though, and now would like to see a proper 6 Nations game. Wouldn’t mind using the 6 Nations as an excuse to go up to Scotland for a game.

I’ve got some pictures… over here in my gallery. I’m putting together a small video too, if I get the time.

That’s just wrong!

Also, found this rather funky little site. Will be most useful in sorting out my CoverArt for iTunes.

Weekend

I’m bloody knackered!

It was a full weekend, over in London for Yuko’s cousins last weekend in the UK. Once again, I’ve come to the conclusion that London is just an overpriced, overrated place. If you want excellent big city fun, go to Tokyo or Osaka!
Still, the weekend was OK. We went up on the London Eye, which was my first time and probably only time. We timed it well, so we hit the top pretty much at sunset.
Afterwards, we headed off to Porters to get some grub. Not bad place, though not great. Best thing about it was the beer, by St. Peters. Never had it before, but the Stout was quite tasty.

On Sunday, we went to Buckingham Palace, managed to spot a bit of a parade, and had a photo-session/quick chat with some Chelsea War Pensioners. Then it was on towards Picadilly Circus. Up there, there are some Japanese food stores, so we stocked up on some stuff we can’t get in the Japanese food place in Cardiff. Blown our carbon-allowance there a bit more, but since the stuff has been sent here and somebody else would have brought it anyway… well that’s my way of justifying the extravagance.
We then made our way through Soho to get some food. That was interesting, as cousin looked rather weary and a little concerned when we walked past many places that catered to ‘those who bat for the otherside’ Guess as you get older, you tend to be more comfortable about such things and just ignore it all.
Lunch was had at The Rock and Sole Plaice Chippie. A big thumbs up to a Japanese friend of ours (someone who was in Bath College with Yuko, and now lives in London), who told us about the place. Best fish and chips I’ve had for ages (’Crispy/crunch chips, sit down to eat off plates’ type rather than ‘over-the-top greasy type’ takeaway).
It’s got a few mixed reviews on the web, with some complaining about poor service. I suspect that could well be the case on some days, as the ambience from the place seemed like it depended on which staff you got working that day would drastically alter your eating experience. Then again, I would have to agree with the rave reviews it’s got.

Said cousin went back to Japan today, so Yuko should be on her way home about now.

Next event now is Wales vs Japan in Cardiff for Rugby World Cup.

RWC

Talking of which… bloody hell
Wales lost … but at least we managed to stick 20 points on a Southern Hemisphere team, and and the odd moment of good play intermingled with not-so-good.
England meanwhile are playing like complete muppets. We may have an upset in my opinion, and there is the real risk of them losing to Samoa or Tonga resulting in them having to pre-qualify for the next World Cup. It’s deja vu… except last time that happened was with Wales in the 1991 World Cup.
Ireland, well, I’ve no idea what the hell is going on with them. Their were my personal 3rd placed team, behind France and NZ to win the event. Now, well, with France playing a bit erratically as well, I reckon we are in for a NZ vs (Aus or SA) final.

Nova

Hmm, look’s like the Nova chain of English Language schools is going down the plug-hole… Northern Rock style!

Gorden, tell them where to shove it!

Bloody cheek! Gordon, tell that bloody US General that we don’t want to get dragged into the next US conflict. We shouldn’t have been in the last one for &^$%s sake.

Once again, F1 is a complete mess.

Yesterday, we had the announcement of McLaren’s punishment for ‘Spy’ Affair. Whilst a fair few people were disappointed and confused by the decision to not punish the drivers… it was sort of accepted.

However, today, the FIA released it’s full findings. You can get the PDF here.

All I’ll say is that if Alonso wins the WDC this year, he’s got to be one of the least deserving champions of recent history. This kinda thing surpasses Schumacher’s dodgy antics.

Sure, the driver’s were granted immunity if they provided evidence… BUT this is really taking the pi$$. Interesting to see that Hamilton said he had no information. Explaination 1 would be that this is true. Pedro de la Rosa was only supplying info to his fellow Spaniard Alonso. Explaination 2 is that he lied, and he did have evidence. If he now gets caught out, he’ll be in big trouble.

Anyway, some choice snippets from the PDF.

3.1 In the period after the 26 July Decision, the FIA was made aware of a specific allegation that e-mails relevant to the FIA’s investigation had been exchanged between certain McLaren drivers.
3.2 The FIA therefore wrote to three McLaren drivers (Mr. Alonso, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. de la Rosa) to establish whether or not this allegation had any basis in fact and requested that they produce copies of any relevant documents, including any
electronic communications (howsoever conveyed or stored) which may be relevant to this case and which make reference to Ferrari, Ferrari’s employee Nigel Stepney (“Stepney”) or any technical or other information coming from or
connected with either Ferrari or Stepney.
…
…However, the drivers were notified that if it later came to light that they had withheld any potentially relevant information,
serious consequences could follow.

3.4 All three drivers responded. Mr. Hamilton responded that he had no information responsive to the FIA’s request. Mr. Alonso and Mr. de la Rosa both submitted emails to the FIA which the WMSC finds highly relevant. Subsequently (at
McLaren’s request) both Mr. Alonso and Mr. de la Rosa made written statements to the WMSC verifying that these e-mails were sent and received and offering context and explanations regarding the e-mails. The e-mails show unequivocally
that both Mr. Alonso and Mr. de la Rosa received confidential Ferrari information via Coughlan; that both drivers knew that this information was confidential Ferrari information and that both knew that the information was being received by
Coughlan from Stepney.

3.5 On 21 March 2007 at 09.57 Mr. de la Rosa wrote to Coughlan in the following
terms:
“Hi Mike, do you know the Red Car’s Weight Distribution? It would be important for us to know so that we could try it in the simulator. Thanks in advance, Pedro. p.s. I will be in the simulator tomorrow.”

3.7 On 25 March 2007 at 01.43 Mr. de la Rosa sent an e-mail to Fernando Alonso which sets out Ferrari’s weight distribution to two decimal places on each of Ferrari’s two cars as set up for the Australian Grand Prix.

3.12 In the same e-mail exchange of 25 March 2007, Mr. de la Rosa states that tests had been carried out on a flexible rear wing which Mr. de la Rosa says is “a copy of the system we think Ferrari uses”. The Ferrari car’s precise aero balance at 250 kph is also identified. While it is conceivable that the former item could have been copied from observation of the Ferrari car, it is clear from the context of the exchange (it being part of the information that Mr. de la Rosa describes as being
“very reliable” because it comes from Stepney) that the latter item is confidential to Ferrari and that it was passed to Mr. de la Rosa by Coughlan, who got it from Stepney.

3.14 Mr Alonso replied at 12.31 that it is “very important” that McLaren test the gas that Ferrari uses in its tyres as “they have something different from the rest”, and “not only this year. there is something else and this may be the key; let’s hope we can test it during this test, and that we can make it a priority!”.

3.18 On 12 April 2007 at 12.25 Mr. de la Rosa wrote to Mr. Coughlan and asked “ can you explain me as much as you can, Ferrari’s braking system with the [reference to detailed technical information]? Are they adjusting from inside the cockpit…?”

3.19 After a number of exchanges about whether a description would be too complicated to articulate by e-mail, Mr. Coughlan replies on 14 April 2007 at 14.40 with a technical description which purports to be a description of the
principles underpinning the Ferrari braking system. Ferrari have confirmed that the description given is an accurate (though incomplete) description of the principles of its braking system. Coughlan concludes with a statement that “we
are looking at something similar”. This latter statement strongly suggests that the McLaren system was being worked on from a position of knowledge of the details of the Ferrari system, which, even if the Ferrari system not being directly copied,
must be more advantageous to McLaren than designing a system without such knowledge.