This is an old name for the traditional games, thought to be the forerunner of modern soccer, which were played in towns & villages throughout the country at this time of year. Between sides drawn from those who lived at the top of the hill & those who lived down below. A few still take place – there is a famous one in Derbyshire, at Ashbourne
There were few rules & the games were very rough. Often there was not even a ball. Much mayhem & injury ensued
A kind of English carnival to let off steam before Lent begins. Just about acceptable as such, but a tedious nuisance if repeated throughout the year
It strikes me that Uppies & Downies would be a good term to describe the relationship between press & politicians in this country
A pointless battle between the 2 groups who consistently come at or near the bottom of any most admired or respected poll. Incomprehensible to spectators
But, to the press at least, it really matters that they give no quarter to those they despise
The fuss over expenses provides a good example. I heard one young BBC reporter going close to the line in saying that it just was not good enough that the proposed root & branch enquiry should take 3 months. Of course, that is too long to keep even a good story going
It might help if the term for the area mostly under discussion were changed to office costs The word expenses, to a journalist, is just a nostalgic term for long boozy lunches
I think the most pertinent comment which I have seen was in a letter to The Times which pointed out that MPs were in for a shock if they have to meet, as employers, the same standards of fair recruitment with which other employers have to comply. By laws passed by those same MPs
