Applebee's and Y Ddraig Goch 2

Whilst St. David's wasn't quite the huge celebration here as I would have wished, still, a pleasant evening was had by all at Applebee's, St. Patrick's found your intrepid (does that mean "between 3 feet" ??) reporter, that's me, at the highly publicised event of Shamrock's St. Paddy's Night, an' I'll be a Fried Pumpkin if I wern't jammied into being M.C. for the night. Viv the Boss, thrust a microphone (OOOeeerrr!) into my Phissog, and there I was a-talkin' like blazes, could be a future profession innit for me.

I spent the rest of the week wondering where I could get to see the Wales v. Ireland match, well truth be told, I did a whole bunch of other things too, like work, eat, sleep and go to the toilet but we needn't go into that, BUT the rugby was on my mind A LOT, especially so as the espn programme schedule showed nuffin but football football football poker football football football (see previous post), however on Friday last this all changed and it was football football football RUGBY football football football, and YES the Six Nations Wales v. Ireland match!! Snatch up, did I, the telephone (sorry I've been watching Star Wars over the weekend, I'mon Yoda Speak) to get in touché with Mr. Applebee to reserve the best seats. Best Seats gotten, a great afternoon was had in the company of good friends, REAL Rugby Fans!

Applebee's and Y Ddraig Goch

Last Friday 5pm local time found me frantically chasing around the neighbourhood in a vain attempt to find a bar which had cable and would show the Wales v. France match on TV5 the French channel. Not a chance. Football (or soccer, for my N. American readers). If you want to see a football game you'll find any street corner shibeen will sure to be tuned in to any championship from around the world. The Brazilian ESPN channel programme schedule reads something like this:

14:00 Futebol: Campionato Inglês
16:00 Futebol: Campionato Italiano
18:00 Futebol: Campionato Espanhol
20:00 Futebol: Campionato Alemão
22:00 Poker (Poker ?? A freaking SPORT?? PUH-LEEEEEZZ!!)
22:15 Futebol: Campionato Inglês (highlights!)
23:00 Futebol: Campionato Sub Sahara
00:30 Futebol: Campionato Outer Mongolia.

ad infinitum, ad nausium

Upshot was I missed the game on Friday and had to make provisions for a second chance, 7pm Sunday evening on ESPN International, the trick was to try and avoid all homepages which would show the result. Failed miserably.
Still, St. David's Day evening came round and I was in a very smart bar watching the game and explaining what was going on to a curious barman ("NO, it's NOTHING like AMERICAN FOOTBALL!!").