An English teacher for over 20 years. Huge football fan and a bloke who writes quite a bit. Average husband and tired father to two sometimes wonderful children. Runner, poet, gobshite who laughs far too much at his own jokes.
No challenge should be faced without a little charm and a lot of style.
Our academy system has been a puzzle to me for many years now. Set up to take the cream of talent in the area and turn them into Premier League footballers, it has rarely covered itself in glory. There have been successes, of course with players like Sean Longstaff and to an extent Elliot Anderson being our more recent. But there have been so many false dawns and so many bright hopes that promised much, but ultimately failed to deliver.
One such example was brought to my attention recently by the fact that he was released by one of my local clubs, Huddersfield Town, down here in West Yorkshire. So, what happened to Rolando Aarons? And what could have been?
Having joined the club in 2012 from Bristol City’s academy, Aarons spent some time in our academy sides before making his first team debut as a substitute at the start of the 2014 Premier League season. In the game against Crystal Palace a couple of weeks later, Aarons really made his mark, scoring and assisting in a 3-3 draw. Described by then manager Alan Pardew as “the kind of player fans love”, Aarons looked set for a very bright future and it seemed that we’d unearthed a real gem. Here was an attacking player with skill, flair, power and pace; someone who would make the fans sit up and take notice and – as he’d sort of come through the academy – one of our own as well.
Amazingly though, he would then go on to make only 10 starts over the next 5 seasons, with substitute appearances bringing him to a total of 27 appearances in that whole time.
In 2016, Rolando signed a 5 year contract with Newcastle as the club put their faith in this bright young star. He was 20 at the time and we were preparing for a season in the Championship where Aarons could have played a big part in our campaign. By October of that year though Aarons had been involved in what was described as “a wild west brawl” while out celebrating his son’s first birthday and the controversy would drag on until over a year later when he was sentenced to a 10 month jail term that was suspended for 12 months.
In the season that the brawl happened he made just one start with controversy hanging over him and persistent injuries hampering him throughout the season. Then, in our next season back in the Premier League he once more managed only the single start.
Something had to give as we started 2018 and it was decided that a change of tack was best for the player. So, he was sent out on loan. In fact, during his time at Newcastle, Rolando was sent out on loan on 5 occasions to Verona in Italy, Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic, Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Motherwell. In those spells he made 48 appearances and again, never really made an impact because of injuries.
Rolando Aarons’ story is the quite a sobering one. Here was a young player with tons of natural ability and in both Pardew and Benitez, he had managers who believed in him. But all we ever saw of him were fleeting glimpses; yet enough to suggest that he could go on to be a top player. In fact, early on in his career he was compared to Raheem Sterling in terms of stature and ability, but sadly, he never lived up to that promise.
In two years with Huddersfield Town he made just 11 starts. Even then, friends of mine who support the Terriers talked of a player who obviously had huge ability. And while – again – there were glimpses of said ability, his time in Yorkshire just didn’t work out. A loan last season at Motherwell ended up being cut short and by the end of the season Rolando was released. As I write, he’s still without a club. No longer the bright young prospect, Aarons is now 27 years old and should be reaching his prime.
Rolando Aarons looked to be one of the stand out academy graduates of recent history and there were many of us who thought he’d go on to play an important part in the future of the club at a time when Mike Ashley was refusing to invest. With pace and skill being much needed requirements in the modern game it felt like he had a real chance of going all the way to the top, but it wasn’t to be .To hear of the latest setback in his career is very sad indeed.
Every once in a while I like to write these blogs, mainly to remind myself that in amongst all of the reasons to moan about life, there’s always something to smile about. It’s nice to send some positivity out to readers too though. We all need to moment to smile about, don’t we?
So, what was turning the frown upside down in June then?
The weather. I don’t know about where you live, but here in the UK, in our little corner of West Yorkshire, it was wonderfully sunny for a while. The British joke about this, of course, is that we spend most of our year complaining that it’s too wet or too cold only to then complain that it’s too hot when we get our annual 5 day heatwave! It seems the weather gods can’t win! However, the sunny weather made me smile. And while it doesn’t make running or working in the garden any easier, it does make the whole place look better. We had a few afternoons spent just sitting, reading and chatting in our back garden and the colours are fantastic. And then you look up and see a clear, vividly blue sky. How could you not smile?
The Borrowdale Banksy. If you don’t already know, then Borrowdale is in the Lake District here in the UK. It’s a National Park and an area of outstanding natural beauty. Borrowdale itself is a particularly remote area but for the last couple of years, slate sculptures have been appearing; the work of the Borrowdale Banksy. No one seems to know this Banksy’s identity, but the sculptures are fantastic, as you can see below and news of the latest one made me smile.
The latest Borrowdale Banksy sculpture in the Lake District
Eating Out. June is a very busy month in our house as there are two family birthdays within 3 days. So, much of the first part of the month gets taken up with planning and buying presents and it just feels like we’re rushing around for weeks. This year however, we decided that rather than just eat out to celebrate both birthdays at the same time, we’d go out twice. This was smile-worthy for two reasons – delicious food and drink and no dishes for me to do! And then, having enjoyed the meals so much we decided to end the weekend with a Sunday roast in the pub!
A Science Cover. Covering lessons is one of my least favourite things as a high school teacher. You often don’t know the class or have the faintest idea about the subject and you’re usually required to move halfway round the school to get there, meaning that you often arrive late with a chaotic cluster of children waiting for you, excited by the fact that their teacher’s not here. It also means that you’ve lost a free period. On a delightful Friday last month, I walked into my room and turned on my computer to discover I’d been given a Year 7 Science cover. My only free of the day, gone! I was gutted. However, a few minutes later, things got better when a member of the Science department came down to tell me about the class being moved. She asked if I’d like them to come down to my room, so of course I said ‘yes’! First problem removed. Then it turned out they were doing an exam; a peaceful cover almost guaranteed. Sadly – but much to my amusement and hopefully yours too – once I’d settled the class and got them going with their exam, my inner teenager came to play. I had the brainwave of thinking I might try to do the exam myself. Why, I don’t know. I was appalling at Science at school. But when I opened the first page I was delighted. The first section was human reproduction and try as I might to have a proper go at the questions, all I could do was attempt silly answers. The results, below, had me stifling giggles and holding off smiles for what felt like the rest of the day. And yes, to confirm, I am a 51-year-old man.
Local Legend on Strava. Lots of you will know that I love running. It’s been important for both my physical and mental health, especially over these last 5 years or so and it’s been something I’ve done on and off all my life. Nowadays I track my runs via the Strava app on my watch and was thrilled on a recent run to find that I’d earned a ‘medal’ for an achievement. Eager to see if I’d beaten some kind of personal best, I was straight on the app in order to have a look. Imagine my surprise to discover that I’d become a ‘Local Legend’ on a stretch of my run that others in my town must use regularly. Imagine my surprise turning to fits of laughter though when I discovered what I was the local legend of. My official title is ‘Local Legend of Poo Bins to Topcliffe’, a stretch of path that leads up to a local mill building at Topcliffe from…well you can work the rest out for yourself.
Let’s concentrate on the ‘legend’ rather than the ‘poo bins’.
The Leeds 10k. I’ve written about this already in another blog post, but June was the month that I completed the Leeds 10k, which would have been reason enough to smile in itself. However, I also managed to run it in the fastest time I’ve managed since my heart surgery – 56 minutes, if you insist on asking! – and this kept a smile on my face for days!
So, in terms of good stuff happening, June was an excellent month. Even getting a cover lesson ended up with me smiling, even though it was a very juvenile reason! I hope you enjoyed reading about it all though!
I can’t honestly say that this was a gig that I was looking forward to, which is quite unusual for me as I’ve been going to see bands live since I was 15. It’s especially strange because this is Embrace, probably my favourite band and one that I’ve seen live too many times to keep track of. But it’s been a 25 year journey.
What worried me was the presence of a pacemaker in my body. In terms of ‘middle age gigging’ this is entirely new ground. I’ve had reservations before, just because my ageing body can’t keep up with all of the jumping around that going to a gig involves. But, I’ve always coped. This was to be my first gig with my new robot attachment though!
The last time I saw Embrace in Sheffield last year, unbeknownst to my wife, I suffered with a bout of palpitations and dizziness at the venue shortly before the gig. My heart was racing, I was sweating and then at the end of it all – as was the way at this pre-pacemaker time – I nearly passed out with the dizziness that brought it all to an end. I saw the gig out though and it was fantastic.
Today, in true rock and roll style, the missus misreads her spreadsheet or something and it means that we’re an hour early getting to the venue. Channeling our inner rock gods though…we wander around Halifax for a bit before going back to The Piece Hall and worrying about which queue will be the quickest.
Once we’re in, we’re so early that even a leisurely stroll into the venue means that we manage to get spots on the barrier at the front. A bit of pacemaker protection. Nice! There’s not much protection from the stiff cold breeze, however, and after about half an hour I’m freezing and regretting my rock and roll decision not to bring a hoodie!
Thankfully, the first support act, Ellur, emit warmth, as well as glamour and a smattering of theatricality. We’ve seen Ellur before, last year supporting Embrace in Sheffield, where they were refreshingly good. At the time I wrote about comparisons to First Aid Kit and even Belinda Carlisle and I’d add a bit of Fleetwood Mac to that list after tonight, while adding that they’re very much Ellur too, if that makes sense.
Tonight, Ellur are brilliant. The band are clearly thrilled to be here as Halifax is home territory, but it’s more than that. They’re a band that are finding their way, but you wouldn’t really know it and they play with a heady mix of giddiness and belief in their songs. Singer Ellur has incredible stage presence. It’s like she completely believes that she should be here. And she’s right. They all are. There’s a mesmeric quality about the way Ellur owns the stage, but that’s also fair to say about the rest of the band too. The guitarist and drummer are grinning all the way through the set and the keyboard player adds beautiful harmonies to Ellur’s already powerful voice.
‘Burn It All Down’ and ‘Anywhere’ are the stand out tracks for me. ‘Anywhere’ in particular sticks in my head, which is always a good sign as I’m notoriously bad at remembering lyrics, so having heard this track only a few times before, for me to remember even small sections is a mark of its quality! It’s not just me either. I look round a few times to see lots of people singing and also note the fact that so many people are here already watching Ellur on stage.
It’s an atmospheric and exciting set that’s over all too quickly; the perfect appetizer – I hope that’s not too condescending – for what’s to come.
There’s a quick change of gear and before we know it Starsailor take to the stage. Singer James Walsh – aka the nicest man in indie rock – is all smiles too, but it’s the songs that will win the day here. From the opening chords of ‘Poor Misguided Fool’ right through to the familiar anthemic brilliance of ‘Good Souls’ this is a joy to behold. Everyone is smiling and the singalong is getting louder by the line. Once again, the band are relaxed and it makes for a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
From the off, I find myself watching the bass player, knowing that something’s not right, but as I don’t know Starsailor that well, I can’t pinpoint what it is. When James reveals that regular bass player James Stelfox was ‘unavalailable for selection’ the penny drops, but I still can’t quite place the new bloke. Turns out it’s Andy Dunlop from Travis doing a sterling job! The band are as tight as ever and songs that go back over 20 years clearly stand the test of time.
Watching Starsailor is a bit like meeting up with old mates and finding that despite your nerves, the conversation flows as it ever did and you still like each other just as much. And it’s an analogy that is taken further when singer James reveals the reason why he’s wearing shorts is that he’s had minor surgery and has been advised to wear loose clothing! So, I’m not the only one having to adapt for medical reasons tonight!
The combination of the brilliant ‘newness’ of Ellur and the familiar and wonderful songs of Starsailor have helped to calm my nerves and suddenly the pacemaker is nothing but a passing thought (now there’s a sentence I never dreaned I’d write in a review!) and I feel ready to enjoy Embrace.
At 9pm, the sun is one the wane and it’s over to Embrace to supply us with warmth and light. It’s a mission that they not only accept, but one that they smash out of the park. There must be something in the air tonight (apologies for lapsing into Phil Collins there) because once again everyone on stage is smiling. But Embrace have taken it up a notch and somewhere, Cheshire presumably, there are several cats missing their grins.
This is a gig to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, ‘The Good Will Out’ and so the record will be played in its entirety, which is a real treat. We kick off with ‘All You Good Good People’ and it is f***ing wonderful to be alive! I’ve forgotten my problems and am singing at the top of my voice – more apologies, this time to anyone who was near me! But the songs on this album are simply anthemic and it’s hard not to join in. We want to listen, but we want to sing too and I think the band love that anyway, so sing we do!
Danny is on great form and is very clearly enjoying every second of this. Always one for jumping around or gesturing, tonight he’s dancing, actually dancing and it’s clear that it’s not just the audience that are losing themselves in the songs. And while I don’t think the invite from ‘Strictly’ will be in the post any time soon (sorry Danny), it’s brilliant to see how much he’s loving the gig. He jokes about us all coming back for the 50th anniversary of the album and right now I’d tell you I’d be there in a heartbeat…if the bugger keeps working that is!
This is an album chock full of tunes and one that means a great deal of stuff to a great deal people and a glance around me confirms just that. There are arms aloft, eyes glued to the stage and everyone is either smiling or singing!
By the time we get to ‘One Big Family’ the atmosphere is simply amazing and there can’t be a member of the audience or band who isn’t having the time of their lives. The energy goes up a notch for this one and while it’s followed by slower songs in ‘Higher Sights’ and ‘Retread’ there’s no let up in the noise or the enjoyment.
The band close the set with the last track on the album, naturally. ‘The Good Will Out’ is quite simply a classic, so it’s a shame that the attention of myself and those around me is drawn away by some brainless behaviour in the crowd as some folk decide they’re more important than the rest of us and try to barge their way to the front. So, while I’d like to say that this part of the set was brought to an emotional end, I can’t because almost all 8 minutes or so of the song pass with me concentrating mainly on keeping my place at the front, protecting my wife and not lamping a total stranger who pushed me into a barrier.
Thankfully, Embrace have got 25 year’s worth of massive tunes to call on, so it’s all quickly forgotten when they come back out for a mini ‘greatest hits’ type set. We’re treated to new songs ‘Death Is Not The End’ and ‘We Are It’, both of which prove that the band haven’t lost their happy knack for writing a banger. Then there’s what feels like a rare appearance for ‘Nature’s Law’ before Richard takes over the vocals on a scintillating version of ‘Refugees’.
With closing songs, ‘Gravity’ and ‘Ashes’ there’s a huge clash of emotions. ‘Gravity’ is just beautiful and it’s not long before I find I’m shedding a little bit of a tear. It was the first dance at my wedding for starters, but the line ‘Can you hear my heart beating’, while I clutch my wife’s hand, takes on a whole new meaning given the last few months.
Thankfully, I’m quickly snapped out of this lull by ‘Ashes’. It’s become familiar now for Danny to ask us to jump up and down during this track, not because we need the encouragement, but more of a warning for our backs and knees! Try as I might to protect both back and knees, the opening bars spring them into life and I’m bouncing along and joining the rest of The Piece Hall in shouting the lyrics back at the band. Once again, ‘Ashes’ creates a moment for us all and it’s an incredible way to end an incredible event.
All that’s left is for us to drag our weary bodies back to the car. As we file out into the night I decide that tomorrow will be spent in the pursuit of rest and relaxation only, aided by my good friends Voltarol, paracetamol, crisps, caffeine and telly. It’s a gig I’ll remember for a long, long time and one that I’m still smiling about. But I really need to rest!
So, depending on what version of the news you pay attention to, we’ve either lost out on signing James Maddison or never actually made a bid this summer. Reading tweets from some Spurs fans, it’s no wonder we’ve missed out on Maddison, given that last season was a flash in the pan and that Newcastle is evidently a terrible place to live. Apparently the player himself ‘begged’ Spurs to sign him, after all.
But is there anything for us to feel too concerned about?
In one sense, yes there is. Maddison is undoubtedly a very talented footballer, an experienced Premier League and an England international and he would have almost certainly improved our team. He’s also quite a versatile player, having operated right across the midfield for Leicester last season. With 10 goals and 9 assists in a team that were relegated, his talent is there for all to see and anyone who has watched him with any regularity will have been able to spot just how good a player he is.
However, for me he wasn’t ever quite the right fit for us. Don’t get me wrong, when I heard about the links and realised that we were serious I was quite excited. But, I’d like to think that missing out on him won’t actually prove too costly.
Firstly, I’d argue that he doesn’t quite fit the profile of player we look for. We’re an energetic, fairly physical side who play a high pressing game and while I don’t profess to be any kind of tactical expert, I don’t think that style suits Maddison. I certainly don’t picture him making any lung-busting runs back the way to track back and make defensive tackles a la Joelinton or Sean Longstaff. So, while Maddison would undoubtedly improve our attacking game and be sure to create the chances that could convert draws into wins, I think we’d be in danger of suffering defensively with him in the side. And we’re not short on players who can create chances either.
One area that really concerned me about the prospect of singing Maddison was the all round cost. The fee – if reports of to be believed – of £40m is a good deal, if a little hard to believe given that he was in the final year of his contract at Leicester. However, reports of wages of £170k per week didn’t sit well with me. I understand that this is the reality of modern day football, but it still doesn’t feel right. I understand that we already have high earners in the squad too. I also understand that if we continue with our upward trajectory – and you’d expect we would – it may well become the norm. But not yet, please. Not for me.
We are a club situated in a traditionally working class area and probably one of the most deprived cities in Britain. There’s a highly publicised stall raising funds for a food bank outside the ground for home games, highlighting the deprivation as well as the caring side of the community. So, while I expect that these type of wages may well become the norm, I don’t feel like we should be taking that particular plunge just yet.
My final query about Maddison would be around his injury record. He seems to have suffered with knee problems throughout his career and given the cost, I’m again not sure he’s worth the risk. Our midfield is strong and we’ve already added Sandro Tonali to the quality of players like Bruno, Willock, Longstaff and Joelinton, so unless we’re bringing in a more defensive midfielder, I don’t think there’s a priority there, especially if it’s a player that we may well end up being without for a chunk of games. Next season will be incredibly demanding on our squad, so we can’t take risks on highly played luxury players that may not be able to play a full part.
Just to be clear, there are no sour grapes here. If Tottenham fans want to believe that Maddison has signed because they’re a bigger club or a better bet for success or even because of the London factor, then so be it. I don’t see the rivalry that seems to be being set up and I don’t begrudge them the player. For the record, I believe they’ve got a very, very good player in James Maddison and one that I’m sure I would have enjoyed watching. It’s simply that the fact that he hasn’t signed for us doesn’t worry me that much because I’m happy to simply trust Eddie, the owners and the process.
For my entire life I’ve been guilty of falling for stuff because of the way it looks. Pebbles and shells on the beach or rivers we paddled in were frequently brought home because I thought they looked lovely and it felt like life would be enhanced by having them with me. When I was younger I worked in a scrap yard and would pocket coins and other interesting trinkets while sorting through random scrap metal. It felt like treasure at the tender age of 14. As I got older I bought records and books based on their covers.
‘The Wild Silence’ is one such item. It came into my possession because I loved the cover. The blurb made it sound quite interesting to me, but I couldn’t put it down because of the cover. It was from one of those trips to the budget book shop. My guard is always down here and I can spend far too long browsing the shelves and then far too much buying the treasure I’ve gathered.
‘The Wild Silence’ is a memoir that tells the tale of Ray (Raynor Winn) and Moth (her husband) who are fighting to keep their heads above water amidst health issues and homelessness. But this isn’t a story set on urban streets. Instead, Ray and Moth find themselves sheltering in a chapel in deepest Cornwall, having walked the South West Coastal Path while homeless, camping in remote spots nightly.
It’s an interesting juxtaposition; the desperation of their homelessness set against their existence surrounded by the raw beauty of nature. Human pain and bewilderment played out in a rugged yet idyllic setting.
Having lost their home and their livelihood – a Welsh farm – Ray and Moth had been left battling the elements as well as financial ruin. However, ‘The Wild Silence’ finds them somewhat settled in the chapel with at least some sort of future ahead of them. Moth is battling against a debilitating condition, but has began a degree course as he hopes to lecture in the near future. Meanwhile Ray is left in a home that’s not hers, worrying about whether Moth will even make it to his lectures, on edge until he checks in, while trying to avoid the people in the village where she lives.
The book is a tale of a vivid struggle with a quiet, yet quite lovely triumph at its end. Moth and Ray have only each other. In the end, their existence and love is a huge win for the human spirit.
Following on from the best selling memoir ‘The Salt Path’, ‘The Wild Silence’ shows us that there is always a glimmer of light in the darkness. It is beautifully written and I found myself easily picturing the various settings for the novel as well as rooting for Ray and Moth throughout. While ‘The Wild Silence’ can be quite a bleak read at times, it is ultimately uplifting. Ray finds a way to regain her confidence and faith in her fellow man, while Moth simply finds a way through strength and sheer bloody mindedness.
I’d thoroughly recommend ‘The Wild Silence’ although I’d tell you to read ‘The Salt Path’ first! I didn’t, but having heard of the first memoir, I kind of understood what was going on after a little while. Winn writes beautifully which means that we’re willing her and Moth to ‘win’ as we read. When they get their first break it’s a blessed relief and even though their struggles are far from over, we’re left with a sense of hope that is fulifilled by the end of the novel.
Today, my body hurts almost more than ever. There’s a dull ache almost everywhere, except for my pacemaker scarring and the area around it. That’s really very sore and it feels like almost every movement on my left side makes me wince.
It’s all OK though, because that dull ache, the fatigue I feel and the way my brain seems to be telling my eyes to just close is just the result of another turning point in my recovery. I’ll explain later on why I feel so rough.
It’s been just over 7 months since my surgery and while there have been setbacks that have brought me crashing back down to Earth, there have been some notable turning points that have told me that everything is going in the right direction. A lot of negatives, but enough positives to keep me going.
The first one was actually getting out of hospital. Whatever the reason for being in hospital, I think you automatically feel a little bit better when you’re back at home. The familiarity of it all, the good will and love of family and friends will give you a certain air of contentment, however your body feels.
It took me a couple of days before I felt strong enough to go out for a walk and we only went a very short way, but the sense of achievement was more than enough to make it feel like a big turning point. I wasn’t just lying in bed, feeling sorry for myself; I was trying to recover, trying to get stronger and fitter and I knew that this was exactly what I had to do for every day that I was at home and away from work. From day one I was determined to get well.
My next turning point was accepting that what had happened – having to have a pacemaker fitted – was quite a big deal. However, despite the fact that I was struggling to feel remotely alive, I was sure that the operation was just routine and that it was more my age that was holding me back. A few people had to sit me down and have a bit of a word before I was able to take in exactly how serious things had been. Coming to terms with it all has been a huge factor in beginning to feel anywhere near my old self again.
Heading back to work after 4 months off was part of this. All of my friends and colleagues were very kind, checking up on me, letting me know that I’d been missed and that it was great to see me back. I didn’t believe any of them when they told me that I looked well, but that’s another story! However, getting back into the routine of work and seeing that I could still do everything that was necessary to be a high school teacher was a definite turning point and something that helped pick my confidence up from the basement level where it had been previously residing for 4 months!
The first major turning point in recovery was visiting friends in Toronto in April. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but suddenly I felt a lot better about everything. It was of course wonderful to see our friends – Andy and Kim and their kids, Hannah Mae and Benji – but still I can’t say exactly what made me feel so much better. Perhaps it was simply seeing such brilliant people again? Perhaps, the knowledge that I was capable of heading to the other side of the world and being on the go all day, every day? Or perhaps it was just the freedom of it all and the fact that I enjoyed everything so much? After all, they say that laughter is good for the soul, don’t they? Whatever it was, my body felt lighter when I returned and my mood had very definitely changed.
Running again has definitely helped me turn a corner. I ran a 10k race in May – my first in almost 8 months – and it proved to me that my body was capable of more than I’d dared to imagine. Even going out on short runs had been a boost. However, the biggest turning point so far came on Sunday just gone and it’s the aforementioned reason why my body aches so much this week.
On Sunday 18th June, I ran the Leeds 10k and proved a lot of things to myself. It told me that my body is inching towards being better, fitter and stronger, although I’m already aware that it’s going to be possibly another 6 months before I reach the kind of condition that I’d been in before my surgery.
I won’t bore you with the minutiae of the race, but I can tell you that it felt like I did well. ‘Well’ that is, in the context of being a 51-year-old man just over 7 months out from heart surgery! This was only my second 10k run since October last year, but my best time since then too. Strava keeps reminding me that I was averaging around 52 minutes for the distance last year, but my one previous effort this year had been completed in a fraction under an hour. So, to achieve a time of 56.54 on Sunday felt like winning the lottery.
For weeks I’ve felt down about the times I’ve been posting when out on runs. I’ve had numerous setbacks and had to rest for weeks too, which has made me feel really low. So completing the course in 56 minutes felt good! A friend has repeatedly told me that times don’t matter, but being as stubborn as I am, I just haven’t been able to ignore that clock!
There was also the fact of how my body felt on the run itself. Apart from one short lived, but very tired spell in the final kilometre, I felt very good (again, in the context outlined earlier!). I felt light and strong, which I’ve not felt all year. Runs have felt like I’m heavy and plodding, dragging myself around my routes. It’s felt like no fun at all and and yet on Sunday it was an absolute joy to be out on the roads and not feel the energy drain from my body at any point. I kept telling myself to relax, reminding myself when to lengthen my stride and when to shorten it for uphill stretches. Most of all though, I kept reminding myself to just keep going! I hadn’t managed a full 10k in training and so that made me slightly nervous, although I knew deep down that I wouldn’t stop until I crossed that line! But for almost the whole 10k, I felt completely in control.
Without doubt, this was a massive turning point in my recovery so far. Without sounding too dramatic, but while also trying to simply tell the truth, it was one of only a handful of times in the last 7 months when it’s felt truly wonderful to be alive. The payback has been how badly my body has taken it! My efforts have really worn me out and for the first couple of days afterwards, it was tough just to get through the day. However, I’m confident that will pass. Anyone’s body needs to recover after being pushed to its limits and I know only too well that my body is no different.
It’s been a good last few days and a nice reminder that I am getting better. Now, the hope is just that I can keep on moving forward and not be forced to take too many backward steps any more. My next 10k race is in October and I genuinely can’t wait!
This was a poem that I wrote the bones of on my phone while I was out and about. It was written during one of my daily walks when I was recovering from heart surgery at the beginning of the year.
It was at a time when I wasn’t as exhausted as I had been and so was able to take a bit more in. Previously, thoughts had been restricted to just getting home without running out of steam and my gaze would be either firmly fixed ahead or glancing at my watch. By this point I wasn’t so out of breath and just generally tired, so was able to have a bit of a look around as I walked.
The more I noticed, the more I found myself coming up with description that would turn into lines that could be used in a poem. So eventually I stopped and made some notes on my phone. Later I would sit with the notes open on my phone at the side of me and a notebook in front of me. The result was this poem.
Wandering the park
A thin carpet of frost covers the ground,
juxtaposed at the furthest point by a crisp blue sky,
giving the landscape a glamorous and temporary identity
and changing things for all who pass through.
Birds scamper about, pecking repeatedly yet in vain at the frozen ground,
while blackbirds, a thrush and wood pigeons compete for space.
Overhead, a magpie heckles from above, perched safely,
high up in a skeletal tree.
Leaves, scattered at the foot of trees are dusted at the edges
with pristine white and crunch underfoot as I wander from the path.
Elsewhere a squirrel joins the birds; not quite a friendly gathering,
but not quite enemies either,
each just happy to ignore the other,
joined together in the same cause.
A short one, this. I’m guessing it was too cold on this particular January morning to be stood about making notes! But, as ever in the park, there was a lot going on and it was nice to feel well enough to be able to tale the time to watch.
Most mornings during that time I’d take photos, mainly just to put on social media to remind people that I was still alive! While I was looking for the phone notes, I noticed the date of writing them, so went back to my photos to see if I’d taken any on that morning. Here are some of them.
I remember it struck me that while I was about the only person in the park at that time of day, the wildlife had come out in force. Too cold for the usual dog walkers to stand around while their pets sniffed anything and everything. Only me daft enough or desperate enough to sample the early morning light and freezing cold. But it was the kind of hour or so that I actually really enjoyed while I was recovering – just still and peaceful, giving me time to think things through and make a little more sense of what I was going through.
So, a shorter poem today, but for me personally, some reasonably positive memories from what was actually a pretty dark time. I hope you enjoyed the poem!
The dust has just about settled on one of the most successful seasons in Newcastle United’s recent history. The majority of our thoughts – and those of the players and staff – have inevitably turned to the prospect of top level European football next season. It’ll still that way for a while yet. However, there are other matters to attend to. Transfer targets seem to be emerging in their hundreds and as they do, we’re also being informed about players who are likely to be released.
One of those names is Matt Ritchie and while there are lots of fans who’d be happy for him to leave, I think he’s well worth at least another year. I think that there are lots of us who agree with that too.
So why vote Ritchie, so to speak?
Brought to the club for £10m by Rafa Benitez in 2016, Ritchie was a vital component in our promotion from the Championship a year later. He was a player I’d seen at Swindon and Bournemouth and always liked the look of. Seven years later and I think he’s been worth every last penny of that transfer fee and then some. A loyal and popular servant to the club and always a player that we could rely on.
I’ve always liked Ritchie at Newcastle. I’ve always liked wingers, so he fits the bill. But also, I like the competitive edge he brings, the creativity and even the odd spectacular goal, like the volleyed stoppage time equaliser at Bournemouth in 2019. Add in the penchant for lacing corner flags and over-enthusiastically slapping team mates on the back of the head and I’m sold! A few years back, I even managed to get his image up in every classroom of our school when I added him to our ‘Word of The Week’ posters – a personal highlight of my teaching career!
Ritchie will be almost 34 by the time next season kicks off. But let’s not worry about age; let’s put some value on experience, because experience can take you a long way in life. Every squad needs experience and positivity and Ritchie’s got both in spades.
Next season – everything crossed – we hope to be playing in Europe and while Matt Ritchie to my knowledge has never played in a European tie, he has played on the international stage with Scotland earning 16 caps and scoring 3 times. So, in my opinion his career experience at league level and his international experience make him a valuable asset to the squad and a player that needs to stick around.
Ritchie is versatile too, as we found out in the Bruce era. When Bruce finally discovered that tactics weren’t the little sweets in the flip top plastic box, Matt Ritchie became one of his first victims and he was deployed as a makeshift wingback. It worked in fits and starts, but I think Eddie would get more out of him if needed there. While most of his career has been spent as a wide midfielder, I think it’s safe to say that he can do a job in central midfield as well as operating as a wing back. And while I wouldn’t say he’s a perfect option as a wing back, he’s an option and a reasonably dependable one at that.
Now, before I go any further with my Matt Ritchie Pitch, I think it’s necessary to acknowledge the fact that Newcastle United are shopping at a different level of the market these days. So, yes, I understand fully that there are better options in terms of age and ability than Matt Ritchie, but those options cost money in what is undeniably an inflated market and with the club insistent, rightly, on adhering to the rules of Financial Fair Play it would seem pertinent to keep someone like Ritchie around. He knows the club and seems to love it, totally understands the manager’s methods and demands, is well liked by the fanbase and obviously a popular bloke within the squad. He might even be a good option to help out on the coaching side of things as the year progresses.
Ritchie is the kind of character who is invaluable ‘around the place’, as they say. The back-of-the-head slaps as goal celebrations, the corner flag kicking, the passion, the berating of linesmen, the honesty, the chirpiness, the energy and the fight; all vital in any team sport. And then there’s his experience. As we’re more likely to be bringing more younger, inexperienced players in someone like Ritchie would be sure to have a positive influence on them. As well as this, with the likes of Anderson, Miley, De Bolle, Kuol and others coming through the ranks the influence of such an experienced pro would no doubt be more than useful. Earlier this season it was Sean Longstaff who talked of Ritchie’s influence on his professionalism and mental health in the last couple of years and look at him now – a glowing reference if ever there was one.
Apparently Ritchie is a bit of a whinger and it’s borne out on the pitch where he’s always been vocal with his team mates and contested the majority of decisions that have gone against us. I kind of like that as it shows him as someone who won’t settle for second best. Yes, he’ll whinge, but just because he wants to be better.
For me, Matt Ritchie brings a wealth of positives. His influence on the pitch would probably only really be as a substitute, but he’s a solid ‘yes’ for me just for that. Add in his character and personality – he seems well loved by squad and staff alike – his drive and desire to win, his professionalism and his experience and I think a year’s extension sounds almost a no brainer.
Eddie Howe has already expressed his desire to keep Ritchie, alongside others like Paul Dummett. Someone like Ritchie helps to maintain our ‘evolution not revolution’ approach, while understanding exactly what it takes to play for Newcastle United and for me that’s the kind of thing that can’t always be bought and simply shouldn’t be disregarded.
In April we took the chance to take a long haul ‘trip of a lifetime’ with our children. It was a window of opportunity that was too good to miss, given that our kids are either taking big exams next year or starting a vital stage of their education. So, off we went.
You might have read about our trip to Toronto, which was the first leg of our holiday. It’s on the link below, if not.
For the second leg we decided to do some sightseeing in Washington DC. So, here’s our Top Ten of the American capital in no particular order.
Pi Pizza Pi Pizza seems to mostly be available as a takeaway option, but we went to their restaurant twice for several different reasons. It’s at 910 F Street NW, if you’re ever nearby and it’s well worth a visit. The pizza was amazing and they had a gluten free base available too. The staff were great, getting us seated really quickly without a reservation on our first night in town and there was an great choice of beers. I guess it’s a long way to travel for a pizza, but the whole family enjoyed it so, so much that it was easily one of my favourite things about the trip!
We saw the President! Probably. Possibly. One morning, we were sitting in the window seats of our favourite breakfast place when I noticed a motorbike cop pull into the middle of the road. Within seconds he was off the bike and redirecting traffic, which really piqued our interest. Moments later another bike appeared to help out. Then, within seconds outrider after outrider sped down the street, eventually followed by some very chunky black Cadillacs. This was someone important. And then it happened; three huge black Cadillac Escalades with blacked out windows and flags on the front swept by followed by even more cars and even more bikes. When they passed, life returned to normal very quickly and it was only on as we made our way to Dulles airport days later that we were offered an explanation. According to our taxi driver – and who knows better than those fellas? – what we described was very likely to be the president, due to the amount of cars and the type of flags! Nice seeing you, Mr. President!
Crossings. If you read my Top 10 of Toronto you might think I’m slightly obsessed with everything crossing related, but I can assure you, I’m not. However, I did notice something about crossings in Washington! What struck us all is the timer above the crossing, telling you how long you have to get across a road. They’re hilarious in how varied they are. You might have a huge road of four lanes to cross and the timer will give you a random short amount of time to cross like 17 seconds. However, it’ll allow you a sumptuous 50 seconds to cross a street that is about five big strides wide! It made us laugh every day of the trip!
The White House. The first time we visited – around 18 years ago – we felt a little bit underwhelmed by the president’s house. It felt quite small and we had no hope of getting to look round. I suppose we were a little bit naïve, but it was certainly no Buckingham Palace. This time around, we visited on a beautifully hot Spring day and it looked magnificent. The kids were suitably impressed too. Initially, it looked like they’d stopped tourists getting anywhere near but after a few minutes of being there a policeman came over, did rock, paper scissors with a little boy and when the boy won, he moved the barriers to one side. I’m guessing they do it all the time, but it was a lovely moment and it allowed us to get right up to the fence. I could have stared at it for hours!
DC is fit! One of the things that struck me as refreshing about Washington was the amount of people exercising. Runners, walkers, cyclists, exercise junkies seemed to be everywhere. The weather was fantastic when we were there in late April and the amount of people getting out was fantastic. I like to have a look out of the hotel window every morning, just to watch the world go by a bit and gather my thoughts. Every morning, there would be people cycling to work, people out running and others in sportswear, clearly walking to work with their work gear in a bag. Even late on at night you’d still see people out exercising. And whenever we went down to the National Mall there would be people running along it and up past the Capitol Building. As I was on an enforced break from running, it made me a little jealous As I’d have loved to join them. Mostly though, it made me smile.
Tatte Bakery and afternoon coffee. When we first visited Washington 17 or 18 years ago, we discovered Starbucks and spent far too much of our time sat outside various branches in drinking frappuccinos and eating cake in the sun. We vowed not to fall into the same trap this time around and while we definitely cut down on such frivolity, we still indulged! One of our favourite haunts was Tatte Bakery where we went for breakfast a couple of times as well as afternoon coffee. Not only did it do a great selection of cakes, muffins, pastries and snacks, but the coffee was great too. The staff were really friendly and accommodating, which helped when it came to whether we should revisit or not. Sometimes, even though there’s lots to see elsewhere, there’s nothing better to do in a big city than just sit outside sipping coffee and watch the world go by! DC and Tatte was brilliant for that!
Georgetown. Georgetown is a historic district of Washington that has buildings that date back as far as the 17th century. We didn’t find time to visit Georgetown when we first visited Dc some years ago. So we were determined to get there this time. And we were so glad we did. We started out by the Potomac river by the amazing House of Sweden which contains both the Swedish and Icelandic embassies and made our way further into Georgetown from there, crossing the now dried up canal, which I believe usually has water in and sometimes features boat trips. My wife then casually mentioned the fact that Georgetown is the sight of The Exorcist Steps, so we made our way there. After climbing them – and a bit of a rest – we spent the rest of the morning enjoying the sun, wandering the streets and shopping. It was so relaxed and I’d definitely recommend a visit to Georgetown. Oh, and when you climb the Exorcist steps, make sure you take a left in order to pay a visit to Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, two Transformers sculptures installed outside of a local house!
The bus. Bare with me on this one. I’m not normally a fan of buses. However, this one was a little different. The DC Circulator operates on three routes with a bus every ten minutes. So, it’s really helpful in getting across the city and really efficient. The best bit is that it only costs $1. Even better for us was that on our first three rides, we didn’t pay. It wasn’t for the want of trying; once, the machine wasn’t working and on the other two occasions we didn’t have the right change so the driver just let us on for free! Bonus!
Presidents. Or rather, their monuments. Time constraints meant that we didn’t manage to see some of the sights on our first visit, so this time we made sure to tour the monuments dedicated to some of the past presidents. If you’re a history fan, you’re sure to enjoy them. They’re all pretty inspiring and we even made a second visit to the Lincoln Memorial which was probably my favourite just because of the sheer scale. However, I’d recommend making time to see the Roosevelt Memorial which is quite poignant because of the references to the Great Depression and World War II. And while you’re there, try heading for the Martin Luther King memorial, which is nearby and again is awe inspiring.
It’s Washington DC, for crying out loud! In essence, there’s no real need to be too specific about visiting Washington DC. Just about everywhere you look there’s something important or eye-catching. My kids weren’t particularly excited about the prospect of visiting as they didn’t like the thought of hours of sightseeing. And then we went to The White House. I mean, it’s literally a big white house, but the place is completely iconic. Their faces lit up and their excitement was immediately tangible. Now, every time they see The White House, The Capitol Building, the Washington Monument or any of the shed loads of historic places on TV, they can say, ‘I’ve been there’.
A couple of things didn’t make the list, but are worth a mention. The first was going to a really posh restaurant – I’m not really the classy type, so it was quite the treat – and getting talking to our lovely waiter about Premier League football. He was a Tottenham fan, I had a right old laugh about that, but it’s amazing how we can be so different, so far apart and find common ground quite easily. The other thing was the Albert Einstein memorial, which is a huge bronze sculpture dedicated to the great man. His pose – let’s call it ‘relaxed’ – just made me smile and also told me that me and Albert have at least one thing in common too – we both love a nice sit down!
So, there you have it. My take on Washington DC. I’ve tried not to be too ‘touristy’, but that’s difficult when you’re a tourist. It’s just a great city though. Even if you were to stick to the National Mall and just visit the sights in and around there, you’d fill a good few days. But there are loads of ways of getting round, meaning you can visit all manner of sights and places around the city.
‘Mad Blood Stirring’ was interesting to me for lots of reasons. First of all, as a high school English teacher and long time Shakespeare fan, I recognised the title…although not as quickly as I should have! It took me a little while for that particular penny to drop and it would be the first of many! But, the title is of course a part of a line from Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet and serves as an unheeded warning to Mercutio. It’s a warning that translates well in Mayo’s novel too.
Also of interest to me were the events of the time. The novel is set in 1815, just after the Anglo American war of 1812, which I simply wasn’t aware of. I just assumed everything was done with between the two countries following American Independence. So, the idea of thousands of American prisoners incarcerated on Dartmoor piqued my interest a bit, simply because it was a chunk of history that I had no knowledge of whatsoever.
Mayo, of course is better known for his career as a radio DJ, but he’s been writing novels for a while. I first discovered his writing years ago with his YA novel Itch, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I never did get round to buying the other two in the trilogy though and my next forray into his work was over a decade later with Mad Blood Stirring. It’s safe to say that I waited too long!
Mad Blood Stirring is a many layered story, but it revolves around the comings and goings over a few months in Dartmouth Prison in 1815. The inmates are all American prisoners of war, despite the fact that the war has long since ended. There is still no treaty for their release however and trouble is brewing. As with Romeo and Juliet, there are factions with a grudge and it’s not just between the Americans and the British guards. Ill feeling and prejudice is rife within the prison population and trouble is never too far away.
Mayo has taken the facts of this time and woven together a brilliant narrative, focusing on the lives of two inmates in particular; Habs and Joe, who develop an unlikely friendship and eventually embark upon a perhaps even more unlikely romance. Habs is one of the black inmates, forced into a block of their own by white inmates and their prejudice, while Joe is white and new to Dartmouth and its strange set of rules.
But tension is simmering across all 7 blocks of Dartmouth prison, meaning that the ‘cast’ of the novel grows and grows. The men have been away from home for far too long, conditions inside the jail are abysmal and although talk suggests that peace is close, their freedom still seems a long way off. In actual fact, America has all but abandoned them. Elsewhere, Elizabeth, the Governor’s wife is in love with the prison doctor and the whole of Block 4 are on edge and exhausted after deciding to put on their latest production – Romeo and Juliet – for the other inmates. With the threat of violence around every corner and the whiff of potential freedom occasionally drifting through the air, there’s something happening to keep us on edge all over Dartmouth prison.
And so we have a tale where despite violence and death never being far away, love, comradeship and a yearning for culture somehow manage to blossom in among the choking poison of incarceration, racism and hatred.
Mayo has written an excellent novel, with many strands to the narrative. There is a great deal truth here too, but Mayo manages to somewhat brighten up the darkness of Dartmouth prison with his characters and their dynamics. The violence here is stark – and I guess that’s to be expected – but while the tension and treachery will keep you on edge throughout, characters like Habs, Joe and King Dick (yes, that’s really his name and he’s someone who I imagined as a cross between Brian Blessed and King Ezekiel from The Walking Dead) help to alleviate that ‘edge of your seat’ feeling just enough to make it an enjoyable read. There is interest beyond the obvious hellishness of thousands of men in a remote jail.
A slight criticism might be that there are just too many characters to keep up with at times, but then I guess with over 1000 men in just one block, we were always going to come across quite a large cast. I did sometimes struggle to keep sight of Habs and Joe though, as I read about another twist in the tale or another group of dangerous inmates.
Overall though, this is a cracking read and if you’re a fan of historical fiction you’re sure to enjoy ‘Mad Blood Stirring’. Even if – like me – the genre is not your usual thing, it’s still an enlightening tale and the fates of the characters are sure to keep you hooked. A gripping read packed full of grit and violence, but with a twist of romance and hope.
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