Shouting from the Hop

The fact that England have made it to the final (even though I will miss it) is fantastic. I am very, very proud of their displays following the sound thrashing that South Africa gave them 36 days ago. To beat the Australians and the French is amazing! If they have improved by a point a day (which by all accounts and looking at the recent results they have), then England will go into the game with the sides even. It could be that close!

The Bokkies will no doubt want to get points on the board early, and then grind out the game staying well ahead; England will just want to be close come the last ten minutes...

So why am I missing it? Well, I am going to se Patti Smith tonight.

Many many moons ago, in 1976, Patti changed my life. From a boring hum-drum existence listening to Pink Floyd, Yes, and Genesis, I was taken to see her band at The Roundhouse in London, and my musical outlook changed forever. Gone was the posturing instrumental nonsense and in came meaningful exciting and electric songs for real people.

So tonight is a bit of closure after thirty years of pretending to be young; trying to stay on track with decent meaningful sounds; being a man of the poeple! Patti is over 60 years old now, and I doubt she will be bouncing round the stage like she did in May 1976 (though it wouldn't surprise me if she was!).

I'm really looking forward to it, but sad that I will miss the rugby.

I won't bother taking a radio (not that I may be able to hear it inside anyway), but I'll know when I leave whether England have won or not; the sounds and faces of all those in the Shepherds Bush area will tell me that. I'll have had a good night whatever the score...