Come on!

NUFC v Aston Villa 13/02/22 We went on the hunt for a 3 rd victory on a somewhat damp Sunday afternoon. Another realistically nervy game ahead having not achieved 3-in-a-row in 39 months (November 2019 with Rafa). Yet despite our Geordie realism, we now have shed-loads of renewed belief too. And it showed! To be there and be part of the St James’ restored audio volume was and is brilliant. The game itself was a fairly “messy” affair. 2 teams of course wanting the same. They, have a superstar in Philippe Coutinho that, for me, was the source of the nerves. He’s that good. However! The superb defending made said superstar a CoutinNO! I was, as a football fan, expecting to see some special tricks and moves from him. Gladly I did not! Like I said, it was from the off a messy game. They were dirty. Aggression as shown on Tuesday night was welcome. What they brought in their game was unwelcome. Had the ref been fairer (not for want of better word) we would have had more freekicks....

NUFC v Everton 08/02/22 Form! Yes! Newcastle United displaying some form. And its fan-fucking-tastic. Not to an Everton, nor a Leeds fan; snigger-snigger. We played Leeds last month, just before the FA Cup premiership break (especially for those who are not in said cup. Ahem. But the team had a ‘warm weather break’ that seems to’ve done wonders too) and we won. For the first time in an age granted, but an unexpected victory is next-level great. What followed was an exceptionally busy mid-season / January transfer window. Busy and also fantastic. 5 newbies. Improved squad. Quality improvements throughout! Well done Newcastle . Approximately £92m spent (not including add-ons). Anyway! A quick blog about our (#NUFC) much improved mindset across the board – owners down to the most disgruntled fan – due to rapidly improving team that all can see. Aye, despite still being in the quagmire in truth (at time of writing a measly unsafe 17 th ), the outlook is good and OPTIMISTIC. So, th...

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 the...

  The Perfectionist This blog – Perfectionism – is a trait I believe I have held, forever? Even that question mark itself challenges that statement. What backs it up, is that I have been intending to write this for some time, yet procrastination suggests that maybe I am right. Head scratching? Here’s another thing in support of my unproven self-claim (of perfectionist). After speaking to someone on a weekend (in October 2021), I thought I must do it! My personal blog carries no ‘musts’ with it. Anyway, after the conversation I have acted (finally on putting pen to paper – but – I had to do/follow my research routine of subject/topic before any words are formed). That has been a good thing. Maybe I am NOT as much of perfectionist a s I thought after all. This paragraph is from Dundee university (that researching…):   Ø   The 'perfect human' is as appealing and mythical a concept as the unicorn. Many of our greatest endeavours are indeed accomplished while ...

  Lady Smith’s Seghill Stumble   Having been effectively avoiding the sun for some time (as of the end of June 2021), and with that walking too, I happily broke that seal, and lived a bit of history in the process! A public footpath, that friends and I used to use, for dogs and other reasons back in the day, was my chosen route. Apart from some nettle stings, I enjoyed it more than I’d been hoping to! And I will do again. Walk there, that is. “Ooooh, a walk. Whoopie-do.” You may think. We know of my challenges with regards to said basic activity of controlled falling – walking – in that it is not always one’s friend. If you do not know of the challenges, try out living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for size! This a happy feeling blog, so I’ll leave MS to the side for now ( much more about that elsewhere here anyway , and that isn’t sad by the way). Seghill . The village I grew up in from the age of umm, err, 8(ish), in the south east of Northumberland for 10 ...

NYR 20XX I am not a ‘New Year Resolution’ (NYR) believer. Sick of minor heart-felt , common , and false, ‘beliefs’ just being said to say something across the years. ·        Job ·        Gym more ·        Get a lass When realistically, although they were true, to a broken / fractured mindset, the intent was hardly in line with the bollocks of a NYR! Firstly, the JOB . Well, as someone with I STILL BELIEVE a thoroughly paramount WORKING ETHIC and attitude; I can honestly say, that I have tried beyond belief. Now, my acceptance is that that has had to have changed due to medical reasons . Meh. Such is life. The GYM! Never a gym bunny to quote a phrase, I did attend a gym whenever I could within reason. Miami dreams? No! Fitness in-line with MS , yes. And age now a factor 😂 . COVID a different factor now anyway too! Singleton. 43 and single. No “aw”s there – not my search (no pun int...

Life ‘persona’ acceptance. After receiving some excellent counselling with Pete , it has helped me massively realise some of my ‘framework personality’; whatever the hell that is (I made it up), just sounded like a fitting’ish thing! Well, adding to that ( above ) mud paragraph ( as clear as... ), I’ll share a social media status update, from the day following recent a recent session with Pete: Facebook status 04/02/21:        ”Maybe this counselling is starting to have notable positive effects on me. Could be the red wine last night; it'd been a while! Honest! Acceptance, and possibly an/my identity finally found, I think. Before any judgement.... Introvert. A type of an introvert. Makes so much sense to me. People have described me as 'quiet' in certain places & situations, which internally I refuted. I am not that bloody quiet, I know. Therewith lies the 'however'. More to follow when I find the volume controls!” I have always bee...