England Triumph at cricket!
Mood:  happy
England Won! The cricket that is. The Ashes to be more precise. England have regained the Ashes after 18 years. There are a lot of very happy Englishmen (and women) tonight. And a lot of very disappointed Australians.

The English victory will be celebrated tomorrow with an open-top bus procession from Mansion House in the City of London to Trafalgar Square. I expect there will be a lot of flag waving which I'm really pleased about. I think there should be more of that. You seldom see evidence of patriotism in England except during special events like this. It's great to see so many people showing their pride in being English.

I particularly enjoy hearing the English fans singing the unofficial English national anthem and England's most patriotic song:

Jerusalem by William Blake

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.



Cricket explained

A brief history of the Ashes