Getting Near the End

I am sat here on my 60th thinking back, as you do. I wish my Dad was the type who took me to games when we lived in Sunderland but he was not. I took all of my kids to games, not many in Sunderland, too far from Milton Keynes. We went to Midlands and London games. Some grew to love football others just liked to day out.  The closest my Dad got to SAFC was after mass one Sunday at St. Benets. We drove to a hall, Dad went inside and came out with a signed sheet. It was the whole Sunderland team of around 1960, what a team sheet that must of been. Did I get it, NO, one of my brother's did who has never had any interest in football. It is currently in his loft !!! How I envy him and what a waste.

Greeting from a wet Caithness

There is a part of me thinking how unimportant this blog is. As you know I run a support group for parents whose children have Hirschsprung's Today a child on one of our members died, he was only born July last year.  He also had HLH as well and the combination of both was too much for the wee lad. Blake was not the first child to die from the group and I am sad to say he will not be the last but every child's death is hard to take. I know how his parents feel after losing my boy too, although he was much older. This is video is parents made before his death www.youtube.com

I have decided that I can't discuss football. I will be watching it, shouting for us to win which I think we will but until next time.

Ha'waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 

Blake 

April Showers

I am sat here in Caithness with the sun streaming through the window. What a beautiful day it looks but looks can be deceptive. I have just come back from walking the dog and boy do you have to wrap up well, the wind is icy and in the wind is rain or at times hailstones. Martin maybe with us now, as the sun is but he was very little to work with & summer still seems a long way off, as last Saturday proved.

The Show Goes On

I had a fear when I saw the weather forecast for up here that things may go wrong on Tuesday. We had been enjoying incredible weather but from Tuesday night it was going to break and wind & dark clouds was the forecast for the next week. So it proved for Sunderland, the cup run ended and a lot of dreams shattered. This morning though, as I write this, the sun is streaming through the window. The window is blocking out the strong wind but strong wind is normal for life up here. Life has returned to normal with the wind but it is bright outside.

I want to jump in my car

The sun has still not stopped shinning since my last blog. I even went mad and did some gardening. That is almost as rare Sunderland getting to Wembley. No we have not got there yet but cup fever has definitely broken out. Before cup talk, back to Saturday. Just as a complete aside, just popped out into the garden to look at the Moon and Jupiter and got dive bombed by bats.

A Sunny weekend

Today was a strange day, a beautify sunny day, reaching a high of 19c. That is higher than most summer days. We had to go out, especially as the electric would be off all day. In a all electric house, staying at home would of proved tricky. No complaints, the Kyle of Tongue was beyond words, sun on the Rabbit Isles, seals on the sand banks in the Kyle & red deer on Ben Loyal & around Kinbrace. All rounded off by a huge portion of a haddock supper & a can of Red Kola whilst looking over Helmsdale harbour. What a way to start the weekend,  here's hoping that the glorious weekend will continue tomorrow.

Pleasant Days

Once again I return after an absence. I had meant to start this earlier today but the joys of a bright afternoon up here and calling into a Maltese restaurant, yes up here, was too much of a pull.

Wednesday, The lads must be playing again

One game ends and another is just around the corner. Wednesday, FA Cup reply, bet the lads would be wanting a quieter time this week, after Saturday's hard game. The weather forecast looks better, no snow but cold. On Saturday as everyone was complaining about the snow, I looked out of my window and we had none, Cairngorms had none, Stoke supposedly lots (well that's what people were saying but pre game pics did not show it), very strange.

A Snowy Weekend Away

Sat here on a Friday night and what am I doing? Well, talking to you and thinking about the lads. I am writing this so late as we are having so many games. What is it like for the players? I hope there is going to be a match, there is heavy snow forecast starting around 3pm in Stoke. The game may start but will it end? Anyone know when was the last time one of our game's started but did not finish? They should play the game here, no snow and none forecast.

Busy Time for the Lads

Busy couple of weeks ahead for us. Good job I am living in a area where life can be taken easy. Mind we do have our troubles, as I am writing this our internet is down. Been down for a couple of hours now, apart from a brief 10 minutes of working. I do have a phone that I can use for the internet but being remote a very slow connection.

The Derby Game that is not a Derby

FA Cup weekend. It may not mean much to the likes of the Manchester teams but a day out at Wembley would be a day to remember for most of our lives. A day at Wembley is a dream for most fans, even the so called big 4. The fans may not turn out in numbers to the early rounds, can't understand why not but come the big day they will all be shouting for a ticket.

Normal Service is resumed

I am talking about me & this blog, not Sunderland. We are doing something that we have not done of a while, win games and even consecutive games. My absence was due to depression, a bug bare of mine. Hopefully, although the depression has not gone, it has lifted enough to let me continue with these. Getting back to the important things in life, Sunderland  currently & Saturday.

All Aboard, the Magic Carpet has Reappeared.

I want to say to all of you who are going on Sunday, I am so jealous of you. I wish I had the magic carpet here to whisk me down the road. Until I got the news that I am due in hospital again for a test next Thursday, all I have thought about was Martin and Sunday. This is an exciting period to be a supporter. Where will Martin lead us, to the golden heights or another 7 day wonder?

Bye Bye Bruce, Hello Martin

I know I said that I would not be writing a blog this week but that is depression for you. One day something seems too much for you and another day you think you can.

The storm clouds are passing over SOL and a new era is about to being. Wish the same could be said for up here. Winds overnight of up to 70mph and 30-40 winds for the rest of the week with maybe snow. Bruce is gone but lets think kindly of him. He has stabilized us a premiership club, not the mid table team he has been saying we are but one that flirts with relegation most seasons. This tosh the media are saying about we have always been against him because of his childhood, is rubbish. I wish him well and hope that he is soon back in employment as a manager. I believe that he has always tried his best for us but I am afraid that did not work for us.

Bruce

I don't usually write a blog on a Sunday but yesterday's events has prompted me too. I did not want the usual Thursday/Friday blog to be all about Bruce. I will say what I feel right at the start. Bruce is past his sell by date and should of gone in the summer, never mind after yesterdays mess.

Another Must Win Weekend

Here I am a home alone kid. My wife has gone down to Leicester leaving me and the dogs alone to fend for ourselves. Shame, I get to eat what ever I like and do what ever I like. How will I survive? I will think about that later but in the meantime the continuing tale of our beloved club.

I must say I am getting tired of writing whether Bruce should go or not. I should be writing about the Fulham game or what will be happening on Saturday. Instead it is Bruce. I must say I am still in the Bruce out camp but the question is when.

Normal Service Resumes

Sat here with blackness outside after a lovely sunny day. Well sunny but cold as we had the wind again. What would life be up here without the wind? You can feel that winter is definitely around the corner, as is having the yellow ball back again.

It has been a long 2 weeks since the Man U game, its almost hard to remember what happened. Mind I have been into hospital since, so had other things to think of and worry about. Also it was my youngest granddaughter's birthday, Katelyn was one.That was a happy but tiring day.

Blank

Strange title? Nope, for football fans that is exactly what it is, a blank weekend. I do dislike these international weekends. What do you do? Nothing to get excited about or in our case getting worried about. We do tend to worry alot and not without some due cause. Being a Mackem is not a easy life. Would be much easier if you supported Man U or Chelsea, when your only worry is 'How many prizes are we going to win this season. Or a City fan wondering 'which world stars will be coming our way in January & what are we not going to win'.

A Bright View from up North

Hello again from a bright Caithness. From a misty, dreich morning, it is a brighter afternoon. A pleasant change from the wind and rain. Maybe it will stay nice before it is back into hospital for me on Wednesday for a couple of days for tests. I want them to find something but not what they are looking for, if that makes sense.

Anyway lets get to the big test, Man Utd away. Not a great prospect, is it? We have not won against them since 2000, so tomorrow will be a hard task. Also leading against Man Utd does not help, they get so many last minute goals, especially against us. With these stats and that they will still be smarting for that defeat against City, I would be happy with a draw, maybe 2-2.

After the storms

We have had quiet a week so far as weather is concerned. Winds for a few days of over 50mph. This is the main entrance to Wick Harbour. Thank good those winds are over but just been watching the weather forecast for the weekend and they might be returning, not as strong 40+ this time. Strange isn't how life up here sometimes mirrors life down there? No, not contrived, just realised it as I was writing this, honest gov.