It was certainly worth setting the alarm and spending an hour with my camera in the garden. An incredible sight.

I'd woken just over an hour earlier - at the time the lunar eclipse was due to start, and the moon was still just a brilliant, bright white glow. Heading into the garden an hour later, the orange glow of the moon was eerie yet fascinating.

Getting the camera focused was difficult, with the moon so dark (and probably not helped by the tungsten streetlight behind us - although that did replicate a similar orange glow for the garden and houses, to match the blood red moon).

Not until 2033 will we see another lunar eclipse at the same time that the moon is at it's closest point to earth, in orbit. Put it in your diary - it's certainly worth getting up for. Although be prepared for the inquisitive, bleary eyed looks from the neighbours... 

Being a engineering and architecture graduate, I have more than an average appreciation of building design.

I recently 'climbed' the Oslo Opera House - which has become my new favourite building.

I'm told it was meant to look like an iceberg. I thought it more like a futuristic yacht.

The exterior and roof is open to the public.  Just be careful if you're up there on roller skates, a skate board or 'heelies'... 

You could end up in the fjord...

I just don’t buy it. 

Why is it so bad that the international rugby competition beginning this weekend is called the Rugby World Cup - not the Rugby Union World Cup?

I've seen plenty comment, argument and upset over calls for a "missing word". Really?!

Does it really matter?

I mean, just because the Rugby League World Cup is so called, does that mean the other code has to mirror the naming convention? (When have they ever wanted to copy what the other code does anyway?!)

Is there the same hoo-har about Rugby League 9s and Rugby 7s?

I see the reasoning; I understand the argument; but, really, is it that bad?

So you’ll say: it’s disrespectful because it’s like they’re “not acknowledging that league exists” - because they’re not specifying...

Well, there’s rugby league, rugby union, rugby train station, rugby college… it doesn’t say Rugby League, so it’s not rugby league.

Ah, so you’ll say: but people might not know about rugby league if they don’t differentiate - and that’s knocking a nail in League...

Well if people/fans/spectators/viewers/listeners are ignorant enough to not know the difference between the two codes - then that’s a wider issue than purely the name of the competition. No?

Ah, so you’ll say: but people will think that the game they see is “rugby” and won’t know about RL - and that could have a negative impact on people paying attention to League.

But if the RWC2015 gets more profile and exposure and, let’s face it, terestrial TV and national radio coverage in the UK than the RLWC2013 then isn’t that a wider issue than purely the name of the competition. No?

And could it not raise the profile of oval ball football generally - and benefit some league clubs? Kids play “rugby” when they start learning the game (again, let’s face it, it’s rugby league initially when you’re young even when training at a union club) so anything that encourages them to pick up an oval ball is good, no?

As ever, since the split, it’s likely to be geography that determines any future impact. If a parent/fan/viewer/listener Googles “rugby club in [place name where they live]” I wonder what different results they’ll get if they put in: Sheffield, Leicester, Coventry or Oxford.

I’m reliably informed that RL had the chance to sue the RWC as Red Hall owned the name - but for financial reasons  chose not to.

Maybe it was just common sense, like me they just didn’t see how - really - it matters that much.

Most of all, isn’t it too much effort to get pent up about it? Doesn’t it just make league fans the moaning, poor relation that union fans think they are? Shouldn’t they just be doing more to promote our game? The chip, it seems, is firmly on our own shoulder - we should know, we put it there!

Rugby League is our brand. Rugby League.

If the RWC2015 were calling their competition the "Alternative Rugby League World Cup" then I might have joined the argument. But they’re not.

This season I’ve enjoyed a very different matchday perspective.

After years of watching Broncos' games from the press box - mostly wearing headphones and hearing very little else than the sound of my own voice - my role as the match day announcer this year has been a fascinating eye-opener into many other aspects of a match day.

I feel very privileged to have been asked to fulfil the role. At the start of the season, I almost couldn't believe I was allowed to be in the dug-out during the games. There was so much 'inside information' that I was party to; like conversations between coaching staff, officials and players.

Over the span year I've got to know a few of the club's 'calls' for certain times of the game. I'm not sure I'd be able to write them all here - not that I've any idea what most of them actually mean - but I loved the shout of 'Hammer Time' last week - I'd not heard that one before then.

One element of the game you get to see rather close up are the aftermath of any injures. Players will take the place on the bench, later in the game, with ice-packs, crutches, blood stained shirts and the lot. It can often bring a little more context to the game you're watching unfold before you. (And you're also party to the odd player's bodily function...). 

Often when you're doing a broadcast commentary of the game, being no where near the technical area anyway, you are too consumed with the goings-on in the game to be able to get injury updates - which is why you often hear from touchline reporters, as they can get the information.

The most insightful element for me, this year, has been being around the match officials. I'll often speak to them to clarify numbers for interchanges - but I've been lucky enough to have short conversations with the match commissioner following certain incidents in the matches. I've even had a number of decisions explained to me during the game - with the match commissioner having an earpiece and being able to hear the referee's comments.

Above all, though, the thing that has been most evident to me, having been in this situation this season, is how well the club carries itself. The demonstration of the high standards that are expected here. Even in the face of defeat or feeling hard-done by the professionalism and demeanour of everyone involved with the club has been of the highest order. 

It's almost impossible to put it into words, with it being an almost passive action. It can often be what is not done - or the way it's carried out -  rather than the actual action.

And, I guess, sometimes with things not going your way, maintaining elements of those standards can be difficult. But the club have impressed me - and impressed me in areas that I've not been able to experience before.

And I'm privileged to have been able to do so.

* Addition to published piece *


And I think I reached my peak when Sean Morris crossed for his record breaking fifth try in this final game of the season... My confidence at an all time high with mic in hand and Broncos storming to victory, I announced: "Hi fives for the London Broncos try scorer, number 26 - Sean Morris!".