Unless you are a blind and deaf mute living in a monastery in Nepal, you would know that the World Cup is drawing to a close with the Netherlands and Spain to play for the final.
During the 2006 World Cup I was a fresh faced expatriate in the UK, loving that I was living somewhere that got so wrapped up in such an event. Walking through the streets of West London there were flags of every nation proudly displayed on cars, bicycles, in windows and store fronts.
It’s such an individually patriotic yet wonderfully uniting thing. It’s rather a shame that Australia is not as into it as the countries of Europe.
Particularly Spain.
The Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Zapatero, has offered state protection to an oracle octopus.
Paul, as this octopus is known, lives in Oberhausen in Germany and apparently correctly predicted the outcome of all of Germany’s matches. By eating food from a box emblazoned with each countries flags.
The Spanish are now worried that the octopus might become a target for disgruntled German fans. "I am concerned for the octopus ... I am thinking of sending him a protective team," says the Spanish PM.
It so pleases this author that in times when the news is covered in stories about war, famine, destruction and Masterchef (snore), that such weird and wonderful stories exist.
Spain for the win. Ole!
*For those of you confused by the title, Henry is an octopus made famous by The Wiggles. Australia’s number 1 export.
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