FA Cup Final Weekend

Well at least it was an entertaining game for the neutral. Goals galore. Extra time. Penalties. Pity West Ham lost - but then up against the comeback kids hardly surprising. Hope Stevie G plays like that in Germany!! Managed to get to the pub despite various tube lines being closed. Had a vaguely entertaining afternoon but took a cue to leave early post a celebration tequila! As it was I had a valuble and entertaining evening in any event. And managed to reord Doctor Who!!

Today I have been mainly pondering. Went for a walk at 5ish. Met my neighbouring friend - had a chat and then just took my usual walk through SW19 - absorbed the greeness and the 'happy' people in cars. In the space of a week so much has changed. People starting night shift. The Nelson bedecked in scaffold and painted up windows. Seeing it shut and knowing that last week I was in there for a final pint seemed really strange. The best and the worst of times in that place. And now nearly 5 years to the day since I met a major part of my life, the place in which we met is being refurbished. The old and unneeded removed. A new colour on the walls perhaps. A new lay out. A new start. A new leaf for all of us who have whiled away hours in there perchance. A fresh start. Spring. The chapter, maybe even book, shuts. Definitely the start of a new phase.

So what new awaits? Well there will soon be a new regime at work. A new me to emerge from a year of revisiting what I was doing this time last year... not always very productive living in the past but perhaps inevitable when four years with someone ends. All the anniversaries and dreaded dates have been duly ticked off the calendar. No more ghosts.

This time last year though I was in Fulham - escorting my Norwich supporting mate through their relegation from the Premiership. It was warmer last year. A week since my own team's relegation. So the support I gave was genuine. The Swans beat Brentford today so they are in the Play Off final - and to think we beat them twice this season!! Oh well that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Work tomorrow. Part looking forward to - part not. Catching up with everyone's news. Sharing my views. Meetings I'm unaware of.. etc etc. Hey ho.. oh yes and paying the balance on my air fare!! Buying stamps for ST application and getting passport photos re-done. Convinced they are too small. Pea on a drum head!