Big rugby weekend too, with a lot on the line for the top 10 or so teams in the URC. Your results foretold:
Edinburgh v Munster: Edinburgh are in a must-win home game against Munster and come into the match on a three-game winning streak, although (with respect, nah, just joking) it’s only been against Zebre, Cardiff and Scarlets. Munster, on the other hand, are unbeaten since losing New Year’s Day and have thrashed Connacht at home and the Lions away after dispatching the Bulls at Loftus as well. One of the form (unsmiling Irish) teams and they’ll be good to sneak past Edinburgh.
Result: Munster by 4
Zebre Parma v Scarlets: Two pretty crappy sides who’ll gain no solace in consistency, when it’s going home empty-handed week in and out. Bald men fighting over a comb and all that. Zebre started the season with some agonisingly narrow losses, which could possibly have given them a boost to aim for higher up the table. But it wasn’t to be, and they’ve been hammered in recent weeks, with an average deficit of 32 points a match in their last three. Scarlets have been princely by comparison, losing only by about 11 a match over that period. Still, Zebre are overdue a win, it’s lazy ‘home-win punditry’ and this one would pull them off the bottom and above Scarlets (and the Drags).
Result: Zebre Parma by 2
Bulls v Benetton: The Bulls are a side that can really turn it on when they smell blood (and let’s face it, if your average Saffer can’t smell blood, they’ll batter something – not a Mars Bar – until blood spills, so they can smell it), and with a home semi still theoretically up for grabs, they’ll be at their beastly best. Benetton actually have the better recent record – three from their last four – and are also still well in the hunt for a last eight berth. A win on Saturday would probably be enough to secure a QF spot, but the Bulls will chuck everything at them and as they showed against the Warriors last weekend, when the mood takes them, they can be lethal. Saw my first opera at Loftus; this won’t be a day of song for the Italians.
Bulls by 27
Ospreys v Dragons RFC: The Ospreys can still theoretically make the top eight, if everyone above them loses their last two matches, which will be motivation enough for the men from Swansea. Might be stupid, but, you know, I’m sure their coach has been filling the airwaves with the usual guff about playing to the end, results going our way, blah blah. Battered by Leinster and the Bulls in the last couple of weeks (albeit after a fine win in Cape Town), they’re on a less-losing streak than the Doused Dragons. Only two wins this year (squeakers against the Scarlets and Zebre), suggests they’re more puff, than the magic.
Ospreys by 12
Lions v Glasgow Warriors: The Lions could really put the cat (cough) among the pigeons if they turn over Glasgow in their quest for an unlikely quarterfinal spot. Unlikely though, as the Lions have not been consistent enough this season (or any other for the last 7 years!), either dishing out hideous hidings, or being on the receiving end of brutal beatings. The Warriors showed against the Bulls last weekend that the altitude beast is a pussycat, roaring back in the last twenty to almost beat the hosts. They’re top of the table, have a wining culture this season and are damned difficult to beat. Should be a Glasgow win, quite easily actually, but….
Lions by 2
Connacht v Stormers: The Wesht is a wicked place to try to get a result, especially for Saffer sides, but as the Lions showed a few weeks ago, and down to 14 men to boot for most of the match, if you’re handling is good and you get quick ball to your strike runners, Connacht can be clobbered. The Stormers will be buoyed by their thrashing of the Drags last weekend and will look to add another Irish scalp this season after wins over Ulster and Leinster. Connacht got battered by Munster last weekend and have to go back to early January for a win against a top side – a Munster that were still finding their rhythm this season. Still a very difficult side to beat, but with places 5 to 8 so close, the Stormers will need to match the wind from the Wesht.
Stormers by 7
Sharks v Cardiff: Tricky one this, with many of the Sharks side to play Glos in the mini-Heini next weekend jetting out early. Should give the Diff a sniff, but they haven’t won since Santa Puff (see above) gave them a Boxing Day pressie. I’ve no idea what kind of Sharks combo will take to the field, but you feel that home ground advantage in what’s still a steamy Durban will see them home against a locked Diff. Nothing more to add, really.
Sharks by 8
Ulster v Leinster: A terrific Irish derby to finish the weekend with. Leinster will be hoping Glasgow get jolted in Jozi, giving them a shot at the top of the log again, whilst Ulster can still sneak a home semi, if others get stiffed (or not, as it were). Ulster have been patchy this season and have been involved in some very tight affairs (stop it, now) both for and against them. Leinster sent their U14 academy side to the land of sunshine and they got clobbered, but bounced back to batter the hapless Ospreys last weekend. It’ll be a hard, uncompromising match, with the visitors nosing ahead at the end. Sorry gracious host.
Leinster Rugby by 3
Bum steers by Deebee7
Onna telly this weekend
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates that it’s on a free to view channel. Times are in the UK zone, so adjust as necessary.
Friday 17th May
| Zebre v Scarlets | 19:35 | BBC2 Wales / iPlayer / Premier Sports 2 |
| Edinburgh v Munster | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
Saturday 18th May
| Bulls v Treviso | 13:00 | PremierPlayer |
| Ospreys v Dragons | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Lions v Glasgow | 15:05 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Bath v Northampton | 15:05 | TNT Sports Extra |
| Gloucester v Newcastle | 15:05 | TNT Sports Extra |
| Harlequins v Bristol | 15:05 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Leicester v Exeter | 15:05 | TNT Sports Extra |
| Saracens v Sale | 15:05 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Connacht v Stormers | 17:05 | RTÉ2 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Sharks v Cardiff | 17:15 | S4C / iPlayer / Premier Sports 2 |
| Ulster v Leinster | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
And a final try to rub salt into the wounds. Glasgow will be shattered after this result. 44-21 into the last few seconds. Can they deny Glasgow a 4 try BP? YES THEY CAN! What an incredible performance by the Lions! Simply sensational in the second half!
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…..so, Northampton vs Saracens and Bath vs. Sale.
Mention for Bristol – who got a grip just too late;
Quins – who faded
Exeter – who over-achieved
Leicester – who did the opposite and deserve nothing
Gloucester – the same – but if they win the Challenge Cup will replace Leicester in the Champions Cup next season.
Newcastle – well, they tried and suffered and have shed lots of players for next season – future uncertain.
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Christ Glasgow, you had ONE job! Thankfully we’ve got a home game against Zebre to finish off next week. We don’t get 5 points from that, we don’t deserve to be anywhere near the final spots.
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Rumours of Hogg to Newcastle.
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From. an Edinburgh perspective the best thing that can happen in the last URC match of the day is a Leinster win with Ulster getting nowt.
Soz Thaum
So far the best thing about the rugby today from a Scottish perspective is Ryan Wilson getting smacked in the face with a birthday cake in the studio
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BB, not sure what was said in the Lions dressing room at half time, but that was 40 minutes of a combination of desperate scrambling defence, favourable bounce of the ball (and the odd ref’s call) and some scintillating attacking. Mostly though, it was 23 guys absolutely pulling for one another.
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Deebs, there was one controversial call, the Lions player who scragged the ball off the Glasgow scrum half and ran in to score looked like he was offside at the ruck, maybe. Beyond that I don’t think there was much that significantly influenced the result. Glasgow are not a championship side yet, they’ve not beaten anyone of consequence recently and injuries are killing them.
Today was a very low point, they looked exhausted when Lions had a prop who ate ALL the pies and a 40 year old lock running about in a 13 man team and then a 14 man team.
I said elsewhere that I don’t think I’ve seen Glasgow play a half that badly before and fair play to Lions, they took advantage and then some, they were running in tries for fun.
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Ticht – you’re off the xmas card list.
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TRY Lowry – ???
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I wouldn’t like to have made that decision, it was so close
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Hmph. Adjudged not.
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Ticht, after last week at Loftus I thought Glasgow would paste us in the second half, but they looked fairly bewildered when the Lions started chucking it about – with the passes sticking. They won’t be that bad again and will still be a threat in the playoffs.
The Lions story is great in that they have no current Boks in the side, with a couple of guys who last played international rugby about a decade ago. They do have a bunch of guys who should get capped in the next couple of years though.
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Wow, Leinster are spectators at the moment, Ulster well on top
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Try for me.
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Franco’s been brilliant for us, but there are a couple of things he needs to sort out. The squad is decent, but nowhere near the level of the Irish sides (and probably won’t be due to finances – we can’t afford All Blacks or World Cup Winning Springboks), so we also have to develop youth. Think Big Richie Gray’s been a miss the latter half of this season, and we’re a bit under powered in the forwards. We’re also a bit weak at 10. Jordan’s struggled and Coo-Face is past his best. Not sure Hastings is the answer though.
The main things is to VARY OUR STYLE OF RUGBY!!! Yes, when it clicks, it can be breathtaking, but there are times when we just have to be a bit more streetwise and KICK OUR BLOODY PENALTIES!
Right, time for wine.
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Lowry with another is-it-or-isn’t-it. Again it isn’t.
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Hmm. Ref does explain it. I would’ve given it.
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🍷
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BB, I’m more optimistic, Jordan is really a 12 playing 10. Hastings will make a big difference if he stays fit. The midfield Glasgow have is ridiculous Big Staff has been one of the URC players of the season and he’s third choice at best
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Dinner-time!
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Cooney is having one of his games, I’ve long been a fan
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I think Herring dropped that
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Ulster got lucky there, but overall they should have scored by now.
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There hasn’t been any play to the right of ours screens yet
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How the fuck are Leinster ahead on the scoreboard?
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Harry Byrne is no Sexton, good gallop from Stockdale
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Harry Byrne is no Finn Russell either
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Leinster seconds backs have better cohesion than Edinburgh’s firsts, despite not playing together very often at all.
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WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!
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This weekend’s results mean the race for the top 8 remains wide open, with home advantage still up for grabs in the top 4. You’d have to think Munster and Bulls are in pole for top 2, meaning they’d get a “home” final if they make it that far.
From 5 down to 11 all places are interchangeable and a bit of added spice is that Friday coming could have a bearing on Big Euro Cup games and the tv sponsorship that comes with it. If the Sharks beat Gloucester then they get a spot in the Champions Cup, meaning qualification from the league with be limited to top 7.
It’s going to be a doozy of a final round of the regular season in a fortnight’s time, with each of us watching our teams with one eye on how the other games are going.
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Ticht, some crackers that could see a couple of changes in positions 6 to 8 after thr final round. If the Lions play in Cape Town like they did yesterday, they could, theoretically finish fifth and one of Benetton or Edinburgh will be out. A Lions win of any kind will actually knock the loser if that match out. Can’t see the Sharks troubling the Bulls a week after playing their Cup Final, so Bulls should be guaranteed a top 2 finish, Ulster have everything to play for – lose and they may finish 8th and out of the Big Cup if the Sharks win the little one on Friday, so they’ll be pushing Munster all the way, you’d expect Leinster to pick their best and beat Connacht handily-ish and Glasgow to batter Zebre, so Bulls and Munster have to win to keep the top two spots. Fun and games!
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Actually not sure the Lions could finish 5th – goes on number of wins first I think?
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Yeah Deebs, it’s league points, then number of wins then points difference, so the best Lions could achieve is 6th with five full league points from their game against the Stormers, who will be looking to secure fifth themselves.
I would be very surprised of Glasgow don’t get the full five at home against Zebre, that would take them to 65 points and top spot on the Friday evening, although Leinster play the same night against Connacht in Dublin and they themselves will be looking for the full compliment to take them to 65 points.
Munster will be entertaining Ulster and any win for Munster puts them way out in front on at least 67 points, if Ulster win they will either be 5th or 6th, depending on the Stormers v Lions game.
Bulls play the Sharks in Durban, the Sharks have nothing to lose and either they will be on a high after a cup win or will be deflated going into what for them is a dead rubber.
If Ospreys manage a full 5 from their trip to Cardiff they will be right in the hunt for the play offs on 50 points, anything less and I think they are out of contention.
It looks like Benetton v Edinburgh is a straight knock out for the play offs, again depending on the Lions and Ospreys.
Connacht would need the full five points in Dublin to prolong their season, and even then other results would have to go in their favour.
I may have omitted a few other permutations, but at the moment I expect the top four to be 1. Munster, Bulls, if they get the full five, 3. Leinster, 4. Glasgow. If Bulls only get four points they still have a handy points difference advantage over The Dubs and the Weegies and all 3 will be on 13 wins.
I can see Edinburgh losing out, only Glasgow have beaten Benetton at home this season and Edinburgh’s back three players are going down on a weekly basis, Goosen took a bad knock on Friday and we are already without Boffelli, Graham, Kinghorn (departed to Toulouse mid-season), Paterson, Sweeney and Henry, the first four of those are full internationals and we’ve been playing centres on the wing
que sera sera
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“Edinburgh’s back three players are going down on a weekly basis, Goosen took a bad knock on Friday and we are already without Boffelli, Graham, Kinghorn (departed to Toulouse mid-season), Paterson, Sweeney and Henry, the first four of those are full internationals and we’ve been playing centres on the wing”
But apart from that, how’s this season been going….
Seriously, Ticht what do you think of your new head coach. Has there been improvement on last season?
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BB, Everitt was bumped from a very poorly performing Sharks side. His first job was to stop Edinburgh losing and he’s done that, the top 4 teams have all won 12 games and Edinburgh have won 11, we only won 6 games last season.
In the minus column we’ve got the second lowest number of BPs in the league, only Dragons have fewer (they have 4 to our 5). Last year we won 8 try BPs and 6 losing BPs and this has cost us dearly.
Where last season we were scoring freely and playing well enough despite the results to get Mark Bennett back into the international squad in an area of strength of Scotland, this season our backs look clunky and innacurate, it’s like the preseason never really ended. Everitt is supposedly a backs/attack coach.
We’re missing good players, the back three guys mentioned would be missed in many sides, so all in all Everitt has been playing with the deck loaded against him. Having said that you’d expect to see some good attacking lines but there has been nothing. On Friday Munster were slick, fluid and always looked like scoring. We were hurling Hail Mary passes and hoping Duhan could knock over the entire Munster team whilst taking ball on the retreat. Only Matt Currie has enhanced his reputation in the backs over the course of the season, imo. I hope he goes on tour with Scotland in the summer, it would do him the world of good to be in that environment.
Going back to Everitt, I think it’s too soon to evaluate his performance fully, it will take at least another season, I really think we are an inside centre away from having a very good side when everyone is fit – Vellacott/Price, Heally, van der Merwe, A Centre, Currie, Graham, Boffelli isn’t half bad. If Tuipuloto Jnr is as good as his brother we’ll be on to something, but only of the coaches get the best out of them.
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Was never Everrit who was the problem at the Sharks, it’s the rugby culture in Durban. They’ve spent a fortune buying marquee players with little depth outside of that. Plumtree sitting with a similar issue: lots of Boks who don’t play all the matches, a loose forward cupboard more attuned to 7s than the grind of real rugby and not enough grunt in the tight five once the big boys are off.
Contrast that with the Lions who have no marquee players, but a spirit in the squad and a belief that they can score from anywhere. A bunch of grizzled journeymen+ in the tight five and some wonderful attacking players in the back row and backs. It doesn’t always work, but they’re building something very nice at Ellis Park.
The other two Saffer sides have a lot of Boks, but also depth that the Sharks don’t have. Which is why they’re in the mix and the chequebook chokers aren’t.
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Munster dug out a win. Ref wasn’t great but generally he wasn’t great for both teams.
On Healy/Snyman incident, I guess a case could be made that reversing the penalty stopped the next incident from flaring up.
Naturally, quite pleased to see Ulster steal it at the end – but they should have been well ahead early on. Cooney and Addison both blew breaks and Lowry was a bit unlucky.
After the big defeats in SA, and this one – there are signs that Leinster’s depth isn’t that great. The old adage that the Bs could win the league doesn’t look like holding
Not entirely surprised Lions managed to win with 14 – they did the same in Galway Vs Connacht, winning quite comfortably.
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“On Healy/Snyman incident, I guess a case could be made that reversing the penalty stopped the next incident from flaring up.”
The penalty wasn’t reversed, the ref said it wasn’t a late hit and that Snyman was committed to the tackle before the ball was kicked.
That’s not where my problem lies with the incident, Rugby Law 14. Tackle.
Tacklers must:
…
Immediately release the ball and the ball-carrier after both players go to ground.
Immediately move away from the tackled player and from the ball or get up.
…..
Snyman held on to Healy, drove his shoulder into him, made head on head contact, pushed him back over the try line whilst still pinning him down, grabbed him by the shirt and pushed his fist into Healy’s face.
Mata comes in and tries to roll Snyman off Healy but doesn’t manage it, by now there are at least four players trying to get Snyman off Healy, but they still can’t shift the six foot nine, twenty stone lock off the flyhalf.
The match clock is stopped at 52:51 if any of this needs checked.
The ref decides that Mata is the player at fault in all of this, the penalty is awarded five metres from Edinburgh’s try line and Munster score from the tap penalty.
John Barclay makes that point that Edinburgh should have made better work or securing and clearing from the restart, which is true, and they should have defended the tap penalty, none of this reduces the bollocksness of the penalty decision. (btw, Snyman was hugely influential in the game in positive ways as well when he came on)
On the try that Venter scored, which was awarded by the TMO rather than the ref, this outlines the ridiculousness of the way the laws stand, if the ref’s question was “Is there any reason not to give the try?” then there is no controversy, none. However that was not the question and it took a couple of minutes for the TMO to convince the referee that the ball had been grounded over the line.
The last, for me, of the three referee talking points was another incident that led to a Munster score, Sebastian was penalised for kicking the ball out of a ruck. I can’t remember the time of the incident now so I haven’t checked it but watching live it looked to me to be well out and beyond the players who were contesting for possession.
Overall I think Munster look like the form side at the moment and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if they went on to finish the season unbeaten.
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After the dark days of midwinter – when Coombes was lining out at 2nd row because Snyman wasn’t yet back, Beirne was with Ireland, Edogbo had just gotten injured and Kleyn had been ruled out for remainder of season and there wasn’t a 2nd row replacement available – warmer weather and harder grounds, and a selection of fit 2nd rows suit Munster.
Whether we’ll pull off a repeat of last season – who knows, but a win next Sat guarantees a home QF ( and continued home venue if successful)
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Testing. Not WordPress, I’m in Malawi again and it’s testing my patience and sanity. Working on an infrastructure project with one pot and 25 cooks, many of whom are trying to create dishes for which the ingredients are not available. Beer is calling.
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So is Malawi Gin (fabulous stuff), but the slightly dodgy ‘hotel’ I’m in didn’t have any last night. Went for dinner last night, was presented with the menu with a flourish – then told they only had t-bone steak, chicken pieces or fish available. Almost invariably steak, ordered medium-rare, will be served well done. And so it was. Chips were rare to crunchy.
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The hotel is quite pretty in its own way, just shitty (Very Malawian) service! Ordered a Malawi gin and tonic: double gin produced with a proud flourish! Then embarrassed grumbling about the tonic has run out.. run out where? For an evening jog? To find a soul mate? So gin and ginger ale it is!
I’m starting to think I’m in a Malawian version of Fawlty Towers. Run by Ethiopians who don’t really seem to give a shit, staffed by locals who think that an embarrassed laugh represents service and now all of them – the restaurant staff and manager have walked out to look at another guest’s door that won’t close! Hope the kitchen staff are at least looking after my dinner! Oh. Hang on. I haven’t ordered because the waiter and owner are arguing about something outside.
Reminds me ( not especially fondly) of when I first started travelling around Africa nearly 30 years ago. Most of it has improved no end, but this is a gloriously stubborn throwback to a bygone era!
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The chances of anything coming from chef are a million to one. And still, I wait
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Are you still waiting, Deebee? This seems worthy of an ATL.
We returned home for me to find that a starling had mysteriously invaded my completely-shut kitchen and of course shat all over everything. I hate starlings.
So I’m going to be staying at the mister’s for a few days while I clean it up.
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The thing I wonder about is if Tcod is still there, still staring.
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Over two hours for a dry, tasteless pork chop (note the singular, as opposed to the offering on the menu) and underwhelming veggies. I had ordered the grilled half chicken, but they didn’t have any chicken in the kitchen. Was tempted to grab a knife and get my own one – they’re plentiful on the streets.
Speaking of scarcity (in the hotel, at least), the government is in dispute with the only sugar producer in the country, so, as you do, they’ve stopped them from selling sugar, so that’s in short supply too. Doesn’t phase me too much, because there’s lovely honey in the shops and I prefer that in my tea. They also announced this morning that there may be a fuel shortage because the importers are complaining about the price government has set (given that the Kwacha lost 40% of its value against the dollar in December, they possibly have a point).
Got back to the hotel just now to be met by a panicked receptionist/manager who said there wasn’t any coffee in my room but they’d bring some ASAP. I just smiled and assured her that I wasn’t in a hurry. In a country like this, where there is little to nothing that will change your standard of living, no training to speak of and no prospects for advancement if you’re outside of the inner mob, it’s little wonder that nothing ever gets done, and when it does, it gets done so badly.
I just can’t be angry at the staff here – they’re such lovely, accommodating and genuinely warm people, but they’re working in a system that simply doesn’t allow them to be creative or solutions driven, so they just smile and welcome you with ever more enthusiasm. Fuck, I hate politicians their sponsor elites!
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General Election on July 4th!!!!! It’ll be a nice birthday present for me the following day if these Tory Bastards get decimated.
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Slightly early pressie for me too!
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