Lions team to face the Barbarians

The Lions team to face the Baa Baas has just been announced, and is as follows (Barbarians team below):

Lions team: Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland); Owen Farrell (England), Mike Phillips (Wales); Mako Vunipola (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Toby Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: Tom Youngs (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Matt Stevens (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), George North (Wales).

The Lions team (or is that Wales plus friends?!) is looking pretty strong, although this is unlikely to be anything close to the team that starts the first test.

What do you think?

...and the Barbarians team, if you're interested. Featuring England's Elliot Daly, who is unlucky not to be in their touring squad. Also Dean Mumm of the mighty Exeter Chiefs gets a starting spot, the Aussie wasn't picked for the Wallabies team, but still gets to face the Lions.

Barbarians: Jared Payne (Ulster), Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand), Elliot Daly (London Wasps), Casey Laulala (Munster, New Zealand), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz, United States), Nick Evans (Harlequins, New Zealand), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz, France); Paul James (Bath, Wales), Schalk Brits (Saracens, South Africa), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester, Italy), Marco Wentzel (London Wasps, South Africa), Dean Mumm (Exeter, Australia), Samu Manoa (Northampton, USA), Sam Jones (London Wasps), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, Italy - captain).

Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso, Italy), Duncan Jones (Ospreys, Wales), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro 92, Italy), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester, Scotland), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz, France), Kahn Fotuali'i (Ospreys, Samoa), James Hook (Perpignan, Wales), Mike Tindall (Gloucester, England)

British & Irish Lions 2013: Now Showing in Warwick and Leamington, Warwickshire

So, a bunch of our boys from Blighty are off 'down-under' soon to play hand-egg-ball against a load of Aussies.

The British and Irish Lions rugby tour of Austraila starts on Wednesday 5th of June against Super XV team the Western Force, prior to this however, the Lions warm up with a game against the Barbarians on June 1st in Hong Kong.

As an aside, calling them the British and Irish Lions, does that not refer to the Northern Irish players twice? As it's not the British and Republic of Ireland Lions, anyways, I digress...

The three test matches against the Wallabies are supplemented with six other games against regional teams throughout Australia. The tests are on Saturday mornings (evening matches in Australia), with some of the regional games falling midweek.

LIST OF LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS SHOWING THE GAMES:
Witter Towers, Warwick
The Dun Cow, Warwick
The Cape of Good Hope, Warwick

...send me a message, or find me on Twitter, and let me know if you're showing the game, if you're doing any breakfast/brunch specials or what special event you're hosting.

2013 Lions Squad:

Fullbacks: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Stuart Hogg (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors), Rob Kearney (Ireland, Leinster)

Wings: Tommy Bowe (Ireland, Ulster), Alex Cuthbert (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Sean Maitland (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors), George North (Wales, Scarlets)

Centres: Jonathan Davies (Wales, Scarlets), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, Leinster), Jamie Roberts (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Manusamoa Tuilagi (England, Leicester Tigers)

Outside halves: Owen Farrell (England, Saracens), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland, Leinster)

Scrum halves: Conor Murray (Ireland, Munster), Mike Phillips (Wales, Bayonne), Ben Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers)

Props: Dan Cole (England, Leicester Tigers), Cian Healy (Ireland, Leinster), Gethin Jenkins (Wales, Toulon), Adam Jones (Wales, Ospreys), Matt Stevens (England, Saracens), Mako Vunipola (England, Saracens)

Hookers: Richard Hibbard (Wales, Ospreys), Tom Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers), Rory Best* (Ireland, Ulster)

Locks: Ian Evans (Wales, Ospreys), Richie Gray (Scotland, Sale Sharks), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, Ospreys), Paul O'Connell (Ireland, Munster), Geoff Parling (England, Leicester Tigers)

Back rows: Tom Croft (England, Leicester Tigers), Toby Faletau (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland, Leinster), Dan Lydiate (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons), Sean O'Brien (Ireland, Leinster), Justin Tipuric (Wales, Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Wales, Cardiff Blues)

(* replaced Dylan Hartley)

Link: http://tinyurl.com/lionsontv

Cape of Good Hope, Pub in Warwick

The Cape of Good Hope in Warwick, situated on the Grand Union Canal, is due to open again this Saturday (18th May 2013).

Cape of Good Hope in the snow

This pleases me a lot. That is all.

Godiva Festival 2013, Coventry (5th - 7th July) - Line-Up

The line-up for this years Coventry Godiva Festival has been announced. The free festival will be on the first weekend of July (5th-7th) at the War Memorial Park and we reckon this year is the best line-up the festival has ever had. It's better than last year*, that's for sure!

Friday 5th July
Echo and the Bunnymen
Godiva Unsigned

Saturday 6th July
Maximo Park
The View
Devlin and Sway
Neville Staple (from The Specials)

Sunday 7th July
Amelia Lily (from X-Factor)
Lovable Rogues
Titch

Also appearing, Lucy Rose, Pint Shot Riot and the Lovable Rogues.

The legendary Scouse-post-punk Echo and The Bunnymen will be killing the moon on the opening night.

Echo and the Bunnymen (no batteries needed)

Energetic punk-popsters Maximo Park (I don't know how to do the dots thing for their name!) will headline the Saturday night.

Maximo Park - they are men, not machines.

They'll be supported by Scottish scallywags, The View.

The View (the view, the view are on fire)

Earlier in the day COVENTRY LEGEND NEVILLE STAPLE will be appearing. The former Special will be doing his thing, it will be good, it will be great, be there!

Neville Staple from The Specials

Oh, and on Sunday, some lass from the X-Factor will be there. I'm sure she's great, but I've never heard her before.

Amelia Lily, X-Factor

...also, Warwickshire's Lucy Rose is rumoured to be appearing.

So, what do you think Warwickshire, is this a good line-up? Will you be going?

Lucy Rose, pretty as a flower

* yes you're right, last year was cancelled due to flooding!

Outdoor Film Viewings - Top Movies to Watch Outside

Inspired by the forthcoming Food and Film Festival in Warwick, I started wondering what were good movies for outdoor screenings, and what makes them good choices.

Like it or not, at outdoor screenings you don't tend to see the screen so clearly, be it with your view blocked by bobbing heads in front of you, or poor contrast on the screen due to the sunlight. So the movie needs to be big, bold and clear, or a film where you aren't reliant on seeing too much detail.

The sound is usually a bit shabby too, either the wind is blowing most of those decibels in the other direction or the people next to you are insistent that now is the time to talk about Radiohead's ground-breaking second album. So the sound needs to be cranked up, or a film without too much quiet dialogue.

Also, it needs to be FUN. No one wants to go to an outdoor screen of Schindler's List, regardless of how good it is.

So without further ado, here are my current thoughts...

The Warriors
Quadrophenia
The Big Lebowski
Point Break
Speed
Top Gun
Clerks
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

What are your suggestions?

Tweet me on Twitface, or leave a comment below.



Am thinking of hosting my own mini-film showing in preparation for the big one in August!

I'm picturing something like this, although being Blighty, I'll probably need an umbrella!

Courtesy of Pottery Barn.

Anyone done anything similar to a DIY type showing before?

May the Fourth...

...be with you.

Bowling Green - Local Badminton Club

A local badminton club has asked that I share this, why not do the same.

Bowling Green Badminton Club

Artwork: ThrillstarDesign

POETS Day

...need I say more?!

POETS Day

Shop Warwick Month - A Synopsis

Throughout the whole of April, I committed to only shopping at independent traders in Warwick.

It was inspired by some twitterings on twitface by the Warwick Twassive.

The idea was to test if you could get everything you needed for a whole month from local shops for local people.

I soon had to bend the rules. I live in Warwick, but work in Leamington. Therefore I decided to allow myself to 'shop locally' provided it was from an independent store.

A few others from the #WarwickTwassive (that's Twitter-Massive BTW!) also embarked upon #ShopTwitterMonth. They too each had their own spin on what it meant to them. Some shopped at chain stores too, provided they were within Warwick, for others it was watching the pennies, and for some it was more of a photographic record.

Shop Warwick Month - Local Independent Shopping

I was able to buy pretty much everything I needed locally and from independents. Mostly due to, as it turns out, I don't actually tend to buy much! The better half gets in most of the food, including a delivered Veg box.

I found the weekly market in Market Square on Saturdays was a great opportunity to 'stock-up' for the rest of the week.

Warwick Market

You can get pretty much everything you need there, including loads of fruit and veg, and some very very nice coffee.

Also, when heading to the pub, I've got a few fantastic locals to choose from.

Cape of Good Hope

Dave Myers, Hairy Biker

Including the Cape of Good Hope (albeit closed temporarily at the time of writing) where I met Hairy Biker legend Dave Myers. I also tried to keep my drink choices "locally independent", which is easily done with their great selection of local ales. Including Two'llocks from Church End Brewery and Old Tom from Church Farm Brewery (I don't confused those breweries quite so much these days either!

Further down the road is The Wild Boar, which is also a great pub, with great service and great ale, some of which is brewed on the premises!

Wild Boar, Beer Menu

The also have a 'Beer Menu', how great is that?! That goes to show what a great selection they have.

Twitface has also been a great aid to help me keep shopping locally and independently, people are more than happy to help you find where to buy certain items. It's also a great way to hear of local events.

Including a film premier at The Wild Boar, and also last nights (re)opening of The Punchbowl.

Overall #ShopWarwickMonth was a real success, it goes to show you can get what you need locally and independently. Sometimes it'll cost a little more, but you generally get better service. Sometimes it'll take a little longer, but you get a better quality product. Why not give it a go yourself? I'd love to hear from you if you do.

It's also given me a chance to make little poster thingies too.

 

In summary, you could say, that #WarwickRocks

If you get bored, give me a follow and say hello on twitface, @WarwickWitter 

The Punchbowl, The Butts, Warwick - Opening

The Punchbowl in Warwick (not the Lapworth one) is reopening tonight (Thursday 2nd May).

Punchbowl, Warwick

It's had a bit of a refurb and tidy up, and there's been lots of anticipation for it's opening. They've even had a massive countdown clock outside.

How the Punchbowl used to look.

Apparently there will be assorted merriment tonight, including live music and a hog roast.

I'll be there, perhaps you should head down too.



Update from @OnSmithStreet...
"Heres whats occuring
@warwickpub
5 real ales
3 lagers incl Budvar
2 ciders one award
Watch your wallet weds
Live music once a week
wifi"

#TUNESDAY (a little late!) - Haim, James Blake, Daft Punk ft. Pharrell (and a nod to Alesha Dixon)

So, a little bit late, but here's yesterday's TUNESDAY post.

I've just got Spotify Premium, okay okay, so I'm a few years behind everyone else, but I still enjoy buying and listening to CDs and Record. I've not realised there's space for them alongside this new fangled technology whereby every artist I can think of all fit into a little box.

Anyways, without further ado, here's three songs that I'm loving at the moment; I think it helps that the sun is out!

"Don't Save Me" by Haim
It's a bloody great summery tune, which immediately grabs you. Highly enjoyable.

Haim

"Retrograde" by James Blake
Got a rather lovely subtle electronic base loop thing. Also highly enjoyable.

James Blake

"Get Lucky" by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell
Daft Punk must have been listening to their Marvin Gaye records, a lot. That's no bad thing, as this track is highly enjoyable also.

Daft Punk ft. Pharrell

You might know Pharrell from The Neptunes, or his other band 'N*E*R*D', who did the very good "She Wants To Move Track" with the very excellent video featuring Alesha Dixon, which is highly enjoyable. Said track features the classic line, "her ass is a spaceship I want to ride", brilliant.

Alesha Dixon in "She Wants to Move"

Go and check these songs out, tell me what you think, recommend some more to me.

If I get chance I'll do a Spotify playlist, or whatever the cool cats do these days.

Enjoy.