Getting lost at night in Northampton August 2013

My visit to Northants became a very mixed fortunes experience with Durham losing in the quarter final of the 20 20 competition and my getting lost in the city centre on return from the game which I nevertheless enjoyed.

I had a quiet day on the Monday in preparation for my plan to leave the Travel Lodge on the following day around 11- 11.30 taking the train from East Croydon Station to St Pancras, depositing the large case in left luggage and then taking the expensive one station underground train to Euston with the haversack and the sleep apnoea machine and then waiting for the 13.52 to Northampton which cost only £6, booking in at the Travel Lodge, unpacking and making my way to the cricket ground having established that it would be open from 16.00 with ticket collection available from 09.00. From the map the travel lodge appeared to be a short walk from the station and number 1 and 16/17 buses took one to the ground alighting at the Abingdon Pub from the bus station. The following morning I would rise early for the 7.32 back to Euston and the 10.30 from Kings Cross back to Newcastle and South Shields, after colleting the case from left luggage. That was the plan on paper.

I was aware that I would bring with me the heavy computer plus toilet bag and pyjamas bottom together with the information and tickets/bookings folder. There was no capacity to bring a second shirt after I took the decision to obtain a Macintosh type coat as I anticipated it would get cold as the evening went into darkness. I would wear my new suit, more about that in moment and the subsequent need for a second shirt which I did not possess. The alternative was travel in the blue summer trousers, and a soft brown zipped jacket which would go well with the shiny brown shoes and socks. I wanted to wear the suit. Doing what you want against rationality and logic sometimes has a high price and by nature I am not a gambling man.

Although I had expensively dry cleaned the suit before departure I only discovered after returning from my visit to see the film about the later life of Renoir that is remained badly stained giving parts of it a brownish tinge which suggested some adverse chemical interaction. On Monday morning after a breakfast of a ‘pain au choclat’ and a Danish for £1.20 from Sainsbury local with coffee I made the decision to look for an inexpensive new suit, still clinging to the belief that I am able to reduce my weigh to below 15 stone despite the time and challenging of getting below 16.

I first visited Debenham’s across for the closed Alders in the High Street and then found British Home Stores in the Alder’s end of the Whitgift centre, and then went to the Marks and Spencer’s at the far opposite end of the centre, noting the wide range in the price of suits. At M and S I found an excellent mid grey plain suit for £69 with a short leg fitting waist size pair of trousers and a long jacket which I could button and with an attractive blue lining. In the subsequent circumstances it was just as well that I did not purchase something more expensive.

After returning to the Travel Lodge to hang the suit I decided to try out the new Asian Buffet that has opened close to Church and Surrey Street by what was the former entrance of the now closed Alders departmental store. I was the first sit down customer although the number of reserved tables and the arrival of constant stream of diners indicated the popularity of this establishment where one can eat as much as one liked for £4.95 and where commercially supplied soft drinks are kept in a cool cabinet and sold for £1 in or 80 pence to take away.

The range of food is limited with about eight main dishes of chicken and meats, various rice and noodles, some prawn crackers and sauces. There are no sweets or puddings offered. The price goes up £1 after 4pm. I had two large plates of main courses without the rice or other side dishes or sauces and two cans of coke and was very satisfied although the quality and range does not compare to that at the Millennium Dome and which I had considered visiting if there had been something to interest me at the Cineworld or the weather had been such to have attracted a trip on the Emirates Cable Car.

It commenced to rain when I went on walkabout after the meal and became heavier as the evening progressed and I went across to Sainsbury for a sandwich £3 deal. I spent the rest of the day dozing, reading and writing and listened to the Proms on the headphones radio.

It is an appropriate point to confess that after an excellent control of food over the first two days of the trip on Sunday the madness took hold. I crossed over from the station to visit Sainsbury after the disappointment of Lords, assuming that Waitrose would be closed only to note that it was not as I passed by on the other side of road. On the previous two evenings I had purchased a carton of spiced chicken wings from Waitrose together with a carton of grapes and cold drinks. As there was only chicken that required heating up at Sainsbury’s I opted for a two packets of salami deal for £2 and two rather stale ciabatta rolls but which were Ok but then could not resist an inexpensive block of Vienetta type ice cream which melted quickly in heat so had to be immediately eaten at a price of £1 reminding when I had bought a pack of 4 possibly six Cornetto type ices for a similar low price on one the Mansfield visits. That is my admission and it was only after the ice cream did I eat the Ciabatta and salami. It was very enjoyable despite the guilt.

Apart from Sunday morning when I watched the Test Match on the laptop I have kept in touch via the pocket digital radio. It has been a game where Australia appeared in control from winning the toss and electing to bat on a good wicket with captain Clark 187 supported by Rogers 84. Smith 89 and Haddin 63 declaring, in the light of events and the weather too early on 527 for 7 He should have continued and set England an even tougher task to avoid the follow on. The only bright aspect of the first innings was the dismissal of Warner for 5 who it will be remembered was lucky not to been sent home after hitting Root at a night club after what appears to have been a taunt about losing the first Test. When he came to field he had to run the gauntlet of boos but after a subsequent press conference when he again held up his hands (no word play intended) and making everyone laugh he appears to have commenced to win back support for his obvious talent. We shall view with interest his reception at the fourth Test which begins at Chester Le Street, later this morning

England in their first innings demonstrated that they are not as good a side as the media has built up with 3 wickets going for 64 and 4 for 100. Only a brilliant controlled 113 by Pietersen after Cooke 62 and with Bell 60 helped the side to avoid the follow on hence the comment about declaring too early. Given the known weather forecast, Australia’s only hope of keeping the series alive was to bowl England out twice in succession. The next issue was for how long should the Australians bat in their second innings. It was here that Warner did well getting 41 quick runs. After bad light stopped play on the 4^th day Australia declared setting England to get over 300 to win. England were 37 for 3 when the rain set in on the final day leading to a draw which means that even if the Australians win the last two Test march at Durham this week and then the Oval, a drawn series means the Ashes are retained. If the game at Durham is won or drawn then England will win the series and thus win rather than retain the Ashes for the third time in succession.

The weather also helped Durham in the Championship table creating draws in the latest round of matches together with the great win of Derbyshire against Sussex Yorkshire retain their first place with 158 from 11 games played and still over 100 points to play for, Sussex with the extra game played are 148 and Middlesex with 11 played on 144 and Durham with six more games to plan and 150 points still to play for on 132.5 and Warwickshire 121 also from 11.

I now focus on what happened on my second only ever remembered visit to Northampton with the first made at night to a car park adjacent to a theatre and an immediate return to my then home in Oxford City afterwards. I bought a couple more of the Danish for £1.30 for breakfast and a king prawn sandwich, orange fruit juice and crisps combination £4.40 in total which I consumed between eight and 10.30 and remarkably not eating again until around 9.30 the following morning. I packed well wearing the suit but not the comparatively thick wind and rain cheater I had purchased the previous afternoon from Hewitts, a store in Church Street selling walking and camping gear as well as school uniforms and sportswear. This was the largest size available for only £12. It reminds that on my walk down to Reeves corner where work of some kind appears to be being commenced at the site of the burned down store although damaged shops and accommodation adjacent appears as before with presumably the legal battles with the insurance company continuing.

I made my way to East Croydon station around 11.00 noting that the rucksack had become heavy because of the computer and wishing I had decided to travel light to the game, returning on the 10.55 train to Euston which arrived at 12.30 and then making my way to Croydon for the night where the room was already paid for and using some fo the money for the night at Northampton on Taxis to the ground and back from the station. Life as one gets older consists of making choices without the information necessary to predetermine that will prove good or bad. The art is to relax and attempt to enjoy experiences irrespective of how the decisions work out. Saying this is easy.

The train between Brighton and Bedford was more than half empty so there was no problem about placing luggage in the rack provided and selecting a six seater space just for me. The guy at the left luggage followed his training instructions to the letter and I was pleased that the cost would be only £9 for the 24 hour holding session, although this was money I could also have saved had I not arranged the overnight stay. I then took the escalator down to the underground station complex for the Northern line noting there was a queue of people to be photographed holding a luggage trolley at the entrance to Platform 9 and ¾ a la Harry Potter books. I arrived at Euston a good hour before departure time collecting tickets by the platforms marked for Watford and Northampton putting in the code for the cricket ticket instead of that for train until checking. Unlike the ticket dispenser for the Cineworld Cinemas the machine is able to offer printing one or both sets of tickets. I managed to find a seat where I watched the travellers come and go as departure platforms were announced. With about 15 minuets before departure I moved position standing below the main departure board rather than the separate area for Watford and Northampton, a good move because in fact the train was listed for a different plat from the designated platforms. During the waiting it was good to see trains for Crew and Chester as well as Birmingham and Manchester reminding of the three years when I lived and worked for the County between 1971 and 1974 over 40 years before.

It had become quickly evident why the difference in available prices for the journey to Northampton where trains appeared to be departing every few minutes. This is because that is the West Midland services which ends at Northampton but which has a variation in stops along the route is less expensive that the trains which go on to Birmingham and further North, Thse while stopping at Northampton only stop at Watford Junction and one or two other stops before their first main destination.

On the outward journey my train which was fairly full but with spare seats made different stops from that taken then following morning when we also stopped at Harrow and Wealdstone after Watford Junction, There were stops at Hemel Hempstead, Leighton Buzzard, Berkhampstead and Bletchley in both directions but only at Overton on the afternoon journey The following morning there were additional stops at Tring and Cheddington. The track is very wide leaving Euston and in parts along the route. A feature of the stations is a double decker car park indicating the extent of commuting. Because of electrification the cross over stairway between platform are exceptionally tall and although here are lifts these were said to be temperamental and a cause of constant complaint by regular users as I was quickly to learn.

I have been to Harrow by train station having parked en route to Wembley. I cannot remember if I have been to Watford for the football but I did visit a computer shop there to acquire the pack which converted my Amstrad green screen 256 to 512. I remembered I had been to Beaconsfield and to Berkhampstead when I lived and worked at Oxford. I have stopped at Milton Keyens during coach rides to London as the stopping place for connections to London Airport. Once to avoid a traffic hold up on the M1 I found myself driving around and around Milton Keynes passing the stadium of the MK Dons, former Wimbledon Team and also stopping at the town centre. I have never been to Bletchley where the Park is famous for the government centre which racked the German code system using the Enigma machine. I have been to a professional managerial annual conference at the County Town of Hertford. The land is pleasant, undulating but which separate character or identity and thus I came to Northampton just after 3pm on Tuesday 6^th August with the weather sunny and warm after a dull shower looking start at Croydon.

The tall staircase from the platform looked challenging with the two bags and impossible if the case had been with me as well so I went for the lift which was working although had not been earlier in the morning according the father of the young woman with a pram who had come to meet her off the train. There is considerable work going on at the station entrance but as I was to find out the following morning the road from the Travel Lodge in theTown centre to the station is direct and straight. However this is not evident at the station itself and with a good number of taxi’s in line I decided to take on £3.50 for the journey.

The Travel Lodge is an adapted building on four floors with small ground floor reception. The young lady at the desk mentioned that she caught the 10.50 something train at night home to Milton Keynes where she lived confirming that it arrived at Euston at 12.30. She also explained that the hotel operated an electricity control system requiring you to insert the key card in a slot by the door to bring the lights on. My room was at the back quiet small given that it was a double and overlooking what could have been a former church building but which appeared to be used for something in relation to children. The TV was fixed on the wall above the end of the bed. I unpacked and set up the Sleep Apnoea machine deciding to make my way immediately to the ground after having a quick orientation along the High Street. I quickly saw a sign towards the train station but there was no indication where the bus station was located.

　

Following the sign to the Train station I enquired about the bus station as the junction which appeared to be a major thoroughfare with a Vue Cinema at the corner. I was directed to the bus station a short distance away which was under a shopping centre. I noted that it would not be a good place to use the under passes at night and reached the station via an entrance leading to the shopping centre. There are bus bays on either side fo the station and I went to the bay (8) for the 16/17 bus where the driver confirmed bus went lose to the cricket ground and that I should alight at the Abingdon Pub.

It was on the bus that with horror I realised that a ball point pen had leaked in the inside pocket of the new suit jacket and that there was significant patch of ink on the blue lining below the pocket and consequently on my white shirt. I removed the jacket hiding the inked shirt with the rain and windcheater in which I placed the pen wrapped in a handkerchief and deposited in the bin by the bus stop. Later I noted a small spot of the ink was visible on the from of the jacket disaster as unlikely to be removable.

Across the road appeared to be a large park with in the distance a number of cars entering and where I remembered from the notes provided on the club site there is free car parking, but where was the ground? An enquiry revealed it was located down a small residential street to the side of the Public House. However this proved to be the Members entrance and I had to reverse steps continue left along the road with the park opposite and then left again until reaching the main entrance of the county ground.

Northants has been a first class county in 1905 but has never won the Championship coming second three times and is one of the oldest if not the oldest clubs commencing in the Minor Counties championship in the 1880’s. It can only hold around 5000 spectators and even with planned developments the ground is unlikely to host major international games. Arriving early and collecting my ticket one of several hundreds booked on line and available at two tables in the car park by the main gates. With the Winchester to hold and with two and half hours before the match commenced there was plenty of opportunity for me to explore the stadium and select the best possible vantage point, There are seats on this side of the ground above the wicket although they are not high backing on to the indoor cricket school building which also houses the club shop. The main stands and pavilions are opposite although as I discovered the main upper view had been taken over by Sky equipment as the stand also features the broadcast and media centre. There were some seats to one side but I decided against as this was the wrong end to get to what I believed was the first bus stop from the ground after game ended.

There was access to the right had side of the upper side but this was area restricted to Chairman and members of the cricket committee. The player and officials pavilion was to the left of this stand while what looked like a members Pavilion below that of the chairman’s area. Below the main part of the stand there appeared to be what would be regarded as a members areas on match days but this was being reserved for seven tables of diners from sponsors. There were stands to the sides and also several outlets for food and drink more than would be normal at Clubs like Durham on 20 20 days with about seven food including burgers and hog roasts, several soft drinks as well as beers. In one corner from the main entrance and nets there was a club pub type with some splendid seating inside and it looked as if they were preparing to also supply food. I selected a seat at the back of what is named the University stand to one side overlooking the wicket, close to the exist and some male toilets. On my walkabout around the ground I considered purchasing some food as I had not eaten anything since well before 11 but as I was not hungry I held off.

I was very impressed with crowd that developed with the overwhelming majority families or people in groups. There was an excitement and realism given that Onions was playing and Collingwood was the Captain, as one parent explained to his son the man had been captain fo teh successful England one day side. They did not expect to win but they had come along in hope and to support. There was a sense of people being part of something special and the Northants Rugby Club had come along en masse to give their support.

Opening the batting for Northants was Kyle Coetzer who showed great promise when at Durham several years ago and who captains the Scotland one Day side that has performed so badly in the 40 40 competition and is not competing next year as a consequence. Another Northants player is the young fast bowler Luke Evans a former member of the Durham academy but who has not made the senior team. The most significant connection between Northants and Durham is that long serving Cricket Coach Geoff Cooke was a long time player for Northants and Wayne Larkins who also played for Durham was a Northants first team played for a decade.

Some of the most well known players for Northants moved on like Monty Panesar and Raman Subba Row was captain 58 to 61 when Northants had become one of the top teams with Freddie Brown playing for Middlesex when he captained England on that famous 1948 last Test at the Oval when Bradman was out second ball and where at the age of 9 I was taken by an older cousin queuing outside the ground for hours among some twenty thousand people. The fast bowler Frank Typhoon Tyson played for Northants as did batsman Colin Milburn plus Allen Lamb are other well known team members who also played for England.

A number of famous International cricketers have played seasons at the club with current side player Matthew Haddin, plus Mike Hussey and David Lilee and from India Capel Dev, Bishan Bede, Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly and Curley Ambrose among the West Indies cricketers.

The Northants innings had two distinct phases with Collinwood, Onions and Rushworth opening the bowling for Durham and appearing to contain and restrict the run scoring but with Coetzer and Wiley taking the total steadily to 89. It was the arrival of White who changed the game hitting three successive 6’s in one over and making 52 from only 32 balls and increasing the total from what would have been a par 140 to 160 to 183 for the loss of only 4 wickets.

Stonman who has batted well for Durham in the Championship earlier on had not had good form in a number of 20 20 games failed at 10 and Mustard found run getting very difficult but managed to reach 46. Stokes who is the Durham on form player this season was not out 51 in a total which was always 20 runs behind the pace and ended at 147 which some excellent end of innings bowling by Northants who were worthy winners much to the delight and amazement of their fans.

Northants have been to finals day twice before failing to win their semi final. This time I think they have a very good chance of beating Essex, the other third placed team who gained surprise win at Nottingham in the fourth quarterfinal. In the first quarterfinal, Surrey, my boyhood club beat Somerset which pleased me greatly. While Lancashire are not one of my favoured teams, I dislike Hampshire because of the Finals day experience at the Rose Bowl and because they have reached Finals day in each of the past four years. This proved the best match of 4 with Lancs nearly getting the 200 plus runs required failing with last ball of the over. I will go to finals day hoping for a Northants V Surrey Final and for a Northants win. But a Hampshire defeat of Essex is also a good possibility which could herald an early departure from the ground.

On returning home I checked to find that my ticket should have arrived a week ago and only then noted that the Warwickshire club had resurrected my old customer number from 15 years ago with my former address. immediately telephoned and the sent tickets cancelled. The correctly addressed ticket and car park pass arrived yesterday which is excellent service. Tickets are now only sale to the four clubs involved with only after they have taken up whatever they need will the public have access.

I left the ground as the final over commenced, I had noted only a handful of Durham supporters present and it was locals with children who had decided they and won also went to avoid the comparative rush at the end. The idea of walking into town was not a good one so waited fort eh bus which took over 15 minutes to arrive and takes an almost straight route through shops, eating houses and entertainments before raking off along the one way system into the bus station.

I had no idea how to get out of the bus station and my first effort took me to an area similar to where I thought I had arrived with access to the shopping centre closed and the need to take an underpass and then stairs to a roadside level. There were people moving about across the road and into a car park to I crossed over by found myself not as expected with the town centre shopping in view but at the edge going into residential areas. To admit one was lost at that time of time was potential dangerous but I asked and was sent in what proved the right direction although I thought I recognised a stairway upwards and then found myself in the delivery area of shopping area. Fortunately I remained calm and did not panic even when at one point I found a door into the centre but found progress barred and had to press a release button to get out again. Eventually I retreated the route and eventually a second request for direction go into the town shopping centre but with out a sense of direction or landmarks to say which way I should go for the Travel Lodge. I asked one young woman taking on her phone who sent me in the right way but it was two young girls with coloured streaked hair out on the town who escorted me along to the street which they were also going stopping at a cash machine just before the Travel Lodge. They had been out for the evening and said it would be 3pm before they went home so obviously going on somewhere open at that hour despite it being a Tuesday. We had a great chat about life along the way. I purchased a Fanta orange drink and then watch TV until after midnight setting the alarm for 6 am.

It was 5 when I awoke and 5.30 when I started to pack and got myself ready leaving the Lodge around 6.30 and told by the night staff that the station was straight down from the Travel Lodge in the direction I had taken the previous afternoon.

At the station I was confused because while there were trains to Euston listed on the first platform, the second train departing was at 7.39 whereas my ticket said 7.32. There was nothing for it but to climb up the stairs to go back over the track as I did not fancy taking the lift on my own. The 7.02 departing train was on the platform but as it was a pleasant morning I found a seat and waiting for my train although the cost fo the ticket for both trains was the same at £14, only a pound less than I was paying to return from London to Newcastle. While again I was able to chose six seats to myself by the time the train left Milton Keynes it was filling up with all five other seats taken and people standing as the train reached Euston.

On the way to Northampton we had been held up for a good five minutes just outside the town because of a goods train and while waiting at the station foods trains with container oblong and round with thirty plus travelled in both directions from Germany, Poland, China noted among the main countries of origin.

It was a fine morning so I decided to walk station to station and this proved a good idea as just before St Pancras there is a pavement cafe with just a few seats but an early morning offer of a coffee and large Chelsea bun for £2.50 while the bun on its own usually costs £2.40 and the coffee £2 plus. It was very enjoyable and much needed. There was plenty of time to collect the case and go to the first floor overlooking the departure board where I found a seat at a table shared with a couple who provided the information that the relative they visited who worked at the British Library said that London was being overrun by young visitors and not so young visitors from South Korea.

Although the train was ready to board 20 minutes before schedule we were not allowed to board until ten minutes because of an approaching train on the adjacent platform. I was able to get a table and window sear facing the direction fo travel. I was joined by three men in succession, the first was a table invader not only taking both seat facing but encroaching on my side with his computer and papers.

He was replaced by a very busy businessman who gave his first caller seven minutes as he was expecting a call which he took and then went into the corridor moving i suspect to his first class booked seat where he would seem more in place. He offered to talk to the caller again when he was on the move the following morning. The third table guest was equally busy but less attracting of everyone’s attention.

I arrived home to find everything Ok but there had been a major rainfall at the weekend with some local flooding. There was just a day before the Durham Ashes Test was underway with a ticket for the 5^th day and then only a day before my trip to the Midlands for the 40 40 game at Derby and the 20 20 Finals day at Edgbaston Birmingham. I am and then home for a few more days, the games against Surrey and then to Scarborough, Brighton, Derby, London and Worthing in almost quick succession. Phew. I need to add that while my side is better I am still having problems but will try and put off going to see the GP until the travels have ended.

Londin Visit May 2013 food extravganza

On my visit to Croydon and central London during the past week I eat well but too much and of the wrong foods. The consequence is that I added over a quarter of a stone having already moved closer to 16 and a quarter in the days immediately before the visit. Today I concentrated sorting and commencing the writing with no inclination to commence the exercise programme again after an uncomfortable waking during the night although I have maintained the high average of 8.3 hours with the Sleep Apnoea treatment machine having reached 8.4 with a total hours high over 251 for 30 days. I have not missed one day since September and this includes during two colds.

I commenced last Wednesday with porridge for breakfast followed by a coffee at the station (£1.80) and another on the train (£2.25) and eating small prepared home baked rolls with pâté and olives. I had some packet soup with the remaining roll in the evening and enjoyed an inexpensive bar of chocolate brought with me at 40 pence. I had a flask of cold water with me for the journey and purchased two cans of diet coke from Waitrose paying cash £1.18. £5.23 on the day.

I had a soup rather than coffee at the Travel Lodge for breakfast which sufficed until just after 12 when I sat down at the Water Margin Asian Buffet restaurant at the Millennium Dome 02 on the Thursday and which was offered their midday meal for £6 instead of the usual £8.80 and indeed 80 pence cheaper that the same level of fare at the local all day buffet here in South Shields which I am still to visit And have postponed until I get below that sixteen stone ceiling.

I purchased a large diet coke so that with tip the final account was £9.50 which was very reasonable given the delicious five plates of food I enjoyed over the next 90 minutes, I was the first inside, joined by a couple of mine own age and then two individuals on their own and then two men, one of whom wanted beer and gave up his spoon only after one small plate of food.

From the starters I took a couple of crab claw balls and then various kinds of chicken pieces adding a liberal portion of curry sauce. The was followed by two plates of beef dishes in various spicy concoctions and the sweets first a mixture of fresh and tinned fruits including pineapple, grapes, melon and peaches and then a bowl of ice cream with two scoops of chocolate and one of vanilla. In the evening I enjoyed a coffee £1.50 in the members cafe on the fourth floor and also a diet cola round £2 if not more and then a carton of chips from an outside concession at £3. I purchases a diet Coke 59p at Waitrose on return plus a pack of soft rolls reduce to 59p for the following day a total expenditure on the day £18 18.

I had one of the rolls with a packet soup for breakfast and coffee on arrival at the ground the following morning £1.50, enjoying the rolls for lunch and then purchased a Diet Coke(£.59) from a shop on my lunchtime walkabout, finding a convenience store at the end of a short row of shops and service providers and which included an attractive looking pub which had offered live jazz the previous evening. On the way back I purchased spicy chicken wings for the evening meal £2.99. More bread rolls £.67, some pâté at£1.59. A diet coke £.59 and a packet of two custard tarts(£.79), one eat that evening and the other the following morning. The bill at the Waitrose totalled £6.53 making a day expenditure £8.62.

I then had another soup with a plain roll breakfast on the Saturday and an early coffee followed by another in the President’s tea room in the afternoon when I looked at the match behind glass as it had turned bitter cold again and also read the free newspapers while keeping on Chelsea’s football match on Sky.( £3) Homeward there was a second purchase of Chicken wings. A can of diet coke and two cream scones which I wolfed and cost £5.96 in total. £8.96 in total.

I adopted a different approach on Sunday going to the Wetherspoons the George for a pub lunch after a soup for breakfast. I enjoyed their roast special which in my instance comprised a half chicken with a good plate of vegetables and a pint of Foster Lager for £6.99. For the evening after the pictures having returned early and able to visit Waitrose there was the third helping of chicken wings more custard slices and a can of diet coke total £ 4.97 and £11.86 for the day.

On Monday, the last day of the cricket and my visit as Durham proceeded to a win I celebrated with a coffee on arrival £1.50, a plate of chips for lunch £3 followed by one of the most expensive Feast Ice creams ever at £2.60 in the so called convenience store created from the old shop area in the ground. After depositing the shoulder rucksack at the Travel Lodge I went to Wetherspoons for a sausage and mash and a pint of Fosters, £7.84. From Waitrose there was a packet of Werthers originals having run out of night sweets for a dry mouth £ 1.25 and afters of two custards slices for £1.39 £17.58 on the day.

I had acquired a Metro voucher for a sausage and egg (with a slice of Cheese McMuffin for 99p which I enjoyed as breakfast the following morning on my way to East Croydon and then used the free coffee from having purchased six and attaching the stickers to the free coffee card. I called in at Waitrose for £3 smoked salmon sandwich for the journey and enjoyed a coffee on the train £2.25 total of £ 6.24 during the journey and back home there was a late visit to Morrisons for a pint of milk and some fresh veg £1.68. For the evening meal I enjoyed a large fish cake with a mixture of tinned beans, tomatoes and carrots, the second portion I used with a pork chop for lunch yesterday, followed by three small home baked rolls with cheese and pickle after a porridge for breakfast. I also purchased two Feast Ice Creams during the stay from the Travel Lodge £2 and a bottle of Pepsi £1.50. I had taken a total of three of inexpensive chocolate bars with me on the trip so the food crime list includes ice creams, chocolate, chips and cream cakes.

The cost of what was for me a food extravaganza comes to £81.85 what some pay an individual meal or the cost of a ticket to one of Ashes test at Durham this year excluding car parking. The total expenditure so far including travel (£82)and accommodation (£146) is therefore £209. 85, To this must be added £52 for my four visits to the Oval (£261.85 for the whole trip which works out at £50 or so per whole day there and only £37 for the seven days with the travelling days included.

Arriving around 4pm on the first day and the sun shining I went for a good walk into Croydon along the High Street to West Croydon station working out the quickest way to get there, especially if there was rain, as at that point I had in mind taking the Victoria station train calling at Balham for the Northern Line to thee Oval, the route I have taken many times when staying at the Clyde Road flat in Wallington. As previously explained it was only on the Friday I worked out that the best route and quickest was to take the non stop train from East Croydon to London Bridge and then take the Underground train to the Oval and back the same way. On the Wednesday evening I continued past the station along to where there is a row of international stores, restaurants and services as far as the Volunteer and public information and services new HQ building. I had intended a longer walk than was taken but coming tired I briefly sat in the shopping mall on the way back and then returned to the Travel Lodge after calling at Waitrose. I had noted that the all day Asian buffet restaurant opposite the George had closed down.

The underpass between platforms at East Croydon station are not only closed but it looks as if work has progressed on sealing the exits. The udnerpass has been replaced by an impressive above platform construction with the stairway between platforms open but the lifts yet to be completed. At present the construction ends with the far platforms but looks as if it could be continued in both directions to create new entrances/exits to the station. Apart from this development and some clearance I did not gain the impression that other work on the development site which is to comprise residential and shopping facilities plus a new theatre has commenced although notices on the hoardings suggested other wise.

Some of the regular street people were noted on my journeys to and from the station. There is an Asian lady I suspect from the Indian sub continent who sells the Big issue outside Waitrose. There is also a man with a shopping trolley overloaded with his possession which includes a broom and which suggests that he is living on the streets. I saw him twice on this visit, once outside Waitrose and at the junction between George Street and Wellesley Road. There was one man who looked in a poor condition and was approached by someone who I cannot work out is a social worker or street life organiser and who I have previously seen talking to the street people. Not seen was the man or the woman who sometimes beg here, usually with a skinny dog to hand. There is also a group of alcoholics who have encountered in doorways close to Surrey street and this time they were noted close to the entrance of the Travel Lodge.

Another regular feature of my visit to the capital is the check on property prices where a reasonably sized family home nothings special was priced at three quarters of million in Croydon and closer to one million advertised by an agency viewed on the Oval walkabout. Next the Oval and the cricket.

London visit May 2013 travels and accommodation

I am home after a very enjoyable and successful visit to London primarily to watch Durham play Surrey at the Kennington Oval although I have put on half a stone, the lap top went on the blink so I was not able to use on the homeward journey and I am now having difficulties getting on screen what I managed to wrote during the outward journey and during the visit. I have therefore decided to redo using the hand written notes made on the journey home and adopt a different approach to that originally planned.

I will devote his first piece to an over view of the trip and its background as well as covering the others writings and activities which will command my attention over the rest of the month.

I am still debating whether to write about aspects of my experience in the three weeks before the trip delivering leaflet for the successful Labour Candidate in the Parliamentary election caused by the resignation of the former candidate for the leadership of the Labour party and where his brother Ed was successful and has more than a good chance of becoming the next British Prime Minister. UKIP who did worrying well in the by election are planning to fight most if not all local Council seats in may as well as the two by-election one in Cleadon a former Tory stronghold and in Jarrow follow the success of Emma Lewell Buck. The rise of this political party is having a major impact on the Tory party will about a hundred back bench and government members fearing for their parliamentary futures and planning some form of arrangement/ appeasement which Nigel Farage is too smart an operator to buy when he can have the whole game by letting the public have their say in 2015.

I am also debating whether to follow up and what way my recent experience as an Assessor or the new Patient Led Assessments of Health facilities providing more than the residential beds.

Outstanding from before Christmas is the writing up of the rest of the James Bond Films where I watched all the films in sequence as I also did the Harry Potter films. I also will read the last of Harry Potter books having also read and written about the first and its subsequent film. I have watched three films in Theatre over the past three weeks, The sad portrayal of Paul Raymond, his daughter and other members of his family, the successful British pornographer and entrepreneur who became one the richest individuals in the UK, primarily through his purchasing of property in Soho.

The film, the Look of Love confused one elderly couple who quickly exited to the screen showing Love is all you Need, an excellent romantic film set in Denmark and Italy starring Pierce Brosnan. During my London trip I also experienced the latest Pedro Almodovar. I am so excited which I found disappointing. I have recorded Prometheus on HD to view and tomorrow I go to a Cineworld relay of the story of the Coalition government of the 1970’s in a live HD theatre relay This House. I still have to write up my experience of the operas Rigoletto and Eugene Onegin. I must check out the programme Live events showing this summer in Cineworld and Odeon Theatres.

I have finished reading the first volume of A Storm of Swords which is part of the epic Fire and Ice series of novels by George R R Martin and which is the basis of the third series of A Game of Thrones, the title of the first volume but which has been retained by Sky Atlantic channel and which is now being made in Northern Ireland. I have so much to read especially the life of George Orwell, although I am also inclined to read another of the novels in the Montalbano detective series now that in theory summer is here and I long for warm sun.

There is so much television to report with the final two episodes of Endeavour, the new series about young Morse, together with the last episodes of the Political series about a coalition in Denmark Borgen although I may well use a voucher to order the first two series later to day. The short BBC series The Politicians Wife was disappointing. I have also enjoyed some of the episodes the 10^th series of NCIS, as I have of series three of Blue Bloods coming to an end after 20 episodes as I suspect is the first series of Vegas. The third series of Treme, life in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina feels stretched although continues to be a must see because of the Jazz content while the surprise is the Arts channel drama Da Vinci’s Demons, with the Borgias third season on its way with something of an overlap between the two. While as with Game of Thrones there is full frontal nudity and graphic violence this is nothing compared to the comic book porn nudity and violence of the third and final series of Sparticus,

The main purpose of my second London visit of the year was cricket and against all expectations Durham is having a successful year in the Championship where all the commentators are said to have predicted the side to struggle because of the financial difficulties have prevented strengthening the squad which has seen the retirements of Di Venuto and Blackwell, the semi retirement of Steve Harmison, in his benefit year, and the departure of to Yorkshire. More on the club and recent events as part of this series of writings.

Alongside the fortunes of Durham Cricket and my return to the Oval cricket ground which I visited to watch the last innings of Sir Donald Bradman in England in the fifth test in 1948 when I was nine years of age, Newcastle and Sunderland have come close to relegation from the Premiership. I watched Newcastle on screen in the city before departing on the trip and listened to the second half of their vital 2.1 win at Queens Park rangers while away. I watched Sunderland on Screen on Monday gain their 1.1 draw and on Sunday kept up with the teleprinter and second half match reports after returning from the film. On Friday I had been tempted to try and get a ticket for the 0.0 home play off tie between Crystal Palace and Brighton on while on Monday I listened to the 5 live broadcast of the successful 2.0 away win having decided not to stay and watch on the big screen after my sausage and mash evening meal after returning from the cricket. The main football event has been the retirement of Alex Ferguson after 21 years in charge of Manchester United and his replacement by the also long swerving manager of Everton, David Moyes. It was good to see Harry Rednap relegated with the much spending QPR and Mancini at Man City was sacked after his club failed to win a trophy this season after all their spending, losing to Wigan in the Cup Final some of which I watched at the cricket on Saturday although I left for the Travel Lodge before their last minutes winning goal. Chelsea is also to have a new manager but Arsene Wenger looks as if he will survive despite not winning anything again and again and again. Liverpool also failed to prove they are likely to challenge for Europe let alone the Premiership.

I have got my tickets for the European Athletics on June 22^nd and 23^rd and yesterday the information arrived about tickets for the Commonwealth games, I have booked up to go to Lords in August and have a cheap train ticket for the outward journey. Books for cheap tickets for the return home have not opened, I am going for an overnight to Scarborough when Durham play Yorkshire and there are the men’s and women’s 20 20 games against Australia but so far I have resisted one of the £80 tickets for the Ashes test at the Emirates. I am going to the Midlands in July for two 20 20 Durham games depending on the progress they have made and to Brighton for part of the game against Surrey. The Tests begin to TV also tomorrow.

However I will set aside writing about all these matters until I have completed reporting my experience of a second visit to the Capital centring on the Oval I will begin with all the travelling undertaken. I set off an hour earlier than necessary last Wednesday as the forecast suggest rain during the day, noting the part installation of ticket barriers at one end of the station in South Shields. I was able to use by Metro annual ticket which I will need to renew shortly after returning home.

At Newcastle I purchased a coffee and then moved to the passenger waiting area as the ordinary chairs and tables have been replaced by high stool type chairs. Noting that was reading the first volume of A Storm of swords and middle aged woman enquired about the similarity to the book and the TV series and I was able to advised the productions were broadly faithful apart from sequences changing and some embroidering of the text for visual and dramatic effects. The woman had been walking in the Lake District and was return to York, or at least York station for continuation to her home.

I entered the train from Aberdeen at the wrong end of the coach depositing my case in a doorway and then had to wait to get to my seat as a woman without a seat reservation was occupying the place of man who bordered and claiming his rightful booking. She took her time before moving while someone behind me pressed to move so I explained the position which was embarrassing as the woman took another unoccupied seat opposite mine. She moved to another seat when the opportunity arose while another large man with a huge lap top took the seat vacated by the lady sitting at the window next to me. Fortunately he moved on later to another compartment where in fact there was much more room as I discovered when I moved to claim my case as we arrived at Kings Cross.

Although the journey was not ideal it was enlivened by a young Asian woman part of a couple who got on the train also at Newcastle and departed at York. She wore a plunging cleavage with no bra. Even without this entertainment I cannot complain as the journey had cost only £15 plus postage. It was still dry as I cross between stations to St Pancras and seeing that the train south to East Croydon and Brighton was due in a couple of minutes I gambled that I and sufficient on my Oyster card to get me there. Before leaving Kings Cross I had noted that the former entrance to the station has been demolished but I am yet to find what is planned for the now vacant area.

I had telephone the previous day for a digital TV and was pleased to have one allocated in my room on the 9^th floor overlooking the Surrey hills. One bonus in addition to be able to attach the lap top is all the digital l station not requiring a subscription were available. From the outset I had problems logging on to my email which I discovered on returning home was due to having not only left the computer on but was logged on to my email so the system reacted at someone trying to log on from another part of the country. I had to change my email password to resolve a problem with last a couple of days

The following day the cricket was not scheduled to commence until 3.45 for an afternoon evening game under floodlights so I left early morning, loading the Oyster card with £20 travel and taking a Victoria Station train after the 9.30 operation. The off peak charge is £8.90 for all 6 zones. From Victoria I took the line of the same name to Green Park and then the underground walk to the Piccadilly line alighting at Leicester Square. My objective was view the changes made to the Square Gardens which were boarded up when I visited approximately a year before for the Lords Cricket match.

My first reaction was one of disappointment for at a glance the gardens looked the same and indeed the statue at the centre was boarded up. In fact the work was completed in May last year before the Olympic Games and the renovation work on Shakespeare’s statue may have become even more urgent since the installation of fountains around it. Close examination did reveal that the marble looking granite has created seating around the entire perimeter with compact low level hedging (at present before the new railings which enable trio grassland area to be locked at night to prevent its use by the homeless and thee drug addicts. There is new upward lighting into the trees to add to the security at night. Given an expenditure of £6.5 million I question the value for money,

My next objective was to new the progress for the new Underground station at Tottenham Court Road where I sometimes arranged to meet friends during my first years of working in the capital. I walked the distance passing Cambridge Circus and noting that not one but both Asian buffet restaurants were changed, one to Spanish Tapas and the other to a price per dish restaurant. At the junction between Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road the huge cleared space is still boarded with no indication of work above ground commencing and the scheduled completion 2016 for the new station and 2018 when Cross rail opens.

In order to reach the existing northern Line I had to go around the infamous Centre Point Tower. Services on the Central line continue. The new multifunction station in a addition to catering for the £1 billion central Cross Rail 1 line it is the only interchange between the Cross rail and that now proposed second cross rail line from the South west London and Surrey through to the North East of the capital with consultation about the routes now open to the public and a new station centring on either St Pancras/ Kings Cross or Euston or perhaps even a combined platform to all three stations.

I had decided that the best way to get to North Greenwich for the 02 arena was to take the central line to its end at Stratford and from there take the commencing Jubilee line to North Greenwich. I arrived an hour earlier than originally planned and went to look at the Emirates Cable car across the river to the Excel Stadium site. A round trip using the Oyster card is £6.60 and I was tempted except that the stiff wind with promise of gale force wings suggested that I leave for another day. This was wise as I later learned the service had been halted because of the high wind force level. After my lunch, separately reported, I took the Jubilee line to London Bridge and from there the Northern line south to the Oval.

After the game I made a mistake in terms of the selected route and took the northern line to Balham and from there a train to Clapham junction and then a train to east Croydon. For the first day of the Championship game on the Friday I took the Train from East Croydon to London Bridge (a Brighton to Bedford Train) and then the Northern Line underground back South to the Oval and although I allowed an hour for the door to door journey on the Saturday a morning it was achieved in just 45 minutes and I had to wait for the Gates to the Cricket ground to be opened. On both days I returned by the same route although on the Saturday I did the journey twice return to the Travel Lodge when it looked that rain was ending play for the day with a view to going to the cinema but then finding that play had recommenced I returned to watch the last hour of play.

On Sunday I decided to have a quieter day travelling via Victoria Station and Green Park to Piccadilly after an early lunch for the Cineworld Haymarket and returning immediately afterwards by the same route. On Sunday I added another £20 to the Oyster card. On Monday I used a separate direct train to London Bridge and when the game had ended I could not see a Brighton train on platform 5 and sued the main station for a different South Coast line without a stop before East Croydon. Waiting for the Brighton line train on previous evening I noted the number of trains to Charing Cross which arrive at both platforms. As at East Croydon I noted with some concern that the platform is used for trains going in both direction Platform 2 at East Croydon being used by the cross Thames line going to Bedford as well as Brighton.

On Tuesday morning the threat of rain meant that I elected to leave early adding £10 to the Oyster card after first called in McDonalds for breakfast and Waitrose for a sandwich for lunch. I therefore arrived at Kings cross shortly after nine paying the full early morning fare which knocked a great hole in the balance on the card. I purchased some pens ten for £3.99 at Smiths and found a good seat overlooking the departures board on the first floor balcony. Just before 10.30 I made my way to the front of platforms and before I had worked out the most likely train as the 10.30 to Newcastle pulled out the announcer said we were free to board the 11am to Glasgow. I entered the first compartment where it looked I might find an unreserved table, leaving my luggage in the empty rack and hoped that I would be left in peace at the window seat of a table for four. Alas I was joined by the business director of a company and by a young woman who I strongly suspected was his mistress. They did not look in my direction once and he paraded his business while she showed one side of one of his documents marked confidential as if to impress. I ignored them writing and listening to the radio,

In the adjacent table a young women was also busy with lap top and papers on her way to Darlington announcing when questioned by the older man who joined her that she was in HR (human resources all aspects). The older man spent most of the time boasting of his travels around the world having filled three passports and was allegedly some kind of management consultant who has been attempting advise Newcastle Council on management and its priorities. I was not impressed by him either and turned up the volume feeling sorry for the young woman but who appeared able to hold her own. The journey on the Metro was uneventful with a seat close to my luggage and I was back home just before 16,00. My travel costs for the seven days (6 nights) was £82 with the journey to London from South Shields only £32.

The accommodation booked in one go was £146 £24 a night plus £2 credit card charge. The days of the cheaper accommodation appear to be over with £21 the latest advertised concessions!!!!

Next I turn to sleep, food, weight and exercise, then the Oval experiences and then the cinema and other sports. First however more TV catch up and some shopping.

Midlands Easter

I am home after almost two weeks away for the second time this year although despite an excellent visit which I enjoyed very much it has ended in a most unsatisfactory manner as I have a streaming cold brought on from moving from back and forth from hot to cold, and which together with losing a remote for the garage door and then find I had bought the wrong black ink cartridges what started as a good day end somewhat disastrously.

So I shall try and look back remembering the positive experiences commencing with an early morning train journey from Newcastle to Newark North gate. I decided to pay the £3.20 Metro fee rather than wait until 9.30 and risk the rush to the platform for the 10,25. It proved he right decision because the train arrived on the platform around 9.30 and was ready for boarding just after 10am. I enjoyed a small Americano coffee as I had dome a couple of hours later the previous Thursday and assisted a young woman who was being seen off by her aunt and wanted to know which end of compartment E was her seat. I speculated if this yet to be another journey where I would have interesting encounters as occurred on my visit to Croydon the previous weekend.

I had been allocated an aisle sweat at a table at the opposite end of the compartment and was free only until Durham when I was joined opposite by two men, one a teacher, I suspect going to London for a union conference The fourth seat was taken up at Darlington but by then I earmarked on of two free seats on the other side of the carriage and with the second seat free throughout the journey. I took care to keep all my luggage close to hand and at Newark Northgate remembered to take the lift up to the cross track bridge and then the second lift down to exist where I was being met. There was an excellent lunch where I opted for a stew with unlimited vegetables and a glass of Pepsi before heading to Travel Lodge where I was allocated a familiar room with a flat screen television and remote only to find that I had left the connect cable at home. I also forgotten to bring an extension cable to checking that there was time to take the bus into Mansfield centre and go in search.

The bus stop was only a short walk in the cold air from the Travel Lodge and with a selection of four buses taking the five to ten minute direct route to the bus station by the Four Seasons shopping centre which I had visited once before when I thought I lost a mobile phone, only to find it had slipped under the carpet of he back seat of my car over six months later. A walk around the main shops and then in the revealed no where likely to provide the items but having seen what appeared to be a second centre the other side of the bus station I made my way to find a large Argos store opened until late on the Thursday evening.

The connect cable was expensive given that I had two already at home rather like the SCART leads where I seem to have several and where a different kind of cable now connects the Blue ray DVD Played and Sky box to the TV for 3 D and HD films. However the extension cable for the Sleep Apnoea machine was on discount and both will now be kept in case to ensure they are available for future trips. The next planned in May is also to Croydon and London for the cricket at the Oval when Durham play Surrey.

Returning to the bus station I noted that its days are numbered as on the 1^st of April the new station located close to the railway station, and some three minutes away is to open. The existing station appeared more than adequate to me although the waiting area is covered it also open to the weather on one side whereas the new centre has a fully enclosed waiting area space as I was driven past at one point.

For the evening I eat the three small rolls I had baked early filled with pate and a few pimento olives. There was a few dried digs and pieces of liquorice to finish and I also had a mushroom cuppa soup instead of coffee. I was ready for sleep early but was disturbed by the constant banging of a door which I subsequently discovered involved two teenagers with their parents in rooms either side of the corridor. After I remonstrated the noise ceased and I was able to have a good overall sleep.

The following morning I made my way back into Mansfield for a coffee and toast at Debenham’s after using the two £1 boots vouchers for responding to the Daily TV and radio survey exchange as part payment for two packs of the shop brand of digestion tablets.

The subsequent intention was to walk in Clumber or Rufford Park. It was colder than anticipated and the walking comprised a visit op the Roast Buffet restaurant where coffee was drank until the food was ready at midday. The road was satisfactory but the vegetable choice limited and the cost comparatively expensive but given the circumstances the meal was appreciated. Every two years one of the local dance studios puts on a show at the Palace Theatre In Mansfield and in the evening I made my third visit. The studios takes pre school children through dance examinations including the General certificate level school examination. This was only one of three similar studios performing at the Theatre over the Easter period. My information is that the studio premises is rectangular whereas the stage at the Palace Theatre is more square which does create some problems adjusting routine and coupled with the atrocious weather over the past weeks this has prevented many students from attending all the practice sessions and couple with attempting to included all the students in one or more performances I thought that overall the show failed to match the previous two although saying this the overall level of performance is remarkable given that the young people attend classes outside of the full range of school activities, other interests and their family lives. I particular enjoyed the grand finale which included several big band swing numbers including Sing Sing Sing made famous by the Benny Goodman band and Gene Krupa’s drum solos in particular,

Given that the school provides classes in traditional dance-the ballet, the modern which comes under the umbrella of Jazz and Street, plus tap dancing and theatrical where singing is added the cost of attending plus providing for the multi costume changing is significant especially if parents decide to send more than one of their children to the activity. It is not just the poor who are being accepted by the policies of the Coalition government in terms of welfare benefit reforms with the loss of the child allowance part of the family credit for those in the middle class together with the controls on public sector incomes and significant reduction in public sector jobs.

I introduce this aspect because yesterday on April the 1^st, traditionally April Fools day, marked the start of the bedroom tax where those living in public funded social housing had their income reduced for every bedroom of a certain size regarded as unoccupied and where there was also a reduction related to Council tax although generally the level has been maintained which means that although there has been a freeze on wages with a maximum 1% overall for the coming year with also pressure for authorities and agencies to hold back on incremental increases where pay scales are in operation, the outcome has been severe reductions in some services as well as reducing the managerial and supervisory levels which always is to the significant detrimental impact on quality.

I visited the Subway adjacent to the Travel Lodge for breakfast less and one morning the breakfast comprised half a chocolate Easter egg although I did have two rounds of toast with coffee on the motor way journey home which came around £4.50 more that the cost of a McDonald’s Chicken sandwich meal which included a coffee rather than soft drink enjoyed not once but on successive evenings at the branch across the way from the Travel Lodge.

There was an added bonus because the company has reintroduced its Monopoly Board give way with literally millions of prize. In addition to the buy six get one free coffee stickers the coffee and the French Fries have additional stickers added and these provided instant prizes which yielded two apple pies (99p) each and one fruit bad fresh grapes and apple slices and a breakfast porridge carton where I assume the normal cost is similar, In addition one collects monopoly prizes which includes weekend breaks, and more expensive holiday and 3D TV’s. However given the limited number of these prizes most people will have to settle for the freebies. In addition to those mentioned there is a third category of award made available to everyone who registers on line and then enters the code of individual properties. I have not completed this task but so far there has been a 20% discount for Raleigh cycles, a free swimming lesson, 20% of other purchases as yet unidentified as the voucher has to be printed out and a free printing of digital photos for the cost of postage although this appears too good to be so.

The highlight of Easter Sunday was a visiting in the city centre of Nottingham to watch the Nottingham Panthers Ice Skating team beat the Fife Flyers in the second leg of the quarter finals of the play offs competition at the cities FM arena. I have a vague recollection of being taken to an ice rink to watch while other relatives went on the ice and noting how cold it was and to gaining the impression that this was professional sport pone to fights and rough stuff and where decisions and results were often questionable.

Having said that when Sir John Hall attempted to establish the idea of general sporting club attached to Newcastle United with sponsorship of both the local Basketball and Ice Hockey team I know a former colleague switch his time and money from Sunderland AFC because the enjoyed the atmosphere and also the winnings. There is no longer a Newcastle Ice Hockey team. The team was originally based in Durham, the Durham Wasps and then appears in various guises and continued despite financial difficulties up until 2011-2012 season.

There is now no club in the north east with Hull and Sheffield from Yorkshire, Belfast, Northern Ireland, four from Scotland and one from Wales and another the Midlands Coventry. There arr teams playing at Ice Rink include the Whitley Bay Warriors and also matches between Universities There are teams Notting playing at all levels with the National Ice Skating centre built next to the FM arena.

I enjoyed the game in which the Panthers showed the great individual skills and team play although for long periods they were held by the opposition who came tot eh second leg 4 goals to 2 in the lead but the Panther went to the semi finals and possibly the final next weekend winning 5.4 aggregate. I noted that the given the small size of goalmouth and heavily protected goalie it was difficult for anyone to score with a direct shot coming at the goalkeeper and that the hat appeared the only way to score is to create a situation where one players appeared to be bearing on the goalie to shoot but was able to accurately pass to another player able to immediately hit the small puck into the goal before the goalie had time to turn.

So I am back full of cold and I have spent the first day watching TV and sleeping with little inclination to write. Yesterday was little better and today Thursday I have attended to more which I hope to report before the week ends