7th Heaven at AFC Liverpool

So on Saturday I finally got around to attending an AFC Liverpool match. Had been trying to sort this for some time in 2019 and I had actually forgot about the date I had arranged until reminded a few days before the match. With the weather forecast of wall to wall sunshine, a bank holiday and an early finish in work on Saturday how could I refuse. So my mate Alan came along with me and we met Mike who had kindly invited us to the match at Aigburth station and headed up to the ground.

A bit of history about AFC Liverpool (Can you guess what the AFC stands for ? ) AFC Liverpool was formed in 2008, by Liverpool FC fans, who had becoming increasingly frustrated at the cost and difficulty in obtaining tickets for the Premiership. The supposed ‘39th game’ in which Premier League fixtures would be played in different parts of the world proved to be the final straw, highlighting that top flight football is now more concerned about money than its fans. Their first home ground was a share with Prescot Cables FC and games where played at Valerie Park in Prescot. They have in recent years played their home games at Rossett Park in a ground share with Marine FC. Funny enough my last non league action I watched was on the same ground where I watched Marine take on Clitheroe FC in the F.A.Cup Link to blog here. So we had a pre match pint in a boozer near the ground and got into the ground for kick off and we were introduced to several people involved with the club and it soon became clear that without the massive efforts of these people there would be no AFC Liverpool. After a minutes silence for the 30th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster it was time for kick off and AFC Liverpool to take on Atherton LR in The Hallmark Security League First Division North. We had the team sheet and placed ourselves on the terrace behind the goal that AFC were kicking towards and settled down for the game.

So AFC Liverpool were 4th in the division fighting for a best place 3rd finish. Atherton were bottom of the league and a home win was expected. The game started true to form with many chances for AFC but only a 1-0 lead with a goal from Anthony Lyons. I was thinking these missed chanced from AFC Liverpool might come back to haunt them and a few defensive errors gave Atherton chances which they did not take. AFC soon started taking chances and in the glorious Easter bank holiday sunshine AFC went in 4-0 up at half time. After some half time refreshments we took a seat in the home stand behind the goal AFC were kicking towards and were introduced to a few more people associated with the club including the announcer who’s playlist included a song from one of my favourite bands The Christians so what wasn’t there to like ?

AFC continued their domination in the second half. During the second half the thing that struck me most about the day happened. With the ground surrounded by houses its quite easy to lose a match ball (Would be several a game if I was playing centre half) Anyway one ball went over into somebody’s back garden. I asked about the chances of getting the ball back and sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. These are £60 match balls we are taking about and to a club like AFC Liverpool this soon adds up. They are already above their ball budget for the year and recently had to purchase another five match balls to see them through the season. As the second half went on another ball nearly entered somebody back yard and an AFC Liverpool member could be heard cheering as another £60 might have been saved. The second half raced past and the final score was AFC Liverpool 7 v Atherton LR 0 and a hatrick for Anthony Lyons who wont be keeping the £60 match ball. Couldn’t quite get the attendance as the announcer called it at 12,236. I have since found out the attendance was 107.

So we entered the Marine FC club bar for a post match pint and a bit more discussion around AFC Liverpool. With AFC ground sharing with Marine any gate receipts normally cover just that cost so extra monies are needed to be found to pay players etc and even a run of away games can put serious pressures on the club finances. The club do hope to find a permanent home within the city boundaries but this is still a few years away at the earliest. I have always fancied following a local non league team. Back in the 80’s as a child we used to bunk in and watch South Liverpool play whilst listening to Liverpool games on our small transistor radio. I did say to Mike who had invited us that fact that AFC did not have a base in the city and also the ground shared that this for me did not make them the attraction they could be. As I stated in October of last year this will be the last season I follow the premier league AKA Liverpool FC with full passion as next seasons introduction of Var for me is the straw the broke the camels back. The weekend before I was at Anfield for Liverpool Vs Chelsea and what a difference a week later for my next match. I will however pop along to a game or two and watch AFC Liverpool next season.

Even at this level of football money talks. Often decent players are hoovered up during the season by the better (Richer) teams down the football pyramid who can offer that few extra bob a week to players to turn out for them. The dedication and commitment of officials and staff at a club like AFC Liverpool is massive and its only when you get introduced  to a few people around a club and have explained what goes on that your eyes open up and think wow. AFC Liverpool were hit by their own tragedy earlier on in the season when their joint managed Ben Williams died suddenly at a young age. There are many many things more important than football as we all too well know in the city of Liverpool.

So it was time to head off into the lovely evening sunshine and leave the Marine Travel Arena for one last pint before the train home to Aigburth. A cracking day out. Beers, sunshine, and a 7-0 win. What more could you ask for ? Here is hoping that AFC Liverpool can push on to get their new ground and achieve the ambitions they have on the pitch alongside possible community spin offs and here is hoping they don’t lose too many balls next season !!! Oh yeah the AFC stands for Affordable Football Club.

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

AFC Liverpool played on Monday against Lower Breck in a battle for third place in the Hallmark Security League First Division North. A 4-2 defeat away leaves it all to play for with just one game of the season left. Many thanks again to Mike for the invite.

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15th April once again a TWAT of a day

Different year, same blog (ish)

So the 15th of April comes around yet again and its a day I dont look forward to. 15/04/1989 and its now 30 years since Liverpool fans went to Hillsborough for a F.A.Cup semi final and 96 of them died. I didnt go the match that day but had friends who did and I still remember making the phone calls that evening wondering what I would do if I heard any bad news. All my close friends made it back. There was however one lad who I played football with who did not. His name was Philip Hammond. He was only 14 and I has played in teams with him from Sudley juniors through to APH. He was a good player, that good that he was in the year below us but often played with my year. Hid dad Philip Hammond Senior has been a tireless campaigner for justice for those fans. It’s nice to see Calderstones school name their sports hall after Phil and I have had a bit of contact with his younger brother Graeme on Twitter and had the odd pint with him My thoughts are with him and his family and the other families today. What a shocking waste of a life and as I get older both as a person and a parent I can feel the pain that the families have suffered both of the tragedy and the 30 year fight for justice (Still ongoing with a potential retrial now) Sadly still many people need educating about the facts of Hillsborough and even though the inquest in Warrington provided the truth which some people still choose to ignore the families of the 96 are still waiting for justice.  Just remember don’t buy the sun.

As if by some cruel twist of fate 15/04/2006 came around and after battling cancer for the best part of 10 years my mum finally died after some time in a hospice. She was brave to the end and went through so much in those 10 years and I grab the positives that she seen me get married, and have our eldest Elizabeth. I can’t quite believe it is now 13 years since that day forever etched in my mind. It pains me that she never got to see Charlotte. Time does heal things a bit but certain dates stick out. I often think what she would have made of the kids growing up (So fast) and its heartbreaking that every body has missed out, the kids, me and my mum. Both my daughters have Lillian as a middle name after my mum so they will always remember nana. In 2012 we had another daughter born in early April called Holly who never got to see nana and also my mums mum is no longer here as well and Holly has her name Eillen (poor girl) as a middle name. Added to the misery is that my dad has now joined the great Fay/Roper party in the sky. Nobody prepares you for losing a parent and when the second one bites the dust it made me re-evaluate my life, a process which is still happening. No longer anybody to look up to and ask questions. All of a sudden you become technically an orphan. I had been giving Thatcher stick in an old blog but her daughter hit the nail on the head by saying “It is a deeply sad and rather thought-provoking landmark in life.” Talking about losing a second parent. Now I am leader of the pack with a massive hole in the family make up. An extra note for 2019. Post Hillsborough I never sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” This gets me some funny looks at the end of family party’s when the big group all belt it out and I am sat down with my pint. I have even been asked at the match “Are you an away fan” Well the answer is I only sing it when we win a major trophy. I last belted it out in Istanbul in 2015. Lets hope it gets another airing (or two) over the coming weeks.

Just a short blog today to remember my mum and those footy fans who went to see a match but never returned.

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

Fitness, Fatness and Divorce

So last weekend my social feeds were full of people doing The Manchester Marathon. A year ago I was taking part in what was an attempt at three marathons with London and Liverpool afterwards. I smashed Manchester in 4hrs 27 got around London in record heat for the event and had to just do the half in Liverpool due to illness the week before. I was the lightest I have been for years and in tip top condition. Fast forward one year and I was not doing any marathons and had a game of Just Dance with the kids and was sweating my fat moobs off. How the mighty have fallen or should that be expanded ?

Speaking of waistlines this week is one of my favourite sporting events and The Masters golf tournament. Fine memories of watching this event with my dad as a child and my elder sister coming in after Sunday night on the ale and bringing us some chips in for a late night Sunday feast. Anyway the winner of The Masters gets to choose what is on the menu at next years champions dinner. Last years champion was Patrick Reed. So what did he go for ? Apparently he had known what his masters meal would be from the age of 13. It was bone in rib-eye, mac and cheese, creamed spinach, creamed corn and Caeser salad. Not sure what I would have done if I was at the meal being a self proclaimed salad dodger. Who thinks of that scran age 13 ? Dessert was chocolate crunch and praline cheesecake. So when I win the Masters, well I do play golf on the Xbox 360 every week what would my Masters Club Dinner be in honour of the champion Neil George Fay

Starters

Chips

Main Meal

A Tesco finest quarter pounder with caramelised red onion (Who said I was fussy eh) with Chips

Sides

Sausage rolls from Porkie Pies in Garston Village and a selection of finest sausages from Cowmans sausage shop in Clitheroe (Do try both if you get the chance)

Desserts

Twix Cheesecake and a make your own McFlurry machine.

I can see you all praying I win the Masters tournament one year.

In other news the UK divorce laws are to change to end the blame game. In future I will sorry I mean people will only have to state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. No need for Mrs Fay to get a cob on if I want to watch the champions league in the living room as BT Sport is not on the Sky Multi room TV.  She can simply just go online now and file for a no fault divorce. She could even join the other 13 people who last chrimbo day filed for divorce.

In more divorce news this week The world’s richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and his wife MacKenzie have agreed a record-breaking divorce settlement of at least $35bn (£27bn). Closer to home Chris and Colin Weir, who scooped £161m on the EuroMillions in 2011, also confirmed in a statement they had been living apart “for some time”. The couple from Largs in Ayrshire, have been married for more than 30 years and have two grown-up children. I always say to Mrs Fay I don’t want to win the lottery as it would bring questions and doubts that you could never imagine. I would like somebody else to win it though and give me a fee bob. Give me health over wealth any day. How sad a 71 and 62 year old split up after the win of their dreams.

And finally I was having a lovely evening spring walk the other night in Sefton Park and was taking in the lovely ambience with a walk around the lake when some kids come running down the grass hill hurtling towards the lake. Luckily they stopped and avoided a dip in the lake but I overheard their mum saying “Stay away from that lake. Yer uncle Ian fell in there once and turned green for two weeks” ha ha ha.

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

The sun sets on Brexit day aka Friday

So at 11pm tonight that should have been that. What a week eh and my new favourite channel is The Parliament Channel. I have a story bout The Parliament Channel but I couldn’t possibly tell you on here but ask me if you ever see me !!

I dont think I have been watching too much Brexit stuff on the news but with Mrs Fay being out and also 2 out of my 3 sprogs and being on day 4 of yet another fitness campaign (No white bread or crisps so far) I was wavering on if I should have a bevy or not. Especially being off for a second Saturday on the run which is unheard of as I am such a money grabbing bastard. There was only one way to resolve the conundrum.

“The question is as is on the order paper”

“As many as there are who say Aye, on the contrary no”

“Division”

15 mins later after the votes were cast

“I can now announce the results of the shall Fay have a bevy motion

“Aye 631”

“No 3”

“The aye’s have it the aye’s have it, unlock”

And so it was time for a bevy and to watch Sky news try and make sense of the vote. The Breakdown of who voted “No” soon same through and for the record it was my liver, my waistline and The Member of Parliament for Islington North AKA Jeremy Corbyn because in this current shitstorm he seems to get blamed for everything anyway so might as well lump him in with the no voters.

The idea for the above was inspired by a tweet this week which went along the lines of “I haven’t been watching too much parliament channel but I have just told my children not to chunter from a sedentary position”

Anyway who knows whats happening. All back on Monday for more votes which no doubt will make the process non the clearer and I will have wasted another couple of hours glued to the news.

So having been for a 6.5 mile jog with Mrs Fay this morning we always like to finish a bit away from the house and have a warm down (walk) home and this time it was through the lovely Otterspool Park. On a bit of rusty old fence in front of us was a Robin. Mrs Fay said “Thats a sign of somebody you know” So I replied “It’s my mate John” There was an elongated reply of “No” and a look as if I was daft when the reply came ‘No somebody who is dead” Ahhh silly old me I should have known that. Must have been me ma.

Speaking of which I was walking the dogs before and bumped into a gang of fellow dog walkers I know. There was one lady who had the tell tale cap/bandana that signalled she was undergoing chemotherapy. My heart sank for her and I said hello to her. I had an instant flashback to my mum who sported such headwear on more occasions than I wish to remember. It’s 13 years since she died in a few weeks but its the random moments that still get you like a stake through the heart even after all that time.

So to finish on a positive note its the six music festival this weekend and I am going on the Saturday. Expect the standard blog of how everybody was great, I was pissed and got a chippy on the way home.

The sun now sets on Brexit day Friday (Well Sefton Park the other night)

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

In my replies today, a number of people have expressed their delight at Bercow saying the name "Bambos Charalambous", which of course prompts me to do the following, which probably won't last on here longer than 2 minutes but it's worth a crack. pic.twitter.com/Ew0cDY4yQ0

— Rhodri Marsden (@rhodri) March 28, 2019

 

Brexit Party Postponed

So March 29th 2019 and 11pm. I was tempted to hire a venue, preferably an old warehouse type gaff and have a Brexit party. But a Brexit party with a difference. Both Brexiteers and Remainers would be welcome but all mention of Brexit would be banned. My mate who is a DJ would be spinning some boss retro choons and we get off our tits again like it was the early 90’s. Then just before 11pm the decks would spin to a halt and the 11 chimes of big ben would play out and on the 11th bong the screens would show some kind of weird Brexit soundbites montage for 1 minute then Fuck Brexit would come up and be repeated over the sound system and then the room would erupt into a mass of smoke, lasers and confetti cannons and a killer choon would be dropped. People dressed as Corbyn, May, Blair, Thatcher, Cameron and Farage would parade around on stilts dancing to the choon that had been dropped.  Now the big question is what would the choon be. To be honest I could pick a different choon every time I think about this but I am going with the one below as it builds to a crescendo and I look around and there are happy faces everywhere oblivious to the chaos that is about to happen in the outside world and as this track stops the people on stilts vanish and Brexit will be marked in a never to be forgotten way and “Rok Da House” by Taul Paul would be played and everything would be perfect.

Well that was the plan before this weeks shenanigans and now its buy one get one free as we have two possible dates for the Brexit Party. Maybot couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery and now we cant even have a decent party. Indeed the party might be delayed for even longer and then might not happen at all which would call for a bigger party. What a week but I don’t think I have ever felt so robbed of time that to sit glued to the TV for Maybot’s speech on Wednesday night. Jesus Christ I think I would rather watch an episode of X-Factor than watch the Maybot. The next speech I want to see of hers is her resigning and then to re-enact the famous leaving of 10 Downing Street Thatcher style with tears in her eye. The tears are of course solely for her just like Thatcher’s but that makes it the more sweeter to watch. I have called from day one that Brexit wont happen and I will stick to that prediction. Whilst I have got the crystal ball out I predict the following will happen.

There will be an election soon which Labour will narrowly win or form a coalition.

Corbyn will only serve one five year fixed parliament.

There will be a credit crunch 2 (Not as bad as the first one)

Things will go tits up again and Labour will get the blame for that just like Credit Crunch 1 and we will be back to tory rule by 2024/25.

What a time to be alive eh !

In other financial news I had the pleasure of having a rare Saturday off work so this gave me a change to arrange a telephone mortgage interview as we are jigging our mortgage about. Some 2 hours 20 mins later it was all done and my head was frazzled despite the bank fella being a thoroughly nice chap and more importantly “The computer said yes” My head was that battered that I had to go down the shops to clear my head and had a can of Tizer for a sugar hit to get me back on track. I dont think I have had a can of Tizer since the late 80’s. I have come along way since then and after my first swig my reaction was this could be great with a double vodka. Told yer I had come a long way.

So Spring is upon us an positive vibes and love is all around, the sunshine is getting warmer, the nights are getting lighter, the clocks soon go forward, Glastonbury is under 100 days away and Liverpool are still in the hunt for the league title.

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

Momo (MuMu) Madness, crazy weather madness and router madness.

So it was a half day finish on Wednesday due to year end jobs and no work system until Monday. What with a week off last week the Self Employed, mingebag alert levels are at critical and I might have to set up a Just Giving page. Anyway with the temperature nudging nearly 18c I decided to go for a lovely stroll around South Liverpool. Weather wise I have deffo had BBQ’s in the summer in the gloom and temperatures around 13c as the British in me says “We shall not be defeated by the weather” So I took in Sefton Park, down Lark Lane doing well to avoid a pint. Still cant get my head around going into a pub on my own for a pint but when I do things can only get worse for me. A walk down past the lovely St Michaels area past Melly Road which always has an S in front of it and through the reopened Festival Gardens and along Otterspool back to ours. It was along the front I noticed I had never seen The River Mersey so calm and I also had a world record broken. Having just got of the phone from one of Norris McWhirter’s relatives I can confirm that a new world record for male scouser with his top off for the summer was broken. The exact date February 27th !! Just hope he had his factor 50 on though it was pleasant enough down on the waterfront and warm enough to spot all the gingers in the shade.

Its been a week of noting random moments. One such moment was when walking the dogs up Sudley Field a what can be described as a “Rotund” land whizzed past me and this old lady on an electric scooter and queue the statement “He needs to get off that and walk” I looked down at my own growing beer belly and thought “Fucking hell I haven’t even got a scooter” I do find that when ladies reach the age of 60 they just have no barriers and in the words of Roy Walker from Catchphrase say what they see. They are often quite rude and ill mannered though judging by the stats that a Tenor Lady advert was throwing at me this week I can see what they might have a cob on and a slight aroma of piss.

I lost several hours the other day as our new router arrived. I had haggled this for free as part of a deal to stay with Virgin internet and get a price decrease. I am currently playing cancel sky chicken and have 25 days service left. Who is gonna crack first sky customer services or me. I will keep you updated. Anyway how many things are connected to a router. Eventually I worked out I needed to phone virgin to activate the router (Never heard of such a thing before) and then spent hours putting the new wifi password into anything from TV’s, games consoles, phones and iPads, Televisions, Alexa’s and even plugs and lightbulbs. Remind me never to get a new router again.

Staying with the technology vibe the other night our 11 year old woke up just as I had got to sleep as she was worried about Momo. According to the false story circulating on social media, children are contacted on WhatsApp by an account claiming to be momo. They are supposedly encouraged to save the character as a contact and then asked to carry out challenges as well as being told not to tell other members of their family. Also Momo was hacking youtube videos. Our 11 year old switched her Alexa off and wouldn’t go on youtube. Despite our best parenting skills she was having non of it and was a worried soul for a day or two until today it was revealed all as a giant hoax which was sadly aided and abetted by the media who peddled some bullshit about Momo. On the plus side being a massive KLF fan I was able to call it MuMu and have been going around the house saying “MuMu” in a deep voice.

So having a rare Thursday beer before March madness kicks in and the aim is to drop a stone in a month as I have become a fat bastard again. Just two massive holes in my plan. First up I am meeting an old workmate for a big session on the ale on Saturday (Day 2 ha ha) and also the news this week that Ocado are teaming up with M&S to start M&S home food delivery. The only thing stopping me from spending the rest of my life on 1 litre bottles of Italian Rose (Great size 750ml never enough and once you crack a 2nd bottle open then you know how that ends) luxury crisps and mini Colin The Caterpillar cakes is that I have to make a physical effort to go down to Speke to buy them. Please let me get my March madness plan out of the way before you start this.

And finally I played footy with my nephew on Wednesday and despite being 45 and 17 stone something I still reckon I am better than him. He said I was deffo in the top two Fay’s on the pitch and he would give me that. Anyway we got beat and there is no “I” in team but I did score about 6 goals to his 0.

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

A Cultural Review Of Bratislava

So February half term and the traditional trip away and my 12th appearance and how time flies and another chance to bang out another of the little known classic, a cultural review of series with previous February episodes on the following links WROCLAW RIGA TALLINN KRAKOW WARSAW HAMBURG DOUGLAS STUTTGART BERLIN

Day 1 Tuesday

So the magnificent 13 assembled at The Rocket at the end of the M62 to get the coach to Manchester airport and head to this years winning venue Bratislava and with the traffic being OK we were soon ordering 12 pints and one cup of tea and the first round of fixtures commenced the 3rd annual soccer dice tournament. Onto the plane and the random seating didn’t work out too bad for us and I got boxed off with some extra legroom and all the seatbelts fitted us gang of lager louts and happy days. With a two hour flight and a quick transfer from the airport we were in the beautiful city of Bratislava and a very quick dive in and out of the Ibis hotel we were in a small cafe around the corner ordering 13 local beers and the cafe was that small she didn’t have 13 pint glasses ?? We ambled down towards the main “drag” taking in the sights and checking every nook and cranny as experience says you can find some boss and cheap bars off the beaten track. Walked past one place and wished I had my good Sony camera on me but I grabbed a picture anyway and “Boy with footy in Bratislava” can be seen below.

Who says its all booze, ripping yer mates and soccer dice eh ! But that was the sum of culture on day one. As we went from bar to bar playing a round of soccer dice until half the league was complete we had a round down some very ropey stairs in The Goblin Bar and asked if the match would be on later. The barman then spent 30 mins trying to get a dodgy feed for a match that was kicking off in over 90 mins time. We didn’t have the heart to tell him about the kick off time and left to get a boozer with “proper” TV. We eventually ended up in The Red Lion for the match and what a disappointment and due to the increasing number of beers consumed my memories of the match are a bit fuzzy. To pick things up post match I put my international darts championship on the line. I have played darts for many years and in many tournaments but never have I been second up and passed the set of darts but with one of the dart points still in the board. Not only that I was suffering bounce outs that caused sparks to fly on the floor !! I was just glad to get out alive and fight another day and a defeat with the score A.Fay 1 v 0 N.Fay. Not to be forgotten but I found some fancy dress and tapped one of the lads on the back and managed to scare the life out of him.

Somewhere in-between all this madness I ended up in McDonalds and suffered another defeat as it was plain hamburger 0 v 1 hamburger with all kinds of shite on. Memories fade even more but we ended up having a late and very expensive drink in an Irish Bar and fell in just after 2am and headed off to bed with a Pepsi Max and a Twix from the hotel bar. I was sharing a room with my 32 year old nephew who discovered (A) I am very hairy (Oh come on please do behave yourselves) and (B) I like to listen to a podcast getting asleep !

Not to forget another defeat on the cards as I was hanging around the bottom of the soccer dice league table on just 6 points after day one but as I drifted asleep listening to the podcast (BBC Friday night comedy for reference) I had a vision of Yazz singing “The only way is up”

Day 2 Wednesday

So I had a little nose at what was on offer for breakfast and as usual I ended up having hotdogs as it was the nearest thing I was going to get to a sausage and some bread for stodge. Another defeat was incoming as I normally rob a load of small Nutella’s to give to my three daughters but this place must have been tipped off about me and only had a giant jar with a spoon (bastards) A morning walk was next and sweating ale out we marvelled at the three different types of trams doing the rounds and decided the auld ones were best. After going for some more culture and walking up to see Bratislava castle I needed a lie down and asked some questions to the lads from Richard Herrings book “emergency questions”

So it was time to get back on the ale again including two beers in a small cafe/bar in a thoroughfare. Two things of note here. First up I needed a piss and asked one of the lads “where the bogs were?” “Downstairs” was the reply. As I walked down the stars I thought very nice decor  for a bog and walked along a small corridor not knowing where I was going and looked left at a small reception and two very attractive girls popped up and said “Can I help you?” “Where are the toilets?” I replied to which I was told “Upstairs” yeah yeah the lad had sent me downstairs into a Thai massage gaff !!! Second memory is that me and one of the other lads decided next year we were gong to create 100 emergency questions involving the other lads. Needless to say none of them will ever be printed on this blog as the first 10 we come up with were ruthless !!! It was then another first when going for a Geoff Hurst in the next pub and ice in the urinal ??

More bars and booze and another lovely day weather wise in Bratislava which we didn’t want as we love cold and snow when we go away on our February trips. Some of the lads had a scran in  a gaff called The Beer Palace and lovely it was. As for me I couldn’t be arsed having any food as  “eating is cheating” As the sun set on Bratislava for day 2 some of the lads went to dip their toes in the Danube. I just went the next pub the Jazz bar for the final games of the Soccer Dice league. Anyway after an amazing run by myself and nearly every other result going for me I ended up joint top and as it was clearly stated in Manchester Airport (Rule 4.1b ii) in the event of a tie a play off match will take place for excitement. I won the match and soccer dice was going home and last years winner presented me with the trophy.

So I went for another toilet break and lost the lads when I came out the pub. All 12 of them has vanished into thin air and thats a big trick the size of some of us. After a firing off a few texts I discovered they were next door but on the 7th floor in the Sky Bar as one of the lads had booked us a slot for a bevvy. Sadly the viewing platform was not open but I joined the two lads that smoked and in true scouse style we enjoyed the splendid nighttime view of Bratislava on a balmy February evening.

 

So across the road to Bar 17 and one of the lads bought himself a lovely ornament and eventually got the seller down from 30 euro’s to 5 and we left for the next pub The Hacienda which obviously you had to walk in through the door doing a Bez style dance and then once in there create a beer theft straw.

Fuzzy memories of two of the lads trying to play chess for predictably all the pieces just to be knocked over by somebody as they went to start but eventually they started the game and it lasted about 6 moves before check mate !!

The night was getting late and the ale was kicking in but yet another side street and another bar. As what seems to be a recent tradition we ended up in charge of the bars big screen and banging some choons on via youtube. As ever Madness and The Jam were big hits and at some time in the proceedings a what could be only described as a “Lady of the night came in” anyway after she sat on everybody knee only to be told where to go we put “Brass in your pocket” on to which which she was totally oblivious to the pun. Revenge was taken by the father in law as every trip we go on we normally stumble across a sex shop and my father in law jokingly poses for a picture of him going in but this time he got a picture of the lady of the night sitting on my knee !!!! So with that insurance there will be no way I can post the picture of him.

So with the “Brass Bar” then becoming the “Drugs bar” as a fella come in trying to sell gear we decided it was time to quickly vacate that particular establishment but not before scoring 13 bags for 200 euros and having the snapchat details of 11 other ladies though that only made 12 so not sure who was going to share ?? It was time to head to bed as we couldn’t be arsed with the late night hassle that was starting to appear and I headed up to the hotel room armed with a Pepsi Max and a Twix again but two of the lads made it to a Discotheque !

Day 3 Thursday

So with a late flight after the morning hot dog festival for breakfast I again walked up to the castle with even more ale sweating out of me as the weather was even nicer. We checked out and went to amble around the city when our Adam who I was sharing a room with said “Have you got your passport” to which I replied “No its with yours still stashed under the TV in the hotel room” a quick and panic laden dash back the hotel and the cleaner was cleaning the room and smiled at us as we raised the TV to reveal 2 passports and thinking what ever is Bratislavan for “Yer pair of bell ends” On the way back home to the hotel my phone went and I got “where are you” we were by the hotel “Look at the tower” and in the very far distance two lads were jumping up and down waving their arms.

We got to the airport and security was closed it was that quiet but finally got through and both present etc and one last Slovakian piss and another slice of temptation as I was presented with a glory hole. I glanced down at my wedding ring and left it behind.

So onto the plane and no such luck in the legroom stakes and other lads from our group had the luxury though due to what can only be described as a seatbelt malfunction one of the lads had to give up his VIP seat in row 1 to much amusement of the others. As for me, our James (20) had a row to himself so he had to put up with Uncle Knobhead rambling on for two hours. His dad was in the row in front and helping a woman out with her baby and he was doing a very good job until it come to breastfeeding time as the bottle prepared wasn’t working and it was all eyes the opposite way.

So that was that another excellent trip and I look forward to next years a cultural review destination being announced and a nice escape from reality with not one mention of Brexit or Luciana Berger’s new gang. Bratislava was great 100 euros kitty got us two hardcore days on the ale and airport transfers.

As for soccer dice it came home, the name is on the trophy (We need a plinth) and the only way is down !!

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

A big up for the organiser I know what its like to box things off and make things run smoothly. The punishment for coming last in the soccer dice league was you have to organise next year. Our Adam might be able to sort a return train to Blackpool.

The 31st annual Faymondo Music Awards

 

 

So welcome to the 31st annual Faymondo music awards. Very hard to follow last years 30th big bash which you can read all about HERE Tonight we will be giving out numerous awards which started when I was just 14 years old. Here I am 31 years later still churning out the shite and will now do so until the day I die thought I now nominate my nephew James Fay to carry on the tradition when I go to the big jukebox in the sky. As ever each year thanks to technology and my new habit of having a bevvy on a Sunday evening and ordering vinyl to blast the Monday morning blues away I have listened to more music this year and most probably attended more gigs than ever even with a massive Glastonbury shaped hole in the summer. Weirdly though no female artist has been on my playlist on a regular basis ??

So we gather in The Tipsy Cow a new bar/bistro on Aigburth Road near Aigburth Vale and having spent over the official budget last year I only had £4.27 left so I have managed to get hold of Pete Price to compare but don’t tell him I told him it was a celebrity funeral just to make sure he turns up.

So below are the albums I have been listening most to in 2018.

Shape The Future	Nightmares On Wax
Confident Music For Confident People	Confidence Man
Marble Skies	Django Django
Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose	Plan B
Mount Pleasant	Smoove & Turrell
The Art Of Pretending to Swim	Villagers
Frequency	Tea Street Band
Black Velvet	Charles Bradley
No Tourists	The Prodigy
Actualisation	The Lucid Dream
Monsters Exists	Orbital
Can U Cook	Seasick Steve
Jassbusters	Conan Mockasin
The Difference Between Me And You	Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
It’s About Time	Chic
Egypt Station	Paul McCartney
Stop Lying	Raf Rundell
Merrie Land	The Good The Band and The Queen
Superorganism	Superorganism

So first up is best newcomer and on stage to present the award is the only remaining Chuckle Brother on the planet Barry or is it Paul ? Anyway the award goes to Confidence Man

Next up is best female and in a first in the 31 years of the famous awards the winner didnt actually release an album but a load of single tracks. Modern music eh and here to present the award is the only UK female to have three top ten singles in the U S of A its Samantha Fox. The winner is Roisin Murphy for her second best female award.

Just a heads up that half the Ikea meatballs and most of the jarg Aldi Pringles have gone but still loads of cans of Carling and plenty of sausage rolls and Desperados in the VIP section. So next up is best male and here to present the award and to send rumours going wild as he is back in Liverpool its Sam Allardyce and the winner is Paul McCartney. Sad to say Paul cant make it to Liverpool tonight but instead has sent a pair of giant fancy dress foam thumbs up.

So two awards to go and things grow in size with a runners up section in the next two categories. Here to present the award for best group is he a yankee no he’s a Londoner its The Rebel MC. Bloody tough one this and runner up are Liverpool finest The Tea Street Band

 

And onto the winners its only Confidence Man once again

 

So just one award left. Pete Price is still waiting for the coffin so we better be quick and its onto the prestigious Faymondo Music Awards album of the year. The selected attendees are now suitably pissed though those sayers sausage rolls are giving many people heartburn so I have just seen a fella splitting tablets in half and I assume they are Gaviscon and not Gary Ablett’s ? Will find out at the afterparty which incidentally is outdoor down by the old Otterspool Cafe an old haunt of mine from early 1990. Here to present the big award after Mick Jones from The Clash turned up last year and the last £4.27 going on Pete Price to compare its only Nigel Farage. “Anything to say Nigel, no just give the two gongs out and fuck off” So the runner up in the best album category is “Shape The Future” Nightmares On Wax

And the winner of the top gong and the 31st recipient of best album is “Confident Music For Confident People” and a treble for Confidence Man

 

Many thanks for turning up to this memorable occasion and I look forward to seeing you all in February 2020 for the 32nd annual Faymondo Music Awards. Feel free to take any Carling home with you and I look forward to seeing you all down Otterspool for the later party were there will be unlimited Merrydown Cider and if anybody can beat my record of necking a bottle in two swigs feel free to go for it. Congratulations to all the winners. Big thanks to all the people who turned up to present an award and if Mr Price could take his wreath to the front of the bar and escort Mr Farage into the waiting taxi and do one.

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x

For reference here is the hall of fame (Dont laugh I was young (ish) at the time for a few selections)

	BEST ALBUM WINNER	BEST ALBUM RUNNER UP
1988	Raintown-DEACON BLUE	The christians-THE CHRISTIANS
1989	When the world knows your name-DEACON BLUE	Checkmate-ROGER CHRISTIAN
1990	Colour-THE CHRISTIANS	In the blood-LONDONBEAT
1991	Fellow hoodlems-DEACON BLUE	Seal-SEAL
1992	Happy in hell-THE CHRISTIANS	Volume 3 just right-SOUL II SOUL
1993	Whatever you say,say nothing-DEACON BLUE	Happy in hell-THE CHRISTIANS
1994	Our town-DEACON BLUE	Very-PET SHOP BOYS
1995	Tuesday night music club-SHERYL CROW	Seal (2) – SEAL
1996	Sheryl crow-SHERYL CROW	Whats the story morning glory-OASIS
1997	Time for change-SOUL II SOUL	Your cool mystery-GARRY CHRISTIAN
1998	The globe sessions-SHERYL CROW	5-LENNY KRAVITZ
1999	On how life is-MACY GRAY	Beacoup fish-UNDERWORLD
2000	Sunset over london-JOOLS HOLLAND R/B’S ORCHESTRA	The marshall mathers lp-EMINEM
2001	Homesick- DEACON BLUE	Loco-FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS
2002	The Eminem Show-EMINEM	Roland Gift-ROLAND GIFT
2003	Don’t give up on me-SOLOMON BURKE	Prodigal Sons-THE CHRISTIANS
2004	How does it feel-GARRY CHRISTIAN	Feels like Home-NORAH JONES
2005	Wildflower-SHERYL CROW	Make do with what you got-SOLOMON BURKE
2006	Fundamental-PET SHOP BOYS	Nashville-SOLOMON BURKE
2007	Dog House Music-SEASICK STEVE	Overtones-JUST JACK
2008	Chronicles Of A Modern Life-HENRY PRIESTMAN	I Started Out With Nothing And Still Got Most Of It Left-SEASICK STEVE
2009	Yes – PET SHOP BOYS	All Night Cinema – JUST JACK
2010	Bittersweet Batch- JESSE DEE	Tell Em What Your Name Is- BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS
2011	Build A Rocket Boys-ELBOW	London Afrobeat Collective – LAC
2012	Ill Manors -PLAN B	The Lumineers -THE LUMINEERS
2013	Electric – Pet Shop Boys	Random Access Memories –Daft Punk
2014	Tea Street Band – TEA STREET BAND	The Last Mad Surge Of Youth – HENRY PRIESTMAN
2015	Darling Arithmetic – VILLAGERS	Favourite Worry – THE MILK
2016	Summer 08 – METRONOMY	Cleopatra – THE LUMINEERS
2017	432-1 : Open The Vein – NASHER	Automaton – JAMIROQUAI
2018	Confident Music For Confident People – CONFIDENCE MAN	“Shape The Future” NIGHTMARES ON WAX
	BEST GROUP WINNER	BEST GROUP RUNNER UP
1988	THE CHRISTIANS	DEACON BLUE
1989	FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS	DEACON BLUE
1990	THE CHRISTIANS	LONDONBEAT
1991	BLACK	DEACON BLUE
1992	SOUL II SOUL	EN VOGUE
1993	THE CHRISTIANS	DEACON BLUE
1994	DEACON BLUE	PET SHOP BOYS
1995	SOUL II SOUL	M PEOPLE
1996	OASIS	PET SHOP BOYS
1997	SOUL II SOUL	JAMIROQUAI
1998	FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS	OASIS
1999	JAMIROQUAI	UNDERWORLD
2000	JOOLS HOLLAND & RHYTHM/BLUES ORCHESTRA	THE CHRISTIANS
2001	DEACON BLUE	DAFT PUNK
2002	OASIS	UNDERWORLD
2003	THE CHRISTIANS	FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS
2004	JOOLS HOLLAND & RHYTHM/BLUES ORCHESTRA	THE PRODIGY
2005	JAMIROQUAI	FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS
2006	PET SHOP BOYS	TRANSIT KINGS
2007	PINK MARTINI	THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
2008	OASIS	JEGSY DODD AND THE ORIGINAL SINNERS
2009	PET SHOP BOYS	MCINTOSH ROSS
2010	MASSIVE ATTACK	FAITHLESS
2011	ELBOW	LONDON AFROBEAT COLLECTIVE
2012	DEACON BLUE	DJANGO DJANGO
2013	DAFT PUNK	PET SHOP BOYS
2014	TEA STREET BAND	METRONOMY
2015	VILLAGERS	PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING
2016	METRONOMY	PET SHOP BOYS
2017	JAMIROQUAI	PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING
2018	CONFIDECNE MAN	TEA STREET BAND
	BEST MALE	BEST FEMALE
1988	MICHEAL JACKSON	YAZZ
1989	ROGER CHRISTIAN	MADONNA
1990	ROGER CHRISTIAN	N/A
1991	SEAL	MADONNA
1992	MICHEAL JACKSON	MADONNA
1993	TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY	MADONNA
1994	TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY	N/A
1995	SEAL	SHERYL CROW
1996	RICKY ROSS	SHERYL CROW
1997	GARRY CHRISTIAN	SHERYL CROW
1998	LENNY KRAVITZ	SHERYL CROW
1999	JOSE PADILLA	MACY GRAY
2000	EMINEM	MADONNA
2001	N/A	MACY GRAY
2002	EMINEM	SHERYL CROW
2003	SOLOMON BURKE	NORAH JONES
2004	GARRY CHRISTIAN	NORAH JONES
2005	SOLOMON BURKE	SHERYL CROW
2006	SOLOMON BURKE	N/A
2007	SEASICK STEVE	NORAH JONES
2008	HENRY PRIESTMAN	SHERYL CROW
2009	JUST JACK	IMELDA MAY
2010	SOLOMON BURKE	SHERYL CROW
2011	NOEL GALLAGHER & HIGH FLYING BIRDS	BEVERLEY KNIGHT
2012	BILL FAY	NORAH JONES
2013	CHARLES BRADLEY	N/A
2014	HENRY PRIESTMAN	IMELDA MAY
2015	NOEL GALLAGHER & HIGH FLYING BIRDS	ROSIN MURPHY
2016	DAVID BOWIE	NORAH JONES
2017	NASHER	SHERYL CROW
2018	PAUL MCCARTNEY	ROISIN MURPHY
	BEST NEWCOMER TO ME
1988	DEACON BLUE
1989	SOUL II SOUL
1990	LONDONBEAT
1991	THE FARM
1992	EN VOUGE
1993	STEREO MC’S
1994	THE GRID
1995	SHERYL CROW
1996	RICKY ROSS
1997	FINLAY QUAYE
1998	KAREN RAMIREZ
1999	JOSE PADILLA
2000	EMINEM
2001	XXXXXXXXXXXXX
2002	ROLAND GIFT
2003	SOLOMON BURKE (NEW TO ME)
2004	DR JOHN (NEW TO ME)
2005	JOHN LEGEND
2006	JEGSY DODD
2007	SEASICK STEVE
2008	ROISIN MURPHY
2009	IMELDA MAY
2010	JESSE DEE
2011	LONDON AFROBEAT COLLECTIVE
2012	THE DESTROYERS
2013	VILLAGERS
2014	TEA STREET BAND
2015	THE MILK
2016	SMOOTH & TURRELL
2017	HENRY PRIESTMAN & LES GLOVER
2018	CONFIDENCE MAN

Fell in after 4am. Whats that all about ?

So Thursday night and some time ago I bought tickets to see Nightmares On Wax. Having missed them last year in Liverpool I wasn’t going to miss out again. Three tickets booked and sorted. Twas only a couple days later I realised it wasn’t a gig but a DJ set to plug their/his latest compilation as part of the “All Back To Mine” Ahh well lets do this anyway. Next shock was that doors were 10pm and a finish of 4am. This meant we didnt head out until 9pm and I will be quite honest at 9pm on a Thursday I an normally heading to bed to avoid Question Time and one final push for the last 7am start in work. So me and my mate Alan headed out and got the 9pm train down to Brunswick station and headed for a few pre gig pints in The Coburg. My nephew James met us in there as he has been working and rocked up for a free ticket off Uncle Knobhead as I am affectionally known as ! He is only 20 so I am investing in the future as I never charge him for any tickets I get him but hope he remembers when I am an auld man the investment I made in him ha ha mines a pint and a pack of salt and vinegar crisps la. With me being 45 I was around the average age as my mate Alan is 61 going on 20. We popped into Constellations for a quick one en route as you never want to get to the club too early and we eventually rocked up at 24 Kitchen Street just after 11.

Only ever been in the venue once and that was when it was part of The Threshold Festival. We noted then that it would be a boss little venue for a club style night but that night we watched a Norwegian band called Kalandra perform. Well little did me and Alan know some 5 years later we would be testing the venues clubability (Is that even a word ? ) Anyway I first stumbled across Nightmares On Wax way back in 1990 (Best year of my life) with their track “Aftermath”

I next stumbled or should I say slouched post club over them with their track “Nights Interlude” which was on Cafe Del Mar Volumen Tres. My god how many times have I drifted off into another world listening to this track. Just listening to this again sends me into a 1990’s bliss picking up on every little instrument and thing laid down on the track. Happy days man.

Finally I bought last years album “Shape The Future” on vinyl and even got Alan it for his 60th birthday. Its on the list for my album of the year (2018) but more of that in a few weeks time as the winners of my music awards get announced (31st edition !!!! )

We got to the venue at around 11pm and on entry got a full search but Alan avoided it because with him being a retired teacher some people on the door were ex pupils. Alan taught in a rough school (Shorefields in Liverpool 8) but always gets recognition when he meets ex pupils as he was a great teacher and got the best he could for the kids in a very difficult situation as did many of his colleagues who I will be going away with on the ale soon to Bratislava for another blog of the infamous “A Cultural Review of…..” Anyway due to Alan’s “fame” we got a round of drinks of the bouncers and three Red Stripe It was. So Nightmares On Wax AKA DJ E.A.S.E or real name George Evelyn came on around 11:30 ish. To cut a long story short he had us in the palm of his hands for three hours with perfectly timed peaks and troughs in his set. It was busy early doors with only the hardcore, yes us 3 included lasted the distance. One mad thing I did  notice is how impolite some people were just barging past. Back in my day (Here we go) we would day “Excuse me mate/luv and dance our way through” Some people now just barge through with their drinks. I got the youths view on this from my 20 year old nephew and he said it tended to be students from out of town and I did notice it tended to be females more than males. But anyway a few ill mannered people were not going to ruin this night. It was a great night. Great to show my nephew that uncle knobhead still has it and has done it all and also to give Alan a glimpse into my dim and distant past. There is no way I will be 24 Kitchen Street when I am 61. I will be in some boozer looking for some Nightmares On Wax on the super virtual jukebox implanted in my mind via the new iPhone 26 chip thats been implanted there !

So we fell out the gaff just before 4am and I got dropped off on the main road by ours and swayed up the hill and a nice glass of milk to demolish some munchies (*munchies would occur about three days after a night out in the 90’s !! ) Due to the late nature of the event I had booked a rare day off work being self employed. I thought I would be feeing delicate but normally I wake around 8am through force of habit now. Shock horror the first time I looked at my bedside clock beaming onto the ceiling it was 11:45. Wow lie in and a half.

On the plus side I had come home with nearly 15,000 steps on my Garmin watch (Yes sir I can Boogie) on the down side I wasn’t that hung over but just totally knackered. So that was that. Praying that Nightmares On Wax turn up in some kind of form at Glastonbury and me Alan and James can relive the boss night we had. I will eventually get around to buying the new vinyl compilation but need to reign in my vinyl addiction a bit. Below is the coolest uncle in Aigburth AKA Uncle Knobhead !!

 

Peace

Fay x x x x x x x x x x