A very full day today with a roller coaster of emotions. Although a Saturday, Tom and I got up early and had a cooked breakfast because we needed to be in Southampton quite early for the BIG GAME - Saints v. Pompey (ko 12.30 p.m.). In fact, we arrived at our usual parking spot at a little before 11 a.m. so had plenty of time to saunter down to St. Mary's and take our seats in the Chapel Stand. Andy, "Twiggy" and family had to sit down in Row "W" as they had not been able to get their normal seats, but the other Andy and John were next to us usual. The stadium was absolutely packed (31,385) and there were many people around us who were clearly not Family Enclosure members. The atmosphere was electric with balloons and red and white cards to hold up as the teams came on to the pitch turning the stands into giant red and white stripes. Saints started off well and certainly seemed to be the better side with some very close goals but were thwarted by Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James. At half time the score was 0-0. Portsmouth scored first in the second half with a quick equaliser from the Saints. Pompey scored again and Saints replied shortly after that with what was a disallowed goal. After that, Saints were caught three more times on the break when they failed to convert corners. The final score was 1-4. So we have been dumped out of the FA Cup by our biggest rivals! Phillip D will be absolutely insufferable. Never mind, at least we know we are going to have a day out at Wembley in the JPT Final. Tom and I made a brief visit to West Quay shopping mall for some lunch and for him to buy a fresh set of darts. Back home in Winterslow Sara and I prepared for our dinner party tonight. Christina, with whom I worked at the City of London, her husband Nigel (an employment judge) and their friend Sue came over for dinner with us. I cooked my signature dish of paella and Sara her dish of lemon mousse with raspberries. We also managed to drink four bottles of wine between the five of us. The paella and mousse went down well with not a scrap of food being left. We followed this with cheese and biscuits, coffee and Canarian honey rum liquor. The evening went really quickly with some wonderful anecdotes and stories from the past and the present. They are such great company and they have invited us, again, to visit them in London - something we really must do. I really do like entertaining and tonight's soiree was a real incentive to do it again soon.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Skates and Paella
A very full day today with a roller coaster of emotions. Although a Saturday, Tom and I got up early and had a cooked breakfast because we needed to be in Southampton quite early for the BIG GAME - Saints v. Pompey (ko 12.30 p.m.). In fact, we arrived at our usual parking spot at a little before 11 a.m. so had plenty of time to saunter down to St. Mary's and take our seats in the Chapel Stand. Andy, "Twiggy" and family had to sit down in Row "W" as they had not been able to get their normal seats, but the other Andy and John were next to us usual. The stadium was absolutely packed (31,385) and there were many people around us who were clearly not Family Enclosure members. The atmosphere was electric with balloons and red and white cards to hold up as the teams came on to the pitch turning the stands into giant red and white stripes. Saints started off well and certainly seemed to be the better side with some very close goals but were thwarted by Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James. At half time the score was 0-0. Portsmouth scored first in the second half with a quick equaliser from the Saints. Pompey scored again and Saints replied shortly after that with what was a disallowed goal. After that, Saints were caught three more times on the break when they failed to convert corners. The final score was 1-4. So we have been dumped out of the FA Cup by our biggest rivals! Phillip D will be absolutely insufferable. Never mind, at least we know we are going to have a day out at Wembley in the JPT Final. Tom and I made a brief visit to West Quay shopping mall for some lunch and for him to buy a fresh set of darts. Back home in Winterslow Sara and I prepared for our dinner party tonight. Christina, with whom I worked at the City of London, her husband Nigel (an employment judge) and their friend Sue came over for dinner with us. I cooked my signature dish of paella and Sara her dish of lemon mousse with raspberries. We also managed to drink four bottles of wine between the five of us. The paella and mousse went down well with not a scrap of food being left. We followed this with cheese and biscuits, coffee and Canarian honey rum liquor. The evening went really quickly with some wonderful anecdotes and stories from the past and the present. They are such great company and they have invited us, again, to visit them in London - something we really must do. I really do like entertaining and tonight's soiree was a real incentive to do it again soon.
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