The love of one's country is a splendid thing.

The love of one's country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border?
~Pablo Casals

I went to the Wolverhampton Art Gallery for the Curator's Talk on the Pop Protest exhibition while Charlotte and Daddy hit the city shopping. The talk was very enjoyable, even more so as we were able to talk to Zoe (the Curator) about up and coming events and exhibitions regarding Pop art and the way the gallery is progressively moving despite the financial cuts everyone is receiving. I was especially excitied to hear they are working on getting Gerald Laing in for a Conversation with event, in addition to other impressive names in the business. I was quite proud when Zoe said that Anthony d'Offay often mentions how well behaved & genuinely interested Charlotte was the time he came for a conversation with event (it was last year).

After a bit of shopping, which included gecko and bearded dragon research and where Santa got involved in the World Cup, we came home to get ready for the England v USA World Cup game. Now obviously there is a bit of fun trash talking going on today in the Dixon household, including the inlaws. There is a basic flaw in this as both sides should understand the argument, and I quite frankly do not. But that doesn't stop me from defending America, because you just don't mess with America!

But my poor daughter though... she's sensitive to these things and really does get herself worked up on who to support. My FIL did *really* well in ensuring she not only had an England shirt, but also an American one (granted, they were WAY too big for her but still he tried).

Then Gahdoo took her to one of the local pubs where the game was being shown. Luckily, they took to Charlotte's charm and wavered the England chants until after she left :-)