The rain in Spain stays mainly in the Plain.
In Hertford, Hereford, and Hampshire, Hurricanes Hardly Happen.
That was just a glimpse of lines from the great play of My Fair Lady. Have you seen the play? I have! Although my experience of seeing this particular play did not involve going to see it in london's fancy covent garden theatre (the Royal Opera House). I went to see the play in not-as-posh Birmingham Hipprodrome. But definitely quite posh for Birmingham standard. haha. I had fun. It was a worthy performance and clearly entertaining.
Eliza: The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.
Higgins: I think she's got it. I think she's got it.
Eliza: The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.
Higgins: By George, she's got it. By George, she's got it. Now once again, where does it rain?
Eliza: On the plain! On the plain!
Higgins: And where's that soggy plain?
Eliza: In Spain! In Spain!
Chorus: The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!...
Higgins: I think she's got it. I think she's got it.
Eliza: The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.
Higgins: By George, she's got it. By George, she's got it. Now once again, where does it rain?
Eliza: On the plain! On the plain!
Higgins: And where's that soggy plain?
Eliza: In Spain! In Spain!
Chorus: The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!...
Well... I'm not going to write about the tale of Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins. It was just a bit of a coincidental case with My Fair Lady that the rain in Spain definitely hasnt really stayed mainly in the plain lately, as it was definitely Spanish rain in Europe recently. Why is it? While the lines above are only a small bit of the well-celebrated English play, yet England failed to play and thus participate in the most-celebrated big European event of the beloved Football. Very sad indeed. And, ironically, it was Spain who was crowned as the victor of the Euro 2008. Spain, while obviously wasnt an underdog team at the championship, it wasnt exactly the clear favorite in the beginning of the early matches. Although it has rather massive fans indeed. On the other hand, Italy, the current world champion, was a big favorite. Viva azzurri was everywhere both in Swiss and Austria. French, another dark horse, was one of the favorites as well. At the early rounds, it was Netherlands who was cheered and predicted to be a winner. Alongside Germany with their quite sound performance on the grass.
Although it wasnt raining on the final match, unlike previous matches, it was Spain who rained the game with their victory in Ernst Happel, Vienna where the whole stadium also rained with Spanish flag and red colour.
However, Spain's victory in Euro 2008 there left me a bit unsettling. why indeed? A Spanish national team owned the final day in Euro 2008 hosted by two countries: Austria and Swiss. It made me wondering, "Will a Spanish conquer a Swiss native after this?". Yes, I am talking about Wimbledon here. "As Spain stole back the Henry Delaunay trophy after 44 years, will a young Spaniard steal the Wimbledon trophy and end a Swiss native's five years reign?". I was terrified, very much indeed. For those Federer fans out there, you should all have been alarmed by this speculation (if only i had written this sooner!).
So then, with a very alarming idea in my head, i followed match after match of Wimbledon 2008. As it happened, my fearful speculation did came into realisation. Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard warrior finally gained his long-awaited victory over the FedExpress, the King of grass court and Rafa's arch-nemesis, on Wimbledon's centre court. He ended Roger Federer's reign on the centre court by defeating him in a match of 5 heart-jittering and almost unbearable long sets. As Eliza answered Higgins' question that the soggy rain was in Spain, it was a Spanish who was rained by victorious match on...a soggy day indeed. Rafa then stole Federer's crown on the grass court which, for some people, is considered Federer's second home. It was beyond sad. For me, it was like a great loss.
Earlier this year, on a bit different subject yet very related topic, Javier Bardem, a Spanish actor, was honored to win the academy Award, the Oscar, as the Best Actor in a Supporting role in another most-celebrated event of Hollywood. It is indeed a very rare occasion in the history of Oscar that non-American actors gains a victory - This year's Oscar was deemed as "international" (or rather European?), as the Best Actor crown went to Daniel Day Lewis, the British-Irish actor, and the Best Actress award was handed in to Marion Cotillard, the talented French actress who brilliantly played the role of Edith Piaff in La Vie en Rose / La Môme.
So, when Professor Higgins tried to teach Eliza "the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain", little did he know that years later the Spanish rain does not merely stay mainly in the plain, but across the Europe (and beyond) indeed. The latest rain was obviously a case of a Spaniard raining a tennis match with his forceful talent and reigning at the Wimbledon's centre court. Although it pained me, it still does, i whole-heartedly congratulate Rafa on his latest BIG victory. After all, dethroning Federer's crown wasnt an easy work, and not many people could do that. Although, i bet you all that FedExpress will be back in his more brilliant than usual form to steal back his Wimbledon's crown. I do believe this is just an off year for him, one of those year. It has happened to the likes of Bjorn Borg and Sampras, two of the greatest players besides Fed himself. You just wait, Rafa... You shall just see, next year.
It is then fair to say that it's a big year for Spain. Although, unfortunately, it doesnt really apply to Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard F1 driver who's been losing his great "touch" on GP track lately. Thanks to his unwell relationship with the English team and his then English teammate (now rival). Perhaps, Alonso should attend one of Professor Higgins' class with Eliza, to learn the "proper English way" (no pun intended). As for Alonso, the rain in his Spain stays mainly in the losing pain.
"...the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain? no, the rain in Spain spreads across the Europe's, and even American land. In Hollywood, London, Austria, and Switzerland...Spanish hurricanes do happen."
Although it wasnt raining on the final match, unlike previous matches, it was Spain who rained the game with their victory in Ernst Happel, Vienna where the whole stadium also rained with Spanish flag and red colour.
However, Spain's victory in Euro 2008 there left me a bit unsettling. why indeed? A Spanish national team owned the final day in Euro 2008 hosted by two countries: Austria and Swiss. It made me wondering, "Will a Spanish conquer a Swiss native after this?". Yes, I am talking about Wimbledon here. "As Spain stole back the Henry Delaunay trophy after 44 years, will a young Spaniard steal the Wimbledon trophy and end a Swiss native's five years reign?". I was terrified, very much indeed. For those Federer fans out there, you should all have been alarmed by this speculation (if only i had written this sooner!).
So then, with a very alarming idea in my head, i followed match after match of Wimbledon 2008. As it happened, my fearful speculation did came into realisation. Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard warrior finally gained his long-awaited victory over the FedExpress, the King of grass court and Rafa's arch-nemesis, on Wimbledon's centre court. He ended Roger Federer's reign on the centre court by defeating him in a match of 5 heart-jittering and almost unbearable long sets. As Eliza answered Higgins' question that the soggy rain was in Spain, it was a Spanish who was rained by victorious match on...a soggy day indeed. Rafa then stole Federer's crown on the grass court which, for some people, is considered Federer's second home. It was beyond sad. For me, it was like a great loss.
Earlier this year, on a bit different subject yet very related topic, Javier Bardem, a Spanish actor, was honored to win the academy Award, the Oscar, as the Best Actor in a Supporting role in another most-celebrated event of Hollywood. It is indeed a very rare occasion in the history of Oscar that non-American actors gains a victory - This year's Oscar was deemed as "international" (or rather European?), as the Best Actor crown went to Daniel Day Lewis, the British-Irish actor, and the Best Actress award was handed in to Marion Cotillard, the talented French actress who brilliantly played the role of Edith Piaff in La Vie en Rose / La Môme.
So, when Professor Higgins tried to teach Eliza "the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain", little did he know that years later the Spanish rain does not merely stay mainly in the plain, but across the Europe (and beyond) indeed. The latest rain was obviously a case of a Spaniard raining a tennis match with his forceful talent and reigning at the Wimbledon's centre court. Although it pained me, it still does, i whole-heartedly congratulate Rafa on his latest BIG victory. After all, dethroning Federer's crown wasnt an easy work, and not many people could do that. Although, i bet you all that FedExpress will be back in his more brilliant than usual form to steal back his Wimbledon's crown. I do believe this is just an off year for him, one of those year. It has happened to the likes of Bjorn Borg and Sampras, two of the greatest players besides Fed himself. You just wait, Rafa... You shall just see, next year.
It is then fair to say that it's a big year for Spain. Although, unfortunately, it doesnt really apply to Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard F1 driver who's been losing his great "touch" on GP track lately. Thanks to his unwell relationship with the English team and his then English teammate (now rival). Perhaps, Alonso should attend one of Professor Higgins' class with Eliza, to learn the "proper English way" (no pun intended). As for Alonso, the rain in his Spain stays mainly in the losing pain.
"...the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain? no, the rain in Spain spreads across the Europe's, and even American land. In Hollywood, London, Austria, and Switzerland...Spanish hurricanes do happen."
* this is for my Dad, who doesnt like Spain when it comes to spectator sports: for Alonso defeating Schumacher in Formula 1 GP, for Barcelona defeating Arsenal in Champions league, for Sete Gibernau defeating Rossi in MotoGP - all happened 2 years ago.
3 comments:
Cici..am so proud of you!
your writing is flowing effortless,full of information and graceful use of language. but i think it would be more interesting if you put a little humor in it, its not one of those reports that you need to submit, its indeed your own notebook. I can somehow feel that you're playing it safe..don't be to cautious in taking risks.
but then again.....this is precisely the year for Espaniard...arriba espagna!!
Hehehe...football and F1 crazy girl! To be honest, this is probably the most diverse blog I have ever read!!!! You write just about anything...very nice work!
ciw,another one,,Sastre, just won Tour de France ;)
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