Week Forty-Four: 2022

Posted on Nov 28, 2022 by TanGental

For once I’m pleased the autumn rugby internationals are over. England’s performances have been pretty unappealing and that’s a shame as I do enjoy a bit of looking forward to sporting events.

It’s the same with the football. I’m with those who think Qatar shouldn’t have been awarded the hosting rights. It smacks of dodgy dealing. And while I abhor the egregious discrimination that pervades that society, in many ways it’s no worse than many other hosting countries of various major sports events. Every nation has its blind spots and skeletons. If we applied even basic standards as we view them in the West we’d end up with every tournament in Denmark or on a Faroe Isle or some such. There is always hypocrisy but it goes with the territory of hosting. You will be vilified. Get over it. If you can’t take the heat…

Anyway, world cups are in June so this one doesn’t feel right for temporal as well as moral reasons. And leave the players alone. They’re good at football. They probably have a range of views on the hot button issues of the morally certain but why should they be held to some standard that doesn’t apply elsewhere. It’s for the likes of governing bodies to make protests, not individual players, and if, like the Iranian team not singing the National Anthem in a protest, we should applaud their courage, given the likely reaction back home, rather than criticise those who just get on with playing.

I mentioned last week that I’m approaching a birthday. Yippee! Double yippees when I was told to present myself at this building in Covent Garden. ‘Wear comfortable clothes and bring a deodorant.’

Okay… still I love me a treat (was it only in my family that, at birthday time, we had to choose between a party and a treat? I went for the party, the Archaeologist the treat – says it all really) so I ignored the implicit critique of my bodily hygiene and did as I was bid.

We were in a Sandbox, which naively I thought would have some sand. Nope. It was a venue for team based VR gaming… That’s what that weird pic at the top is all about.

Yep, me gaming. Woop woop. As well as the Textiliste, I tried to look knowledgeable and failed. Still I’m ever up for a new experience. That’s when we found out that she has a Kinemortophobia.

So no zombies. We swapped games to hunting treasure in Davy Jones’ Locker. How to describe the experience? Discombobulating at the start. Unexpectedly engaging as it progresses. And sweaty too, hence the spray. Here are some stills and then a video to give you some idea.

Get me, eh. Part of the metaverse.

I think overall I prefer the garden or walking Dog.

And after we did have a delightful Italian meal at a place called Norma. I ate too much as per… back to Joe Wicks sessions this week methinks.

Meanwhile, under a tap…

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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35 Responses to Week Forty-Four: 2022

  1. joylennick says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 11:14 am

    Looks mind-altering…I’d also rather wander around a garden…Great fun for the fans though. Cheers.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. ThingsHelenLoves says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:03 pm

    What a brilliant birthday treat. It looks so right in the animation but so funny to see you all playing!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Darlene says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:58 pm

    Something different is always fun. Happy Birthday!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Noelle A. Granger says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    What a fun birthday present! Not sure I’d like the metaverse all the time, though. Did you survive??? And Happy Birthday, young man.

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Nov 28, 2022 at 11:59 pm

      Yep. No bruises, a rather tight right buttock ducking the mad skeleton and a fair bit of sweat. However that bucket has been filled so I can move on to something else…

      Like

  6. willowdot21 says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 5:03 pm

    I really enjoyed this post ☺️☺️☺️
    Hippo Birdy 2 ewe
    🦛🐦🐑🐑
    🦛🐦
    🦛🐦 🦌 Geoffrey
    🦛🐦🐑🐑

    Liked by 2 people

  7. robertawrites235681907 says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    This looks interesting, GEoff, a bit of a change. Remind me to avoid all taps in the UK.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. trifflepudling says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 5:55 pm

    I liked the credits at the end!
    Yes, trim down a bit to make room for festivities 🥳🥳

    Liked by 1 person

  9. John W. Howell says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 6:02 pm

    We enjoyed it. Thnks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Marje @ Kyrosmagica says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 7:00 pm

    Hi Geoff. It looks a bit Dr. Who ish. Surprised no daleks. Lol. Love the shot of your cat drinking from the tap! Happy birthday! Mine was recent too… went to Seville. Loved it.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    I think the pets have the right idea! I’d much rather slob with them.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. tootlepedal says:
    Nov 28, 2022 at 10:58 pm

    I know that the metaverse is supposed to be the future but it looks a rather cumbersome affair at the moment. Did you have any balance problems? I am glad that you enjoyed it as it is an original birthday present.

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Nov 28, 2022 at 11:52 pm

      No balance issues just avoiding walking into the walls. And while you inside you assume you look coordinated and, well, cool, whereas you actually appear to be trying to shake a post it note off your fingers…

      Like

  13. V.M.Sang says:
    Nov 29, 2022 at 11:55 am

    Many years (decades?) Ago I went to Futuroscope when it was relatively new. They had a VR bit, and I had a go. We had a treadmill on which to walk. It was just a shoot ’em up and I was pants. I died very quickly. So much for me fondly thinking that, come the apocalypse I would survive, no problem.
    I remember seeing Ronnie O’Sullivan having a VR game of snooker. At the end, he tried to lean on the virtual table and, of course, fell to the floor. It certainly feels real.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. derrickjknight says:
    Nov 29, 2022 at 3:57 pm

    Well, I ave no idea what was going on but Happy Birthday anyway. Did the cat turn the tap on?

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Dec 2, 2022 at 7:37 pm

      She’s a dowager by breeding so waits for her people to do the honours. And I’m not sure I knew what was happening but it did seem to be fun. It was in the dry and warm which I’ll take a positives

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Bridgette says:
    Dec 2, 2022 at 2:59 pm

    Oh, my! That truly looks like fun. What a great way to spend your birthday. Also, your cat is adorable.

    Liked by 1 person

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