I have watched and supported Norwich for 49 years, and in that time I have seen some swings in fortune.
I have seen us score five goals on several occasions, six on a couple, seven once and even eight. Worst defeats were four or five goals, saying that since 1992 we have shipped seven goals twice; once against Blackburn in a season we still finished third in the first Premier League season, and infamously on the first day of our frst season back in the thrid tier when Colchester rang rings round us.
Last time in the Prem, we were unprepared, and despite playing Farkeball, we only scored 26 goals and fell well short.
Lesson were learned, we were told, Farke would have better ammunition this time.
So, players bought, a new system in place for the new season, and it has been a disaster.
And then came Saturday.
Away at Chelsea, with their two strikers out, where would their goals come from? All over the pitch, it seemed.
Seven nil by the final whistle, and just about the entire support has lost confidence in the manager, and are now expecting change. It seems the players have never believed the new system either.
Norwich have done the trick of spending nearly £55,000,000 on new players and have, apparently, got worse.
City are in a bad place, and only major change can save the season, if it can be saved now.
It just hurts att this point.
Sunday, 24 October 2021
More Brexit
On Friday, the UK signed a trade deal with New Zealand which will change the UK GDP by +/-0.01%.
Yes, almost no difference.
But will allow NZ shellfish and other food products in with reduced checks, so shafting UK farmers even more.
And on the same day, it emerged that the "better than the EU deal" with Japan that Liz Triss agreed is in fact, worse.
Who saw that coming?
Oh yeah, me.
Since signing the deal, no UK products that the UK claim to have geographical status has been recognised by Japan, despite Ms Truss claiming this would now be easier.
Meanwhile the EU has received 27 new such recognised products by Japan.
It also emerged that Ms Truss was adnised to correct the record in regard to her claim, something which she has so failed to do.
Brexit: the gift that keeps on giving.
Yes, almost no difference.
But will allow NZ shellfish and other food products in with reduced checks, so shafting UK farmers even more.
And on the same day, it emerged that the "better than the EU deal" with Japan that Liz Triss agreed is in fact, worse.
Who saw that coming?
Oh yeah, me.
Since signing the deal, no UK products that the UK claim to have geographical status has been recognised by Japan, despite Ms Truss claiming this would now be easier.
Meanwhile the EU has received 27 new such recognised products by Japan.
It also emerged that Ms Truss was adnised to correct the record in regard to her claim, something which she has so failed to do.
Brexit: the gift that keeps on giving.
Saturday, 23 October 2021
Friday 22nd October 2021
Still potato week.
And in a call with my colleague, Henrik, he reported that on his was back from Jutland to Langeland, the fields were full of people picking potatoes and the roads full of tractors hauling trailers full of spuds.
Just not sure if children are expected to do it.
So, that's potato week in Denmark.
I sleep through the alarm and awake at five past six expecting Jools to head off for yoga, but she has a bad arm and bad thumb, so is ging yoga and swimming a miss this week. She goes for a walk instead.
I try to wake up before starting work at seven. I stare at the computer but remember my new password, but of course, every application needs to have the new password, and sent me a verification text via my mobile.
After twenty minutes I'm all logged in and ready to work.
And, I have to say, its a quiet morning, and once the clock ticks to twelve, I close down the computers as I am off on my travels, arranging to meet a friend in Broadstairs to talk about work and football and music and other stuff.
Now, there is never a huge problem with trains from Martin Mill, I checed the departure time the day before and on Twitter there was nothing from the operator about issues, just a broken rain in south east London at Petts Wood. Or is that Kent? I gave it little thought. But, it seems, that blocked many trains getting out of the yard, and caused delays and cancellations all day.
THis I did not know.
Instead I got our bins in, said hello to next door and set off up Station Road, up and over the down, and carrying on along the road, down to the Deal Road junction. Now, I have to say, this isn't safe, but there is no other way to get to the station, so all along the road I walk on the edge of the carriageway, try to get out of the way when a car came, but once heading down past the riding school there is no way of getting off as the banks are too overgrown and steep. I just press on down hill trying to get to the verge near the junction.
Then getting across the main road where cars are travelling at 50mph and there two roads joining meaning having to see a gap and run and hope for the best. I make a dash for it and get over, and from there it is safer.
I am 15 minutes early, so have lots of time to buy my ticket, and walk through the underpass to the other platform, where the illuminated sign said my train was cancelled. And there wasn't another for 70 minutes.
I went back to the other side and called the help centre, where the guy in Mumbai was nice enough, but no help. There were no buses being sent instead.
I had toyed with the idea of catchng a train to Ashford, then another back through Canterbury to Ramsgate and pick up another train then to Broadstairs.
In the end I tried to get a taxi.
I got the last one in Dover, and the guy said he would take me, so in ten minutes he pulls up in his Audi and takes me to Thanet, regailing me with war stories of his time in the SAS. I have no reason to doubt him, nice enough, but he did lay it on a little thick.
But he did get me to the rough area of the bar, and a thirty second march got me to the its door. The Royston is a new micropub, named after the owner's late Father, and is well appointed, well thought out, and most importantly, has great beer. And as the afternoon went on, filled up with great people to have a laugh and chat with.
My colleague, Peter, came in, so we swapped news and bought rounds.
Outside the rush hour, or what counts for it there, got under way, it started to get dark, and my thoughts turned to getting home.
I checked online and there was a train at quarter past six, connecting with a train to MArtin Mill at Ramsgate, so amid appeals to stay another hour, I walked to the station and my train rolled in. It was mostly empty, with a few droogs with their floozies making plans for the evening.
At Ramsgate, I just had to walk to the other platform and climb into another train, and then force myself to stay awake so I didn't end up in Charing Cross. I called Jools and she would pick my up from the station.
I had a five minute wait as Jools had gone to pick up a takeaway, so we could eat well when we got in.
So, more than twice the food we needed, but we ate well, and I drank squash and took some gout pills just to be sure. I had no ill-effects of the day.
Pooped, I went to bed at half eight, not having the energy to watch the Arsenal game on TV.
And in a call with my colleague, Henrik, he reported that on his was back from Jutland to Langeland, the fields were full of people picking potatoes and the roads full of tractors hauling trailers full of spuds.
Just not sure if children are expected to do it.
So, that's potato week in Denmark.
I sleep through the alarm and awake at five past six expecting Jools to head off for yoga, but she has a bad arm and bad thumb, so is ging yoga and swimming a miss this week. She goes for a walk instead.
I try to wake up before starting work at seven. I stare at the computer but remember my new password, but of course, every application needs to have the new password, and sent me a verification text via my mobile.After twenty minutes I'm all logged in and ready to work.
And, I have to say, its a quiet morning, and once the clock ticks to twelve, I close down the computers as I am off on my travels, arranging to meet a friend in Broadstairs to talk about work and football and music and other stuff.
Now, there is never a huge problem with trains from Martin Mill, I checed the departure time the day before and on Twitter there was nothing from the operator about issues, just a broken rain in south east London at Petts Wood. Or is that Kent? I gave it little thought. But, it seems, that blocked many trains getting out of the yard, and caused delays and cancellations all day.
THis I did not know.
Instead I got our bins in, said hello to next door and set off up Station Road, up and over the down, and carrying on along the road, down to the Deal Road junction. Now, I have to say, this isn't safe, but there is no other way to get to the station, so all along the road I walk on the edge of the carriageway, try to get out of the way when a car came, but once heading down past the riding school there is no way of getting off as the banks are too overgrown and steep. I just press on down hill trying to get to the verge near the junction.
Then getting across the main road where cars are travelling at 50mph and there two roads joining meaning having to see a gap and run and hope for the best. I make a dash for it and get over, and from there it is safer.
I am 15 minutes early, so have lots of time to buy my ticket, and walk through the underpass to the other platform, where the illuminated sign said my train was cancelled. And there wasn't another for 70 minutes.I went back to the other side and called the help centre, where the guy in Mumbai was nice enough, but no help. There were no buses being sent instead.
I had toyed with the idea of catchng a train to Ashford, then another back through Canterbury to Ramsgate and pick up another train then to Broadstairs.In the end I tried to get a taxi.
I got the last one in Dover, and the guy said he would take me, so in ten minutes he pulls up in his Audi and takes me to Thanet, regailing me with war stories of his time in the SAS. I have no reason to doubt him, nice enough, but he did lay it on a little thick.
But he did get me to the rough area of the bar, and a thirty second march got me to the its door. The Royston is a new micropub, named after the owner's late Father, and is well appointed, well thought out, and most importantly, has great beer. And as the afternoon went on, filled up with great people to have a laugh and chat with.
My colleague, Peter, came in, so we swapped news and bought rounds. Outside the rush hour, or what counts for it there, got under way, it started to get dark, and my thoughts turned to getting home.
I checked online and there was a train at quarter past six, connecting with a train to MArtin Mill at Ramsgate, so amid appeals to stay another hour, I walked to the station and my train rolled in. It was mostly empty, with a few droogs with their floozies making plans for the evening.
At Ramsgate, I just had to walk to the other platform and climb into another train, and then force myself to stay awake so I didn't end up in Charing Cross. I called Jools and she would pick my up from the station.
I had a five minute wait as Jools had gone to pick up a takeaway, so we could eat well when we got in.So, more than twice the food we needed, but we ate well, and I drank squash and took some gout pills just to be sure. I had no ill-effects of the day.
Pooped, I went to bed at half eight, not having the energy to watch the Arsenal game on TV.
The difference engine
If you were to compare the Brexit that was promised before the referendum, and what has been delivered, it has all turned to dust.
It wasn't the easiest deal in history, and it did not lead to sunlit uplands. Neither have there been any apparent upsides to Brexit, just considerable downsides. Agin the opposite of what was promised.
No one got the Brexit which they voted for, those that say they do now are just lying again.
As predicted at the end fo last year in these posts, all have pretty much now rejected the deal hailed as a success in November 2019 and was deemed oven-ready and would get Brexit done.
Brexit is not done.
The very people who told us they would get Brexit done with that oven-ready deal now want to renegotiate it, and when that is done, apparently negotiate it all over.
The very project fear the Brexiteers sneered at have come true, but now those sneers now tell us the pain was all part of the plan.
Temporary teething problems are now more permanent, and with increased rules coming into force, maybe, on imports from the EU on January 1st, shortages will just get more widespread.
Brexit was the UK demanding it wanted to be treated as a third country, now it is a third country it compains that it doesn't have the benefits of the single market it rejected.
This is winner's remorse.
And in rejecting the oven-ready deal, the Government is going against the will of the people who voted for its implementation, all in the name of the very same people.
The Government has no plan.
The Government never had a plan.
Just slogans.
You can't eat slogans, heat your house with slogans nor fill up for car with slogans.
We drift from crisis to crisis, and in the words of Chris Grey, its not a metter of "crisis, what crisis. It's crisis, which crisis?"
Have a splendid weekend.
It wasn't the easiest deal in history, and it did not lead to sunlit uplands. Neither have there been any apparent upsides to Brexit, just considerable downsides. Agin the opposite of what was promised.
No one got the Brexit which they voted for, those that say they do now are just lying again.
As predicted at the end fo last year in these posts, all have pretty much now rejected the deal hailed as a success in November 2019 and was deemed oven-ready and would get Brexit done.
Brexit is not done.
The very people who told us they would get Brexit done with that oven-ready deal now want to renegotiate it, and when that is done, apparently negotiate it all over.
The very project fear the Brexiteers sneered at have come true, but now those sneers now tell us the pain was all part of the plan.
Temporary teething problems are now more permanent, and with increased rules coming into force, maybe, on imports from the EU on January 1st, shortages will just get more widespread.
Brexit was the UK demanding it wanted to be treated as a third country, now it is a third country it compains that it doesn't have the benefits of the single market it rejected.
This is winner's remorse.
And in rejecting the oven-ready deal, the Government is going against the will of the people who voted for its implementation, all in the name of the very same people.
The Government has no plan.
The Government never had a plan.
Just slogans.
You can't eat slogans, heat your house with slogans nor fill up for car with slogans.
We drift from crisis to crisis, and in the words of Chris Grey, its not a metter of "crisis, what crisis. It's crisis, which crisis?"
Have a splendid weekend.
Friday, 22 October 2021
Thursday 21st October 2021
Just like Wednesday.
Sunny. In parts.
Blowy.
Showers.
Builders still mining for chalk rubble where the new house is being built.
Cats still cute.
Feeling better.
We were up and about late. Jools lay in bed for an extra 15 minutes once the alarm went off, I slept through it, only waking up when she put the heating and boiler on.
Good morning.
I get up, and realise if I am to have lunch, I need to make bread. We have some new flour, Chiltern Crunch, so I try that, make a batch of dough and set it to rise in the tin, but without the oven on. To avoid the dough monster.
I have a coffee, and log in for work.
Big item is that my work password is to expire, and having had dozens in the 11 years with the company, now seriously running out of ideas. I have 24 more hours to mull it over.
Apart from the baking, its a quiet day, potato week continues, so I think I could go out for the first time since Sunday, but soon see heavy dark clouds approaching from the north, so I accept I might not finish the planned walk.
I go up Station Road, then down past the war memorial, but the clouds were now so threatning, even if the low sun in the south cast strong light, but made the clouds look very dark and stormy.
I cut down at the end of the horse paddock, across Harvey and Collingwood to home, just making it back dry as the rain begain to fall.
At least the baked bread was cool enough to try, so I cut a crust off, smother it in butter and peach jam, and it is delicious.
Nothing much happening at work.
But I find things to keep me busy.
Or entertained.
We are trying to get the kittens used to having the living room window closed, with mixed results. Winter is coming and days, and nights, are getting cold.
Let us see.
Time for dinner; breaded chicken, stir fry, steamed fresh corn and noodles.
Yummy.
By the time Jools comes home it is dark, or nearly dark. Tow weeks until the shortest day.
We have coffee and some chocolate, then head to bed at nine, with another day and nearly another week having slipped by.
Sunny. In parts.
Blowy.
Showers.
Builders still mining for chalk rubble where the new house is being built.
Cats still cute.
Feeling better.
We were up and about late. Jools lay in bed for an extra 15 minutes once the alarm went off, I slept through it, only waking up when she put the heating and boiler on.
Good morning.I get up, and realise if I am to have lunch, I need to make bread. We have some new flour, Chiltern Crunch, so I try that, make a batch of dough and set it to rise in the tin, but without the oven on. To avoid the dough monster.
I have a coffee, and log in for work.
Big item is that my work password is to expire, and having had dozens in the 11 years with the company, now seriously running out of ideas. I have 24 more hours to mull it over.
Apart from the baking, its a quiet day, potato week continues, so I think I could go out for the first time since Sunday, but soon see heavy dark clouds approaching from the north, so I accept I might not finish the planned walk.
I go up Station Road, then down past the war memorial, but the clouds were now so threatning, even if the low sun in the south cast strong light, but made the clouds look very dark and stormy.
I cut down at the end of the horse paddock, across Harvey and Collingwood to home, just making it back dry as the rain begain to fall.
At least the baked bread was cool enough to try, so I cut a crust off, smother it in butter and peach jam, and it is delicious.Nothing much happening at work.
But I find things to keep me busy.
Or entertained.
We are trying to get the kittens used to having the living room window closed, with mixed results. Winter is coming and days, and nights, are getting cold.
Let us see.
Time for dinner; breaded chicken, stir fry, steamed fresh corn and noodles.
Yummy.
By the time Jools comes home it is dark, or nearly dark. Tow weeks until the shortest day.
We have coffee and some chocolate, then head to bed at nine, with another day and nearly another week having slipped by.
Kill 'em all
So, an episode of the X_Files was called.
It would appear that the UK Government has literally given up on trying to save lives from COVID and now its a case of "we'll have to live with it."
The Governing party can't even bring themselves to wear masks in the Commons Chmbers, as JRM put it: "we on this side know each other" and have a "convivial fraternal spirit."
FFS.
This is the person who is leader of the House, and has a duty of care. Instead as a duty of can't give a fuck.
Meanwhile, as infection rates break 50,000 per day, the Health Secretary says we should be prepared for 100,000 a day soon. Maybe next weekend at this rate, mate.
Every single infection has the possibility of developing into something more serious requiring a hospital stay or long COVID, with added costs to the NHS.
But the Government doesn't give a fuck.
The PM says we should press on with the plan, but the plan seems to be infect as many people as possible. The only reason is that the Government wants to achieve herd immunity by vaccination and infection.
In response, Morocco, FFS, has banned flights from the UK as they are alarmed at the soaring infection rates.
A new varient has been detected: YAY!, which is 10% more infectious than the Delta.
In the past, although I have had very basic disagreements with certain Government policies, I always thought that somewhere, they had the country's best interest at heart. THis Government wants to kill as many of us as it deems neccessary to "save the economy".
The same economy their flagship "policy", Brexit, is destroying.
Its so fucked up I don't know where to start.
The BMA is alarmed, frontline NHS staff know that a new winter wave is coming, and they are exhausted and frightened. And undervalued.
Fuck, this is going to be a long dark winter.
The company which supplies gas to many small supply companies has now said it will not honour agreements after Novemeber and those suppliers need to find new bulk supplies. On the open market.
It would appear that the UK Government has literally given up on trying to save lives from COVID and now its a case of "we'll have to live with it."
The Governing party can't even bring themselves to wear masks in the Commons Chmbers, as JRM put it: "we on this side know each other" and have a "convivial fraternal spirit."
FFS.
This is the person who is leader of the House, and has a duty of care. Instead as a duty of can't give a fuck.
Meanwhile, as infection rates break 50,000 per day, the Health Secretary says we should be prepared for 100,000 a day soon. Maybe next weekend at this rate, mate.
Every single infection has the possibility of developing into something more serious requiring a hospital stay or long COVID, with added costs to the NHS.
But the Government doesn't give a fuck.
The PM says we should press on with the plan, but the plan seems to be infect as many people as possible. The only reason is that the Government wants to achieve herd immunity by vaccination and infection.
In response, Morocco, FFS, has banned flights from the UK as they are alarmed at the soaring infection rates.
A new varient has been detected: YAY!, which is 10% more infectious than the Delta.
In the past, although I have had very basic disagreements with certain Government policies, I always thought that somewhere, they had the country's best interest at heart. THis Government wants to kill as many of us as it deems neccessary to "save the economy".
The same economy their flagship "policy", Brexit, is destroying.
Its so fucked up I don't know where to start.
The BMA is alarmed, frontline NHS staff know that a new winter wave is coming, and they are exhausted and frightened. And undervalued.
Fuck, this is going to be a long dark winter.
The company which supplies gas to many small supply companies has now said it will not honour agreements after Novemeber and those suppliers need to find new bulk supplies. On the open market.
Thursday, 21 October 2021
Wednesday 20th October 2021
I slept like a log, straight through for nine hours, and felt so much better.
Jools was already up and about, so I joined here and she presented me with a cup of Java. Which was nice.
With about two months now to the winter equinox, the sun now rises over the other side of the Dip, lighting the clouds with warm, sometimes agnry light. Every dawn there's something new to see, so I stand there with a coffee and watch.
However, sunrise is now after seven, meaning I am at work, but I can see refelctions off the houses the other side of the street, letting me know there was a dawn worth getting up to look at.
I have two days mails to catch up on, not much to report as its "potato week" in Denmark, when schools would traditionally have a week off so the children could get the crop in. Children don't have to dig potatoes now, but the week off is popular, and my boss is off too, so I catch up on mails and ponder sharp relies in some cases.
Suddenly I was hungry, and all there was to eat were half a pack of crumpets, so I pop them under the grill, boil the kettle for a brew, and Bob's your aunt's live in lover. Or something. I made short work of three crumpets. And soon was wishing there were three more to feast on at lunch.
Being hungry is good, meaning I was feeling better.
After lunch of fruit, I find myself getting really sleepy. Maybe I needed a lay down? So I go for a lay down, am joined by Cleo is seems curious in everythng I do, she makes a nest behind my back and she is soon gently snoring. I don't sleep, but maybe doze until four, when I find I have a day's slobbing to tidy up after. But there would be no cooking that night, as we were going out!
Jools came back from work and we had a cofee, were tempted by a slice of fruit cake, but resisted, and then Jools said the full moon would be rising soon, and with dusk already having fallen, we drove down to the Monument, where we found that the moon was already showing well.
Sadly, due to rain earlier in the day, dust had been flushed out of the atmosphere, so the full moon wasn't very red, or that yellow, but looked magnificent just hanging there. I didn't take my DSLRs or tripod as I convinced myself it would be too cloudy to see the moon. I was wrong. Anyway, I took a shot with the compact using the bench as a tripod/flat surface, and it worked.
It was then time to go to the Old Lantern for another Japanese Banquet prepared by a sushi-master up from London, it was the same thing as we did on my birthday, although it was just Jools and I.
The pub was packed, and with the rising infection rate, it seemed too close to other diners, but we soon settled down to enjoy the atmosphere and listen to the chat of other diners.
There was an hour's wait before the first course of soupl came, miso soup, then the courses came quickly. The full menu:
- Cocktail on arrival: Yuzu Margherita, Negroni Sbagliato or Ginger, Pomegranate & Elderflower Spritz
- White miso soup
- Sumomono | cucumber, seaweed, snow crab
- Grilled king prawn | garlic butter, panko
- Nigiri | tuna, fatty tuna, salmon, sea bass, yellowtail
- Maki | salmon avocado, tuna
- Dessert
All wonderful.
We left at half nine for the short drive under the railway and up the hill to our street, heavy rain was falling, as forecast, and the moon hidden once again.
Back inside I decided I wanted some cheese, so snacked on Somerset Brie and crackers and a small glass of sloe port.
Yummy.
Jools was already up and about, so I joined here and she presented me with a cup of Java. Which was nice.
With about two months now to the winter equinox, the sun now rises over the other side of the Dip, lighting the clouds with warm, sometimes agnry light. Every dawn there's something new to see, so I stand there with a coffee and watch.
However, sunrise is now after seven, meaning I am at work, but I can see refelctions off the houses the other side of the street, letting me know there was a dawn worth getting up to look at.
I have two days mails to catch up on, not much to report as its "potato week" in Denmark, when schools would traditionally have a week off so the children could get the crop in. Children don't have to dig potatoes now, but the week off is popular, and my boss is off too, so I catch up on mails and ponder sharp relies in some cases.
Suddenly I was hungry, and all there was to eat were half a pack of crumpets, so I pop them under the grill, boil the kettle for a brew, and Bob's your aunt's live in lover. Or something. I made short work of three crumpets. And soon was wishing there were three more to feast on at lunch.
Being hungry is good, meaning I was feeling better.
After lunch of fruit, I find myself getting really sleepy. Maybe I needed a lay down? So I go for a lay down, am joined by Cleo is seems curious in everythng I do, she makes a nest behind my back and she is soon gently snoring. I don't sleep, but maybe doze until four, when I find I have a day's slobbing to tidy up after. But there would be no cooking that night, as we were going out!
Jools came back from work and we had a cofee, were tempted by a slice of fruit cake, but resisted, and then Jools said the full moon would be rising soon, and with dusk already having fallen, we drove down to the Monument, where we found that the moon was already showing well.
Sadly, due to rain earlier in the day, dust had been flushed out of the atmosphere, so the full moon wasn't very red, or that yellow, but looked magnificent just hanging there. I didn't take my DSLRs or tripod as I convinced myself it would be too cloudy to see the moon. I was wrong. Anyway, I took a shot with the compact using the bench as a tripod/flat surface, and it worked.
It was then time to go to the Old Lantern for another Japanese Banquet prepared by a sushi-master up from London, it was the same thing as we did on my birthday, although it was just Jools and I.The pub was packed, and with the rising infection rate, it seemed too close to other diners, but we soon settled down to enjoy the atmosphere and listen to the chat of other diners.
There was an hour's wait before the first course of soupl came, miso soup, then the courses came quickly. The full menu:
- Cocktail on arrival: Yuzu Margherita, Negroni Sbagliato or Ginger, Pomegranate & Elderflower Spritz- White miso soup
- Sumomono | cucumber, seaweed, snow crab
- Grilled king prawn | garlic butter, panko
- Nigiri | tuna, fatty tuna, salmon, sea bass, yellowtail
- Maki | salmon avocado, tuna
- Dessert
All wonderful.
We left at half nine for the short drive under the railway and up the hill to our street, heavy rain was falling, as forecast, and the moon hidden once again.
Back inside I decided I wanted some cheese, so snacked on Somerset Brie and crackers and a small glass of sloe port.
Yummy.
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