As I got home from my run round the village this morning, it started to drizzle. Just think, had I given in to my propensity to snooze my alarm a couple more times the drizzle, which quickly turned to steady rain, would have got me quite wet. And lately I have given in to that propensity far too often. Bed is far more comfortable and sleep is easier to fall into when it’s time to get up. Not that as a rule I have a pressing need to get up early but there is something in my nature that feels that you get more done and the day is more productive if you make an early start. Maybe it’s my Methodist upbringing!
Oddly enough, Granddaughter Number Two, the 23-year-old student, seems to feel the same way. I was astounded when I shared a bedroom with her on a visit to the Southern branch of the family to discover that she regularly sets her alarm for 7.00 or earlier. This is fine on the days when she works, usually from home, or when she gets on the train to York where she has university classes two days a week. But she also does it on her ‘days off’, even if it only means that she goes to get a cup of coffee and then heads back to bed with a book.
Another of Granddaughter Number Two’s little quirks is her dislike of hot weather, or even fairly warm weather for that matter. The crisp, sunny but still chilly days we have had recently have filled her with delight. It means she can get out her big jumpers and warm boots. She is less enthusiastic about the damp days like today. Anyway, here is a link to an article where Emma Beddington expresses much the same sentiments.
I can’t say I am a football fan. The most excited I have ever got about it was when Spain won the European Cup in 2010. We watched it on television in the flat we were renting in Vigo. Every time Spain got near to scoring a goal the entire block of flats erupted into cheers and then groans. When they finally scored the winning goal the explosion of noise was amazing and, what is more, it moved outside. Looking out of the window we could see Spanish fans cheering while running victory laps round the gardens of the flats and then leaping into the swimming pool. Crazy football fans!
Anyway, I usually sit through Match of the Day on Saturday and Sunday evenings, reading or doing a sudoku puzzle as Phil comments on the game on the small screen. Last night Manchester City played Liverpool and were booed as they went onto the Anfield stadium pitch. I’ve never sen that before. I don’t know the details of City’s transgressions against football but feelings are running high.
Photos in today’s papers show City fans waving bananas.
Why? Well, I investigated snd found that “it originated from a bet between Manchester City fan Frank Newton and his friend Allen Busby. During a visit to Busby’s house, Newton spotted an inflatable banana and asked if he could “borrow” it. Allen replied: “Only if you take it to a City match.” The reply came: “That was exactly what I intended to do anyway,” so the deal was sealed. He recalled some amusement amongst the supporters around him at City’s match against Plymouth. “Being the type of person I am, if I start doing something, I’ll continue doing it,” Newton told me, “and it took on a life of its own after that.”
Another friend – Mike Clare – penned a face on the banana, adding a bobble hat and a City shirt for good measure. Then came the incident that made the whole fad literally go viral. With City fans chanting for the introduction of substitute striker Imre Varadi, Newton hoisted his banana aloft. The chant changed from “Imre Varadi” to “Imre Banana”. “The whole thing was totally spontaneous,” Newton said. “I never originally brought the inflatable along in homage to Imre, contrary to what’s often been written.” Soon, there were bunches of inflatables proliferating across Maine Road and at their away matches.”
There you go.
Life goes (strangely) on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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