The Stormers and the tea cup

I organised a bit of a get together to watch the rugby yesterday - Stormers vs The Hurricanes. I figured that the dogs battle to come to terms with all the shouting, jumping, falling (off the couch) and wild splashing that accompanies a typical scene in our house when the local teams play - and it's because I haven't sensitised them to the game from early enough. So Jo got a chance to ease into things. The game was an important one, and with the good form that the Stormers are in I felt certain that he'd get a taste of all the 'activities' that make up a game.

Being from Fhk - there was no beer, just wine. Not that he needs to learn about that yet. The dogs were suitably positioned. The 'manne' were in front of the telly. The game ran on for 30 minutes before I noticed that the dogs had escaped, the wine bottle was empty, the Josh mobile (Tracey) had retreated into the kitchen and I was left alone to scream and fret about the complete lack of tackling and general ineptitude of the camera man, the ref and the state of refreshments in the house.

No wonder rugby in this country has gone to pot. While we, the guardians of the game, do the man-stuff - braai, discuss team selection, slate the government, re-live great tries and expound the virtues of low tackles and strong hand-offs - our young men-to-be are in the kitchen making potato salad with mom! What nonsense. I have decided (if not for Tracey I would decree) that all in the house will watch the Brutal Game (so much more exhilarating than the Beautiful one) - man and woman alike. No salad, no looking at the baby room, no measuring the thickness of nappies or the length of stretch marks - just watching rugby. 5 minutes off at half time to top-up the glasses and biltong bowls and if that's done well I'm happy to skip the post-match dissection from Naas and Co.

If he does end up playing the violin and asking for a tea set for his doll-house, so be it. But until it happens we will support our team as one!