An Expensive way to keep the Bench Warm!
I had to laugh on Match of the Day last night, when the camera cut to all the expensive players that Manchester City have bought sitting quietly on the bench. They looked as bored as sin. I suppose I would if I was paid all that money and didn’t make the team.
But at least the right result happened as Sunderland won.
Don’t you just love it, when mega-rich people make a complete fool of themselves! I suppose though that it all redistributes the money, especially when your Italian striker crashes his £120,000 car.
Portsmouth on September the 11th
This will be my next match following Ipswich Town.
It might also need a bit of planning to get round the various ticketing regulations on the trains.
The easiest way would be to turn up at Whittlesford and buy a return ticket for Fratton, which is the nearest station to the ground. But this might be a problem as the ticket office there was unmanned yesterday and the automatic machine had been positioned so that the morning sunlight made it difficult to read.
Badly-Sited Ticket Machine at Whittlesford
These people were certainly having problems, so buying a ticket or collecting it from there might be a problem. I suppose I could get my ticket posted to my home.
So I think that I might take the train from Dullingham and go via Cambridge and King’s Cross, as I can buy a ticket from the conductor on the train. King’s Cross to Waterloo is also easier on the Underground than Tottenham Hale to Waterloo.
But the problem is that I can’t get a taxi at Dullingham, but I can pre-book one at Whittlesford.
But there is an additional complication. I want to have lunch with a friend at Micheldever, which is on the line to Fratton. So my journrey will actually be in three legs; Whittlesford to Micheldever, Micheldever to Fratton and Fratton to Whittlesford. It used to be that if you broke a journey and then continued on a later train in the same direction, that you could do this on the same ticket. I suspect this is now off the menu.
What is needed is a simple multiple ticket web site, where I enter the trains I want to travel on and then they post them to my house or I pick them up reliably at the first station.
I suspect that because of regulations though, I’ll need to buy a Whittlesford-Fratton return and buy an extra single ticket to get from Micheldever to Fratton.
And people think I’m getting paranoid!
Since I wrote that, I’ve found another problem. Not all trains to Fratton start from Waterloo and those of those that do not all go through Michedever, but the booking sites don’t seem to say which. It’s all very complicated. The Internet is supposed to make things simple not more difficult. Perhaps it would be easier to turn up and go at Waterloo and buy the tickets there. But that would mean I would have to leave earlier in the morning!
Ipswich Sitting Pretty
There is an old phrase about pride before a fall, so can Ipswich be proud that they are third in the nPower Championship, bearing in mind that they have to play the two teams above them; QPR and Cardiff City in their next two home games after Portsmouth away.
So we can all enjoy the league position, whilst we sit out the next few days of the International break.
New Readers
I was given a write-up in the Ipswich Town program today and some people who visit, may have been directed from the program.
Don’t take anything I say too seriously, as underneath it all I try to amuse and inform. Remember too, I have other interests outside Ipswich Town, like art, architecture, engineering and trains. I also feel that one of the ways we’re going to get this country out of the mess it’s in, is by appreciating what we’ve got here in these Isles and enjoying it. Who would have thought that a visit to Middlesbrough or Crewe could be so enjoyable. But they genuinely were and I shall be visiting other places in the next few months, that might be equally unpromising. Hopefully, they’ll be equally enjoyable, even if Town don’t win or the trip has nothing to do with football.
The next trips will be Portsmouth and Scunthorpe.
Feel free to post comments. I reserve the right to remove those that are not constructive!
Is Something or Someone Getting At Me?
I’m certain, I’ve read it somewhere, but when you have a stroke you do get a slightly bit paranoid.
I have had a couple of good days, but things seem to keep going wrong despite the most thorough planning beforehand.
It started on Monday, where the house I was wanting to buy in London failed its survey. Let’s face it, I’m crocked enough without having to worry about a house that’s about to fall down on top of me as well.
Yesterday, the plan was simple. I would take the train into Cambridge, play an hour of real tennis and then take a bus back to Newmarket, so that my secretary could pick me up, when she went into town to do the banking. The tennis was great and really does help my movement and left arm, but then Stagecoach intervened. I got to the Drummer Street Bus Station at about 13:45 and that should have given me plenty of time to catch the bus a few minutes after two. When you can’t drive, you get used to the waiting. At 14:40 or so I gave up, as despite the text system telling me three times buses were due, nothing arrived. Obviously Stagecoach have it in for me.
I walked to the train station to catch the next train to Dullingham, which meant a wait at the station until 15:43. But at least the train was on time, even if the single coach was very crowded.
Friday improved after that, as I watched the cricket, where Trott and Broad entertained everybody with some purposeful batting. Also, a friend came round with a goodbottle of wine for pasta in the evening and we put the horse racing industry to rights. He even brought my basset hound a friend to play with!
Today was very much a curate’s egg. It started well, as a friend took me to the station to get the train to London and the train was on-time all the way. I had been intending to see several houses in London with my son, but five viewings had been reduced to two overnight and both had problems. I just feel that something is telling me that I have to stay here for the winter as a punishment. Where I live may be beautiful and in the middle of the country, but when on some days, you see no-one except the postman and the paper lady it is not good. At least my basset hound hasn’t decided to go and live elsewhere!
At least, I was able to get to Ipswich to see Town beat Bristol City, with the help of Calamity James. Sorry David, but you were at fault for both goals. This blog was also publicised in the program.
My problems today started, when I tried to get home. The train to Bury St. Edmunds was on time, but I couldn’t find a taxi in the town. One number said that I could have a taxi at 21:30.
Eventually, I walked to the town centre and found one, that drove me home. But because he was on the rank, he was fifty percent more expensive.
So am I right to feel paranoid? If I’m honest, I suppose I should forgo the simple pleasures in life, like watching Ipswich Town and just watch what Sky deigns to make available.
But that would mean giving into those dark forces that are trying to make me miserable!
I am however made of sterner stuff and won’t let the bastard or bastards get me down!
The other problem is that the bastard getting at me, has made Monday a Bank Holiday. So that means family viewing on the box and no decent sport either.
Iranian Football Rules
Ali Karimi has been called the Maradona of Asian football. However, he has now upset the regime for various reasons according to this article.
It would appear that he broke the rules on fasting during Ramadan by drinking in a training session, but the BBC reckons the real reason is politics not religion as he showed open support for those that felt they had been cheated of victory in the elections.
A Good Trip to Crewe and Chester
It was a good trip, not only because Ipswich won and I was able to renew old memories in Chester, but also because of the little things that happened and that I discovered.
- Virgin’s First Class lounges made travel in my condition a bit easier.
- The Crewe Arms offered a comfortable bed and good coffee in the morning close to the station and the football.
- I had a very good curry in Passage to India in Crewe.
- The staff and stewards at Crewe Alexandra were pleasant and welcoming.
- Real pubs still exist in the most unlikely places.
- I got a nice complimentary gluten-free salad on the way back. So Virgin can do gluten-free, despite what I said earlier.
I shall definitely go to Crewe again, if Ipswich play there!
Crewe Heritage Centre
One of the few places that are worth seeing in Crewe is the Crewe Heritage Centre, which is a railway museum.
Unfortunately it was closed, despite it being the school holidays. But as it is within walking distance of the station and the football ground, it would be an ideal place to waste a few hours before an away match with Crewe Alexandra.
An Extra Well-Respected Supporter
In front of me was an unusual supporter. Trigger is a flat-coated retreiver and a guide dog.
Trigger at Crewe
Needless to say Trigger behaved himself , but he did show more interest in the pies at half-time, than the football.
I did have a chat with his owner and he said that the Emirates was the best stadium for guide-dogs. They even provide bowls and toilet area.
Surely we can’t let Arsenal get all the plaudits!
Ipswich Win at Crewe
I really enjoyed the game at Crewe last night.
I know Ipswich won, but the football was good and it could easily have gone to penalties.
I should also say, that Crewe’s stewards knew how to make visiting fans appear welcome. Something that some clubs could learn how to do!
I also had a problem in that I needed to take my medicine. That was no problem, as I asked one of the helpful staff in the refreshment hut, if I could have a glass of water. I got it without question.
That was typical of the attitude on the club.
Alexandra Stadium, Crewe
The Anonymous Widower 