Sunday, May 24, 2009

The big countdown.....


Well, only a couple of days till I set off for Rome. Cannot wait at this stage. Weather looks great as well, in or around 30 degrees from Tuesday to Thursday. Have everything sorted including a match ticket. I'm on a 0620 flight to Paris on Tues morning and should be in Rome around 3pm. Will then head to the hotel to hopefully meet up with my mate Dave (thats if he's sorted his flights out!!).

Plotting a trip to New York with a possible stop off in Toronto in September, hope to take in a game or two at the new Yankee Stadium (thats if I can afford a ticket!). Never tire of New York, possibly my favourite place on the entire planet. I always have a list as long as my arm of things to do each time I go back, its that packed full of sights, museums, bars, etc. If I won the lottery tomorrow, one of the first things I'd do is buy an apartment in Manhattan. I live in eternal hope!

Music wise I am currently listening to some vintage hip hop (Big L) and Ian Brown (Solarized, Music of the Spheres). Manchester music seems to be quite fitting with such a monumental week on the horizon.

Now to get back to reading my Rome Lonely Planet Guide.........FORZA UNITED!

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Italian Job.......Rome here I come






27th May, 2009.


Flights? Booked. Hotel? Sorted. Match ticket? Time will tell.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Currently.....

finishing reading "If The Reds Should Play..." and about to start a recent Henry Rollins book I picked up last week (second part of Black Coffee Blues). Ole Henry, always delivers the goods.

Listening to: everything from Candiria to Bane to Organised Konfusion and Sepultura. Variety is good.

On the travel front........booked flights and a hotel for Rome from 26-28th May for the Champions League final. Cannot wait for this, even if I don't manage to get a ticket for the game. Have never been to Rome so that and the anticipation of the game will do very nicely, thanks very much. Also thinking of paying another visit to New York in September.

Oh and I probably should get this whole "buying a house" thing sorted out sooner than later, seeing as property prices are falling quicker than Didier Drogba in the 18 yard box these days....

Monday, May 4, 2009

"If The Reds Should Play......"


Just started on a book put together in 1997 by some of the lads in the Red News United fanzine entitled, "If the Reds Should play in Rome......or Mandalay: Travelling across Europe with United." Word for word accounts of over 30 plus contributors from all walks of life of their experiences watching United up until 1997.

I am roughly 5 chapters in at this stage and it is a cracking read, warts and all. Some hilarious stuff so far but also some absolutely crazy accounts such as the trip to Valencia in 1982 where it seems it was a miracle that nobody was killed either before, during or after the game.

I never tire of reading these kinds of books. I guess hearing accounts from genuine life-long football supporters make for a more interesting read, I think you can identify with a lot of what they recount, though yours truly has quite a few trips to do to make up the difference with the likes of Phil Holt or the truly remarkable Mike Dobbin (RIP) - I hope to put some further dents in this over the next few years, fingers crossed.

A great read so far, if you're a United fan (or a fan of any persuasion) and enjoy hearing about the often crazy side of following a football team in Europe, get a hold of a copy (currently available from www.rednews.co.uk/shop for a bargain £8.99 + postage).

Saturday, May 2, 2009

A busy week

A busy week this past week. Over for our champions league semi final vs. Arsenal. Played exceptionally well and should have scored 4 or 5 goals but had to settle for just the one. At least we have a clean sheet going into the return leg on Tuesday. Oh what I'd give for a ticket for that one......

Went racing yesterday, day four of the Punchestown Festival. A great day out, travelling to and from the course in a stretch Hummer - oh the chaviness of it all!


Watching United today and doing very little if at all possible.