… my musings on, er, "stuff"
Track of the week 30/9/18
A top tune that’s been buzzing round the edges of “Track of the week” for some time.
A real foot stomper, and time machine back to 1987
And now I shall be seeing him. Booked tickets for Take That at Ashton Gate in May, and Rick is the support act.
Result.
A game of two halves
After the long, hot summer the 2018-19 Legends season kicked off with a nine goal thriller at Wells City.
A new season, but sadly the same old story. 10:45 am (for an 11am kick off) and we had enough – just – for a five-a-side team. The “squad” of 14 that had been penciled in at Thursday lunchtime had thinned considerably. By kick off time we had reached double figures, borrowed a player from the opposition and kicked off the eleven a-side season.
Wells probed early, testing our newly constituted back four, who quickly gelled into an effective unit, Paul S and Geoff C at full back funneling the opposition strikers to be broken against the center back pairing of Steve P and Paul W. As team mates learned each other’s names and positions established, it started to become apparent that we are not a bad side.
With the solid foundation of a sound back four, new boys Simon C and Dean M orchestrated the midfield, utilising the width provided by Shane P and Richard B, and AJW floated freely up top. Before long, crisp, precise passing unlocked the home side’s defence and we went one up. It wasn’t all one-way traffic, but storms were weathered and sabres blunted before we netted for a second time, and our dominance began to grow. Half time approached and we looked good to be going in to the break two up, but no, Shane P shimmied and sashayed into the box only to be pulled back by a desperate blues back. Penalty! Dispatched with calm aplomb, half time whistle, 3-0 up.
Half time and forced tactical adjustments – AJW had sustained an injury and gamely agreed to carry on in the keeper’s jersey (we had no subs, remember). Wells also took the opportunity to make some changes, bringing on three 34 year olds in the longest pre-season ever, blooding them in this friendly to introduce them to legends football ready for next season. Five minutes in, and one of the youngsters launched a fierce, unstoppable, drive from the edge of the box to peg one back. Shortly after, AJW pulled off a fantastic save, but it was clear he was struggling with injury and, after Wells’ second he was forced to retire.
We were down to ten men, and facing a fit, fast threesome up front – this was now only ever going to end one way. And it did. At the final whistle we trooped off defeated, but unbowed, the wrong end of a 6-3 score line. We had no answer for their extra player (although, very kindly, when 6-3 up, with 5 minutes to go, our hosts did offer us another player, who was hobbling even more than the wounded Whatling.)
But the score doesn’t matter. All of us who took to the pitch had looked Old Father Time squarely in the eye and said “not yet” as he tried to scythe away our playing days. To my fellow brothers in arms who took to field of green alongside me today, I say “Thank you” and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
And there’s always next week.
Track of the week 23/9/18
No reason or message (pun intended) in this week’s track of the week – just a great sound, and simple, joyful, fun video that I could watch and watch.
The Specials were – quite deservedly – my second favourite band (after The Jam) as I grew up. I loved (and still do) not only the sound, but the look: the suits, the thin ties, the turned up trousers and yes, even the white socks.
Pic(s) of the week 23/9/18
A major milestone today, as we took Sophie to University of Reading to start a whole new chapter in her life.
It has been a long time coming – it seems an age since she got her results in the summer, but despite the anticipation, its still hard to believe that the day has finally arrived and she has “left home” (of course she hasn’t, but she’s not here full time any more)
The mechanics of the day were memorable for the wrong reasons – up early for a 6.30 am departure in the pouring rain, rain that did not stop until after I had made umpteen trips transporting her stuff (and there was a lot of it!) from the car to her new room. I was soaked. But what father wouldn’t do that for his daughter.
By the time Becky & I left, the sun was shining, probably a metaphor for the fantastic sunny future Sophie can look forward to.
Track of the week 16/9/18
A whacking great big slice of cheese this week.
Just before going to bed last Sunday I caught the end of Kylie at the Big Gig in Hyde Park, singing this, and Jason joined her as a special guest.
Oh how the years rolled back.
The Prince and Princess of pop. It left me with a great big beaming grin all through the next day.
It wasn’t cool to like them back in the day – but we all secretly did.
What a great tune. Listen to it, you day will be better for it.
Pic of the week 16/9/18
Little to report this week – term is up and running, weather is benign, no major dramas.
Sowed my grass seed on Wednesday, still no green shoots.
On the way to ref at Somerton this morning the car start making an awful screeching noise – like metal on metal. Reckoned it was either something to do with the brakes (sound eased off on their application) or a catastrophic failure of a wheel bearing. Sounded terrible. Arrived at ground, parked up, ref-ed. Got in car to drive home, no noise, and have since been out in it again, with no repetition, so perhaps just some gremlin that has been and gone?
Not a lot to report.
Track of the week 9/9/18
(Puts on best ’80’s DJ voice …) ” and this one goes out to my beautiful, brilliant wife Becky”
I could be a lot
But I know I’m not
I’m content just with the riches that you bringI might shoot to win
And commit the sin
Wanting more than I’ve already got
I could runaway
But I’d rather stay
In the warmth of your smile lighting up my day
The one that makes me say‘Cause you’re the best thing that ever happened
To me you’re my world
You’re the best thing that ever happened
So don’t go away
Pic of the week 9/9/18
The lawn wasn’t in a good state in Spring. And then the long hot summer happened. It got worse.
We’ve had sporadic rain of late, enough to see the lawn begin to green up – I’ve been mowing it for the last few weeks, but there were still some bare patches, particularly along the edge furthest from the house, where it had been moss, which has died ( a good thing) leaving baked hard earth ( a bad thing.)
So I figured I need to do some lawn maintenance.
I mowed the lawn today, then scarified it – raking out a whole pink trug of dead grass and thatch. I then applied a top dressing, of my own concoction: roughly 3 parts top soil to 1 part sharp sand. (I used two 35 litre bags of top soil and one “large” bag of sharp sand.)
Inevitably, it looks worse now than when I began, but hopefully it’ll help in the long term, and I have some grass seed arriving tomorrow or Tuesday and I’ll over seed the lawn. Hopefully the weather (& soil) will remain warm enough for fertilisation to take place – and I’m sure we’ll have enough rain to keep it moist, even if it needs the odd refreshing from the hose pipe.
Hopefully in a few weeks I’ll be posting pictures of a glorious green sward ….
In other news, Sam started work today at Millfield Prep School as a general kitchen assistant: hope it went well, of to collect him in a mo.
Track of the week 2/9/18
Sticking with the summer theme, this is an apt track of the week.
From the fantastic “Love” album (go on, listen to the whole thing, all the way through)
Summer in the city where the air is still
A baby being born to the overkill
Who cares what people say
We walk down love’s motorwayAmbition and love wearing boxing gloves
And singing hearts and flowers
Somewhere in my heart
There is a star that shines for you
Silver splits the blue
Love will see it through
And somewhere in my heart
There is the will to set you free
All you’ve got to be is true
Pic of the week 2/9/18
So farewell to summer – its been great.
Its been the best I can remember, so much done, so much to enjoy.
Its been hot, perhaps the hottest and driest since ’76. Whilst the lawn and plants may have suffered, the weather has been brilliant.
The hols began on a high note with the World Cup …
… England making it to the semi-finals and making us believe again,
… and a day out with Sam to Yeovilton Air show (but coming back in the afternoon to watch England beat Sweeden 2-0 in the World Cup Quarter final)
We had a few days in Cornwall, and the sun continued to shine …
… and then of to Majorca for the main event. A fantastic week in Pouerto Pollensa …
Each and every day was brilliant, it would be hard to pick out a highlight. Me and Sam climbing Puig de Maria was great, Formentor was stunningly beautiful (although overcrowded), pool time, evening meals, catching up with “Tappers” (for 10 years we lived less than 10 miles from each other but never met up, but put us on an island in the med and we’ll make the effort!), but perhaps the highlight was …
We come home to rain, but only for a day or so, and then the sun came back out.
Sam turned 16 …
… and they both got the grades they needed and deserved in GCSE and A level …
I did plenty of exercise, regularly running 10K (as well as spinning, swimming and refereeing) …
… and amongst all that, I also found time to tidy up the front drive, and add a bit of gravel …
And so tomorrow, its back to school and work. It really has been a great summer holiday. Thanks for the memories!