August

August for me is without doubt the best month of the year - as it is usually the one where I take the bulk of my holidays. This year was no different, though was very much a staycation, as I had a boiler and new sofa to purchase. The joys home ownership!

Another thing that was no different this year was the weather. For the five years I have been able to take August off, the weather has been dreadful. As I write this, the weather has taken a turn for the better…typical!

The weather has been good for writing, which I have been doing with regularity. The aim is to send more and more stuff out, instead of hording it in folders and on my computer. I have also been tinkering with a website, this will be a portfolio, which is something that I have been meaning to do for a while. That can be found here, I will eventually move this blog over there, all in good time.

I was also planning to set up another blog site but that idea (which I will keep on the backburner for now) was taken over by another idea I had for a football blog. I quite enjoy watching football and if I’m not at Everton then I like to find myself watching non-league football. This is known as Groundhopping, not something I have done that extensively but over the years I have visited a few weird and wonderful grounds.



Speaking of football, the new season is upon us and so far I have seen Everton twice, first for the unique friendly versus their Chilean namesakes, which was an interesting game and good to see Everton winning 2-0...well they could not lose. It was a significant game for me also had a first in nearly thirty years (gulp…thirty years) of going to the game that I had managed to catch one of the toffees thrown by the Toffee Lady. The second game was the first league clash against Wolves, which I haven’t put finger to keyboard to write about, given that it was typically a last-game-on-Match-of-the-Day-type-game. Roll on November, when Everton normally start getting their act together.



After months spent with my head in books researching for new modules and programmes that I will be involved in at work next term it is nice to spend my summer reading books that may not be work related. The range of books may not have been be too heavy or too frothy; I certainly did not envisage reading Joyce’s Ulysses this year, which I did not.

One omission from the reading list that I notice, is that I have not read much fiction of late, I’m not too sure why that is. I have read a few short collections of flash fiction, which I quite liked, one is produced by the University of Chester called Flash. I have bought subscribed to this for a while now and it gets better with each issue. The other publications I managed to check out were Square which I managed to get through a couple of back issues that I had been accumulating. Square is a Welsh based publication with a healthy Stone Roses obsession. As well as Square, I picked up another small-scale flash fiction publications Nutshell. I may not pick up some of these publications again, but its good to see different styles of writing are out there, without having to spend too much time reading them. What I like about Flash Fiction is the ability to dip in and out of publications.

The other books I read included Joe Moran’s On Roads, Luke Haines Bad Vibes and Louise Wener’s which I have blogged about elsewhere on this blog.

Music wise I went to see John Grant and my thoughts on that gig can be found here. Also I have listened to a few albums over the last few weeks, the pick of which is very much the John Grant album Queen of Denmark. My thoughts can be found on that and the others that I listened to can be found here.

In-between my car being on blocks (three trips to the garage of late) this summer has taught me that a new car is needed I tried to get away for a few trips Buxton and Morecombe were the height of my travels which is a might frustrating.



So its back to work and typically the next month will disappear in the blink of an eye…soon it will be a new term and then…I wont say it but you know what.

24 Hours in the City

Today’s events could have been anywhere. Our mission to encapsulate the plan of the day was shrouded in a fog of grey cloud that meant it virtually impossible to see the skyline and the coast of the morning light.

It was a long day that encompassed all that Liverpool has to offer football, commerce, music and family are things that all can relate to. Given the nature of Sky and their demands as a broadcaster all points on the day were set up, lunchtime with the family watching the game reflecting on yet another derby defeat for Everton.
Then shopping in the afternoon at the wonderful Liverpool 1, the novelty has not worn off for me yet about this place. Numerous coffees consumed, and for the first time for me Sushi, though of the vegetarian kind.

In the evening still in the heartbeat of the city, a quick drink at the Everyman and then it was off to see Miles Hunt doing his stuff , not in the main auditorium but in the Rosewald Suite of the Philharmonic hall. He gets better every time I see him.

Tentatively heading for our mode our transport with thoughts of returning home after the day’s events, at a time when thoughts should be turning to bed, I still find time to pop in briefly for my cousin’s 30th birthday. Finally an hour and half into the new day, I make it into bed. It was a long day but an enjoyable one all the same.

The events took place on Saturday 6th February 2010

Get in!!!!

After 14 years in the cup wilderness Everton are in the FA Cup Final, following their win over Manchester United today.

Woo and indeed hoo!

There are places I remember

Today was my first trip to Goodison in 2007 and given the fact that my Nan died on the Thursday - the pilgrimage was all the more poignant.

My Nan was 91, and had been in poor health for the last year, though there is a shock when someone passes away - it was certainly something that had been expected.

For the last few years my Nan had lived in a home in Crosby, as the onset of Alzheimer’s had made it increasingly difficult for her to live on her own. Before that she had lived on Goodison Road and in the surrounding areas most of her life - the house was a stone throw from Everton Football Club.

Saturdays would invariably be spent at either of my two Nans and in the days that I couldn’t attend the game on my own I used to go to soak up the action outside the ground and would occasionally buy a programme.

It would then be back to my Nan’s – gorge myself on the piles of cakes and sweets provided and listen to the game taking place down the road, unfold of the radio.

St Luke’s Church, which is tucked away in the corner of the ground, is a place that is something that I hold dear. Not only is it a place where the rampant commerciality of attending a modern day football match is kept at bay – I think you can get a mug of coffee and a scone and still get change out of a quid. You can also enjoy the prematch atmosphere amongst fans that span the decades and no doubt have some interesting tales to tell.

It is also the church, which my Nan attended on a Sunday, and where she will visit for the final time on Thursday. It is also the place that my parents married back in January 1970 – FA Cup third round Saturday. Apparently we were drawn away that day…and lost!!!

So with the talk of a move to a new stadium in Kirkby for Everton, it will be something I will look upon with deep sadness and regret as Walton and Goodison Road hold a special place in my heart and not just because of a team that play in blue.