Monday 9 February 2009

Some serious post-match analysis

The Six Nations rugby tournament started on Saturday, which means that I don't have to look very far for entertainment or romantic inspiration for the next few weekends. It also means that He and I are for once in happy agreement about what makes for a great afternoon, although obviously for rather different reasons: this Saturday He was thrilled because England won, and I was thrilled because they were playing Italy. I started watching convinced that Italy boasted the best looking team in the tournament by far, but having also watched France (against Ireland) and then Wales (playing Scotland) I'm actually pretty impressed by the competition. I'm clearly going to need to conduct an more in-depth study over the coming weeks.

One major disappointment was that the new French coach has inexplicably dropped last year's Number 10 from the 2009 line up. David Skrela gave France a massive boost in the sexiness stakes, and was also the player I used for inspiration when I was writing Alejandro from At the Argentinean Billionaire's Bidding (surely both good, solid reasons for keeping him in the First XV?) Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras was the face of Alejandro, but Skrela provided the raw rugby passion, and specifically the sexy-as-sin bleeding lip which Alejandro suffers in the opening chapter of the book-- a look modelled by Skrela in the France-Wales game of last year's Six Nations. I can't find a picture of the actual incident (although I've really enjoyed looking) but here's one for you to enjoy without the cut lip.

Anyway, back in the real world last week's snow has now dissolved into khaki-coloured slush, but the three very oddly shaped snowmen made by the daughters remain bizarrely unmelted. Very sinister, and with their black, staring eyes and gaping mouths definitely more Stephen King than Raymond Briggs. Annoyingly, more snow is forecast for later on today and tonight, so I'm going to be spending the next 24 hours looking anxiously out of the window and wondering whether I'm going to make it to the RNA Awards Lunch tomorrow. It's all in the lap of God, the Met Office and Virgin trains, but believe me, I won't miss out on a lipstick-and-heels occasion for anything less than Arctic armageddon.

Talking of which, I'm blogging later on today at iheartpresents about the underrated romance of ice and snow. Please come over and visit!

16 comments:

Michelle Styles said...

Good luck for tomorrow.
And yes there is a certain something about the 6 nations.

Anonymous said...

Dear India,

Him indoors gleefully told me about footage of the scrummy Italian team in their undies on Saturday. Grrr, missed it!!

Have an amazing time tomorrow!

Love,
Rach.XXX

Anonymous said...

Lovely picture! :-) My day is now off to a gorgeous start!

Hope you make it to your lipstick and heels event! Take lots of pictures!

Love,
xxTrenda

Anonymous said...

India,

In your email you mentioned dearie #3 and her colds this season...My little boy uses a once daily nasal spray, Nasonex. It has really cut down on the number of colds that he has. Not sure if you have something similar over there. This is a prescription that his Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor gave him. Hope she feels better soon!

Love,

xxTrenda

Lucy King said...

That totally gratuitous footage of the Italian team in just their underwear was a delight.

Have fun in London!

Anonymous said...

Well, let me say one thing. When me and mum saw the Italian team in their underwear, our jaws dropped.
WOW, delicious!
My new obsession is Jamie Roberts in the Welsh team, he has the cutest smile, ever. When they announced that he had won the man of the match, in Murrayfield on Sunday, (by that time he was sitting on the subs bench), he just grinned cheekily. I just melted, he is gorgeous.
I can imagine perfectly, being tackled to a soft flat surface by him any day. Just the thought of it makes me go all strange.
xx Karen

Anonymous said...

Oh, and I forgot to say, he's a doctor in the University of Wales Cardiff. A surgeon no less!
He has to have the broadest chest of any forward in the 6 Nation's.
All I can think about is snuggling up on top of that chest, oh stop, I'm going all strange again!

I dislocated my little finger last week, surely I can think of some way, for him to attend to my injury?? Its not much to ask.

xx Karen

Michelle Styles said...

And we go
HOORAY for Orlando.
Yay for India.
So proud for you! The winner of the Betty Neels Romance Prize Rose Bowl.

meljean brook said...

I just read about the RNA award -- congratulations!! And so, so deserved.

Liz Fielding said...

Congratulations on winning the Romance Prize, India!

Fabulous, fabulous!

Anonymous said...

Yay! I just read the news on iheartpresents! Congratulations, India! [doing a celebratory dance in your honor]

Love,

xxTrenda

Anonymous said...

Just saw on Kate Walker's blog that you won the RNA award...congrats!

Kate Hardy said...

Congratulations on the award, hon! Lovely to see you yesterday xxx

Anonymous said...

Squeals of unbridled delight here for you, India!!

Utterly fabulous news and utterly deserving you lovely, gorgeous thing.

Now where do I find pics?!!!

Rach.
XXX

Anonymous said...

OOh there's one on the RNA site!

Gorgeous, smiley you!!

Rach.
XXX

Anonymous said...

It was fabulous being with you yesterday when you were presented with the award - there are some pics on my blog.
Many congrats again - much deserved. :-) Ray-Anne