Cycling in the Heat

Having discovered that my Mountain Bike had a broken spoke yesterday and with a WC free day I had time to both get a cycle ride in and take the wheel to be repaired. I decided to do a road route that I haven't done for a while and got out early as the heat is getting a bit difficult for cycling at the moment. I had forgotten it had some rather steep sections and so was glad I completed it in the morning!

In the afternoon I took my wheel to a great little cycle shop next to the SBB Bahnhof in Basel, Wenger's Rad Shop (nothing to do with Arsene) and the guy said it would be ready in an hour!!! Spoke fixed, wheel trued and just 22 CHF - it's not all expensive out here. Also the owner had a photo that showed he was in the Guinness World Records for smallest tridem (bike for three) ever ridden too!

A Lone Englishman in Germany...

So it's a second round game v Germany and where better as an Englishman to watch the game than in Märkt in Germany with a load of Germans, including one very fanatical supporter, Dirk! Despite the awful England performance and result it was still a great afternoon with BBQ (thanks Michael - it was so hot!) and a cycle ride there and back - even including the mad scenes in Weil Am Rhein on the way back!

Quiet Build Up - Frenetic Ending

So the two "big" teams managed to qualify from their relatively easy group as England and, right at the last minute, USA struggled over the line into the last 16. USA deserved top spot after their disallowed goals and it ensures a game against Germany for us. It wasn't a big build up (see left) in Paddy's but soon got going with both games on and even a couple of Algerian fans there too.

Basel Goes Quiet!

Following last week's unexpected victory over Spain, the whole of Switzerland is in World Cup frenzy and with a 4.00pm game against Chile - rush hour started at 3.00pm with everyone in place (see photo from centre of Basel) ready for the game. I watched it in Paddy's (a regular haunt) and despite the loss to Chile people were still hopeful of a good win on Friday and progression to the next round. However, I then was off to Jim & Beth's for an evening with some old friends from USA, back over for Roche meetings and a late night on a MONDAY!

Beers Needed to Watch England Tripe..

Strangely the Swiss are very keen to show support for this England side (I guess it is all as a result of the Premier League coverage across the world) and I even saw a few Swiss wearing England shirts. I watched the game in a regular football/rugby haunt in Paddy's and we needed the beers to shut out how bad the match was - 0-0 doesn't even describe how bad it was.

Switzerland beat Spain!!!

It has been a really miserable wet and cold day here in Basel today but that has not even been noticed as the Swiss Nati have surprised everyone, including themselves and all of Switzerland, by beating the European Champions, Spain. Jim and I ended up watching this match with hundreds of Swiss fans in the Querfeldhalle where the result was greeted with joy and complete and utter disbelief! Hopp Schwiiz!!

Ticket from Yesterday

Public Viewing ticket from yesterday's game at St Jakob!

Big Screen - YES, Big Crowds - NO!

I went down to the large public viewing area that has been set up near St Jakobs Stadium today for the Denmark v Netherlands game. I think we can say that the crowd was a little on the disappointing side - maybe the the people will turn up for the Switzerland game this week!

All Square with the Yanks

Well actually with just one Yank, our good friend Jim. Claire & I went round to Jim's for the game against USA and everyone was left relatively happy, except perhaps Robert Green after that howler! Even the Swiss shops were supporting England though!!!

Four Weeks of Football Kick Off

Looking forward to all the games with South Africa time zone fitting in perfectly to the European agenda! WC wallchart is up & running!

Too Many Drinks?

Yet another really nice evening at Jim & Beth's last night but we may have over done it a little on the alcohol front. There were five of us in total and Beth texted to say that she found 11 empty bottles - surely some of them had been there from before!! Here's the view from their balcony and we're back next week for the USA v England WC game.

Swisscom Connections Sorted?

One of the things that needs to be sorted before we move into the house of Clemens & Petra is a new DSL connection from Swisscom so that we can still get their Bluewin TV and hence the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five stuff as well as the football (via Teleclub Sport) for me! I met Clemens in Basel to have a quick meeting with Swisscom and it seems that it is all pretty straight forward but we shall wait and see. Apparently the Swisscom technician should appear some time in the next few weeks and the official changeover date will be August 23rd when our current phone number and service will switch to the new house. Fingers Crossed!