General Chat

So sorry to hear about your sister Linda.
I hope the decision won't take too long and is favourable :-)

SCOTLAND v ITALY ~ THE TEAMS

SCOTLAND

Captain: STUART HOGG

Backs
15. Sean Maitland
14. Darcy Graham
13. Huw Jones
12. Sam Johnson
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Stuart Hogg (C)
9. Scott Steele

Forwards:
1. Rory Sutherland
2. David Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Sam Skinner
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Matt Fagerson

Replacements:
16. George Turner, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Alex Craig, 20. Nick Haining, 21. Ali Price, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Chris Harris


ITALY

Captain: LUCA BIGI

Backs:
15. Edoardo Padovani, 14. Mattia Bellini, 13. Juan Ignacio Brex, 12. Federico Mori,
11. Montanna Ioane, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Stephen Varney

Forwards:
1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Luca Bigi, 3. Marco Riccioni, 4. Niccolò Cannone, 5. Federico Ruzza,
6. Sebastian Negri, 7. Johan Meyer, 8. Michele Lamaro

Replacements:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17. Andrea Lovotti, 18. Giosuè Zilocchi, 19. Riccardo Favretto,
20. Maxime Mbanda’, 21. Marcello Violi, 22. Carlo Canna, 23. Marco Zanon



SATURDAY MARCH 20
Game 1:
SCOTLAND v ITALY ..... Kick Off 2.15pm ..... LIVE on BBC

Thanks Linda <3

Of course Wales can win Jem.

Great news about your OH . I hope that he can get his licence back from the DVLA quickly, I think they have a long backlog

My sister had her license revoked because she had a brain biopsy into a tumour. It seems to be not that aggressive and not growing any more. The biopsy means an automatic six months driving ban. It is up on April 12th. Her consultant has written a letter for her and she has sent the forms in to get her license back, but she is not very hopeful of getting the decision on time as they are so behind

HERE'S THE HUGE GAME ....
..... CAN WALES BEAT THE FRENCH AND WIN THE GRAND SLAM?

As the only team not to have lost a game to date ...
Only WALES can win the Grand Slam Now!
But the first place will still be up for grabs if Wales cannot get the better of France on Saturday

FRANCE v WALES
Here are the teams for this massive game


FRANCE

Captain: CHARLES OLLIVON

Backs:
15. Brice Dulin
14. Teddy Thomas
13. Virimi Vakatawa
12. Gael Fickou
11. Damian Penaud
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Antoine Dupont

Forwards:
1. Cyril Baille
2. Julian Marchand
3. Mohamed Haouas
4. Romain Taofifenua
5. Paul Willemse
6. Dylan Cretin
7. Charles Ollivon (C)
8. Gregory Alldritt

Replacements:
16. Camille Chat, 17. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18. Uini Atonio, 19. Swann Rebbadj,
20. Anthony Jelonch, 21. Baptiste Serin, 22. Romain Ntamack, 23 Arthur Vincent



WALES<3

Captain: ALUN-WYN JONES

Backs:
15. Liam Williams
14. Louis Rees-Zammit
13. George North
12. Jonathan Davies
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Biggar
9. Gareth Davies

Forwards:
1. Wyn Jones
2. Ken Owens
3. Tomas Francis
4. Adam Beard
5. Alun Wyn Jones (C)
6. Josh Navidi
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Taulupe Faletau


Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Leon Brown, 19. Cory Hill, 20. James Botham,
21. Tomos Williams, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Uilisi Halaholo


THE GRAND SLAM GAME

Game 3:
*** FRANCE v WALES<3
Kick Off 8.00pm ...... LIVE on BBC & S4C

HERE WE GO FOR THE FIRST TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
And yes, it's .....

ENGLAND

Captain: OWEN FARRELL

Backs:
15. Max Malins
14. Anthony Watson
13. Elliot Daly
12. Owen Farrell (C)
11. Jonny May
10. George Ford
9. Ben Youngs

Forwards:
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Maro Itoje
5. Charlie Ewels
6. Mark Wilson
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola

Replacements:
16. Jamie George, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Jonny Hill, 20. Ben Earl,
21. Dan Robson, 22. Ollie Lawrence


IRELAND TEAM TO BE CONFIRMED


SATURDAY MARCH 20th
Game 2:
*** IRELAND v ENGLAND ***
Kick Off 4.45pm ..... LIVE on ITV

I'M LATE....

Without any warning at all, the phone company was up the telephone pole in the lane at the end of the garden .... and NO PHONE nor INTERNET! :-0
Just as well I'm not having to work from home :-0

They are still there. The internet is back but not the landline as yet

SO UP VERY SOON IS THE ROUND 5 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT :-D

SIX NATIONS 2021 ROUND 5

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT DAY TOMORROW :-)

TO ROUND OFF THIS EVENING'S LIVE IRISH ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL ....

The full version of the Anthem of the IRU

IRELAND’S CALL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPfXm4HOqBg

If any of you have taken the time to tune in, I hope you have enjoyed.
KEEP SAFE EVERYONE <3

Sharing a little bit of news with you all....

My Irish OH has plenty of reason to celebrate "St Paddy's Day" today...
His Stroke Consultant told him this afternoon that he's willing for my OH to drive again!
He's been discharged! :-)

Here's another beautiful song

THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER ..... CELTIC WOMAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_VlNGJvUwY

Back to Radio Jem's Kitchen Studio now ;-) .....

IRISH COFFEE

It takes just 10 minutes to make this delicious Irish Coffee
Serves 2: 203 Calories per serving

Ingredients
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 2 cups hot strong brewed coffee (French or other dark roast)
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon green creme de menthe

Directions
• Divide sugar and whiskey between two mugs; stir in coffee. In a small bowl, beat cream and creme de menthe until thickened. Gently spoon onto tops of drinks, allowing cream to float. Serve immediately.

Beautiful <3..... But now I'm blubbing again! :-D

Time for another song

This song is always sung victoriously at Rugby Stadiums by the Irish Fans.
But the song is a very sad story. It's about the suffering in Ireland during THE POTATO FAMINE 1845 – 1852.

FIELDS OF ATHENRY ..... MARY DUFF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AYR8rO0EKc

We've heard some lovely Irish Music, watched some amazing Irish Rugby, tasted
some delicious Irish food ;-)

NOW LET'S ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY <3

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES OF IRELAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns8orCA_hS8

And while we are digesting that dish ;-) another song!
Another of my OH's favourites

THE BLACK VELVET BAND ..... THE HIGH KINGS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDz-7_SergQ

Now it's time to visit Radio Jem's Kitchen Studio ;-) for a Traditional Irish Dish :-D

TRADITIONAL IRISH STEW

Preparation: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes (plus 2hrs 30 mins to make the stock)
524 Calories per serving

METHOD

1.
Make the stock. Put the lamb bones in a large heavy-based saucepan with the carrot, onion, celery, herbs, peppercorns and 1 tsp salt. Pour in 3 litres/5 ¼ pints water. Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 2 hours.
2.
Strain the stock through a fine sieve to remove bones and vegetables, then return to the pan. Boil until reduced to about 1.3 litres/2 ¼ pints. (You can make the stock the day before – keep it in a covered container in the fridge, or freeze it for up to 3 months.)
3.
Make the stew. Cut the lamb into large chunks. Peel the potatoes (keeping both types separate) and cut into pieces of similar size to the meat. Put the two different types in separate bowls of water to keep them white. Peel the carrots and cut into slightly smaller pieces. Slice the onions into thick rings.
4.
Put the lamb in a large, clean saucepan. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, skimming off all the impurities from the surface. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
5.
Add the floury potatoes, carrots and onions. Season generously and simmer for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6.
Add the waxy potatoes and thyme. Simmer until the lamb is tender (15-20 minutes). Take off the heat, cover (don’t stir) and leave for 15 minutes. (You can make this up to 2 days ahead and keep in the fridge). Garnish and serve.

Well, I am sobbing after that! :-( <3

Here's a question!
What do you think is the most FAMOUS Irish song ever?
There are one or two that come close, but I think it's this one .....

O DANNY BOY .... DANIEL O’DONNELL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9CKSLG5cck

WOW! I'd forgotten just how good Brian O'Driscoll was! <3