Impartiality

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson (after R Justin won gold)

This, of course, wouldn't be ITBB without a bit of properly balancing praise for the BBC. 

I've very much enjoyed their Olympic golf coverage - though it's been very hard to find at times. (I've usually found it via the remoter corners of the BBC iPlayer). 

And I very much enjoyed Justin Rose winning Gold for Great Britain (and Northern Ireland) tonight.

My 84-year-old dad didn't think golf should be an Olympic sport. I've just phoned him. He's much more relaxed about golf being an Olympic sport now. And I agree with my dad.

All of which gives me the opportunity to post something that's also very ITBB: a poem that never fails to cheer me up:

Seaside Golf, by John Betjeman

How straight it flew, how long it flew, 

It clear'd the rutty track 

And soaring, disappeared from view 

Beyond the bunker's back - 

A glorious, sailing, bounding drive 

That made me glad I was alive. 

And down the fairway, far along 

It glowed a lonely white; 

I played an iron sure and strong 

And clipp'd it out of sight, 

And spite of grassy banks between 

I knew I'd find it on the green. 

And so I did. It lay content 

Two paces from the pin; 

A steady putt and then it went 

Oh, most surely in. 

The very turf rejoiced to see 

That quite unprecedented three. 

Ah! Seaweed smells from sandy caves 

And thyme and mist in whiffs, 

In-coming tide, Atlantic waves 

Slapping the sunny cliffs, 

Lark song and sea sounds in the air 

And splendour, splendour everywhere.