An important birthday for our resident Ostrich?

[Kaz]

Happy Birthday Ossie

[Diflower]

Oh Happy Birthday Ossie!

[Weka]

Happy Birthday Ossie!

[TheOstrich]

LOL, thank you all very much for your kind wishes!

Yes, today was a (rather lengthy) train trip to Wellingborough, Northants, to watch AFC Rushden & Diamonds play Petersfield Town. Both sides were promoted into the Southern League Division 1 Central this season, so two new teams for me, and the rather prosaically-named Dog and Duck Stadium was a new venue for me as well. An excellent crowd for that level of soccer - 530 - and a reasonably absorbing 1-1 draw.

I don't really follow any particular team; I'm one of a strange fraternity known as "non-league groundhoppers" who tend to travel to fairly obscure places to watch as many different teams as possible! My biggest problem today was having to "yomp" the 1.1 miles from the station to the ground and back again, especially as I needed to catch the 17:17 north-bound train home from Wellingborough - it's only an hourly service. Google Maps says you can walk it in 21 minutes, well, on a pretty warm day, I recorded 24 minutes outwards and 23 minutes for the return - not bad for this ancient, flightless old bird .....

Do not feel guilty about treating yourself to a half-time pie.

It was a bacon & egg bap for £2.50. Then on the return journey, East Midlands Trains rushed me £2.30 for 3/4 of a cup of coffee!

[Workingman]

It was a bacon & egg bap for £2.50. Then on the return journey, East Midlands Trains rushed me £2.30 for 3/4 of a cup of coffee!

Bargain! I was at my sister's 30th wedding anniversary this evening and it cost £3.50 for a tonic with a slice of lime.

Anyway, pensioner's prices for you from now on.

[Workingman]

Delete.

[Rodo]

Oh of course, he is one of the elite fraternity now isn't he. That hadn't registered before.

[Cal]

Belated birthday greetings Ossie. X

[Lozzles]

Belated birthday greetings from me too! xxx

[TheOstrich]

Thank you both!

LOL, Rodo, at least I'll no longer be having a stand-up argument at the turnstiles whether it's 60 or 65 for senior concessions .... no two clubs ever agree! At Moseley RUFC (their policy is 65) a few months back, I declared I was 64 and 3/4 and they laughed and nodded me in for being honest. But at another ground (a local soccer club I shaln't name) who say it's 60 for females and 65 for males, I tried to evoke the Equalities Act and the stewards all but threw me out and banned me from entry!!