TTIWAO : a post-lockdown post-script

[TheOstrich]

Who on Earth buys a chipboard and mayo sarnie for £1.60 and thinks it's a bargain (never liked tuna)?

Me, when the Ginsters pasties on sale are priced at £2.10 ..... as a Good Yorkshireman, I thought you'd approve of that!

This particular fiddly shop was also selling, of all things, plastic tubs of candy-floss I can't recall seeing anything like that before - I was very, very tempted but ......

[Kaz]

[miasmum]

Cricket St Thomas. I’m sure we took Luke there years ago to a Mr Blobby theme park

[TheOstrich]

Cricket St Thomas. I’m sure we took Luke there years ago to a Mr Blobby theme park

Between Crewkerne and Chard, MM - we often used to take Master O there. Originally it was the setting for "To The Manor Born" and then it became a mini-theme park, with a heavy horse centre and a miniature railway amongst other things. Yes, I remember Noel Edmond's Mr Blobby was there as well. That's all gone now, it's part of Warners and I think it's an exclusively adults-only venue ....

https://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/h ... omas-hotel

[TheOstrich]

I very nearly didn’t bother with a game today, given the blustery, damp weather and there being nothing of particular interest in the immediate area. Ossie is also recovering from his first haircut of 2021, and is rather embarrassed by now obviously emerging bald spot on top . Quotations are being sought for a fevvur transplant . However, I eventually decided on a return trip to Heytesbury Park for another fixture in their series of friendlies, this time against fellow Trowbridge & District Division 1 rivals Freshford United, who proved much stiffer opposition than last fortnight’s visitors .

A gentle pootle north took me over Whitesheet Hill and through The Deverills, where signs were up for the Wylye Valley Art Trail. This is a week-long bi-annual event promoting local arts and crafts at around 50 separate venues in South Wiltshire, but I was surprised to see that it had gone ahead this year given the Covid restrictions ; normally Mrs O and I would try to visit at least some of the venues (to give the Bird some culture ), but we hadn’t even contemplated it this year:
https://wvat.co.uk/deverill-valley-art-group/

At the Longbridge Deverill end of the road there’s a rather nice pub, The George, which Mrs O and I have been known to frequent. A fortnight ago, in balmy sunny weather, the place was humming ; the extensive beer garden down to the river had at least 40 tables with umbrellas and all seemed happily occupied. Today, in the drizzle – not a single patron . I suspect the pub kitchens must have been completely closed.

Heytesbury started the game with a floated 20 yard effort which the Freshford keeper decided to leave, only to find it coming back at him off the crossbar , necessitating a scrambled clearance. On 4m, however, Heytesbury conceded a silly goal when their keeper and a number of defenders got into a complete tiswas in the area and allowed Freshford’s no.9 to roll the ball home.

Freshford quickly realised that their best ploy was straight down the middle, and could have added another two goals in short order, but both finishes went narrowly wide. Heytesbury were looking very vulnerable at the back, and there was a certain amount of, shall we say, tension amongst the defenders , but credit to them, they made a huge effort to get things together, settled down, and by the half-hour mark was taking the game to Freshford, thanks to a pair of very skilful and tricky wingers. They equalised on 38m when no.14 managed to force the ball into the net after the away keeper could only parry a shot, and were in front just before the interval when the same player beat a defender to the ball and scored from 15 yards, the opposition keeper having been left stranded.

At half-time, I had a wander outside the ground to take a look at the Hospital of St. John, which is more or less opposite. The endowment, by the Barons Hungerford, dates from the 15th century and today it’s a substantial complex of almshouses and sheltered accommodation.
https://st-johns-hospital.org/

Straight after half-time, Freshford equalised, a long run by their no.11 and a 1 on 1 finish with the goalkeeper. At 2-2, it was difficult to forecast which way this game was going to go, but it all suddenly fell apart for Heytesbury around the hour mark. Firstly, one of their two wide players had to be replaced after a bad bout of cramp, which considerably reduced their threat, then on 71m the Heytesbury keeper punched a corner into his own net. Shortly after that, an Heytesbury player went down spectacularly in the away penalty area, but the referee was having none of it , and Freshford promptly made it 2-4 with an acute-angled shot that may have been helped over the line. Going from bad to worse, a Heytesbury player was then dismissed for a last-man challenge.

Late in the day, Heytesbury made it 3-4 via a simple 5 yard finish from their no.9 after no.14 had done all the hard work and laid the ball off to him, and the referee sensibly blew the final whistle on 89m after two players had accidentally clashed heads in midfield. That concluded a thoroughly entertaining game in pretty poor conditions; back home in 40 minutes for a very welcome mug of tea.

08/05/21 - Friendly (both Step 8 clubs)
Heytesbury 3 Freshford United 4
Neither admission charge or paperwork.
Pitchside refreshments available from the “hospitality hut” – tea, coffee, biscuits, cakes for a donation. Giving £2, I purchased two Mystery Objects enclosed in plain purple wrappers, correctly guessing they were mini chocolate Swiss rolls …..
Attendance 22, including 8 under 10’s and excluding 2 lively canines. One took huge exception to the opposition goalkeeper, the other took huge exception to the Ostrich …..

[cromwell]

I hope the canine animosity was repulsed, Os?
Longbridge Deverill - I just love the village names you get down there. Sixpenny Handley is one of my favourites.
That does sound like a good match, too.

[Workingman]

Neither admission charge nor paperwork.

Don't you Ostriches do Ingerlish?

Sounds like a decent match - plenty of goals. It also sounds like the local YMCA teams are back in training though there are no matches posted on the match boards. And even though the nets are up there is not much action on the cricket front, but that might be down to the weather.

[TheOstrich]

Don't you Ostriches do Ingerlish?

'Fraid not, Ossie only does Österreich ...

And indeed, a decent match.

No cricket obviously yesterday but a fortnight ago, when it was ideal weather, I was hoping Heytesbury CC might have been playing at home but they weren't. I did go look at the pitch, however, and it had been fully prepared for the game to resume; square and outfield immaculate.

I hope the canine animosity was repulsed, Os?

Thankfully on a short lease, Crommers. Small and nippy, a bit like Ms Sturgeon .....

[JoM]

Fingers crossed I’ll be able to give a premier league perspective to post-lockdown football next week, me and Joe got tickets in the ballot for the last home game on Tuesday.
Not sure of the details yet but the T&Cs when applying said that you’re given a time slot in which to arrive and the confirmation email said that more detailed information will be sent shortly.

It’ll be....interesting, and strange to be back after so long.

[TheOstrich]

Excellent, Jo

You might even beat Fulham!!

Don't forget to report back on the Refreshments .....