Emotional? Me? Never…

I think I must just be tired, I have done 8 hours driving in total today – I have been up to Manchester to carry out an hour’s training with Collins that didn’t go very well to be honest. So that was 3 hours there and back. I was planning on going straight to the office but went home instead to experience some of the Halloween excitement and Trick or Treating – it was madness, so many people coming and knocking on the door. It didn’t take too long for the sweets to run out!

I then decided to come down to the office which is another 2 hour drive and was listening to some podcasts – listened to Vidal Sassoon and John Peel on Desert island disks and both were really good, very interesting and Sassoon was fascinating. Such a rich life and attitude he has.

Anyway, I then put on Jupiter from the Planets Suite and started filling up and crying! No idea what that was about…! Something just stirred and tears were streaming down my face.

See what you think – only need to listed to the first 3 minutes:

http://youtu.be/mfHnZOSyri8

Ian Rundle’s Funeral

It was with great regret that I heard last week of Ian Rundle passing away in hospital, I wasn’t aware that he was ill and I think it was a bit of a shock that the operation, and subsequent illness, took his life.

Ian was the manager to give me my first chance of men’s football when he selected me to play for Oxford City first team when I was only 17. He was a quiet and dry character but he was the one that I had huge amount of respect for, he reminded me very much of Derek in that praise wasn’t quick in forthcoming so any sort of praise or a simple ‘well done’ was a pleasing thing to hear.

Ian came back on the committee when I was in my second spell at City and it was always him that I would try and get recognition from regardless of who was my manager or other committee members, and I like to think that as I got closer to my retirement I got more respect from Ian for my playing abilities. He was also a firm supporter for the Veterans team so that was good to have him come along and cast his critical eye over us old ones every now and then!

The funeral took place at the Crematorium on Thursday 27th October and unsurprisingly it was packed out. I have never been to the crematorium and they have had to have car park attendants there. I didn’t actually get in and stayed outside with many others – a good few hundred and so many faces that I recognised, so many ex-footballers.

John Maskell made a good speech and it was interesting to hear Ian’s life story, the respect afforded him from Wycombe Wanderers was fantastic and there was good representation from them.

We then went back to City club and that was packed, had a couple of drinks with the intention of going home to work again but in the end decided to stay the rest of the night with the lads who were getting absolutely steaming drunk. I’d decided quite early not to drink so after a couple of pints I stuck to coffee and coke. Then quite a few of them wanted to go to town as we went to the Living Room – which was ironic – as it was  very dead in there, Thursday night definitely wasn’t party night! A few of the lads had a laugh though and eventually I did have enough so I took Wayne, Paul and Millar home – Wayne was absolutely hanging and I am sure all three of them would be delicate the next morning…sure enough….I was right!

It was a shame that it was a funeral that brought together so many old friends and faces but sadly that will be the case now, I am sure there will be more funerals than weddings to attend!

You would like to think that for your own funeral you’d get the sort of send off as Ian got today, maybe I will and maybe I won’t – I won’t really be there to know though will I?

Some of the people there included: Dale Thorne, Nick Dawson, Shaun Bradbury, Andy Leach, Phil Simpson, Eddie Inness, Rob Tutton, Justin Merrett, Mike Ford, Bob Pratley, Andy Lyne, Andy Sinnott, Jason Millar, Wayne Holden, Paul Holden, Terry Merriman, Tommy Moxon and even Mick Woodley. He didn’t look well at all.

My Birthday Weekend & Bruno Mars

Had a really good birthday which we dragged out over the weekend.

On Saturday, Mum took us out to 10 pin bowling at The Kassam and then we went next door to Frankie & Benny’s which was really nice, we had a good time. Lewis won the bowling but he had the barriers up so being a competitive Dad I couldn’t accept that he beat me! He also brought along his current girlfriend, Katherine, who’s really nice so we’ll have to see how long this lasts! Hopefully for a while as she’s intelligent and attractive..

Had a cake and candles and people singing for me which is a bit embarrassing as I am 43!!!

Mum & Derek then came back to our house after dinner and we vegged out in front of the TV and had cheese etc. Nice evening. She gave me some money which I spent on Sunday on a printer that we desperately needed and some choccies and a book.

Next day we had a normal Sunday, Jack’s football in the morning which as he won so that helped to make the day more enjoyable and then over to Sue’s in the afternoon and tidied up some of the garden for her. Had a cake and candles and Sue got me a lovely Gucci aftershave which smells fantastic, rally pleased with it.

Finally on the Monday, 24th, the kids and Tash are on half-term but I had to work and I have so much on my plate to deal with at the minute so wasn’t relaxed at all but we had our usual family in bed present giving and that was lovely. Charlotte got me some great new socks and Thornton’s toffee (she knows my favourites), very posh John Rocha ones, the boys got me Lynx smellies and a DVD and Tash gave me my watch that I knew we’d got from the States and also a Abercrombie jumper from the States that I had completely forgotten about so that was a lovely surprise!

We had a big fry-up and I then had a shit day’s work and got things done but signed off at 4.00pm as we then all went to London for a concert as part of my birthday. We went to the Brixton O2 Academy to see Bruno Mars. I must admit I wasn’t overly excited about seeing him, it was very much for the kids and for Jack especially as he’s not been to a proper concert and he also loves the Lazy Song so much. The warm-up act was a girl called Skyler Grey and she was great, I will be looking to download her album. We then had a wait until about 9.10pm until Bruno came on and he gave a brilliantly fun and energetic performance that was really, really enjoyable. He played to the crowd but didn’t seem arrogant or anything and I am so glad that we went. Jack, Charlotte and Lewis loved it and had a great time too so that was pleasing.

We left at the end obviously, found the car okay and got home around 12.20am so quite a late one but well worth the effort and a lovely birthday. Early start in the morning with work as Jason is picking me up at 7.15am to go into the office for a hard week full of hassles. Ah well…

I must admit I was nervous about being in Brixton because of it’s history and the riots that I obviously knew about, but as Nikki said to Tash, it’s very much like the Cowley Road. Not certain how that relates but she was right, it was very, very similar indeed.

So another year gone and another year closer to my death…hopefully I have plenty more years to come and share with the family, who knows, but that’s what I wished for when cutting the cake!

Jack’s County Schools Match & Summertown

Another good weekend of football for Jack, again making me very proud of him in his football achievements. On Saturday he played against Dacorum over towards Hemel Hempstead who are used to winning and had some very good players indeed, and after initially being over-run we got a break-away goal and throughout the rest of the game they held on and won the match. It was equally exciting and frustrating as the ref wasn’t the most honest!

Jack did well, he was played at left midfield and was against an incredibly good player but by the second half he’d got used to it and coped well. I found it hard to keep quiet and wanted to encourage the boys as much as possible but I was just another interfering Dad! What was nice is that chatting to some of the other days a lot of the boys will be going to Cherwell school next year so Jack will have made friends with lads he’ll be seeing next year.

On Sunday for Summertown we played at home to Ardington, I was down to 11 players and was a bit fed up that I didn’t have enough to make a decent match of things. In saying that Ardington struggled and we looked really sharp and we looked like we’d romp home. How little I know!!

I kept fairly quiet throughout the match because I wouldn’t have been heard over their coach who was constantly shouting at his team for the whole game, quite hard to deal with that I must admit. Anyway, they went a goal up and it looked like we’d lose a game we didn’t deserve to lose. The Max scored a fortuitous goal before Jack then got two quick strikes that he’s getting good at. They then got a last goal right at the death but it wasn’t a problem as I knew there wasn’t enough time left and we won 3-2 so that was really, really pleasing.

I found out afterwards that some chap of one of the parents that I’d not met before was very complimentary of my coaching style so that was a nice thing to hear. Not often you get positive comments like that.

But more importantly was Jack’s performance, I was really pleased with him, he’s a talent.

Jack & a great footballing weekend

A good weekend for Jack…he had trials for the Oxford Schools County squad on Saturday at Cheney School but didn’t get too much playing time or action which was frustrating and I felt he could have done better.

Driving home in the car we had quite a heated discussion because he was disappointed with me not telling him he’d done well. I hadn’t realised I hadn’t, I also hadn’t realised he was quite so touchy about praise and felt that I was critical of him.

So I had an insight into this thinking briefly. It shocked me as I thought I was always so supportive of him.

Next day on Sunday he played for Summertown against AFC Brightwell and he was superb. We won 6-2, he set up two goals and scored four! Two of his goals were exceptional, and his celebration for the last one was classic ‘Cantona’, he just stood there which his arms out by his waist as if to say, “What do you think of that then?” – brilliant.

So I made a point of telling him ‘Well done’ after that performance.

Today the school received an email from the Coach in charge of selecting the Schools County side and Jack was included. I was surprised after he’d not had a chance to shine so they obviously saw something. He phoned me whilst I was at work and he was bubbling and clearly thrilled to pieces to be selected. It was announced in assembly so he was Top Dog today.

Made me smile when he asked over the phone, “So Dad, do you have something to say to me?”

Yes Jack, “WELL DONE”!

Boston Trip

Had the best of times over in the States this last week (Wednesday to Sunday) and went a bit mad. We got swept up in the eating, drinking and socialising that Andrew does on a daily basis. We were obviously there for him to try and support him during the week he should have been getting married and I hope that we played our part with him.

Got there on Wednesday around 6.00pm and got the subway to his road and walked along just in time to find everyone else turning up, stayed up late drinking with all the family, about 21 people in the end which as we were five hours behind it meant we stayed up until about 6.00am (1.00am their time!) – this was the story of things to come and 1.00am was an early night!

We experienced quite a bit of the social scene, bars and restaurants all the time, it was great fun. Tash lasted really well which surprised me greatly, I was certainly expecting a few hangovers the amount she was knocking back.

We did manage a bit of shopping, and even during that we overspent in a big way – managed to justify some of it by saying it was for my birthday – nice new Fossil watch. I did stop short at a £150.00 Robert Graham shirt, it was gorgeous, but Tash said it was ‘too gay!’. It bloody well wasn’t, just priced out. I will certainly be checking out EBay for one though!

We went around Boston for a couple of walks, made it to Cheers bar and just enjoyed the City, it’s a great place.

So, the wedding didn’t take place but it was a good experience and we made some friends with all the family that we didn’t know very well and also one of Tuck’s work colleagues, a chap called Gerry who I’d actually met 2 years ago in Cardiff at the work’s Xmas party that I very much gate-crashed…

It was odd without the kids, but at the same time it did Tash and I some good to be together, will definitely try and organise something else for the two of us to get away from it all.

Came home on the Sunday morning, was up and out the apartment around 6.00am having not gone to bed before 2.00am and then a 6 hour flight home but that was quick.Back to Oxford by 10.00pm so quite a long day.

It’s amazing how small the world is though, to be so far removed from life but only a matter of hours away, incredible really.

Charlotte’s Birthday

Diary for 28th September – written on the plane to Boston.

Charlottes birthday today, 15! Presents in the morning which she was pleased with and then went downstairs and she had a bike. Big surprise as that's a Xmas present in our house!! Off she went to school and we got text updates throughout the day as to how things were going including all her French class singing to her. Hope she had a great day.

Sadly we're not there to share it as we're off to the States for Andrew's non-wedding. Jessica is coming over to housesit with them, they'll have a great laugh I am sure. Not sure Jess really needs to be there but she's excited to be so it won't hurt and it seems more responsible on our part to have someone that bit older there I guess.

Got to the airport fine and I am typing this over the Atlantic cramped up on a bloody tiny plane. We were definitely spoilt with BA as there is no video or free beer...not too certain which I miss most! Going to be knackered though. Bed at 4am, up at 7am and then about 2 hours sleep on plane. Boston are 5 hours behind so when we have a drink at 9.30pm with tucks it will be 2am for us.

Not certain what to expect this weekend, food, beers, shopping, walking and sight seeing I am guessing. Will be odd without the kids and just me and Tash. Looking forward to it though, had to write that as she's looking over my shoulder. :-)

Anyway, have had a fairly productive flight, have created a load of lists for when we return to UK to start working through ranging from getting a front door to decorating to reading more books and downloading a music album. Going to be busy!!!

Sat waiting for luggage, been about 20 mins...where is it??? Oh. Here we go, conveyor belt moving.