Update

Friday 19^th August

We were up and organised pretty early, car packed up we walked and drove Kelvin to work and Helena  to school. We all reassembled in the foyer of the Citi tower and Kelvin took us up to his office on the 29^th floor. We shocked a few engineers with our presence as we walked round the floor looking at the amazing views from the tower and then went up to the 36^th floor café for morning tea.

We farewelled Kelvie and had a quick whirl around the shops below the tower with Kat – picking up a few essentials – SIM card, toiletries and Nike mercurial turf shoes for the boy wonder. Then another sad farewell and we went off on our own in the mighty Vauxhall. We felt very inadequate in the Citi tower carpark as Ash counted 1 Lotus, 2 Ferrari’s, 6 Maserati’s, and too many porches to count on our level alone.

We drove out to Harold Wood and had a great catch up with Alf and Marge. They were looking very well and their garden is beautiful, Alf obviously still spends a lot of time working out there. We went with them to a pub for lunch and then came back to their place for numerous cups of tea before heading to the Brentwood Guesthouse for a light tea of chicken sandwiches and salad and extremely early bedtime as we all seriously hit the wall.  Ash and I were the latest ones up – we managed to hold out till 8:30 watching a doco about bears!

Lyn

Saturday 20^th august

A nice slowish morning, we had our brekkie in the Guesthouse dining room. Eggs all round and a Full English breakfast for Ash. Then off to the park to meet up with the Gordon’s. We had a lovely morning chatting with Brian and Stephanie and meeting wee Andrew. The kids enjoyed having a blast around the swing park and ice blocks. Brian was an absolute LEGEND and brought us a packed lunch for our day ahead travelling north.

Our drive north was pretty uneventful, good roads, no traffic issues. We arrived at Villa Park with plenty of time to spare and dropped Ash and Warren outside Villa Park.  I planned to take the girls to a museum in B’ham, but the ring road got the better of me and we looped around a bit before finding it, then it looked closed, so we headed for the shops in the Bullring – which had me cursing the roads in B’ham all over again. What a bloody disaster!! I remembered why we didn’t go into the centre of B’ham much when I was working there.  There were an amazing number of head scarves and Burqa’s inside the mall in Birmingham.

We all perked up after a visit to Next and H&M and then went back to pick up the victorious Villa supporter and a random Spurs supporter from the park. From there we drove off up the M6 and up via Stafford to Uttoxeter. Marvelled at the changes (not all good – lots of big roads and shops),  stocked up at Tesco and found our lovely cottage near Tean – just off the A50. Great accommodation, garden, plenty of space all in an old barn/farmyard.

Lyn

Matchday! Arriving at Villa Park we made for the Aston Villa shop and initially joined a quick moving queue. Inside Ash was very decisive and made 3 quick purchasing decisions- A new shirt, beanie and scarf. We aborted the queue for printing and headed for the stadium, grabbed a drink and went to our seats. What a fabulous spot 5 seats from the Aston Villa dugout and 2 rows from the pitch. The pitch was perfect, like a bowling green. The ground was ¾ full 32000 fans there. Great atmosphere but actually very little chanting.

Villa were dominant with great passing football and although Blackburn had their moments were 2-0 up at half time.  We missed the goals as Alex McLeish was standing in our way in the coaches box- I asked him to sit down but he did not listen! The second half was similar – Blackburn looked to be back into the game getting an early goal but a great third goal sealed it.

3-1 final score: we nipped out before the final whistle to queue for the shirt printing and were still 5^th in the line!

Met the girls and back on the road.

Warren

Sunday 21 August

Well it wasn’t the best night for me waking with a migraine and some nausea so not overly energetic this morning. Got to doze in for a bit- thanks to Lyn. Breakfast and some chores and a fine day and out to Uttoxeter to get Ashes final things before his soccer camp. A brief tour of Doveridge and pass-by of the Nutshell, apart from the new dual carriageway little has changed in Doveridge.

We took some back roads past Marston Montgomery to Denstone College. Denstone is a very impressive school with obvious sporting focus- there are many fields and facilities. The church/ chapel and dining hall building is very impressive and Hogswartsish. Everything was bedecked in Manchester United colours and slogans. It looked great. Ash was quiet but I think excited to be there.

Registration, kit collection and room allocation was smooth and well organised. Ash is bunking with 4 boys from the same school/ football team who are his age. Westie (Alexander), Lennon, Thomas and Harry. Met their parents, had a cup of tea and chat and tour of the buildings with them. Nice bunch. Ash should really fit in well and enjoy this.

Had a final presentation from the coaches- O’B, Eddie and others. Some parents were asking questions that Lyn felt unnecessary if they had read the printed information about the course….

Said goodbye and know that Ash will be missing us already - yeah right.

Then we met the Quinn’s - Greg, Charlie and Freddie at the Dog and Partridge in Tutbury. Had a late lunch and caught up with their news. Good to see them again.

Warren