Strawberries and Tim
Am having strawberries for tea and listening to a copy of Tim's new album, kindly sent to me by Mike. Sounds pretty good so far. Have no idea if it's available for proper as yet - don't quite keep up to date with Tim stuff as I do Neil - but will certainly get it when I can, maybe at the gig next month. Tim can never compete with Neil voice-wise (or personality-wise) but he's a damn fine songwriter. I think he might actually be better than Neil there (sacrilege!). I don't think I can think of a better song than Charlie (loved it when Neil sang it at the Picket back in 2001). The voice makes all the difference though. Tim's, when in good shape, is pretty impressive, but no one can compare to Neil for me on that. It still amazes me how much I still love his voice after all these years. I heard Pineapple Head in Matalan last week and was marvelling at how I fall in love with him every time I hear him. Absolutely gorgeous.
Have a really poorly tummy at the moment so am feeling a bit sorry for myself. Had really bad period pains over the weekend (don't usually suffer much) and don't know if it's an extension of that or something else. Hope not, have too much going on in the next few days to be ill. Almost took a sickie today but remembered a few things I needed to do. Wasn't much use though so don't know why I bothered really. Can't stay off tomorrow but if it keeps up I might stay off Thursday so that I'm okay for the night out on Friday. We're not supposed to be off at the moment but if I'm ill, what can you do?
Galatasaray tomorrow so am looking forward to that, although I'm not that bothered about Europe this season really. It was really important to qualify but now we're there it won't bother me too much if we're rubbish and don't get too far. As long as it doesn't affect our league displays though.
Thoroughly enjoyed my queuing experience the other week, although I panicked a bit when I got to the ticket office and ended up getting Main Stand instead of Kop because of what was on offer there. Not too bothered for myself - although the atmosphere in there is fantastic it's not always the best place to watch a match if you're little like me - but felt a bit bad on the others. Karen said not to worry though, that they were grateful for me going down. Good job I did as it sold out that day. I could have toddled down at lunchtime to get similar tickets to the ones I did of course but then I couldn't have got parked again when i got back to work. And it was fun. Might not be such fun in the dead of winter though!
The last two league games were lovely, although Spurs were a bit handy in the first half and had me worried for a bit. Newcastle, for all their claims for handball, were a bit rubbish really (although an improvement on Boxing Day) and were never in danger of scoring besides that. I'm a great believer in things evening themselves out over the season anyway and they've had some good fortune back already with their wildly offside goal against the bluenoses on Sunday (who in turn had their own good fortune in the Watford game). It's silly to dwell on things that go against you. The alternative is to be bitter about every decision that doesn't go your way and then have to live in denial that you've ever had a dodgy decision in your favour. I'd rather be philosophical about it all, otherwise I'd end up with an ulcer (although maybe that's what I've got now, eek!)
Xabi's goal was fantastic, if only because it was so unexpected. I saw him look up and thought "what on earth is he doing?!" because it was so obviously not a miskick. I just thought he was sending it out of play and it was a wonderful moment seeing poor Harper flailing as he tried to get back. Yes, there was more than an element of good fortune involved with Harper slipping but he still had to hit the bloody target so it's churlish to deny him any credit for it. He deserved the good fortune for the sheer audacity of it if nothing else. And it was lovely to see a smile back on his face again.
Little Luis has played really, really well for two games now and it's rather worrying. Surely it can't last?! Or maybe he really is pulling his socks up with having to fight so hard for his place. He was instrumental in both games and unlucky not to nab a goal himself against the barcodes. Fingers crossed for tomorrow (though would prefer one against Bolton on Saturday).
I'm not sure we were really worth a 3-0 on Saturday, but like I said before, things even themselves out. I'd have been happy with a 1-0 from that but glad to see we got back the two goals we shouldn't have let in against Everton. Lovely to see (((Riise))) back though and what a return! That must be his best ever goal for us I think. That's three fantastic goals the Kop has seen so far this season, one in each game. Very fitting, with it being the centenary of the stand. Would be lovely if it were to carry on for the rest of the season. Actually, there were two great goals on Saturday. How could I forget about my beloved Dirk?! The Kuyt love knows no bounds at the moment, I'm totally smitten with the man. He may not be the best player out there but there's no one trying harder. It could all be contrived of course but I'm well impressed with his work rate and his interviews and his applauding all corners of the ground after each game. Particularly love that he's trying to set up a good partnership with Bellamy, consoling him when he misses, even forsaking celebrating Speedy's goal on Saturday to do so. Whether "Bellers" deserves such kindness remains to be seen but Dirk is going up and up in my estimations with each match. If I were ever to get a replica shirt it would have his name on the back. I'm certainly thinking of naming my next car after him anyway (although that's a while off yet so things may change before then).
The countdown for greatest ever Red men on .tv has reached the top ten. Lots of indignation on RAWK that it looks like Carra is in there because it's probably all kids voting. I imagine he'll be embarrassed himself that he's ended up higher than people like Emlyn Hughes. It seems like the rest of the ten will be spot on though, although the order they come in will be interesting. I imagine Dalglish will be number one by a country mile but it's hard to call about the next few. After the Cup Final I'd have had Steven at number two but on reflection I think Digger probably still shades him very, very slightly. Although if I'm honest I didn't really appreciate him at the time, I always preferred Beardsley. I will be very annoyed if Fowler is higher than either of them - pesky kids again - but I'll concede he probably deserves a slot in there.
Thought I might have to get up early this morning to try and get online for a Blackburn ticket because I was a bit dozy with my postal application but checked my history last night and already had a ticket, woohoo. Am a bit confused about where I'm sitting though as it says row 1 and I thought the Paddock was letters not numbers. Will try and have a look tomorrow. Won't be far from where I've been the last few though and that's been fab. Oh to have a season ticket (although I imagine if you're stuck next to some dickhead week-in-week-out it's not so fun. Gill is really lucky to be sat where she is, everyone around her is lovely).
On the way in to the Newcastle game, during our customary walk around the ground, I spotted a little wizzened old man with a really old scarf on and was pondering about the fantastic experiences he must have had over the years. I wonder if it's still as exciting for him as it was all those years ago? It made me think of my dad as he probably would have looked a bit like that now. I said to my mum that when I was sitting there at half time I was thinking about how proud he'd be that I was there. Although he gave up going when we were very young, he was a fervent Red until the day he died. I still think a little part of him gave up when Heysel happened. It broke my heart the next year when we did the Double and he wasn't there to see it. As Nick Hornby said though, there's never a good time to go if you're a football fan. I always think of John Peel missing out on Istanbul too.
Have a really poorly tummy at the moment so am feeling a bit sorry for myself. Had really bad period pains over the weekend (don't usually suffer much) and don't know if it's an extension of that or something else. Hope not, have too much going on in the next few days to be ill. Almost took a sickie today but remembered a few things I needed to do. Wasn't much use though so don't know why I bothered really. Can't stay off tomorrow but if it keeps up I might stay off Thursday so that I'm okay for the night out on Friday. We're not supposed to be off at the moment but if I'm ill, what can you do?
Galatasaray tomorrow so am looking forward to that, although I'm not that bothered about Europe this season really. It was really important to qualify but now we're there it won't bother me too much if we're rubbish and don't get too far. As long as it doesn't affect our league displays though.
Thoroughly enjoyed my queuing experience the other week, although I panicked a bit when I got to the ticket office and ended up getting Main Stand instead of Kop because of what was on offer there. Not too bothered for myself - although the atmosphere in there is fantastic it's not always the best place to watch a match if you're little like me - but felt a bit bad on the others. Karen said not to worry though, that they were grateful for me going down. Good job I did as it sold out that day. I could have toddled down at lunchtime to get similar tickets to the ones I did of course but then I couldn't have got parked again when i got back to work. And it was fun. Might not be such fun in the dead of winter though!
The last two league games were lovely, although Spurs were a bit handy in the first half and had me worried for a bit. Newcastle, for all their claims for handball, were a bit rubbish really (although an improvement on Boxing Day) and were never in danger of scoring besides that. I'm a great believer in things evening themselves out over the season anyway and they've had some good fortune back already with their wildly offside goal against the bluenoses on Sunday (who in turn had their own good fortune in the Watford game). It's silly to dwell on things that go against you. The alternative is to be bitter about every decision that doesn't go your way and then have to live in denial that you've ever had a dodgy decision in your favour. I'd rather be philosophical about it all, otherwise I'd end up with an ulcer (although maybe that's what I've got now, eek!)
Xabi's goal was fantastic, if only because it was so unexpected. I saw him look up and thought "what on earth is he doing?!" because it was so obviously not a miskick. I just thought he was sending it out of play and it was a wonderful moment seeing poor Harper flailing as he tried to get back. Yes, there was more than an element of good fortune involved with Harper slipping but he still had to hit the bloody target so it's churlish to deny him any credit for it. He deserved the good fortune for the sheer audacity of it if nothing else. And it was lovely to see a smile back on his face again.
Little Luis has played really, really well for two games now and it's rather worrying. Surely it can't last?! Or maybe he really is pulling his socks up with having to fight so hard for his place. He was instrumental in both games and unlucky not to nab a goal himself against the barcodes. Fingers crossed for tomorrow (though would prefer one against Bolton on Saturday).
I'm not sure we were really worth a 3-0 on Saturday, but like I said before, things even themselves out. I'd have been happy with a 1-0 from that but glad to see we got back the two goals we shouldn't have let in against Everton. Lovely to see (((Riise))) back though and what a return! That must be his best ever goal for us I think. That's three fantastic goals the Kop has seen so far this season, one in each game. Very fitting, with it being the centenary of the stand. Would be lovely if it were to carry on for the rest of the season. Actually, there were two great goals on Saturday. How could I forget about my beloved Dirk?! The Kuyt love knows no bounds at the moment, I'm totally smitten with the man. He may not be the best player out there but there's no one trying harder. It could all be contrived of course but I'm well impressed with his work rate and his interviews and his applauding all corners of the ground after each game. Particularly love that he's trying to set up a good partnership with Bellamy, consoling him when he misses, even forsaking celebrating Speedy's goal on Saturday to do so. Whether "Bellers" deserves such kindness remains to be seen but Dirk is going up and up in my estimations with each match. If I were ever to get a replica shirt it would have his name on the back. I'm certainly thinking of naming my next car after him anyway (although that's a while off yet so things may change before then).
The countdown for greatest ever Red men on .tv has reached the top ten. Lots of indignation on RAWK that it looks like Carra is in there because it's probably all kids voting. I imagine he'll be embarrassed himself that he's ended up higher than people like Emlyn Hughes. It seems like the rest of the ten will be spot on though, although the order they come in will be interesting. I imagine Dalglish will be number one by a country mile but it's hard to call about the next few. After the Cup Final I'd have had Steven at number two but on reflection I think Digger probably still shades him very, very slightly. Although if I'm honest I didn't really appreciate him at the time, I always preferred Beardsley. I will be very annoyed if Fowler is higher than either of them - pesky kids again - but I'll concede he probably deserves a slot in there.
Thought I might have to get up early this morning to try and get online for a Blackburn ticket because I was a bit dozy with my postal application but checked my history last night and already had a ticket, woohoo. Am a bit confused about where I'm sitting though as it says row 1 and I thought the Paddock was letters not numbers. Will try and have a look tomorrow. Won't be far from where I've been the last few though and that's been fab. Oh to have a season ticket (although I imagine if you're stuck next to some dickhead week-in-week-out it's not so fun. Gill is really lucky to be sat where she is, everyone around her is lovely).
On the way in to the Newcastle game, during our customary walk around the ground, I spotted a little wizzened old man with a really old scarf on and was pondering about the fantastic experiences he must have had over the years. I wonder if it's still as exciting for him as it was all those years ago? It made me think of my dad as he probably would have looked a bit like that now. I said to my mum that when I was sitting there at half time I was thinking about how proud he'd be that I was there. Although he gave up going when we were very young, he was a fervent Red until the day he died. I still think a little part of him gave up when Heysel happened. It broke my heart the next year when we did the Double and he wasn't there to see it. As Nick Hornby said though, there's never a good time to go if you're a football fan. I always think of John Peel missing out on Istanbul too.