I love a World cup summer and I will watch every game I can. I’ve always been a big football fan and until our move to the seaside I was a season ticket holder at Bristol City. I’m not a huge premier league fan, that’s a whole different game, I’ve always followed lower league teams as the football community here feels a bit different and real.
My expectations for Russia 2018 were pretty low, I thought that given the reputation of some Russian ultra fans and recent problems that hooliganism would be rife. There has been no hint of such violence and I’ve also enjoyed exploring Russia through the different venues, the hard, grey cities I imagined have been replaced by venues such as Samara which looked a lovely seaside city.
This has been the first World cup in which Little Man has been really interested in, he has collected his Panini cards, adorned his bedroom wall with posters, worn his England top and been able to talk about the teams and games with confidence. His enthusiasm has been infectious, from day 1 he believed in the England team. He had none of the cynicism and weariness of the adults and it was refreshing to see the game I love through such innocent eyes. Little Man taught me about the players as he knew all the facts like names, clubs, age etc. These players are his new heroes. It was also the first World cup when Little Man got to go to a bar to see the game on a big screen and the fun of all the oohs, argghs and cheers, he loved it. I also liked that we were at Grandad’s for the Panama game and all the goals and my parents watched the semi final with us too, football is about community and sharing the experience. Whilst my daughter has watched the football too, she has definitely preferred the social aspect of meeting up with friends. She doesn’t dislike football, she simply prefers to play.
Sad as I am to admit it, I knew very little about the England team before they left, a team of young, internationally inexperienced players. I was hoping they would progress through the group stages, gain some experience in a big tournament and be ready to really compete at Euro 2020. Generally I think lots held similar thoughts, for once the media hadn’t hyped up the team and I think that’s why what happened seems rather magical, the England team just quietly and diligently worked hard on playing football. As the results came in, the feeling of excitement blossomed, here was something new, a team of youth, with grace, talent and skill unburdened by expectations. We also grew to love the quiet humility, determination and hard work of our manager, Gareth Southgate, an unexpected appointment which now seems genius. It was a lovely feeling to experience and I’m so pleased that Little Man got to experience such a positive World cup by England as his first real tournament.
The World cup comes to a close this weekend and its been brilliant, new teams have emerged, the old footballing contenders were knocked out early, VAR has caused some controversy in the early games and the country has united behind our team again. Its been a memorable tournament and I’m so proud that although we may not have brought the World cup home (but came so close) the England team have brought football home in reigniting our love for the beautiful game.
Yesterday I saw a Twitter feed about the lack of diversity in ITV’s Love Island🌴. I’ve never seen the programme although I’ve seen the ads with the identikit 20 somethings. Whilst I can’t comment about the specifics it really got me thinking about diversity in our society. I grew up in a multi cultural part of Bristol and my school represented its community, reflecting on it now it was an inclusive and integrated school long before such things became political. However that multi cultural community in which I grew up seems less visible today. Last weekend we went to a party in a very ‘nice’ golf club on the outskirts of Bristol, same city, different area 30 years later and there was not one person of colour at the club, everyone was white. There are no COC at my children’s school although there are in the clubs they attend which cover a wider geographic area. I started to think about ITV and some of their programmes and struggled to think of a mainstream presenter of colour, yes there’s Alison Hammond from This Morning who I think is great but she’s cast as the big, bubbly black woman, another stereotype fulfilled and her career developed after Big Brother (probably the most inclusive reality show) rather than a more formal career path. Too many of our presenters are successful because of family ties, a certain look and networks, which is true of politicians, leading companies etc.. It’s all pretty depressing. Yesterday the BBC also announced that it had settled an equal pay case with one of its senior reporters and she donated the back pay to a women’s charity to help others achieve such equality. FFS this is 2018 and we still don’t have what me and my friends were demanding and protesting for 30 years ago, why as a society does it feel that we are promoting an image that seems less equal and inclusive? Great developments have taken place particularly with LGBT rights but prejudice still exists and there is still so much to do. It’s up to us to shout, to act, simple acts have an effect. My twitter feed is full of #loveisland comments, perhaps if everyone switched off then ITV would take action, it will give its audience what they want, we just need them to know that it’s a show which reflects our multi cultural society. 
As I started this post, I didn’t think that I would have much to write in this section, however when I looked at my Good Reads record, I’ve finished four books this month. I was on holiday for a few days at the start of the month so I think I must have done most of my reading then. I have read The Holiday Cottage by the Sea by Holly Martin, perfect escapism, Its not what you think by Chris Evans, an autobiography which had me reminiscing about the 90s, Dear Mrs Bird, a period drama and My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. My Brilliant Friend has been on my to read list for ages and it really didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t what I was expecting but is the story of two friends as they grow up in their small Italian quarter and their neighbours. The story is so engaging and beautifully written, a 5 star read, full of complex characters and relationships. My Brilliant Friend is the first of a quartet and I’m hoping to download number 2 for my summer holiday. With this heat, the sun and the chirping birds I’ve been waking up early around 5ish and have taken to reading in bed, its a little luxury which is really rather nice!
We have enjoyed lots of days out this month and I have made a lot of picnics. For Christmas we were gifted this picnic rucksack and it has been one of the best presents ever, our picnics have gone from sandwiches to cheese and biscuits, salads, fruits, quiches etc..
Seaside Sparkles 