No not the radio 4 programme or the 80s British RnB band.
No, we are talking the loose ends that a lazy, or as I prefer to describe it, BUSY TLF left trailing in her wordy wake since her last missive. The domestic season is well and truly over and only the arrival of the World Cup is ensuring we avoid an unhealthy excess of quality couple time Chez TLF. TLF needs to finish what she started so eyes down for a whistle stop tour of how the rest of April and most of May panned out.
Loose end one (Sustainable behaviours)
The last home game of the season (play-offs pending) sees the Mighty Saints not only crossing everything but also making an active contribution to the worthy cause that is St Albans Sustainability Week. Sustainability covers many topics including health (physical and mental), the environment and the importance of community. As ever TLF was keen to learn, particularly on a beautiful day that started with park run, took in the game and finished with an end of season knees up in some very good company. So here for those who perhaps weren’t engaged as they could have been are TLF’s key dos and don’ts for a sustainable Satday.
DO join the walking bus. Good company, good for the environment and for the legs.
All aboard!
DON’T ignore the need to refuel the walking bus. Otherwise the elf and safety will be after you.
Bus stop
DO, when you know you have a long day ahead of you, pace yourself. (NB we all have our own definitions of ‘pacing’. For myself and a car-free (and carefree come to that) Red Julie this involves the following script:
One of us (it will vary): Do you fancy another?
The other one: We ought to pace ourselves; it’s gonna be a long day.
OOU: Yeah. I guess.
TOO: Ah f8ck it; I’ll get em in.
DON’T hold someone’s pint while they go to the loo. People will mock you and christen you 3 pints
They are NOT all mine!
DO, when the club has rightly encouraged lots of small people to attend, rise above the fact that these small people have chosen to sit down on the terracing where the ‘grown ups’ usually stand.
DON’T be surprised when this large pack of small people, occupying ‘our space’ turn around open mouthed when we vocally express our frustrations, from a rather cramped space at the back of the terracing, at the match officials.
DO share your chocolatey raffle prize with friends
DON’T pretend that a sharing a bottle of prosecco and a bottle of wine while you get changed for the evening ‘do’ is an example of ‘pacing’ yourself. You are fooling no one. Even if you do line your stomach with a cheese and pickle buttie.
DO assess, in a sober moment, just how appropriate it is, at a social event, to correct both your team manager and captain’s pronunciation of next week’s opponents Bath (or Barth as they prefer). When you have done that assessment pay attention to the outcome….
DON’T in the interests of your relationship, when you roll in at 1am after the end of season shindig, wake your partner up. And if you do, DON’T spend the next 20 minutes telling him how lovely team captain, David Noble is.
Loose end two (Roman exchange)
Being a dutiful auntie, an away trip to Bath gives TLF the chance to meet her 11 month old niece for the first time (oops). The kid seems a laid back sort, not quite ready for an afternoon on the beer so we meet for brunch, she resplendent in her Mighty Saints hoody. I think she might need to have a word with her older brother who had, to the amusement of Mr TLF, asked the day before WHY I wanted to go and watch football.
Although to be honest as we watched the Mighty Saints we might have asked the same question. We needed a miracle, a lot of clear goals for us, and results going our way elsewhere. An early penalty save by the Saints suggested maybe it would be our day. But it wasn’t to be. At least it wasn’t to be on the pitch. Off it, as usual was a different story. From an AD43 takeover of the Ale House….which briefly became a tourist attraction as bemused Japanese tourists took photos of the invading Verulamium hordes,
to the classic pre-match refuelling
All the major food groups
to the Bath City half time beer ordering system (oh yes)
It’s like being at the theatre!
to a memorable (vaguely) train journey home in the best of company…as ever.
Loose end three (un)Happy Birthday
Prima facie evidence if ever it was needed that the footballing fixture Gods really can be cruel.
Lesta v West Ham.
TLF v Mr TLF
On her birthday.
Oh Hahaha.
Chuck in Luton away in the north, a Satday train service run by morons who don’t check the fixture list and you have a birthday not fit for a TLF.
Mr TLF chose not to be magnanimous in victory, treating a late TLF (see reference to trains) to a claret and blue victory dance complete with scarf on her return. Fortunately a good haul of presents and a bank holiday weekend to extend the non-football related celebrations, ensured there was no birthday massacre.
Loose end four (There maybe trouble ahead)
The unwelcome close season news was that the City Council didn’t intend to include a new ground for the Mighty Saints in its local plan. Not good; Clarence Park is much loved but is not a sustainable home. What was better news was that the co-ordinated response of SBYS and many, many others said all you need to know about how much the Mighty Saints means to so many brilliant people, many of whom I am lucky enough to call my friends. We made a case, people listened and there is some hope.
Onwards and upwards.
Loose ends tidied.
Knotty Fox
#MyCityMeans