Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - American Negro Spirtual

Similar to Cockney Rhyming Slang, but far more sophisticated, the Royal Navy has devised a language all of its own over the years which is documented in this splendid volume.

The reason for yesterday's early post should become clear as the reader enjoys what for us was a BRILLIANT day out, but for me it brought to mind one of the most relevant words from that dictionary. GRIPPO describes a kindness offered by someone to a member of the RN, particularly while visiting a foreign port, which usually involves a day out, a trip around the area, a dinner, a home visit or similar. Once again our memorable day out was down to the kindness Hugh shows to his friends and which in turn involved my Australian Son in Law. A member of that country's Royal Navy he is at present on detachment to the UK and for him to enjoy this Grippo brought equal joy to us both! Hugh issued the

 TICKETS
before being driven to the venue by son Daryl.

 We had no hold ups at all getting to the ground but once there the
traffic started to pile up with the best option being on foot.

TWICKENHAM STADIUM

 and the Band Played On!

 The CROWD was gathering and out of the throng came

 my Australian Son in Law BERNARD.

 That made up our full party with from left
family Friend and dairy farmer Tim Dalton, eldest son Daryl,
Hugh's nephew Tristan, the Man Himself (Hugh), Bernard and Me.

 Arrival of the England Team Coach (bus that is).

 and ENGLAND TEAM, England, England!

 Nothing like a couple of pints of Guinness and a huge
'home made' spicy Sausage Roll to get proceedings underway.

 Send Him Off
he's had enough already.

 Almost a 'Full House' of 82,000 file into the Stadium.

 The Teams get a first look at the Pitch and the Fans.

 Flags and Pyrotechnics.

 Soprano LAURA WRIGHT leads the singing.

ENGLAND MASCOT

 The Teams take to the field.

 AUSTRALIA in a Huddle while their Choir perform in the background.

Enter the Protagonists.

ENGLAND

AUSTRALIA

The England Huddle.

First Blood to the Home Side.

 Only one injury all game

which saw the player having to leave the field.

 Aircraft were also of great interest just showing how busy
HEATHROW AIRPORT
can be, our estimate was about one aircraft every 90 seconds!
Lucky then to catch one of British Airways new delivery A380's.

 One more each and it'll be a draw!

 We met some lovely people in the crowd.
"Do you come from a land down under?
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover."
Men At Work


This 'scrum' led to more points for Australia

 with England being on the 'back foot' at halftime.

 During that period the 2003

 England World Cup Team, along with the Trophy,
were paraded before the audience including

 MARTIN JOHNSON

 The COMMENTARY BOX

The CAMERA CLUB
 "yours is bigger than mine"

 The SUBSTITUTES warm up
You think we look pretty good together
You think my boots are made of leather
But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah

The Who

 The 'second half' and the Home Side came out blazing

 scoring a quick TRY soon after this Line-Out taking the score to

 and then levelling the game with a

CONVERSION

 Still the Planes flew in and by now we were quite expecting to see
QANTAS
(Queensland and Northern Territories Air Service)
delivering reinforcements!

 England were certainly playing

 far better in the latter part of the game

with some deft ball handling leading to what was surely another 'TRY'?

The REFEREE was unsure about this and sort help from
technology by forming a T with both forearms indicating a
request for TV footage to decide the outcome.

 It was a 'long wait' but the decision was

 FAVOURABLE

 The 'scorer' was congratulated and

 the Score Board amended. With over 22 minutes still left to play
it was nip and tuck, but as the final whistle blew

 there was no change to the figures.

 ENGLAND had won and their MIKE BROWN
was Crowned 'Man of the Match'.

A mostly HAPPY crowd

 leaving the stadium.

One CHEERY FACE IN THE CROWD
as seen by my Son in Law Bernard!
Back to 'reality' tomorrow I guess!

Footnote - Long before Rugby adopted the 'Spiritual' as their rallying cry the Royal Navy had perfected its own version, complete with Actions to emphasis the words. Probably best just left at that!!

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