Season’s Greetings One And All

Well everybody, this is the last blog of the year and I’d like to start by thanking you all for reading and wish you season’s greetings:  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, whatever takes your fancy.  Maureen and I are amazed and delighted that so many of you are still reading our meanderings, golfing and otherwise and keep encouraging us to keep going, whether that’s wise or not….All being well, we’ll be back next year, refreshed and raring to rock and roll all over again.

Mo tells me that this is a golf blog, so I’d better mention that our golf last Tuesday –  the Christmas comp – was cancelled because the weather was so wet and ‘orrible.  All was not lost because I met up with my partners for a coffee and a chat before heading off to watch Spurs against Slavia Prague.  That meant missing the Xmas dinner and dance at WHGC (Abba featured on the menu) but at least we won the match 3-nil – an own goal and two pens – and my seat (not my usual) was one of the best.

Great view – and I could stand if I wanted to because we were at the back of a row with only hospitality bods behind us (on a higher level altogether).

My neighbours were regulars and told me that their seats cost £1600.  “Wow,” said a young man who’d come up to check out the view, ” that’s a lot for 19 matches.”  A lot more than my two seats together but the best I’d ever sat in, only available because somebody’s godson couldn’t go.  Many thanks to him.

It was lovely because I wasn’t miles away from Sonny – Heung-min Son, Spurs legend – when he came on to the pitch to say goodbye to us properly after ten or so wonderful years (he’d announced he was leaving on our summer tour in South Korea) and receive a special cockerel from Ledley King, another club legend.  They’ve both got great  beyond-life-size murals not far from the ground, along with Harry Kane.  Sonny’s now playing in America but boy, could we do with him at his peak now!

Sonny, right, receiving his memento from Ledley.  V emotional.

You’ll undoubtedly be delighted to know that my last two trips to N17 have been relatively troublefree and wonder of wonders, we’ve won both matches after an appalling run of home results. We’d been the opponents of choice for any team struggling to get points away from home and we Spurs fans had to trek off disconsolate, time after time after time.

Mind you, even a good journey back after an evening match means getting home at two in the morning.  The train from Birmingham International to Euston takes just over an hour in the afternoon but the 2300 from Euston to International takes two hours 17 minutes, if you’re lucky.  Apparently, Network Rail take(s) over the track at night to do works and fast trains are diverted on to slow lines (and make more stops).

I was going to regale you with all the gory details of my mate John’s journey from the depths of Derbyshire last Saturday, en route to that rarity, a three o’clock kick off but it’s nearly a novel in itself.  The Oracle as he’s known – he’s the fount of all knowledge when it comes to Spurs and football – uses spreadsheets to plan his travels (he used to have a season ticket for Derby and is still a regular at Burton Albion home and away games) and some of his routes are less than straightforward.  I’ll attempt to précis this one….

It started at 0847 with a walk to catch a bus to Burton-on-Trent; then a walk to catch a train to Tamworth (three carriages, no seats); at Tamworth the 1056 train to Nuneaton had been cancelled because of passengers causing a disruption; at 1157 caught 1156 to Nuneaton but very crowded so no seat; 1211 arrived Nuneaton in plenty of time for 1242 to Euston (coming from Manchester Piccadilly)….

However, at 1235 there was a commotion on the platform and the 1242 was held on the station approach.  A man at the end of the platform was letting his children run around near the platform edge and was ignoring all requests to keep them under control; lots of apologies from the staff and the British Transport Police were summoned to sort things out.  Eventually, the 1242 left at 1314 and arrived at Euston at 1411, 90 minutes late, irony of ironies…Then it was the tube to Tottenham Hale, a brisk walk and John was in his seat at 1455, impeccable timing – if it had been part of the plan.

The match, thank goodness, went well – we won 2-nil – and John set off home with a happy heart.  He boarded the 1813 from Euston to Manchester, 56 mins non-stop to Nuneaton but things started to go wrong at 1828 when they ground to a halt just after Harrow and Wealdstone because the rear brake of the train in front had jammed; John’s train ends up reversing and is passed by a steam train, which makes him think they’ve all drifted inside Doctor Who’s Tardis….

Anyway the upshot is that he reaches Nuneaton at 2137, two hours 27 minutes late; sees that his train to Tamworth is delayed by 50 minutes because of an earlier incident; and gives up the unequal struggle.  He summons a taxi, which arrives at 2230 and deposits him home at 2310.

It was, he said, with admirable restraint:  “A ridiculous and crazy day.”

John, on a day when he had time to spare, in front of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with me (left) and Essie.  We are probably, like all footie fans, completely nuts.  COYS.

Finally, two musical pics to end with:  at the CBSO on Wednesday for Kazuki Conducts Strauss with a seat in the stalls for £1 (normally £50 but it was a very special offer).

Eduardo Vassallo, the leader of the CBSO cellos for 36 years, takes an emotional bow.  It was his last performance in that role.

And, on a smaller but no less important scale, the Serenade Trio at the Wednesday session of Everybody Sings!

Helen (left), Lisa and Clare setting the Christmas tone.

Thank you all for the music and the fun.