Six Months is Far too long!!!

I am really sorry for those of you who have checked out this Blog in the past few months to see how Rainham 84 have done, or indeed what we as a family have been up to and seen nothing.

As I explained to my Uncle this afternoon, work just got in the way!!! Apologies! It has not been updated. But today it will be and for very good reason.

My lovely cousin has come over the pond to say hello to her folks and the timing could not have been better. Not only is it a weekend with my two lovely wee ones, but there were no football matches to be watched, no horses to be ridden and ballet for Louise was early doors.

So off to Essex we trotted.

The outcome was better than we could have hoped for. We knew we were going to have to ask for directions when we got close, but to hear Auntie Jean on loudspeaker sounding just like Nanny Pat, sent Louise into total confusion!!! Well Louise just could not wait to get to their house. Then having Uncle Archie come down the stairs to meet and greet us, Louise could not believe Grandad Donald had a younger brother. So confusing for her, bless.

It is never a great afternoon for young ones to have to sit and listen to their relatives talk about the past and days of old. But to be fair, Harvey and Mathilda sat and drank in the fact that they were meeting genuine friends and family, who we really should see more of. For no other reason than we all have the most stupid sense of humour running through our veins thanks to a certain Grandpa Perth.

Well once Uncle Archie got the Lego out, Louise was away. Suddenly the Essex lodgings belonged to our wee three year old.

Seeing Helen and Linda after so much time was just superb. The fact we have not met up for over a decade and yet just clicked together like it had been yesterday, speaks volumes for family ties.

I hope my fire works that I set off tonight shone bright in Essex for Archie, Jean and Linda to see from Kent. If the fireworks did not get that far, I hope they know the warm feeling from meeting close family will glow for an awful long long time!!!

Two started out as Mackays, only one remains!!!

Well better head off to bed now, Rainham 84 have a game tomorrow at 10.00am and I better had report back on it, good or bad!

What a great day.

Sunday Morning Footie (VIII) - Medway Turncoats

A home fixture against bottom of the league, surely a relaxing watch for the Rainham 84 faithful?

Warm up?... There was little else to do this morning than that! 2 Degrees and a biting wind, how cold? Even the local wildlife had shed all their feathers on the pitch....

There was a certain degree of expectancy about today, the league position of the opponents belied their actual ability. Our boys thought with a bit of guile and effort, a win would come their way. They did not reckon on the resistance that Cobham would put up.

The game started off with a massive amount of unforced errors on both sides. To the naked eye, the teams seemed to merge into one. Passes went from one side to the other, the engine was not firing on all cylinders.

After ten or so minutes, on walked the Gaffer from Rainham. What could possibly be the need for this unscheduled interruption?

The game was at stalemate, the weather was freezing. But no one was injured and despite the cold weather, surely we could not be calling it off just because we had not managed to put five past our lowly opposition after ten minutes?

Your intrepid reporter was looking for inspiration for his blog. None was forthcoming. The lines on the pitch, crazy though they were, could not give me any one liners. Wait long enough and it will surely come along. The boys started to remove their tops. Many a time I have been forced to play 'skins' in training and thankfully this was not one of those times for the lads.

The colours of the two sides were indeed clashing and the gaffer had seen sense to do the decent thing and get our boys to turn their tops inside out. This was a bit of a saving grace for our lad Harvey, as his number had long since fallen foul of the tumble dryer. Bit of a saving grace for this blog, hence the title!

For once, the phrase Turncoat was a charitable one. We were the home team and did not need to make such a generous gesture. But the slightly off coloured red with black flashing's, made for a rather fetching kit. Note to powers that be, next season, maybe we should go for the style whole heartedly?

The required effect was achieved. Our passing game was suddenly found once again. But half time came and stalemate prevailed.

Second half only saw a more defiant approach from the opposition. But the pressure from Rainham eventually told, with a cracking 20 yard drive from our midfielder.

Instead of moving on to a comfortable win, we saw out the remainder of the game with good defensive work from all concerned. With the way the wind was chilling the faithful support, we were all glad to hear the final whistle and the three points that came with it. Back to winning ways and a good effort all round. From both our lads and a hard working Cobham side that deserved every credit for their effort and good sportsmanship.

Procul Harlem would have been proud of this 'whiter shade of pale'

As the season moves to it's close, Rainham are starting to look to the next one. Harvey got his chance to move slightly forward and he knows it will take time to grow into the more advanced position he was offered today. But his touch and poise will serve him well, where ever he ends up.

Good win today, but I think warmer attire is required for the watching public if this global warming decides to wait a few more years to take hold. Brrrrrrrrr.