The Football Curse

I have the afternoon off so that I can head over to Newark to help set up our dog show for tomorrow. We are not allowed in the arena until 5pm so I have most of the afternoon with the boys which naturally involves ball chucking.

Then I take them over to Newark with me but it all ends up being a bit boring for them as the weather turns wet and they don’t get to get out of the car.

Setting up is complete by about 7:30 and then it’s a rush to get home for the Derby v Leicester FA Cup game which I would have liked to have gone to but it just wasn’t possible with us having the show. At least the BBC have obliged by showing it live.

I get home only ten minutes after the 7:55 kick off but Derby are one down by then after Darren Bent’s laughable own goal. I open a beer, sit down and enjoy the Derby fightback as they score twice to lead 2-1 until four minutes from time when Leicester score again to force a replay.

By then L has come in from the gym and has naturally reignited the football curse that she thinks follows her around.

We console ourselves, well I console myself I'm not sure L is that bothered, by ordering a takeaway curry from the tackily named Curry Busters on Hartley Road. It was a punt in the dark as we wouldn’t have got our usual curry house The Park Tandoori to deliver on a Friday night and neither of us wanted to walk there but surprisingly Curry Busters come up trumps with a mightily tasty meal. Although we do order extra rice that we don’t need which will keep the dogs going all next week.

(Friday 27^th January)

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)