... it's been a tough 'un this week - not so much the 0700 starts but the actual walk itself (certainly NOT one the the easiest ones I've done !). Still one more day - at least I hope so (not been told what I'm doing next week - but I'm in the same office - and the regular on this "walk from hell" has another week's leave ... so we wait - we see - we pray !). Let's get tomorrow out of the way - to be followed by a "real six pointer" for Mossley (18th - 31 played - 27 points) at home to Harrogate RA (20th - 31 played - 26 points).
Out for tea at daughters tonight - she's even brought in a cook to "do the honours" - as in eldest son !! Looking forward to some mainly veggie delights (although I believe he IS doing some chicken legs for the carnivores as well !!).
Ooooh - and look what EBay brought today (well actually I got home from work to find a P739 card, so it was straight back out (still in uniform) down to the Post Office to pick it up - aaah the irony !!) - 'twas an "impulse buy" to say the least ...
I always liked Wards Bitter from my heady days at Sheffield Poly back in the late 70's !
In fact it might come in useful ... as I've got a week's holiday starting on the 5th March - which means I've GOT A SATURDAY OFF (10th) !!! I've not been "daaarnn that way" all season ... and the Nailers are at home to Kidsgrove Athletic on that very day. Sounds like a plan ... .
... as predicted - 'twas a bugger today (what didn't help was the 0645 train being cancelled and me having to wait another 30 minutes - making me late for work ... I knew I was doomed even at that early hour !!!). So a heavy day which was made worse by the incessant rain from start to finish - as per usual the house is now littered with stuff drying out (if it ain't camera stuff ... it's work stuff !). Looking on the bright side (ha !) - tomorrow's weather is supposed to be untypically tropical - hurrah ! However the chicken & chorizo (and bacon and mushrooms and red peppers and sugar snap peas and sweetcorn with passata, garlic bouillon and paprika sauce) was probably better than it would have been last night, having had an extra 24 hours to mix/marinade/flavour/imbue/call it what you will ...
I've also got around to downloading a couple of pix taken on cameraphone yesterday whilst "on the road" - one that made me think "It's all worthwhile" ... and the other that made me think "Tell me about it !!" - should be fairly obvious which is which !!!
Now THAT'S what I call a delivery - outside Greenfield Brewery ...
A stone on the steps up to St Mark's Church, Greenfield ...
One football "diary date" now confirmed - Monday 26th March at Hyde FC KO 1945hrs - Droylsden v Mossley (Manchester Premier Cup Final).
... now wondering whether to wear my shorts tomorrow ... that didn't take long ... NO CHANCE !! .
... OK so I'd done the walk yesterday (so I knew where I was going at least) - but for a so-called "light Tuesday" it was still a right bugger - God only knows what it will be like when it gets heavy - as in the rest of the week. Once again I spent the day slowly collecting undeliverable packets until I ended up with the final bag full of mail and as much again.
obviously NOT the "real thing" - but you get the point !!!
It's probably the one thing that gets my goat - the RM "Management" are forever wobbling on about the need to change the business due to the change in mail - and you may have noticed in the past I'm forever wobbling on about the need for change being a "two-way thing" - RM do their bit (for better for worse !) and why don't the customers do their bit as well (decent sized letter boxes, adequate safe parcel storage - and if you're expecting a Special Delivery/Sign-For packet/letter - make an effort to actually receive it !!!). Hey ho - rant over for another day ...
Apparently it's Pancake Day - so my chicken and chorizo stew is doing just that --- stewing --- while everyone makes pancakes --- grr !! .
The immortal 0615 phone call came through - man gone sick, can you get in for 0700, do three hours prepping, then a walk you've never done before - not forgetting that half-walk you're doing on overtime ... cutting it short I finally dropped my final letter at about 1705hrs ... yep about 7 (seven) hours walking; a lot of it in that fine miserable drizzle ... what people have to do to earn a crust !!! Must admit I'm astonished at the number of "man sick" stories - it's all these young 'uns (right bunch of wimps - or lead swingers - you choose ...) especially as I can stand/sit on my high horse as since June 2010, my attendance record has been 100% - counts for nowt probably but makes me feel good !
Home - dry off - change - eat cheese & ham butty before shooting off to Curzon Ashton for the game against Clitheroe - and the away team caught everybody cold with a first minute goal - yeah, me still plumbing the gear in - still, Curzon showed why they're up there at the top by coming out 2-1 winners, which puts them two points clear of AFC Fylde at the top of Evo One North - with a game in hand as well.
Too late to go through the full set of pix (I'm on a similar daft o'clock start tomorrow - but only one walk - and now I've done it once ... etc etc ...), so you'll have to wait until Tuesday evening for the full set ... HOWEVER, being the nice person I am - here's Chris McDonagh scoring the winner tonight ...
2-1 Curzon !!!
That nice relaxing Sunday - straight out of the window in less than 24 hours ... .
Waiting for the train @ Greenfield Station (after the shopping/drinking) ...
... a little shopping (i.e. tonight's tea - baked salmon side with "stuff") ... ... a little drinking ... ... a little FA Cup watching (not too much mind - I've a non-league reputation to keep !) ... ... a little cooking (see above) ...
Some of tonight's "tea toons" (fancy lights are on the ceiling) - have to pick and choose with this album mind ...
... a little TV (with built-in 'snooze') ... ... a little blogging ...
... to be followed by big sleep (very soon !) ...
A couple of hours (and a half) overtime waiting for me @ work tomorrow (must remember to shout at people as well !!), to be followed by Curzon Ashton v Clitheroe in the evening ... .
(we've run out of beer and chocolate at home - so I need to repair to the local convenience store - and maybe drop in to a local hostelry on the way back !!).
Al Bee Bak
It's 0020 - and I am back - listening to the classic Budgie album "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend" (note to Metallica fans - if you've ever heard them playing a track called "Breadfan" - it was originally a Budgie track) - and that trip to the hostelry involved watching the Klitschko/Chisora fight ... well he tried !
Anyway today ... knowing that was some overtime involved, I went into work 45 mins early and did the o/t first. Reckon I did get stung a touch (even with it being a Saturday) but hey ho on that (did it within the allotted time so ..) ... then did my full walk - and the "clowns" who'd thrown it in had decided it was rather funny to throw a load of random "door to doors" into the frame - now I've been a good boy all week and dutifully delivered the damn stuff (in fact doing over the top to ensure bugger all to do today) - so to find this cr*p today was a right bugger. Maybe they think it's funny - I don't - and next week I'm on the same walk - so ... "words will be had" on Monday morning (based around phrases like "selfish ****s", "define the word team", "lazy b*st*rds", and so on) - put it this way - I'm not well pleased - and I don't get peed off easily. Certainly fitted in with the earlier "overtime split" ...
Anyway - after a late "run" (at the end) I managed to make the 1351hrs train from Greenfield - got home - got changed /dried off (it was a grotty day weather-wise as well) and went for the 1430hrs bus to Stalybridge ... which by 1450 HAD NOT TURNED UP !! Bottled out - ordered a taxi (so that's today's overtime money straight out of the flipping window), arriving at the ground at about 1505hrs - not missed too much thought I - only to find Workington had arrived late and the KO had been moved back to 1530hrs - so once again me well dischuffed (I could have caught the 1455 train to Stalybridge and walked up - 15 mins).
Bonus pic - that time-wasting Wukkie keeper gets his just desserts ... The game - don't care what peeps say - Bridge were shocking first half - Workington not much better, but they had the eye for goal - and 3-0 at half-time was no more than they deserved. There must have been a real "hair dryer" job in the Celtic dressing room at half time, - because the home team totally dominated - but could only find one goal ... the damage had been done..
Home - fiddle with pix - sneak out for chocolate - watch fight - come home - and this (the Budgie album has finished - now listening to some rare stuff - Steve Hillage live at the Deeply Vale Festival 1978 - Steve Hillage - one of my two "absolute" music heroes - Todd Rundgren being t'other).
... and how else do you prove your allegiance to Steve Hillage - the glorious "OM" tattoo on my right arm ... And - at 0100hrs ... that's y'lot ..
(Obscenities removed/amended 1100 Sunday - I've calmed down a bit now !!!) . .
... since any photography of note (it's been even longer for football I'm afraid) ... so in a bid to fill in some gaps I offer you a copy of the official 2012 Smiffy Home Calendar - a few snaps taken in 2011 that are now hanging on the wall thanks to Photobox - my online photo processing company of choice (awaits e-mail with further discounts due to online "plugging" !!!). Note the lack of football - possibly down to the input of Mrs S (sorry probably !!) ...
Fingers crossed for some football on Saturday (Stalybridge Celtic v Workington looks like the one) - weather 'should' be fine - it's just the "RM Brains" ... who are trying to get me to do daft overtime on Saturday afternoon ... might do a bit ... but not a lot !! .
... so bugger squared !!! Apparently a 4-1 "romp" according to Mossleyweb - such is life I suppose. So Mossley get to the final to play Droylsden (25th April apparently - venue as yet unknown).
My version of Tuesday included a very early work finish (!) - so early in fact that me and Mrs S went to the 1615 showing rather than the 1830 one - Cineworld Ashton to see "The Woman in Black" ... and it is thoroughly recommended !! A proper "scary movie" - not over the top but nicely understated - which makes it all the more scary !! Harry Potter (OK Daniel Radcliffe) does a very good job - and some of the camera work is really good (a candle reflecting on the the eyes of the monkey toy while the camera panned round looked excellent !). It's just a shame that - these days - a trip to the cinema gets spoiled by morons - yes people actually PAY MONEY to go to the cinema and then behave like complete prats - talking - leaving phone on - wandering in and out - and the crackling of popcorn packets by the obviously clinically obese makes it even worse - can you not a) sit still for a couple of hours; b) put your 'anti-diet' on hold for a couple of hours you fat b*st*rds; c) turn your effing phone off for a couple of hours,because your mates are morons too. Obviously not for some ... this sort of moronic behaviour is not new - I can remember going to the Comedy Store in Manchester several years ago and there were a group of people in front of us talking through the show - it nearly came to violence I have to say ... they did shut up eventually; I'm not a violent person, but when I've paid good money to watch a show ...
Anyway - after pix we drove home and went on a mini-pub crawl followed by a take-away - now that's what I call St Valentines Day !! Home to discover the Mossley victory ... hey ho ! I recall a good few years ago when Mossley got to the final of the Manchester Premier Cup against Droylsden - it was played at Maine Road (i.e. the "proper" Maine Road - viz City) - and it was on April 23rd ... which just so happens to be our wedding anniversary - that time I DID get a "pass out" from the wife - but I've NEVER chanced it since then, so April 25th for this years final made me go "phew !". .
As the weather got warmer and warmer today (relatively speaking of course !) ... and first the woolly hat came off ... and then the gloves came off ... I was thinking what with my St Valentines Day promises to Mrs S for tomorrow (food and pictures), despite there being a Salford City v Mossley game (which I truly believed - still do - will be off) - there might JUST be a chance with Curzon Ashton v Bamber Bridge tonight - rung 'em up as I was finishing walking today - to be told "It's already been called off" - this was the game I went to a couple of weeks ago when the floodlights 'went out' as I was walking towards the ground. Got home - went on Evo-Stik website - yep it's off ... frozen pitch. In a fit of desperation I checked out the North West Counties League website - nowt tonight ...
... and so it goes on ... watch the Salford/Mossley game be on tomorrow ... .
... still grotty weather - and the rest might do my leg a bit of good ! Even so we went for a wander round Oldham Gallery - must admit, I've not been there before (it was built in 2002 as well, so ...). Anyway it passed an hour on a cold Sunday, and there were some fairly interesting bits of stuff as well ...
A VERY early "PhotoStitch" - a panorama of Oldham Centre taken in 1876 by local snapper Squire Knott - nine photo plates joined together (although this version has been "tidied up" using modern technology). There was also a "now and then" exhibition of photos of Oldham Road ('twixt Oldham and Manchester) by Charlie Meecham - again interesting to the the changes - mostly demolition of "old stuff" !! Another gallery contained artwork from children's book illustrators - most of them were 'too new' for me and Mrs S to know about - our kids were young many years ago - but there were some "Alfie" pictures by Shirley Hughes, who we DID remember from the 80s/90s ...
... finally this is part of the "Chameleons and Shape Shifters" exhibition by Michael Shaw - a piece of 'live edge acrylic' - unlit - which has been 'vacuum blown' into a 3D shape - very unusual ...
... and then we went to Sainsburys - and it's chicken for tea !!!
OK I did bob up to Mossley Football Club to "chew the football fat" as they say - a few miserable (in the nicest possible way) peeps chuntering about "real" football (with one eye on Final Score on the telly !!) and looking out of the Social Club window to see this - and wonder about when the next game might be (April ??) ... still it was a couple of pints - and money into the club when they need it most ...
Final Score gave us some info ... Stockport County played (!) and drew 2-2 with Newport County ... and Stafford Rangers lost 2-0 at Chester (grrr !). Loved all the stories about the Evra/Suarez spat - words like "...will overshadow all the football today ..." Ha bloody Ha - the "overshadowing" is down to media hype which is due to the total lack of quality on the pitch - to be frank I wonder how many people REALLY give a t*ss - maybe the Jeremy Kyle Fan Club ...
Going out in about five minutes - so I'll leave you with this little "picture conundrum" - well I think it's far more worthy than "EvraSuarezGate" - or whatever the tabloids will come up with tomorrow ...
Ashton United v Marine - no call yet but ... what do YOU think when you look below !! Bishop's Stortford v Hyde FC - OFF Curzon Ashton v Ossett Town - OFF Droylsden v Harrogate Town - OFF Mossley v Lancaster City - OFF Stalybridge Celtic v Nuneaton Town - OFF
Well - should have been at the pictures 7 minutes ago to go and check out "The Woman in Black" (can Daniel Radcliffe hack it in a non-Harry Potter casting ??) - but thanks again to some (more !) startling management ineptitude I didn't get home until 1800hrs. It's certainly been an 'interesting' week ...
Monday - Go into Greenfield to do Walk A (knowing full well that Walk A man is coming in anyway - he finishes on Thursday - as in leaving). Get sent to Oldham to do a walk in the Limeside area - heavy (all social housing, and Housing Association has sent a mail-out i.e. to every bloody house !).
Tuesday - Sent to Greenfield to do Walk B (guys day off) - fall over (!!) - get phone call - can you now do Walk B for the rest of the week (God only knows what Walk B guy has been told) ?
Wednesday - Do Walk B Thursday - Do Walk B
Friday - Go in to do Walk B - get phone call - can you do Walk A as Walk A guy has now left ? Oh and can you do some of Walk B as well (basically because we forgot Walk A guy was leaving and now we can't cover Walk B) ? No drop bag keys available for Walk A. Can you get them off driver ? Driver already gone out. Can you do the overtime Walk B first and leave note for driver ? OK. Do half of Walk B before starting on Walk A - finish at 1600hrs. Still some of Walk B to do - can you please ? OK. Do more of Walk B - finish at 1720hrs - wait for train home (OK quick slurp in "Railway" @ Greenfield, so not ALL bad !). Home at 1800hrs so too late for tea, shower and out to pics for 1830hrs.
Saturday - who knows ? Have been told to do Walk A again (and next weeks duty sheet says I will be on Walk A ALL next week) - but I wonder - just a little bit (!!) - whether Walk B will be covered tomorrow - or will the phone ring yet again with the plea "Can you do a bit ... ?". Looking at the top of this post (i.e. the state of "football play") - I'll probably say "What the hell, why not ...).
Sometimes I really wonder about RM 'management' - see earlier posts about p*ss ups in breweries etc etc ...
(Looks like the pictures will now happen next Tuesday night - well it IS St Valentines Day - and Salford play Mossley in the Manchester Premier Cup - allegedly - can't see that being on either - can you ?)
Oh - and there is a slow gradual improvement with the "Grade 1 Muscle Contusion" - still stiffening up quite awkwardly in the evenings but starting to get more comfortable during the day - and today HAS been quite a day - fortunately someone else is now doing the cooking !!
LATE EDIT (2100hrs) - Ashton United game now OFF as well ... .
... well I did what every sensible person does - no, not a trip to the Doctors - I'm so 21st Century me !! A quick Google on "bruised calf muscle" and that told me everything I needed to know (eat your heart out NHS Direct !!). It appears to be a "Grade 1 Muscle Contusion" - I know it's Grade 1 because I passed the 'tiptoe test' (as in if you can stand on your tiptoes without going "AAAARGH !", it's classed as Grade 1). Remedy was 2-3 weeks rest (although I think this actually applies to athletes !) and lots of RICE (as in Rest Ice Compression Elevation) - myself I actually prefer PASTA (Prolong Agony Saving Time Anyway) - although I did go for the Elevation on Tuesday night knowing full well the Ice would kick in on Wednesday morning - as in bloody cold outside !
Can feel a slight improvement over the days - but with me not being the "21st Century Wimp" (i.e. work through it) it might take a while - still the leg hasn't dropped off yet. Wednesday was bad underfoot - but today was actually worse, what with the last couple of days being 'melt a bit and then freeze again overnight' - end up walking on very awkward lumpy chunks of ice. Still ... job done - money in bank (not that namby pamby sick pay stuff either).
Other news - apparently the FA Cup is up on display in Mossley Social Club tonight - well that was well advertised - NOT (I only found out when I got home from work) - no doubt the idea is for the FA to make a few bob allowing peeps to be photographed with it - helps to pay for New Wembley I suppose. I'll give it a miss (in the midst of cooking a rich winter beef casserole anyway !), because if I turn up with a camera, no doubt there'll be rather large security guards barring my view (ever the cycnic - but I believe that's the norm).
As you probably know, our old cat finally met its maker a few weeks ago - which put us down to one cat (young Berlioz). However ... for the last couple of months there's been (you guessed it) a stray cat knocking about on our street and (you guessed) it's had the odd meal at our place. It now seems to be getting comfy in our kitchen !!!
... and double ouch !! Came an "almighty cropper" on some sheet ice this morning - right at the start of the walk - finished OK but still bloody painful this evening. Back of the right calf - no external bruising but ... like a dead leg only deader (any clues anyone ??). Fingers crossed I can walk tomorrow morning - very stiff at the moment ...
Strangely enough - no football this evening; the only option (Stalybridge Celtic v Bishop's Stortford) was quite sensibly called off yesterday ... not holding my breath for this weekend either to be honest ...
... just a few snaps from the back yard and garden - nowt special - not much colour - but at least the snow isn't blue (all down to exposure compensation y'know !!!)
Now putting together a rather juicy chicken casserole (with bacon and chorizo thrown in - naturally !). Mrs Smiffy made it back safely from Belper (isn't the A6 wonderful) - as did daughter (who'd gone down there on Friday in "Bobby Blue" !) - so all's well ... .
... well it seems to be like that these days - a few snaps taken today (on my way up to the Co-op !) 0f Seel Park, Mossley (it's been very misty/foggy today up our end as well) - should be at home to Lancaster City next Saturday ... we'll see how the week pans out - although it has to be said the temperature today is tropical compared to previous (i.e. it IS above freezing !) and there has been a fair bit of thawing today. However it is going to dip below again tonight, so what's left (as in still a lot !) will crisp up nicely before another "rise" tomorrow daytime. Seel Park in the Snow 05Feb12
Next (I think only) midweek 'should' see Stalybridge Celtic at home to Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday night - again it's a wait and see - although given the travelling required, I can't give it much hope ... I can feel a "call to arms" at Bower Fold on Monday afternoon/Tuesday morning to shift snow (I'm guessing the frost covers will be there underneath) - unfortunately this time round - I have a job and am therefore unable ... unlike this (Jan 2010) and this (Dec 2009)
Fingers crossed ... (PS - got a few "macro type" snaps from the garden today - will have a peep at them later (not expecting miracles mind !!!)
1710 hrs - OOPS - cocked up link - now sorted ... .
... and even the Woodley Sports "all-weather surface" has failed today ...
Just got back from work (OK about 1405hrs) - it started snowing just after 1200hrs in Greenfield ...
... forget non-league football "up our end" today - unless you live in Fleetwood or Durham. Conference North all off; Evo-Stik Prem all off; Evo-Stik North all off (except Durham v Mossley - hope it lasts longer than 43 minutes - hope the coach gets back as well !); Evo-Stik South all off (except Sutton Coldfield v Kidsgrove); North West Counties League all off as well.
Reckon I was right "not to be bovvered" ... ESPN here we come ! (1455hrs update - still snowing - and it's sticking !) .
... about football tomorrow ?? As in "live" football ??
Straight answer - NO ! Having just spent three blisteringly cold days "on the road" - with one (apparently worse !) to come, the thought of more cold time finding my way to a game and then suffering 90 minutes of sub-zero before similar journey home ... just doesn't fill me with enthusiasm at all. Of course the other problem would be actually finding a game - OK you might think Woodley (plastic) Sports is a guaranteed "on" ... but ... please note that Mossley are away at Durham (plastic) City - and they're apparently having a pitch inspection at 0900hrs tomorrow (obviously not wishing a repeat of the 2008 fiasco) - so I guess anything's possible. Plenty of games at all levels already called off tomorrow - with more to come following some cursory pitch inspections in the morning I would think. An obvious "cheapskate" option is to take advantage of the free ESPN weekend on TV (in fact I've already caught a bit of the Nuremberg v Borussia Dortmund tonight) - tomorrow's UK option is Man City v Fulham ... well it's football of sorts ... and I trust all the pubs/clubs are aware of this free offer (i.e. when "fewer than expected" turn up).
And - just for info - last night's DVD of choice was "Back to the Future 1" - and tonight's DVD of choice was ..."Back to the Future 2" - wonder what I might watch tomorrow night ?? .
... well a day off on Tuesday - when they come somewhat 'unexpected' you just don't know what to do - so by 1100hrs on Tuesday I was bored witless ... so ... I went shopping (sort out Tuesday tea) !! Tuesday came and went - and then on Wednesday I got the call - to do a walk in Uppermill (guy on compassionate leave), and today (at 0619hrs to be exact !) I got the call - "Can you be in Greenfield for 0700 hrs ?" - no problem (starting that early = 3 hours O/T). Looks like similar for the rest of the week as well (unsure why - assuming a "man flu" epidemic !!). Mrs Smiffy shot off to Mum-in-Laws today (she's just had a cataract op - and she is over 85 - M-I-L not wife !), so tonight either ...
1) stay in and watch DVD of choice ... 2) sneak out to "Railway" in Greenfield (with camera) to watch band (Pie) and take snaps ...
See how I feel later on ... meanwhile a midweek picture, taken shortly after dinner last night (hence no plates on table) on compact and buggered about with on Photoshop - just for fun as they say ...
... aim was trying to emphasise the wine glass shadow ...
Weekend football is NOT looking promising - with Mrs S being away (probably until Sunday), no car available for a speedy end to Saturday work - notwithstanding the weather forecast either (as in "Grim"). Best bet is probably Woodley (plastic pitch) Sports v Curzon Ashton - but it might be a bugger getting there - we'll see ... .
In the words of any great blues guitarist ... "Woke up this morning ..." - working on the official duty sheet recieved on Saturday, I headed for Uppermill for a 0700 start - to find that it was all wrong ! "Come to Oldham" was the phone reply (luckily grabbed a lift off a van) to find myself with basically sod all to do. They found me a walk to prepare (1hr 15mins O/T) but after that .... "can you tidy up the DO ?" whihch involved putting perstops (plastic boxes which contain up to 250 letters) onto trolleys (they call them "Yorks") and then tidying up the outside - trolleys everywhere - bring 'em in and put them in the right place ... Come midday - some real posting work arrived(bits and bats - with a bit of walking in between !). Finished that - went home - started to prep tea (a proper roast beef dinner) to get it ready for 1815 hrs ... because I had a train to catch (1855) to get down to Ashton for the Curzon v Bamber Bridge game.
Meal - successful ... Train catch - successful. I'd checked on't'web that game was on - I'd checked on't'phone that game was on. Train - no probs and so started walking down towards the Tameside Stadium ... and when I got to within 500 yards of said ground - those flooodlights I had been faithfully following (it almost sounds religious !) went off ! Worked out immediately that the game was OFF - but carried on walking.
Had a miserable pint in the Curzon bar (with a few similarly miserable fans) before heading home - stopped off at Stalybridge Buffet Bar - tis quiz night on Mondays, and spent an hour helping out the "Bar Flies" before getting the next one back home - and now here - OK I had a couple in the "Brit" - and saw the comedy Oldham (or should I say Chesterfield) goal - it's football, if only for a few minutes ....
Going back to the work problem - it now probably works out that they don't know what to do with me this week (some call it a staffing "glitch" ... others have far for interesting words/phrases for the same - involving quotes involving phrase like "p*ss up"/"brewery"/"run a bath/one man bus"). Anyroad up I was told to take my "day off" tomorrow (Tues) ... as obviously due to the major staffing problem (!!) ... there's nowt for me to do tomorrow ...
.... and there's no more bloody football in the vicinity all week ... not well chuffed about today from start to finish .... .
Stafford's "Man in the News" - Chris Morris aka "Dad" ! ... a good day out - eventually ! Didn't make the 1055 due to the pitch inspection being at 1100. This was followed by a nervy 35 minutes flicking from message board to message board before the word "ON" appeared - so made the 1155. Managed a pint in Bolton ("Hobgoblin" in "The York" next to the station - saw Liverpool's opener as well), before the next train to Chorley and the "Railway" in behind the station (Ringwood "Boondongler" was the soup de jour !). Ten minute stroll down to Victory Park to see dozen of Blackburn Rovers fans ! They appear to like neither Manager nor Owners - but it bumped up the Chorley crowd to a very healthy 1000+. A good turn-out from the Stafford fans as well !
Well impressed by the Stafford performance against one of the top teams - in fact reading between the lines, it seems that Stafford are "on a roll" and heading upwards (for a change !!) - certainly had a few chances in the second half to take all three points (denied by the Chorley keeper and the woodwork a few times though). Still a very good afternoon out ... some pictures at
Visitors in the evening - so unfortunately no time to linger after the game - a fine meal of venison (!) and a bit of a natter (still eating at 2200 hrs). Sunday morning ... brings this.
Might wander out for a bit of a stroll later on before (aargh !) getting sorted for a return to work tomorrow - all good things etc etc etc. .
... Droylsden v Blyth Spartans and Burscough v Whitby Town off so far (called early due to long distance travelling no doubt).
Me ... off to the Chorley Nissan Victory Park Stadium to see Stafford Rangers - train at 1055 hrs, so should (!) know state of play by then. Only seen Stafford once this season, a 5-1 away win at Ashton United - would be nice to see something similar today ! .
View from front window at 1655hrs today (with bonus small cat in foreground !)
One Saturday off for ages - God knows what it's going to do with tomorrow's football options - "bugger" is another option instead of "aargh" I guess ...
Spent a fruitless hour or so clambering over wrecked motors this morning - getting dirty AND wet - looking for the car part - have since rung the Vauxhall dealership in Oldham - they have one, and I'll pick it up tomorrow morning (no doubt paying some ludicrous price + VAT as well - but hey ho ... needs must). (EDIT 0940 Saturday morning - OK I lied ... 98p +VAT ... can live with that !!!)
Tonight's meal = Chinese - home-made of course ! .
Time to get Friday on the move - although I've already "done the doctors" (and got a free flu jab into the bargain !). A trip to a car scrapper is on the cards - looking for an elusive "bolt" for the car's rear light housing - after that ... .
... got loads of clean pressed shirts for work next week !
Previously - more shopping, more cooking (tonight = haddock mornay - sorry but I DO love cooking !!) - and yes the camera went out to play for a bit this afternoon ... and here's a bit of fun. We've got several of those picture postcard-type pictures of "bygone Mossley" at home ... so a bit of scanning and a bit of "tweaking" and you get ... "Mossley - Now and Then" ...(worth a double-click !!) ...
... was the answer to the question at the end of the previous thread. Once the footy pics were sorted ... I went shopping ! Made a couple of portions of carrot and coriander soup for the freezer (using up a load of left-over coriander) before cooking tea (braised steak with chips).
Boring boring boring ... need something with more "ooomph" tomorrow ... maybe some ironing ... .
Gorillas in the Mist ?? No - it's Droylsden keeper Paul Phillips !!
Well I made it (even had time for a 'small shandy' in the Kings Head !) ... 'twas a misty moisty evening at the Butchers Arms and Droylsden started the better, going in at half-time one goal to the good through a Dale Johnson header. This was doubled just after the hour - Johnson again - before an unlikely turn-around saw 2-0 become 2-3 in less than 15 minutes ! Last Saturday saw Droylsden turn a 3-0 advantage into a 3-4 defeat at Guiseley so it was looking a little like deja vu for the Bloods. However a late late equaliser from Dan Gardener - squeezing it in at the near post - restored parity and removed embarrassment (well a little of it anyway !). In fact it almost became 4-3 to the home side right at the death but this time Eastwood keeper Deakin DID cover his near post ... some pictures from the evening at Droylsden 3 Eastwood Town 3
Grim today - view from our street - there's a big hill behind that there mist - honest !!!
... cr*p weather - lazy day (didn't make docs !) - anyway tea "on the go" - and football is ON tonight - onward to the Butchers (Arms that is !). Maybe later (because I don't have to get up early on the morrow ...).
Although I might "just" be strapped for getting there on time - what with cooking for the masses (gammon looking good at the mo - had to use apricot jam instead of marmalade but hey ...) and public transport - having checked the TfGM website ... I'll be there or thereabouts mind ! .
... had a nice lie-in (until 0710 hrs - yes I call that a lie-in !) - managed a late cancellation at the dentist - for 1030 hrs - and the crap bus timings meant a 2 mile walk to get there (!) - got the "all clear" for the next six months mind (must be something in these electrified toothbrushes apart from electricity ...). Into Ashton for haircut (my snipper - Guiseppe - knows the Mum and Dad of Simone Perrota aka one-third of the statue outside the Curzon Ashton ground). So ... that was two-thirds of the "boring jobs" for the week sorted - just a trip to the doctors left (prob do that tomorrow morning). A bit of shopping in Ashton (as in three items from Poundland ... cost ... £3 ... you guessed). In fact one of the items was some seed potatoes (Pentland Javelin for you afficianados), so the next step is to Google "chit potatoes", and we're on the move spud-wise ...
Back to Mossley - small shandy in the "Brit" - and a photo from compact camera !! This is Mossley Town Hall - now a private dwelling but there are rooms used for Parish Council meetings and other such worthy stuff I believe.
Yes ... Photoshop strikes again !!
Home to cook Cottage Pie - and now this ...
Football tomorrow (after cooking a gammon joint and other stuff) is going to be Droylsden v Eastwood Town. .
Followed a bloody cold afternoon at the football in Ashton on Saturday (standing still !) with a bloody cold morning/afternoon in and around Denshaw (at least walking though !) ... must be mad ...
A few pix ...
It's that "washed out" time of year (even with a bit of Photoshop "saturation" !) ...
Token "fungi picture" ...
Token "tree picture" - would have been better with a f1.8 lens (blur background tree etc etc.) ...
Lunch break next to Ogden Reservoir ...
There now follows ... a week's holiday - latest plans include doctors/dentist/haircut - and maybe some football ! .
... you've probably noticed that I've been a "touch lax" during this last seven days - no "proper" midweek football does make a difference to one's state of "bloggermind" (together with a bad attack of "idleitis" I guess !). Anyway - promise to do better this week (I'll have more time too - because I've got a week's holiday - already checking out possibilities of a long distance trip/full footy day out for next Saturday !).
Meanwhile some pictures from a perishingly cold and windy Tameside Stadium today ...
Must get round to updating blog before the weekend ... will probably involve thoughts on "moral capitalism" (truly a Tory Oxymoron !), work (at the moment still starting "early doors" on virtually full-time duties - making the most of the money as it won't last !! Oh and the driving assessment went OK on Monday ...) the weather (blowing cold and "not so cold"), lack of 'real' football this mid-week (apart from a brief foray into 'unreal' TV Premiershipland - Man City v Wigan on Monday night ...) and other such tat ... .
Seems happy with this little pic - can't handle the big ones though !
... just for fun (and you'll have to excuse the weather !) - plus I had a few "size" problems in Photoshop - so it's probably not as good as it should be ... maybe I ought to learn how to use the damn software ! Anyway - I present a 360 degrees of Seel Park ... well actually I don't because Blogger can't handle the size either !!! Try this JAlbum instead !
Not the best results but - you get the idea ... back to the drawing board I feel !!! .
... OK so I caught a "touch" of Man United v Bolton on "Channel Dodgy" in a local hostelry (might be a total non-league fan but was glad to see Welbeck score - he's in my Fantasy Football League team - yes I've got one ... and (after today's results) they're lying in 594,114th place out of 2,696,039 - not that bad for a non-league afficianado !
Football - like what I didn't get today - Tameside's interest in the FA Trophy has disappeared with both Droylsden (at Kiddermister Harriers) and Stalybridge Celtic (at Guiseley) losing. Hyde (surprisingly ?) only managed a 2-2 draw at home to Corby Town in the Conf North. As mentioned earlier, both Ashton's were "off" ... and Mossley have lost 2-1 away at Witton Albion (a 90th minute winner apparently - aargh !).
And yes - I DID take the camera out late on today (maybe too late ?) ... a couple of pix ...
From "high up" - that's Manchester - with Beetham Tower in't'middle ...
... and local landmark Hartshead Pike in the gloom ...
Might wander out tomorrow with the camera (supposed to be crisp and bright according to the weather forecast) - Mrs Smiffy has gone down to Belper today (their match was postponedas well !) to see her Mum - but it will be certainly followed by a quiet (i.e. non-beer) Sunday night - because at 0600hrs on Monday morning (yes there ARE two six o'clocks in one day !!), I've got what's called a "Changeover Assessment" - it's a Royal Mail 'driving test' which will allow me to drive vans and stuff - which is very handy to have ... .
... hey ho - got the call around 1130 (thanks Andy !) letting me know that both Ashton United and Curzon Ashton's games were off due to froz pitches. Got home well after 1430hrs to find that the Mossley Ressies game had also been called off - so even a second half 'up the road' was out of the question. Grrr ... As it stands (nearly half-time time !) Stalybridge are 1-0 down at Guiseley - and I'm going out quite soon for a couple of "small sherries" - and hopefully to get some interesting sunset pictures from up Top Mossley (looking down onto Manchester) - there's been a few on't'internet from yesterday (I think - maybe Thursday) of some nice orange glows - we'll see later.
Meanwhile - a picture of my lunch (via phone cam so not brill) - the "Britannia Inn" (Mossley) version of the "Manchester Egg" - a pickled egg inside a black pudding and sausage meat mix with a minimal breadcrumb crust.
Very nice indeed - although (personal view this) I don't feel the egg needs to be pickle; hard boiled would suffice - and I would maybe have put a little bit (not too much) of mustard powder (or some wholegrains) into the black pud/soss meat mix for a little extra "bite". That's MasterChef over for today !! Fingers crossed for a decent sunset - and a win for Mossley @ Witton (that game WAS called on) ... .
... well I said it all last night - certainly a good start for the new Mossley Managerial Duo of Steve Halford and Peter Band though ... pix at Mossley 4 Abbey Hey 1 (Manchester Prem Cup)
Now - what to do on my day off (apart from using one of my Crimbo presents tonight - making a paella in the new paellera !!). Weather not brill so a camera trip out is "unlikely" ... .
.... the new Mossley that is - a 4-1 victory over Abbey Hey tonight in the Manky Cup quarter-final. Not without a scare mind (going 1-0 down in the first 15 minutes !). Not offering too much now - I've got a "day off" tomorrow - and I'm taking it (watch my phone ring at about 0645hrs tomorrow morning with the "can you ..." plea - maybe I'll turn my phone off before I hit the sack ...). But here's a pic of Mossley's equalizer - Nathan Taylor "opening his account" for the Lilywhites ...
... that's Mossley into the semi-finals anyway - together with Droylsden (2-0 victors over Curzon Ashton on Monday night), Salford City (beat Ashton United 1-0 tonight) and Irlam Town (who beat New Mills - Derbyshire ?!?!? - 2-1 tonight). The semi-final draw ? No idea ...
... I know Curzon are playing Droylsden tonight in the Manky Cup - but I'm not there ... saving my "night out" for the Mossley v Abbey Hey (again Manky Cup) tomorrow. Arsenal v Leeds ?? No ESPN in Chez Smiffy. However I AM getting regular updates from my good frien Nosmo - at the moment (2015 hrs) it's Ilkeston FC 2 Sheffield FC 1.
Last pic of Tissy - about 20 minutes before ...
Anyway - yesterday - death of cat ... I'll be honest I've never wanted animals in our house - from day one back in 198something. But ... it happens - stray cat turns up - kids (very young at the time) play and offer scraps ... and it's only a matter of time before the bugger moves in. Probably a couple of years old at the time - it happens. Went out for a bit of "retail therapy" yesterday afternoon (weather too poo for walkies) - in true varied style Mrs Smiffy got "Jane Eyre" and "Cranford" (DVDs) - I got "Best of Seasick Steve" (CD) - it helps ... now we're down to one - the young upstart called Berlioz (remember "Aristocats" ?)
"Newer Kid on the Block" - enjoying the bones from yesterday's roast shoulder of lamb ...
Enough of this for now ... football in just under 24 hours - praying for sensible weather (and ... at this moment in time I also have a "day off" on Wednesday - and no-one wants me to work it !!). .
... another 3-1 home defeat for the Celts in a local derby - however it might have been so different if Phil Marsh had converted a very early penalty - or if Droylsden keeper Paul Phillips had been sent off for the second (converted) penalty. But "if" is such a big word (!) ... suffice to say it was (like the Hyde game 8 days ago) another deserved win for the away team against a Stalybridge side that are starting to struggle up front (goals drying up) and at the back (players missing and a few others being "found out" at times). Just have to see what happens now - an urgent injection of confidence if nowt else is probably a start ... some pictures at
... it's farewell to Gareth McClelland at Mossley, who resigned after yesterday's 2-1 home defeat by Farsley AFC - apparently left to join AFC Halifax Town - role as yet unconfirmed ...
... and another farewell I missed a day or so ago was the death of Bob "Blockbuster" Holness (aged 83 believe it or not !) ...
Tissy "in his youth" (!) - pic from nearly 5 years ago ...
... and finally - at about 1055hrs this morning (between front door and car on his way up to the vets) - our old cat "Tissy" finally met his maker after a short (couple of hours) of pain. Turned up on our doorstep about 16 years ago, and has been part of the family ever since - sad to see the old fella go - but at least it was quick and he died "at home" - now buried at the bottom of the garden ...
I reproduce the original statement issued late yesterday from Stalybridge supremo Rob Gorski - says it all really ...
It is with a mixture of great pride and sadness that I inform you that Connor Jennings has passed a medical and is now a Scunthorpe United player. Connor started his career with Celtic as a promising young 16 year old with a bit of "bite" in his game. Since then, he's developed enormously, gone on to score goals, made umpteen assists, always given 100% and has become a fans' favourite. Without going into all the details, I can also confirm that we had a firm bid (very similar package) from a Championship side too, however Connor has chosen Scunthorpe and he obviously goes with our most sincere best wishes for the future. The details of the transfer will, as always, remain private, but Connor has clearly been sold for a club record fee and of course there is a sell on clause and so fans will have a second reason to follow his development with particular interest. For all of Connor's undoubted talents, I feel that I must also point out the magnificent job Jim has done in nurturing and developing Connor from a raw boy into a wonderful player. For the record (thanks Trudge!), Connor made 123 appearances for us (89 of those were starts) and scored 51 goals, 44 of those in the league. Connor made his debut on March 3rd 2009, scoring in a 7-1 win over Hinckley, and his Celtic career ended with him scoring with his very last last touch as a Celtic player - very fitting. He is no longer eligible for England's C team so will have the record of one cap and one goal for England too. We would have much preferred to have had Connor back on loan until the end of the season, but Scunthorpe United were keen to bring him in immediately and although we will all miss Connor, we must remember that we are far from a one man team. Connor was not even our leading goalscorer! We will continue our strategy of nurturing and developing our raw talent and I know that we have a team that is still more than capable of achieving great success. As Scunthorpe don't have a game this weekend, you will all be able to say goodbye to the "boy wonder" on Saturday as he will be there for the Droylsden game. He absolutely goes with our thanks for his great service and our very best wishes for what ought to be a very exciting and successful career ahead.
... and just for the hell of it - I offer up a small (rushed together !!!) pictorial tribute to Connor - and purely by luck I was able to include his debut (and goal) and his final Celtic game (and goal) ... Connor Jennings - Stalybridge Celtic - 2009-2012
All the very best to Connor - your first task is to keep Scunny in League One ! .
Mossley football - it's a "lurrvve thing" (Kayde Coppin has just made it 1-1 !) ... an excellent local derby - and slightly more evenly-balanced than yesterday's game at Bower Fold ! Plenty of thrills and spills - best part of 10 (ten) minutes added time due to injury - and two late goals in that time as well completing a pulsating 3-3 draw. Guess Mossley will be the happier team - especially following the 0-0 Boxing Day "Drabathon" against Cammell Laird. Can't stop too long tonight (work in a few hours !) - but a few piccies available at
Scott Spencer celebrates in front of the Hyde faithful after making it 2-0
... or Stalybridge Celtic 1 Hyde FC 3 !!
A well deserved win for the away team - keep playing like that and I can't see how they will NOT go up !
Another damp and dismal day for footballers, fans and photographers alike - my humble apologies to the Hyde fans for not giving each side 45 minutes of my time (although with my luck I'd have still been at the wrong end !) - I did expect more in the way of pro - and amateur - snappers to be there so ... I went the way of the home team - mistake in retrospect. A fairly even first half - but then Hyde simply ran away with it in the second 45 - seemed like they had 12/13 men on the pitch at times. OK you could argue one goal (cracker from Spencer) and two deflections against one (highly dubious) penalty, but you can take nothing away from that second half performance at all.
Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0 Torquay United
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