Grand Final and superb meal
Today was rugby league grand final day at Old Trafford. We go to this every year irrespective of who gets through to the final. This year I wanted Leeds to beat St Helens, but seriously doubted that they would. Consequently I couldn't get much enthusiasm up for the day.
This year we decided to treat ourselves to a good meal in town before we saw the match. We really have to thank tanuja's brother for one of the best meals we've had in Manchester for ages (if not ever). About two and a half years ago we met up with tanuja and tigerbeard in Birmingham for a weekend before the emigrated. T's brother recommended a place called San Carlo in Brum that he had used. We went and it was wonderful. It has taken us this long to get our act together and go to the one in Manchester (well we have been a couple of times on the off chance of a table but it's always been full). This time I booked and even at 2pm it was packed with people waiting. FANTASTIC. I would highly recommend it to anyone. (It's down the road at the side of Kendals, behind what used to be Daisy & Tom's).
After the meal we decided to head off for a tram as it usually takes a while to find a tram that can fit any passengers onto it heading towards Old Trafford. Even before 4pm (with KO at 6pm) the trams were full so Hubby said he'd pay for a taxi to get us to the ground instead. It was only a couple of quid more than the tram would have been and we got dropped a lot closer. Plus it started to rain just after we arrived and we'd have got piss wet through if we'd still been in a tram queue.
Leeds won and it was a superb match. My throat is hoarse from singing Rhinos chants. It is the first year we've been (after probably 10 years) when it has rained, so I was glad I'd booked seats a little further from the touchline than I did last year. We actually thought last year that we'd have got wet had the weather been different. This time we were far enough back for a little 'spray' to get blown at us now and then, but on the whole we were far enough under the canopy of the stand.
Oh - and 2 pictures of Eorl in the programme. Admittedly one of these was on a "sack the stylist" section (re: his hair do) but hey - he was still there to be oggled (if not playing!)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7652604.stm
NOTE FOR TANUJA & TIGERBEARD. The Russell Crowe pic was outside this one too, along with mainly soccer folk. Ray Winstone looked down on us as we ate (sadly in picture form only).
Plus I found a switch on my headphones that was turned to 'microphone off' which would probably account for you not being able to hear me the other night. We'll have to try again! (Technically challenged = me!)
This year we decided to treat ourselves to a good meal in town before we saw the match. We really have to thank tanuja's brother for one of the best meals we've had in Manchester for ages (if not ever). About two and a half years ago we met up with tanuja and tigerbeard in Birmingham for a weekend before the emigrated. T's brother recommended a place called San Carlo in Brum that he had used. We went and it was wonderful. It has taken us this long to get our act together and go to the one in Manchester (well we have been a couple of times on the off chance of a table but it's always been full). This time I booked and even at 2pm it was packed with people waiting. FANTASTIC. I would highly recommend it to anyone. (It's down the road at the side of Kendals, behind what used to be Daisy & Tom's).
After the meal we decided to head off for a tram as it usually takes a while to find a tram that can fit any passengers onto it heading towards Old Trafford. Even before 4pm (with KO at 6pm) the trams were full so Hubby said he'd pay for a taxi to get us to the ground instead. It was only a couple of quid more than the tram would have been and we got dropped a lot closer. Plus it started to rain just after we arrived and we'd have got piss wet through if we'd still been in a tram queue.
Leeds won and it was a superb match. My throat is hoarse from singing Rhinos chants. It is the first year we've been (after probably 10 years) when it has rained, so I was glad I'd booked seats a little further from the touchline than I did last year. We actually thought last year that we'd have got wet had the weather been different. This time we were far enough back for a little 'spray' to get blown at us now and then, but on the whole we were far enough under the canopy of the stand.
Oh - and 2 pictures of Eorl in the programme. Admittedly one of these was on a "sack the stylist" section (re: his hair do) but hey - he was still there to be oggled (if not playing!)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7652604.stm
NOTE FOR TANUJA & TIGERBEARD. The Russell Crowe pic was outside this one too, along with mainly soccer folk. Ray Winstone looked down on us as we ate (sadly in picture form only).
Plus I found a switch on my headphones that was turned to 'microphone off' which would probably account for you not being able to hear me the other night. We'll have to try again! (Technically challenged = me!)