These Are The Things Nightmares Are Made Of

Today we get up nice and early, pack up our stuff, then de-hair the cottage. This is still quicker than decamping from our usual campsite. Again we head off to Newby Bridge hoping that this time today’s parkrun at 9am in Fell Foot Park will be on. It is.

L runs while the boys and I support.

Then we head back down the M6 to home. We get back in time for me to do a quick turnaround before heading off to the match. I probably wouldn’t have bothered heading back for a normal league game but this is the FA Cup 3^rd Round. It may only be Conference club Southport and these are the things nightmares are made of for the bigger clubs but I had to be there.

It nearly was a nightmare too as Southport dug in and defended for their lives against what was effectively a second string Derby side. It looked like they were going to get themselves a replay when one of their defenders carelessly conceded a penalty in practically the last minute.

Chris Martin scored it and that was Derby through to round four.

In the evening we have been invited out by one of my old school chums as it’s his birthday. There’s actually quite a crowd of folk as we start in the Brunswick before moving onwards to the Alexandra, the Smithfield and the Royal Standard. They are then heading off to the Exeter but we need to head for our bus home.

I’ve never seen my mate drink so much in the all the year’s I’ve known him. Hope he’s ok!

(Saturday 3^rd January)