It was a breathless start to the weekend catching up with the Forest TDD news. I followed developments from the World Famous City Ground until 10pm last night.
Wakey wakey!
Oh, so Brennan has gone. No surprises there. Decent price as well.
But wait! What’s this? We’ve only gone and signed another European Cup winner in Origi. Plus the odd £11m on a Norwich central defender.
Oh Lordy.
Naming a 25 man squad is going to be more of a challenge than actually staying in the PL this season.
I had a return to ParkRun on Saturday morning. I also had a return to cycling along the Trail on the MTB.
Covid shit and tattoo action has kept me away from both throughout the six week summer break.
The Trail was overgrown around some of the tight corners. It felt good to be riding it once again. I know every twist and turn, and exactly where to brake at the right moments. The new-ish surface is holding up well.
Chapeau!
There was a large number of folk along North Hill waiting for the National Express bus to Ldn. Train strike day, innit. I could think of no other journey that would be as hellish as that.
Some tourists rocked up to the Castle as I was locking up my bicycle. The lead fella was carrying what I thought was a large Welsh flag.
He then started talking in what I now believe to be Dutch. My flag knowledge is hopeless.
It was a painful ParkRun. At the risk of repeating myself day in, day out: Covid shit fucks with you. I was panting from start to finish, struggling to find a relaxed breathing pattern. My morning porridge almost made a reappearance.
I finished 4th in my age cat - not bad for a ParkRun that has a ‘mature’ demographic. I was two minutes off a Colchester PB. That’s going to take some time to try and pull back once again.
There was time for a little business around the town / city ahead of morning work shifts. Saturday was Invasion Colchester. This means that the town / city is taken over by Sci Fi and telly types to raise money.
I passed one particular stall that had a Mr Bean lookalike. He clocked me. I clocked him. It was like looking in a mirror.
I did a runner before the embarrassment of a little kid coming up to me and asking for a selfie.
My news specs were picked up. They are perfect. New lenses have been fitted to my old, fave frames. £75 all in. Work should settle the bill.
Sadly I had no time for the Eco Festival taking place in Castle Park. I was running a little late for work.
There were many other cyclists travelling in the opposite direction along the Trail. I thought they might have been tourists coming in via Harwich. I think they were local sorts heading to the Eco Festival.
Robert Elms on BBC London had his education four-fer. Rod the Mod featured, natch. It’s late September, and I really should be back at school, etc.
A quick scroll through Insta, and there it was: Brennan wearing a #lolspurs shirt. That saddened me, seeing the reality of the situation.
But best of luck, fella. You’ve left the WFCG with dignity.
Which doesn’t sound promising for the Academy. It hurts to see it still closed. But I wouldn’t personally return until the Met is satisfied that it’s a safe venue.
BBC Nottingham had a lovely montage looking back over the Forest career of Brennan. It was produced beautifully, containing just the right amount of emotion.
To Broad Lane! For the second time in a week!
Actually it should have been a third time, but we wimped out of the midweek WTFC fixture.
There was some gorgeous late summer estuary wilds rays to soak up at Broad Lane. The Holbeach GIANT of a No.10 must have picked up the rays five minutes ahead of everyone else.
He was a BEAST of a striker. What impressed was that despite his physical presence, he was still trim, muscular and very fit. He didn’t stop running all afternoon.
Two individual errors led to two Holbeach goals. It’s best not to dwell upon these. We go again, back stronger etc.
The choice of Toto’s Africa through the muffled PA at HT was a nice, left field touch. It was good to see the Club Shed Shop also open.
There was a lively start to the second half. The Holbeach No.10 switched to playing central defence - a position that appeared to be more suited to his physique.
Wivenhoe played direct down the centre of the pitch to try and get back into the game. The No.10 was all that stood between them and the goal. Easier said than done, fellas.
The home team deserved something out of the game, but Holbeach also impressed. Make the most of the late summer rays.
It’s a bloody good time to be a Forest fan, btw. An away win at Stamford Bridge, signing 13 players including another European Cup winner.
Forest, Ever Forest.
Oh. Confession: we played Sting’s Blue Turtle album. It was bloody brilliant. He gets a bad rap, sometimes with good reason. But Blue Turtle is beautiful.
There.