Lynette and Andy BREAD BOARD

I've just burned this!

Amy cushion

I've just made this!

IMPERIAL COMMANDER, GOLD CUP WINNER 2010

Four years ago during the October half term Husb and I went to Paignton. We had strolled along the pier and watched the surfers but on walking back to the B&B, both needed the toilet so nipped into the Paignton bookies to use their facilities. It seemed only right that we had a bet...we had just walked in and used their toilets... and it was here where we saw Imperial Commander run AND WIN his first race.

We have been "following" his progress ever since he won us some money that day and last November we watched him run at Haydock. He came 2nd to Kauto Star that day but only by the smallest nostril, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said he thought every one bar the judge thought he had actually won that day. So that night I put five pounds on him to win the Gold Cup at 12-1.

Woooooooooooooooo(OMG OMG OMG)!

What a great race!

Everyone seemed to be thinking this was going to be a 2 horse race between Kauto Star and Denman but only 3 favourites had won during this years meeting much to the bookies delight and horses aren't machines. They also find certain courses suit them better. Imperial Commander loves left handed courses like Cheltenham (he had won here 5 times out of 9 starts compared to none fron right handed coures) so I was out of my seat when he stayed-on strongly up the hill to take up the final furlongs with Denman.

Paddy Brennan rode him brilliantly and had nothing but thanks and praise for the likeable, tractor riding, farmer trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies after his fantastic win. BRILLIANT!

WATCH IT HERE!!

My ailing, about-to-go-bust betting account suddenly looks quite healthy again!

Wooooooooooooo!!

Cov v Plymouth, Jets v MK Lions

Plymouth are second from bottom of the Championship table, so probably not the most attractive of fixtures but when I heard Dids was taking GG to the game at the Ricoh I abandoned all plans of sewing lacey cushions and was on the A41 straight after my classes, after all the Sky blues had won 5 out of their last 6 games hey ho!!!

How totally random... I just went!!

The sewing, shopping, washing up, even the pooch, all got left, I can't believe I just did it, it felt soooo good!



Dad had no idea I was going, well lets face it neither did I, I had to see what time I could get away from my classes, so his little face was a picture when I walked up to him outside the ground.



Good seats! Well, plenty of atmosphere (i.e. a vociferous row of supporters behind us)(with flavoursome language)(but useful to us for identifying players) they showed signs of wit too, chanting "Richard Shaw Richard Shaw" to one of the dreadlocked security men who appreciated the comparison. 18,127 fans



Early on in the game we had a corner which I thought we just might, just might, have scored from..... but NO... Plymouth scored first...
(goalkeeper error Oggy...)



Half time Coventry 0 - 1 Plymouth



We played better in the second half, we were less "stodgy", less "sticky" and 3 mins in on 48 mins McIndoe equalised wooooooooooooooooo PUSB PUSB




It wasn't the best of games though there were some entertaining moments, and we were definitely the better side ....I LOVED IT. It was almost "like watching Art" (but ahem that's Arsenal... I suppose this was more like watching paint dry) =)

Final Score 1-1,
2 x Chish and Fips,
1 x curry in the Mount
and a good afternoon was had by all.
(A bit cold but dry and bright and Dad could sit down for two hours)
(Not cheap either... petrol, toll, ticket, carpark, bet, meal...
worth every penny!)

Dad said "Its a pity Liddy didn't come" (Do you "do" football, sis???)


TROPHY semi-final, Jets v Lions

Sunday was the second leg of the Trophy semi-final so husb and I headed off to the Arena. For some bizarre reason, the Jets are introduced to the crowd in complete darkness, yes it heightens the atmosphere but noone can see a thing.



The team talk worked because we battered them.




We got there early but so did everybody else and we were sat in front of some raucous girls who couldn't possibly have had any voice left that evening... and on our right were all the shrieking school children.... and A FOREST FAN!!!!!





Full time! We now play Newcastle Eagles in the Final next week at Guildford Spectrum which seems a long way for both teams to travel. (Though handy for Cub to get to if he fancies it...)

Sammie, again, because we love her....

I found a good stick for her to chase after and bring back to me...



...but she just wanted to eat it...





You have to admit these are splendid woolly cows.

Sammie. Down by the woolly cows, sitting for a biscuit

Tea Time at the Mount continued

This was it! A taste of nostalgia....Fish and chips served in newspaper at The Mount and the more you ate the more you learned.


Fish and chips became popular in the second half of the 19th century due to the development of trawl fishing in the North Sea. Trawlers landed a mixed catch of high quality and cheaper fish. As railway charges fell, cheaper fish could be transported inland by rail and it became mass-marketed and less of a luxury.

"Chips may have first appeared around the same time, the earliest usage of the word "chips" was mentioned by Dickens in "A Tale of Two Cities"(1859):
"Husky chips of potatoes, fried with some reluctant drops of oil".

The modern "chippy" originated in the UK and, despite the smell associated by frying which led to complaints by many authorities, they continued to trade because during World War II, fish and chips remained one of the few foods not subject to rationing.

Tea time at the Mount

Here we are AGAIN! It's busy in here. There are a lot of flags up for the World Cup but we are sitting in the PUSB corner!

Oh dear I should have used the flash on my mobile phone, I was wearing my Sky Blue jumper that Cub and Sooze bought me for Christmas, and Dad was giving me a big hug for hoovering for him