Deja vú.

We would have posted sooner, really, only we've been laughing so hard the last couple of days - sorry, but we do think it's just too good to last. Landing up at the local hostelry to share the evenings entertainment with the local atletistas was the moment we heard of Madrid's unfortunate evening at the hands of their traditional friends español - a case of history repeating itself after last year. Much good natured laughter and thumb flicking etc as you might imagine, and the evening to be rounded off nicely with atleti's well deserved victory over Barça. A more confident and assured performance than has been seen for some time. To top it all the local Madrid underdogs - Getafe - currently lead the Spanish first division, with Madrid a distant 15th. Naturally, the referee was to blame for Madrid's debacle: apparently he had blown for a penalty (against them) a millisecond before the ball went in the net (or some such bollocks) - see photo of Madrid getting all upset with the ref, Princess Raul particularly beside herself. Anyway, it all adds to to the general hilarity and merriment around here as the geriatricos lumber on buying fancy footworkers without any real sense of direction or gameplan. The only blot on the evening's pleasantries the lighter thrown at Eto'o - zero tolerance of that kind of apparently racist behaviour in this neck of the woods.
Athletic de Bilbao - the team of choice around here - take on Madrid this week, though their track record isn't always that good against the old enemy. We live in hope.