Sitting in the cold sun at St James’s Park

Yesterday the “lads” played Brentford.

It was a bright, brilliant afternoon.

Players had to shield their eyes from the sharp setting sun.

Fans in the Big Bank couldn’t see much either (see pic below)

The sun was as sharp as it was cold. Oddly, all the players were in short sleeves – except for one: the enigma that is Ryan Harley.

He seems to be the player the Exeter crowd love to hate. Probably cus he appears so lethargic, as if he isn’t trying hard enough. In contrast to Manny Panther (also in pic) who runs all over the place like a nonstop dynamo. The crowd like his “get stuck in” attitude.

It felt like Brentford were creating too many chances, and that eventually they must score – and they did, thro a disputed penalty (all penalties are disputed come to think of it) Then they scored again. 2-0, job done. Fair enough.

I’ve seen Exeter 4 times this season; they lost twice, drew a drab draw, and one fortuitious win with a last-gasp winner from Deano (who wasn’t playing today) I don’t get how they can be so high up in the table – i don’t see any evidence that they’re a promotion chasing team. Look very average to me.

Anyway. I always seem to enjoy going – win, lose, or draw.

The Big Bank were doing alot of chanting and clapping: “We’re the red and white army, we’re the red and white army” sung over and over again. The colder it got the more they chanted “We’re the red and white army”, the louder they clapped “We’re the red and white army”.

I think they were trying to combust themselves into a fire.

It was all about that sun today. And how cold it was. Sitting there with 6,700 other people freezing your bollocks off. And Xmas over with (thank god)

Sometimes, the result, even the football itself, seems kind of irrelevant.

Shimmery wintery sea

I love going by train somewhere, anywhere.

Especially when you look out of the window and see this

Past Teignmouth and going towards Exeter we were.

That cold sun stroking the waves in.

Wintery sea shimmering right up against the window.

Xmas Day

Lunchtime on Xmas day in Bucklefatknee.

You could have laid down on that High Street and gone to sleep – not a car, not a soul, not a sign of life in sight.

Everybody doing their Xmas business inside. A thousand and one turkeys nicely roasting in their tins. A million and one sprouts being bubbled and boiled. Endless boxes of crackers opened, primped and propped. The uncorking of many bottles of merriment.

I thought being alone was going to be ok.

But suddenly i felt lonely.

The Sea Wall

Walking down the wall to the  sea. Walking up the wall  from the sea.

With my Tesco bag of shopping.

The sea rolling its wild white horses in.

Warm myself up with a nice cup of tea when i get back home.

I’m thinking this woman could be thinking. Seen sat from the comfort of the train window.

Red Rock Cafe

A rubbish photo i know. I’ve tried on numerous occasions to get a pic of this cafe – but the train is often speeding by. (Yes, it’s from the train up to Exeter i took this)

Right next to the sea it is. I love the idea of going for a frisky walk along the beach and then plopping down at the Red Rock Cafe for a sugary cup of tea (and a tunnocks tea cake. yum)

Just like these people are doing right now. Had exactly the same idea as me.

I’m gonna have to go one day.

One solitary duck

The light was fading fast (hence the picture quality isn’t great)

Gone for a walk in Hembury Woods. This solitary duck floated by on the river (Dart), heading towards rapid breakwater.

Impulsively, i wanted to follow his headlong glide into the surging torrent. He seemed so small and vulnerable.

I ran along the bank. He’d disappeared. Gone under. Swept away.

Then he re-appeared. He was ok. Been ducking and diving for fish (could a duck that small take a big brown trout i wondered)

Only stayed in there for 10 minutes then returned. Exhausted.

“So much depends

on one single duck

floating, fishing,

fishing, floating

this dark afternoon.

So brave,

so alone

- and so at ease“.

(with my William Carlos Williams hat on)

Real Xmas tree

This is the real Xmas tree in Buckie

Better than that pathetic effort stood lop-sided on the street-corner next to the car park.

At least this one stands straight and tall.

Gives some dignity.

Buck-naff-tree

This young buck wasn’t running fast enough

His head is now stuck ontop of the town’s tree.

Which has to be in the running for: UK’s naffest Xmas Tree Award.

I wrote about how shockingly bad it was last year (comparing it to a street-corner hooker if i remember)

Nothing has changed. Except the daft head ontop.

I can’t bring myself to post a pic of the whole tree in all it’s gaudy inglory -  too pathetic.

I think somebody in this town has a velly shilly shensch of humour.

(and propping up the bar in the White Hart right now, wearing a daft hat)

Meerkat Moment

Finished work at 2.45 so nip into Paignton Zoo.

The afternoon sun was bright and brilliant (as it’s been all this month: cold, clear sunny days, followed by icy nights and frosty mornings)

About an hour of light to take pics in. So i took 185 (Lol) I’ve deleted most of them, only 9 remain.

When taking pics i do alot of point-and-click, allowing for “happy accidents”; but during editing I’m more discriminating (ruthless in fact)

So what’s the Pic of the Day?

These meerkats. A bit anxious (about me) – but holding the sun in their fur.

Catching that Golden Glow i was loving.

Intend to visit the Zoo at least once a week. Can feel interest rising, my curiosity beginning to prick. Might have to start a separate blog.

A proper winter

This is what i’m waking up to in the last few mornings.

A rooftop skating rink for birds.

As seen from the kitchen window.

Frost, frosty, frostiness.

“We haven’t seen a winter like this for some time” says TV weatherman.

Proper frost, proper fog, proper ice, proper cold.

All we need now is some of that proper snow they’ve been getting up t’north.

And i’m still not putting the heating on (Lol)