… my musings on, er, "stuff"
Track of the week 31/7/16
The Shop Assistants – I used to love their album that I had on cassette: jangly guitars and high energy female vocals.
Could have picked a number of tracks of that album to make this week’s selection, but this one just happened to pop up in my stream and so it makes the grade this week.
Pic of the week 31/7/16
Ref’ed my first non-school game yesterday: Purnells Reserves v Chilcompton, a pre-season OA (Open Age = adults) friendly.
It was a hot day and I discovered that refereeing for 90 minutes is hard work: no resting when the ball gets hoofed up field, as ref you must keep up with play at all times. I’m glad I am as fit as I am now – I think it would be a struggle if not.
Enjoyed it, game went well, no major dramas, neither my parentage nor eyesight was called into question and other than a few inevitable “questions” from disgruntled players the game passed off without incident. Purnells (Orange) won 2-1. Chilcompton (yellow) were the better side, and played some very nice football in the middle of the park, but lacked any real cutting edge and didn’t really often look like scoring.
Their (‘compton) goal (the opening of the game) came in the 11th minute from a free kick on the edge of the area (I think possibly the first free kick I’d given.) There were no complaints about that free kick, but a couple of defenders felt there should have been a foul (to them) immediately before. But I have no idea what they are talking of, and, I think, were just trying it on. Goal was a bit soft – shot, keeper got hands to it, but didn’t hold it (should have done) and it deflected into the net. Can’t really remember too much about the game, but I enjoyed it.
My take away’s from the game:
Match Stats
Purnell Reserves 2 v Chilcompton 1
Open Age Friendly, 90 mins
0 Yellows, 0 Reds
Match fee: £30
Track of the week 24/7/16
Most covers are not as good as the original – although I don’t think that is strictly true. The version you first hear tends to be the version you prefer.
But not in this case. I always liked Erasure, but that was a fairly lukewarm like – not bad, but not brilliant. Always happy to hear their tunes on the radio, but none of their tracks have made it on to my iPod: my indicator of true brilliance!
But I heard Wheatus’ cover of Respect as I was driving back from the tip and I was blown away. Love it.
Enjoy.
Pic of the week 24/7/16
On Friday evening (22 July) at circa 7pm, Sam, Becky & I went up Glastonbury Tor. (Sophie didn’t come: wasn’t feeling too well/exercise/dogs – select excuse as you see fit!)
After a lovely sunny rain, their was the odd spit of rain as we set off but, following my leadership (insistence!) we persevered, albeit Becky with umbrella as we approached the foot of the Tor.
But the rain stopped as we began our ascent and we were rewarded with far reaching views, across as far as to Bridgwater Bay – I was surprised to be able to make out the two square blocks of Hinkley Point power station.
A pleasant way to spend an hour of a summer’s evening, to be reminded of what a beautiful part of the world we live. Couldn’t pick out our house, though, from the top of the Tor.
Saturday 16 July 2016
I graveled the patch of garden at the foot of the deck/new build. It took a bit of a hammering during the build and we decided that, for both aesthetic and maintenance reasons, we would gravel over the small patch of lawn. Its a part of the garden that we’ve found we use a lot, although it is mainly a thoroughfare between deck and seating area where the old summer house was.
First up, I sprayed the area with weedkiller to kill of what lawn had survived, and then laid down weed suppressant fabric:
I bought I “bulk bag” (aprox 800Kg) of gravel from Bradfords – with delivery came to circa £65.
It arrived at about 8.45 am and then came the task of barrowing it all from the front to the back. Reckon it took about two hours to move it all and spread it out (including time for a tea break!)
and I am pleased with the results. Looks good!
Track of the week 17/7/16
Always somewhat of a one hit wonder – “Since Yesterday” being that hit – I was pleasantly surprised to discover this track by Strawberry Switchblade.
Apparently, this was a much bigger hit in Japan than “yesterday.”
Not sure which I now prefer – not that it matters, I’ll just listen to both!
Pic of the week 17/7/16
Personal bests? Smashed them all today. Ran the 7k run today for the first time since my knee injury in January, and, boy, did I boss it.
Have been running the 6K Tor View run a lot recently, which I think is actually tougher than the 7K run due to the whacking great hill in the middle. The 7K run is essentially flat.
It was still, and humid and warm this morning and I set of at a cruise – not aiming to go particularly fast or slow, just to run. But have been feeling fit of late and the first 2Ks clocked in easily. However, it was when the time for the 4thK came in at 18 mins something that I realised that I could be looking at a sub 24 minute 5K and so I kept up the pace, hitting 5k in 23:39. Was on the flat, just kept going still to hit 6K at 28:23 and, by the time I hit the hill at the end of 7K I’d done enough to get a 7K time of 33:29.
Am impressed with those times – will struggle to beat them, I think, but proud of being sub 24/29/34 for 5, 6 & 7K.
Track of the week 10/7/16
Whilst at the “British Summer Time” Festival (basically, Take That in Hyde Park) I was reminded over the power of a serious sound system in a field and remembered being blown away by hearing Trouble Funk at Glastonbury in 1987. It was a Sunday afternoon and I’d never heard anything like it before.
To get the full effect, they need to be loud and live, but this week’s track of the week is a 29 year trip down memory lane.
Pick of the week 10/7/16
Went to BST to see Take That in Hyde Park on Saturday.
A long day, left early, parked in Osterly tube station (easy – do so again), went into “town” before heading to Hyde Park.
Hung out in a field with my (beautiful) wife for eight hours until the main event – and they were fab!
Don’t get the whole “festival thing” (and this was festival lite) – lots of sitting around in a field waiting (at least the weather was OK!), I think there is an element of Emperor’s new clothes about festivals, but was worth it for the main event. Take That were brilliant (would have expected nothing less). Would do it again, but would arrive until later in the day.
Wednesday 6th July 2016 – Swam 3K in 1 hour 5 min 25 secs
It just felt right. Pool was relatively empty, time was on my side and I just decided to keep plodding on for 90 lengths.
Took over an hour – am amazed that I can swim (front crawl) constantly for more than an hour. The hardest thing is just copping with the time in the pool (i.e. not getting bored!) than the physical. Will do it again sometime. Chuffed that I’ve done it.