“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”

So France, my bet for the World Cup, are out. Did they just play badly, or were Spain that much better. Probably a bit of both. More importantly – at least from my perspective – is who will they meet in the final on Saturday. My heart says England (it’s about time), but any team with Lionel Messi in its ranks cannot be dismissed. He – Messi – is a genius of a player, a player who can make the unexpected happen and who is playing in what must surely be his last World Cup. At least half the camp put their hands up when I asked them at the flag tonight if they wanted to watch the game tomorrow, so I think we are going to make that happen.

Today we got into Campus Clash and Twilight League, our two big competitive leagues in the second session. Even though the heatwave continued (92 degrees anyone?), the boys got into it without complaint. The weather is one of those things that we can do nothing about, despite what the ‘crazies’ might have us believe. Although this is definitely not what anyone would choose (I don’t think), we do, at least, have a lake to jump into at the end of each day. Indeed, we have resurrected ‘shower AND dip’. Back in the day, Koz would hold court at the waterfront with his guitar or saxophone while the boys would paddle in the shallow ‘end’ to cool off when it got like this. For whatever reason, the dip part of shower and dip has been largely forgotten, but for now, at least, it is back.

To add to the fun this afternoon, we brough back the Slip ‘n Slide. A long sheet of plastic, plenty of baby oil and a hose pipe, and we have too much fun. Young and old alike were soaped up and flying down the hill in the sunshine. We are lucky to have such a landscape here that enables to make such a slide. I’d love to be able to send it down all the way to the lake, but until we can do that, this will have to suffice.

We’re moving along just fine as we hit the halfway point of July, and all is well, so safely rest.

Goodnight everybody.

As ever…WOODY!