13 February, 2006

On Sunday I spent the day watching the Olympic Snowboard Halfpipe and Downhill events with a Norwegian. For a country with only 4 million people they seem to be doing remarkably well at the Torino Games, currently in first place on the medal tally.

Here are a few interesting facts about Norway, when I am told these things I retain them, that is the secret to becoming a good trivial pursuit player!

Norway became an independant country back in 1905

The Prince of Denmark became the first King of Norway back in 1905

The King of Norway has three Veto rights in parliament during his reign. The veto has only been used once in history when the King vetoed the prime ministers decision to join Germany in WW II.

Norway’s wealth stems from its ownership of extensive oil fields.

You cannot lie about your salary in Norway. For 3 weeks of the year the Tax Bureau publishes everybodys tax records, earnings, salaries, assets etc and these can be viewed by all citizens.

All Credit cards have a passport photo printed on the back.

OK, I don’t really have the time to check all these facts so you can either take it as correct or scuttle off and trawl the net for the truth.

You might have gathered from my last post that the Sharks won on Saturday!! A superb victory for the boys in black to kick off the season. A lot of people don’t give their opponents as much credit as they deserve but the Chiefs are a good side to get a victory from. Well done boys, one swallow doesn’t make a summer but its great to start off with a win!

SKY Sports in their infinite wisdom almost caused a riot in London this weekend by failing to show the pre-advertised Sharks vs Chiefs game on Saturday. They inconvenienced thousands of people at home and in bars expecting to catch the game. Bars had advertised the game, people had made arrangements, the beer was flowing, 6pm rolled around …………….and the Catalan Dragons ran onto a rugby pitch! Who the f*ck are they!

What a bunch of flaming idiots!! They only have 4 channels, they only show 2 games a weekend from the greatest rugby competion in the world, their coverage is crap AND THEN they have the cheek to advertise a game and then without any reason, excuse or even mention of it they put on a third rate and particularly unpopular rugby league game! To have this privilege the paying customer must pay a small fortune.

There are allegedly over 1.4 million South Africans, Australians and New Zealanders living within the M25 ring road around London. Why, oh why did we not riot and smash down the Sky head office, believe me I wanted to. Wait hang on, I know why, its because we are used to shit service living in England!

Oh and another thing, Walkabouts really suck as well. The one in Watford staffed by english people, had never heard of The Super 14! When the manager was called she protested that it can’t be important ‘cos she had never heard of it. WHAT?!? After rubbing my eyes in disbelief I managed to calm down to the point of politely asking her to do ME a favour by switching on the game so that the people who had come to her high quality venue could watch it. I felt very privilegedly when she said she would let us watch it without sound. There were 10 people in the entire place and about 5 staff but she still wouldn’t switch the sound on in a bloody Australian themed sports bar, methinks the staff were trying to sleep!