Meeting David Beckham in Almaty

The town is bustling with tourists. Not just tourists but touring football fans. About 1500 flew here from the UK this week in anticipation of this Saturday's qualifying game against Kazakhstan in the Almaty stadium. The team are here and training hard.

The school was lucky enough to be able to organise a trip to see them training yesterday at the local stadium. My housemate Mr Campbell got a picture taken with Beckham. Apparently that really tall player is taller and skinnier than you ever thought possible and Wayne Rooney gave his practice boots to a kid in Year 5. Ben also got a signed shirt with 17 signatures inc Beckham and Lampard and Gerrard. Football fever has certainly begun to take a grip on Almaty. (Pic: Becks)

We went out last night for Jessica's birthday for a pub dinner in the Guns n Roses Pub Grille. Unusually packed for a Thursday night, we were joined by numerous visiting fans, some who had arrived just an hour before. Ubiquitous skin head haircuts and England shirts were everywhere. Most were mid 40s, some with wives and girlfriends. I spoke to some guys from north Yorkshire who had spent all day wandering around looking for the Irish pub but had failed. They were very level headed and arrived with no expectations or predjudices about Kazakhstan. In fact, I probably had more prejudices defining my thoughts as I looked at their hair (or lack of) but was pleasantly surprised at their attitude and expectations.

During our meal we got acosted by a couple of local jouralists who were contracted by the Sun to get some pictures and opinions. They descended on us for comment, and were surprised at the result. I told them I was hoping Kazakhstan would win... (could that get given some spin and plastered across the tabloid? They got my picture...) Not because I am anti English success but because it is sportsmanship. We are already through. If Kazakhstan could also get through we would both be in the World Cup. This was not the first time they had heard this from England fans that night. I was pleasantly surprised again. However, I can imagine many fans are the typical fans abroad. One has already been shot in Bishkek (Kyrgystan) for not shutting up when asked by the locals. I expect he deserved it.

I have tickets for the game on Saturday. We'll be in the stand with the locals. The match should have been in Astana but the stadium there was not finished so we will be watching them play in a stadium of dubious, in fact embarrassing quality. There are village sports clubs better equipped than the Almaty National Stadium of Glorious Nation Kazakhstan, but never mind.

I still marvel at the events and opportunities that have presented themselves during my time here so far. Meeting the President, seeing James Blunt live then an International England football game... whatever next? Well in fact next week I'm going to the Queen's Birthday at the Embassy. (OK, so it was Jess who got invited but I'm the 'plus 1').  What to get a lady who has everything... bottle of Blue Nun, Ma'am?

[Sky News report on the team and our school: http://news.sky.com/skynews/video and type 'Kazakhstan welcomes the English' in the search box]