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
Sunday, 28 June 2009
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
Monday, 22 June 2009
Football Talk
Ok first, let me explain the lack of 'football talk' posted on the blog during the last month. At the end of each season ( long hard seasons! ), in fact at the end of the last game of the season, all any player wants to do is get away from the ground and turn off for at least a month. This may seem strange, it is a fantastic job and I am so thankful that I have been able to do it ( for so many years!!). But after the ups and downs of the season, the living, breathing and eating of the game, it is great just to drive away from wherever it may be and just relax. No training, no pre-match meals, no travelling and no sleepless nights or sore bodies!.
I apologise if I have neglected the beautiful game or harped on about my family too much but that is the way it is as a pro, you give it everything for ten months and then totally switch off.
In saying that I can speak for the entire squad who went to Wembley, by saying that I could have easily spent at least another week in the bar at the hotel after our Wembley win!!!!!!!.
In saying that ( again! ) I have spent nineteen of the last twenty summer holidays on the phone, to agents or managers, much to the despair of my wife. I have kept on training during most of these summers and I have, like most, been glued to the European Championships, World Cup or Champions league for most of them - after all it's hard to turn off altogether!!!.
Tomorrow I go under the knife to have my nose re-broken and straightened and to have some of the cartilage removed as I can't breathe very well - this resulting from the smash to the face I received in the Cup game against Coventry.
I am not overly looking forward to it, especially since I woke up in a hot sweat having dreamt that the surgeon replaced my nose with a pigs snout!!!. No bacon sandwiches for me in the morning.
CH
I apologise if I have neglected the beautiful game or harped on about my family too much but that is the way it is as a pro, you give it everything for ten months and then totally switch off.
In saying that I can speak for the entire squad who went to Wembley, by saying that I could have easily spent at least another week in the bar at the hotel after our Wembley win!!!!!!!.
In saying that ( again! ) I have spent nineteen of the last twenty summer holidays on the phone, to agents or managers, much to the despair of my wife. I have kept on training during most of these summers and I have, like most, been glued to the European Championships, World Cup or Champions league for most of them - after all it's hard to turn off altogether!!!.
Tomorrow I go under the knife to have my nose re-broken and straightened and to have some of the cartilage removed as I can't breathe very well - this resulting from the smash to the face I received in the Cup game against Coventry.
I am not overly looking forward to it, especially since I woke up in a hot sweat having dreamt that the surgeon replaced my nose with a pigs snout!!!. No bacon sandwiches for me in the morning.
CH
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Happy Fathers day
Happy Fathers day to Martin H, happy Fathers to Fiona's dad Iain ( plus Happy 65th B'day and happy retirement! )in fact Happy fathers day to all !!!. A top weekend is coming to end end, I just have to polish off a nice bottle of Chateaux-Neuf and a box of Green and Black choccies and we are there!.
Not much rest was had but that's the way we like it. A weekend at the beach , starting with Croyde yesterday and ending at 8 p.m - the children were still in the sea!!- on Fistral beach today. Not even a dog relieving itself on my shorts, flip-flops and ray-bans could dampen my spirits !.
They say the football world is small and 'they' are right. Someone shouted "Greavsie" yesterday on Croyde beach, it turned out to be Rob Ullathorne, an old mate of mine from Northampton. The last time I saw him was on the Mansfield pitch the night we lost on penalties in the play-offs!. He is now obsessed with surfing and fancies a move down to Devon !!!.
Then today I bumped in to an Oxford fan on Fistral beach, he said how delighted he was that we were promoted - Cambridge going up for an Oxford fan would, I'm sure, would have been too much to bear.
I know one thing, next seasons Blue Square Premier will be one of the hardest divisions to get out of - what with Luton, Oxford, Cambridge, Stevenage, Wrexham and Chester all chomping at the bit, plus the likes of Histon making unexpected challenges to the title - it will be an extremely tough ask.
Good job we won at Wembley then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
CH
Not much rest was had but that's the way we like it. A weekend at the beach , starting with Croyde yesterday and ending at 8 p.m - the children were still in the sea!!- on Fistral beach today. Not even a dog relieving itself on my shorts, flip-flops and ray-bans could dampen my spirits !.
They say the football world is small and 'they' are right. Someone shouted "Greavsie" yesterday on Croyde beach, it turned out to be Rob Ullathorne, an old mate of mine from Northampton. The last time I saw him was on the Mansfield pitch the night we lost on penalties in the play-offs!. He is now obsessed with surfing and fancies a move down to Devon !!!.
Then today I bumped in to an Oxford fan on Fistral beach, he said how delighted he was that we were promoted - Cambridge going up for an Oxford fan would, I'm sure, would have been too much to bear.
I know one thing, next seasons Blue Square Premier will be one of the hardest divisions to get out of - what with Luton, Oxford, Cambridge, Stevenage, Wrexham and Chester all chomping at the bit, plus the likes of Histon making unexpected challenges to the title - it will be an extremely tough ask.
Good job we won at Wembley then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
CH
Friday, 19 June 2009
Evaluation
I have just removed a blog saying how Harriet had beaten me today, because, as I sat down though and really thought about it, she hadn't. 'H' has been awesome, she has had me in fits of laughter most of the day, our banter is very similar! and I haven't even had to go for a run because it's been non-stop all day - most other children may wake early ( as Hatty did at 6, nudging me, saying "Come on Dad it's time" , but nearly all then have a little cat-nap mid afternoon. Not the beast, she is currently running a fourteen hour day of running, scooting, playing, laughing and obviously eating! - even then it's a mission to get her in to bed.
To evaluate my time with all three children I have a couple of conclusion, it's either a tough job made easy or an easy job made tough, but what I do know is, whether it's at work or at home, don't fight the system just play the game !.
To evaluate my time with all three children I have a couple of conclusion, it's either a tough job made easy or an easy job made tough, but what I do know is, whether it's at work or at home, don't fight the system just play the game !.
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