Eurovision voting
Russia looking pretty good at the moment!
(And UK, Romania and Germany still on nul points.)
Ah, but Greece doing well from Albania!
My own vote appears to have made no difference to the Belgian tally. (My Armenian friends in Brussels have obviously been organising well.)
(Germany still on nul points.)
Even San Marino votes for Greece - they are looking good!
(Latvian announcer obviously rather pained at announcing the 12 points for Russia.)
Those Bulgarian votes for Greece are obviously helpful! But 12 points for Germany???? They are clearly taking the piss. (A common Bulgarian hobby.)
Top Israeli votes go to Russia and Ukraine. No surprises there then. And, good heavens, Cyprus voted for Greece, Armenia and Russia - who could have predicted that????
After Moldova votes, Greece and Russia are on level pegging - this could actually be quite close!
The French announcer actually announces his votes in French (unlike their entry which sang incomprehensibly in English). And they vote for Armenia!
The Romanian announcer very sweetly congratulates the whole show with barely a stumble over the difficult consonants. And they vote for Greece over Russia. That must be the killer.
Rather cute to have the Russians chanting "Латвия! Латвия!" in the Green Room.
And over we go to the Andorran voter. He speaks French too. But their votes are not very interesting.
Russia now consolidating a bit. Ten points ahead at the half-way stage. OK most of the ex-Soviets have voted but it's a good lead.
Hmm here's Armenia. Will they give 12 points to Russia? Er, yes.
Czech announcer very cutely confuses Armenia and Azerbaijan!!!!!
We're at the two-thirds stage now, and Russia is 13 points ahead of Greece; that looks increasingly unassailable.
Poland currently running last, which really isn't fair; the German song was much worse. - Ah well, Ireland gave them ten points which will help; puts them level last with the UK and Germany, which is better.
Switzerland bucks the trend!
Leyla in Azerbaijan forgets to use the vocative case; perhaps she wasn't briefed. And they give 12 points to Turkey; gosh, how amazing!
The Greek guy speaks rather good Serbian! (Better than mine, anyway.)
The Swedish announcer is completely sloshed. Here comes Belarus - no big surprise expected here: no, indeed, 12 for Russia, 10 for Ukraine. Russia now unstoppable I think.
Wow, the Russian announcer looking very cute. Also buoyed by the confidence that they are going to win.
Montenegro!!!!! She knows about the vocative case anyway. More votes for the Russians. Georgia reinforces the trend.
The Danish votes are now irrelevant; Russia wins in the end by 272 to Greece's 230. Most impressive, and demonstrates a) how far my own tastes are out of whack with the public as a whole, and b) how difficult it can be to predict the preferences of an international voting public. (Though see rflong's comment below.)
They are going to have to introduce some regional handicapping in future, aren't they?
(And UK, Romania and Germany still on nul points.)
Ah, but Greece doing well from Albania!
My own vote appears to have made no difference to the Belgian tally. (My Armenian friends in Brussels have obviously been organising well.)
(Germany still on nul points.)
Even San Marino votes for Greece - they are looking good!
(Latvian announcer obviously rather pained at announcing the 12 points for Russia.)
Those Bulgarian votes for Greece are obviously helpful! But 12 points for Germany???? They are clearly taking the piss. (A common Bulgarian hobby.)
Top Israeli votes go to Russia and Ukraine. No surprises there then. And, good heavens, Cyprus voted for Greece, Armenia and Russia - who could have predicted that????
After Moldova votes, Greece and Russia are on level pegging - this could actually be quite close!
The French announcer actually announces his votes in French (unlike their entry which sang incomprehensibly in English). And they vote for Armenia!
The Romanian announcer very sweetly congratulates the whole show with barely a stumble over the difficult consonants. And they vote for Greece over Russia. That must be the killer.
Rather cute to have the Russians chanting "Латвия! Латвия!" in the Green Room.
And over we go to the Andorran voter. He speaks French too. But their votes are not very interesting.
Russia now consolidating a bit. Ten points ahead at the half-way stage. OK most of the ex-Soviets have voted but it's a good lead.
Hmm here's Armenia. Will they give 12 points to Russia? Er, yes.
Czech announcer very cutely confuses Armenia and Azerbaijan!!!!!
We're at the two-thirds stage now, and Russia is 13 points ahead of Greece; that looks increasingly unassailable.
Poland currently running last, which really isn't fair; the German song was much worse. - Ah well, Ireland gave them ten points which will help; puts them level last with the UK and Germany, which is better.
Switzerland bucks the trend!
Leyla in Azerbaijan forgets to use the vocative case; perhaps she wasn't briefed. And they give 12 points to Turkey; gosh, how amazing!
The Greek guy speaks rather good Serbian! (Better than mine, anyway.)
The Swedish announcer is completely sloshed. Here comes Belarus - no big surprise expected here: no, indeed, 12 for Russia, 10 for Ukraine. Russia now unstoppable I think.
Wow, the Russian announcer looking very cute. Also buoyed by the confidence that they are going to win.
Montenegro!!!!! She knows about the vocative case anyway. More votes for the Russians. Georgia reinforces the trend.
The Danish votes are now irrelevant; Russia wins in the end by 272 to Greece's 230. Most impressive, and demonstrates a) how far my own tastes are out of whack with the public as a whole, and b) how difficult it can be to predict the preferences of an international voting public. (Though see rflong's comment below.)
They are going to have to introduce some regional handicapping in future, aren't they?