The Cup means F.A. to me

The plate of Scotch eggs on John's latest post reminded me that if I am watching an interview or something like the Antiques Roadshow on TV, I am always looking at the people or things behind the interviewee. I usually find it much more interesting than what you are supposed to be concentrating on.

Someone conducted an experiment on a controlled group in America once by showing a short clip of a hectic basketball game.  Halfway through the clip, a man in a bear-suit slowly strolls across the court behind the action and - amazingly - only about 20% of the people noticed it. Presumably they were the ones not interested in basketball.

Not being interested in basketball is close to being a crime in some parts of America. In this country, people who do not care about football are wearily tolerated by all the fanatics. The general attitude is 'it's their loss', and I agree. I have never been particularly interested in football, but - thanks to H.I. - I quite often sit down and enjoy an important match such as the F.A. Cup ones going on at the moment. It is the sheer skill that keeps me watching initially, but it is not too long before I find myself taking sides like a true tribesman.

I went to Florida once to work on a wealthy couple's imported French fire surround. I was greeted at the airport by the main contractor and his brother-in-law, who drove me to my motel and the crate of beer they had bought for me.

The next day they treated me to a meal out in an expensive fish restaurant followed by a basketball match featuring none other than the legendary Magic Johnson.

Halfway through the game I became bored, so went outside for a cigarette. When I returned, the looks of hostility were quite unnerving. The main man asked me where I had been, and when I told him he was lost for words. Only a bout of dysentery would have - almost - been a good enough excuse for my behaviour.

I think they began to have doubts when I ordered a chilli con carne in the fish restaurant.