Let me start at the club. The weather on Saturday was wet and windy and cold but that didn’t deter a loyal band of members enjoying the re-opening of the clubhouse bar. On behalf of the many can I thank a whole group of people who made it happen and made it happen in full accordance with the Government’s guidelines.

First it was a big welcome to our new clubhouse manager Emma Paine. She arrives with bags of experience and if first impressions are anything to go by she is going to be a great asset to CRFC. Then of course Jacqui and Simon who have worked tirelessly over many weeks to ensure when the green light was given the kitchen and bar were ready. Of course the Friday Club have played their part as did Nigel Jarvis and many others who know who they are and know how grateful we are for their efforts. THANK YOU. It is what makes CRFC a great club.

Before I get into the rugby I’d like to thank my good friend and fellow Welshman Ken for clarifying a few points about what has mysteriously appeared on your phone. Ken points out that it is not an app but an API (application programming interface). It is a framework within the operating system that will allow any Covid-19 tracking app developed by the health agencies to work. The key point Ken makes is it will only work IF you decide to install said app, and only then if you approve all relevant settings to make it work.

Ken makes the point that based on current performance men on Mars is more likely than a functioning app.

Finally it is a moot point whether it was snuck onto your phone or your approval for a system update within which it was hidden makes it acceptable but I’ll let that go.

Have watched one of each of the Super Rugby games. The New Zealand contest was excellent. The players and officials seem to have got to grips with the more stringent application of the laws so we are seeing a faster more free flowing contest. In the Australia game I remain on the fence about the new laws. The 50/22 has merits and does seem to make kicking more purposeful rather than aimless. The goal line drop out was a positive by removing the time it takes to set the scrum, then reset it, then reset it BUT I am not sure that rewarding good defence is the way forward. Only saw two instances so I will remain on the fence.

I understand there was a red card in the second of the two NZ encounters so will comment on how the 20 minute rule worked. Not happy with this but let me see later today.

Manu Tuilagi is much in the news especially rumours about him going to Sale. Can’t get any inside information (yet) but this would be an interesting move. It will also relieve King Eddie of the stress from trying to get the RFU to change the eligibility rules which they are adamant won’t change if Tuilagi goes for a big money move overseas. Let’s see what the weasel of an agent can agree. By the way have you seen how little rugby Tuilagi has played in the last eight or so years.

Really disappointed to read that competitive grassroots rugby might not start until Nov 21st. What a kick in the teeth if that were to happen. This whole thing is nonsense now and we should be preparing to kick off in September.

It was always going to happen. What was? Social distancing collapsing as soon as the pubs and bars opened and the beaches across the Med opened. People have had enough. I personally think more and more people are seeing through the paranoia and voting with their feet. They are asking “what is in it for the scientists and companies and zealots” who keep feeding us the so called bad news, or as I see it “misguided propaganda”. Leicester, a city of 550,000, with how many Covid-19 cases? The answer is just under 4000 SINCE THE START OF THE EPIDEMIC. Why has the city been put into lockdown. It makes NO SENSE. How many ambulances are screaming to the two major hospitals in the city and how many people are dying of Covid-19. Mmmmmmm perhaps ......... NONE!!?? There is something hideously wrong with what is going on right now and we must wake up to it.

Finally if you think I am mad and being woke is okay and common sense can happily be a thing long forgotten then you won’t mind reading the following headline: “estate agents banned from saying ‘master bedroom’ because of allusion to sexism and slavery”. The world is truly going mad!

Friday 3rd Jul: 07:00

Having reread yesterday’s drivel the phrase “don’t bite the hand that feeds you” came to mind. Lambasting The RFU for focusing on giving tickets only to the corporates might have been misplaced after they have helped us get to where we are right now: great facilities and a club doing the right thing for the right reasons. We will be forever grateful for that. I stand by my frustration however in that the decision is a kick in the teeth for the many thousands who slave away week in week out at their club for no reward except the occasional bit of luck when their name comes out of the ticket ballot. It cannot be ignored that clubs at the grassroots rely on businesses becoming members and investing via sponsorship and advertising. Some of their reward, often for years of unbroken service is a couple of tickets to an international at Twickenham. Thankfully many will stay loyal but across the country some won’t. Clubs will suffer as a consequence. What makes it worse is some, if not many who will be at Twickenham have nothing to do with rugby. This will be another glad handing opportunity for the corporate big hitters. So be it.

If the money comes rolling in at the RFU and some of it gets back into the grassroots then I will happily eat my words but I fear the money will end in the pockets of those like Eddie Jones and the players who are already doing quite nicely thank you.

Wow! Money does talk. Beauden Barrett has just agreed a $3m three year deal to play in Japan for Sungoliath Suntory. This relieves New Zealand rugby of a massive financial burden and I am sure there is somebody who will fill his shirt with aplomb.

Suntory by the way are one of the biggest drinks suppliers in Japan. Whisky being their forte.

That’ll do for the rugby as I’m off to Friday Club but I’ve got to mention the BBC and Wee Jimmie Sturgeon.

I was almost incandescent with rage at lunchtime yesterday as the BBC did a piece on the kids going back to school. Every word was negative, dismissive of the Government, and some of it mis-leading. Not one word of criticism of the objections put forward by the unions and not a single word of recognition that the kids who will suffer most are often those who are already disadvantaged.

Then we have the Queen of Scotland who thinks she is the leader of the free world. What tosh talking about the Scottish border being closed and preventing people crossing it. What arrogance that she thinks her and her 4 million subjects can prevent the rest of the United Kingdom going on holiday. The woman is a power crazed one trick pony: independence. My view: get Trump in and build a wall, a big one and see what happens when we the English tax payer stop bailing out her subjects who are on furlough, which of course is one of the games she is playing. Get all those outside Scotland to go on holiday with the proviso they send Wee Jimmie a postcard “not missing you!”

Finally do you have an Android phone? If yes then go into Google settings and be amazed how Big Brother without your knowledge or permission has managed to get an Covid-19 tracking app onto your phone. Don’t be smug you Apple users. You have it too.

Be afraid. Big Brother isn’t coming. Big Brother is here.

Have a great weekend. Back on Monday.

Thursday 2nd Jul: 10:00

Let me start with the great news CRFC will be open for business on Saturday 4th July; Independence Day. Before you start your travel plans and reminding yourself where Steel Cross is this is initially for members only and there is a pre-booking form to be completed to ensure the club is fully compliant with the regulations as set out by the Government. Members will have already received the full details via mail.

This is another indication of the great work our Exec does and how tirelessly our volunteers work to make things happen for the good of all our members. Well done to all.

In other news it has been confirmed that Manu Tuilagi plus Kyle Eastmond and several others are leaving Leicester Tigers with immediate effect. Many clubs will now be looking to snap up Tuilagi at a cut price and Eddie Jones, who is flying back from Japan as a matter of urgency, will be keen to see that he stays in England.

My view is with all clubs already well advanced in their planning they might find themselves at the salary cap limit or under severe financial pressure e.g. Northampton Saints so that what is available for Tuilagi will be no better than staying at Leicester Tigers. A move abroad is possible with the USA, Japan and of course France still options. I don't see opportunities in cash strapped Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. Time will tell.

As an aside don't you find it strange that his agent, who I am sure is at the heart of this situation, will now be hawking Tuilagi and his other players to clubs in a way akin to the slave auctions of a bygone era. Oh how we forget so quickly.

Well there you have it folks! What us at the grassroots have known for a long time, we are becoming nothing to the RFU. Our efforts during the week to get clubhouses and pitches ready for games, our endeavours on the field on Saturday and Sunday, our tireless commitment to coaching and administering the game counts for nought. Unless you are a fat cat corporate or one of the fat cats lackeys watching anything at Twickenham will be a dream. It will be like the 1560s when the robber barons kept the serfs on their knees almost starving whilst they lived the high life in their manor houses not giving a jot about the masses living in squalor beneath them. I have always felt versus the other great international stadiums in Europe that Twickenham is the most corporate and most remote from the grassroots of the game. I can just imagine instead of seeing swathes of empty seats as the second half starts I can see the whole ground being empty as the ethnically and gender NON diverse quaff their champagne and consume their prawn sandwiches. This is while we at the grassroots sit there thinking "why do I bother" and do I really need to be paying SKY all this money too.

Sorry local hardworking and generous sponsors who make such a difference to clubs with your generosity: no tickets for you either.

It is sad to read about drugs in sport and sadder when rugby is affected. South African international Mahlatse Ralepelle has been caught again and will now serve an eight year ban thus effectively ending his rugby career. Unfortunately drugs in rugby is a problem. I for one am glad to read that the unions are taking a very harsh line on offenders.

Want to live a life of disappointment? Be a Leicester City supporter. Another loss last night. That European spot is now in doubt. Hey ho! If you follow the Foxes your priority is avoiding relegation. We've done that. Hoorah!

Freedom of Speech is dying and dying faster than you think. Sky Sports employees have been given a long list of words and phrases that they cannot use, especially in commentary. Can you imagine it: " Welcome to today's game between Nal and Pool". That will be it until 80 or 90 minutes later when you'll get "Thanks for watching". Actually that would be an improvement to listening to that whining Jamie Carragher!!!

Pfizer announce very encouraging early results in their Covid-19 vaccine trials. Bill Gates is a shareholder of Pfizer!!!! Rest assured as a man who vehemently defends his companies intellectual property any new vaccine coming out Pfizer won't be released to others to make cheaper more accessible versions!!!!

That'll do for now. Back tomorrow.

Wednesday 1st Jul: 10:00

I forgot how exhausting it is to look after an 18 month old toddler............ and Mrs Bleater did most of the work. Anyway, no sooner had I found time for my morning contemplation yesterday the emails started to come in. (By the way I lament the fact we don't have Japanese toilets with their heated seats and bidet and automatic sanitizers). I thought "who have I offended now?". I hadn't. My good friends Liberty, The Bard and Damps all sent me a copy of Owen Slot's (The Times) excellent piece "A vision for the future: less money for amateur players, more for their community clubs".

In essence Slot gets to the nub of what is a serious problem in the opening paragraph. South Leicester beaten by Bromsgrove 240-0 was the moment South Leicester "lost the game yet somehow found their soul". Having been relegated the season before to Bridgnorth's league: Midland Premier they found they could no longer pay their players. Virtually the whole squad left leaving South Leicester to play their second team at level five; being hammered the outcome. The club decided to do what others before them have done which was bite the bullet and start again by going back to their amateur roots with players who wanted to play for fun and not the money. Things are going well.

Slot then highlights how much money has gone into players pockets leaving facilities to deteriorate and clubs to become soulless and fractured. Liberty, The Bard, Damper and many others don't need to look very far to see how that has played out. If players are not leaving volunteers are. The players take and take and take whilst the volunteers are expected to give more and more with less and less thanks. He also hits the nail on the head when he talks about how the 1st team squad becomes the focus causing previously loyal players to drift away disillusioned. Sadly not to other clubs but away from the game altogether.

It is not just in England. Wales face exactly the same problem and it is destroying the game. WRU Chairman Gareth Davies has recently implored the clubs "let us start again with the right structure" previously highlighting the need to play for enjoyment.

It is a great article highlighting the problems paying players is causing and how that money could have been used to improve facilities and keep others in the game. It is not that simple as socially things are very different and lifestyles and attitudes also play a significant part but the paying of players below the Championship, in my view, is an issue. It won't stop as there will always be an ego wanting to be massaged via "his/her club" but lets hope one good thing comes out of this sorry Covid-19 mess and that is clubs reassess their modus operandii for the better.

According to the Daily Fail Ellis Genge and George Ford signed last minute contracts to stay at Leicester Tigers but Manu Tuilagi didn't. I don't gamble, that really is a mugs game, but if I did I would bet a Mars bar that a weasel of an agent is behind Tuilagi's decision. Another issue in the game!

Super Rugby Australia returns and it is on Sky as expected. Five teams in a short sharp home and away winner takes all contest. Friday morning for Reds v Waratahs then Saturday for Brumbies v Rebels. A number of experimental laws will be in place such as the 50/22 rule and goal line drop outs a la rugby league. Not sure about these but will reserve judgement until Sunday morning. Yes I will be watching the games.

A GB Sevens team is gathering momentum as the home unions look to save money. Ditching individual squads is one way of doing that.

Rhys Carre returns to Cardiff Blues after his short stint at Saracens. That's a permanent move not a loan deal. Good news for Cardiff Blues.

Northampton Saints must be doing something right. 19 players sign new contracts including big hitters like Lawes, Biggar and Hutchinson (Who? Scottish centre).

Not to go on but when you jump on to a fast moving bandwagon just remember it can hurt when you fall off. Premier League pundits and players are now ditching their BLM badges and distancing themselves from the movement because of the movements extreme left wing views. Ha, I told you so.

Finally today I have been sent another well researched piece that reinforces that much being said about Covid-19 is being twisted to suit the narrative. I won't rehash all the stuff about lockdown doing way more harm than good, and the worrying manipulation of data and facts by those with closest links to pharmaceutical companies and Bill Gates. I will draw your attention to the fact, yes I use the word correctly, fact that wearing a face mask in many, many instances is doing more damage to the wearer than not wearing one at all. Prolonged use stores up germs both through the breath, the constant touching of the mask and from outside sources on the exterior of the mask. Unless you replace or wash it frequently, like every hour or so it is argued it is best not to wear one. I'll leave that thought with you.

Tuesday 30th Jun: 08:15

Where has the summer gone? No Wimbledon or cricket but wall to wall football under pretty leaden skies, today at least. Anyway, "thank you" to those who wrote in support of my concerns of yesterday and the additional information supplied. I did, simply out of interest, look at the number of knife crimes in London and the number of prosecutions over the last 10 years. Just over 30,000 prosecutions with close to 50% of those being from the Afro-Caribbean community. Source: Metropolitan Police. Mull that one over if you want.

Thank you also to The Bard for sending Stuart Barnes latest missive on Super Rugby Aotearoa. Week one he was a little disparaging about the number of penalties and the propensity for teams to rely on the "pick & drive". Quite rightly he is now full of praise for how quickly the referees and players have adapted with the outcome being a much better spectacle. Barnsey also says, again quite rightly, that the simple process of applying the law, especially preventing the cheating at the offside line, and the deliberate killing of the ball is what has been needed for some time. He believes instead of coaching how to cheat DoRs must now turn their attention to utilising the extra metre of space available and how to move the ball away from contact quickly. He comments that "deliberate offside is worse than punching". It is difficult to disagree when punching at the top flight is as rare as hens teeth but deliberate offside is pretty much all the time.

A tale of two clubs, a tale of woe, definitely in Leicester Tigers case. The Daily Fail covers it best with Chris Foy highlighting up to 12 players could be on their way out of Welford Road as club and players fail to reach agreement on new contracts, or better put, salary cuts. Amongst them are some big assets: Manu Tuilagi, Ellis Genge and George Ford. Today it seems is the deadline for agreement meaning players who refuse to sign new deals become free agents. The lure of Japan and France and now the USA might appeal and that would leave England in a difficult but not insurmountable position.

As an aside the madness continues in France with second division Beziers about to be taken over by UAE billionaires talking about luring Beauden Barrett away from New Zealand in an eye watering deal. Let's see.

Whilst Leicester Tigers are in disarray the exodus from Saracens seems more controlled. Stalwarts of the club such as Brad Barrett and Richard Wigglesworth have both signed to stay on to the end of the current season. Both would have been looking for pastures new to bring the curtain down on excellent careers. Nick Tompkins, already a Welsh hero, sees his future now in Wales and has joined the Dragons. Others like Nick Isiekwe are leaving on season long loans in anticipation of a swift return to the top table. Whatever you think of Saracens they always have a plan, even if that is how to "bend" the rules. They are clearly looking ahead and cutting their cloth accordingly. Relegation could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for them.

Many across the game have branded the All Blacks idea of playing a cross code game against the cream of the NRL unnecessary and mindless. Bath v Wigan was a gimmick that actually served little purpose in the broader scheme of things other than to make money. When you lose sight of the game and focus only on money we know where that leads too.

The Guardian builds on the battle of will between the PRL and RFU. Being passionate about the grassroots game I side with the RFU as it does seem of the PRL clubs are all walking around in bare feet with loaded shotguns. I fear the inevitable might happen and one of the wounds might prove fatal.

Well done Sir Keir. No sitting on the fence from you. He has quite rightly branded the BLM movements demands that the police be abolished as "nonsense". It is nonsense and highlights why taking the knee and supporting a group who at their heart are left wing extremists is madness. ALL lives matter and the quicker we solve injustices for ALL and close the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" the better. I could comment about the scenes at Birmingham's Bull Ring yesterday when some YouTube wanabee and self-aggrandising muppet was doing yet another publicity stunt but I won't. You find the images and ask yourself the questions.......... you'll know what they are when you see them.

Yet more unbridled biased reporting from the BBC. Even Countryfile is now embroiled in political correctness and ensuring the BBCs constant need to do this country down and drive the left wing agenda is met.

The paranoia returns as Leicester goes into lockdown. Here are todays questions.......

Who is leading the narrative about a second wave? People like the WHO, an organisation in cahoots with the pharmaceutical companies. The scientists and those who are part of the Welcome Trust who get a lot of funding from Bill Gates who is inextricably linked to the pharmaceutical companies.

Why have we stopped making a big fuss about deaths now focussing on cases? Is it because the medics have mastered the care, or is it because the virus is less virulent, or is it because the cases is a big number and can be used to maintain the paranoia?

Can I repeat some previous questions: how many people at the Liverpool v Valencia game have died of Covid-19. Likewise how many who were at Cheltenham or the BLM protests in Bristol and London? I bet not many so why the continued paranoia.

Time to go, granddaughter duty beckons.

Monday 29th Jun: 09:00

Despite the weather another good weekend for the Bleaters; drinks with friends, wall to wall sport and lots of good food. The Super Rugby from New Zealand was ok. The Blues v Highlanders game was the better of the two as the persistent rain in Christchurch played its part with the Crusaders taking on Warren Gatland's Chiefs. My mate Damper was also impressed as both players and the officials got to grips with the more rigid application of the laws. The offside line was better policed so fewer penalties and the game flowed with both sides looking to play more than a "pick & drive" game. Good stuff.

Some of the rugby league was pretty good too. That game is quicker than union and right now well worth watching.

The soccer was ok too except for the Foxes again disappointing their long suffering fans, 56 years in my case. Being in a fantasy league helps maintain the interest but mid-table mediocrity is the norm for yours truly.

Sky (Will Greenwood's podcast) has an exclusive interview with Bill Sweeney about the future of the game. Protecting the women's game is high on the agenda. Good. He is considering whether England 7s makes sense or is the time right to go the Olympic route and have a consolidated GB team. There is much about the possibility of a globally aligned calendar. The way he describes it makes sense as right now the conflict between club and country is the road to ruin. Finally he talks about the future of the Championship which is clearly going to have to stand on its own two feet from now on. In the piece he refers to the Championship as an important pathway for players and that would indicate them being feeders clubs much in the way Saints have linked with Bedford Blues. There is also reference to a collegiate system a la the USA which is interesting. Well worth a read.

The Daily Fail carries articles about the possibility of financial disaster if World Rugby push through the "nuclear option" of a two month test window from October and the possibility that rugby in England doesn't get the go ahead to restart any time soon. With regard to the discussions around a global calendar and summer rugby the French clubs have said "non!" What a surprise, the French being obstructive. The English clubs have aligned themselves behind the French so as discussed on many occasions no-one is going to win if this lack of compromise and common sense prevails.

The other lead story is the growing spat between Gloucester and London Irish. Gloucester are being accused of going against the clubs code of conduct by affectively pinching George Skivington to replace Johan Ackerman as head coach. Not much of a story except it highlights what a mess the PRL is in when at a time of crisis it is "all for none" but also that contracts are nothing but words on a piece of paper.

The Guardian carries a story that indicates the Lions tour is now more likely to go ahead as planned rather than not going ahead or being moved.

Finally Crusaders coach Scott Robinson defends Super Rugby Aotearoa by saying eight matches is enough. Effectively eight high intensity, high impact All Black trials is what we have to enjoy. Play-offs would be a step too far and why bother when then table won't lie. I agree with him. Less is more.

Right, some food for thought.......

Why was it acceptable for the BBC to big up the Black Lives Matter campaign across the news and other media when they made no comment whatsoever about black guys attacking the police in Brixton with one smashing up a police car in front of the BBC cameras?

Is freedom of speech being eroded? Sky News cut off a former high ranking Met Police Officer in mid sentence when he started to talk about how political correctness was preventing officers from doing their job, that is sometimes having to target knife carrying black youths.

Why is there not an outcry as Cambridge University backs Dr Priyamvada Gobal who went on Twitter and said "white lives don't matter". She then got promoted. Is the world going mad?

JK Rowling and writer of Father Ted, Graham Lineham have been censored because they dared to have an opinion which was contrary to the politically correct line on transgender dictated by social media. We live in worrying times.

Sadiq Kahn held the government to ransom about extra billions for TfL but is now cutting £110m from the Met Police budget. Obviously police lives don't matter.

I haven't yet read that any of the football authorities, so quick to take a knee in support of BLM and condemn slavery from years gone by, say they are boycotting the upcoming World Cup in Qatar which has effectively been built by modern day slaves. Bandwagon jumping hypocrites.

Finally it shocked me that there have been virtually no flu deaths reported this year versus the same period in 2019. Can't possibly think why.

Friday 26th Jun: 09:45

A few things to mull over but I am going to start at Steel Cross which is where I was yesterday. Under an oppressive heat and a relentless sun a group of hardy souls carried out some essential maintenance to the CRFC's car park. Why? For the money? No! For the international tickets? No! For the free league lunches? No! The answer is because they love the club, love the game and want to ensure the generations ahead continue to have facilities to be proud of and a club they too feel very much a part of. I am sure up and down the country there are many other volunteers ensuring that when our great game gets the green light their clubs are ready too. To all volunteers in our game but especially the amazing ones at CRFC who give up their time for no reward other than self satisfaction, I salute you

I know my outspokenness on many subjects is not always to everyone's taste. I know there are many on the opposite side of the political divide who dislike my views. I know my recent obsession with the Covid-19 bullshit and the constant digs at Bill Gates and the pharmaceutical companies et al might be insensitive and ill advised. I believe however that when it comes to our great game I might just know a thing or two.

Over many months I wrote about ring-fencing the Premiership and making the Championship effectively the Premiership's academy. I suggested each of the top 13 should partner with a Championship side thus formally creating that link.

Well there you go........

"Northampton Saints give Bedford Blues a 'lifeline' with strategic partnership"

Chris Jones of the BBC details how the partnership will work but in my mind it effectively makes Bedford Blues the Saints 2nd XV or academy. It is well worth reading.

If I am going to blow my own trumpet then let me add that I also wittered on about the clash between club and country that was waiting in the wings. With the unions and the clubs eyeing up as many of the weekends from now until whenever for the return to action and therefore the opportunity to make money it was inevitable. The European set up has fired the first salvo by announcing the dates for the completion of their tournaments. The quarter-finals will be played the weekend of September 18 to 20th with the semi-finals a week later. The finals are set for 23rd and 24th October, weekends coveted by the unions for completion of the 6 Nations and/or a series of internationals. The battle lines have been drawn.

The European clubs went one stage further by stating the 2020/21 tournament would start December 11-13th. With the unions talking about tests running up to the weekend before something has to give. I fear a four way battle is about to erupt and the people who will suffer the most are the players. There is no way the top flight players can live with a schedule that is aimed at completing the Premiership season (potentially) starting August 15th running in to a new season that will have to start at some point then into a high intensity international program which overlaps a European tournament and then into a new European season. Players will burnout and/or clubs will refuse to release players for international duty. In essence it is a right royal mess with a war of attrition that could send rugby union down the drain to be flushed away with the likes of Debenhams and Laura Ashley and Nokia and others who failed to have a viable long term strategy based on a sustainable business model with a firm grasp of the reality around them.

Paul Rees in The Guardian and Chris Foy in the Daily Fail cover the impending issue very eloquently.

The nonsense continues. The Scottish and Welsh Governments playing political games for their own ends and self-aggrandisement. One of the bizarre fallouts of that could see Wales playing their home games at Wembley rather than in Cardiff if England relaxes the rules on large crowds ahead of Wales. It could be more financially viable to switch the venue than play in an empty stadium or in a much smaller venue and even that with a restricted crowd. It is yet another example of the madness being caused by the media driven paranoia about this year's (albeit laboratory tweaked) seasonal flu.

With the Principality now an empty field hospital with millions of pounds of equipment soon to be surplus to requirements and Cardiff Arms Park an empty car park Cardiff Blues have had to find temporary training facilities ahead of the hoped for late August return of the Pro14 local derbies.

The All Blacks are in talks with the Aussies about a cross code clash with best of the NRL. Mmmmm, yes the "m" word........... "money!"

Well done Liverpool. After a 30 year wait they are champions of England. My fingers remain crossed for a 3rd place finish for Leicester City but with it being Leicester lets assume disappointment is more likely.

So the beaches were packed and the illegal street parties were under way. Why? People are stir crazy, the weather is fantastic and in my opinion people are becoming sceptical about the continue drip of "tales of woe" about the virus. It is also because people are on a paid holiday and kids go to school only if they want to. How to solve the problem. STOP the furlough now. Get people back at work and the kids back to school. Don't blame the people, blame the madness of a total paid lockdown of all.

Also if the councils are so stupid to think locking toilets is going to stop people going to the beach..... think again.

Society as we know it is on the verge of collapse. There is NO consideration for others which is why the beaches are packed and people don't give a damn about the environment and protest movements such as BLM and XR are passing fashionable fads thanks to social media. The amount of litter left on the beaches is a disgrace and where are the people who have been supporting XR when we need them? Hiding because some of the hot weather is due to ............... yes............ a fact................. the lack of pollution in the atmosphere. So some see the time as right for demanding change through protest whilst having illegal street raves and attacking our valiant and wonderful police officers. Well police lives matter too and you can't have it both ways!!

I'm off. It is way too hot to raise the blood pressure even more. Back on Monday.

I was going to end with a time travel joke............... but you didn't like it.

Remember if you have a peek-a-boo accident you must immediately go to the I.C.U. department

I also have a great joke about cliff hangers.............

Wednesday 24th Jun: 08:15

They think it's all over, but it isn't. It's better but the twisting of facts and the pushing of vested interests is still alive and kicking. Yes rugby is still battling with reality and still sending out mixed messages on a daily basis.

Yet again Robert Kitson, The Guardian, gets the Drive Thru award for his piece on how a lack of a global vision could lead to the death of rugby in Japan. What you may ask "is he on about?" I am still eulogising about the amazing tournament and the amazing country and the amazing experience and the amazing people. On top of that Japan is the one country that seems impervious to financial constraint with rugby players from far and wide flying in to join what seems to be a new dawn for rugby in the land of the rising sun. Scratch away at the surface and you'll find the rugby legacy from RWC 2019 is virtually nil and here is the nub of the problem. The here and now for Japan was sensational, arguably the best tournament so far even with the dilemma of typhoon Higibis hitting half way through, but there was no post tournament vision. The legacy is a reliance on old guys who played "in their day" who now run big companies with loads of money.

This is exactly the problem Kitson alludes to in that there has been no long term vision, but a series of short term objectives that the game lurches between which are often held back by self interest. On this he points the finger at the French and the ever more acrimonious relationship between the PRL and the RFU. A significant part of the problem is the game is run at all levels by enthusiastic "amateurs" rather than hard nosed businessmen who know how to shape a vision and plan for it accordingly. There is too much reliance on the current white knights who ride to the rescue and the hope that a horde of white knights are riding to the rescue now.

For me it is a fine a balance as we don't want rugby to be the business we want the business to be rugby (thanks Barnsey) but without a proper vision and sensible financial management that will never be the case.

Towards the end of the article there were a couple of "throw away" comments which are worthy of note. Firstly the belief that CVC are the saviour of the game is a long way from the mark. "These guys don't give presents". Also the need to "change the way the game is played. There are too many dead moments for TV and the sport has become so physical that only a limited number of people can now enter it."

What is fascinating is the AFP lead with the headline "Japan 2019 left 'huge legacy', says World Rugby CEO". Interestingly there is no mention of a vision but a long list of facts about the tournament itself. Lots about the revenue and the TV audiences and the freshening up of facilities and the miracle of Japan v Scotland: the fact it went ahead and the result. Yes all true but where is the long term schools programme, the guarantee of a Japanese franchise in Super Rugby, the support for the grassroots game away from reliance on the big companies, the link to the baseball franchises (baseball being huge in Japan) and so on. There isn't. The only talk is about inviting Japan to join a mini UK based tournament in the Autumn because the RFU and others need cash.

Me, I think there is more credence in Kitson's piece than Brett Gosper's self-aggrandisement and the not so relevant use of facts.

By the way, and I have the evidence to prove this, whilst in Japan I wrote often in frustration that if World Rugby was honest about a legacy for the game in Japan then many, many more games would have been on free to air terrestrial TV in that country during the tournament than there was. Of course the amazing revenue Gosper talks about would have been less but at least more people could have been engaged with the game more often.

Bill Sweeney of the RFU outlines more details of his end-of-year plan for a 6 Nations plus two mini tournament if the Southern Hemisphere big hitters can't tour. He also says he won't sing "swing low" again (bandwagon jumper) and he will heed the players' views on the subject.

Nice piece in the Daily Fail about Gareth Thomas and his HIV challenge. Well worth a read.

Couple of bits before I go. I went to Bexhill yesterday for a stroll along the sea front. It was lovely. A lot more families with kids than I expected. To my admittedly untrained eye it did strike me that they were the very families whose kids should be at school as they could be the ones who are left behind in the future. Important to note that is very judgemental but when I went to see my grandson who is back at school, he is back at school with "the better families".

My concern is compounded when I read the teaching unions are already putting many obstacles in the way to a return to normal in September even before we are out of June. Surely a union of the left should be looking to remove as many obstacles as possible to ensure all kids get a good education and a fair crack at a good future rather than putting those at most risk even more in danger of a life of low paid work or living off the state.

That'll do for now. No jokes today as I think I have exhausted the library of "dad jokes" for now. Maybe I'll be back tomorrow, maybe not. If not it is because Friday club has been brought forward.

Don't forget the reduction in social distancing doesn't come into force until July 4th so you have another ten days without the need for deodorant or mouthwash. Yuck!!

Tuesday 23rd Jun: 08:00

Not much in the rugby section of the sports pages today but plenty on the back and front pages about soccer. More on this shortly.

The Daily Fail online carries an interview with Ben Youngs. He gets it I think. He talks about his fears that rugby is on the brink of a long recession as the reality of life post the season flu outbreak hits. Alongside his sensible analysis of the situation facing clubs he talks about his desire to get the one cap he needs to hit 100 test caps. What an achievement that would be. He also discusses the concern that players will look farther afield e.g. Japan and the USA for opportunities but I like the fact he he spoke reasonably positively about summer rugby; better pitches, a more exciting game, something which is needed in the way Twenty20 cricket has brought a whole new audience to that sport. He also believes that could change “the size of blokes slightly”. Hoorah for that thought!

In the same paper Chris Robshaw also predicts an exodus of players to the US and Japan where a 6 month season and higher wages would be an attractive proposition. It could well be but when you consider the global pool of players that those countries can draw from then I don’t think it would be a mass exodus. Also as I have said before an England team is an England team so the Calcutta Cup will still be an attractive draw whether players like Robshaw are in the side or not.

The widely expected announcement of a further easing of lockdown later today could just mean if Premiership Rugby were to get their act together and kick off again in August it could be in front of fans in their own stadia. Not full houses but some fans. That would be great........... except I continue to say they should be full.

Why do I say that?

Simple, there is increasing evidence the virus is diminishing rapidly in its strength and I am not hearing of huge clusters of people who massed together in Bristol or London contracting the virus or worse dying. Get those stadium gates open.

On the same vein it is time to tell people to get back to work. Your paid holiday is over. I heard a tale of a teaching assistant refusing to go back to work because of her fears of contracting the virus. This is the same teaching assistant who has constantly ignored all lockdown guidance with regular visits to her home by her children and grandchildren and other friends. Worse the minute the shops were open she was out there shopping. It is a farce. “Back to work, or no pay and on the dole”. That would focus the mind.

Today’s controversial question following the flying of a banner over last night’s Man City v Burnley game... Why is it acceptable to scream “Black Lives Matter”, remembering the extreme views of those who lead the UK campaign, yet people are slammed for saying “white lives matter”? Isn’t that a form of racism that is equally unacceptable? Yes, the word “too” included on the banner would have changed the emphasis or the use of “all” instead of “white” would also have been less provocative. My point is once we start this mass, social media driven pandering to causes without a balanced and sensible and open discussion this is where we will get to. Political correctness gone mad and freedom of speech as dead as the dodo. I despise racism, I believe in diversity and equal opportunity but come on lets use common sense and common decency to drive our behaviour not political correctness or what Twitter and Facebook tells what to do!

Must go, granddaughter duty today.

Before that though I am nursing a sore knee. I fell over one of Mrs Bleater’s bras yesterday.
It was a booby trap.

What with the knee and bad dreams I need to pull myself together.
Last night I dreamt about drowning in an ocean of orange soda.
It took me a while to work out it was only a Fanta Sea.

Monday 22nd Jun: 09:20

What a lovely Father's Day weekend. The weather brightened up beautifully for us to host my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren on Saturday. Socially distanced? No way Jose!. I haven't seen them other than virtually for months so there was no way I was going to follow any sort of pathetic, unnecessary and totally useless guidelines, especially when my lad turned up with his eldest. A happy day indeed.

Yesterday was just us in the sunshine with barbecue grilled sea bream followed by lamb steak served with spiced peppers and cheesy pesto mash, all washed down with a couple of bottles of my mate Mal Bec's best rose.

Plenty of sport. The Super Rugby was ok. Saturday's game was influenced by the awful Hamilton weather but it was still a bit turgid. The incessant whistling got to me, as did the aimless kicking and the lack of inventiveness in open play. In order to adapt to the more stringent interpretation of the tackle/ruck laws fewer players are getting involved meaning even less space for players to attack.

Sunday's game was better. The conditions were dry and the skills on show slicker but still a very high penalty count and still lots of bison on buffalo encounters slowing the game down. Aimless kicking was another negative feature.

The game is back on in front of full houses so lets not complain too loudly.............. but I also watched some of the NRL and Aussie Rules. Both were fast and furious with the ball in play significantly longer than either of the union match-ups.

Surprise, surprise Sir Knowitall has jumped on the bandwagon and pontificated about the use of "swing low" at Twickenham. The positive aspect of the debate is it has heightened awareness about the lack of diversity in our great game but some of the wringing of hands and woe is me is laced with hypocrisy. There is an excellent piece by Rupert Cox on the Sky Sport website that I encourage everyone to read. It gives a proper and relevant insight into the origins of the song and how it might be out of place at a predominately upper class wealthy white Twickenham.

Chris Foy in the Daily Fail has also commented about the lack of diversity at Twickenham. He quite rightly points to the very high ticket pricing, the debenture scheme, the corporate hooray Henrys and the fact tickets are distributed outside that by the clubs. The implication here is clubs lack diversity and making tickets more accessible to the general public will solve that. I think all clubs are open and welcoming of players from all backgrounds regardless of colour, race, sex or religion. Unlike the overly corporate Twickenham many clubs would be more diverse but the problem lies with the lack of rugby in the inner city state schools and state schools in the broader sense. We at CRFC have a great program working with our local schools but the simple fact is unless we bussed kids in from Central London no matter what success we had we would not change the demographic or ethnic profile of CRFC significantly. Many of the clubs we play who are from Central London are ethnically and demographically diverse and that is how it should be. My point is I think Chris Foy has fallen into the same trap as others of finding a simple forced solution to a very complex problem.

As an aside clubs are already having ticket allocations cut as a result of the RFU's need for cash. Tickets are important part of all clubs reward structure so any further cut would have implications. Throwing tickets open to the public would in my mind not achieve the objective but would most definitely line the pockets of ticket touts who would be selling them on to ............ yes you've guessed it..........predominately upper class wealthy white folks.

The Pro14 is planning an August return alongside the Premiership. That however is mired in incompetence and debate and dispute again. The PRL have brought in the pillar of consultancy; PwC to help them get through the perceived minefield of legal, welfare and covid-19 issues that lie ahead. This by the way is the same PwC who have been pilloried on occasions for their incompetence and their ability to make millions from delivering very little. Talking of competence or the lack of it the article in The Guardian infers that one Darren Childs might just be finding himself with a target on his back. Rest assure PwC won't be cheap so you have to ask is this going to be money well spent. I guess if the games kick of on August 15th with all stakeholders happy then the answer has to be yes, but ......... your views on a post card to bleater@crowboroughrugby.com.

Could this be the week when the pubs and hairdressers get the green light to reopen? Lets hope so.

Much to mull over about the latest Covid-19 nonsense and the truth about Black Lives Matter. When you discover that actually the UK arm of the movement are about closing prisons, removing the police and smashing capitalism I am surprised so many are happy to jump on this bandwagon. Surely all lives matter and getting kids back to school, having safe streets for all, and a successful and thriving economy that supports all is a more appropriate movement to support. Lots of left wing extremists now being sought by the police for criminal damage following recent protests in Bristol and London. If you are happy to support these people then so be it, after all we still, just about, live in democracy. When anarchy becomes the norm however please don't blame me.

In other news I'm reading a horror book in Braille.
Something terrible is going to happen!
I can feel it.

How important is grammar and punctuation.......
I am giving up drinking for a month.
Sorry, forgot the full stop.
I am giving up. Drinking for a month.

I'm in a bit of trouble.........
I lost my watch at a party. I saw a guy step on it while harassing a girl. I walked up and punched him straight on the nose.
I said: "no-one does that to a girl...... not on my watch!"