Gallowgate Challenges

Gallowgate Challenges - NUFC

January (2022) I went to visit St. James’ Park. Now this wasn’t an uncommon thing, but both the reason and sitting position were.

The FA Cup! Meh. That short word spells the result of the encounter.

Obviously, Newcastle United being football flesh and blood. The FA Cup, 3^rd round home tie against a lower league club, a tasty day out.

Here’s an/the NUFC thing. An expected odds-on game does not always go according to plan. And it didn’t. More about that soon.

The Gallowgate End.

If you do not know of the famous Gallowgate End of St. James’ Park (hereafter SJP); you should! It is where I started my physical following as a supporter of this brilliant football club. As a teenager, maybe 12 (maybe <12) and not formerly a teen, life began at the South East side of the Gallowgate End of SJP.

I have a crap short term memory these days, yet long term is still with me. That era of SJP was tremendous for many, many, reasons. The noise. The camaraderie. The displeasures of not winning. The victories. The songs. The feelings!

Back to the match in question. Well, we lost. The richest club in the world beaten by a 3^rd division team. Embarrassing.

Newcastle United FC 0 – 1 Cambridge United

Soul destroying. Not without positives though. Given the shite state of NUFC’s league (Premier League, and 2 above Cambridge) position at the time of that match (and currently too (later January at time of writing)), not thereafter having any further FA Cup games to ‘worry’ about is a small blessing.

Last FA Cup we won (or 6). 1955.

The challenge.

That’s where it gets personal.

Unusual seat. Gallowgate as opposed to Leazes, a step back in time. ‘Usual’ seat as opposed to a more friendly, and designed for purpose, disabled seat. Thought it wouldn’t pose much of a problem for an FA Cup match 1-off. It did.

It was only 3 steps. Shorter and shallower than the Leazes steps. Bladder doesn’t give a flying fuck! Got to go, go to go! I had to go. I did not expect the anxiety levels to rush for the sky. They did.

I managed the steps down and to the nearest toilet and to return. With a big personal “phew” upon sitting back down, I was reminded of one’s challenged physicality*. Cheers MS!

Half-time came and went – still scoreless – somehow as we’d been shooting galore! Their ‘keeper was on fire. Fair play. 3 tremendous saves as good as anybody. Grrrr.

Not too long afterwards – 11 minutes to be honest – they scored. A header by Joe Ironside, a Cambridge player and a lifelong Toon fan for some added wound salt into the wound.

On the up-side, at time of writing this the team are receiving some warm-weather training and team-bonding in Jeddah with more players on the way (hopefully) bought to add to NUFC!!!

HOWAY THE LADS!

*I left a few minutes before full-time with my match carer to avoid a lot of the thousands (physical, and mental challenge) of saddened exiting Geordies. Yet, around a corner where the steps start outside the ground… steps from nothing, cornering up, building slowly… yep, a stumble was had. Another bruise. Ha!

F1 Aerodynamics in Schools

Being a STEM Ambassador, I keep check with what STEM enrichment activities are planned that I feel I could support with my experience. I saw an “ F1 Aerodynamics ” related request and it tickled my buds somewhat! So I vested my interest via the formal portal/method to/with STEM and this was responded to. What was the challenge? It is a global competition given as per: “ The Competition - What's It All About? You are a Formula One™ team commissioned to design, construct and race the fastest Formula One Car of the Future, powered by compressed air cylinders. ” The first of the activities was in a middle school in Whitley Bay, to simply share my experience (having been an Aerodynamicist) with the Year 8 kids taking part in the F1 challenge. I enjoyed helping them with what they were doing at that part of their challenge. BBC! Wow. I would have loved to have had that opportunity at that age. Unbelievable! Showing my age, a bit?! (my middle school had a

MS blog October 2023

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Ocrevus

Ocrevus . Notes 1 The infusion was completed at 1pm, and I was asked to wait for 15 minutes after the cannula had been removed. I was told to take it easy for the rest of the day, that'd I'd be tired. Body not used to the new drug, nor my mind, given that I had been anxious about #Ocrevus day. Ok then, I'll accept a lazy day. Was planning a curry takeaway anyway! I am tired. A few nights of bad / poor sleep. Ocrevus. Notes 2 Second infusion (second half dose) done by 1ish. Then again asked to rest for the day. Yes, as per, I was tired. #Anxiety due to an earlier taxi booking (for 07:20), with the small alarm fear! And also a few wake-ups during the night. Usual, but! Prepared with laptop, phone (obviously), headphones, sarnie, bottle of water, and chargers in case. And a BBCi downloaded film. The same as my first unknown Ocrevus trip. Slower start than last infusion, but after the paracetamols and antihistamine, the weak steroid infusion did its thing for half an hour; wi

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