I'm back !, it's 3.10 a.m, my left groin is burning ( nothing untoward ! ), my left leg is currently in ice as I can feel a constant stabbing pain, and my head is spinning, due to four back to back episodes of Prison Break ( return journey )three games of cards ( return journey ) and 90 mg of caffeine ( needed it tonight ), other than that though I feel great!.
Well done to all the lads tonight, those who played and those who didn't, it was an important result for all the right reasons. The train rolls on regardless.
Thank you to everyone who made the trip to support us, again a fantastic turnout, considering the trek and the day of the week !!.
Tomorrow I will be mostly thinking, that is after I have clocked off as entertainments manager to my three little monkey's.
CH
P.S Next blog; report on journey home and 'the new lad's'.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Monday, 17 August 2009
Cut off
For fear of this blog becoming a site for a ranting old man I will ignore the fact that I am in one hell of a wound up mood today and just continue through gritted teeth.
In fact no I won't!, I think sometimes in life you reach a cut off point, mine is now. I will though be back on 'blog' late on Tuesday after the game or on Wednesday morning, both determined by the result and the hour !.
P.S Well done Jessica Ennis, top stuff.
Late Blog: I'm annoyed with myself big time, forget all of the above, I have just seen on the news that two more young lad's have been killed in Afghanistan. That is a wake up call to end all other's. Life is hard sometimes, but it is life, and I reckon that should definitely be enjoyed.
CH
In fact no I won't!, I think sometimes in life you reach a cut off point, mine is now. I will though be back on 'blog' late on Tuesday after the game or on Wednesday morning, both determined by the result and the hour !.
P.S Well done Jessica Ennis, top stuff.
Late Blog: I'm annoyed with myself big time, forget all of the above, I have just seen on the news that two more young lad's have been killed in Afghanistan. That is a wake up call to end all other's. Life is hard sometimes, but it is life, and I reckon that should definitely be enjoyed.
CH
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Simmer
No blog Friday and no blog last night. We arrived quite late at the hotel on Friday, and with the Internet charges running into the 20's I decided to opt out. Last night we returned home around 11 p.m but I was in a very bad mood, so anything written would definitely have been in haste!!.
Having had time to reflect, the mood hasn't lifted, but the thought process has had time to simmer. After having had such a good start in our first game yesterday's showing was well below par, in fact I can't remember seeing five goals go in against us for a long, long time. As always I look at myself first, and I am far from happy, a few choice words were said after the game followed by a few more this morning.
While most people were in bed relaxing we were all at the training ground, what was left of the weekend ruined by 90 bad minutes!.
We all now have to react well, as we have done over the last two seasons, and look to beat Burton. Some things have happened at the club, close season, that have been far from perfect and yesterday's performance seemed to reflect that to me. There are no excuses on the pitch but we all have to make sure that the club is going in the same direction and that everybody is singing from the same page. If not it will be a long, hard season.
A big thanks to everybody who made the journey to London to support us.
Today, as is usually the case after defeats the tension at home was at a high level!. The added combination of job hunting, the recession, wage cuts, rental properties, as well as the obvious loss, doesn't mix well. A walk on the beach, a strong coffee and four big hugs has soon sorted that !!!!.
CH
Having had time to reflect, the mood hasn't lifted, but the thought process has had time to simmer. After having had such a good start in our first game yesterday's showing was well below par, in fact I can't remember seeing five goals go in against us for a long, long time. As always I look at myself first, and I am far from happy, a few choice words were said after the game followed by a few more this morning.
While most people were in bed relaxing we were all at the training ground, what was left of the weekend ruined by 90 bad minutes!.
We all now have to react well, as we have done over the last two seasons, and look to beat Burton. Some things have happened at the club, close season, that have been far from perfect and yesterday's performance seemed to reflect that to me. There are no excuses on the pitch but we all have to make sure that the club is going in the same direction and that everybody is singing from the same page. If not it will be a long, hard season.
A big thanks to everybody who made the journey to London to support us.
Today, as is usually the case after defeats the tension at home was at a high level!. The added combination of job hunting, the recession, wage cuts, rental properties, as well as the obvious loss, doesn't mix well. A walk on the beach, a strong coffee and four big hugs has soon sorted that !!!!.
CH
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Meaty
It was smiles all round this morning as we 'modelled' the latest kit for the annual team photo. Before I forget I must mention the game the other night. A 2 1 loss to Crystal Palace may seem like a case of 'unlucky eh' but the general feeling was that we deserved more. Anyway it doesn't matter now, it's back to the capital this weekend to face another team, this time in the league and this time at a slightly different ground !.
Back to the photo shoot and a few of the lads were sporting new hair cuts ( Kev ) and some, new suntans ( Bev's ), otherwise it was business as usual.....mess about, abuse all the cameramen and complain about the seating arrangements!.
Once training had finished I dragged Scott Beaven and Mark Ellis to the opening of a butcher's in Babbacoombe called 'Save On Meats' ( we are open to offers, haberdasheries, grocer's, hardware shops, we do the lot! ). Run by Bob and Sue it's an old school style butcher's that I think will do well ( I can't do any more plugging than that! ). Once Bev's had been abused ( just harmless banter ) and Mark and stared at everyone ( the words are nearly there! ) we trotted off home with our goodie bags of 'sausers and steaks'. Sorry Kev there were only three bags !.
I must apologise to our friends Carl and Ange who have been staying with us. I have hardly had time to see you guys. I know you will have been 'really disappointed' (both of you ) about that as I haven't been able to drag you halfway around Devon and Cornwall, but at least the liquid refreshments ( Fiona and Ange ) have eased the pain !.
Finally, I have two small 'topics' of conversation tonight, British Rail and Car Stickers ( No connection ! ). I travelled to London on Wednesday by rail, I paid a fortune for my ticket of which the price increased the later I booked it. The bizarre thing about it was that, once I was on board, a nice man upgraded me to First class, which would have cost three times as much. I'm not complaining but I did feel like I had abandoned my fellow 'squashed in' passengers, that is of course until I reclined the chair and received my complimentary coffee !!. But my point is that First class was totally empty, so why on earth don't British Rail do the decent thing and let more passengers in there ( elderly passengers, mums, etc, etc ) instead of ramming everyone in 'cattle class'. Or at least reduce the price !!. That said, I was pleased that on the way home I was back with my fellow hardy comrades, as an elderly couple got a fit of giggles so bad that it made everyone else laugh as well. They still know how to party!.
Oh yes, and car sticker's ! You know what I mean, ones like 'My other car's a Porsche' and 'Don't mess' etc etc. Well today I was behind a car that receives my award for 'Chaviest car sticker of the year award 2009'. It read....... 'DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT', inspirational stuff eh !!!!!!!.
CH
Back to the photo shoot and a few of the lads were sporting new hair cuts ( Kev ) and some, new suntans ( Bev's ), otherwise it was business as usual.....mess about, abuse all the cameramen and complain about the seating arrangements!.
Once training had finished I dragged Scott Beaven and Mark Ellis to the opening of a butcher's in Babbacoombe called 'Save On Meats' ( we are open to offers, haberdasheries, grocer's, hardware shops, we do the lot! ). Run by Bob and Sue it's an old school style butcher's that I think will do well ( I can't do any more plugging than that! ). Once Bev's had been abused ( just harmless banter ) and Mark and stared at everyone ( the words are nearly there! ) we trotted off home with our goodie bags of 'sausers and steaks'. Sorry Kev there were only three bags !.
I must apologise to our friends Carl and Ange who have been staying with us. I have hardly had time to see you guys. I know you will have been 'really disappointed' (both of you ) about that as I haven't been able to drag you halfway around Devon and Cornwall, but at least the liquid refreshments ( Fiona and Ange ) have eased the pain !.
Finally, I have two small 'topics' of conversation tonight, British Rail and Car Stickers ( No connection ! ). I travelled to London on Wednesday by rail, I paid a fortune for my ticket of which the price increased the later I booked it. The bizarre thing about it was that, once I was on board, a nice man upgraded me to First class, which would have cost three times as much. I'm not complaining but I did feel like I had abandoned my fellow 'squashed in' passengers, that is of course until I reclined the chair and received my complimentary coffee !!. But my point is that First class was totally empty, so why on earth don't British Rail do the decent thing and let more passengers in there ( elderly passengers, mums, etc, etc ) instead of ramming everyone in 'cattle class'. Or at least reduce the price !!. That said, I was pleased that on the way home I was back with my fellow hardy comrades, as an elderly couple got a fit of giggles so bad that it made everyone else laugh as well. They still know how to party!.
Oh yes, and car sticker's ! You know what I mean, ones like 'My other car's a Porsche' and 'Don't mess' etc etc. Well today I was behind a car that receives my award for 'Chaviest car sticker of the year award 2009'. It read....... 'DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT', inspirational stuff eh !!!!!!!.
CH
Butcher of Devon
A big slap on the wrists for yours truly, no blog on Tuesday or Wednesday means that I am actually giving myself a final warning!. In all fairness though we only arrived back in Devon at 3.a.m, following, the Palace game and last night another very late return ( this time to see a man about a dog )put pay to any literary delights.
I'm shooting out the door now, this morning we have the photo call and traning, and then this afternoon I am opening a butcher's !!!!!! tough at the top eh !.
I will share some snippets with you of the last few days activities but for now it's "Smile please" !.
CH
I'm shooting out the door now, this morning we have the photo call and traning, and then this afternoon I am opening a butcher's !!!!!! tough at the top eh !.
I will share some snippets with you of the last few days activities but for now it's "Smile please" !.
CH
Monday, 10 August 2009
Wembley.....again !
Apologies about the lack of posting yesterday, a very late return to Devon, for a very tired father and son, meant that it was just a case of 'lock up and bed down' last night.
I took my son Cameron to Wembley yesterday to see the 'Community Shield'( although we all still call it 'Charity Shield' ). I have to say that, for both of us, it was nice to be approaching Wembley stress free for a change !. On to the game and, in the 'Cliche' world of football, it certainly was a 'story' of two halves. Man Utd dominated the first, Chelsea the second. The biggest surprises of the day though were that of Man Utd getting a late equaliser, and of Didier Drogba getting abused each time he 'went down' after every aerial challenge ( that he lost ). You may be saying "What are you talking about he always gets abused" , and to that I say, yes he does, but this time it was from the Chelsea fans !!!!!.
Cam was obviously delighted that Chelsea won, after seeing them lose last years semi final in the last minute, and the final the year before that on penalties, he was really fearing the worst !. To celebrate the win ( and to kill time before the 9 p.m train ! ) we took the tube into Covent Garden for a bite to eat and to take in a few shows ( street entertainer's! ). The food was good and the acts even better, a half naked Aussie juggler, laid on a bed of nails and suspended fifteen feet in the air definitely deserved a clap!.
After being squashed into numerous red hot tube train's, walking ten's of miles, and spending a small fortune I was relieved to be home. Added to the fact that I had a bit of whiplash after Saturdays game ( spiking incident ), and that the Black cab driver at the station decided the best speed to go on the way back was 17 mph, and that the best route to go was past his mate's Dave's house, I was almost whimpering up into bed.
All in all a good day but, am I being greedy, if I do return there I would prefer to return as a player !!.
CH
I took my son Cameron to Wembley yesterday to see the 'Community Shield'( although we all still call it 'Charity Shield' ). I have to say that, for both of us, it was nice to be approaching Wembley stress free for a change !. On to the game and, in the 'Cliche' world of football, it certainly was a 'story' of two halves. Man Utd dominated the first, Chelsea the second. The biggest surprises of the day though were that of Man Utd getting a late equaliser, and of Didier Drogba getting abused each time he 'went down' after every aerial challenge ( that he lost ). You may be saying "What are you talking about he always gets abused" , and to that I say, yes he does, but this time it was from the Chelsea fans !!!!!.
Cam was obviously delighted that Chelsea won, after seeing them lose last years semi final in the last minute, and the final the year before that on penalties, he was really fearing the worst !. To celebrate the win ( and to kill time before the 9 p.m train ! ) we took the tube into Covent Garden for a bite to eat and to take in a few shows ( street entertainer's! ). The food was good and the acts even better, a half naked Aussie juggler, laid on a bed of nails and suspended fifteen feet in the air definitely deserved a clap!.
After being squashed into numerous red hot tube train's, walking ten's of miles, and spending a small fortune I was relieved to be home. Added to the fact that I had a bit of whiplash after Saturdays game ( spiking incident ), and that the Black cab driver at the station decided the best speed to go on the way back was 17 mph, and that the best route to go was past his mate's Dave's house, I was almost whimpering up into bed.
All in all a good day but, am I being greedy, if I do return there I would prefer to return as a player !!.
CH
Saturday, 8 August 2009
League Football
It was a proud moment to be leading the team out today, back in the football league and even better, at home. I thought the lad's were excellent this afternoon, some great individual performances and a real desire to win. You might know that, after weeks of rain, the weather for the first game of the campaign was 'oven like', no air and a severe lack of lung activity meant for a pretty torrid first twenty minutes ( for me anyway! ). The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic though, it is something we are going to need this season more than ever.
And so here we are again, sat at home in my boxer's, with an extreme 'dab' on, my body in turmoil, and with the prospect of another fifty or so games. It's great to be back!!.
Tomorrow the girls hit the beach for some ray's and waves, while the boy and I head off for somewhere quite familiar ( for Torquay fans anyway ), yes we are off to Wembley to watch Chelsea v Man Utd. I hope for Cam's sake, and for the sake of my wallet, that we at least return to Devon with a Chelsea win!.
Must go as there is a large glass of medicinal red wine calling me over.
Thanks again for your support.
CH
And so here we are again, sat at home in my boxer's, with an extreme 'dab' on, my body in turmoil, and with the prospect of another fifty or so games. It's great to be back!!.
Tomorrow the girls hit the beach for some ray's and waves, while the boy and I head off for somewhere quite familiar ( for Torquay fans anyway ), yes we are off to Wembley to watch Chelsea v Man Utd. I hope for Cam's sake, and for the sake of my wallet, that we at least return to Devon with a Chelsea win!.
Must go as there is a large glass of medicinal red wine calling me over.
Thanks again for your support.
CH
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