Shrek the Third

..is well worth it. Following an abortive walk early doors, went yesterday afternoon with Mrs Smiffy - with no children. I reckon we were the only people over the age of 30 with no kids in tow (I had the smart-ass one-liner ready viz "Sh*t !!!!! we left the kids at home !!!")

Joke and siuation-wise, it was far too good for 90% of the audience yesterday (i.e. the under-10s - OK and probably some of the over-30s). Cracking soundtrack - as Captain Hook and the witches and the baddies dive-bombed Far-Far-Away ....."Joker and the Thief" by Wolfmother kicked in !! It was pointless me telling anyone...other good toons included Led Zeppelin ("Immigrant Song") and Damien Rice ("9 wotsits").

A film that comes recommended - try to go for a late showing that's not full of under-10s who are keeping up the "childhood obesity" thing thanks to the ludicrous sized popcorn boxes - and soft parenting - should do it the same way we did it - i.e. leave the buggers at home....well they are 14, 19 and 21 !!!

A New Toy ...

...arrived at "Smiffy Towers" on Friday courtesy of the fine vendors at eBay - a new lens for the camera. I wanted something betweeen the 19-35 and the 70-300 lenses - so went for a 28-105. Unfortunately the F3.5-4.5 was slightly "above budget" so plonked for t'other one (F4-5.6 - half the price !).

And then - got one on eBay for just £55 - about half the RRP - or a week's ciggie money in old currency - so it feels like a bargain to me. I had a play with it last night ..

....must clean our kitchen window on the inside ....

Mossley's answer to Parc Guell in Barcelona - our garden wall....

..a "succulent" apparently !!

Oddballs from This Week ...

...courtesy of "baby camera"..




Cheadle Hulme awaits - maybe a quality butty at lunch-time for me !!





Brother-in-law David enters the "Steve Burr Lookalike Competition" in Belper last Saturday.





Painters are in at Stalybridge Buffet Bar - so the memorabilia comes down ....





A special beer at the Buffet this week from Millstone Brewery of Mossley - RIP Eric.






A rare sight on Stockport Station - the arrival of the "ghost train" is announced....

The Full "New Mossley Manager Binge"

Wide awake now !! Could put them on photobucket - but sod it - here's the pix you won't see in the "Tameside Reporter" or the "Oldham Chronicle"...

Better than the one I put on last night !!

New Boss with "new board" - I bet they all use Daz for those "difficult stains" !!

"Posy pic" number 1 - Gerry Quinn or Bobby Robson ?

"Posy Pic" number 2 - "My first wage slip"

"Posy Pic" number 3 - "Did I really sign that ??"

All comments totally tongue in cheek of course - last night there was a real buzz at the Quiz Night - it all bodes well for the new season - comfort and confidence off the pitch can only help to inspire on the pitch !!

Sorry Guys/Gals - too bloody tired ...

For starters...new Mossley manager Gerry Quinn last night (I just HAVE to make sure I beat the pros from Reporter & Oldham Chron) - somehow ...I have more pix from tonight - but please live with it - I'm knackered .....I give you Gerry Quinn...

P.S. our quiz team came 2nd ...

Seel Park - 19th June 2007

The work parties start at 1830 - not even home most nights - managed to get up a touch later, to see the guys "just finishing" (apart from Derek Howard who they all left to carry on !!).


Some pictures ...

..and yeah - I'm probably trying to make a point ....one down two to go ....

Brief update - Fathers Day and all that ...

Saturday saw party at Belper to cover several birthdays (including daughter's 21st) - spent most of the afternoon burning meat and veggy kebabs.

Sunday - lazy day - drove home - watched Superman 2 on telly - finished off all beer in house.

Presents - oh yes - two packets of Jelly Babies (long gone) - a "Gigsworth" of CompactFlash card for the "beast" - and (listening to it now) the new Turisas album "The Varangian Way".

No beer - work beckons .....

(That was worth waiting for wasn't it ?!?!?)

It's been Lonely since last August.....

But not now - ha ha ha...well I ran out of ideas basically for the "wristy" website - but here's one that should have made it.

Download 2007 - the Review - for starters anyway..

It’s short and it’s sweet – but it comes out before Kerrang ! This is what I saw/heard/missed …

FRIDAY

Turbonegro – didn’t quite make it to see them following a slight problem with the breakfast/lunch menu (that’s the first and last time I try AfterShock – drugged by my son’s mates – dreadful !).

Dragonforce – One of my highlights – completely ruined by godawful sound. I tried all sorts of postions in relation to the stage – but it just didn’t happen – was extremely hacked off.

Wolfmother – on straight after Dragonforce – and the sound was perfect ! Excellent set as well – tight and efficient (their Manchester Apollo gig this year stood out for me and daughter as well).

Velvet Revolver – Very very good indeed – stuff from new album “Libertad” went down well. (COVER WARNING – “Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads).

Hayseed Dixie – Sorry My Chem fans, you’ll have to look elsewhere for a review (believe they
were bottled, but played through it - big up to them) – I went for a hoe-down instead and had a grand time. (COVER WARNING – Lots actually !!!)

SATURDAY

Turisas – Marvellous marvellous – worth getting up early for – the instigators of “Battle Metal” – or so they told us (COVER WARNING – “Rasputin” – Boney M).

HELLYEAH – Hell no !!

Shadows Fall – they’re on the list – but nothing stood out really.

Only heard from afar – Bowling for Soup (COVER WARNING – “I Wanna be Sedated” – Ramones).

Machine Head – sorry guys, left me completely cold – what’s with this “shouty voice” stuff ?

Slayer – Once you get used to the strange time signatures ….. and not as “shouty” as Machine Head either.

Lez Zeppelin – Very good – very faithful to the “real thing” (COVER WARNING – All of ‘em!!).

Marilyn Manson – Enjoyed it very much – once you get behind the posturing/make-up etc – you find some good heavy music.

Motley Crue – A right shambolic set - some good bits, some awful bits – guess that’s exactly what I should have expected….

Linkin Park - Caught the last couple of tracks – sounded OK.

SUNDAY

LostAlone – The local band (from Derby anyways) – destined for bigger and better things.

Papa Roach – Another pleasant surprise – good set – they still have something to offer rock’n’roll.

Devil Driver – Good musically – but oh that “shouty voice”.

Lamb of God – Good musically – but again that “shouty voice” - why ?? Best remembered - by me - for the Spitfire/Hurricane flypast during their set !

Stone Sour – Pleasantly surprised here – a very good set with better-balanced vocal than I was expecting – i.e not too much of a “shouty voice” ! (believe they covered a Slipknot song – but that’s allowed !). They had a flock of geese soaring gracefully across the top of the stage during their set.

Within Temptation – Some problems (sound ? gear ?) meant a much-reduced set (probably not even 20 minutes) – but a great 20 minutes – sat behind the desk – couldn’t see a thing – but the sound was awesome.

Dimmu Borgir – Another find for me – very black, very heavy, very good – to be looked into ….

Dream Theater – Strange brew here - mostly heavy then throwing the odd jazz piano – jury still out !

Iron Maiden – Wallowed a bit (nostalgia trip ??) but hey – did what they do best – and did it well

Top 3 Bands of the Weekend ?? Wolfmother, Velvet Revolver Turisas – there were plenty of equal fourths though !!

As with most festivals – for me anyway – Scandinavia always seems to help to save the day/weekend – over the years we’ve had Turbonegro @ Leeds, Soundtrack of our Lives @ Leeds, Hives @ Leeds. This year two of ‘em.

My problem this year (and the last few years @ Download and Leeds) is the “shouty voice” – there’s some great musicians out there, but for me, it’s ruined by this style of singing voice – the only one’s that can do it properly are the Scandinavians !! A Yank or a Limey – just not right – and I’m sure it’s not only me who thinks that this type of voice detracts from the music. Ozzy never needed it – Zippy from Dragonforce doesn’t need it (he just needs a decent sound engineer/sound system !!). It’s not nice – it’s not big – and it’s not clever. For me it’s good bands out there needing decent vocalists.

Photos to follow (remember tis only Baby Camera - I'm a law-abiding citizen !!) at:

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/Download2007/

Really hacks me off though - I've no intention of making any money out of pix - pix for the people and all that stuff - I certainly missed the "EOS beast" over the weekend...

Download Beckons !

Hey Ho let’s go !! Off to Castle Donington after work today for a weekend of ear-bashing at Download. The butler and maid were dispatched in the Rolls this morning to erect my marquee and chill the champers (OK son and daughter went down – in our car !! – to put up the tents and organise the 24-packs – I arrive in dirty student style via train and shuttle bus !!).

For me, Friday is probably the best day, with Turbonegro, Dragonforce, Wolfmother and finishing off with Hayseed Dixie. Within Temptation and Iron Maiden (Sunday) and Motley Crue (Saturday) will not be missed either – otherwise I shall spend a while wandering round checking out some - to me anyway - new stuff (Turisas have been recommended and Dimmu Borgir sound “interesting”)

Won’t be taking the “big camera” – apparently it’s against regulations – I really need to wangle some press accreditation from somewhere. So it’s a weekend of Fuji Finepix, for better for worse.

So – nowt till Monday – take the weekend off !!

Busy Weekend 3 - Long Sunday Walk

Out of front door - turn left - to Scout Green - over to Heyheads - through to Buckton Vale/Castle Clough - onto Roman Road - over to Dove Stone Reservoir (tea/pop/ice cream stop) - across dam - through Binn Green Car Park - over to "Pots'n'Pans" monument - along the ridge - down to the "Church" at Uppermill (beer stop -whoo-hoo !) - down onto bridle path through Uppermill - arrived Greenfield - onto canal towpath - back to Mossley. Mileage - haven't a clue (couldn't be *rsed with GPS !). Got home just before the rain mind...pictures - took a few - nowt special mind so ...try to imagine the whole thing - oh go on then ..

Looking back towards Mossley on the Roman Road....

Boaty things on Dove Stone Reservoir..

Planty things outside the "Church" @ Uppermill...

Busy Weekend 2 - Andrew Booth Benefit @ Woodley Sports

I'd heard about this via the Woodley Sports Message Board - Andy Booth, a former Stockport Georgians player, had died suddenly whilst on holiday in Spain - aged 27 years old..... Offerton Green (Andy's Sunday side) were therefore trying to organise "stuff" to help out - they were hoping to set up a trust fund for his young son Jake - and one of the events was a football do at Woodley Sports last Saturday. It's football Smiffy - let's go - and contribute to a good cause as well.

A glorious day - and as I walked through the turnstiles - donating of course - I saw something that you don't often see at Lambeth Grove - namely a crowd ! I'm not being nasty here of course, but if you've been there for Unibond games when the attendance didn't "quite" reach three figures, you'll know what I mean. Huge amounts of traffic meant my trusty 330 bus from Ashton took nearer 40 minutes rather than the advertised 27 - so I turned up later than I'd hoped. I snatched a quick pint (not enough bar staff - not used to it see !) and cames outside in time for the "One Minutes Applause" by all the teams and officials involved.

After that - I just took some pictures - I have no idea which teams were involved - I was unable to keep track of the "Round Robin" results - and I've no idea which team won - especially as the "final" finished 1-1 and there was no extra time or pens (I heard a vicious rumour that the ref said "Give it to the Greens" - QED !!

Here's a couple or more of viciously reduced pictures from the day - the good (i.e. full-size) ones are residing on a CD somewhere between a chap involved with Stockport Georgians (who happens to share the same workplace as me in Cheadle Hulme) and the organisers - if they can make any money out of them - good luck to 'em.





I know what some of you might be thinking - you are WRONG ! This guy for me was one of the "Players of the Day" - great vision, calm under pressure at the back and a sweet left foot - went by the name/moniker of "Asa" - and if that refers to Asa Hartford - they're not far wrong.






See the "rubber crumb" fly up from the 3G "Field Turf" surface...





Part of possibly my best pic of the day (?) - the ball was blurred in the uncropped original mind !!





Picture taken during a "lost ball" moment - "spiritus footballus !!"



Let's hope that lots of cash was raised for Andy's family and dependents - I'm sure everyone who turned up/played/drank beer had a grand afternoon out - I did.

Busy Weekend 1 - Whit Friday

Once upon a time I found it possible to enjoy a Whit Friday from early doors until very very last doors - the thrill of the chase in the morning to find an open pub at 0830 (in the days before all-day opening) - dressing up the kids in their bestest clothes (and if they were lucky people might give them money !). Watching the Churches and some of the bands march through Mossley. Repairing back to the pub for the afternoon, before the band contests started early evening.

While this belief continues for many, for others it's just a glorified p*ss-up involving many who are incapable of holding their drink. In fact a few years ago in Mossley all the pubs closed for a three-hour "cooling off" period in the afternoon.

Now the kids are old enough, I've no real need to take the day off - so this year was, I make it the third time in the 23 years I've lived here that I went to work on Whit Friday.

Went out in the evening mind - a lovely day - so it heading towards the New Bridge Inn (the Bottom Mossley Band Contest venue), before veering off down the canal towpath towards Freizland (not too far, but "over the border" in Oldham !). The trestle-table bar contained three different Millstone Brewery offerings on handpump - can't complain ! We then wandered further up the canal before trying a quick one in the "Railway" @ Greenfield (and checking on the England score !) before going down to the Greenfield Village venue, followed by some Black Sheep Bitter in the "Clarence" and a gentle walk home.

Took some pictures - of course..

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/WhitFriday2007/

And the Answer was .. Steve Burr

Well the world's best-kept secret (?) is out ..and the Stalybridge Celtic Message Board is humming !

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mo.../BridgeManager/

Tonight's Gig ...

...has to be up at Stalybridge Celtic's ground where the new Manager is to be unveiled by new Chairman Rob Gorski. There's been plenty of names bandied about, although the post was allegedly filled last midweek (so that should discount ex-Northwich boss Steve Burr - shouldn't it - eh - eh ??). All will be revealed later on - I hope to bring exclusive pix too !! (For what it's worth my educated guess has been Peter Davenport - but hey - what do I know about football ??)

One for the Forgers.....

They arrived on Saturday whilst I was away walking up Dent way ....

Please note that this site does not condone any forging/scamming by idle/unemployed/students/chavs in any way or form. I've gone to work - I've paid my taxes - I've earned my gig - all ticket forgers should either be summarily shot or kept in a small cell in preparation for the next war now that Donald Pleasance is sadly no more. By all means practice on gig tickets - but your time will come when the POWs need an "ausweis" or a European Health Insurance Card.

Football - yes I watched the game today - right result (in this "50% Derby" household anyway) - but the better team lost - didn't they ??

The Close Season

S'pose the thing to say here is - don't expect too much during the close season - I could write a blurb about the Morecambe v Exeter game (it's rare I can sit at home and watch football on a Sky channel - I refuse to pay daft money, and it was a welcome surprise to find the Conference play-off on the Sky Sports News Channel !!) - but I won't - suffice to say I'm dead chuffed for Morecambe.

Loads to think about over the next few months - Mossley - still no Manager; Stalybridge - still no Manager; Hyde - grumbling about admission rices hitting the magical £10; Droylsden - eagerly awaiting the Conference National; Curzon - promoted (including a local derby against Mossley); Ashton United - beating the drop and getting ready for action with new Manager Danny Johnson (and a fourth turnstile !!!!). At least Woodley appear to have a new Manager !

Summer also means time off football and time with family - trips arranged include Dowload Festival at Donnington with the two eldest kids, a long weekend in the Yorkshire Dales and a week climbing mountains in Ireland (OK Carrantoohil). Also arranged however is a three-day trip to Holland with Belper Town FC in early August. The big "Mossley handover" happens on 30th June - the day after is the annual Mossley sponsored walk around the grounds of Tameside - six grounds, several pubs !!

Watch this space - but the updates may not be as regular - you have been warned !!

Cup Final Day ....

So Chelsea won with a goal - with an only goal in the 116th minute. Bet that was painful to watch - especially if you'd paid daft money for the privilege. Still it probably wasn't much better in the pubs'n'clubs of Greater Manchester - and beyond.

Still I managed an 11 mile walk - a pint of Moorhouses "Blonde Witch" - got soaked up to my knees - and have also done some serious damage to my left hand - it's still swelling up several hours after the "incident" - have had to remove wedding ring due to a large amount of swelling on that finger - and the bruising's looking cute as well.

For my view on the Cup Final afternoon see...

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/WalkingPix/Whitewell%20Circular%2019May07/

Beats watching that overpaid, overhyped stuff....I think...several beers are not acting as pain-killers though !!!

Bad luck Oldham as well ...

Looking back on the week ...the end is nigh...

Following last Saturday's game at Dukinfield Town, I think it was pretty well certain that football as we know it is coming to a close this season. A tricky one - think tomorrow - think FA Cup Final - I can't remember the last time I watched one - and with it being an all-London affair (ha ha) .....

This week I've seen a couple of "first halves" in the play-off stakes - Monday's 45 mins betwixt Shrewsbury and MK Dons (?) was awful - a sad/sodden end to Gay Meadow really. I caught most of the first 45 of Derby v Southampton - although arriving at the pub after 9 mins I missed both opening goals - and then had to return home before the real action started (although I was in full txt contact with Darlo who was there at Pride Park - fingernails ?? !!!). Final twixt Derby and West Brom...

That's probably the only game left where I have any interest - because I know Dave Bax from Ashton is a "Baggie" and was there for the second leg against the Wolves (a team - where if I really went back in my life - I wanted to win).. sod it - here we go ..when I was a lad, no when I was a baby in pushchair - my Grandad Sid - who worked at St Georges (the mental hospital as it was in those days) in Stafford - used to take me to Marston Road to watch the Rangers - gave my Mum and Dad a break ..as time went on - and I grew biggerer - we'd do Stafford one weekend and Wolves the next - because they used to take a coachload from the hospital down to Molineux (putting it in the nicest possible way, it was a coachload of the "safer" patients) - we'd all go in the disabled enclosure (just adjacent to the old North Bank) - and I'd "tag along"....saw some good stuff back in the mid/late 60's....oh shut up Michael ...

Thursday saw me up at Hurst Cross for the Ashton United Quiz Night - a well-attended effort despite Mossley having a quiz night on the same night, and Curzon Ashton holding their Presentation Evening and Droylsden .....(fill in excuse - not heard one yet). The quiz was won by the Dukinfield Town team who belied their relegation position in the Manchester League to come out with an amazing 91 out of 100. The Mossley team (i.e. me !) managed an almost respectable 57 out of 100 - and DID NOT finish bottom (OK we/I were/was still in the relegation postions but ...) - a good night was had by all and over £100 was raised for the local Willow Wood Hospice - for more info (and pictures) try..

http://www.takeforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=853&mforum=aufcforum

So who's gonna win tomorrow - s'pose I should err towards the mighty Reds - but I reckon the biggest winners will be the beer sellers, the hot dog sellers and so forth - I'm looking forward to a three-dayer in Holland in August with Belper Town - I bet in total that 72 hour bash will cost me a lot less than most people will spend tomorrow in less than 15 hours.

Long live Non-League.

Dukinfield Town v Rochdale SH - Update

The weather was not too promising as I left Mossley on the 1257 train to Ashton – a valid attempt was made in Ashton to buy a cover for the monopod – failed, so sulked ove a quick pint of Phoenix “West Coast IPA” in the “Station” pub before catching a bus in the general direction of Dukinfield Town FC. My choice of bus (i.e. wrong) left me with a brisk 15 minute walk to Woodhams Park. On one of the adjacent pitches I clocked the (very) end of the first half of a game between Stalybridge Celtic Supporters and a team of Liverpool fans, before stepping “through the wall”.

I then met Jason, the Duki Town secretary – who I haven’t seen for the best part of 20 years ago !! He was then called “Oscar” and was Mossley secretary Brian Cowburn’s “right-hand man/oppo”- now he finds himself as a Club Secretary – and running the 3rd team as well ! It was a “must win” game today – and hoping that Breightmet failed to beat Royton Town.

Onto the game, and I noticed a couple of familiar faces from the Cup-winning Woodley Sports team of a couple of weeks ago, Rob Parsonage (today wearing 5) and Sam Walker (today wearing no bloodied bandage !). Also spotted were Mark Phillips (ex-Mossley – top defender) and Councillor Brian Wild, supporting his local team. Duki started the more positive team – however after about 10 minutes Rochdale got a free-kick just outside the box which pinged against the bar. This had the desired effect – straight down the other end, one-on-one with the keeper…..missed ! However it was Dukinfield who raced into a 3-0 in a heavily-extended first-half – due to a clash of Duki keeper’s head and Rochdale forward’s teeth/mouth – not pretty – and there is no photographic evidence of this one ! Hope he's OK.

On Jason’s advice I popped into the Duki Town clubhouse (which I never knew existed !) for a half-time pint. Noted they were also doing pie & peas (may have been the norm – may have been due to the Stalybridge/Liverpool supporters game mentioned earlier).

When I came out, Duki were just kicking-off…start of second half – no….3-1…no…it was bloomin’ 3-2. All the hard work of the first 45 (OK 59) minutes almost chucked in the first five minutes of the second d half !! However the return of the strange man with a camera on a big stick seemed to settle them down a bit (well you never know !!) – and I wandered round the other side of the pitch to listen to an amusing spat between linesman and several of the left-sided Rochdale team vis-à-vis the offside rule – and the lack of flagging. When the opposite linesman popped his flag into the air one player turned to “my” linesman and said “Look – he knows how to do it !!” – made me laugh anyway. Naturally the next goal – the Duki Town 4th - was tinged with a bit of offside – although in fairness I was fairly well-positioned to judge - and I’d go with the liner’s decision. 4-2 – safe ?? Not a bit of it – still time for Rochdale to grab a third and tighten a few sphincters - but 4-3 was how it finished up.

A quick pint in the club before shooting off (Manchester with Mrs Smiffy in the evening). Just time to check the score of the other game with Jason – not good news unfortunately – Breighmet had won – so Duki’s position in the Premier Division of the Manchester League in severe danger – we’ll see what the summer (and the AGMs/ground grading committee’s etc) brings …

Incidentally how many football grounds do you know, where the adjacent pub has a Sea Harrier Jump Jet in the back garden ?? It was going to be a blooming Vulcan at one stage !! I give you "The Snipe" in Dukinfield...