There will be two postings tonight, this being the early one!. The second will be later on, around two hours later on actually. With Cam out on a sleepover and Hatty having just retired the remaining Hargreaves women have decided that we are all watching a 'Chick flick'. I hope the Dairy Milk and Haribos will get me through it, until later.................
CH
..............later !. Film done and I have to say that it wasn't bad at all. I was pretty high after 17 chunks of fruit and nut, the same of dairy milk and double of haribos, but the flick was good.
It's been a big sporting weekend, even before the men's Wimbledon final to come tomorrow. Good to see the Lions win their first test win in eight years, a brutal encounter that definitely restored a bit of pride. The Williams sisters domination of tennis continues, I think Serena will match Venus' Five Wimbledon wins before long and finally, the Tour De France kicked off today, unbelievably Lance Armstrong made his return after four years away.
Back on the home front and after a short BBQ break I have to say thanks to the Sills clan who cooked up a great meat fest today. A few of us got together to catch up after our summer breaks. Manse has been running and painting more walls, Toddy has been running and buying more watches, Sillsy has been recuperating and replaying his goal ( I am in that category ! ) and Kev has been running, 'press uping', 'coreing' and not eating.
See you all on Monday lads, just bring your trainers !!!!!.
CH
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Friday, 3 July 2009
Super Tent ?
So the camping trip ended a little bit abruptly, the rain was relentless on the third day and with the surf also out of action we decided to go off day tripping before heading home.
Back to camp life first and with us deciding ( wrongly ) to book a 'Super tent' for the week we were all pretty excited to get in it and see what it was all about - we left our own tent and 'stuff' at home thinking it would be too much hassle to erect, instead going for a pre - erected tent with all the trimmings ( supposedly ! ).
I wouldn't want to go over the top with my first impressions of the 'Super Tent', so lets just settle for 'pants' !. The contents ( battered and bruised ) and the furnishings ( made out of MC Hammers trousers )of the tent didn't really go with the 'fully equipped' tag but we ignored these small problems and, early on the first morning, shot to the beach.
The children surfed there little hearts out whilst the 'wife' and I built boats, trenches, holes, and castles in the sand for 'H'. We actually left the beach at 10 o'clock on two nights, having a BBQ late on, and then building the obligatory fire complete with toasted marshmallows ( and toasted mars bars! ).
It was real Spanish donkey stuff on each leg to and from the beach though, I actually cramped up on one journey due to the incline involved and the two surfboards, one bodyboard and three wet wetsuits strapped to me!
I can honestly say though that we all loved it, the times late on when our little family were the only ones on the whole beach felt brilliant. It was like we had our own two mile stretch of private beach!!
Back to the tent and we beat the noise, we beat the toilet and shower blocks, we even beat the sleep deprivation but we just could not beat the English weather - the 'Super Tent' dealt with the downpours but the campsite was rapidly becoming 'Glastonburyesque'.
All told a great break even though the tent was as much like a 'Super tent' as a 1989 Mini Metro is of being a 'Super Car' and I should know because I took my test in one!!.
On to the away day and, without rambling on too much, we visited St Michael's Mount ( impressive - still lived in, involved heavily in the battle with the Spanish Armada and serves a great ploughman's lunch ! ) and then Lands End ( not impressive - still the last point in England, involved heavily with a shopping village and closes at 5p.m ! )
Away from National trust life, surf and BBQs and the two big shocks today are Andy Murray losing at Wimbledon and Michael Owen signing for Man Utd.
I feel sorry for Andy Murray, he either didn't get firing on all cylinders today or, more likely, he faced an opponent in Andy Roddick who played out of his skin. Like any sportsman or woman, however bad the fans are feeling I am sure no one feels as bad as he does tonight.
Unlike Michael Owen who has hit the jackpot!!!!!!!!!.
CH
Back to camp life first and with us deciding ( wrongly ) to book a 'Super tent' for the week we were all pretty excited to get in it and see what it was all about - we left our own tent and 'stuff' at home thinking it would be too much hassle to erect, instead going for a pre - erected tent with all the trimmings ( supposedly ! ).
I wouldn't want to go over the top with my first impressions of the 'Super Tent', so lets just settle for 'pants' !. The contents ( battered and bruised ) and the furnishings ( made out of MC Hammers trousers )of the tent didn't really go with the 'fully equipped' tag but we ignored these small problems and, early on the first morning, shot to the beach.
The children surfed there little hearts out whilst the 'wife' and I built boats, trenches, holes, and castles in the sand for 'H'. We actually left the beach at 10 o'clock on two nights, having a BBQ late on, and then building the obligatory fire complete with toasted marshmallows ( and toasted mars bars! ).
It was real Spanish donkey stuff on each leg to and from the beach though, I actually cramped up on one journey due to the incline involved and the two surfboards, one bodyboard and three wet wetsuits strapped to me!
I can honestly say though that we all loved it, the times late on when our little family were the only ones on the whole beach felt brilliant. It was like we had our own two mile stretch of private beach!!
Back to the tent and we beat the noise, we beat the toilet and shower blocks, we even beat the sleep deprivation but we just could not beat the English weather - the 'Super Tent' dealt with the downpours but the campsite was rapidly becoming 'Glastonburyesque'.
All told a great break even though the tent was as much like a 'Super tent' as a 1989 Mini Metro is of being a 'Super Car' and I should know because I took my test in one!!.
On to the away day and, without rambling on too much, we visited St Michael's Mount ( impressive - still lived in, involved heavily in the battle with the Spanish Armada and serves a great ploughman's lunch ! ) and then Lands End ( not impressive - still the last point in England, involved heavily with a shopping village and closes at 5p.m ! )
Away from National trust life, surf and BBQs and the two big shocks today are Andy Murray losing at Wimbledon and Michael Owen signing for Man Utd.
I feel sorry for Andy Murray, he either didn't get firing on all cylinders today or, more likely, he faced an opponent in Andy Roddick who played out of his skin. Like any sportsman or woman, however bad the fans are feeling I am sure no one feels as bad as he does tonight.
Unlike Michael Owen who has hit the jackpot!!!!!!!!!.
CH
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Rained off !
Back a day early from the camping expedition due to torrential rain, BBQ overkill, shower block syndrome, and sleep deprivation. I will give you a full rundown of events tomorrow as well as some interesting, if a bit boring, facts!. For now though, in no particular order, it's a case of hot bath, fluffy pillows, TV control, several goblets of red and a minimum 48 hour red meat ban!.
CH
CH
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Saturday Off
It still feels strange to be able to relax and actually enjoy a Saturday off!. Of course I love playing on a Saturday afternoon but it is nice to know you can go out with the family or friends for the weekend without worrying what the score will be!. Yesterday the Hargreaves gang visited Drogo Castle, near Okehampton, the last castle to be built in this country. Without boring you to death with my love of stats, it was, incredibly, built as late as 1931 for the Drewe family.
Part of it still remains a residence for some family members but it's incredible to think that so soon after it was built, in the 30's, it became part of The National Trust in the 70's. Don't get me wrong, if it wasn't we couldn't get to look round it and enjoy it, but I just think it's a shame that it isn't still someones house to be enjoyed and used as it should be ( you know party's, hidden plasma's, secret rooms etc ) at least for a few hundred years anyway. After all isn't that what normally happens with a castle!.
After Drogo we drove to Bude so that the children could jump in the sea to cool off. This Devon life has definitely got to me, I want a camper van, I love surfing, I wouldn't mind a beach hut, and I've even started saying "Get on" !.
There is just over a week to go before we start start back now and although things have been quiet at the Football club recently I'm sure that will change very quickly, especially when the pre-season games begin. Unfortunately I will not be able to play in the first few, on account of my nose being broken again ( twice, but this time straightened and under anaesthetic! ).
Before I return to training though, there is still the small matter of the family camping trip to contend with next week. The last camping trip involved a hurricane, the edge of a cliff, a rabid badger, lot's of rain, no sleep, no shower's and a broken back. Bring it on!.
CH
Part of it still remains a residence for some family members but it's incredible to think that so soon after it was built, in the 30's, it became part of The National Trust in the 70's. Don't get me wrong, if it wasn't we couldn't get to look round it and enjoy it, but I just think it's a shame that it isn't still someones house to be enjoyed and used as it should be ( you know party's, hidden plasma's, secret rooms etc ) at least for a few hundred years anyway. After all isn't that what normally happens with a castle!.
After Drogo we drove to Bude so that the children could jump in the sea to cool off. This Devon life has definitely got to me, I want a camper van, I love surfing, I wouldn't mind a beach hut, and I've even started saying "Get on" !.
There is just over a week to go before we start start back now and although things have been quiet at the Football club recently I'm sure that will change very quickly, especially when the pre-season games begin. Unfortunately I will not be able to play in the first few, on account of my nose being broken again ( twice, but this time straightened and under anaesthetic! ).
Before I return to training though, there is still the small matter of the family camping trip to contend with next week. The last camping trip involved a hurricane, the edge of a cliff, a rabid badger, lot's of rain, no sleep, no shower's and a broken back. Bring it on!.
CH
Friday, 26 June 2009
The King of Pop
I bought his albums ( vinyl ), I danced to his music ( badly ) and like everybody else I was intrigued by his private life. Regardless of what anyone says about him though, you cannot argue about the brilliance of his music. It has always amazed me how his appearance changed over the years. Good looking and with the world at his feet but ending up broken, ill and unrecognisable from the person he once was.
Elvis Presley was 42 when he died and now Michael Jackson is dead at 50. Musical icons who did so much but whose lives ended, short lived and in tragedy.
I'm now going to dig out 'Thriller' and whack it on the B and O before bed.
The pictures I have been threatening to post have not made it again today, the effort has been there, but the combination of a malfunctioning computer ( and it's owner! ), a rubbish mobile phone and working conditions nearing sub-tropical proportions has put pay to any visual stuff tonight.
Good to see so many at Glastonbury, I couldn't make it this year but am aiming to 'go large' next year. In case your wondering if I love the camping, the rain, the toilets and the obligatory mud............. the answer is no ! the last time I was there, with my mate 'slip mat' Chapman, we cheated and stayed in a lovely hotel on the Saturday night, well all 4 hours of it !!!. It is not as bad as many think at the festival, yes there are lots of people offering you dodgy tickets on the way in, yes some of the toilets can be a bit grim, but the amount of bands you get to see in a weekend is incredible and, if nothing else, you can run naked through the healing fields for as long as you want!.
CH
Elvis Presley was 42 when he died and now Michael Jackson is dead at 50. Musical icons who did so much but whose lives ended, short lived and in tragedy.
I'm now going to dig out 'Thriller' and whack it on the B and O before bed.
The pictures I have been threatening to post have not made it again today, the effort has been there, but the combination of a malfunctioning computer ( and it's owner! ), a rubbish mobile phone and working conditions nearing sub-tropical proportions has put pay to any visual stuff tonight.
Good to see so many at Glastonbury, I couldn't make it this year but am aiming to 'go large' next year. In case your wondering if I love the camping, the rain, the toilets and the obligatory mud............. the answer is no ! the last time I was there, with my mate 'slip mat' Chapman, we cheated and stayed in a lovely hotel on the Saturday night, well all 4 hours of it !!!. It is not as bad as many think at the festival, yes there are lots of people offering you dodgy tickets on the way in, yes some of the toilets can be a bit grim, but the amount of bands you get to see in a weekend is incredible and, if nothing else, you can run naked through the healing fields for as long as you want!.
CH
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Incognito
The eyes are now black, the nose is constantly bleeding and I can't do anything, it is extremely frustrating. The children have been flying the flag though, a successful sports day was had. I know it is the taking part etc but someone has to win!.
Wimbledon is obviously in full swing, with all hopes firmly resting on the shoulders of Andy Murray. He has just won again, and comfortably, so good luck to him in round three.
I am officially in a bad mood, hard to explain why but you sometimes get days where everything seems to go belly up and you end up having achieved nothing - today is one of those very days!.
When darkness falls I may venture out with the family for a late night beach walk to blow the cobwebs away. After that I will attempt to post the pics of the road trip, holiday and................post op picture!!.
Wimbledon is obviously in full swing, with all hopes firmly resting on the shoulders of Andy Murray. He has just won again, and comfortably, so good luck to him in round three.
I am officially in a bad mood, hard to explain why but you sometimes get days where everything seems to go belly up and you end up having achieved nothing - today is one of those very days!.
When darkness falls I may venture out with the family for a late night beach walk to blow the cobwebs away. After that I will attempt to post the pics of the road trip, holiday and................post op picture!!.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Freddie is Back
Back from the operating theatre and looking like an extra from 'Nightmare on Elm Street', yes the 'nose job' is done. Full control of the TV control, lovely nurses on call, lot's of food and drink and uninterrupted sleep, when is the next op I ask myself!.
I must admit though it was a little nerve wracking being wheeled through to theatre -considering the 'Snout' dream/nightmare, but Mr Powells and his great staff put my mind at rest ( literally ).
It was soon done though and post-op I met a nurse ( not like that in case my wife reads this! ) and we got chatting about this and that, including travel. She told me that she had served in the Armed forces for two decades and had seen some great places and sights, none more amazing than a trip on the USS Midway, at the time the largest aircraft carrier in the U.S Navy.
Ok I can't resist.... launched soon after the Second World War at an immense cost of $202 million, it carried 4104 men and officers, it totalled nearly a thousand feet in length, at decommissioning it weighed 75,000 tonnes, it carried over 300 aircraft, it saw service in Vietnam......OK I could go on and on, but back to the story.
It had docked in Hong Kong harbour and, after seeing these military nurses, the old yanks invited the girls on board. Apparently the size of the ship was hard to comprehend, the anchor room alone was like a small house!. Then up to the kitchen, which never stopped serving food, the salad bar alone made Pizza Hut's look like the contents of a picnic basket.
Rumour has it that no drink was allowed on board, but, as in Prisons to keep the peace, that drugs were rife. There was even a section designated 'no whites', such was the intensity and amount of men on board. Amazing stories none the less. She carried on by saying that she couldn't imagine serving now, what with the random suicide and car bombs. At the time 'News at Ten' was on in the background and it was shadowing a troop of medics in Afghanistan. Treating troops injured in battle, by such things as said roadside bombs, these people, as many say, need medals as big as frying pans the work that they do- as of course do the troops. All this in 100 degree heat!!!.
I will try to lighten the mood now by saying that I will be attempting to keep a low profile, due to my scary appearance. It will be very hard though considering that it is School sports day tomorrow, the Doc's leaving party on Friday and next door's BBQ on Sunday. Balaclava needed!.
CH
I must admit though it was a little nerve wracking being wheeled through to theatre -considering the 'Snout' dream/nightmare, but Mr Powells and his great staff put my mind at rest ( literally ).
It was soon done though and post-op I met a nurse ( not like that in case my wife reads this! ) and we got chatting about this and that, including travel. She told me that she had served in the Armed forces for two decades and had seen some great places and sights, none more amazing than a trip on the USS Midway, at the time the largest aircraft carrier in the U.S Navy.
Ok I can't resist.... launched soon after the Second World War at an immense cost of $202 million, it carried 4104 men and officers, it totalled nearly a thousand feet in length, at decommissioning it weighed 75,000 tonnes, it carried over 300 aircraft, it saw service in Vietnam......OK I could go on and on, but back to the story.
It had docked in Hong Kong harbour and, after seeing these military nurses, the old yanks invited the girls on board. Apparently the size of the ship was hard to comprehend, the anchor room alone was like a small house!. Then up to the kitchen, which never stopped serving food, the salad bar alone made Pizza Hut's look like the contents of a picnic basket.
Rumour has it that no drink was allowed on board, but, as in Prisons to keep the peace, that drugs were rife. There was even a section designated 'no whites', such was the intensity and amount of men on board. Amazing stories none the less. She carried on by saying that she couldn't imagine serving now, what with the random suicide and car bombs. At the time 'News at Ten' was on in the background and it was shadowing a troop of medics in Afghanistan. Treating troops injured in battle, by such things as said roadside bombs, these people, as many say, need medals as big as frying pans the work that they do- as of course do the troops. All this in 100 degree heat!!!.
I will try to lighten the mood now by saying that I will be attempting to keep a low profile, due to my scary appearance. It will be very hard though considering that it is School sports day tomorrow, the Doc's leaving party on Friday and next door's BBQ on Sunday. Balaclava needed!.
CH
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