The early morning read of The Grumblr’s County Cricket Substack was another rallying call. There’s activism and resistance in middle-age, Comrades.
A large part of the dispatch was aimed at the growing interference of the horrid Hundred. The situation appears to be worsening by the week. Talk of private investment in to Counties could be the tipping point.
At what stage do I call it quits with my membership of Surrey?
The clue is in the name: I am proud to be a Member of a County. If I’m asked to fork out to become a Member of a franchise that has private investment, then I’ll see out my days watching Wivenhoe Town Cricket Cub.
It’s not as if Surrey needs the money.
At least The Grumblr is going down fighting. This reminds me of the mid-80’s when football activism first appeared.
The battle lines were drawn over the attempts by Thatcher to ban away fans. This proposition seems incredible to consider these days.
But is football fandom really a better experience in 2023? Probably not. I wouldn’t know as I was priced out a long, long time ago.
My experience is reduced to watching wall-to-wall football on the telly, plus non-league fun with Wiv Town and Dulwich.
And yes - I’m aware that by paying for TV football subscriptions I am simply feeding the beast.
As Mr Grumblr mentioned:
“If you are perceived as saying no to every innovation, especially those pushed by the moneyed and the powerful, they will find ways to work around you. Or simply destroy you. In this world, hype has to create perceived value where little really exists.”
Marketing turns everything into shite.
In Other Dreary Tuesday News:
Farewell, FUCK OFF Cactus. You’ve outgrown the family nest. It’s time for you to move on.
A couple of very nice fellas from a lovely Sunny Colch gallery came to take away the cactus. If they had left it until the New Year then I fear the FUCK OFF cactus would have already made an escape through the kitchen ceiling.
I don’t know how I have managed to cultivate such a prize prickly thing. This started off as an off cut from a cactus that is still only 1m tall.
OK, so I top up the BIG BOY with a little left over water each day from the cat’s drinking bowl. Plus he’s also got the best sun trap position in the house.
But still. He’a a bloody BEAST.
At least we will still get the chance to visit him at his new home in Sunny Colch.
I had an ebay clear out mid-morning. I’ve saved so many searches. The daily email pings have become unmanageable. I also sent out some offers. There were no takers.
My quest to become a dot com millionaire by Christmas had one step up, two steps back. YouTube has halved the number of subscribers you need in oder to ‘monetize’ [URGH] a channel.
Hurrah!
I’m way over the 500 cut off for my Jay-C Selecta channel. Where do I sign up?
YT had also increased the number of watch hours in a 365 day period. I need around another 1,500 or so hours to reach the tipping point.
I’m tempted to login to the channel next time I’m in a school and leave all the school laptops streaming the glorious sounds of Jay-C Selecta.
Aye.
In Forest News:
Oh dear.
I’m underwhelmed by Nuno. Something had to change, and preferably ASAP.
But we don’t need a new Head Coach. We need a new striker and goalkeeper.
I’ve yet to really think in any detail about the departure of Cooper. It took me the best part of a year to get over Brian Clough leaving the World Famous City Ground in not exactly great circumstances.
At least SC didn’t go following relegation.
I was a little too over emotional for my own wellbeing ahead of the Wolves game two weeks ago. I thought he would be on his way out at the final whistle. Maybe I’ve already said my personal farewell.
The World Famous is going to fast become a toxic place if the new Head Coach can’t turn things around.
I tried to listen to BBC Nottingham’s In the Game. It all got a little too emotional for me tbh. The phrase “his last interview” finally got to me.
Dry your eyes, mate, etc.
The new Forest Focus podcast won the battle to get the first content out. I listened whilst decorating the Christmas tree.
I can’t but help think that both have gone too early - Forest sacking Cooper, and me decorating the silly tree.
“Welcome to the final episode of Desperately Seeking Paul Weller.”
It’s only taken 180 episodes, but shout out to Dan Jennings who has finally got to meet his man. This is a lovely ending to a podcast that has been driven by a very personal quest.
SPOTY took up Tuesday evening. Yes, it’s mainstream shit. I miss the silly days when the production values were on par with Blue Peter. But it’s a useful reminder of all that has taken place in the past twelve months.
It was good to see a Nottingham winner, a Nottingham runner up, both presented by Nottingham’s finest.
Wot No Cooper?