Road Trip

The Hargreaves clan have just rolled back in to Devon after a 1500 mile road trip - taking in Cleethorpes, Grimsby, North Cotes, Kidderminster, Northampton and Kettering along the way.
Looking back at the game yesterday it feels like an opportunity lost to gain three points. The game unfortunately was lost in the first fifteen minutes though, a bad goal conceded and an unfair goal conceded meant for a tough afternoon. Although Kev scored a great free-kick before half time and the fact that we were by far the better team in the second half the damage had been done. As a team we have to start getting clean sheets again, hopefully starting on Tuesday.
This week, for the family, has been full of reunions, good food and good company. Staying with old friends towards the end of the week has been great. Carl, a mate from my Northampton day's and his wife Ange have treat us like kings this week. They have recently moved to the village that we lived in near Northampton for four years, before our pilgrimage to Devon, so staying there brought back good memories and a few reunions.
When anyone comes to visit us down in Devon I always have the itinerary ready - beach, walk, park, forest, abseiling etc !. I have finally realised that after a five hour drive maybe visitors just want to relax !!!. So when Ange was nervously looking at me each morning ready for a random shout of "Are we ready then because the canoeing school shuts in three hours" it must have been a relief for her to see me sat down. I find it very difficult to sit still but I have to accept that a ten mile hike through a forest in the rain is not every ones cup of tea.
So instead of the usual gruelling outward bound mission we sat down and chilled out while Carl made his famous pasta dishes - famous for the length of time they take to reach the table, the record being a smidgen over five hours ! Harsh mate, great job again!. The hospitality is second to none and the fact that I am offered a job in parcels every time we meet (usually by Ange about 11 p.m and with the help of a little 'Wodka') reassures me that I will be able to get employment if I ever stop playing !!.
As well as the Andrew's hospitality there is also the 'Get out of jail card' service that Carl provides. This can be used during the early hours for car breakdown's ( me and a burning Renault Laguna ), it can be used for house moves ( Fiona wanted no breakages !!), and it can be used for extreme rescue situations. The most recent being for Ange who, after a few social sherries!, found herself stranded in the middle of town. She phoned Carl to come and get her, when he asked her where she was (this is brilliant) Ange held up her mobile phone and waved it about saying " I'm here " !!!!!!!!. Obviously at this stage Ange's phone did not have a tracking device in it, but guess what ?. Unbelievably, within no time at all, Carl 'Columbo' Andrews was on the scene. He had found Ange and was soon returning to base!.
Now that is service for you.

Thanks for this week you guy's, see you in Devon soon, hopefullly along with our other long lost friends! Rob & Kate, Helen & Ian and Nina & Tony.

Finally, I spoke to Broughy yesterday and he was delighted with the last two games at Salisbury. Two Win's and two clean sheets, after a 4-0 defeat and a conceded penalty ( by Broughy !!!), is a great boost for him and Toddy who is also on loan there.
He told me that Toddy is still on form. In a recent phone conversation Toddy was agreeing with a friend that a player he knew was a bit up and down form wise - 'Toddy' said " Yeah he really does blow hot and cold, in fact he's like a hot potato" !!!!!!!!!!!!.

You can't buy that banter, you really can't.