There are three main non-work-related topics of discussion in the office. Football, family films from the 1980’s (The Flight of the Navigator being a particular favourite) and most recently, tea.
Like most offices all over the country ours is split into three different types of people – coffee drinkers, tea drinkers and those strange ones who don’t have anything hot. Up until recently, the tea drinkers were happy to live off PG Tips, Typhoo and when feeling adventurous, Tetley. However, recently strange varieties of tea have found their way onto the drinks shelf. Lady Gray, Chai and one called Assam (who I thought played for Liverpool) are just three I can recall from memory.
I have generally been a coffee drinker at work and steered clear of tea. However now all these exotic flavours have been made available, I’ve been tempted to drop the coffee granules for fancy tea bags. The other reason for this is because I recently bought a Nespresso coffee maker for the house. This makes truly amazing coffee and therefore renders all instant stuff, even the posh variety, awful.
The teas have certainly been interesting. Most notably a smoky one, which tastes like a pot of Tetley’s boiled on a barbecue. I drink that one under strict moderation. In fact, I’ve only had one cup. Something that smoky can’t be good for the lungs. The spicy, cinnamon flavours are my favourite.
All this foreign tea has upset the traditional tea drinkers, who for years having been content with the regular brands, now have to reach into any number of different tea boxes when making a round of hot drinks. I think the initial annoyance has finally calmed down, although I am tempted to bring in a ‘Teas of the World’ gift box from Whittards.
Take a look at all these goodies I got from the Premier Inn. Annoyingly, the free kettle and hair dryer were both wired into the wall. How are customers supposed to take these home with them? At letter of complaint will be sent.
Before I went to Leeds on Friday, I warned how if Leicester won, not only would they ruin my unbeaten record at Elland Road, but as the trip to Leeds was a gift, they would ruin Christmas and also ruin my life. OK, ruining my life may be a little excessive, but I think it’s fair to say that Leicester’s goal-scorer, David Nugent, will now forever be known as The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
All that said, besides the last four minutes, when the winning goal was scored, I did actually really enjoy my trip to Yorkshire and return to Elland Road.
We stayed overnight before the game; eating our evening meal in an onsite restaurant. While eating my meal, I couldn’t help but overhear a very loud child announcing each dish they would consume in their large 3-course meal – a huge feast for a young child, which would challenge a fully grown man. On the way out, I noticed the child and their family. Let’s just say they probably can’t safely share a lift together…
After the meal, I retired to my room and went to bed early. To bed. On a Friday night, while staying in Leeds. So rock ‘n roll. I am pleased to report that I had a surprisingly good night’s sleep, once I had kicked Lenny Henry out of the room.
In the morning, we went for the all you can eat breakfast. “All you can eat” being a term some may see as a challenge. The family from the night before had clearly beaten me to the hot food, as I had to wait while the chef cooked up a new trough of eggs, bacon and sausages.
We got to Elland Road in enough time to allow me to visit the club shop. That place is always packed. You can hardly move. It’s worse than Asda on Christmas Eve. Not that I would ever brave a supermarket at Christmas. It takes enough courage to go there on any normal day.
Having spent enough money on merchandise to fund the transfer of Luciano Becchio (Leeds United board, if you’re reading this blog… ‘HINT HINT’), I headed for the turnstiles, not forgetting to visit the Don Revie statue on the way. It is the first time I have seen the statue and what a fabulous tribute to the great man it is. It is just a shame the late Sir Don has to face the monstrosity of the East Stand a certain ex-chairman wasted millions of pounds refurbishing.
Now for the match. That 90 minute period we had travelled the length of their country for, including staying overnight in a budget hotel and having to use disgusting motorway service station toilets. Considering they had been thrashed 6-0 just a week ago, Leeds started well against the league leaders, Leicester, and should have scored on a number of occasions. This is Leeds United though, and what should have happened and what actually does happen are completely different things.
Of course, Leeds didn’t score. Leicester did, in the last few minutes. For fucks sake. Disappointing, but certainly not unexpected. Still, Leeds fans never fail to amuse me and yesterday was no exception. Every time Kasper Schmeichel, Leeds’s former goalkeeper, now at Leicester and son of a little-known Manchester United player, touched the ball, he was greeted to a rendition of “Your dad’s a c*** and so are you”. I can see, that despite having been away for almost three years, some things never change and Elland Road still has the lovely, friendly family atmosphere it always had. As one Leeds fan behind me said, “Leeds like to hate people”. So true, and that is why I love Leeds United.
I am blogging in advance. Using the wonders of modern technology (well, a setting within WordPress), I have pre-dated this blog so it should appear to you all on Friday afternoon, when I will be in the car, somewhere on the motorway, being driven up to Leeds. I am actually blogging on Thursday evening! What a cheating bastard I am.
My Christmas present from my Dad to me was a trip to Elland Road to watch Leeds United play Leicester City this weekend. We’re staying overnight in a Premier Inn as thanks to Sky television the game is kicking off at midday, as opposed to the usual 3pm, which would mean a very early start. At least we’ll get back to Bath earlier.
I must admit, I am a tad worried about the game. Leeds haven’t won in what seems like years. Leicester keep on winning and are running away with the league. After their 6-0 drubbing last weekend, some have predicted Leeds to have the ‘wounded animal effect’. I just hope this wounded animal is like Cujo, the rabid St. Bernard, from the Stephen King novel, who goes on a mad rampage, killing lots of people (namely professional football players from Leicestershire). Knowing Leeds United, however, they’ll be like a wounded badger. Run over by a car and lying on the side of the road, being repeatedly driven across by other vehicles, until all its blood, guts, bone and brain become squashed into the tarmac.
I have never seen Leeds lose at Elland Road, so that is somewhat of a good omen –although I fully expect that to change this weekend. I am also the world’s worst gambler, so as a failsafe, I have stuck a tenner on Leicester to win. Therefore, when Leeds take all the points, I‘ll be taking all the credit. Yes, the win will be all down to me, even if Ross McCormack scores 10 goals, I’ll take the man of the match champagne.
If Leicester win, not only will they will ruin my unbeaten home record, but they will ruin Christmas (as the trip was a gift) and also ruin my life.
About Me
So you stumbled across my blog. No doubt after searching for something bizarre on Google. Before you hit that 'Back Button', why not stay and have a read for a few minutes?
If you are after a website which gives advice on how to hack an iPhone X, download the latest Steven Seagal movie, or view nudy ladies, you've come to the wrong place and may now press 'Back'.
However, if you would like a lifestyle blog, written by a 30-something chap, living in Bath (England), feast your eyes on this.
You won't discover how to copy PlayStation 4 games. What you will find is a blog, covering life in the West Country, the highs and lows of supporting two unsuccessful football teams, while sharing a house with a wife and rabbit.
All written by a man, somewhere on the sanity-scale between normal and eccentric.
