Yesterday was cup final day, and just like olden times, it's the last game of the overlong football season. Once upon a time, when the world was in black and white, the cup final used to be just about the only game live on TV, and the whole of the day was the build up to three o'clock when the game would kick off.
Grandstand was nothing but build up, maybe a special edition of A Question of Sport, live shots of the teams' hotels, the teams getting on the bus, shots from inside the bus, the bus arriving at Wembley, players walking on the pitch, the marching bands, the fans with their banners, fans climbing walls to get in without tickets, singing Abide With Me, the teams walking on the pitch, introductions of the teams, the national anthem.
Phew! And then the game. In truth, the game hardly mattered; you knew you were watching history. The cup had been played every year, except during war years since 1871, and was the came competition, just that at first it was groups of ex-public shcoolboys or army officers who contested the final.
Sadly, today, it's just another game; four days after the Champions League Final, it all seemed rather irrelevant to be honest; Chelsea vs Everton should have been a great game, and it may have been After Everton scored after 24 seconds, the quickest final goal ever, I snoozed, missed most of the first half. The 2nd, Chelsea fought back, having scored an equalizer sometime when I was asleep, they got the winner with a screamer from another multi-millionaire international dimwit. The fans were happy, and so the season ends in the sunshiiiine of north West london.
The new season is some nine weeks away, all the same games to be squeezed into less time due to world cup next summer.
Deep breath.
Yesterday was also National Get Britain Walking Day, or something. And we joined our local ramblers group for a 5 mile stroll around Lympne, east of Folkestone. The weather is really stunning this weekend, like high summer; all clear blue skies and hot sunshine.
We stopped of in Folkestone as we were a little early, and I took some pictures of the grand Victorian town houses that rich merchant families used to live in, that are now hotels. The whitewashed houses contrasted wonderfully with the blue skies; I got some good shots.
We gathered in the car park of Lympne village hall. And soon about 30 of us were there. It was a gentle walk, criss-crossing some roads we knew well, but showing us more hidden corners we had passed right by; thatched cottages, timber-framed churches, and barn conversions; all before we ended up in a county park for tea and cake before turning round and retracing our steps.
In the evening we had a barbecue; it was wonderful, looking down at our garden, all full of plants that we had put there and the air full of the smell of spring flowers.
Friday, I spent the day in and out of the garden doing stuff; not that hard work, but at the end of the day, it looks like we have been here a while, and the garden neat and tidy. We have put slate chips around the plants in the front garden, and it looks really nice. The hedge is gone, and daylight fills the living room now. On the downside it means I have to be careful about coming down in the morning not wearing trousers!
Thursday, I went out to take some pictures of the new high speed trains that will soon be whizzing their way around Kent and into London. I know a place to get a good shot, and only had to wait an hour before a blue Javelin came speeding past, doing something close to 140mph.
Next, it was into Tescos and braving the crowds that only come with half-term holidays. Kids everywhere. But, in truth it's not too bad, and once I got the shopping home it's no trouble to reverse the car to the door to unload it; not the 150 stagger with bags like it was when we lived in the flat in Dover. Small things matter.
I took Nan out to Deal in the afternoon. Nothing spectacular, we just drove in, dropped some stuff in she had knitted at a charity shop, then drove out to the cliffs to look at the ferries plying their way back and forth to France. Then back here so she could watch the tennis and stroke Sulu, as he gets demanding of attention after lunch. Nan was happy enough doing that.
As for work; I have had more sniffs, but nothing concrete. I think this is the week when things will happen. I could be wrong, but our old employer is to make a decision on whether to re-employ us. If I could avoid that, I would. But right now I would take anything.
More sunshiiine next week I think, and more job hunting. Life goes on
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