An interesting...

...weekend.  Been next to a guy over the last two days (at a craft fair), who played in an amateur capacity for Fulham...and knew Sammy Bartram!!  I didn't find out until half way through this afternoon...when we started to talk football.  He was a young goalkeeper and knew Sammy who was just coming to the end of his career...I mean...whooo...I thought I'd share!

Oh! and the craft fair?...not good!  But the company made up for it.

A completely...

...good week!

Monday was our wedding anniversary...thirty five years young and still happy.  Like most we have had highs and lows, but the lows haven't been depths, and are usually because of something daft and not meaningful.  We took ourselves off to Dereham, (not the highlight capital of Norfolk), but we just wanted to do something normal, as we're usually at opposite ends of Anglia for the week, so try to cram all into weekends.  It's a pleasant town and has the joy of "Steptoes"...second-hand furniture store which can hide gems...we turned up two, which came home with us, so our kitchen is now complete...after two years.

Whilst in France I found a market stall selling linen, how can you not buy some...so having washed and pressed it, I started making the cushions for Drove Orchard Fair...7th May is the day.  I will be taking some photos...so please be patient.  There will be other items too.

Then to top the week Charlton (already promoted) were crowned champions, with the possibility of taking another record...highest League One points tally.  So, with a manager who is in his first managerial job...and a team of nearly all new players, who didn't need time to gel or learn how to play together...(beautiful excuses), they did it and showed those who doubted exactly what they were made of!  I hope all doubters are eating humble pie...  All you need is belief...

And....

...we did it!!

Well, that's the royal we and not the actual 'I kicked the ball' we.  Though I feel as though I've kicked every ball of the season so far...but, joy overflows.  Now to relax and go up as champions....pretty please!

And...I'm also back from visiting Provence.  Two weeks in the sunshine can't be bad, even if it was for working too.

My goodness...

...life can be full of peaks and troughs, ups, downs and roundabouts.  Complicated and then a breeze, but it's a way of knowing you're still here.  Where I vanished to is another story...and nothing harmful to me, but it's one I'm not exposing.

So...bejeebers I'm a happy person on the football front...my team are top of their league with a gap of ten points between us and second place, both are automatic promotion positions.  We are in a strong position (the gap to third is twelve points) and we could extend this further this evening if we win..   I'm guessing we kind of sucked our collective breath in over a few matches, managing more draws, but this has been rectified in the last two and now for a push to the end...after tonights we have another thirteen, a total of forty two points, so a lot still to play for.  I haven't been to a match this season, (lucky husband has), so maybe that's why they're doing so well, I seem to jinx them.  But, I listen...cheer and jump around the room...who could ask for more!  I was happy when the board decided on employing Chris Powell as manager, and I've never had a doubt.  The changes he wrought through the summer were considerable, but none have failed...one or two need a little more help than others, but none have failed as disasterously as previously.  I'm one happy red supporter....surrounded by content yellow supporters who are also a happy bunch, so it's a happy place here in Norfolk.

What else?  The room is almost finished, just a few bits to do, some waxing and top coating, then all finished and on to the next project.

Workwise...it's more fabric than glass based at present.  I've a table at a craft fair at Drove Orchard, Thornham, the May Day bank holiday Monday, but no jewellery...with that the sewing machine has been going ten to a dozen and I've been getting my stock straight.  I'll also have some individually designed handbags, cards and prints for sale, my own handmade scarves, seat belt comfies...bags, cushions, etc...yup, I can use cloth and a machine.  I found some great Donegal tweed, very simple...very cheap (price) and the fabric I've chosen to go with it is subtley bright to give an added twist, also I picked up some great vintage pieces...free!  Free is a good word!!

On top of that...France is on the horizon.  A friend asked if I'd like to go with her to her house, and who am I to say nope!!  It's where husband and I went last year and a more beautiful part of the continent you couldn't wish for.  Mountains, views and peace...who could ask for more.  Okay...markets, cafes and people watching, but that's thrown in too. 

There...I've decided a smile is worth more than a frown, to be content within what you can achieve and if things are done to you, then rise above them...life is yours to enjoy, not for others to besmirch.

Football...Foxes and...

...Flowers...

The first is dealt with easily, my team have just had a management buyout.  Well, it's called that with Richard Murray a long time supporter, board member and chairman, taking outright control of the club.

"This has been a critical time for the club. Our future was uncertain, and financially this was potentially one of our darkest hours.


"However, agreement has been reached with my fellow directors for me to take sole control of the club through what is effectively a management buyout (MBO) of the plc subsidiaries. The new money I am injecting into the club will ensure we go into the new season with a competitive team.

"I shall be appointing a new interim board of directors, and we will now go forward and actively seek new investment.
 
http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=36314
 
With that...I'm happy...
 
Now, foxes!  My absence (yet again) has been due to visiting my Mum's and trying to get some order into her garden.  Not a huge garden, just a normal suburban one, but one which has had foxes make their home at the end of it, due to the over grown shrubs let run rampant by a "professional" gardening neighbour who didn't like interference, Mum didn't want to upset, and who recently retired from helping.  Now the shrubs are trimmed back...the debris of the foxes home has been cleared, and hopefully we can keep this now tidy.  By all accounts the foxes did come to check, sat and looked awhile, and then trotted off somewhere else.  Now all I have to do is weed, dig...prune and trim the rest of the garden! 
 
...and flowers.  That'd be in my garden.  Over the last few months I've been collecting an array of herbaceous plants, roses and small shrubs, trimming back overgrown shrubs in my own garden and yesterday I, at last, got to plant some.  We'd decided to make a new bed across the garden to break up a sharp slope, this we started to dig.  Then we found some photos of the house and garden fourteen years ago, (behind the old kitchen cabinets we've dismantled)...and lo and behold there was the garden bed full of plants just where we were digging ours!  Stranger still were some other photos showing the front of the house, with a garden just where we had decided to put another one! 

Oh, and my laptop has decided that it's had enough.  Not completely dead, but on the verge of dying...it's power cable is broken and it's virtual memory...it's been telling me for the last two to three years it keeps having to find more!  So I guess that's what I'll be saving for...

Damp...

...at last!


After such scorching weather the rain fell softly yesterday. 


Wimbledon is over...the World Cup is over...and Spain is celebrating.  Of course, we did have winners at Wimbledon with two young men winning the Boys Double title, and we did have representation on the World Cup final pitch with Howard Webb refereeing.  Blame and accusation have started...as has the pre-season friendlies.  My team lost on Saturday to AFC Wimbledon, and won tonight at Welling United, but these are exercises...no clue to the performances to come with so many changes and substitutions throughout the matches...but tonight saw the return of Jon Fortune (yay), maybe only for this...but I'd bite your hand off to get him back, and then there's the forthcoming talk with Christian Dailly...mix those staying with new signings and youngsters, that defence could be stronger than last year. 

I've been looking to go to Kettering, but ticket information seems a little scarce...

I nearly went to Lynn tonight to watch the match between the newly reformed King's Lynn club and a Norwich City XI...I wish I had now...Lynn won 2 - 0.    Norwich put a team of academy and senior players who didn't travel to Germany out.  I'll watch both teams with interest. 

My local team, Fakenham Town, haven't started their pre-season yet...

It's strange...

...who you meet in your local shop.

Having gone to one of the local village's shops yesterday, I found the owner and a regular customer chatting about the coming World Cup and the Rio injury.  Being a person who can't resist a conversation about football...or most other sports either, I made a small comment, and found they both thought a certain Darren Bent should have gone instead of Emile Heskey.  I then found I was talking to someone whose nephew played with Darren at Charlton.  Thinking through who it could be, I discovered it was another Darren...Darren Ambrose.  It was mentioned that it was no surprise he didn't flourish at Charlton, as he was consistently played out of his favoured position, by all the managers...and as soon as he went to Warnock he rediscovered his niche in his best position...and is now happy.

Apart from that, wallpaper is being stuck to walls, paint is being brushed onto wood, a garden is being weeded and glass is being wrapped around mandrels!

...and another week starts....speculation within the wider Charlton blogging world is rife, and at the end of the week we'll all settle down to see how far all the teams get.  Maybe ours will raise a trophy just as the cricket team did.

We'll see!

I'm trying...

...to rake up enough enthusiasm and energy to walk to work,  I did work until midnight last night, having given myself the evening off to watch my team in the League One play off semi final, we lost on penalties having gone into the second leg behind and having then played ourselves into a lead last night, we had a loose moment in defence and their eighteen year old became a hero for the second match, to draw them level.  I hate penalty shoot outs, I always have...some say they give the game excitement, but I've always detested them, ever since their inception.  So it's not sour grapes because we lost, and I'm not sure how you'd replace them either...I'm not a mover and shaker within the game!  Maybe the third team should be promoted...in this case Millwall, after all they did get the points!  Okay, so shoot me!

So now, where does that leave my beloved team...if you read certain accounts, from certain papers...we have a whistle blower...since when have we had those?  We had always been a friendly, family orientated, well run club...held up as such, but now we have, reportedly, a whistle blower?!  Or cause for one...which is more to the point!  I'm sure some will take great delight in that...but, as supporters of the game of football, not your or my specific allegiance, we have to wonder where this game of ours is going.  With parachute payments for the clubs coming down from the Premier League set to rise to £48m over four years from £16m over two, where exactly does that leave everyone else!?  We know from experience being relegated is expensive, trying to cut your cloth accordingly for the income of a lower league, and those contracts with players and managers are signed in blood it seems....air tight, water tight, and fireproof!  And if you subsisted on the weekly turnover of the Premier League...you might be lucky if you can keep your team together for a push straight back, probably though you couldn't.  Then you need to gather together a team to be ready for the next season, that bouncing straight back...but, you have to have them in place, playing together from the outset...and that's not always possible, throw in some injuries during a season and...you see where this goes...  That £48m even at £12m a year is a good starting point to keeping your team or the nucleus of it, together.  Go lower and what's happened to Leeds over the last few years shows what can happen.  To get the right manager with the right players at the right time...it's expertise, isn't it?  Or maybe just plain luck!

So last night...Nicky Bailey missed one penalty, one shot of the game...one second in a lifetime.  It was cruel...he was devastated...but, at least he was brave enough to put himself there, to place that ball on that little white spot and try... Me?  I wouldn't have even been able to pick the ball up, let alone run and kick the thing. 

So I hope he'll be there next season to lead, but I have a feeling he won't be...I hope the team that played their hearts out last might will be there, but they won't be, either returning to their home clubs from loan...or moving on.  And please don't say Liverpool to me!  What about our youngsters?

Okay, now I'm walking to work!

Su's Charmed...

...By Charlton

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I was interviewed by Gary Haines for the Charlton programme, and this was printed in the one for the Carlisle game.  It's been mentioned that not everyone got to the game...and would I please print the interview...so...here goes.

She may live deep in Canaries territory, but the Addicks will always be precious to one long-serving supporter from Fakenham.  Gary Haines finds out about her unique jewellery collection and penchant for Peacock blue.

There's been plenty to cheer about for fans in Norfolk this season, with Norwich City seemingly destined for an immediate return to the Championship.

But one creative supporter from the region remains proud of her red and white heritage, and is hoping Charlton can follow suit in the campaign's closing weeks.

Jewellery designer Su Mose is happy to broach the subject of her Addicks heroes at any time.

A former season-ticket holder who lived on the borders of Belvedere, Erith and Bexleyheath before relocating to Fakenham last year, she was first charmed by Charlton in 1963/64.

"My allegiance comes from my Dad, who took me to a game against Manchester City when I was eight.  I was immediately hooked."

"We used to stand on the Eastern Terrace, and from there I could shout at and cheer for Keith Peacock on the wing.  I was never allowed near the Covered End, which is probably why I love being there now."

"It's quite funny, really; my Mum used to see Keith and his son Gavin when he visited his Mum's shop in Belvedere.  A lady fainted once, and Keith was off grabbing a cold sponge and mopping her face.  There were no delicate smelling salts- those were the days when a cold sponge healed all!"

Su, who runs Wayward Rose Jewellery, keeps in touch with Valley events mainly via the internet and the ever popular CAFC Player video website...

(it then goes on to the jewellery...you don't want that bit)...

Su, is hoping Charlton can clasp promotion come May - beating Norwich in the process.

"I was talking to a Norwich director last summer, and he smiled when he learned I supported Charlton.  He said he forgave me, and suggested that we would get automatic promotion and they'd be in for a tough fight.  I'm sure that he, like all their fans, is more than a little happy so far."

"Others who know of my allegiance smile indulgently at my folly, then go on to mention Grant Holt and Wes Hoolahan.  With the home game coming soon, I'd love to have some bragging rights, so I'm really hoping for a win."

Well, we can't have everything, now can we.  

I hope Mr Haines doesn't mind the reprinting...and please don't work out the age thingy...it takes all the mystery away!! 

A special...

...day was Friday.  It was our wedding anniversary, and to say it celebrated a few years would be an understatement.  Not as many as some, but a fair few.  The day was saddened though by the passing of an old family friend.  The day he should've been celebrating his 90th birthday he passed away.  A grand age, but a sad day...

The skies above us have been quiet.  We have some noise from the odd passing fighter jet, but these with commercial airlines have been stopped from flying here...so, if this affects you and your holiday, you have my sympathy...if like my youngest son you live near an airport, you can make the most of these few days of respite.  Commercially damaging I know, but for those who live near them...just a few days of peace.

I'm not sure how many balls I have in the air at present.  Juggling maybe an art, and in reality it's not something I have ever been able to do, but with projects...I can cope.  The kitchen is nearly complete, the taps are on their way and the worktops should be measured this week.  A new (old) cupboard entered our lives on Saturday, when we visited Steptoes in Dereham and fell in love with an old oak four door cupboard, perfect for crockery and linens.  Skirtings went on over the weekend, plumbing in place, so now all I need are three strong men here at the same time and the larder can go upright, rather than laying forlornly on it's side...waiting.  We're getting there.

A downside to the weekend, my team lost...they should've won if the pictures were anything to go by, but the opposing goalkeeper had one of those matches, where everything he touched(and he touched a lot) went away...I knew he'd be our downfall this match, but I guess it makes the locals around here happy...so everyone should be going around with a smile on their face.  Maybe Delia will make a celebratory cake.  An annoying thing about it...those teams around us all dropped points too, so we could've climbed.  Hey ho!!

Sometime ago...

...I received an email, of which the contents came as more than a little surprise! This was the middle of January...

After picking myself up off the floor, and taking a few days to think about things, I replied...giving a positive answer.

It then went quiet for nearly two months, and I thought that was it. Suddenly another email arrived apologising for the delay, and was I still okay for things.

My correspondent was a guy called Gary Haines, and to lots that will mean absolutely nothing...to a few they'll recognise the name. A couple more emails passed between us, and it led to me being featured in my team's programme, on the "Fan Focus" page for the Monday game against Carlisle.


Yes, that was me.

I think I'm still in shock...

PS...we also won!

It makes you...

...wonder. I've discovered and heard about our Lady of Norfolk. It seems she's thinking of moving! Yes...you read that correctly...she's seriously looking at moving! Having had this house on the market for four years, and pulling out of several sales, she's now thinking about trying again. She must be very unhappy where she is, or...who knows!
At last I've placed an order for more glass. I didn't think it would happen, but having sorted everything out, I can now start ordering again...and making! My space is basic, but it's there...and with lots of natural light...and the frilly bits will happen soon enough.
I've been looking at colour charts...with only one room that I can think of decorating without any mending or changing, the smaller of our two bedrooms will get a facelift...I can only take ice blue for so long. I bought a beautiful pink mohair throw this week, and that will lead the colour change. I think pretty and feminine. Having sons, and grandsons, I now want pretty and feminine...something for the two young ladies in our family...and my sons lives. Just to keep things from getting too female orientated, I've also bought some polish and wax remover along with some wire wool...the lobby doors are in for a shock...
My team drew today...after having one Sodje sent off for a foul as the last man, his youngest brother scored our equaliser and could have scored again...I hope we have the chance to sign him in January....I think he'd be a good signing. We play Bristol Rovers on Tuesday...we need to keep the momentum going, stay ahead of the gathering pack, and not too far behind Leeds. Also a huge salute to every one of the Charlton fans(1700) who went to Yeovil today. Getting drenched in a stand with no cover, and cheering the team...thank you for flying the flag....

As the wind...

...howls around my eyrie in the roof of our cottage(the upstairs is in the eaves), I'm sitting listening to the commentary from the Charlton match and getting my Etsy shops back up and running.

With the darkness gradually drawing the cosiness of our cottage closer, the trees dancing a frantic weaving dance, it makes me content that our house isn't very tall, and we're in a little hollow...where before the wind would whip down the fields behind of our old home, battering at it's back door, it whips over our new one. The fact our house has sat here for four hundred years, must mean it's fairly happy where it is.

Okay, having just been interrupted from my tapping by my hubby, Charlton have scored twice...we are now leading 5-1...let's hope this continues and gives them the confidence that's been sadly missing the last few games. It hasn't been luck, it's been good football even with the windy conditions and MKDons scoring first...

Opposite our cottage is the village church of St Andrews, and we've been told has a Christmas Eve carol service, when the church...as it hasn't electric supplied, is lit by oil lamps...so wrapped in jumpers, scarves, gloves, and thick socks...we'll be going...

Confirmation...

....came in the form of a telephone call from our solicitor. Our lady of Norfolk is moving on Friday! She has signed the last of her papers, paid some fees she needed to...and friends and neighbours are helping her pack. So it seems we will have a home on Friday...

I'll be off to Fakenham to collect the key from her solicitor, whilst hubby waits for the removal lorry to appear...

We just need to take our key to our agents today, and then....our sons are coming to say goodbye to the house tomorrow evening. It's not where they were born, but they were twelve and ten when we moved here, it's where they met all the friends they have now, and if we hadn't moved here...I wouldn't have the two beautiful women in their lives...nor my two amazing grandsons.

My team play Huddersfield on Saturday, and after a bit of a stagnant time recently, three points gained would be good. It would take us top...as Leeds don't play until Monday, but will have two games in hand. We need to keep those nipping at our heels just there, behind us...so no giving free or easy points away...our support needs to be strong, the team need to know the supporters are with them, not picking holes in what's going on on the pitch...or decisions made. The game agains the Gills...Gillingham, will be interesting as there's no love lost...and we would like their front man to call our own, and they'd like one of ours. Unfortunately for different valuations...and they don't really want to lose theirs...though, if we're still strong at the January transfer window, that might swing the balance for the player...we'll see, we still have October, November and December to negotiate first...

Well, the computer gets dismantled tomorrow morning and with no access for awhile, I'll say adieu...wish everyone happiness, a lovely weekend...and may you all give me lots of reading to catch up with.

Take care
Love Su xx

PS...and the plans for Sunday...a walk on the beach.

Against...

...the views of most of my teams regular bloggers, we earned a hard fought, well deserved draw against Leeds. Of course, I'd have loved a win...

But it's a good result (a win would've been icing)...it keeps us in touch with them and ahead of Bristol Rovers, who lost to Norwich.

No wonder Parky left the field with a smile on his face....I had a mirror version...

We've also nearly finished the clearing out. A hard working morning, several trips to the local tip and a load of old rubbish has gone. Also a call to one of the charities and some furniture we don't want to take with us will be going on Wednesday...we can begin to see the end...we just need to know we have a home to go to!

The continuing...

...saga....

A call from our solicitor, confirmed some thoughts. The guy at the top of the chain won't change...which we expected as he'd wanted the move in August, and had been quite verbal about things at the beginning, by all accounts, and...our lady is on holiday, travelling down a canal in France. She's due home later this week...after a fortnight away.

Strange how a fortnight rings a bell somehow!

That leaves us with neither of us agreeing to the delay, and not knowing how she'll react until she gets back.

My team are off to Colchester tonight, and again I won't be going to cheer them on...I'd love to be, but time is slipping by. It's a tough week for them, meeting Leeds(current league leaders) at Elland Road on Saturday...that game will be tense. Tonight I'll be watching the England v New Zealand cricket match...see if we can make it four in a row, with the Charlton commentary hooked into the ear-phones!

Yesterday I had a wonderful time...wandering around the V and A...one of my favourite museums, in and out all the fashions, and remembering some of them! Standing in awe at the delicacy and intense colour of the needlework, even after hundreds of years. One carpet, laid out, is over a thousand years old! It leaves you gasping... There were some items I could easily have sneaked out...except they're very securely behind glass... And if the textiles left me gasping, so did the ingenuity of some locks...secure locks, with little counting dials telling the owner if they'd been opened without his knowledge...now those sound useful, to me!

My visit was completed with a terrific meal in a Mexican restaurant...relaxed and fun...simple but good...and (I am told)...daiquiris to die for!

One...

...wardrobe down and the rest to follow.

All things became a reality this morning, as one piece of furniture was taken away. With no space for wardrobes in our new house, we had to find homes for the two we have, and this morning our youngest son came and collected the smaller one...hopefully he'll find a temporary home for the larger one...he has five weeks!

It feels strange to see items of furniture disappearing...though, I better get used to it! The house in Norfolk has completely different room space to our present one.

And brilliant Charlton news, Jonjo Shelvey has signed an extension to his contract. It keeps him at the Valley until 2012, at least. This is a terrific fillip before the game in...less than an hour, against Brentford...as rumours abounded during the summer of his imminent departure.

Phew...

...whatta day!! I'm exhausted....

But, we've EXCHANGED!!! It nearly didn't happen, as our Norfolk lady came back from her weekend away having second thoughts...again, but...we exchanged contracts late this morning. Now, we've just got to get through the next six weeks, and then we'll be in Norfolk, with all the excitement of sorting out a new home.

I see Charlton made some signings today too...an experienced forward in Leon McKenzie, a young winger Luke Holden...from Rhyl, on loan at present with a view to signing permanently in January, and an old face at the Valley...defender Sam Sodje, a freebie after Reading released him last season. Two went out on loan too...with Stuart Fleetwood returning to Exeter on a years loan and Moots going to Motherwell for six months. It's great to see those players being mentioned in papers as having "followers", are staying with us...for that I say thanks, and long may we continue together.

And the beads...all cleaned and sparkling...

With the...

...final whistle, we find ourselves still top. Four goals makes very nice reading, especially as Tranmere weren't able to respond. It sounded a very one sided match, but I'll leave others to the full analysis...

Leeds (our closest rivals and tipped to be champions), also won...with two goals, but Colchester managed to score one against them.

So, it's still only goal difference, and nerves will be jangling over the weekend to see if we both can keep our top players.

Roll on Tuesday...5:01pm!! For two reasons...

See...

...I just knew I shouldn't have mentioned our house move!

Having expected to exchange contracts this last week, what does our lady in Norfolk do? She vanishes...having left her solicitor a phone message over Thursday night, saying she's gone away for the weekend and will be back Tuesday to exchange! Her words. She knew everyone had it all set for Friday, after the messing about on Thursday, but...no, she couldn't tell or mention it then, she just went. If it doesn't happen Tuesday...that's it, the top pulls out...and no one moves. I won't tell you my reaction...

I noticed this morning that Wade Small, who Charlton had signed on a non-contract basis, has signed for Chesterfield on a years contract. We play against Tranmere Rovers this afternoon with an unchanged side.