downendcity

10 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

Your condensed versions are getting less condensed these days Tone; touch of writer's muscle power setting in me thinks. 

He's fighting hard to compete with the Bard's  (Havana) Shakespearean compositions.

13 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

Good day everyone,

I was fortunate enough to be amongst a group of rather unassuming sailor types this morning. I am not, per sé, a sea faring fan rather a land lover who will always remember the nightmare of a Plymouth to Roscoff Sealink ferry journey back in 1978 when our entire family were heading on an overseas adventure for the first time. Suffice to say the crossing was rough and as we sat in the dining room the ferry pulled out of Plymouth docks and into the swell. One by one we left our breakfasts and headed outside to stick our heads over the side. That memory resonates from time to time as it did this morning when conversation got underway over a similarly hearty breakfast in a Subic Bay waterfront eatery. The gentle tide nudging the shoreline below was the antithesis of that Sealink ferry day, to say the least.

I just like talking about boats of all shapes and sizes especially sailing vessels that don't pollute the waters. Of course we talked about intrepid voyages amongst the South China Sea islands, the jaunts down to Sabah skirting through the Visayas and the southern Philippines before heading out into more open seas for 2 days without a land sighting, something I actually plan to do in the spring with some close friends. We touched on the silly game the Chinese are playing by snatching an unmanned vessel apparently in retaliation for the Trump Taiwan episode just 75 miles offshore from where we were seated. And we discussed how that might play out. A hearty breakfast washed down with Bloody Mary's and Beer. What could be better I thought.

Just as we were close to going our separate ways I asked where one chap was from; I thought he had a small hint of a Bristolian accent throughout our breakfast but it could as easily have been Norwich. You know that lilt, but not quite there, sort of accent. He produced a rather sea battered Bristol City cap from his little ruck sack. 'There is your answer he said'. Marvellous I thought. And before I could say another word he pointed to the chap sitting opposite and said 'And that tosspot supports Preston'. Apart from those two, and myself, none of the other 8 or 9 guys and gals amongst us understood the significance of that remark other than common football rivalry of course. What was more significant was the fact that these two very chaps were about to set off in a 36' sloop in the general direction of Sulawesi, Indonesia through what might be considered some of the most pristine coral reef abundant waters anywhere on the planet. Occasionally inhabited by opportune local pirates too. And just the two of them. What a rather nice coincidence.

One question I did ask, prompted by a fellow poster (please reveal yourself again), was whether Bristol South End had ever played Preston North End. Neither could answer but I have since found out that no such fixture ever took place, at least competitively. The first match between us was in 1901 when the name had already become Bristol City. It was a 0-0. And apart from Preston being 2 ahead in wins since then its all but honours even. There is a kinship between City and Preston if only because we both came up together. Simon Grayson is doing a sterling job on fairly limited reserves of cash. Good on him and good on the Preston fan the likes of which I met up at the Working Men's Club and a welcome was received that will live long in the memory.

Friendship or feeling of goodwill we need to thump somebody 4-0 again. It is long overdue. Lets get the job the done. I hope the 2 way radio or the satellite signal is good enough this evening for those two opposing sailor fans to listen in as they call into Mindoro in the Visayas. It could be fun and games on that boat.

UTC.

Good morning Havana.

Your interest in spending time with sailors is noted.

Your memory about throwing up on your early boat trip must serve you well, as we all suffer similar feelings in our stomachs just before 5pm on many a Saturday and around 10pm midweek.

35 minutes ago, Midred said:

Beatles me to it!

Yeh, yeh, yeh.

2-1 and BBC saying it's a goalkeeping nightmare. Are we a bit sixes and sevens at the back?

3 minutes ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Probably the worst referee in Professional Football

That's a very low bar to limbo under.

2 minutes ago, Nube Rojo said:

handled outside the area

Mrs Downend gives me my marching orders whenever I handle outside the area. 

3 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

Apart from our last game.....

Exception to the rule?

Perhaps LJ is a student of Muhammed Ali and his tactics today are the ropa dope - let Hudds have all the possession and dominate early on then when they have run out of ides, bang!

What do we all know eh?

5 minutes ago, Londoner said:

This is a lesson. Completely and utterly outplayed. Appaling tactics don't help.

I can only think that there is something in LJ's pre-match preparation that causes the players to go out mentally unprepared. Our poor starts are now becoming a worrying fact and not just an odd occurrence that we can keep overcoming with some inspired substitution sad dramatic second half turnarrounds.

Too many teams this level will take control and punish us of we aren't on it right from the kick off.

2 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

I wandered lonely as a Red, that walks on pies to Vale and the Gills... 

2 minutes ago, Septic Peg said:

You forgot the "how to stitch hole in't flat cap in 5 easy steps", "t'birth of 'ovis" and "field of't week for walking t'whippet".

You're right . I also forgot Havana's guide to forcing rhubarb and his granny's recipe for the perfect Yorkshire Pudding.

11 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

What a wonderful, poetic piece. Worthy of inclusion in a broadsheet. You're not a Times correspondent by any chance, H?

The Angling Times?

9 minutes ago, Kodjias Wrist said:

It felt like i was reading a transcript for countryfile. Bloody good write up that.

Next week Havana gives tips on lambing for next spring, when to plant your winter wheat and his guide to compost.

22 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

Good day everyone,

Against a backdrop of Pennine Moors and Peak District parkland you'll find centuries old villages steeped in local history and legend; buildings and locations made famous by writers, film and television; and vibrant towns full of art, creativity and delicious local produce. Huddersfield sits amongst some of the most glorious countryside in England. To survey the vistas for miles around Victoria Tower, atop Castle Hill takes some beating with views across to the western Pennines and Huddersfield and Holmfirth.

Originally developed as an Iron age hill fort over 4,000 years ago the present tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897. This folly rather dominates the scenery but from the top one can see for miles around to many other pristine areas for hill walking and climbing such as Honley Old Wood, the dramatically beautiful Marsden Moor, The ancient Pennine woodland of Hardcastle Crags in Hebden Bridge and of course the Yorkshire Dales. Relics of an industrial bygone age can be found in many of these hill and valley walks especially down by the river of Hardcastle and through a uniquely secluded wooden valley.

The huge beech trees planted in the 1870s change to their fantastic autumn colours in October, with beech nuts and crisp copper leaves carpeting the ground. Along the walk you may see numerous species of fungi, growing on the ground, on trees or deadwood. There are also the remains of a huge trestle bridge that once carried a railway track over the deep ravine of Blake Dean. (not the one above! ) For ten years, from 1902, a railway ran from Slack to the site of construction of the Walshaw Dean reservoirs, carrying men and materials. A huge wooden trestle was built across Hebden Dale to carry the railway. It was demolished in 1912. Only the stone stanchions remain. It is fairly easy to spot many different bird species including dippers, heron, woodpeckers and jays.

The area around Hell Hole quarry is particularly interesting following the line of the old railway where you can really imagine the activity and noises of the past. Get the camera out of the bag before you set off: you’re guaranteed to see something to snap, but it might not stay around for long.

Just a small glimpse into one of hundreds of areas of interest around the fine town of Huddersfield with a very proud industrial past. It is a pity that so few of us, who visit away grounds across our green and pleasant land, fail to dwell a while and see what the town and, particularly, the local countryside has to offer; usually a wealth of culture and nature. We all do it, I know I have; drive to a distant location, have some lunch, watch a match and, usually, lets face it, drive straight back again in misery hoping we have not lost ground on those important teams around us. How much more fulfilling it would be to fill our lungs the next morning and forget about football for a while.

And before Tone trots along and slates the place consider this; Kirklees Council, that includes the main settlement of Huddersfield, is home to a remarkable 3,000 listed buildings. Bristol, has just about 10% of that number. That comparison alone is quite staggering all the more so when you consider how much greater the profile our splendid city is. Perhaps Kirklees need to stop barking on about Holmfirth and tell the country more about Huddersfield. John Betjeman did; 'the most splendid station façade in England' second only to St Pancras, London. The station in St George's Square was renovated at a cost of £4 million and subsequently won the Europa Nostra award for European architecture. And for those who like a good statue there is always Harold Wilson, born and raised in Huddersfield. He reminds me now of an oft forgotten time when Labour too bickered over EU membership and many would suggest his management of that omnipresent problem of EU membership, as early as the mid 70's during his second term in office, began tearing that party apart. Many in Huddersfield still love the cuddly pipe smoker though.

And our fellow football fan from Huddersfield has much to be proud of about their club and, clearly, their town. I often used to compare them to Portsmouth mainly because, as I recall, they dwelled in the upper echelons of the football pyramid at some similar junctures, 1920's and 1950's and that without looking up any statistics; it just feels that that is where Huddersfield have come from. A team that has experienced a fairly decent amount of success from a bygone era. And here they are for the first time in perhaps a generation with genuine ambitions to climb back up where they think they might belong. They are no 'smaller' a club than a Bolton or a Blackburn so why not. Mr Wagner has them purring along rather nicely even if, like us, they have hit a bit of a brick wall in recent weeks. And so to today's encounter, one in which we did rather well last season, brings two very ambitious clubs and managers together. Two teams that have worked through trial and error and hard toil. Something both communities share from past heritage. 

I wish I had written this thread a day earlier and maybe one or two of you might have planned a stop over. Nevertheless, however many of you travel the round trip of 406 miles we all salute you. Another absolutely marvellous effort. The 12th man can carry us to draws and victories this season and for sure City do need an away win; we have only two all season. 

So come on City. Again no predictions from me but can we look forward to a clean sheet? Matthews on song again at right back? About time that tall chap up front scored.. naming no names, keeping the pressure off. UTC, enjoy the game fellow reds... lets hope that drive back negates the thought of missing a walk in the Dales.

 

 

 

 

The MTDs just get better and better.

You're now even go to the trouble of travelling to the area to take photos to post along with the thread - that's real dedication Havana! 

6 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

So we get a pen after an apology from the Referee's association !!! 

Not after a foul then Major?

It's sad reflection that the best part of the MTD is Havana's opening post.

5 minutes ago, brizzlelou said:

A few hundred million dollars in the bank might have compensated for a lack of hope there though!

2 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

We are not taking our chances . We just need a goal to get our confidence back .

Unfortunately we are losing confidence by conceding goals early in games. This puts more pressure on us getting goals at the other end and it becomes a vicious circle.

Once again our inability to get going from the start of a game will be our undoing I fear.

1 hour ago, ChippenhamRed said:

If we're "shit" what does that make the 14 teams below us? We're a mid table side in mid table. Peaks and troughs inevitable over a 46 game season, and we're currently in a fairly minor trough.

Think I'll be giving OTIB a miss for the rest of the evening, the inevitable overreactions and complete absence of perspective are going to drive me nuts.

Big mistake Chippenham.

Applying common sense and rational thinking in the same post - you know that's not allowed.

32 minutes ago, EstoniaTallinnRed said:

Who does Chumawumba play for, can we sign him in the January window?

He'll be off to the African Cup of Nations on the new year, so best look elsewhere.

1 hour ago, pongo88 said:

Good post Hava, as always. Just one question - why would a crow want to fly from Bristol to Birmingham?  

We know a song about a crow flying over football grounds, don't we children?

Well, those of us of a certain age do.

Think a point would be a good result but expect a Brighton win.

Then again Man C beat Barca so you never know!

Think there must be some sort of issue over preparation or mental approach as we just don't seem to get going in the first half of any game.

Perhaps they need to change into dirty kit before kick off so they think they have already played 45 minutes so we might start the game like we play most second halves.

6 minutes ago, 'keepuplino' said:

Thank god we started the season well... the last 3 games have been utter dogshit!!!

We seem to have lost all momentum since the international break.