The Championship
Saturday 12 November 2022
SUFC 2022/23 Game #32
Remembrance Weekend of course. And, there was beer consumed today. So the toast is
"Absent Friends"
"The Missing"
I am in no way disrespecting The Fallen. But, that toast is not about them. It's not a sad toast. It's a joyous, celebratory toast. It's to a group of fellow Blades, who I can't claim to know. Because, today, you made me proud.
Let me explain. There has been a lot of speculation about this fixture in Cardiff. Because there was a clash with a Wales Rugby game against Argentina. But, eventually the coppers decided to let both football & rugby go ahead on the same day.
But, they decided to royally fuck about with the football fans day. They explained that Blades would not be welcome in Cardiff pubs. That no coaches could stop for Ale within a ten mile radius of the ground. That all coaches needed to rendezvous by 1:15pm at a service station off the motorway and be escorted to the ground. All at two days notice. A Bubble Match. Now, it's 2022, they're coppers, so they think they can do what they fucking like. Their weapon is a veiled threat to the coach companies & drivers if they don't comply.
Fuck 'em.
So, the joy, as the convoy of coaches rolled into the Cardiff City Stadium compound. The stewards causing absolute chaos trying to back them all into marked spaces. As our coach reversed. Another coach was paralleling next to us. I therefore had a close look through the tinteds.
Two passengers.
Virtually empty.
Ghost coach.
Marie Celeste.
They'd gone for a drink "somewhere". Got off. And sent the empty coach to the rendezvous. South Wales Plod had escorted that empty coach to the ground. And waited at the bottom of the steps. To shepherd just two punters off. While the others were getting another pint in somewhere & "making their own way to the ground".
Those are Absent Friends.
Those are The Missing.
Join me in toasting them. Because they are the reasons Plod plod.
Of course, South Wales Dibble can also claim they were participating in my recently launched Diabetic Support Blog. A sort of - Heddlu Health Helpline. By fucking us about, they inadvertently helped in reducing my potential alcohol units. Am I grateful? No. Fuck 'em.
The Robin Hood Inn
124 Monnow St, Monmouth NP25 3EQ
Just two on Cask. But, have you not been paying attention, currently two is easily enough.
Wye Valley Brewery, HPA, Pale Ale on Cask at 4%
Target and Celeia hops. Malted wheat and extra pale Maris Otter malted barley. That went off as he was pulling ours. But, he was very helpful and we decided to wait for the fresh 'uns. Worth the wait. It was floral off the hops. And there was quite a bit of sugar left for the end zone.
And. As last year. There was Beer in the Ground. Despite self restriction. Despite Plod pissing around. No. Fuck it. BECAUSE of Plod pissing around. We jumped in. We can't let the coppers win. We just can't.
Glamorgan Brewing Co, 1927 IPA from a Bottle at 4.5%
To Absent Friends
What a Win. What a Win. Come and get me Copper. Not quite at it the first half. One mad mistake. Which we tidied up. A few long range shots from them. And that close header that Callum should have buried. We weren't awful. But, we were disjointed. Couldn't get anything going. Arblaster was anonymous at times. Understandably, he chooses the safe option. But, that won't always cut it. He'll have another time.
The point being, we looked better straight away with McAtee on. I also noted straight away that Norwood passed through the lines to Osborn. We got the goal. We got it home. We deserved it. And, with an ever depleted squad. So drink as well to them,
To The Missing.
My name is Phil, I'm a Type II Diabetic.
My BMI is 24.8 (back into the Normal Range).
I have not eaten any biccies, sweeties or cake since my last Blog, even though tins of chocolates were being offered around on The Sportsman Coach.
I've completed Week 8 of Couch to 5k - three 28 minute runs this week.
With those two beers, my 7 day average units of alcohol is SIX per week.
But, my 30 day average units of alcohol remains high at Twenty Three per week.
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