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THE LOOP: Amongst the August Beige

2 August 2008

We know - we are an absolute disgrace and have not been in touch in April, May, June or even July. Sorry about that. We have been doing stuff though, just been appalling at telling you about it...

The London tours are back on the Beige Brigade website. There has been an element of reintegration here by our powerful IT Department (which is also responsible for all other elements of the Beige Brigade's global domination). For all the lowdown, have a squizz at the Tours section and if you are in London you better make plans to come to Oktoberfest with us, and then up to Ireland, Scotland and Wales for the footy later in the year. We are also looking at doing a shearing tour to Norway (totally outrageous), and we will be heading back to Gallipoli (April 2009) to pay tribute to the mighty ANZACs. For NZ-based Beige Brigadiers, pencil in your mission to Australia at Waitangi Weekend 2009 - buckle up for details on that one.

We have been to England. Drowned our sorrows in the bleakness that was Lord's for the test match. This round of Pimm's set us back about 43 quid from memory. One highlight was meeting this bloke - an eccentric English barrister who thought he was the world's greatest fruit juggler when we were at a pub near Abbey Rd. We erupted with extremely enthusiastic applause every time he gave it a crack - and he furnished us with Dom Perrignon galore in response. A match made in heaven. Up in Manchester things were slightly less refined, and considerably more feral than in St John's Wood. For the photographic exploits of the tour, look here.

We have sold a lot of clobber. Supplies are low but we are still mailing dreadful beige-coloured clothing and accessories all over the globe. Sweatbands are easy to post and we have New Zealand's largest Stubbies collection, based on some peculiar stupid buying decisions from the Purchasing Department in the middle of winter. Peruse the beige kit catalogue here.

We also went to Pamplona. One highlight came on day 1 of The Running of the Bulls 2008. When you click on the link, make sure you take note of the fool in the yellow chicken outfit on the far side of the lane, standing against the blue wall. Not only is he wearing a 'hard case' kit but he cannot see a single thing! So he removes the mask only to get mowed down by an angry 600kg bull...poetic justice for all of us Beige Brigadiers on site. He was Australian and he did live. Video is here for your pleasure. 

We have revisited the oddness that is Henry Blofeld: Here he is out of control and unleashing his "wee story" (pun intended) on Peter Williams of TVNZ fame, back when the cricket was on the telly and free, and New Zealand had a couple of decent opening batsmen. Thanks to Neil for the tip-off.

The Beige Brigade's BYC Podcast: We have moved into the 70s over at The BYC podcast - 73 not out, although our scoring rate has dropped away as we enter the winter months. Recent efforts have included tributes to the new CD coach - the previously mindblown Dermot Reeve, and musical mockeries of Steve Miller and Beck classics. We are now the only cricketing podcast running in the Land of the Long White Librarian.

Sideline Slogger: The bearded element of the Beige Brigade has been relentlessly banging on about cricket on Stuff. He doesn't think we should be going to Pakistan, reckons Chris Martin might be retiring, enjoyed the Pig Styris vs Rigor Richardson text war, and challenged Prime Minister Helen Clark to show some balls.

We've got some nice pics through. One is of the man from Mt Maunganui who must surely be the Beige Brigade's most mature member - all 83 years young of him. Outstanding! At the other end of the maturity scale are young Moses, and the pre-pubescents Tayne and Noah.

We reckon this event is worth considering. The Halberg Trust is celebrating the success of the NZ Test team who murdered England at The Basin in February 1978. It's a lunch in Auckland on 22 August at SkyCity from 12 noon. Blokes like Mark Burgess (world's greatest fielder), Ewen Chatfield (world's greatest lawn mower), rent-a-quote Warren Lees and messy John Wright will all be there. Details are on the Halberg Trust website here.

Declared: And that, as they say - is that. Do get in touch with your thoughts and comments - and send us stuff that the world needs to know and we will whack it up on the Sideline Slogger or if it is too weird for that, on our own less formal blog - The Rave.

You take care out there

Paul & Mike