"Kind of sick of hearing all the journos who failed to predict that Boris would ruin the country telling all those of us who predicted that Boris would ruin the country that nobody could have predicted that Boris would ruin the country".
Aint that the truth.
Also true for Truss too.
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Monday 30th October 2023
This week the wind is going to blow and the rain is going to fall.
A lot.
So, deciding on shots of the day might become ever more tricky.
It was Monday, first day back, and once logged on find my colleague in Denmark was heading to Grimsby for an audit. Should I travel up, I ask hoping he would say no.
He said no.
Which was nice.
In fact I would like a trip to Grimsby, I once spent the best part of a month there, and in 2008, the town was as down on its luck as it was possible to be, there was enough fine buildings and quiet corners to explore to keep me busy for a few days.
Back then, the fish docks were left to decay, as were the fine warehouses along the cobbled streets. They might all be gone now, or converted to flats, or worse, a Whetherspoons or three.
But it was fine, I should stay here in Kent. So I did.
But that meant, again, no colleagues to talk to, just me and my thoughts and podcasts and train videos on YouTube.
The day passed.
Slowly.
Would I go out for a walk? The sun of earlier gave way to clouds, and then a steady rain fell.
I went on no walk.
The garden is all but asleep for winter, though on Sunday when we left to go into town for that early walk, I disturbed a Hummingbird hawk moth, though none seen on Monday. No insects seen at all.
The passionflowers have produced their inedible fruit, and are rotting on their branches, the Virginia Creeper nearby is still producing fresh red leaves. So I snap that.
The day faded soon after four, turning to grey and then black.
Through the day I had made a chicken tagine, with apricots and dried dates, which came out pretty well, though we would have that later as Monday is Jools's aquafit night, so we have bacon butties in the evening, nothing too filling as she gets home soon after eight.
There is football to watch, WBA at Coventry, which as local as most derbies can be, but I am distracted, and soon Jools calls to say she is on her way back, go I get grilling bacon.
A lot.
So, deciding on shots of the day might become ever more tricky.
It was Monday, first day back, and once logged on find my colleague in Denmark was heading to Grimsby for an audit. Should I travel up, I ask hoping he would say no.
He said no.
Which was nice.
In fact I would like a trip to Grimsby, I once spent the best part of a month there, and in 2008, the town was as down on its luck as it was possible to be, there was enough fine buildings and quiet corners to explore to keep me busy for a few days.
Back then, the fish docks were left to decay, as were the fine warehouses along the cobbled streets. They might all be gone now, or converted to flats, or worse, a Whetherspoons or three.
But it was fine, I should stay here in Kent. So I did.
But that meant, again, no colleagues to talk to, just me and my thoughts and podcasts and train videos on YouTube.
The day passed.
Slowly.
Would I go out for a walk? The sun of earlier gave way to clouds, and then a steady rain fell.
I went on no walk.
The garden is all but asleep for winter, though on Sunday when we left to go into town for that early walk, I disturbed a Hummingbird hawk moth, though none seen on Monday. No insects seen at all.
The passionflowers have produced their inedible fruit, and are rotting on their branches, the Virginia Creeper nearby is still producing fresh red leaves. So I snap that.
The day faded soon after four, turning to grey and then black.Through the day I had made a chicken tagine, with apricots and dried dates, which came out pretty well, though we would have that later as Monday is Jools's aquafit night, so we have bacon butties in the evening, nothing too filling as she gets home soon after eight.
There is football to watch, WBA at Coventry, which as local as most derbies can be, but I am distracted, and soon Jools calls to say she is on her way back, go I get grilling bacon.
COVID inquiry latest
You wouldn't know it by looking at the front pages of most of the papers, but the COVID inquiry is well under way, and the evidence is as damning as expected, with the caveat that many other more damning messages and mails were deleted or the devices failed to be handed over, like former PM Boris Johnson and current Pt PM Rishi Sunak have both refised to do.
Health advisor, Patrick Vallance nicknmaed Sunak Dr Death becaue of his "eat out to help out scheme", and they renamed it, eat out to help out the virus.
Sunak, as Chancellor, asked the question, "why are we wrecking the economy to protect those who are going to die anyway?"
Yes, placing the economy over the lives of a few thousand disabled, or cancer sufefrs, of those with reduced immune systems, or just the plain old. You should die so investment bankers can go on and earn millions in bonuses.
Of course the whole point of lockdown, or a large part of it, was to protect hese very groups of people. And remember, on average, these would have lived, on average, ten years, but their early deaths would have been a sacrifice Sunak was all to willing to make, given half the chance.
Probably best to bear that in mind now he's Prime Minister and responsible for al the decision making in Government.
I did say at the time that eat out to help out was a massive mistake and created thousands of mass infection zones in those restaurants, bars and pubs that took part. I remember how mad busy Southampton was at the time, and I isolated for two weeks when I can back as I felt it was so dangerous.
But what do I know?
As for Johnson.
He made it impossible to tackle COVID as he changed plans each day.
The Cabinet Secretary said of Johnson: "He cannot lead & we cannot support him...Government isn't actually that hard but this guy is really making it impossible."
Perhaps most damning, Johnson appears to have attended no official preparations in the ten days leading to up to the fist lockdown, despite being told that delay in lockdown would result in thousands more deaths, and a deeper and longer lockdown.
As the revealations come out day after day, its clear it was even worse than feared in 10 Downing Street, and yet, Johnson and Sunak have clained that they "followed the science" and "got the big calls right", which as Johnson tried to bully Vallance and Whitty into changing their guidance, it bollocks.
As Johnson would say.
Health advisor, Patrick Vallance nicknmaed Sunak Dr Death becaue of his "eat out to help out scheme", and they renamed it, eat out to help out the virus.
Sunak, as Chancellor, asked the question, "why are we wrecking the economy to protect those who are going to die anyway?"
Yes, placing the economy over the lives of a few thousand disabled, or cancer sufefrs, of those with reduced immune systems, or just the plain old. You should die so investment bankers can go on and earn millions in bonuses.
Of course the whole point of lockdown, or a large part of it, was to protect hese very groups of people. And remember, on average, these would have lived, on average, ten years, but their early deaths would have been a sacrifice Sunak was all to willing to make, given half the chance.
Probably best to bear that in mind now he's Prime Minister and responsible for al the decision making in Government.
I did say at the time that eat out to help out was a massive mistake and created thousands of mass infection zones in those restaurants, bars and pubs that took part. I remember how mad busy Southampton was at the time, and I isolated for two weeks when I can back as I felt it was so dangerous.
But what do I know?
As for Johnson.
He made it impossible to tackle COVID as he changed plans each day.
The Cabinet Secretary said of Johnson: "He cannot lead & we cannot support him...Government isn't actually that hard but this guy is really making it impossible."
Perhaps most damning, Johnson appears to have attended no official preparations in the ten days leading to up to the fist lockdown, despite being told that delay in lockdown would result in thousands more deaths, and a deeper and longer lockdown.
As the revealations come out day after day, its clear it was even worse than feared in 10 Downing Street, and yet, Johnson and Sunak have clained that they "followed the science" and "got the big calls right", which as Johnson tried to bully Vallance and Whitty into changing their guidance, it bollocks.
As Johnson would say.
Monday 30 October 2023
Sunday 29th October 2023
With yet more wet and windy weather inbound later in the day, we made use of the extra hour of morning by going down to Dover Harbour for a walk and some general snapping before the rain came.
Very few people out, just the odd dogwalker or two, and a jogger. All said "good morning".
We walked to the end of the new pier, took some shots, sat down, then agreed we should find somewhere for breakfast.
We checked out the two places on Townwall Street, but found them both closed, before realising that with the clocks going back it wasn't quite eight yet.
By the time we could get to Walmer, maybe the Corner Café would be open?
Worth checking out, we thought.
So, back to the car and up Jubilee Way and along the Deal Road, and just before the old Marine Barracks, there was the café, and its warm lights beckoned us in.
I found a place to park, then we walked to the entrance, took a seat in the corner and ordered the big breakfast Oddly, I was hungry after all that sea air.
And when it came, was magnificent and hit the spot. As did the two mugs of builder's tea.
Back home, through the roadworks and to St Maggies, where the morning sun gave way to clouds and heavy and frequent rain showers.
Just as well there was football to watch, though the West Ham v Everton game was poor fayre, but that was followed by the Manc Derby, which City won without getting out of second gear.
Oh how we laughed.
The sun set at half four, so it was dark by five. It is now winter, the end of March feels like a very, very long time away.
Very few people out, just the odd dogwalker or two, and a jogger. All said "good morning". We walked to the end of the new pier, took some shots, sat down, then agreed we should find somewhere for breakfast.
We checked out the two places on Townwall Street, but found them both closed, before realising that with the clocks going back it wasn't quite eight yet.
By the time we could get to Walmer, maybe the Corner Café would be open?Worth checking out, we thought.
So, back to the car and up Jubilee Way and along the Deal Road, and just before the old Marine Barracks, there was the café, and its warm lights beckoned us in.
I found a place to park, then we walked to the entrance, took a seat in the corner and ordered the big breakfast Oddly, I was hungry after all that sea air.
And when it came, was magnificent and hit the spot. As did the two mugs of builder's tea.Back home, through the roadworks and to St Maggies, where the morning sun gave way to clouds and heavy and frequent rain showers.
Just as well there was football to watch, though the West Ham v Everton game was poor fayre, but that was followed by the Manc Derby, which City won without getting out of second gear.
Oh how we laughed.The sun set at half four, so it was dark by five. It is now winter, the end of March feels like a very, very long time away.
Sunday 29 October 2023
Saturday 28th October 2023
And here comes the weekend, hoving into view, and here come the stormclouds, and storms.
The weather was to be so grim, other than some light hunter/gathering at Tesco first thing, we were not going to do much.
Overnight we had had exceptionally heavy rains for several hours, I was woken up by one downpour as the rain drummed on the roof of the bathroom down the hallway.
Christmas preparations are in full swing at Tesco, with two or three aisles given over to "seasonal" goods. I buy Jools some cheese footballs because they're her favourites, and I get some "giant" pretzels, which I will munch watching the rugby later.
Station Road was almost blocked by floods, as was Reach Road to Westcliffe, but we made it out onto the main road, then onto Tesco.
And back home in time before the rain returned.
For breakfast and second coffee, before I cook coriander chicken for Jools to take to work this week.
That took most of the morning.
By then it was throwing it down outside, throwing it down and against next door's wall. Meanwhile, the cats slept through it.
Lunch was steak and ale pie, crispy roast potatoes and steamed vegetables along with the last of the gravy from the roast a couple of week back.
Was very nice.
Which produced the age old problem of trying to stay awake through the afternoon as I listened to the football. What did it did me, as Norwich lost again, after taking the lead at Sunderland.
Sigh.
And so then to the evening game and then the rugby, with Scully and myself making a nest on the sofa, and the evening slipping through our fingers.
The weather was to be so grim, other than some light hunter/gathering at Tesco first thing, we were not going to do much.
Overnight we had had exceptionally heavy rains for several hours, I was woken up by one downpour as the rain drummed on the roof of the bathroom down the hallway.
Christmas preparations are in full swing at Tesco, with two or three aisles given over to "seasonal" goods. I buy Jools some cheese footballs because they're her favourites, and I get some "giant" pretzels, which I will munch watching the rugby later.
Station Road was almost blocked by floods, as was Reach Road to Westcliffe, but we made it out onto the main road, then onto Tesco.And back home in time before the rain returned.
For breakfast and second coffee, before I cook coriander chicken for Jools to take to work this week.
That took most of the morning.
By then it was throwing it down outside, throwing it down and against next door's wall. Meanwhile, the cats slept through it.
Lunch was steak and ale pie, crispy roast potatoes and steamed vegetables along with the last of the gravy from the roast a couple of week back.
Was very nice.Which produced the age old problem of trying to stay awake through the afternoon as I listened to the football. What did it did me, as Norwich lost again, after taking the lead at Sunderland.
Sigh.
And so then to the evening game and then the rugby, with Scully and myself making a nest on the sofa, and the evening slipping through our fingers.
Saturday 28 October 2023
Friday 27th October 2023
Pay Day.
I spent most of the day, other than working, listening to archive John Peel sessions, after a resource with links to YouTube videos, of the audio, was published on Social Media. Someone has spent a lot of hours creating the list.
I listened to the David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars session, no Ziggy Stardust then, including a cover of the Velvet Underground's Waiting for the Man, which very people would have been aware of in 1972. Then the first two sessions by Roxy Music, two by Billy Bragg among others.
Radio sessions were orgininally introduced to get round "needle time" restrictions, or the amount of pre-recorded music that could be played by the BBC. The Beatles played sessions on the BBC before they were famous, and John Peel's sessions are ledgendary. Most of the greats of UK and much of alternative US music past through the studios at Maidia Vale in London to record sessions for his show, some once, others, like The Fall, over 20 times. Sometimes they showcased their cannon, or works in progress, but for many it was their first time to be broadcast, like Pulp in 1981, when the band were just out of school, and fame would not come knocking for 14 (fourteen) years.
Anyway, dive in:
https://davestrickson.blogspot.com/2020/05/john-peel-sessions.html That aside.
It was, at least, Friday.
I get up as Jools was leaving fpr yoga, mainly die to a night of broken sleep thanks to cramps and Cleo. But I soon perked up, dodging the rain drops to put the bins out, fill up the feeders and be ready for work.
I feel something should be happening at work, so for now, it seems just waiting for something that might not arrive, and I'm not sure even if it. Does that make sense? I feel up to date, so monitor mails and the phone, so the day passes and I am ready for when Jools finished work. As there is a new plan; with JOhn not wantig to drive in the dark, it means cards in the afternoon when work allows, and all be done for five so John can get home.
The flaw in that is that this weekend the clocks go back, meaning next week he'll have to leave at four, then eight more weeks of ever earlier finishes, so that it might not be worth playing cards until two months after the winter solstice, at the end of February.
We get to Jen's at five past two due to Jools being caught up in traffic on Jubilee Way, then a quick dash there, where John romps to a win in Meld. Queenie, however, Just before it was time to leave, I get a run of four and scopp the kitty, some four quid in pennies, which I am only too happy to take.
On the way home we grab fish and chips from the shop on the roundabout, back home to make brews and eat the delicious food.
And that was that. Football in the evening, Spurs at Palace, and quite dull it was, though Spurs win, 2-1.
I spent most of the day, other than working, listening to archive John Peel sessions, after a resource with links to YouTube videos, of the audio, was published on Social Media. Someone has spent a lot of hours creating the list.
I listened to the David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars session, no Ziggy Stardust then, including a cover of the Velvet Underground's Waiting for the Man, which very people would have been aware of in 1972. Then the first two sessions by Roxy Music, two by Billy Bragg among others.
Radio sessions were orgininally introduced to get round "needle time" restrictions, or the amount of pre-recorded music that could be played by the BBC. The Beatles played sessions on the BBC before they were famous, and John Peel's sessions are ledgendary. Most of the greats of UK and much of alternative US music past through the studios at Maidia Vale in London to record sessions for his show, some once, others, like The Fall, over 20 times. Sometimes they showcased their cannon, or works in progress, but for many it was their first time to be broadcast, like Pulp in 1981, when the band were just out of school, and fame would not come knocking for 14 (fourteen) years.
Anyway, dive in:
https://davestrickson.blogspot.com/2020/05/john-peel-sessions.html That aside.
It was, at least, Friday.
I get up as Jools was leaving fpr yoga, mainly die to a night of broken sleep thanks to cramps and Cleo. But I soon perked up, dodging the rain drops to put the bins out, fill up the feeders and be ready for work.
I feel something should be happening at work, so for now, it seems just waiting for something that might not arrive, and I'm not sure even if it. Does that make sense? I feel up to date, so monitor mails and the phone, so the day passes and I am ready for when Jools finished work. As there is a new plan; with JOhn not wantig to drive in the dark, it means cards in the afternoon when work allows, and all be done for five so John can get home.
The flaw in that is that this weekend the clocks go back, meaning next week he'll have to leave at four, then eight more weeks of ever earlier finishes, so that it might not be worth playing cards until two months after the winter solstice, at the end of February.We get to Jen's at five past two due to Jools being caught up in traffic on Jubilee Way, then a quick dash there, where John romps to a win in Meld. Queenie, however, Just before it was time to leave, I get a run of four and scopp the kitty, some four quid in pennies, which I am only too happy to take.
On the way home we grab fish and chips from the shop on the roundabout, back home to make brews and eat the delicious food.
And that was that. Football in the evening, Spurs at Palace, and quite dull it was, though Spurs win, 2-1.
Friday 27 October 2023
Thursday 26th October 2023
Thursday.
Same as Wednesday.
Really.
With more rain.
We woke with it hammering down outside, the cats unwilling to go out, but happy enough to be fed.
Jools left for work, and I made another coffee, as I do each morning, then put on the latest Parallel Universe Podcast, set up the office and drift through the day.
There really isn't much to say of the day, other than details of my trip to France were sorted, they will book hotels, I just need to get a hire car.
I had a brew to celebrate.
In the afternoon the clouds did clear, and the sun shone for a bit, so I went into the garden to take some snaps. Usually, birds fly away as soon as the back door is opened, but on Blue Tit stayed to feed, but as I only had the macro on the camera, not very close up, but the good afternoon light meant crisp shots of the bird on the feeder.
Light soon faded, so I prepared dinner and poured some wine to sup as I cooked.
And so another day done, Jools arrived home, we ate and drank.
Not sure if this week has felt like working, really. I seem to be up to date and in control.
Which is nice.
Same as Wednesday.
Really.
With more rain.
We woke with it hammering down outside, the cats unwilling to go out, but happy enough to be fed.
Jools left for work, and I made another coffee, as I do each morning, then put on the latest Parallel Universe Podcast, set up the office and drift through the day.
There really isn't much to say of the day, other than details of my trip to France were sorted, they will book hotels, I just need to get a hire car.
I had a brew to celebrate.In the afternoon the clouds did clear, and the sun shone for a bit, so I went into the garden to take some snaps. Usually, birds fly away as soon as the back door is opened, but on Blue Tit stayed to feed, but as I only had the macro on the camera, not very close up, but the good afternoon light meant crisp shots of the bird on the feeder.
Light soon faded, so I prepared dinner and poured some wine to sup as I cooked.And so another day done, Jools arrived home, we ate and drank.
Not sure if this week has felt like working, really. I seem to be up to date and in control.
Which is nice.
Thursday 26 October 2023
Wednesday 25th October 2023
Wednesday.
Now I am back from my travels, the days begin to blur into each other again. We find ourselves, or myself, at the midway point between by birthday and Christmas, the year ever presses on and on.
Of course it is dark still at seven in the morning, and dark again soon after five, doubly so when it is cloudy and/or raining.
I am up to date at work, so I just monitor mails and field calls in my capacity as some kind of quality expert.
The heavy rain forecasted the day before, failed to arrive, and light rains were sept from east to west by light winds. At least its not cold.
Yet.
I wish I could tell you something exciting, but life is as dull at ditchwater once again, though planning is progressing regarding a week in northern France at the end of next month. Just perfect for Christmas beer. I would imagine.
With half a loaf of focaccia to use up, Jools suggested having carbonara again, which I didn't argue with.
I used up another quarter of the hunk of Guanciale, and cooked the pasta, fried the Guanciale, added the eggy-cheesy mixture once Jools came home, and she poured some pink fizz.
Like being on holiday once again.
More football in the evening, nothing worth talking about. Some might ay that should always be the case.
Now I am back from my travels, the days begin to blur into each other again. We find ourselves, or myself, at the midway point between by birthday and Christmas, the year ever presses on and on.
Of course it is dark still at seven in the morning, and dark again soon after five, doubly so when it is cloudy and/or raining.
I am up to date at work, so I just monitor mails and field calls in my capacity as some kind of quality expert.
The heavy rain forecasted the day before, failed to arrive, and light rains were sept from east to west by light winds. At least its not cold.
Yet.
I wish I could tell you something exciting, but life is as dull at ditchwater once again, though planning is progressing regarding a week in northern France at the end of next month. Just perfect for Christmas beer. I would imagine.
With half a loaf of focaccia to use up, Jools suggested having carbonara again, which I didn't argue with.I used up another quarter of the hunk of Guanciale, and cooked the pasta, fried the Guanciale, added the eggy-cheesy mixture once Jools came home, and she poured some pink fizz.
Like being on holiday once again.
More football in the evening, nothing worth talking about. Some might ay that should always be the case.
Wednesday 25 October 2023
Tuesday 24th October 2023
Tuesday.
It feels like winter is here already, even if the clocks don't go back until Sunday morning. Its dark now until nearly seven, and the light begins to fade soon after four, and is almost dark by five.
How did that happen?
And it is getting chilly. Which means closing windows and the cats getting used to share the cat flap without fighting. There are issues, and sometimes hissing, spitting and the occasional fight, but its going well so far.
By the time I get up, the cats have been fed and are settling down for a hard day's snoozing. I drink coffee and thin about work.
I have travel to France to arrange for next month, which will fit in very well with Christmas Belgian Beers to fill the boot of the hire car.
Its a hard life and someone's got to do the job, just as well be me.
So, the day begins with rain and drizzle outside, better than the heavy rain we were expecting.
I shivered, so make another coffee to warm and wake up.
And so the day progresses, not much happened, just the usual.
Come the afternoon, I should have gone for a walk, but a painful back said otherwise. Maybe I should not have given in to it, but I did.
Dinner was to be Caprese, made with two ingredients bought in London last week. Olive oil pressed at the beginning of the month, which would be drizzled over the meal, and smoked mozzarella.
I asked for some fresh at one of the stalls. Smoked or ordinary?
Well, I can get unsmoked at Tesco, so choose smoked.
How smoky could a smoked soft cheese be?
Very, as it turned out. I could smell it as I cut the cheese, and on my hands afterwards. And in the completed meal it was just stunning, the cheese not only was smoky, but also a luxurious creaminess that stuff from Tesco just lacks.
I also made a focaccia too, and altogether it was another stunning meal.
After we had cleared up, I settled down to listen to the Champion's League on the radio whilst watching Leicester play on the TV, and follow Norwich via Twitter.
Sigh.
It feels like winter is here already, even if the clocks don't go back until Sunday morning. Its dark now until nearly seven, and the light begins to fade soon after four, and is almost dark by five.
How did that happen?
And it is getting chilly. Which means closing windows and the cats getting used to share the cat flap without fighting. There are issues, and sometimes hissing, spitting and the occasional fight, but its going well so far.
By the time I get up, the cats have been fed and are settling down for a hard day's snoozing. I drink coffee and thin about work.
I have travel to France to arrange for next month, which will fit in very well with Christmas Belgian Beers to fill the boot of the hire car.
Its a hard life and someone's got to do the job, just as well be me.
So, the day begins with rain and drizzle outside, better than the heavy rain we were expecting.
I shivered, so make another coffee to warm and wake up.
And so the day progresses, not much happened, just the usual.
Come the afternoon, I should have gone for a walk, but a painful back said otherwise. Maybe I should not have given in to it, but I did.
Dinner was to be Caprese, made with two ingredients bought in London last week. Olive oil pressed at the beginning of the month, which would be drizzled over the meal, and smoked mozzarella.
I asked for some fresh at one of the stalls. Smoked or ordinary?
Well, I can get unsmoked at Tesco, so choose smoked.How smoky could a smoked soft cheese be?
Very, as it turned out. I could smell it as I cut the cheese, and on my hands afterwards. And in the completed meal it was just stunning, the cheese not only was smoky, but also a luxurious creaminess that stuff from Tesco just lacks.
I also made a focaccia too, and altogether it was another stunning meal.After we had cleared up, I settled down to listen to the Champion's League on the radio whilst watching Leicester play on the TV, and follow Norwich via Twitter.
Sigh.
Tuesday 24 October 2023
Monday 23rd October 2023
And back to work after a four day weekend. A four day weekend that did recharge my batteries and put me in a good mood.
There was to be rain in the afternoon, but dawn and sunrise were pretty special, so I went to take shots before making the second coffee of the day.
Jools left for work just after six, so I was able to sit in the near darkness and ponder the fact that I may only have 22 more months on the grindstone before I can finish. Heck, I could finish tomorrow if I wanted, but life might be harder than need be.
Anyway, I can pretend I enjoy working for a few more months.
Oddly, there were very few mails for me to deal with, most just needing filing in the "meh" folder, if that's still a thing. I spoke to Rune, who was back after a week off, and in a week his Mother had gown ill, passed away and buried. The pain still raw for him.
The day dragged through the morning, leading to the highlight of the day was trying some new oatcakes for lunch. These wedge-shaped ones were thicker than the usual ones, and very enjoyable they were too.
Rock and roll.
Outside the rain began to fall, the cats looked out mournfully.
Jools was going to go to aquafit in the evening, but had developed a bad cough, so cancelled, only for it to start again when home. Turns out she had not been taking her inhaler, once she had things got a lot less coughier.
Football in the evening with Tottenham playing Fulham, and winning, so went back to the top of the league.
There was to be rain in the afternoon, but dawn and sunrise were pretty special, so I went to take shots before making the second coffee of the day.
Jools left for work just after six, so I was able to sit in the near darkness and ponder the fact that I may only have 22 more months on the grindstone before I can finish. Heck, I could finish tomorrow if I wanted, but life might be harder than need be.
Anyway, I can pretend I enjoy working for a few more months.Oddly, there were very few mails for me to deal with, most just needing filing in the "meh" folder, if that's still a thing. I spoke to Rune, who was back after a week off, and in a week his Mother had gown ill, passed away and buried. The pain still raw for him.
The day dragged through the morning, leading to the highlight of the day was trying some new oatcakes for lunch. These wedge-shaped ones were thicker than the usual ones, and very enjoyable they were too. Rock and roll.
Outside the rain began to fall, the cats looked out mournfully.
Jools was going to go to aquafit in the evening, but had developed a bad cough, so cancelled, only for it to start again when home. Turns out she had not been taking her inhaler, once she had things got a lot less coughier.
Football in the evening with Tottenham playing Fulham, and winning, so went back to the top of the league.
Bregrets, we had a few.
Last month, we met a friend who told us, among other things, that she no longer trusted the Government as they had lied about Brexit, and if they had the time again, would not have voted for it.
And yesterday, one time "Hard Man of Brexit", Steve Baker, admitted that Brexit should have been subject to a super-majority, i.e. over 60%, and we should still be in the EU.
Well.
I try not to rage at those who voted for Brexit and are coming to regret it, Bregret, if you will, rather be angry with the liars than the lied to.
And yet.
If I worked it out, why didn't most of the country?
I am no genius, but I could see the holes in their arguments, that the media gave them a free pass certainly helped, but if something sounded too good to be true, then it almost certainly was.
Brexit cannot be reversed.
Certainly not quickly. But the most damaging parts can be made less so, if there is the will to do it. Though with the Mail and Express wailing against anything like that being done being against the will of the people.
And yesterday, one time "Hard Man of Brexit", Steve Baker, admitted that Brexit should have been subject to a super-majority, i.e. over 60%, and we should still be in the EU.
Well.
I try not to rage at those who voted for Brexit and are coming to regret it, Bregret, if you will, rather be angry with the liars than the lied to.
And yet.
If I worked it out, why didn't most of the country?
I am no genius, but I could see the holes in their arguments, that the media gave them a free pass certainly helped, but if something sounded too good to be true, then it almost certainly was.
Brexit cannot be reversed.
Certainly not quickly. But the most damaging parts can be made less so, if there is the will to do it. Though with the Mail and Express wailing against anything like that being done being against the will of the people.
Monday 23 October 2023
Sunday 22nd October 2023
Sunday: and the question is what to do with the day, at least until the footy starts at half four.
And to add to the mix, the sun was going to shine from clear skies, and just a gentle wind would blow.
We got up late, but not too late, had coffee and then breakfast, before deciding that the recent rain would make the tracks round here muddy, so a walk beside the sea would be ideal, but instead of Dover we chose Deal.
Deal is just a ten minute drive up the coast, and in fact is two towns, Deal and Walmer, and at the coast the two meet at the southern edge of the moat of Deal Castle. Like many fishing ports along the coast here, there is no harbour, but the boats are hauled up onto the beach by winches, and the beached crafts can look photogenic if the light is right.
And the light was right.
We parked in the town car park, just off The Strand, walked through Five Step Alley to get to the Prom, and turned south past the pier and the Georgian terrace, time ball tower and old cinema to the castle.
It didn't take long, but it was fine just to be out, people watching.
I took a pano of the castle, then we sat on a bench whilst Jools did some crochet. On the horizon, the cranes of Calais harbour could be seen just poking out over the sea, though no buildings could be seen. The air had all dust washed from it the day before, so nothing to blur the view over to France.
We had some shopping to do, so we walked back to town and to Sainsbury's where I got some fresh pasta for lunch, and Jools got some stuff for her lunches at work, then back to the car to drive home, all done by 11.
I made brews and we sat on the top patio in the warm sunshine, watching the birds feed in the hedge and a few hardy Small White flit from flower to flower. It felt almost warm enough to be summer even though it was the start of the last week of October, and the clocks go back in less than a week!
I make carbonara for lunch, using the guanciale bought on Friday. It did seem quite a lot to do to get a certain ingredient for this meal, would it be worth it.
I watched a video on YouTube on how to cut the guanciale, then brought a pan of water to the boil, and in a frying pan cooked the meat. Soon lots of fat had rendered out, and the meaty pieces began to get crispy.
I added the cooked pasta, the oil fizzed, then when that fizzing stopped, added the egg mixture, stirred and served.
Was it worth it?
Well, the flavours and textures were incredible. It lifted the recipe to the next level, and eating it, we were in raptures.
Usually, there is football to watch on a Sunday afternoon, and although Celtic were on, that didn't float my boat, so sat outside in the sunshine, until the glowing ball of fire sank behind the hedge and shadows lengthened, and it suddenly got very cool.
We retreated inside, just in time for the footy. At half time I warmed up the treacle puddings and custard we had liberated from Sainsbury's, just warmed in the microwave, not as good as Mum used to make, or we used to get for school dinners, but there is something comforting about the mix of sponge, treacle and vanilla custard in each yummy mouthful.
And that is pretty much it for the weekend and my four days off. Darkness fell, I did some stuff online and Jools watched Suits on Netflix.
We both have coughs, so sleep was hard to come by for us both.
And to add to the mix, the sun was going to shine from clear skies, and just a gentle wind would blow.
We got up late, but not too late, had coffee and then breakfast, before deciding that the recent rain would make the tracks round here muddy, so a walk beside the sea would be ideal, but instead of Dover we chose Deal.
Deal is just a ten minute drive up the coast, and in fact is two towns, Deal and Walmer, and at the coast the two meet at the southern edge of the moat of Deal Castle. Like many fishing ports along the coast here, there is no harbour, but the boats are hauled up onto the beach by winches, and the beached crafts can look photogenic if the light is right.
And the light was right.We parked in the town car park, just off The Strand, walked through Five Step Alley to get to the Prom, and turned south past the pier and the Georgian terrace, time ball tower and old cinema to the castle.
It didn't take long, but it was fine just to be out, people watching.I took a pano of the castle, then we sat on a bench whilst Jools did some crochet. On the horizon, the cranes of Calais harbour could be seen just poking out over the sea, though no buildings could be seen. The air had all dust washed from it the day before, so nothing to blur the view over to France.
We had some shopping to do, so we walked back to town and to Sainsbury's where I got some fresh pasta for lunch, and Jools got some stuff for her lunches at work, then back to the car to drive home, all done by 11.
I made brews and we sat on the top patio in the warm sunshine, watching the birds feed in the hedge and a few hardy Small White flit from flower to flower. It felt almost warm enough to be summer even though it was the start of the last week of October, and the clocks go back in less than a week!
I make carbonara for lunch, using the guanciale bought on Friday. It did seem quite a lot to do to get a certain ingredient for this meal, would it be worth it.
I watched a video on YouTube on how to cut the guanciale, then brought a pan of water to the boil, and in a frying pan cooked the meat. Soon lots of fat had rendered out, and the meaty pieces began to get crispy.
I added the cooked pasta, the oil fizzed, then when that fizzing stopped, added the egg mixture, stirred and served.
Was it worth it?Well, the flavours and textures were incredible. It lifted the recipe to the next level, and eating it, we were in raptures.
Usually, there is football to watch on a Sunday afternoon, and although Celtic were on, that didn't float my boat, so sat outside in the sunshine, until the glowing ball of fire sank behind the hedge and shadows lengthened, and it suddenly got very cool.
We retreated inside, just in time for the footy. At half time I warmed up the treacle puddings and custard we had liberated from Sainsbury's, just warmed in the microwave, not as good as Mum used to make, or we used to get for school dinners, but there is something comforting about the mix of sponge, treacle and vanilla custard in each yummy mouthful.
And that is pretty much it for the weekend and my four days off. Darkness fell, I did some stuff online and Jools watched Suits on Netflix.
We both have coughs, so sleep was hard to come by for us both.
English food
I have wondered for some time if I should write a little about some of the better and lesser known English dishes.
Fish and Chips:
Well, as found all over the world, but never bettered, or battered, in England. For the proper experience, fish and chips should only be eaten in towns that are fishing ports, so that the fish is sure to be fresh. When the fish is cut open, it should be pure white, not grey. Also, when cooked properly and drained, the fish is steamed inside the batter, revealing freshly cooked fish inside its crispy batter.
Fish and chips can be served with garden peas (or mushy peas), but always lashings of salt and malt vinegar should be used, and applied when freshly cooked so you get the vinegary vavour rising from the chips.
Ideally, should be eaten from days old newspapers sitting on the promenade of a seaside resort, fighting off the attention of seagulls.
Toad in the Hole
Toad in the hole cobines two of the greats of British cuisine: Yorkshire pudding and sausages. Yorkshire Puddings, Yorkshires or Yorkies, can either be made in a bun tin as individual puddings, or in a large pan, in which case the sides rise up like waves of a tsunami and go very crisy, while the rest is soft and tasty, and if the tray the meat was cooked in is used, you get the meaty flavour too. In times past, the "batter pudding", was cooked in a tray below the meat being turned on a spit, although cooking methods have changed, our love for Yorkshires remain undimmed. The addition of sausages in the batter result in the bangers being encased in cooked batter once cooked, and to the delight of children and adults. For best results, sausage meat rather than sausages should be used, hand rolled in flour, so they go crispy too.
Spotted Dick
Fnar fnar. Spotted Dick is a pudding of sponge, sometimes suet pudding, with currents added. The currents being the spots. Once a traditonal desert, or "afters", served in working class households and for school dinners, is accompanied by custard, made with Birds custard powder, not with cream, eggs and vanilla pods. Also see treacle puddings.
Beans on Toast
Much maligned by others aroud the world. A staple of Saturday tea time meals. Two slices of toasted white bread and a spoonful of tinned baked beans on top. Our baked beans are bland compared to American BBQ or Boston beans, the haricot beans sit in a thin tomato sauce, but is something we are used to. Can be served with cheese to create cheesy beans to lift it even higher.
Bangers and Mash
Simply sausages and mash. Usually served with baked beans on the side. My Grandfather used no butter in his mash and hand rolled sausages from sausage meat, then cut the bangers up in small pieces and mix in the mash to create a mess. But a tasty mess. These days we add either horseradish sauce or Canadian salted herb to the buttery mash for a strong flavour kick. Always make more mash than you need so the leftovers can be fried the next day.
Bread and butter pudding
As the name suggests, consists of bread and butter, but also eggy milk, sultanas and sometimes spices too, to spice it up. Buttered stale bread line a pie tin, then build up in layers adding sugar and sultanas before puring on the eggy milk, and baking until the top is crispy. Served with cream or custard.
Crumble
Fruit based pudding, with apples, apple and blackcurrent, rhubarb, then a mix of flour, butter and sugar on top, but left unmixed into pastry, cooked until golden brown and also served with cream or custard.
Bubble and sqeak
Leftover potatoes and vegetables from a roast dinner, mashed together then fried. Usually as a side to a larger fried breakfast, instead of hash browns or fried potatoes. Much nicer than it sounds.
Roast dinner
Aka Sunday dinner. Roast beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, servied with Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, gravy (made with juices from roasted meat). Is nothing like it, brings entire families together, any lefotver can be graved through the day or following days, or make any number of meals with the leftovers.
Beef pudding
As the name suggests, a beef pudding, made with chunks of beef (an onion) in a gravy, then placed in a suet pastry pudding and either boiled, steamed or roasted. Sure suet is 100% animal fat, but is glorious. Once in a while. Bacon butties As the same suggests, bacon sandwich. Bacon should be smoked, with fat cooked so its all crispy, in sliced white bread heavily buttered so that the hot bacon melts it son coats your hands. Great hangover cure. Fried breakfast AKA English breakfast, Ulster fry, etc. A great start to the day, should have bacon, sausages and after that, to your taste. Can also include: fried bread, baked beans, fried (or scrambled) eggs, tomatoes (grlled fresh or tinned), mushrooms, bubble, hash browns, black pudding, white pudding. The list goes on. servied with a big pot of tea and toast.
Bread and dripping
Beloved by my Grandmother. Bread and dripping is, simply, sliced white bread and the fat and jely left at the bottom of the roasting tin. Looked as disgusting as it sounds.
Pie and mash
Pie and mash is best known as a staple food of London's east end, though actual pie and mash restaurants are now few and far between. The pie is minced beef and potato and usualy accompanied by a parsley sauce called liquor. The mash is served with little butter, so is "dry". Also sold at pie and mash shops are jellied ells, that is eels cooked in gelatine. And I'll leave that culinary crime there.
Camp Coffee
Not actual coffee! Came in a jar and made from chocry extract, was a syrup, sweet and disgusting. Drank by my Grandparents. And me, for a while. Names of meals.
Breakfast. Simple enough.
Midday meal: either lunch or dinner. At school the ladies who worked in the kitchen were dinner ladies, not lunch ladies.
Evening meal: dinner or tea. No set rule, mostly use dinner now, but those who use the word dinner at lunchtime would say tea for the evening meal.
Supper: something to be eaten just before bedtime, usually on a tray placed on your lap when watching TV on the sofa.
Fish and Chips:
Well, as found all over the world, but never bettered, or battered, in England. For the proper experience, fish and chips should only be eaten in towns that are fishing ports, so that the fish is sure to be fresh. When the fish is cut open, it should be pure white, not grey. Also, when cooked properly and drained, the fish is steamed inside the batter, revealing freshly cooked fish inside its crispy batter.
Fish and chips can be served with garden peas (or mushy peas), but always lashings of salt and malt vinegar should be used, and applied when freshly cooked so you get the vinegary vavour rising from the chips.
Ideally, should be eaten from days old newspapers sitting on the promenade of a seaside resort, fighting off the attention of seagulls.
Toad in the Hole
Toad in the hole cobines two of the greats of British cuisine: Yorkshire pudding and sausages. Yorkshire Puddings, Yorkshires or Yorkies, can either be made in a bun tin as individual puddings, or in a large pan, in which case the sides rise up like waves of a tsunami and go very crisy, while the rest is soft and tasty, and if the tray the meat was cooked in is used, you get the meaty flavour too. In times past, the "batter pudding", was cooked in a tray below the meat being turned on a spit, although cooking methods have changed, our love for Yorkshires remain undimmed. The addition of sausages in the batter result in the bangers being encased in cooked batter once cooked, and to the delight of children and adults. For best results, sausage meat rather than sausages should be used, hand rolled in flour, so they go crispy too.
Spotted Dick
Fnar fnar. Spotted Dick is a pudding of sponge, sometimes suet pudding, with currents added. The currents being the spots. Once a traditonal desert, or "afters", served in working class households and for school dinners, is accompanied by custard, made with Birds custard powder, not with cream, eggs and vanilla pods. Also see treacle puddings.
Beans on Toast
Much maligned by others aroud the world. A staple of Saturday tea time meals. Two slices of toasted white bread and a spoonful of tinned baked beans on top. Our baked beans are bland compared to American BBQ or Boston beans, the haricot beans sit in a thin tomato sauce, but is something we are used to. Can be served with cheese to create cheesy beans to lift it even higher.
Bangers and Mash
Simply sausages and mash. Usually served with baked beans on the side. My Grandfather used no butter in his mash and hand rolled sausages from sausage meat, then cut the bangers up in small pieces and mix in the mash to create a mess. But a tasty mess. These days we add either horseradish sauce or Canadian salted herb to the buttery mash for a strong flavour kick. Always make more mash than you need so the leftovers can be fried the next day.
Bread and butter pudding
As the name suggests, consists of bread and butter, but also eggy milk, sultanas and sometimes spices too, to spice it up. Buttered stale bread line a pie tin, then build up in layers adding sugar and sultanas before puring on the eggy milk, and baking until the top is crispy. Served with cream or custard.
Crumble
Fruit based pudding, with apples, apple and blackcurrent, rhubarb, then a mix of flour, butter and sugar on top, but left unmixed into pastry, cooked until golden brown and also served with cream or custard.
Bubble and sqeak
Leftover potatoes and vegetables from a roast dinner, mashed together then fried. Usually as a side to a larger fried breakfast, instead of hash browns or fried potatoes. Much nicer than it sounds.
Roast dinner
Aka Sunday dinner. Roast beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, servied with Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, gravy (made with juices from roasted meat). Is nothing like it, brings entire families together, any lefotver can be graved through the day or following days, or make any number of meals with the leftovers.
Beef pudding
As the name suggests, a beef pudding, made with chunks of beef (an onion) in a gravy, then placed in a suet pastry pudding and either boiled, steamed or roasted. Sure suet is 100% animal fat, but is glorious. Once in a while. Bacon butties As the same suggests, bacon sandwich. Bacon should be smoked, with fat cooked so its all crispy, in sliced white bread heavily buttered so that the hot bacon melts it son coats your hands. Great hangover cure. Fried breakfast AKA English breakfast, Ulster fry, etc. A great start to the day, should have bacon, sausages and after that, to your taste. Can also include: fried bread, baked beans, fried (or scrambled) eggs, tomatoes (grlled fresh or tinned), mushrooms, bubble, hash browns, black pudding, white pudding. The list goes on. servied with a big pot of tea and toast.
Bread and dripping
Beloved by my Grandmother. Bread and dripping is, simply, sliced white bread and the fat and jely left at the bottom of the roasting tin. Looked as disgusting as it sounds.
Pie and mash
Pie and mash is best known as a staple food of London's east end, though actual pie and mash restaurants are now few and far between. The pie is minced beef and potato and usualy accompanied by a parsley sauce called liquor. The mash is served with little butter, so is "dry". Also sold at pie and mash shops are jellied ells, that is eels cooked in gelatine. And I'll leave that culinary crime there.
Camp Coffee
Not actual coffee! Came in a jar and made from chocry extract, was a syrup, sweet and disgusting. Drank by my Grandparents. And me, for a while. Names of meals.
Breakfast. Simple enough.
Midday meal: either lunch or dinner. At school the ladies who worked in the kitchen were dinner ladies, not lunch ladies.
Evening meal: dinner or tea. No set rule, mostly use dinner now, but those who use the word dinner at lunchtime would say tea for the evening meal.
Supper: something to be eaten just before bedtime, usually on a tray placed on your lap when watching TV on the sofa.
Sunday 22 October 2023
50 Years
50 years ago last Friday, 20th October 1973, Dad took me to the football for the first time.
At Carrow Road, Norwich.
He had said, we'll try football and fishing and see what you like best.
We never did get round to trying fishing.
There was something special about entering the old ground for the first time, watching it fill up. I see from the records that 24,819 people turned up to watch the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
This was our first season in the top division of the Football League, quite a time to be introduced to live football.
We would take the 11:10 train from Oulton Broad North, getting to Norwich just before midday, then wander down Riverside Road, past the oil depot, Boulton and Paul's yard, with the still busy river and its warehouses on the other side of the road. Turn then onto Carrow Road, past the guy selling rosettes and scarves from a wooden box, maybe buy a program, then walk round the back of the open terrace of the River End to the covered terrace of the South Stand.
We would go to the very front, so my nose or later, my chin, would rest on the railings.
And we would wait.
And wait.
The ground opened at half twelve, and there was nothing to watch, to be entertained by, until two when the wartime technology of the tannoy system sparked into life and played hots of the day, and maybe a dedication to those whose birthday it was. At some point the teams would be read out, and maybe quarter past two or so, the teams would come to warm up.
Nothing energentic, passing the ball, shooting for the goalie to make saves.
All the while the ground filled up. A fog of cigarette smoke hng under the roofs of the stands, and if it was winter, the floodlights would come on and make the colour of the grass vivid green.
Except the mud.
At five to three, the teams would come out and we would cheer, and the game would start. End to end for 45 minutes, a ten minute break, and off again at four, so that the whole would be done by quarter to five. Win, lose or draw.
Next season after next, 75-76, the South Stand had been turned largely into a seated stand, we got our first season tickets and went almost every game. The season ended with Norwich beating QPR at home, 3-2, thus devriving Rangers from winning their first league title. I was sick at home with mumps, sadly, but it was on Match of the Day that evening.
For most of the first twenty or so years, it felt that Norwich were going upwards. Sometimes a relegation or cup upset happened, but we won the League Cup at Wembley in 1985. Dad and I were there, watching from under the twin towers, as Norwich won something, and so qualified for Europe.
Granddad supported Norwich since the 1920s, he told me tales of games at The Nest, the wall of the Kop, actually the wall of a quarry that could seriously injure players if they ran into it, a few feet the other side of the goal line at one end. At the other end were allotments. Promotion to the 2nd Division in 1934 meant that the old ground was deemed sub-standard, and in 80 days over the summer, Carrow Road was built.
I wish I could speak to Granddad again about those early days of the club. He did tell me, but the words went in one ear and out the other.
The club struggled after the war, needing collections from the crowd several seasons, until in 1959, Norwich reached the FA Cup semi-final, beating Manchester United, Tottenham, Sheffield United on the way, only to lose to Luton in a reply.
We saw Norwich play in a semi-final too, losing to Everton in April 1989. We were lucky, in the other game taking place in Sheffield, 96 people lost their lives.
That year we nearly won the League, running out of puff in the final few weekes of the season, and again in the first season of the Premier League, also running out of puff after Easter. That did mean we qualified for Europe, but by then I had joined the RAF and watched on BFBS TV, or stood in a field on delployment in Denmark listening to a very faint Radio 2 sports round up on medium wave to find out that City had beat Viesse 3-0 at home.
The very moment of our greatest triumphs, beating Viesse and then Bayern before losing out to AC Milan, the club was overspending, not by much by today's standards, but were overdrawn by over £5million, and the banks got nervous, wanted some repayment, so players were sold.
And as more players were sold, results got worse, and the banks got more nervous, demanded more money back.
By the summer of 1995 the club was technically insolvent, and we had just avoided our second successive relegation.
I guess I could go on and on, recounting the steps and missteps of the last 30 years: survival, promotion, relegation, relgation, promotion, promotion, relegation, promotion, relgation, promotion, relegation, promotion, relegation, COVID, highs and lows.
In 2006, I came close to losing my house, the year before I had given up my season ticket as I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it and the travel to and from games. Nearly going bankrupt gives you a clear point of view about what is important. I like football. I love football. But it is just a game.
Nothing more.
It adds seasoning to life. I no longer get sad or depressed when we lose. I like it when we win, gives me joy when we won the league, but losing doesn't ruin my weekend. Anymore.
Norwich not only is the club I support, but it has the oldest existing chant/song in the sport. On the Ball, City, almost certainly, was sung before the club was formed, for another Norwiich club, but early on, Norwich City fans adopted it, changed it to City from whatever it was before, and othet than it slightly speeding up at some point in the 1970s, its the same song as my Grandfather sang on the Kop at The Nest.
Makes you tkink....
Kick off, throw in, have a little scrimmage,
Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
On the ball, City!
Never mind the danger,
Steady on, now’s your chance,
Hurrah! We’ve scored a goal.
At Carrow Road, Norwich.
He had said, we'll try football and fishing and see what you like best.
We never did get round to trying fishing.
There was something special about entering the old ground for the first time, watching it fill up. I see from the records that 24,819 people turned up to watch the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
This was our first season in the top division of the Football League, quite a time to be introduced to live football.
We would take the 11:10 train from Oulton Broad North, getting to Norwich just before midday, then wander down Riverside Road, past the oil depot, Boulton and Paul's yard, with the still busy river and its warehouses on the other side of the road. Turn then onto Carrow Road, past the guy selling rosettes and scarves from a wooden box, maybe buy a program, then walk round the back of the open terrace of the River End to the covered terrace of the South Stand.
We would go to the very front, so my nose or later, my chin, would rest on the railings.And we would wait.
And wait.
The ground opened at half twelve, and there was nothing to watch, to be entertained by, until two when the wartime technology of the tannoy system sparked into life and played hots of the day, and maybe a dedication to those whose birthday it was. At some point the teams would be read out, and maybe quarter past two or so, the teams would come to warm up.
Nothing energentic, passing the ball, shooting for the goalie to make saves.All the while the ground filled up. A fog of cigarette smoke hng under the roofs of the stands, and if it was winter, the floodlights would come on and make the colour of the grass vivid green.
Except the mud.
At five to three, the teams would come out and we would cheer, and the game would start. End to end for 45 minutes, a ten minute break, and off again at four, so that the whole would be done by quarter to five. Win, lose or draw.
Next season after next, 75-76, the South Stand had been turned largely into a seated stand, we got our first season tickets and went almost every game. The season ended with Norwich beating QPR at home, 3-2, thus devriving Rangers from winning their first league title. I was sick at home with mumps, sadly, but it was on Match of the Day that evening.For most of the first twenty or so years, it felt that Norwich were going upwards. Sometimes a relegation or cup upset happened, but we won the League Cup at Wembley in 1985. Dad and I were there, watching from under the twin towers, as Norwich won something, and so qualified for Europe.
Granddad supported Norwich since the 1920s, he told me tales of games at The Nest, the wall of the Kop, actually the wall of a quarry that could seriously injure players if they ran into it, a few feet the other side of the goal line at one end. At the other end were allotments. Promotion to the 2nd Division in 1934 meant that the old ground was deemed sub-standard, and in 80 days over the summer, Carrow Road was built.
I wish I could speak to Granddad again about those early days of the club. He did tell me, but the words went in one ear and out the other.
The club struggled after the war, needing collections from the crowd several seasons, until in 1959, Norwich reached the FA Cup semi-final, beating Manchester United, Tottenham, Sheffield United on the way, only to lose to Luton in a reply.
We saw Norwich play in a semi-final too, losing to Everton in April 1989. We were lucky, in the other game taking place in Sheffield, 96 people lost their lives.
That year we nearly won the League, running out of puff in the final few weekes of the season, and again in the first season of the Premier League, also running out of puff after Easter. That did mean we qualified for Europe, but by then I had joined the RAF and watched on BFBS TV, or stood in a field on delployment in Denmark listening to a very faint Radio 2 sports round up on medium wave to find out that City had beat Viesse 3-0 at home.The very moment of our greatest triumphs, beating Viesse and then Bayern before losing out to AC Milan, the club was overspending, not by much by today's standards, but were overdrawn by over £5million, and the banks got nervous, wanted some repayment, so players were sold.
And as more players were sold, results got worse, and the banks got more nervous, demanded more money back.
By the summer of 1995 the club was technically insolvent, and we had just avoided our second successive relegation.
I guess I could go on and on, recounting the steps and missteps of the last 30 years: survival, promotion, relegation, relgation, promotion, promotion, relegation, promotion, relgation, promotion, relegation, promotion, relegation, COVID, highs and lows.
In 2006, I came close to losing my house, the year before I had given up my season ticket as I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it and the travel to and from games. Nearly going bankrupt gives you a clear point of view about what is important. I like football. I love football. But it is just a game.
Nothing more.
It adds seasoning to life. I no longer get sad or depressed when we lose. I like it when we win, gives me joy when we won the league, but losing doesn't ruin my weekend. Anymore.
Norwich not only is the club I support, but it has the oldest existing chant/song in the sport. On the Ball, City, almost certainly, was sung before the club was formed, for another Norwiich club, but early on, Norwich City fans adopted it, changed it to City from whatever it was before, and othet than it slightly speeding up at some point in the 1970s, its the same song as my Grandfather sang on the Kop at The Nest.
Makes you tkink....
Kick off, throw in, have a little scrimmage,
Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
On the ball, City!
Never mind the danger,
Steady on, now’s your chance,
Hurrah! We’ve scored a goal.
Saturday 21st October 2023
An unusual shot for a Saturday, just the back garden. But because it rained hard pretty much all day, we went nowhere except for Tesco, then back home to mooch around the house until the football and rugby started.
Jools has mild laryngitis, so did not come out, so I got all what we needed which included a box of wine.
Then back home for breakfast, and no bacon butties or croissants, as we're trying to cut down.
Lunch was beef and red wine pie, crispy roast potatoes, steamed veggies and lashings of gravy, which was a splendid as it sounds. Even if the pie was made by Mr Tesco.
And then there was football. As the rain lashed down, I tried to be engaged by the Millwall game, but the Merseyside Derby was taking place at the same time, but I couldn't watch that, so switched screens between the live game and the BBC updates on their webpage.
And then follow Norwich's game against Leeds, who are now managed by our old manager, Farke, nd all was going well until half time, 2-0 up and cruising.
But lost their nerve and focus in the 2nd, Leeds came back and scored twice with us adding a third for them too. 2-3 loss after being 2-0 up.
Chelsea v Arsenal followed, which was bright enough without either side really playing well. Ended 2-2, which was fair.
And then onto the Rugby; England v South Africa, and England played really, really well. 15-6 up at half time, but England had no other gear or plan, South Africa did, and they scored the only try and won it with an odd penalty, something to do with an incorrectly placed hip in the scrum.
Or something.
Ended 16-15, and that was that.
Jools has mild laryngitis, so did not come out, so I got all what we needed which included a box of wine.
Then back home for breakfast, and no bacon butties or croissants, as we're trying to cut down.
Lunch was beef and red wine pie, crispy roast potatoes, steamed veggies and lashings of gravy, which was a splendid as it sounds. Even if the pie was made by Mr Tesco.
And then there was football. As the rain lashed down, I tried to be engaged by the Millwall game, but the Merseyside Derby was taking place at the same time, but I couldn't watch that, so switched screens between the live game and the BBC updates on their webpage.
And then follow Norwich's game against Leeds, who are now managed by our old manager, Farke, nd all was going well until half time, 2-0 up and cruising.But lost their nerve and focus in the 2nd, Leeds came back and scored twice with us adding a third for them too. 2-3 loss after being 2-0 up.
Chelsea v Arsenal followed, which was bright enough without either side really playing well. Ended 2-2, which was fair.
And then onto the Rugby; England v South Africa, and England played really, really well. 15-6 up at half time, but England had no other gear or plan, South Africa did, and they scored the only try and won it with an odd penalty, something to do with an incorrectly placed hip in the scrum.
Or something.
Ended 16-15, and that was that.
Saturday 21 October 2023
Friday 20th October 2023
Day two of the four day weekend, and we caught a train at the most agreeable time of ten, to trundle up to London Bridge so we could walk to Southwark and to Borough Market, so I could get some proper ingredients for some Italian cuisine.
I was after guanciale, which is impossible to get in Kent, and those who supply mail order have terrible reviews, so Borough it was.
Jools went to yoga first thing, while I showered, had breakfast, then waited for her return.
Once she came back, we got our stuff together, and me not taking a camera, just my phone, despite Southwark Cathedral being within staggering distance of the market. In fact we walked right by the entrance.
We picked up Jen, then drove to Dover Priory, nabbed a parking space outside the station, and went to the station "buffet" as Jools had yet to have breakfast. I joined her in snuffling a sausage roll.
We were off on the "classic" service to London Bridge, took about two hours, but was much cheaper than a high speed ticket, and should have been easier to get to.
And once it left Sevenoaks, it ran fast to London Bridge, so not so bad, but the old "fast" service would have stopped at Folkestone, Ashford, Tonbridge and that's about it.
So, just after midday, we arrived at the swish new London Bridge, although its impossible to find your way anywhere due to poor signage.
Anyway, we wandered off towards the river and soon found out way.
Out onto the street, over Borough High Street, down some partially hidden steps down onto Montague Street, past the cathedral and to the market, where half of Europe and most of America and a far good slice of Japan was already there.
We split up, each looking for our targets: I found guanciale, smoked mozzarella and freshly pressed olive oil.
I can't begin to tell you how packed it was around the food court, for those places which have received rave reviews in the weekend supplements. We met back up and went to find a place to have lunch.
We found a Turkish place, not crowded, looking onto the market and the people.
We ordered:
Hummus with shatta
Feta and spinach boregi
lamb kofte
chicken and pistachio shish
flat breads
wine
cider
and rounded off with a fine sweet Turkish coffee.
Man, that was damn good eatin'.
We paid, and walked back to London Bridge, in the vast undercroft tried to make sense of the departures, I realised our train was leaving in less than two minutes, we rushed up and poured ourselves on the train, which was packed.
Phew.
At each station more folks got off, so we could sit with each other again, and outside the Kent countryside rolled by, the clouds cleared and the sun came out.
Once back in Dover, Jools drove to Whitfield, to drop Jen off, then back home, getting back for four, just in time for a coffee and relaxing before the music quiz.
For the evening there was the delights of New Zealand v Argentina in the Rugby, and what a display of attacking, pressing attacking rugby it was from the All Blacks, running out 44-6 winners, so go into the final next week.
I was after guanciale, which is impossible to get in Kent, and those who supply mail order have terrible reviews, so Borough it was.
Jools went to yoga first thing, while I showered, had breakfast, then waited for her return.
Once she came back, we got our stuff together, and me not taking a camera, just my phone, despite Southwark Cathedral being within staggering distance of the market. In fact we walked right by the entrance.
We picked up Jen, then drove to Dover Priory, nabbed a parking space outside the station, and went to the station "buffet" as Jools had yet to have breakfast. I joined her in snuffling a sausage roll.
We were off on the "classic" service to London Bridge, took about two hours, but was much cheaper than a high speed ticket, and should have been easier to get to.And once it left Sevenoaks, it ran fast to London Bridge, so not so bad, but the old "fast" service would have stopped at Folkestone, Ashford, Tonbridge and that's about it.
So, just after midday, we arrived at the swish new London Bridge, although its impossible to find your way anywhere due to poor signage.
Anyway, we wandered off towards the river and soon found out way.
Out onto the street, over Borough High Street, down some partially hidden steps down onto Montague Street, past the cathedral and to the market, where half of Europe and most of America and a far good slice of Japan was already there.
We split up, each looking for our targets: I found guanciale, smoked mozzarella and freshly pressed olive oil.
I can't begin to tell you how packed it was around the food court, for those places which have received rave reviews in the weekend supplements. We met back up and went to find a place to have lunch.
We found a Turkish place, not crowded, looking onto the market and the people.We ordered:
Hummus with shatta
Feta and spinach boregi
lamb kofte
chicken and pistachio shish
flat breads
wine
cider
and rounded off with a fine sweet Turkish coffee.
Man, that was damn good eatin'.
We paid, and walked back to London Bridge, in the vast undercroft tried to make sense of the departures, I realised our train was leaving in less than two minutes, we rushed up and poured ourselves on the train, which was packed.
Phew.
At each station more folks got off, so we could sit with each other again, and outside the Kent countryside rolled by, the clouds cleared and the sun came out.
Once back in Dover, Jools drove to Whitfield, to drop Jen off, then back home, getting back for four, just in time for a coffee and relaxing before the music quiz.
For the evening there was the delights of New Zealand v Argentina in the Rugby, and what a display of attacking, pressing attacking rugby it was from the All Blacks, running out 44-6 winners, so go into the final next week.
Covid inquiry
It is also to miss the news that the COVID inquiry is well under way, and that a former and the current PM have both been implected in tens of thousands of additional deaths as a result of their policies.
Johnson was warned that delaying lockdowns would mean harder and longer once imposed, and that the second lockdown in October 2020 meant 25,000 additional deaths took place, deaths that need not have happened, people who might be alive now.
And yet this is not mentioned.
And that the "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme brought in by the then Chancellor and now PM, Sunak, also created my thousands of transmissions, and that Government health adisors nicknmaed him Dr Death.
Or that the Health Secretary didn't want to broadcast too loudly about the dangers of the second wave lest Brexit be swept off the front pages.
We were told they always followed the scence.
The lied.
We guessed that was the case at the time, but now we know.
When will they be held account to what they did?
And last week 24 more people were issued with FPN as a reslt of the parties or events inside Downing Street, and more memos revealled that the PM's wife had more say in policy than the atual Prime Minister.
Johnson was warned that delaying lockdowns would mean harder and longer once imposed, and that the second lockdown in October 2020 meant 25,000 additional deaths took place, deaths that need not have happened, people who might be alive now.
And yet this is not mentioned.
And that the "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme brought in by the then Chancellor and now PM, Sunak, also created my thousands of transmissions, and that Government health adisors nicknmaed him Dr Death.
Or that the Health Secretary didn't want to broadcast too loudly about the dangers of the second wave lest Brexit be swept off the front pages.
We were told they always followed the scence.
The lied.
We guessed that was the case at the time, but now we know.
When will they be held account to what they did?
And last week 24 more people were issued with FPN as a reslt of the parties or events inside Downing Street, and more memos revealled that the PM's wife had more say in policy than the atual Prime Minister.
Don't panic
Looking at this morning's front pages, you would not know that yesterday, or in the early hours of Friday morning, the Conservative Party siffered not one, but two histroic defeats in by elections.
With such defeats, whether there is some kind of reflection, it is what lesson does the Party take from it?
Well, either the conclusion is that the party is not right wing and nasty enough, is too far to the right and must swing to the centre to reclaim their one nation Conservative name, or that they are aright and the electorate wrong and so must plough on regardless.
By-elections are odd things, stand alone polls on the current party leaderships nationwide, but does indicate where the nation is going. Doubly so in that South Bedofrdshire swng heavily towards Labour in 1996, a year before Blair's landslide win. So, yesterday the same seat voted heavily for Labour, indicating that the party is in a good place for the election at the end of next year, or maybe sooner.
If only things were that simple.
The Reclaim Party, the new harder, nastier UKIP recovered their deposit, and their votes more than exceeded the majority that Labout won by. So, by "appealing" to those voters, they might have won anyway.
Bearing in mind the Conservatives and Labour are pretty much to the right of the 2015 Conservative Manifesto on a number of policy areas, one would hope that at some point, normaility would return to UK politics.
Starmer isn't exciting. He's dull and knows what he is doing, and I think would be good if in power. But, he is so cautious not to say anything too radical, he sometimes ties himself in logial knots, like in his support for Israel this week. And there is the spectre of the left, that likes nothing more than fighting its hostorial enemy: not the Tories but Labour's centre and moderates.
Don't read too much into by-election results said the Government who abandoned net zero, HS2 and nother environmental policies because a few hundred people deomonstrated against ULEZ in Uxbridge.
With such defeats, whether there is some kind of reflection, it is what lesson does the Party take from it?
Well, either the conclusion is that the party is not right wing and nasty enough, is too far to the right and must swing to the centre to reclaim their one nation Conservative name, or that they are aright and the electorate wrong and so must plough on regardless.
By-elections are odd things, stand alone polls on the current party leaderships nationwide, but does indicate where the nation is going. Doubly so in that South Bedofrdshire swng heavily towards Labour in 1996, a year before Blair's landslide win. So, yesterday the same seat voted heavily for Labour, indicating that the party is in a good place for the election at the end of next year, or maybe sooner.
If only things were that simple.
The Reclaim Party, the new harder, nastier UKIP recovered their deposit, and their votes more than exceeded the majority that Labout won by. So, by "appealing" to those voters, they might have won anyway.
Bearing in mind the Conservatives and Labour are pretty much to the right of the 2015 Conservative Manifesto on a number of policy areas, one would hope that at some point, normaility would return to UK politics.
Starmer isn't exciting. He's dull and knows what he is doing, and I think would be good if in power. But, he is so cautious not to say anything too radical, he sometimes ties himself in logial knots, like in his support for Israel this week. And there is the spectre of the left, that likes nothing more than fighting its hostorial enemy: not the Tories but Labour's centre and moderates.
Don't read too much into by-election results said the Government who abandoned net zero, HS2 and nother environmental policies because a few hundred people deomonstrated against ULEZ in Uxbridge.
Friday 20 October 2023
Thursday 19th October 2023
The first of a four day weekend, and I decided to go back to Canterbury to photograph the windows in the Chapter House and the newly revealed windows in the west end of the Nave of the Cathedral.
I don't usually worry about the weather, but it seemed grim for the day, so did take a coat.
And didn't lose it.
Jools dropped me off at Priory Station just before half seven, giving me time to get a ticket and climb the bridge over to platform 3 where the train left at quarter to.
It trundled through the tunnels and cuttings to Buckland, then after the junction, I got a glimpse in dawn's soft light of our old back garden on Crabble Hill, before out of control vegetation took the view away.
Kids got on the train at every stop, all going to Canterbury, they were quiet and well behaved. While I looked out of the window, at what little evidence remains of the mining industry in the county. Only the fenced off sidings at Snowdon really remain, and they are overgrown with trees now, hiding the rails in deep shadows.
It wasn't raining when we arrived at Canterbury East, so I walked to the centre, stopping off for breakfast at the Saffron Café for a fry up.
Then a three minute walk to the High Street and the view along Mercery Lane to Christchurch Gate and the Cathedral beyond.
I had timed it well, with just a couple of minutes waiting at the Buttermarket, the doors were opened, I showed my ticket from my visit last month (valid for a year), and entered.
I made straight for the crypt, as I wanted to get shots there. Just a few. There are signs saying its for private prayer and no photos or videos to be taken, but I was the only one there, and the shot I wanted, came out as a double exposure, but I include it here as I won't try again.
Odd to be in such a large space in such a famous building, and have it to yourself. I was down in the crypt for ten minutes, and no one else came down.
Then to my main targets, out to the Cloisters and then along to the Chapterhouse to take shots of both huge windows, and shots of each panels, and finally out to the Nave of the Cathedral to take shots of the newly revealed windows at the west end.
I left the cathedral after 40 minutes, and found that the leaden skies were producing rain now. And rain that got heavier, and looked like it had set in for the day.
So, I made the decision to head back to the station and go home, hoping trains were once every 30 minutes.
The rain came down heavier and heavier as I rushed as quickly as my fat little legs could carry me, back over the ring road to the station, only to find I had missed a train by nine minutes, and so had 51 to wait for the next one.
Oh well.
I was wet, but not soaked.
So I bought a coffee and a tiny Snickers to eat on the platform, in the hope a RHTT would come though, and was rewarded twenty minutes later when one did rumble through on the Up line.
The train came in and about two hundred kids came pouring off the train, stressed teachers and assistants trying to keep control, it was quite the sight. Passengers on the train were clearly releaved the kids had left the train, and some peace and quiet settled. And as we headed back to Dover, clouds cleared and the sun even came out, but I was done for the day, happy to have got the shots I wanted.
At Dover I get a taxi to run me home, meaning I was back before midday, and warming up after I made a brew.
I spent the rest of the day writing, editing, listening to podcasts and even found time to run the vacuum over the living room.
And that is it for a very fine first day off for the weekend.
I don't usually worry about the weather, but it seemed grim for the day, so did take a coat.
And didn't lose it.
Jools dropped me off at Priory Station just before half seven, giving me time to get a ticket and climb the bridge over to platform 3 where the train left at quarter to.
It trundled through the tunnels and cuttings to Buckland, then after the junction, I got a glimpse in dawn's soft light of our old back garden on Crabble Hill, before out of control vegetation took the view away.
Kids got on the train at every stop, all going to Canterbury, they were quiet and well behaved. While I looked out of the window, at what little evidence remains of the mining industry in the county. Only the fenced off sidings at Snowdon really remain, and they are overgrown with trees now, hiding the rails in deep shadows.It wasn't raining when we arrived at Canterbury East, so I walked to the centre, stopping off for breakfast at the Saffron Café for a fry up.
Then a three minute walk to the High Street and the view along Mercery Lane to Christchurch Gate and the Cathedral beyond.
I had timed it well, with just a couple of minutes waiting at the Buttermarket, the doors were opened, I showed my ticket from my visit last month (valid for a year), and entered.
I made straight for the crypt, as I wanted to get shots there. Just a few. There are signs saying its for private prayer and no photos or videos to be taken, but I was the only one there, and the shot I wanted, came out as a double exposure, but I include it here as I won't try again.
Odd to be in such a large space in such a famous building, and have it to yourself. I was down in the crypt for ten minutes, and no one else came down.
Then to my main targets, out to the Cloisters and then along to the Chapterhouse to take shots of both huge windows, and shots of each panels, and finally out to the Nave of the Cathedral to take shots of the newly revealed windows at the west end.
I left the cathedral after 40 minutes, and found that the leaden skies were producing rain now. And rain that got heavier, and looked like it had set in for the day.So, I made the decision to head back to the station and go home, hoping trains were once every 30 minutes.
The rain came down heavier and heavier as I rushed as quickly as my fat little legs could carry me, back over the ring road to the station, only to find I had missed a train by nine minutes, and so had 51 to wait for the next one.
Oh well.
I was wet, but not soaked.
So I bought a coffee and a tiny Snickers to eat on the platform, in the hope a RHTT would come though, and was rewarded twenty minutes later when one did rumble through on the Up line.
The train came in and about two hundred kids came pouring off the train, stressed teachers and assistants trying to keep control, it was quite the sight. Passengers on the train were clearly releaved the kids had left the train, and some peace and quiet settled. And as we headed back to Dover, clouds cleared and the sun even came out, but I was done for the day, happy to have got the shots I wanted.At Dover I get a taxi to run me home, meaning I was back before midday, and warming up after I made a brew.
I spent the rest of the day writing, editing, listening to podcasts and even found time to run the vacuum over the living room.
And that is it for a very fine first day off for the weekend.
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