it does mean..

I can spend some time writing and erm cultivating my girlie charms!! And go visit some friends whom I have neglected for a wee while... beware!! Plus there is still a chance we will win at Blackpool!! UTG!!

Gillingham 0 Walsall 1

And so the season ends. I feel quite deflated. Empty. The game was fairly dire. We had our chances we just decided not to take them. A stop; a rebound and for all Jason's quick reactions the ball was in the back of the net. A small burst of energy towards the end - but as the last home game, and already being safe, there was little to play for. Except pride. Walsall are already down so 3 points for them is like adding fire to the flames. Made no odds.

Full time and the players did a lap of honour. Much clapping and cheering. How quickly we forget the bad times! After 10 months with these guys they do begin to take on family like qualities. You watch them flourish and flounder and then you watch them disappear down the tunnel knowing you won't see them for 2 months and some may not be part of your clan next season.

Well we stayed up and I have seen parts of England I haven't seen before. Today's chattering couple were slap bang behind me. I switched off. Home games are so much different from away experiences. I wonder who will renew their season ticket and be sat in Row Q of the Rainham End next season. Have a good summer everyone and here's to watching the World Cup ... fingers crossed and all that!

Five Years - Part One

I had this crazy idea to do some retro pieces - ie compare and contrast today compared to 5 years ago. Why five years? Well other than the fact it is a truly great song by David Bowie it also reflects an era in my life - same place of work for that time and also the period that London took on a greater sense of home. The only problem - it is not yet May! And this year the May Ball is in June... go figure!! Almost as good as the Xmas Party we had in November - The Guy Fawkes party we renamed it!!

So anyway today I am going to start with a photo - The May Ball, 25th May 2001.

How many are still there - and erm who looks the most different?!? From L-R - Gail, Manisha, Bill, face behind the mask - unknown! I think it is Alex, Jas, Vanessa et moi.

The theme of the night was Star Wars. I had a very ropey dress on which I recall at one point created a rather embarrassing scene. ie the front fell apart. Everyone who goes to the Ball for the first time gets sucked into the opulent surroundings (The Grovesnor Hotel no less) and the plentiful food and drink. I know I did. And in subsequent years I have seen others make the same discovery. Needless to say I had a few too many red wines - a few too many ports and got a cab home. On exitting the cab I was quite ill. The cabbie accused me of being ill his cab - so I turned to him and said 'I think not - most of it is over me....' threw him his cash and walked home. The next day was very bright and sunny. Ideal for drying clothes. Which was nice.

This is me and Vanessa. Venny B was the one person who helped me settle in to my new job with confidence. A loyal mate to have and also a great social pal out of hours! Think she now lives near Westgate.. Amazing how quickly you lose touch. Amazing - or naughty? Not sure. I hope Venny found the elusive love she was always chasing - she had a heart of gold.

Anyway look out for some retro updates on other days of the year already here - a memory from Five Years ago for each. Ah the power of the memory and the aid of a diary! 2001 was a pretty exciting year!

Ouch!

Went to music night. Drank too much red wine. Got home at 2 am. Had a good time and some good chats with various people. Just so relieved that I had today off to recover!! What was really good to see were the number of us budding creative types with our note books out, writing down our thoughts - in the middle of the pub! I wonder if we all were making the same observations? The number of keen participants exceeded the usual 10 - so there must have been 20 acts last night. Bless - the two young blokes who did a Snow Patrol cover. It was an interesting assault on the ears. But I cannot criticise - I can't sing or play an instrument so anyone who gets up there and is brave enough to have a go should be applauded! Though for some I wouldn't recommend they give up their day job!
Seems that the last night is now next weekend not this one. I lose track of when it will finally be. Maybe the new owners are getting cold feet? Anyway Open Mike Night has been found a temporary home - in a pub further up the High Street and on a Tuesday not a Thursday. Times they are a changin!


Been some great stuff on BBC Radio 7 today. 'Whatever happened to the Likely Lads?', 'Agnes Gray' by Anne Bronte and Temple - always entertaining to hear a prog that was recorded 40+ years ago - everybody speaks proper English! Where did it all go wrong? Anyway I must catch up with The Archers. Missed it on Sunday due to walking alternative!

Tomorrow is my last Gills game for this season. At least the ST prices have been announced now and are way cheaper than this year. E i E i O Up the football league we go!

Five years ago on this day - I was on a train with my Gillingham posse (Lovegod and GillsGod etc from the MB) to Nottingham. Last away game of the season. Marlon King helped us win 1-0. It was a mental train journey with a bunch of very drunken chaps. We seemed to leave London at 9am so we could drink more in Notts and go to some bar called Hooters. Think that gives a clear picture of the sort of pub it was. We then moved to the pub next to he ground and mingled with home and away fans - there was a really good party atmosphere. It was also the beginning of Lovegod and me ending our footballing romance with each other. A misunderstanding over money and his insistance that I was too good for him meant we sort of parted ways. Especially after I received a vicious email purporting to be from him - but in fact sent by a mate who used his email account. Boys. Apologies were later made and accepted but things were never really the same after that. We still see each other at football obviously and have made our peace with each other following a Northern Line tube journey last year when I discovered he was living in Tooting.
Lovegod is now president of the Friends of Gillingham FC, engaged and owner of a house. Which goes to prove a lot can happen to a person in 5 years! I always knew he probably had Gillingham written through him - like a stick of rock! We did have some very mad post match drinking sessions. Ah The Last Waltz!

Text to home phone..

based on a conversation earlier today with a work bod I thought I better make the most of the Tom Baker voice message you get when you text a landline before it gets replaced.

Sadly it did not work. Or at least I got some female telling me she was the Doctor and that she wanted her keys for the Tardis back.

Unlucky love!

Spotted on tube last night...

some bloke reading a book called 'Losing my Virginity'. No word of a lie it was at least 300 pages thick...

did i miss something?!

Yeovil 4 - Gillingham 3

Well Saturday is football day and this fine Saturday we travelled to Yeovil Town - home to the Glovers.

The weather was superb! At Fleet services we stopped at 10.30am for a good hour long stop. Sat outside in the sun with a milk shake and chewing the fat. Myself, Pops and three coach loads of equally anticipating Gills' Fans. Today we were on the cusp of equally a 50 year old record. Seven wins on the spin/bounce/trot.* For the first time all season the sun was shining and we were all in optimistic spirits - a rare brew indeed.

To be honest the break off the coach was a blessed relief. Ever since we got on at 8.15am there had been a shrill woman's voice pervading the coach. How she did it I do not know - but after the first 30 minutes it was somewhat annoying. I as a traveller tend to plug in and tune out - but on these coach trips I do find myself inspired and deflated by the chit chat between people going on around me. It's a slice of life but I am still unable to decide if it is unique or in actual fact par for the course. Either way I learnt that the chap behind us was in the Forces and based at Yeovilton. So he would be getting extra value for his coach fare - heading for Yeovil meant we were going to be in that part of the world. Maybe that's why Dad and I began reminiscing about aeroplanes/air shows and air fields we have camped at the end of. It also sparked me to dig out some photos on Sunday of my geography field trip. Back then I had curly hair and Deidrie Barlow glasses... but that really is another story!

But I digress. Back on the coach and passed Yeovilton and for the keen spotter Boscombe Down and into the trading estate... round a well groomed roundabout** to Yeovil Town's ground.

We were early so we sat outside and enjoyed the view!?! Or in my Dad's case studied the programme and got harassed by wannabe journo daughter... doesn't he look proud?!

Okay it was small. But it was sunny! We were standing. Oh yes the terrace is god here.

Some old bloke stood at t'footie

Haven't had to stand at a football match for years. Literally years. So this was a real wander down memory lane. Before I am able to revel in sentiment for the old Rainham End I am rudely awaken by a group of foul mouthed, vitriolic blokes (I say blokes they were pubescent yobs). The game started well - very well in fact. Black scored and we went naturally loopy. Everyone happy - songs etc reflect this. Then some moments of madness by Sanchos in the penalty box and we're level and down to 10 men. Never a great means of playing through the next 70 minutes. The Gills slipped into Bristol City ways and the crowd of 'fans' behind us vented their spleens at the referee, the Yeovil players and anyone that wasn't a Gill. This got more hateful and mindless as the goals kept going in. There is a graphical relationship but as I quit Pure Maths A-Level after a fortnight (for Classical Civilisation - well the boys came over from the boys grammar school for it also - at last at aged 17 mixed classes) so I cannot use the correct terminology. Either way as goals went in the line became very nearly vertical in relation to the language used.

I was fuming. Yes I am a girl/woman/ladeee/female - whatever - but at the heart of it I am Gillingham Football fan. We are 4-1 down and all I want the crowd to do is get behind OUR team. Not threaten the ref with death. Oh and yes there were stewards in the vicinity who could hear - but they did nothing. It is unacceptable. They clearly had no interest in the game - yet I am sure if challenged they would have accused me of having no heart. Vicious circles?

Some of our fans even left after the 4th went in. Bye bye bye bye... Disgraceful. To avoid a cliche...you never leave a game cos you have no way of knowing how it will end.

As we are the Super Gills and the lads did somehow pull themselves together. A fluke/deflection off Flynn and an amazing strike from Crofts meant we were 4-3.. and pushing for the equaliser and pride restorer. Not to be though.

As my last away trip for the season it will be remember with a mixture of feeling. Saddened really that my experience was coloured by a bunch a idiots. The sort of experience that puts people off going to football matches. As for me - I'll be back on the away day bus next season. I have on the whole really enjoyed the experience if not always the results!

The day did have a highlight - the team bus pulled up at the service station on the way back and sat on the wall I was closest as Jason Brown and Matt Jarvis ascended the steps - so I smiled - they smiled back - well what do you say when you have lost - 'Unlucky' - 'Well played lads' - sometimes actions speak louder.

Thanks chaps for another treat - see you at the last home game for 2005/06.

UTG!

* Please delete as you see appropriate

** Please refer to trip to Doncaster

Sweet Saturday Songs

Saturday night @ The Nelson.

It means so many things. But as the current management wind down their flag the locals are making the most of the place. Saturday was a 40th Birthday day do.. and if your name wasn't down.. then there was no access!

However if you are in the know and know the deal then Sat Nite started with the Rev 2 Sheds 70's disco. I rocked up at 9.30pm. Which was in time to grab a stool by the bar and also in time to hear the beginning of a long line of musical turns... This is me n Pete. He is from Scotland and our local Wember-ley insider. The poster in the background is the b-d boy in action with an Easter twist...well the night was called Bunnie Bash!

The music included all the local favourites.. SW20; the twins (Tim N Simon) and their amazing steel drum; Bruce H and the Brucette's; Dick; Bruce; Adie; John Le Champangion (I've seen him in SavaCentre - kinda of ruins the myth! Oh darn I have told you all that before!); Greeny; Kath; JJ; Craig and his harmonica... all very rousing. Below are my 'arty' takes on the evening. Mainly to protect the innocent!! I do have others on request! One's where you can actually see the individuals mentioned.


These pictures on the other hand are the rogues of the gallery. They include the b-d boy, Adie; the management, Craig and Ursula; Pete and Greeny. Not quite sure why everyone was wearing shades... there are words that come to mind.. but it's best I leave those to one side. Anyway some good news came on Saturday.. the last night of the Proms as it were is now a week later than first thought - so I have a home game will be able to rock up fashionably late and just as sassy as the Saturday just gone...!?!?!

Nelson's Rogues and....

...................the Nelson's Riches

This is me at some point during the evening... I think it had gone midnight and I had been seen dancing - but not normal dancing, on a floor, with other people. One must understand that the noise levels after a certain time must go down. So I was throwing some shapes whilst listening to the music through a pair of headphones - luckily with a long curly wire which meant I was a bit like Zebedee!! Boing Boing! All over the floor! Bring it on...!!

These people are my friends - they put up with me dancing like a freak and like to see me smiling! The Crew are Wocca (back to camera - apparently a nutter from the South Island in NZ), Mr G (apparently a nutter from NSW), Dog is hiding behind me (Dog, otherwise christened Stephen, from Queensland therefore a banana bender!?), Me (drunk clearly), Tammy (drunk clearly), Pete (erm guess what - yes - that's the correct answer - drunk) and David - who is from Ireland. Well as drunk people go we were all very subdued really. Tired maybe? Or overwhelmed with the whole experience...

Do you like the lights and artwork? In a month's time the pub won't look like this - the new owners are having a re-fit. I really hope they don't lose the vibe of the place. It's not a fancy pub and the wine range has taken time to grow beyond one house white and one house red (yes there is now a choice!) and the Tetley's is seldom on but it does have an atmosphere of its own. And the people at the bar are amongst the gems. There have been many core bar flies and some have moved away - names like Maria and Steve, Nobby, Terry the hairdresser; and those who don't drop in so much Taff, Bev and Pablo to name a few. It has never been full of totty and that has never really been the reason I go. But for some conversation, over a beer, that isn't work or family related here is the place I can go and in the last few months with a breath of fresh air in my step, and a spring in my mind, I have started to meet more people and feel even more at home. I may not go every night but when I do go it's cos I want to chat to different people and share a joke. Talk sport. Talk local news. Moan about the tube. Find out some gossip. Chat about the latest gig people have been too. Clubs. Bars. Etc etc. Who knows - will a raised floor and sectioning the place up ruin this? Who knows - but watch this space... times they are a changing...so until the landlady rings the last orders bell, drink up and cheers!

Oh and other news of the evening.. Bruce gave me a Cadbury Creme Egg... Merry Easter everyone!!

Leave - Part 2

Got back to London this morning - well gone noon amid text messages that someone had been stabbed last night opposite Sainsburys. I can't find a mention on the web and nowt on the local news. Last night went for a very very tasty fish n chip supper. Most welcome!

On the train home I for once buried my head in my book - not fazed by the sun drenching the beautiful Medway towns. 'Stuart - a life backwards' is not exactly a comfortable read. In fact it just about brings to the surface all of your worst nightmares. That said its author Alexander Masters has written a truly captivating look at one individual - Stuart. I guess I bought the book cos its the same name as my brother but also because I had finished my reading material that morning on the way to work. It was also the day my brother rang me - noon UK time - very drunken on his mobile from the streets of Melbourne. That though is another story. Without giving too much away Stuart's life included spells in prison, living on the streets, drugs, some degree of mental illness and he was also born with muscular dystrophy. Yet I have been captivated by his story. Yes it has made me laugh. Smile. Contort my face in disgust. Screww my eyes against what I've read. Yet Stuart is one person who through this book you cannot help but like. And yes feel sorry for. I have 10 pages left and I will be sad to finish it.

So home meant decision time - walk or wash. My washing now complete and hung in the breeze I can go for a walk. The flat is once more hoovered from front to back window. It may not be very large or especially flash - but on a day like today the sun pours through and the yellows and reds make it really homely. My home. Me-thinks I have a compulsive cleaning problem. Then again, I won't bother again now until the end of the footie season!! Aargh only 3 games left.. Still need to decide if Blackpool is a goer - it's pre my residential course so I should perhaps bow to duty... ?! Anyway after my walk and some food I will be returning to complete my wanderings review and also fill in some of the hazy gaps of the weekend! Til then keep smiling everyone!

Gills 2 v Bradford City 1

Oh yes! Oh yes! We even got a mention on Radio Five Live for our magnificent 6 wins on the trot.. bounce sorry! Great first half and apart from losing the concentration towards the middle of the second half we were superior. Black from a Jarvis cross and then Flynn drilled it in second half. Brillant. Roll on Yeovil on Saturday! Come on you Gills!! Also rather representing these modern times - Brian Moore's Head (our fanzine) is ceasing hard copy formats and moving online... I suspect an opening there for View from the Sink!!

Sadly not such a good day for Brighton. Beaten by Sheff Wed and relegated. Along with Crewe and Millwall - so at least I know 3 more potential away games next season! And the Swans lost and fell out of the play off places in our division.. so I know one unhappy bloke at the current time. Mathematically it is poss for us to get to the play offs - but not so likely... or is it!?!?

Bank Holidays...

Good Friday was quiet. Saturday was slightly manic and a full music and 70's disco night report will feature here shortly! Sunday was spent in the recovery position. Pints of water replacing the previous imbibes. And today Monday is football - Bradford City at home - so guess what - I'm outta of here!! Photos and thoughts on these and other subjects - soon!! UTG!! Come on lads lets make it 6 on the trot. Or bounce as all the commentators keep saying! ta ra.

Southend 0 - Gillingham 1.....

Got the scalp! But I have to say listening via Interweb radio is harder than being there! Hope the neighbours didn't mind the singing and the general loopy moments!!

56 points and 10th in the league!!! 5th win on the trot. Play offs?!?!?

Well done lads! Black scores again and we are surely now safe!! So we have beaten Sarfend/Huddersfield/Swansea and Brentford - top teams beaten by the Pikey Army!!! la la la la!
The Gills are staying up
The Gills are staying up
I know you'll never believe us
I know you'll never believe us
The Gills are staying up...!!!!!!!!!!

:-) UTG!

40pence...

...this time last year bought me a rather memorable kiss ;-)

Music Night

Ok ok. So I go to music night knowing trusted friend will be there. Ok ok I know you ALL know who I am talking about. Mr G.

Anyway I got there at 9.30pm. And had one of the wierdest nights. Ok ok so part of me went cos I wanted to see Bruce. He was there and we had a chat. But the other part of me just wanted to go out and listen to live music and see a few people. And that's what I did. I was quiet and possibly slightly subdued. Not many people in and a real sense of oh, is it Thursday and is tomorrow a holiday. The raw realisation that oh yes other people go away for the Easter weekend. I have spent the day cleaning windows. Washing net curtains ( un cool?) and generally making my nest more mine. Only I see it. But things of beauty count.

So to the evening. Pete was there waiting for his new catches to turn up. They did. Pete is from Scotland and a real gem of a lad. I say lad - he is 32. And the 3 girls who turned up reminded me that for all Pete's charm and genuine being he is still at heart a bit of a youngster. And so too the rest of the night. Adie Sweet talks to me. That is a break thru. Rev 2 Sheds talks to me. And the general theme is - make sure you are at the pub on Saturday night. It's Adie's Birthday. Even as Bruce was kissing me good night he wanted to check I was going to be there so that no close dancing could take place - hehem. What is going on?! The music was fair to middling. Kids singing dark and depressing numbers. Acoustic reptitive strain injury and Mr G singng along whilst Bruce strummed the guitar. Ah the juxtapositon.

And now its 2.10am and I am here writing out my guts cos I can say hand on heart that I came home alone. Oh yes. And I am quite looking forward to Saturday! Rev 2 Sheds said I was the most amazing looking gal in the pub. I choked and then thought if only. Bruce. Claims to have no heart. And my world. My world. The lead singet of Ozric Tentacles plays on music night. Johnny. He is very good. But once you have seen the dreadlocked man in SavaCentre its not quite the same. And the two geeks who tried to chat me and Lisa up on NYE were there - so dim - no recognition. Thank the lord for that.

My net curtains smell nice. Must be time for bed.

Realised today I had duvet related experiences with a Norton (AntiVirus 2006) and a McAfee... oh dear. Either my up grade has upset me or my life experiences are far too interesting.... I sense another theme of blog entries coming on. Good Friday everyone. Enjoy your hot crossed buns. Or on our street, Hot Crashed Bins...

Sleep well.. Bruce. He is quite short and quite a bit older than me. And I need a new focus. Anyway look out for my next major Blog mission - Sat pm at the Nelson...... should be good!!! ;-)

Good night sweet hearts. And come on Gills get that final top of the league scalp. I would be there but its sold out. Suddenly I feel like a fair weather fan.

Curses. Mercies.

Leave

Ah the joy of leave. I had grand plans for the day. But with a need to listen to music quite loudly and plenty to keep me occupied round the house I kept myself inside my world. Washing, cleaning and all those chores which help retain sanity helped fill the day whilst re-living my live musical event of last evening. A time to reflect on times past.

This time last year I had just finished my Prince2 course and was at odds with my home life and just about everything. Easter is later this year so it has helped muddy the waters of my memories of what was going on 12 months ago. Suffice to say the time has flown by. A trusted friendship has grown from the tatters of broken hearts and shattered dreams. (ooh that was corny)

I feel though that this is due to be tested, as I now bear the responsbility, as a trusted friend, of the worrying life circumstances my mate finds himself in. Knowing me I will do the honourable thing and try to help him work these things through. I hope when I am older I still have the good friends I have now to share my ideas/problems with. My mate has no such avenues with his friends and it concerns me that the idea of friendship can be taken so randomly by him and his buddies. I am also concerned that he sees me as a lifeline and wonder where his ideas of us start and end in relation to my idea. All I wanted was honesty - now I am hearing it, it is all slightly too late and my mind and head are elsewhere.

Selfishly I am focussing on me and where I should be going. What I should be doing. (If anyone has any ideas please do drop me a line.) That all perfectly stated I am still here still plugging away with a career which has a dead end sign somewhere up the road and still desparate to do something mind stretching and satisfying. I know its in me - I just need to find the faith to make it happen. In the meantime I hide behind my pracitcal head and do what I do best - be strong, organise confidently and help out people I care about.

Oh did I mention that it took me 4 hours to update my AntiVirus Software today. So much for leave from work - I've been tied to my PC for almost as long today as I would have been at work?! But hey the totally free head space and escape from sorting everyone else out has been fun! You know I could sit here and write all sorts of things this evening. I feel in the groove...!!

Placebo Concert! My heroes!

Great venue Ally Pally! Never been before so getting there and home again was a concern. I needn't have worried. Tube to Wood Green and W3 bus to the venue, via a pub of course! Once up the hill (that was a clue for a future blissful moment) and at the Palace it was hard to know what was more exciting, seeing my favourite band or the view across the city. Certainly worth a visit on a sunny day. Inside was huge.

The last time I saw Placebo was 2 years ago at Brixton Academy. Seen them there 3 times in all, also seen them at the ill fated wet Glastonbury in 1997 and in 1996 at Leicester's De Montfort Hall. Each gig reminds me of a certain song and for that matter each album charts a phase of my life. I suspect I shall in time chart each album and the reasons why they cut a slice of my life so perfectly.

But tonight it was 'Meds' they were sharing with the fans. The place was packed. The weather and days work soon forgotten as the band appeared. I've been listening to it solidly on my MP3 for the last month. So I prepared to sing along and dance along. Cheers and clapping ahoy - the lights went down the stage lit up and the music began.

In no particular order they played Infra Red; Because I Want You; Drag; Come Home; Follow the Cops Back Home; Every You Every Me; 36 Degrees (the 2005 version); Special Needs; One of a Kind; Space Monkey; Post Blue; Twenty Years; Blind; The Bitter End; Song to Say Goodbye. The encore - ah the encore! Running up that Hill cover (deep deep joy!); Meds; Teenage Angst; Nancy Boy. And then the stage dimmed and the house lights went up. So for an hour and half belting songs played with full grit and heart by the threesome. Way too short or did it just go too quickly?

Either way I suspect the venue dictates that events end at 10.30pm so everyone can get home. Walk to Alexandra Palace Station, via pub for a pee, 15mins to Kings X and then the tube. My head full of the songs the feelings. I did learn that trying to use your phone to record such events is pointless. Oh well. Thanks Brian, Stefan and Steve for yet another memorable performance. I look forward to the next one with glee!

Toothache and Apathy

I hate my wisdom teeth. All 6 of them. I have spent most of my Sunday under the duvet with a clove oil cotton wool ball stuffed in the back of my mouth trying to reduce the pain. It is now just a dull ache. Bet it will have passed in time for the joy of Monday morning. Oh well. I have started on my new extra themed blog though - but I know I need to spend more time finishing the current entry... for a preview wander this way!

Hey ho. Soon be time to rest my aching face and prepare for a two day week - hooray!!

Gillingham 2 - Huddersfield 0

I think we may well be staying up... Gary 'twiglet legs' Mulligan and super Matt Jarvis. The sun shone, the fans sang and the life has returned to the Rainham End. Brillant. Brillant.

MK Dons 1 - Gillingham 2

It's all about the cows....

This is the home of MK Dons. MK being the critical part of that observation.

I had to get a train to see the team formerly of SW19. A game in the midst of history I would have been able to walk to. Plough Lane - RIP. So against my footballing principles I did go to the new home of Wimbledon - it's not really the new home I hasten to add. I live in SW19 and trust me true Wimbledon fans support AFC Wimbledon. Not the Cows. Concrete you see. Yes the Cowshed is the home end and the mascots are two cows mixed with the theme of the sponsor Marshall - so they hold MKDon guitars.. so yes air guitar playing cows. The pre match entertainer was rather large and accused us Gills' fans of not being very noisy.. and then the home fans had a go at super Jason Brown who to them had eaten all the pies. The team were late turning up - not running out for their warm up until 2.30pm. And the first half reflected this somewhat. The team I saw last week were not out there. It was subdued and Gills weren't getting hold of the game. The wind meant all we could hear were the home fans singing - our efforts being blown away in the breeze. Then a penalty. Erm I think not - the ball was rolling out and from that close to the line scoring opportunities were limited. Anyway we let MK enjoy their lead and duly accused them of being cheats for the remainder of the half.

Anyway they are bottom of the table this evening and we are not. The mystical 50 points in the bag. Great goal from Byfield and a super free kick by Black secured 3 points and 15th in the league. 2 goals in 2 mins. Several good chances in the latter part of the half and yes the team I saw last week were finally here. I believe we are getting to the safety zone. It feels good.

The Gills fans at MK Central were in high spirits. Much singing and many smiles. The singing lasted for much of the journey back to London on the super SilverLink train. Not sure some of the other carriage occupants were overly impressed. I was mildly bemused. You can see all the well to do making their assumptions.

Anyway - smiles and proximity to safety - been a while coming but worth the wait!

Have cued up my travel for Yeovil so another away day in the offing.

UTG! You make me happy when skies are grey!