The train ride was very long, we had more than 100 minutes delay because of a fire that blocked the tracks somewhere in Bavaria. The mood at the train stations made up for it: the air was humming with the songs of German supporters after the already legendary 0:4 ass-whooping for Argentina. It was joyous. Even the England Supporter in me was enjoying it. Admit it, the Germans did a better job in reducing Maradona to tears than the English side could have ever achieved.

I prefer to watch the video above without sound, theme songs were never a strength of FIFA Worldcups. I am in the mood for some football – especially after this last season with Cup title for Sturm Graz, St.Pauli and Newcastle United back in their highest leagues – and I have my Vuvuzela app, I have my app for real-time complete statistics of every game. Barbecue is scheduled for this afternoon. I am ready.

As for predictions, my tips are always spoiled by my preference of sentimental underdogs like Denmark, South Korea, Australia or New Zealand. All teams that have the same or less potential compared to Austria and still regularly perform better. I always rejoice when they annoy the big ones (Denmark 1992, DEN-BRA in 1998, AUS-ITA 2006, Korea 2002).

And then there is England. The team that must avoid penalties at all costs, or practice them for four years in preparation. And in this tournament they must not lose another player. How thin exactly the side is on some positions showed painfully in the first half of the Japan game. You will need all the luck in the world. Fingers crossed.

Looking at the BBC Team Tracker (highly recommended) I fear the worst for all of my supported sides. Some big ones will have to fall in the first rounds to make this interesting.

Ke Nako! It is about time!

I spent the last few days with Heidi in Alpl, which in the center a rather remote valley in upper styria named the “Waldheimat” (ca. Home in the forests). They were not joking about the forests there. There really is forest, forest and forest (but no cellphone reception)
We stayed at a Wellness/Family hotel and enjoyed the calm, the clean air, the massages and the sauna. We did some walks (in the rain), picked wild berries and mushrooms. Perfect days to relax.
And today we finished off with a hike on top of the Raxalpe. (The images are from that trip) Great weather (not too hot, not too cold) and a great view (as far as the Neusiedler Lake and Hungary).

The tickets for Russell Davies’ interesting2008 conference went on sale today 9am GMT. This should be an interesting thing again. But not for me. Tickets were sold out in less than 3 hours, when I got around to log in from work. Sigh.

This should become a habit.

Gestern waren wir beim Herr der Ringe Konzert in der Grazer Stadthalle. (Die Eintrittskarten waren Heidis Weihnachtsgeschenk für mich) Die Warschauer Sinfoniker spielten Howard Shores Soundtrack für die Filmtrilogie. Es gibt nur wenige Dinge, die besser und kraftvoller klingen als ein 200 Personen Orchester. Sehr schön.

A Lost-Note outside my house. It says:
Small RC-Plane.
If found, please return Monday Block 20c Flat 5 from 1pm.
P L E A S E
Hope they found it.