A Complete Set

As some of you may have noticed, it is World Cup year. Not just that, it is an African World Cup year. There are few that will argue that Africa is an exceptionally diverse continent, but that it is also somewhat turbulent. The very word Africa summons up images of blood diamonds, genocide, famine, and war. But somehow this year Africans are bonding around South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Algeria, and the Ivory Coast. They are not just their country's teams, they are African teams.

Here though, in Scotland, the natives cannot even bring themselves to support those with whom they share their peaceful North Atlantic island. The clue to the fact that the World Cup is being played is the slightly-more-miserable-than-usual faces of the Scots and the cheers whenever an Englishman makes a howler.

Down in England we would be perfectly happy to cheer on the plucky Scots. In fact we do. Every year we unite behind Andy and Jamie Murray in a storm of patriotic pride. After all, we are all part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

For now though, the English male is a little busy flying flags, drinking beer, and complaining about the referee. In the meantime, children are out on the streets fighting over who gets to be Messi and collecting stickers emblazed with names like Christos Patsatzouglou, names that they are inexplicably able to pronounce.

Virtually no one ever gets the set, but that is not really the point. The fun is in the chase. Unfortunately, I have been chasing a set which, to my complete surprise, I have just completed. For the past month mummy and daddy Great Spotted Woodpecker have been visiting one of my hides. Today, out of the blue, their chick appeared.

I suppose I must find another set to complete. Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi for Maximiliano Periera anyone?