c4countdown

Matt Rutherford

Note to self-just because they're on your spreadsheet doesn't mean they're on c4c. You berk.

Decent fields though. If you want to make them even more decent (ish-depending), then do sign up!

Matt Rutherford

11 or 14 depending on how you count

-UK (England, Wales, Scotland)
-Spain
-Cyprus
-France
-Belgium
-Republic Of Ireland
-Germany
-Netherlands
-Austria
-Czechia
-Switzerland

Matt Rutherford

Having some fun and games with PayPal at the moment. The link will be back soon!

Matt Rutherford

Relevant things will be forthcoming when I'm not sat in Daz and Rich's spare living room about to go to sleep. But to be clear...

Dates have a leading zero. Because they do. Money does not. This is correct by international law of 'because I said so'

Matt Rutherford

Relevant things will be forthcoming when I'm not sat in Daz and Rich's spare living room about to go to sleep. But to be clear...

Dates have a leading zero. Because they do. Money does not. This is correct by international law of 'because I said so'

Matt Rutherford

So we are back to Birmingham for the summer-and not in the suburbs this time! As has been since 2023, two back-to-back events as we all go on a summer holidays to the Midlands. Tis I, MSR, pulling stuff together, with the able help of Beachy and other chums. Date-On Friday 01st-Saturday 02nd August ...

Matt Rutherford

Given previous use of F1 metaphors in this discussion... Lincoln is our Monaco...It goes back years, it has barely changed in that time, steeped in tradition, always in the same place, and it would not exist in the way that it does if it was created today. That's what gives its charms and gives it a...

Matt Rutherford

After events in Blackpool, I know we stopped announcing who's going, and I think that has impacted publicity. Previously that was something to regularly post about on the Facebook page and it generated discussion about who is going. I'll be bringing it back for Brum (with exceptions if people don't ...

Matt Rutherford

Triple-header was a lot of fun, but if there is going to be one again, pushing the start time back for the Friday at 19:00 would make it a bit easier to get to. Getting to this one required me to basically do a Top Gear challenge straight from work, and even then running in thirty minutes after it h...

Matt Rutherford

Going to do it different for Birmingham-have an explicitly written 'opt-out.' Everyone's name is announced unless they ask for it to be kept quiet. Basically what we were doing before, but the opt-out far more explicit

Matt Rutherford

Remember getting home from infant/junior school. My gran put it on (followed by Deal Or No Deal). I do point out the irony to her when she complains about me spending money heading out to luxurious vistas (such as Glasgow or Milton Keynes) to play When I told Jack Hurst that I watched him on TV shor...

Matt Rutherford

No such thing as bad publicity...As said on Facebook, if I get more than last year's for the main (37), I'll host Brum with a spray-dyed beard. If you want to make that happen, then get yourself signed-up

Matt Rutherford

Whilst I'm here, I hope the England football never win any further honours. England fans (as a collective) have behaved so appallingly at tournaments that being defeated in the finals of the past two Euros have made me grin with schadenfreude. International football is rarely worth bothering with-I'...

Matt Rutherford

The FIFA World Cup is at risk of losing identity and quality in expanding to 48 teams and more than 2 host nations. Less is more. It's the same as with The Champions league too much insignificant football. 48 Teams will qualify from how many teams Involved , it's probably close to 1 in 4 Edit : act...

Matt Rutherford

You are at a co-event, and about to watch the final between Players A and B. The host wants some help picking a good conundrum for the final, and the pull you over to consider three options. One of the options is a word which came up in a group chat with Player A yesterday. You know that if this op...

Matt Rutherford

Bucket of gunge for people who ask for all 9 of their letters up front at Bristol style events. "CV9 please" Double bucket of gunge for the people who pick the first 7 letters like they care that they are picking, and then they just double up with their final pick. "And 2 more conson...

Matt Rutherford

I can run in-person stuff better than I can online…Good job too, because Rugby’s back! Yes, tis I-everyone’s favourite God-botherer (getting by with a little help from some friends), with two lots of tournaments in the Midlands’ second-favourite railway town. Main change is that all tournaments are ...

Matt Rutherford

James Robinson wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:34 pm Mainly cos of a lack of interest for Glasgow this year, I’m tentatively looking at venues just south of the border…

Potentially, Carlisle is being looked at as a possibility, possibly in July…

Isn't Durham in for early July already?

Matt Rutherford

Given that I'm responsible for most of the double-headers and you can see the stats above, you can see the bias should you wish... The scoring system is not broken (in my view-from various conversations no-one else has any glaring issues as well). To try and 'fix' it not something we need to do. You...

Matt Rutherford

The most rushed event in recent times was GoatBrum 2024 where I tried to play six games in an evening. If you do this, you are a profound idiot. Do enjoy 8 games more-think that the specific running of the event (for your standard day-long affair) makes the biggest difference rather than the number ...

Matt Rutherford

What is superscrabble? https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11182/super-scrabble#:~:text=The%20popular%20game%20of%20Scrabble,set%20of%20the%20original%20distribution). Scrabble, but supersized. I played a game of this against Stewart Holden once where we both achieved scores of over 1000. I played ...

Matt Rutherford

Apparently Huw Edwards's crime was just someone else sending him unsolicited illegal images . The court was earlier told that, on 2 February 2021, the other man asked whether what he was sending was too young, to which Edwards asked him not to send any underage images. The final indecent image was ...

Matt Rutherford

If your child partner or relative have a severe allergy don't eat or drink anything that you haven't made or supervised yourself It's tragic that young Hannah died after a severe reaction to a hot chocolate made by Costa Coffee. Bit I'm inclined to point the finger at the mother No. People with all...

Matt Rutherford

It's a great way to go about things. If your approach to decision making is to not sweat the small stuff, you get more done, and have more time and energy left to focus on the decisions that actually matter. I think every workplace has at least one Gevin who just refuses to let trivial decisions ha...

Matt Rutherford

It's a great way to go about things. If your approach to decision making is to not sweat the small stuff, you get more done, and have more time and energy left to focus on the decisions that actually matter. I think every workplace has at least one Gevin who just refuses to let trivial decisions ha...

Matt Rutherford

Some stuff arose at Birmingham that I wanted to dump here. New Styles Of Drawing [/u] -For Goat, it was Players On Same Number Of Wins Overall drawn against each other, it seemed to work OK. Some preferred it to Swiss, others said either this style ( I'm calling it Brum-style draws, and will die on ...

Matt Rutherford

(This feels like the best thread to post this, but if it needs to be moved that's okay) Some questions about situations that have arisen while hosting games (at a Lincoln style event) that I definitely don't know the answers to, but possibly aren't codified at all: 1. If a player is picking letters...

Matt Rutherford

My thanks to all who rocked up what was a very enjoyable weekend. Special shout out to Beachy, without whom this event would not have been anywhere near as good. Rugby and Birmingham will both be on the 2025 FOCAL Calendar, God-willing. In what exact guise, I don't yet know. I'm going to bung a sepa...

Matt Rutherford

Call I'm making on word checking is as follows... -Things in the Dictionary Changes spreadsheet for (2024-05-26) will apply to Brum (linky below) -Will advise use of Apterous, given it does include the update. -Use of Jack's App will be fine, but all players will be made aware of the changes, and po...

Matt Rutherford

Really looking forward to this event :) I presume people are Parkrunning at Brueton Park on the Saturday morning prior to the event? Just nervous about making the event in time (with time for a shower at the Travelodge in between). Hopefully I can pick the pace up enough to allow a cushion. Be gran...

Matt Rutherford

You know what you're doing. You know I don't want to engage. It's the behaviour I referred to above. I did something you threatened to do. That account is a misrepresentation at best. The published material speaks for itself. These actions of yours speak for themselves. No further justification need...

Matt Rutherford

My thanks to Beachy for helping through a topsy-turvy time of last week. I back and support your statements in full. I pray for you, Eoin. I really do. Genuinely. You were lovely company in Dublin, and are nice in person. You know what your actions have been, and reasoning with you is impossible. He...

Matt Rutherford

VAR should be used for more contentious decisions like corners/goalkicks Ball going out of play for throw ins etc Bookings for simulation Even if it means more stoppages Yes, please. And get VAR to the EFL as well. There are rules there, and it helps enforce them. Get rid of VAR, and you'll still h...

Matt Rutherford

Is Duo Lingo actually a good way to learn a language? I've never used it, but I know loads of people who have been using it for ages and I'm not convinced any of them can do anything more than ask for bread or the way to the station. I haven't used it too intensively but the impression I get is tha...

Matt Rutherford

Hi hi - for those of us day-tripping, can you recommend parking options close to the venue, please? Variety of options. Touchwood* Shopping Centre is open 24hrs-other options are John Lewis and a car park at Church Hill-these are very close on either side. If you put B91 3GJ into sat-nav you'll fin...

Matt Rutherford

It's time to means test the NHS and give tax breaks for those who go private and make private health care contributions to be made compulsory for any full time workers like private pensions are now. BTW this should be a popular opinion And begin heading in the same direction as the United States. A...

Matt Rutherford

Will be, but not supporting England-our fans were insufferable to the extent that when Italy won, I was overjoyed. Felt like the just thing had happened. Will be backing two sides

-Whoever England are playing
-Whoever I get in the office sweepstake (if I get England, you'll hear the screaming)

Matt Rutherford

Keir Starmer isn't the best by a long shot, however...I was eight when the Conservatives came to power. Having seen what they've done, ranging from education, to austerity, to Brexit, to the pandemic, I just want them gone. Thrown out, humiliated, numbers ground into the dust whilst we all stand ar...

Matt Rutherford

Keir Starmer isn't the best by a long shot, however...I was eight when the Conservatives came to power. Having seen what they've done, ranging from education, to austerity, to Brexit, to the pandemic, I just want them gone. Thrown out, humiliated, numbers ground into the dust whilst we all stand aro...

Matt Rutherford

I was talking to a friend about penalty shoot-outs the other day (he doesn't like them) and we were talking about alternatives. I've heard people suggesting reducing the number of players on the pitch before. I also suggested (probably not originally) getting rid of goalkeepers during extra time. Y...

Matt Rutherford

Time to experiment a bit, after some discussions over the generation of fixtures. Both Brum tournaments are going to test the new methods for drawing matches as put in the Atropine update. Goat -Will the 'Draw Against Someone On Same Number Of Wins' counting all rounds Co -Will use the 'Draw Against...

Matt Rutherford

It's time to stop making Sundays special in retail especially. Most workers are on single time anyway so why restrict trade to 6 hours As for Easter Sunday meaning most shops are shut, because it's not a bank hokiday you are still expected to work. Surely practising Christians are in the minority i...

Matt Rutherford

People don't necessarily actively complain but I get the feeling that 14-rounders aren't the most popular. I would go as far as saying at an event with 14-rounders, every single participant dislikes them, and the host is the only person in the room who likes them. It's just an awful format with way...

Matt Rutherford

Yup, what I definitely didn't do here was copy-paste timings from the Rugby page. I didn't do that at all in any way shape or form

(Amendments incoming!)

Matt Rutherford

Draws worth a try at Brum if people are conducive to it. I know Scrabble registers them at 0.5 a win. On a separate note about smaller events. They should count, in full. It's still a CoEvent. I'm going to relay an exchange I overheard in the chess club at work... CHILD A-'I got a draw against *Defe...

Matt Rutherford

Sod the South Coast, and there's no need to jet off to the Azores-it's time for FOCAL's summer holiday jaunt to the Midlands. Goat/Co Brum back for a double-header. 'Tis I, MSR (the not-yet-ordained Vicar of Dudley), and others will be bringing the fun for you-this time out in Birmingham's Eastern F...

Matt Rutherford

Have amended-cheers for pointing it out

Matt Rutherford

CO RUGBY Finals Played Wins Points 1 Jack Hurst W 8 8 575 2 Tom Stevenson L 8 6 518 3 Dylan Taylor 8 6 490 4 Eeshan Malhotra 8 6 428 5 Zohaib Rehan 6 6 422 6 Jonathan Wynn 8 5 487 7 Tom Cappleman 8 5 477 8 Matt O'Connor 8 5 470 9 George Armstrong 8 5 466 10 Dan Byrom 8 5 458 11 Thomas Carey 8 5 457 ...

Matt Rutherford

GOAT RUGBY 1 Zohaib Rehan W 4 4 291 2 Jack Hurst L 4 4 252 3 George Armstrong 4 3 260 4 Adam Latchford 4 3 256 5 Adam Dexter 4 3 233 6 Dan Byrom 4 3 222 7 Eeshan Malhotra 4 3 207 8 Stephen Read 4 2 265 9 Tim Hebbes 4 2 248 10 Dylan Taylor 4 2 246 11 Thomas Carey 4 2 244 12 Eddy Byrne 4 2 225 13 Dave...

Matt Rutherford

So thank you all for coming for what was a very enjoyable two days. You are all lovely, and it was sublime to see you all. Thanks must go to Beachy and Rach, without whom this would have been a ballache of cosmic proportions. Congrats to Zohaib and Jack for their respective victories-watch this spac...

Matt Rutherford

Not quite

(Ta for pointing out tho!)

I'd bunged George money for a hotel room-he appeared in the list, and you can tell I virtually copy-pasted

Matt Rutherford

How's it going with setting the Goatnundrums? If it helps, I could provide a script that runs locally on your machine to batch check a set of potential goatnundrums and highlight invalid ones. I need to check this more often! Have got Goatundrums, that have been checked, written (any errors that sl...

Matt Rutherford

Bald/Balding would provide some stiff competition

Matt Rutherford

If you are with kids at a football match (be it your own or others) and you drink alcohol in any quantity, that is irresponsible and shitty. In addition, pubs should not serve booze to any group of people with kids regardless of how much. Be a proper parent and leave the booze for fucks sake (Posted...

Matt Rutherford

Andy McGurn wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:18 pm My run included PETROLEUM ABANDONED BLOODBATH which sounds like some kind of disaster

Was that the week sponsored by BP's PR team?

Matt Rutherford

Always use the letters packs that Callum made. The ones taken from various copies of the board game all have very bad (and inconsistent) distributions, which make it less fun for most. They used to. Adam 'awesome' Beach has gone through the packs and standardised them all, so everyone from COLIN on...

Matt Rutherford

Is you had 4 players on 4 wins after 2 rounds of games how would you want the tables to be for rd3? Zurich pots -Separate them out depending on who won 2, who won 1, who won none in Rd 2. Draw from the pots. Geneva wins -Three of the four on 4 wins play each other. The other 4 winner plays two who ...

Matt Rutherford

Different event formats probably fall short on different combinations of those principles. We're talking about the Colin format here then I think variety of opponent is the main drawback for me. I can't speak for everybody, but my own experience over the past couple of seasons has been very repetit...

Matt Rutherford

Twiglets are glorious, equally so for Marmite. I can eat that shit neat from the jar. Marmite is nice in a sandwich with jam (Maus has eaten worse), and also goes very well on Digestive biscuits with cheese. The pasta thing is going on the list to try. It doesn't make peanut butter any less vile, ho...

Matt Rutherford

The Pot Draw Method This has come from running a chess club in a school, but how it runs at a Co-event would be interesting. Not saying it's perfect, but would be interested to see people's ideas on it. It's similar(ish) to some of what has been mentioned before. For context, there are three games ...

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