80th Birthday Photos

Just in case you can't wait for the photos from Lizzie, here are a few of them. If you click on a photo you should get a full size image, then you can save it on your own computer and print it or something ...

As a matter of record the Eton team beat the Keeling team 25-5. But apparently this wasn't too shameful. Sometimes the visiting team is being so slaughtered that the game has to be suspended. This didn't happen to the Keelings. Hurrah.

There are more photos on Lizzie's facebook at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104674&id=672780041. You have to have a facebook id to see them.

Old snow news

What a great weekend for Mum's birthday with an epic contest at the field game. Thanks to Archie for organising the game and to Dad and Mum for laying on such a good party at lunch time.

A week before Mum's party we had our fair share of snow in Somerset with the result that we were actually snowed in on 6th Feb with six inches of snow outside our front door and big branches lying across our drive from the cedar and other trees. The younger children could not be taken to school and poor Arthur was stuck at school because he had been boarding for the night on Thursday. We got him home on Saturday and he was able to join in the tobogganing.

But while we were under the white out we took some good photos which hopefully are attached to this post.

Tom

Archie's field game Valentine's day 2009

Archie, all hail to you. On behalf of all the family can I thank you for organising such a marvellous event for some 80 of us. I can think of no better way to salute Granny on the run-up to her 80th. What a huge effort you have put in. This morning I was so over-excited at the prospect of the match and I can only imagine the fever pitch of your own excitement as you tried to juggle the pitch arrangements to ensure that the game was not sabotaged by the authorities.

Your own game was a joy to watch. With a couple more of you playing it would have have turned into a Valentine's day massacre. For the Keelings. Up the Keelings.

Archie... thank you, thank you, thank you.

Lossa love - Trev (Dr)

The Last Field Game Post + maps

This is an urget last minute post to the players....

For several reasons we have decided to postpone our on-field meeting till 10.00am,just one hour before kick off. I am sorry this is such late notice and I hae been frantically trying to try and get in contact with the players but I am having trouble contacting George, Trev, Paul, and Fred.

I am so so looking forward to the game and its very interesting to see how each team has panned out. It looks as if we will be very equally matched.

But we have the advantage! because as Ghandi said in 1920 - "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." And therein lies our strength. what else could be the reason for George's phenomenal fitness work?

Game on.

George writes: Archie provided this schematic of where the game is.

ZILCH

We consider this a good omen for the field game match.


Trevor, Ruth and I had a very close game of zilch on the evening before the match. Trevor started off by getting 5 zilches in a row and descending to -1,500 and then went on to win.

To make it even more exciting, we were all in the 9,000's by the end of the game. Ruth got 10,550 as you can see, then Trevor pipped her at the post with 10,750. I zilched in a desperate attempt to overtake.

Trevor was possibly cheating by only drinking water. He claimed that this was in preparation for the match. He also got 2 x 1,000 with straights in two throws.

There is a footnote and another story, if only.

11 days to go

Phew! Just got back from my daily run. I'm trying to get a little bit fit for the Field Game. But I still hope I can stay on the sidelines. I will be a disgrace to the family name if I am called onto the pitch, Archie. I started last Tuesday with a modest run of about 860m. I had to stop on Pohlstrasse at about 600m and have a rest. The next day I didn't have to stop and today I extended my range to just over 1,000m. I wonder if I can get as far as the river in 11 days?

Monday 9/2/09: I did get to the river today! 1,200m and no heart attack yet.

PS Has anybody seen Valkyrie yet? I did and it's pretty good. Just beyond the river is Stauffenbergstrasse, which is named after the hero. He was shot in a building on that road. You can walk in the courtyard where it happened. Spooky.
Comments
Much looking forward to seeing all these fit keeling brothers competing in the wall game and thankyou for including me in the lunch afterwards.
Alex Palmer
Posted by: Alex Crockatt | February 08, 2009 at 06:04 PM

George - well done and I am sure you can make it to the river, but for goodness sake don't have a heart attack in training. The father of a friend of ours was involved in the Valkyrie plot (and was duly knocked off afterwards) - so we are looking forward to seeing it.

Posted by: Jim | February 04, 2009 at 04:37 PM