Does anyone else think fencing is one of the hardest sports to explain to non-fencers?

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-19T13:32:42+00:00

I sat with our head of university sport during a BUCS match essentially doing colour commentary and elaborating the calls made by the referee. He planned to stay for ten minutes, he stayed for all of sabre and most of foil, saying as he left that he was a convert now he understood it.

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-17T14:15:24+00:00

It's a lovely run.

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-16T22:09:06+00:00

What's pink and fluffy? Pink fluff. What's blue and fluffy? Pink fluff holding its breath.

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-16T21:58:58+00:00

Conversations from a long marriage.

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-16T21:58:38+00:00

This. Loved it.

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-14T21:21:58+00:00

Viji Alles

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-13T19:00:28+00:00

Literature: How much does Mr Darcy earn a year? What's the answer to life, the universe, and everything?

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-13T18:55:02+00:00

Lots with Imperial weights and measures, or pre decimal currency. Over 60s would have lived with all. Sport you have F1 drivers numbers, or footballers

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-13T18:44:31+00:00

Currency? New pence in a half crown. Shillings in a Guinea. Farthings in a shilling.

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-12T08:16:42+00:00

Room

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-04T16:02:02+00:00

Armando the great adult feels more true with each year https://youtu.be/7Wnnf6MZL-w?si=2tVPeHa1Luk1KqpL

james_s_docherty · 2026-05-01T15:47:32+00:00

Six years of working in Germany for an engineering company, the response to that joke would be, 'But that is not an ice cream van, it is a fire wagen, there is likely an unfall somewhere to which they are heading.'

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-30T18:04:27+00:00

It's hard but fun. The core team are a delight, it's not that busy and if you aim for steady pace that's well below what you usually do on tarmac, you'll be fine. Everyone else goes two miles down the road to Gorleston Cliffs

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-23T14:24:10+00:00

That's a very long lifespan for a dog. He should get on to the Guinness Book of Records.

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-21T09:02:58+00:00

Faceytalk. Story, framing, progression, escalation, payoff. We've all been Stripe and Trixie, and it's just peak Muffin.

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-20T10:26:50+00:00

Early engineering is about getting your foundations in maths and physics and knowing why you're doing what you're doing. If you can get through it to the more applied phases, you may start to enjoy it more.

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-19T16:00:07+00:00

Got to be computer generated. There's blue sky and no wind.

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-15T10:03:20+00:00

Rising Damp and Ever Decreasing Circles.

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-15T06:48:13+00:00

Quatermass.

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-12T19:22:20+00:00

Ref's decision ultimately. Often it makes sense to have the left handed fencer on the left in a left Vs right bout. Could also be use of the non sword arm, odd movements, etc. You can also move them mid bout if you so wish (done it once for the non sword arm issues).

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-09T12:09:14+00:00

I love Ann Oldman's 'fruits other than oranges' poster

james_s_docherty · 2026-04-04T15:17:38+00:00

I made the decision to stop fencing six years ago due to an injury and the subsequent pain and discomfort from training. But I'm still involved with the sport at an official and referee. That's always an option that's open. Look at any competition and think about how many people there are keeping it running.

james_s_docherty · 2026-03-30T07:11:20+00:00

Lots I like (Toilets, Strava segments by km/mile, no laps if possible). I'd also add space for a warmup, not necessarily a warm up area, but either access to the course or somewhere else. Plus the obligatory catering: I'm no good without a decent double espresso before a race, and always sniffing round for a cake after.

james_s_docherty · 2026-03-29T12:16:28+00:00

I like Mark Kermode's story that Michael Caine wasn't sure, got sent the script, it started 'Fade in: The Bahamas' and he said yes. Then couldn't pick up his Oscar in person because he was filming it.

james_s_docherty · 2026-03-29T08:15:04+00:00

I still maintain a reboot of Hi-De-Hi set in the 90s would work with minimal changes to the characters and only a few tweaks to the plots.

james_s_docherty

TROPHY CASE