STOP PRESS - Last Minute Shocker

Torres scores in 93rd minute to steal vital 3 points - maybe, just maybe, this could be the start on the revival....or another false dawn like the Man Utd win.

Post Christmas meet

A quick trip up to Liverpool today with Rich, to help with the sorting out, now Mum has her new furniture. Big sisters Ann and Chris were in charge (as usual!!) and had everything organised. Dave was busy polishing, while I tried to look like I knew what I was doing, measuring imaginary shelving units and putting up one picture. I managed to borrow another old photo of the McCarthy clan, to use for the party.

We had an unexpected surprise when Carly and Evie arrived, so that was lovely and Evie entertained us with her toy horses, jigsaw and chasing games.
All too soon it was time to leave, and a Sat-Nav directed tour of the back roads of Cheshire, as the M6 was a 3 junction-long car park.

Fun in the snow

Spend a great afternoon up on The Roaches with the in-laws this week.

It was so wild up there; quite dramatic snowscapes and fabulous views back towards Leek and Mow Cop. 

We managed to get to the top, via some very icy steps, and I had my first skate on Doxey Pool, with Andy, Emily and Jon.

My brothers - Pete and Graeme

This is the only photo I have of my two brothers together, taken at my wedding in 1990, and I carried it in my wallet for years. Somehow it got misplaced, and now, just before Christmas, I found it again.
Hoping to see Graeme at my Mum's party, and fingers crossed, Martin will also come - it would be lovely if he could join the family again.

Brrrr!

Minus 7 this morning at Blackshaw Moor, with more severe frost overnight, and a HIGH of +2 tomorrow. 

Kids enjoyed sledging/bodyboarding up at Leek High. Deb and I braved the elements with Molly, but soon returned for Gluevein and mince pies.

Journeys

It is a funny old world. Not so long ago, I worked in a small team of four project managers. The team got disbanded when the manager took voluntary redundancy. The older and wiser one moved into another area, leaving me and the younger more dynamic one working on projects. I got moved on to something else and eventually got fed up and left. Now the older one is taking voluntary redundancy, leaving just the one.
Two years ago, the money would have been on the younger one leaving first to seek his fortune and get away from the chaos that is Stoke Council, before he became institutionalised. It is quite weird that in fact it was the more 'mature' members of the team that have taken the jump, and all for the better it turned out.
I hope he finds a way off the ship before it sinks and takes him with it.

Shankly

This week is the 50th anniversary of the day Bill Shankly arrived at Anfield. I started 'going the match' a few years after he retired, having passed over control to Bob Paisley in '74.

I wonder if the management gurus have ever studied his techniques - he certainly gave his players the belief that could beat anyone - something the current shower could do with taking on board.

A great site here

Shanks - YNWA

Old photos

I've finally got round to sending off some black and white films that have been hanging around for years - 2 were from my dad's box of photography bits & bobs, so I've no idea even if there is a film in the canisters. It will be interesting to see what comes back.

Mum wants a film camera - none of this modern digital nonsense, so I've been searching out a foolproof camera and film for her. It will be difficult to find somewhere to process it now, but that is what she wants. The sunrise from her new apartment is quite something - maybe something like this ?

I'm trying to get myself organised with regard to old photos for my Mum's 80th birthday party next month. I have hundreds of old slides, so will have a good look through them over Xmas.

Old milestone

Just outside the lodge to Ashcombe Park, Cheddleton.

I wonder why it indicates distance to Sandon, rather than Stafford, just 5 miles further on. Maybe visitors stopped at Sandon Hall, home of the Harrowby family

Burlesque! @ The Lowry, Dec 2009

A night out with the girls!

Rabbit Island, Lesvos

My lovely children