54 - its a fascinating number. Its the number of coloured faces on a Rubik cube, In golf parlance its the hallowed perfect round. Its the international telephone code for Argentina. Its the atomic number of xenon (...I kid you not!). The Romans referred to it as LIV. It is the number of countries in Africa.
Most importantly - its the number of summers I have enjoyed!
So a rather spiffing excuse to enjoy some more adventures.
Twickers in the sun to watch the mighty Barbarians lock horns with the golden Wallabies ....
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| Pre match aperitifs |
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| The Legend himself .... |
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| The hallowed cabbage patch ...... it really was until the RFU purchased the land for just over £5,500 in 1907. The first game was played in 1909 - a battle between local sides Harlequins and Richmond |
The Barbarians are unique in that they have no ground, no clubhouse, no entry fee, no subscription, and the clubs they visit pay their expenses in the main. It is in every respect a touring club, for there are no "home" matches. The nearest to a clubhouse was the spiritual home at Easter from 1901-1971, the Esplanade Hotel at Penarth where, as at the Glamorganshire Golf Club, players were cared for with great tolerance.
From the beginning the club has been called The Barbarian Football Club. The reason for the name is shrouded in mystery, ranging from some classical authority who deemed it appropriate to give the club a name "dignified by the famous victory of Arminius over Varius and his legions in Germany some two thousand years ago" to that put forward by Emile de Lissa who thought it more likely the "Barbarian was chosen in defiance of those who would style all rugby players as just that".
The jersey has always been black and white with a monogram on the left breast, worn with dark shorts and the player's club stockings. The monogram in the first season consisted of the skull and cross bones with the letters B.F.C. under the monogram. This was, however, soon changed to one composed of the letters B.F.C. intertwined, which still exists today.
In 1948 the Barbarians were asked by the Home Unions to raise a side to play the Australian Wallabies as a fund raising exercise to enable the Wallabies to return home via Canada. The match proved such an outstanding success, both with the excellence of the rugby on the field, and in achieving its aim that the Barbarians have since been privileged with the honour of playing subsequent International Touring sides at the end of their respective tours of Great Britain.
Of these 26 occasions most have been memorable games, but to mention a few: the 1961 defeat of the Springboks by 6-0, the only side to defeat them, with Haydn Mainwaring's magnificent tackling in mind; the 1973 match versus New Zealand, won by 23-11, which surely rates as the greatest performance ever by a Barbarian team and the greatest try of all time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbwSx-xw_NU
Whisked off to North Devon by the beautiful one to partake in coastal path walking..
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| Damien Hirst's Verity, standing tall over Ilfracombe harbour |
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| Appledore - ideal for hobbits, dwarves and Smiths |
Still with these to come ......
Crooning with Ella and Frank...and
A vintage year
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