Some pictures for starters ... Stalybridge Celtic 2 Altrincham 2 ... and if the camera wasn't rusty before - it might well be now after all that water !!! More tomorrow/today - got to be at work in less than 6 hours - aargh !!
THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE - well .. it got to about 1415hrs - and then the heavens opened !!! "My God - it'll be like going to work - but paying for the privilege", thought I. Still - got to Bower Fold in time for a quick pre-match Peroni (just can't drink that lo-grav keg rubbish - hopefully the 'Hail Ale Project' will put that right in the fullness of time.
Getting ready to go out - and a loud cheer erupts - teams coming out - NO - apparently Celtic are 1-0 up - I check watch - it's ONLY 1457hrs and the Golden Goal was given as 1 minute ... BUGGER. Hey ho ... still bucketing it down as well. Celtic were looking much better than the last time I saw them (as in the last match I'd seen 25 days earlier !) - however a "momentary lapse of reason" saw Alty equalise and then early doors in the second half they edged ahead with a second goal from Watmore. However far from home heads dropping, Celtic kept plugging away and got their just rewards with a second goal from Jack Laird. From then on, it could have gone either way - 'twas good end to end stuff as the weather improved slightly (as in "rain" rather than "torrents" !). In the end though I reckon a draw was a fair result - a touch of (penalty) controversy at either end evened itself out and all-in-all a cracking game of football given the atrocious conditions.
Happy to get a game in (AT LAST !) - and home via a beer or two. One "cold turkey" moment sorted (i.e. lack of football) only to be greeted with another "cold turkey" moment (i.e. tea !). Slumped out for a while before sorting pix and then heading off to bed before another early start today - not too many Christmas cards coming through - but ... bloody catalogues (Spring Sales, Holiday Brochures etc) - my gum it was heavy - as in weight !
... and then to come home, open payslip and find rather a lot of last week's overtime "missing" - a bit of a kick in the festive teeth to put it mildly. Happy to work it - but it's nice to get the money innit ?? Phone call ("Angry of Mossley" !) dutifully bunged on the answerphone - let's see what occurs tomorrow ...
Out in a bit (after some 'non-turkey based tea') ... . .
... well the Curzon Ashton v Mossley game has already been called off ... now trusting to Satlybridge Celtic (at home to Altrincham) ... ... we'll worry about transport (or lack of) in an hour or so ...
1300hrs UPDATE - Stalybridge Celtic v Altrincham is ON ... let's hope the camera (and cameraman) ain't rusty !!! .
... taken from my copy of the Ladybird Easy-Reading Book - "People at Work - The Postman" - circa 1965 !!
So - that's it for another year !! A sensible finish time today, so home for 1400hrs - and changed and back out in pub for 1410hrs !!! Just a couple mind - presents to wrap and all that stuff - and so to relax - before a different kind of "Christmas Pressure" in the kitchen tomorrow ... Merry Christmas to all readers from "STS" - sorry that there's been next to bugger all to read over the last few weeks - but I'm comfy in that everything that has been thrown at me (junk mail, Christmas cards, packets, parcels etc) has been delivered in time for tomorrow - anything outstanding is down to incompetence elsewhere (ouch - just felt my halo slipping down there ...). Have a good 'un everyone - and hopefully we'll all have football to go to on Boxing Day - even if there is no public transport !! Now off to slump in front of the box ...
... yep - the Ossett Town consolation goal on 90 minutes - lucky that I'd got up to Seel Park just a few minutes earlier !! Yes ... we're nearly there - but we've still got Christmas Eve to get through yet. Just working it out - the last "real" game of football I saw was Stalybridge Celtic v Vauxhall Motors ... on the 1st December - and THAT was hardly a birthday treat ! Since then ... it's been "Christmas Pressure", waterlogged pitches, "Christmas Pressure", frozen pitches, late finishes (missing Celtic v Workington - a blessing in disguise in hindsight !), "Christmas Pressure", early starts - getting wet, getting cold, getting very wet ad nauseam ... third Christmas with RM and it's certainly been the worst in all aspects - hours, weather and the sheer volume of stuff - recession, what recession ? Had a txt part way round today saying "Mossley game ON " - knew I wouldn't make it, but I wondered how the hell it had beaten the weather !! All credit to the groundstaff however - I finished work at about 1600hrs - home for 1620hrs, out of the dripping wet clobber and dashed up the road (minus camera - no point getting all the gear wet for just a few minutes of football) so see ... a goal ... pitch looked really well considering (was told that it only really started to cut up in the last 15 minutes or so when the rain got 'heavier' !). So a calculated gamble (IMHO) that paid off with three points. Day off tomorrow (as in Sunday) - time to do the Christmas food shopping - and maybe some last minute (!) presents - in at 0630 on Monday - hoping for an easier day (but not holding my breath) before a massive 48 hour break ... let's hope that Curzon Ashton are getting their pitch ready for the visit of Mossley on Boxing Day - and that the weather is kind - this lack of football is really giving me ... cold turkey (ho ho ho !!) .
... trust me ... just absolutely shattered every day - and with no football since God knows ... let's get this Christmas mayhem out of the bloody way - and then maybe normality may return ... although "normality" IS a relative term ... and so to sleep ... .
... says it all really (from Evo-Stik website) ...
... work slightly easier than yesterday as well - possibly the usual "calm Tuesday before the storm that is Wednesday" however ! Must admit looking at the weather forecast long-range ... it should become tropical on Thrusday/Friday/Saturday (tropical being relative of course !!) so maybe - just maybe - a game on Saturday (or half of one depending on "you know what" (you should know - you ordered the damn stuff online - now go out and buy a bigger letterbox !!!).
Late Update - took advantage of Mrs Smiffy's absence (down in Belper - her Mum had another cataract op today - went well apparently) - and watched Arsenal make fools of themselves agin Bradford City - could have done without the e/t and pens mind ! Came home rustled up some meatballs in sauce and got on here - whilst cooking I banged on a "golden oldie" - "I Get Wet" by Andrew WK - saw him at Leeds many moons ago - he's fun !! And following the AC/DC offering t'other night I give you my fave track from said AWK album ...
... normally one of the two quiet days @ work (other being Tuesday ... and OK Saturday if you like - but that would make three ...) - not today though - - aargh !! Obviously they've had the "casuals" in on Sunday doing extra sorting, so we 'walkmen' copped for it today. Weather still not brilliant either (i.e. dodgy underfoot) - so a late finish. By the time I was walking up our street it was "glistening" again, so I reckoned the Curzon Ashton v Trafford game would be off tonight. How wrong was I ? Apparently they played (yet to hear the full monty on the game mind) and it finished 0-0. Me ?? I roasted up a topside of beef to make butty material for the week, had a couple of pints down the pub, put a load of washing on - and most importantly got my e-mail sorted !!! I think it wasn't until about Friday last week that I realised I'd had no e-mails since Wednesday. I did fiddle about with stuff over the weekend, but still no joy, so this evening I phoned up Orange - and "the man" took control of my laptop (good ol' Citrix - I remember it well from a previous employ !) - and sorted it - and they all came gushing through ... so "big up" to Orange tonight !! Let's see what Tuesday brings - certainly won;t be any non-league football I'm afraid (but come on Stafford Rangers - hope you can beat AFC Moneybags Fylde ... and it would be nice if Cammell Laird can take something off Skelmersdale United as well !!). Now I REALLY need to think about Christmas stuff ... oh and sleep as well !! .
...starting at 1930hrs ... expect me to go into draft mode as I go along - hence timings .. Where shall we start - well theoretically (?) it's a footy blog so start there - Mossley v Cammell Laird - OFF; Ashton United v Frickley Colliery/Athletic - OFF. Suppose I could have gone to watch Droylsden (lost 2-1 to Bishops Stortford) or Hyde FC (who came back from a 0-1 reverse at half-time to beat AFC Telford 2-1). Two places I couldn't have made were Garforth Town (who lost 6-1 to Curzon Ashton) or Solihull Moors (who beat Stalybridge Celtic 1-0) - I WILL check out the "details" from all above games later ...... However ... I didn't finish work until 1420hrs - thanks to "having the motor" I got home for 1430hrs so that Mrs Smiffy could slope off to Belper (who incidentally got a 1-1 draw at home to Brigg Town) ... and I just sat down - football was the last thing on my mind - I was absolutely knackered. I've been out since for a couple of beers, but my legs/hips are not in the greatest shape at the moment ... ....yep - it's work - it's called "Christmas Pressure" - and it's effing hard work !! This week has seen 0630 starts - and as the weeks went on 1600/1630 hrs finishes due the the sheer volume of stuff - notwithstanding the weather - we've seen rain/hail/sleet/snow flurries plus the icy pavements/paths/driveways ... on top of the madness that is called "packets" - they've gone through the roof this week - if only peeps ordered DVDs (nice, slim, fit through most letterboxes) .. but they don't they order silly sized stuff that we walkmen have to carry out with us (because the whole "size" issue has changed over the years- what used to be a 'van size packet' now has to be taken out by the walkers - believe it or not the phrase "shoe box size" is pretty much the norm - so you don't need many to fill the sack !!!
2230hrs update - just took some time out to watch a bit of BBC IPlayer - AC/DC Live at River Plate 2009 which was on BBC4 last night apparently - that looked like one helluva gig !!! And there's still time for me to stick the full DVD on my Christmas list !!
... in about 6 hours time ... something to do with this UK version of "Cyber Monday" ... No midweek footy this week - unless you count that "tame surrender" from Man City this evening which I had the pleasure (??) of watching ... Now it's off to bed to dream about packets/parcels - and more of them ... AAARGH !! .
24 Feb 1981 - Wedding of Charles and Diana announced ... Thatcher 02 April 1982 - Let's start a war - Falkland crisis begins ... Thatcher 20 Mar 2003 - Let's start a war - Iraq "conflict" begins ... Blair 27 Jul 2012 - Let's start an Olympics ... Cleggeron 03 Dec 2012 - Kate is expecting a "Royal baby" ... Cleggeron
... ho hum (and I bet I've missed a few other dates out as well). .
... as predicted - another "yuk" day at the mail/parcel face (fingers crossed it's a question of peeps 'ordering early' this year - although I bet it STILL goes bananas in the last 7 days) - sub-zero temperatures didn't help much either (!) ... so finished somewhat late for a Saturday (1445hrs), dashed home to see what was occurring football-wise (had already been advised that Mossley was OFF), and headed straight up to Stalybridge for their game against Vauxhall Motors, arriving about 25 minutes late (!). Not a good day for the home side - distinctly lacking up front I'm afraid - and this coupled with a harsh (IMHO) red card for Lewis Hatch and an 89th minute "smash and grab winner" for the visitors made it a miserable afternoon for the home support - sub-zero temperatures didn't help much either (!) ... and then word came through that Hyde had put 7 (seven) past Woking and Curzon Ashton had won 3-0 at home to Harrogate Railway ... picked a wrong 'un me (but it was the nearest so ...). A few pictures from a freezing cold Bower Fold at Stalybridge Celtic 0 Vauxhall Motors 1
Home - and out for birthday tapas with full family - only to be let down at the death by train cancellations home - bloody Northern Rail - any excuses/reasons gratefully received. Two taxis home and collapse in heap. No walk for me today - I've dipped out - so it's a case of continuing to rebuild the house after the recent improvements (need to nip down to ye local DIY shoppe for some new light switches, some cupboard doors to move about - and this of course). Already sorted out some new curtains (dirt cheap when you get involved in this Tesco Clubcard exchange kerfuffle !). Meat for tea defrosting (ha !!) as we speak. Back on "very earlies" next week - so, Northern Rail I'm depending on you NOT to balls it up ... .
... and this pathetic attempt at facial topiary ...
... and it's probably farewell "proper" football for a while after two sub-zero nights and another to come - certainly not holding my breath for tomorrow (although the way it's been at work work over the last three days, it'd be half-time before I got there - at least it would give it another 45 minutes to thaw ...). 56 in 5 minutes ... .
... in the Doodson Cup tonight ... the centre-forward didn't wear glasses during the game - but he still scored four (Kevin Townson) ....think we'll leave it at that for this evening - apparently Mossley's heaviest home defeat in 101 (one hundred and one) years ... .
... a bit of rain - and the photographers are looking like ... this ...
Picture courtesy of Tim Harrison - taken today at the Stamford v Belper Town game - and I bet Tim was under cover as well !!! My stuff is drying out as we speak ... .
... second versus top today - managed to get there in time for kick-off thanks to the "I can afford a taxi thanks to Ashton United giving me a season ticket for services rendered" scam !! A fairly tight start - although the North Ferriby opener has to go down to a defensive error IMHO. After that ... it seemed that Ferriby were more up for it - my 'silly (?)' quote on the Ashton board was that "North Ferriby were 'first' to every second ball" - makes sense to me anyway ... Afraid the Ashton attack appeared far too dependent on one man (Aaron Burns) - and with Burns not getting on target there was no-one else to take up the slack - a late three-for-three substitution was I feel a touch too late to make any difference - and an 88th minute second goal for NFU put the seal on it. Some pictures from today at Ashton United 0 North Ferriby United 2
Home - nibbles - pics - Mrs Smiffy has buggered off for the weekend (gone to see Bellowhead in Derby with a few other family members) - but she's left a "list" - tomorrow I feel !!! Needs doing mind - the "carpetman" arrives on Tuesday so ... some filling some painting some varnishing some "old carpet removal" from the stairs - oh and not forgetting a wondrous Sunday tea (not decided what yet tho' !). Might go for "Match of the Day" for a change ... just started ... .
... it's been a "heavy week" - including all those silly bits of paper wot you all throw away (six lots this week - does wonders for the paper recycling business I'm sure !) - several late finishes (and that's with 0645 hrs starts as well) - yes it's truly knackering ... today I managed a 1400hrs finish - time to get home and dash up to Hurst Cross - but I can seriously see Saturday football in grave peril between now and Christmas (well the "getting there for 1500 hrs kick off anyway) - best make the most as they say ... football in a minute ... .
... from Tuesday night ... apologies for delay (all the usual reasons detailed earlier) - but here are some pictures from a "game of two halves" ... Mossley 1 Curzon Ashton 2
The DIY continues relentlessly - together with the cooking and the work (which is really ramping up for Christmas now - aargh !) .
... and then three come along at once - just had the "celebratory tea" and small boy whacks this out on the USB plugged into the downstairs stereo machine - listen to this ... it's awesome ...
It took me back to 1997 - when I first got hold of Page and Plant's "No Quarter" album (OK CD !!) - when Najma Akhtar appeared on "Battle for Evermore" - there have been many similar collaborations since then (I recall Tungg and Tinariwen what we saw a good few years ago). An we like Laura Marling anyway - saw her at Kirkwall Cathedral in Orkney when on hols a couple of years back . But get your head around this one ... this IS really really good ...
.
... there I was still fiddling about sorting out my gear - Garforth might have shocked us all by taking an early lead - but they didn't. Unfortunately I'm still fiddling about when Sam Madeley lobs the keeper for a 7th minute 1-0 lead for the home team. From then on .. it wasn't quite a procession - OK 7-0 sounds like a procession, but credit to Garforth - they gave it their best shot - but it was more a case of "damage limitation" than anything else. To be honest it could/should have been double figures - but you can't complain !!! Pics from the game at Mossley 7 Garforth Town 0 So - as mentioned before - today has been a day of painting/filling/tidying etc - we still have to live on this house so when the "Call to Stop" arrives we then have to clean up etc to make the house liveable (ha !) for another 24 hours ("wet paint warnings" everywhere !!!!). And so to tomorrow - on early starts next week (0645hrs - aargh) - fortunately today Mrs Smiffy is in charge of tea - a touch celebratory in fact as small boy has got a job - starting tomorrow (yes we have bubbly as well) !! Me .. knackered before the bloody week starts ... but looking forward to Tuesday when Mossley finally get their local derby game against Curzon Ashton in - it's been postponed several times so far (should have been August Bank Holiday Monday for Frith's sake !!!) - but I'm afraid it wins over Stalybridge Celtic v Harrogate Town on the same night.
Just hope I can get away with Ashton United v Ilkeston FC on Wednesday night as well (would be nice to see if any of my Ilson chums turn up on a dirty Wednesday night !) - might well involve serious "painting working" on Monday and a lot of promises for later in the week - we'll see ...)
... and can I just say !WELL DONE HYDE FC"on their cracking 3-1 win away at second placed Newport County ??? Yes I can ... .
... as you've probably noticed over the last few weeks ... it's all getting a bit "irregular" on here - days missed out - and games missed out as well. I can only say "sorry". What bits I've squeezed on have involved football - where I can do - and various "bits and bobs" about redecorating/renovations around "Chez Smiffy" - so when every day becomes "Work - Tea - DIY/Decorate - sleep" ... there's not been that much time to sort out "STS". With the house a bombsite - yes we are talking "serious renovation" - I'm afraid the blog is having to take second place.
Witness last week - missed the only available game because of "pressure" - am I allowed ??? Reckon I am - as the header for this blog says ..."there's more to life than football" - it's hard but I have to cope with that !!! Well - yesterday I made a game ... but there was much more before - as in a particularly "heavy Saturday" at work (Christmas is definitely coming - already !). Got home - said "Hi !" to missus, got changed, buggered off out to football. Then it was home after game - get changed - head off down to Manchester (Royal Exchange) to meet friends and to see a Tennessee Williams thing ("Orpheus Descending") which was confusing to say the least. Last train home arriving at 2225hrs - relax a while ... and then I'm up till 0245hrs sorting out pics from the game - before getting up at 0800hrs this morning to crack on with more painting - believe me this ain't no "little jobbie" - we are talking "Big City" - as regards painting/filling/caulking/wiring - I finally got my "Non League Paper" at about 1630hrs this afternoon (Mrs Smiffy in bath - I sneak out for paper, fags and a couple of beers - I've deserved that as much as the missus has deserved her soak !!). So - I finally get a chance to update .. here it is ... I'll stop this now and start another for yesterday's game. .
... trains back to "normal" - hurrah !!! ... RM profits up from £12m to £144m ... job safe for a while ??? Belper Town 9 (nine) Romulus 0 ... and 9 is how many players Romulus ended up with apparently ... .
.... so ... waiting for the 0846 train to Greenfield - 10 minutes late ... it then took 45 (forty five) minutes to get to Greenfield (normal journey time 5 minutes) - apparently due to "signalling problems" (wonder if it's connected with the brand new signalling installed at the end of October ??). ... and then it started to rain - and after three and a lot hours walking in it, my hands just "stopped working" - took me nearly 10 minutes to write out a P739 (a "Sorry You Were Out" card - or us posties say "You ordered the bloody thing -why not make some provision to receive it ??" card - tee hee !!). We got there in the end but somewhat slower than usual ... ... and then it off to Tesco to buy tea, into the "Railway" for a pint (and a warm !) and then over the road to the railway station for the 5 minute journey home ... the 1551hrs train was in fact a Rail Replacement Bus that turned up at about 1625hrs (by now ... cold again !!) - and took slightly longer than 5 minutes to get back to Mossley. No staff available at Greenfield (they all finish at 1420) - National Rail Enquiries were as much use as a chocolate teapot ("There will be a train at 1851hrs" - really useful ...) - all in all a pretty shambolic day. The daftest thing was ... all the express trains were running through - but no "stoppers" ... crazy crazy crazy. By now I'd lost all interest in life etc. - so I cooked the tea, knocked the football on the head (Curzon Ashton have beaten Ossett Albion 3-2 by the way) ... and pulled out a pot of paint (matt white to be exact). No other football this midweek either which is a right bugger. Let's see if Network Rail/Northern Rail can sort out this nonsense before 0846 tomorrow - by the way Saddleworth, there's four D2Ds (you probably know them as "junk mail/leaflets") this week - so lay off the bloomin' parcels !!! .
Early result from Friday night ... Chef's Knife 1 Shutter Finger 0 !!!
It was 3rd vs 5th at Hurst Cross - and I was still queuing to get in when Chorley opened the scoring in the first minute - there were a few Chorley "whingers" in the queue in front of me wobbling on about the delay in getting in (yes you Madam in the red coat !!!). Well looking at the latest non-league attendance table (which is very interesting reading for the stattos out there) might give a clue. Chorley are 40th with an average of 627 - Ashton are 160th with an average of 216 - bumped up by their healthy attendance against FCUM the other week - hence the need (not !) for more than one turnstile. The other tip of course - when going to a ground where the Social Club is OUTSIDE the ground (Ashton) as opposed to INSIDE the ground (Chorley), it is probably advisable to leave said Club before 1458hrs !!! Anyway back to the game - Ashton recovered, regrouped and got a fine equaliser when leading scorer Aaron Burns nodded the ball past the despairing clutches of Jack Cudworth. However, Chorley went back in front from the penalty spot to make it 1-2 at half-time. Two in two minutes around the one hour mark (Chris Lynch and a Burns penalty) saw the home team edge in front and from then on it was pretty much end-to-end stuff which could have gone either way - there were a few nervy home fans in my vicinity !! However Ashton held on - and late on could have got a couple more but for the heroics of Chorley 'keeper Cudworth (certainly their MOM for me !). All in all - a cracking game of football between two good sides (despite the apparent pessimissm on the Chorley message board !) and a fine advert for the Evo Premier.
I'd had a "slight accident" on Friday evening when tidying up the kitchen when I managed to slice open my "shutter finger" - eldest lad said, "Which knife ?" - I said "Chef's Knife" - he said "Oh the one I sharpened up earlier this week !!" Nice clean cut - but painful and a bit stiff by Saturday afternoon (just getting the excuses in early !) Anyway - pics from the game at Ashton United 3 Chorley 2 Good to see young Reco at half-time - apologies for missing you after the game (I was offered a lift home and you just can't turn them down - cheers Dave !!). A couple of "wind-down lemonade shandies" later before home and collapsing in front of the box for some well-earned 'R and R' after what's been a bloomin' hectic week. Woke up at late o'clock to sort out photos before finding bedroom for even more kip. Made a start this morning by getting a load of washing on and removing old light fitting (after turning power off first of course !!) - bang this one here - and then it's a case of "get moving" in the front room with new ceiling rose and decorators' caulk. Already been out for the "Non League Paper" to check stuff - both Stalybridge and Droylsden bowed out of the FA Trophy yesterday (again the knives are out for Celtic Manager Jim Harvey) - Hyde let a 2-0 lead slip at Ebbsfleet to lose 3-2 - Curzon lost 2-1 at Clitheroe ...but Mossley march on at the top of the Evo 1 North after a fine 2-1 at in-form Ramsbottom United - (interesting to read the report of this game in the NLP - 'twas written by my old mate Tony Cunningham who was on the Mossley board back in the 1980's but is now involved at Rammy - nearer home for him - and if he gets to read this "Hi Tony !! Best wishes to yourself and young (well not so young now !!) Phil !". Other thoughts - what to have for tea (Mrs Smiffy away this weekend) ?? ...
It's been "one of those weeks" ... early starts (0600hrs get up) - and from Wednesday onwards the mail and packets have 'gone viral' - it seems that Christmas has certainly started early in the Saddleworth area. It's been home late (with overtime booked as done !) cook tea and then fall asleep - hence the lack of anything on here. Factor into all this that we're still living in a bit of a "bombsite" and are desperately trying to get the house sorted in between work etc - it's just been crazy !!! Last night I just couldn't be bothered cooking either, so I cheated and bought a "Tesco Curry Takeaway" option after work, slammed it in t'oven, ate it and then we sat down and started on the "Bourne Trilogy" on DVD (got the three for £7 a few weeks ago - Morrisons !). Naturally fell asleep about halfway through before waking up and "rewinding" to the last thing I could remember and then carrying on !! Another early start today - another heavy day as well (it's just not the norm for a Saturday)- finished late - so late I ended up having to take a taxi up to Hurst Cross for the Ashton United v Chorley game - argument being that, with Ashton having kindly given me a season ticket for "services rendered" (i.e. team and pen pic portraits), I could use my 'admission fee' to cover the taxi fare (and I was still a couple of quid up on the deal !!!). Looking forward to a full day off tomorrow - which includes sorting out one new light fitting (including wiring - don't tell NICEIC) and some filling/caulking - and if time permits some more painting - at least all the plastering is now complete - thanks to Bryn (if anyone needs a plasterer in the Tameside area - I can supply details - he's done a damn fine job - and very reasonable too).
... and I'll sort out some pics from Ashton United v Chorley as well ... .
... got home from work (0630 start) cold and wet - have dried stuff off (including me) - have cooked tea for the masses (including me) and have done some wood-cutting (as part of "repair the bombsite house") ... ... and it's nearly eight o'clock ... Notice no 'immediate' mention of the £14 admission - but it does need including here in the interests of balance - train/bus to Hyde plus admission plus the "odd shandy" - getting home at silly o'clock with a 0530hrs get-up in the morning ... sorry chaps just can't do it tonight - but no doubt Paul will be doing the biz vis-a-vis pictures (check out his site). Afraid I'm reduced to TV footy this midweek ... so it goes
UPDATE at 2300 hrs-ish ... that's a cracking win against Grimsby i.e. a top 4 team - now only three points away from the "Droylsden Premier Disaster" - and if you look back through this blog, I'm sure I DID say that Hyde would do much much better - well done Tigers tonight !!
And all I managed was to see was a referee that was "Clattenburg Quality" - a "not offside" and a ridiculous "non penalty" at the very very end - coward ... .
... you may have guessed !!! 'Twas a week's holiday with Monday and Tuesday spent doing stuff around the bombsite that is our house (you want plaster dust ?? We've got loads !!). Painting, putting up picture rail for starters - quick "sneak out" on Tuesday night for the Stalybridge game - up till daft o'clock sorting pics for the Boston United peeps - finished them off Wednesday morning - and then it was down to Stafford to see my Mum and Dad (first time for yonks !). Pub lunch, long natter and then off to Ashbourne for the evening (found a nice Italian - pubs not up to much unfortunately !), staying over in order to get a good early start on Thursday - an 11 mile walk up the Manifold Valley and back down Dovedale (pics to follow). Off to Belper on Thursday afternoon/evening - where we remained until Sunday lunchtime. Shopping, wandering, eating out, a few odd jobs around the Mother-in-Laws abode was the order of the day(s). Saturday was Mrs Smiffy's birthday - so off I went to Belper Town to watch their reserves play Long Eaton Reserves (the Belper first team were playing Northwich Victoria - who play their home games ... at Stafford Rangers !!!). A game of two halves - Belper 2-0 up and cruising at half-time, before it went horribly wrong. Pictures available at Belper Town Reserves 2 Long Eaton United Reserves 4
A Birthday meal out in Belper (another Italian !!) before flaking out in front of the telly. A bit more fiddling about this morning before heading back up the A6 to here ... an hour's tidying (cleaning up plaster dust etc etc - "plasterman" was here doing more on Saturday) another "birthday tea" on the menu tonight (cooked by large boy) ... so I'd better sign off for now - more later (hopefully) before we get back into "work mode" - an early kick-off tomorrow morning (0645 hrs) - let's hope that they've finished the railway stuff and that the first train runs ... .
UPDATE - It's now tomorrow (or slightly later today if you look at time of original post !). I each team about 45 minutes each, to be fair - here's the "best (?) of the rest" ...
... a few unhappy Celtic fans last night - words/phrases like "tinkering", "best on the bench", "didn't turn up", "coo .. innit wet !" and the like were being bandied about. Patience is a virtue ... but it seems to be wearing a bit thin for some ... .
(To be a "touch" fair - pic NOT from today's game)
Now as you regulars know ... I'm not a great fan of the over-hyped, overpaid stuff that is Premiership football - but I do tend to find myself in pubs now and again with it blasting out on big screens/HD etc etc. (my excuse today was having done the painting - mentioned in previous - I needed "a break" - and having suffered the Man City game last night, 'twas only fair that I kept one eye on t'other side of town this afternoon). But if that's the state of refereeing at the highest level - what hope have we got ??? Down "at the bottom" of football, we've seen some duffers - but we've also seen some good 'uns who have made it through to the very highest level (think best example here was Uriah Rennie who I watched go up and up - and he was a good 'un). However .... Clattenburg has got previous, as they say - and today he ruined a keenly contested game with two highly "iffy" red cards (you wonder if he's getting free chewing gum off Fergie - just a thought). Trust both of those red cards will be appealed - and maybe rescinded - but obviously it's too late for Chelsea who having got back from 0-2 down to 2-2 - thoroughly deserved on the immense pressure they exerted - saw their chances of going on to win extinguished by the clown in charge. IMHO - this guy wants sacking. End of. .
"Workmanlike", "dour" - a couple of the words that have been used elsewhere to describe this game - truth be told it's not a bad description of the photographs either !!! Still - if a team can come away with the three points even when playing in second gear most people will go home happy (except the noisy Lancaster contingent - big up to them for turning up in force despite the chaos on the railways between Manchester and Huddersfield ). Shame to see a once strong team - as Lancaster have been for a number of years - struggling like they are. In the end though it was a couple of "poky goals" that saw Mossley come out on top, and with other results going their way, the Lilywhites now have an eight point cushion at the top of the Evo 1 North. The "dour and workmanlike" pictures can be found at Mossley 2 Lancaster City 0
A midweek break now for Mossley - which gives me the chance to head down to Bower Fold on Tuesday night to see Stalybridge Celtic play Boston United (who have asked me to "do for them" as well !). Got to go now though - some more of this new plaster needs a primer coat on it !!! .
Mossley's win comes later ... but I thought these might be interesting ... my thought at the time ...will the digital readout go through to three figures ....and yes it did ...
So the answer was "YES" - meanwhile Mossley beat Lancaster 2-0 - pics later ...
A rare "charabanc trip" for Smiffy on Tuesday - fortunately it was a "chara with a loo at the back" !!!Having decided late on Monday that trains to/from Wakefield were too tight to be safe I went for the Ashton United option up to Kendal Town. A smooth - and surprisingly fast - journey up saw time for a wander into town, find a cash machine and a couple of pints of Hawkshead Bitter in the "Ring O'Bells" before heading back to the "CosySeal Stadium" (aargh !!). Kendal - in my humble - just about edged the first half and went in a goal to the good, but in the second half the introduction of Matt Kosylo made all the difference - more width for Ashton and both Kosylo and Johnson took full advantage and the equaliser by Burns was richly deserved. However that "30 seconds after a goal" moment kicked in and Kendal went back in front. To be honest they should have wrapped it up from there but they managed to miss a sitter before Ashton headed straight back down the other end and gained a penalty in about the 92nd minute - coolly converted by Aaron Burns. A good point for Ashton in the end. Some pics from the game at Kendal Town 2 Ashton United 2
Fast journey home - quick whizz thru pics in case there was anything Ashton could use for their Saturday programme (well you never know !!) before bed and early start today ... and another bloody grueller !!! Seems to be the thing for Wednesdays at the moment (they're always bad - tis the day that all the weekend internet activity finally gets to arrive in the mail bag - but the last couple have been particularly painful !). Home - cook tea - eat tea ... and then it was putting a coat of primer onto the newly plastered front room ceiling - aargh my back !! Finally sat down about 2230 to sort pictures out properly - and now this ...
Note Mossley's 6-1 win at Wakefield yesterday has moved them six points clear at the top of Evo 1 North what with Skelmersdale and Clitheroe drawing their respective games. Wakefield now have a "James Bond" home record ( you work it out - it's late !). Hyde's FA Cup replay at Harrogate Town was called off due to a waterlogged pitch - apparently Harrogate have installed new drainage ... and it's "not quite there" at the moment (4 games called off already this season). So Torquay United still await a winner ... game apparently re-arranged for next Tuesday. Good to see Belper doubling their league wins with a 2-1 defeat of our old friends Newcastle Town, while Curzon Ashton were denied by a 90th minute equaliser at Farsley.
Received my copy of the "Cambridge News" as well today - apparently it was a busy weekend football/rugby/horse racing-wise so just three pics on page 5 - I'm happy though !! Reckon it's Mossley v Lancaster on Saturday - it'll be interesting to see bring this amazing away form back to Fortress Seel Park. Next Tuesday it's Stalybridge Celtic v Boston United - and I've been "asked to do" for Boston - unsure whether programme or paper but - whatever ... have camera will travel ... .
So ... I eschewed the perceived aggravation of going to Wakefield in exchange for an "easier ride" - up to Kendal on the team bus to watch Ashton United. Mossley win 6-1 ... Hey-ho, never mind - a late late penalty by Aaron Burns earned Ashton a point up at the "CosySeal Stadium" (Parkside Road as far as I'm concerned still !!) - and here's the pen ...
... locally ... bugger all. Only realistic option (and I say "realistic" having checked out the train times - and it's bloody tight !) is to head up to the mighty Wakefield Wildcats Stadium to watch the less than mighty Wakefield take on the "mighty" Mossley. Easy getting there - tis the return that involves running/jumping/taxiing etc etc. What the hell ... it's football ... and it beats that cr*p on the telly ... .
... one story I did enjoy from a few days ago - the dozy bugger that dropped a Canon 70-200mm (IS I believe as well !) into the Polar Bear enclosure at Nuremberg Zoo ...
Love to see the insurance claim form - I don;t reckon stupidity is a valid argument ... although there's plenty of photographic evidence (via Nikon cameras !) to back it up. More pics here !!! Next time ... be more careful ! .
... well I got there in the end !!!!! A good grafting morning - and afternoon saw me finish work at about 1450 hrs - straight home in car - throw off RM fleece - throw on coat - grab camera bag (all prepped !) and drive straight down to Droylsden arriving about 1520hrs. Just in time to get sorted and catch the Histon penalty (and the build up before). I'd already decided to "do the game" from a Histon viewpoint because Droylsden have Degsy to do their piccies - in fact we compared notes just before half-time, as he's similarly upgraded to a Canon 70-200mm f2.8. "How many pics have you taken ?" was one question ... I'd taken 22 ................ he'd taken 257 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One thing at least - he told me it was 1-1 (as I'd missed the Droylsden opener due to late arrival) - and 1-1 it was at half-time. I then spent 15 minutes avoiding the bar (well I had the car - and I'm good like that !) - it's a bit of a pain as I always reckon a pint (or two !) before the game helps my shutter finger - but needs must on certain days I guess. A strange game really - a lot of chances at both ends but the quality finishing was missing (maybe explains the positions of both teams in the league table) - but Histon took the lead with a cracker and then it was cut and thrust at both ends ... the board went up for 5 minutes added on - and some really concerted pressure from Droylsden - corner - cracking save - another corner - led to a late late equaliser from Nat Kerr. So - pictures - from a Histon viewpoint - to be found at Droylsden 2 Histon 2
(and in the interests of fairness - I'll put a link here for Degsy's pix when he gets them sorted). Attendance ... 187 - oh dear ... no way of staying at this level of football with those sort of crowds ... Now ... I'm going to cook my tea - after game it was drive home dump car and run (OK walk fast) to pub for that "shutter finger beer" - OK I had three - and then we had to sort all pics and this stuff out. Tonight I will be mostly eating bacon, egg, sausage and mushrooms with a large slab of tiger bread - because I'm worth it !! .
Made it to Droylsden ... starting to go thru pix now ... but I knew this was a good 'un, so I'm banging it out early. Adrian Sear has just put Histon 2-1 up - and I think he's a touch pleased !!!!
... nice tea (pizza) - just checking e-mails etc on return and I find this pile of cr*p in my inbox ...
Dear Mike Smith,
An all-star cast of senior UK bankers assembled at
the British Bankers’ Association’s annual conference in London this week to
debate the future and culture of their much-maligned industry. The chairmen of the five biggest banks headquartered in the UK spoke
yesterday at an afternoon panel discussion entitled 'Banking 2020: A Vision for
the Future'. Sir Philip Hampton of Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Win Bischoff of
Lloyds Banking Group, Sir David Walker of Barclays, Sir John Peace of Standard
Chartered and Douglas Flint of HSBC, were interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg, the
business editor at ITV News. The panel focused on the familiar themes of regulation and pay in the UK
banking sector, The panel agreed that the structure of remuneration in the City needed to
change and that levels of pay would continue to fall. Sir Philip Hampton at RBS said that pay had been “grotesque” in the past,
adding: “It was completely out of line with pay in other sectors and completely
out of line with shareholders returns.” Bischoff said the industry needed to “get back to basics” to be able to
justify pay and that it also needed to work harder to “explain what those basics
are”. He added: “There is a mystique about banking, we have to demystify
it.” Walker said that focusing pay on revenue generation alone had been negative
for the industry. He argued for bonus decisions to be made using a “scorecard
approach in which revenue generation plays no part”. Purelybanking.co.uk is still seeing trends with new candidates looking for
more pay as they change jobs and successfully move to their next role, generally
with more pay. Maybe the time is right to make that move before regulations
about pay start restrict the hiring process.
To be honest I REALLY feel for Douglas Flint ... the only one without a knighthood ... nice to see the small (bad grammar !!!) endpiece from the recruitment company i.e. "get in now before the pay goes down" - kind of negates all the sanctimonious claptrap that went before !!
...and it's a fond farewell to Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell I see as well - maybe he'll have to join us "plebs" in the real world - somehow I doubt it though.
Apologies for the politics overload this evening ... but "we are all in this together" I believe - ha !! ... let's get work/overtime out of the way ... and Frith willing I'll get some "pleb sport" later today ... .
... another godawful day - although not as bad as yesterday though. Added to this there's problems tomorrow - so we're all "pitching in" to cover, which may make any live football a bit tricky (I'm being SOOO polite here ...). We'll see how it goes ... even if it means just a second half ... even if it means "driving" to a game (aarrgh !!) ... and the Christmas rush has yet to start .................................
Nice to hear about Osborne trying to scam a first-class seat with a standard class ticket as well - oh yes "we're all in this together" ... and don't get me into the "taser a blind guy because his white stick looks like a samurai sword" ... what a crazy world we're living in ... never mind - unemployment's down - allegedly). Politics head off - going out for tea soon. .
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