I listened to:

"The Walrus in Memorium" composed by Terry Riley and performed by Gloria Cheng-Cochran (piano)
"China Gates" composed by John Adams, performed by Gloria Cheng-Cochran (piano)
"The Heaven Ladder, Book 7" composed by Terry Riley, performed by Gloria Cheng-Cochran (paino)
"Phrygian Gates" composed by John Adams, performed by Gloria Cheng-Cochran (piano).

-Richard

The next kitten we fostered was Custard. A little orange guy that came into us August 15th 2005. He was only with us a short time as he ws adopted out on September 9th 2005. He was named after the Classic kids Cartoon "Roobarb and Custard" a favourite from my childhood. Custard is the cat in the cartoon. See a small clip below.



-Richard

Latest Score Update:

Buffalo 7 Raleigh 43. US Rugby Division 2 Quarter Final.

Cricket: Durham drew with Warwickshire. County Championship Division 1. Durham stay in 3rd place 19 1/2 points behind leaders, Yorkshire.

Football: Atlanta Silverbacks 1 Carolina RailHawks 2. USL Division 1. The RailHawks move up to 7th place in the table 5 points behind leaders, Atlanta Silverbacks.

Rugby League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 4 Bradford Bulls 14. Challenge Cup.
Huddersfield Giants 36 Bradforld Bulls 12. Superleague. Bradford stay in 3rd place 2 points behind leaders St. Helens.

Baseball: Houston Astros 10 Arizona Diamondbacks 4
Houston Astros 5 Arizona Diamondbacks 2
Houston Astros 6 San Fransisco Giants 5
Houston Astros 2 San Fransisco Giants 1
Houston Astros 1 San Fransisco Giants 2
Houston Astros 4 Texas Rangers 7. The Astros move up to 2nd place in the National League Central Divsion, 5 1/2 games behind Division Leaders, Milwaukee Brewers.

-Richard

Today was the first "meaningful" game at the new Wembley Stadium. For so long the Mecca of the Football World Wembley was knocked down and re-built. The most controversial decision was to take away the famous twin towers. For me those towers always got the heart beating as I took the walk up Wembley Way. I was lucky to be able to go to several events at the old Stadium. Some of the most memourable where seeing England play there. There game I saw there was England vs USSR in May 1991. England won 3-1. The other memorable England games I saw were a chance to see Brazil in 1992, a 1-1 tie. I also saw the USA play for the first time at Wembley in a 2-0 win to England on two Alan Shearer goals in September 1994.

On of the most special events I went too was actually a non-League cup final. I new some one had a spare press pass so I got to watch the 1995 final between Woking and Runcorn in the press box. Just thinking about the history recorded on that box was amazing (as well as getting free food!!). Woking won the game 2-1.

I also went to one Rugby League Challenge Cup final there. I can't remember who played in the final, but, I do remember Wigan winning because the friend I went with is a Wigan fan.


I also, went to concerts there. The best was taking Jenn, as a surprise to hear one her favourite groups, the Eagles. This was the occasion of the photo (above) in this post, which she took on the way in.

Theses are just a few of my memories of the place. I can't say that Wembley was my favourite place to watch events. It did have the greatest aura and history about it. I think the best place that I have watched a football game was Old Trafford (my favourite though, Spartan Stadium for a San Jose / LA game) and my favourite Stadium of all is Twickenhm, the home of England Rugby. There is no feeling compared to the singing of hymns in unison by everyone in the Stadium such as happens when England fans sing "Swing Low" (for example).

Despite the new facade the history cannot be taken away from the infamous first FA Cup final there in 1923 when thousands of fans ended on the pitch in a 2-0 Bolton win over West Ham, to European Cups, to Euro 2006, to Live Aid to perhaps the most famous and spectacular of all, England winning the World Cup in 1966. Hopefully the new version will have as many memorable events.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Major British Poets" edited by Oscar Williams. A compilation of poets from William Blake to Dylan Thomas. This included my favourite all time poem "Dulce Et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen.

-Richard

Latest Score Update:

Rugby Union: Raleigh 83 Memphis 5. US Rugby Division II Championship Last 16.

Cricket: Durham beat Lancashire by 57 runs. Friends Provident Trophy. Durham are in 3rd place in the North Pool, 2 points behind leaders Yorkshire.
Durham beat Kent by 157 runs. County Championship Division 1. Durham move up to the 3rd place in the Championship trailing Leaders Yorkshire by 18 points.

Football: Atlanta Silverbacks 2 Carolina RailHawks 0. USL Division 1. The RailHawks fall to 9th place in the league, 5 points behind leaders, Atlanta Silverbacks.
Carolina RailHawks 2 Chivas USA 0. Friendly.

Rugby League. Bradford Bulls 38 Leeds Rhinos 42. Superleague. Bradford fall to 3rd place in the table 2 points behind leaders, Leeds Rhinos.

Baseball: St.Louis Cardinals 0 Houston Astros 13
St. Louis Cardinals 3 Houston Astros 1
Cincinnati Reds 4 Houston Astros 5
Cincinnati Reds 6 Houston Astros 7
Cincinnati Reds 2 Houston Astros 3
Cincinnati Reds 9 Houston Astros 5
Houston Astros 1 Arizona Diamondbacks 3

Basketball: Houston Rockets 99 Utah Jazz 103. Western Conference 1st round play-off. The Rockets are eliminated 4-3.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Angel Voices" performed by Libera.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Chester A. Arthur: 21st President of the United States" written by Rita Stevens.

-Richard

I finished reading Leviticus, in my chapter of the Bible a day.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Bob Dole" by Richard Ben Cramer.

-Richard

The next cat we fostered was Chamomille. She was the mother of Assam, Ceylon, Tetley and Typhoo. She came to us the 2nd August 2005. When she came in she was completed freaked and almost semi-feral. Infact she climbed up the wall of the room when she first came in. However, she soon came to trust us, and especially Jenn who worked with her. Although she still was very shy and scared a couple saw her picture on the web and came to see her. They immediatley fell in love with her and she found her "forever" home on Jan 31st 2006.



-Richard

Yesterday we went to the third game of the Carolina RailHawks. The team is still unbeaten, but, unfortunatley also have yet to win. However, the standard of play is still surprising me with some great football played. I think the win and goals will come soon as they improve with every game. We took some photos at the game. The ones to the top left and right are both sides of the Stadium before the game. The action shot (below) was during a RailHawks corner kick. The Puerto Rico goalkeeper is Josh Saunders and ex-Quake. Talking of "ex-players" the RailHawks of to former Quake: Dario Brose and Chris Carrieri and one former Hartlepool United player - Stuart Brightwell. The photo below is of me taken just after the game. It was a damp and cold Carolina evening.


-Richard

Football

It's called our National game,
But, perhaps it should be
Our National disgrace.
We watch in horror
The pictures on T.V.
Of maniacal fans
Tearing Dublin apart
And those from Millwall
Marauding across the pitch.

It's not just the fans that go astray,
But the players, the heroes,
For so many, young and old alike.
Eric Cantona's kung fu
In front of Children too.
Vinny Jones thriving in violence.
Sport or not
It just shows how much
Societies are crumbling.

18th February 1995 - Uxbridge, Middlesex, England.

-Richard

Latest Score Update:

Rugby Union: Norfolk 34 Raleigh 30. MARFU Division II Final.

Cricket: Durham beat Leicestershirt by 8 wickets. Friends Provident Trophy
Yorkshire beat Durham by 9 wickets. County Championship Division 1. Durham are in 6th place in the table 31 points behind leaders Warwickshire.
Derbyshire beat Durham by 4 wickets. Friends Provident Trophy. Durham are in 5th place in the North Conference 2 points behind leaders, Yorkshire.
Durham beat Durham UCCE by 163 runs. MCC University Match

Football: Rochdale 2 Hartlepool United 0. League 2
Hartlepool United 1 Bristol Rovers 2. League 2. Hartlepool finish the Season with 88 points and finish in 2nd place one point behind champions Walsall.
Carolina RailHawks 0 Atlanta Silverbacks 0. USL Division 1
Carolina RailHawks 0 Puerto Rico Islanders 0 USL Divison 1. The RailHawks are in 8th place with 3 points, 2 points behind leaders, Atlanta Silverbacks.

Rugby League: Bradford Bulls 36 Warrington Wolves 24. Superleague. Bradford fall to 2nd place in the league trailing leaders, Leeds Rhinos on points difference.

Baseball: Milwaukee Brewers 4 Houston Astros 3
Philadelphia Phillies 11 Houston Astros 4
Pittsburgh Pirates 3 Houston Astros 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 4 Houston Astros 3
Pittsburgh Pirares 5 Houston Astros 3
Houston Astros 1 Milwaukee Brewers 4
Houston Astros 10 Milwaukee Brewers 1
Houston Astros 1 Milwaukee Brewers 3
Houston Astros 2 Cincinatti Reds 11
Houston Astros 3 Cincinatti Reds 1
Houston Astros 7 Cincinattie Reds 5
St. Louis Cardinals 3 Houston Astros 2. The Astros fall to 5th place in the National League Central Division with a record of 12-16. They are 6 1/2 games behind division leaders, Milwaukee Brewers.

Basketball: Houston Rockets 98 Utah Jazz 90
Utah Jazz 81 Houston Rockets 67
Utah Jazz 98 Houston Rockets 85
Houston Rockets 98 Utah Jazz 92
Utah Jazz 94 Houston Rockets 82. All games Western Conference play-off 1st round. Series is tied 3-3.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Power and The Glory" written by Graham Greene.

-Richard