A couple of stories that could be straight out of a Hollywood film tonight. Firstly, Marcus Powell reports on the trial at London's Blackfriars Crown Court of a mechanic accused of taking part in the biggest cocaine case ever seen in Ireland. The gang, including a retired MET police detective tried to smuggle more than £200m worth of cocaine into Ireland from the Caribbean, but failed spectacularly when the boat carrying the drugs capsized off the Irish coast. They were trying to land an incredible 62 bails of cocaine and simply sank under the weight of it all. Some of the gang swam to shore, one was picked up by rescuers and the retired MET man went on the run for months. They were all eventually brought to justice. Meanwhile, John Edney from Sutton-at-Hone in Kent, who was accused of supplying the cars used in the plot, was found not guilty of conspiring to supply class A drugs. It's not just me is it...that has to be made into a Harrison Ford movie?!
Also tonight - some big match build-up laced with yet more tinseltown tension as Chelsea face Inter Milan in the Champions League in a match with more sub-plots that an episode of 24. Andy Townsend will talk us through the drama, but basically it goes like this: It's the first time the idolised former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has faced his former side since leaving on less-than-best terms in 2007. The current Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti used to play for and manage Inter's arch rival's in the Italian League, AC Milan. The two managers don't get on with the enigmatic Mourinho convinced of some sort of Italian football establishment vendetta against him, of which he thinks Ancelotti is a part (Ancelotti has claimed every Italian non-Inter fan will be supporting the Londoners tonight). What with all that and the comments Mourinho's made about Chelsea being essentially made up of 'his players' and we've got a game on our hands! Another good movie plot, but who do we cast? Well, Andy Townsend can play himself. I reckon James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) as Carlo Ancelotti and how about Harrison Ford again as 'The Special One'?
Well, maybe we'll find out if he'll do it later because Harrison Ford's on the show too! He's been talking to Lucy about his new film, 'Extraordinary Measures', in which he plays a brilliant scientist trying to save the lives of two children, based on a true story. So, how was he? I always imagine Harrison Ford to be a bit surly, don't know why? Anyway, who cares, it's Harrison Ford! So, in homage to one of my favorite actors, here are my top five H.F. movie quotes in reverse order...
5) Han Solo, 'Star Wars: A New Hope' - "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
4) Indiana Jones, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' - "Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?"
3) President James Marshall, 'Air Force One' - "Get off my plane!"
2) Dr. Richard Kimble, 'The Fugitive' - "I didn't kill my wife!"
1) Indiana Jones, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' - Marion: "You're not the man I knew ten years ago." Indy: "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."
Legend. And he was a perfectly nice man, apparently.
OK, that's it - we're all clear. Now let's blow this programme and go home! (Han Solo - 'Star Wars'...sort of!)
Matt and Lucy.
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Good evening,
I've never paid much attention tom warnings of surface spray, but this morning I drove to the station through walls of water created by oncoming lorries & was then drenched by a passing bus as I waited to cross the road at Waterloo.
Be warned, there's a lot of standing water about at the moment (even on some pavements) & the chances of it being turned into flumes by fast moving vehicles -even bicycles- are high.
Sadly there's more rain to come (from time to time it will be pretty heavy) so the saturated ground will get worse before it gets better & driving conditions will occasionally be hazardous. Personally I plan to invest in a pair of waterproof gaiters so that in future I don't end up doing my bulletins soaked from the knees down, as I did this morning....
Hope to see you later,
Robin.
