Claire had a rare day away from the house, leaving me all by myself. I felt just like a young Macaulay Culkin in that film, where he found himself left home alone. I can never remember that movies name…
I wasn’t totally without company, I had a companion, and I don’t mean Elf on the Shelf! Roman was in his run downstairs.
Given the fact that I continue to remain unable to get out of bed, without the assistance of my wife, I was only able to see our bunny by using the webcam I have setup.
We had purposely left the television on for him. Roman is a sociable house rabbit and therefore gets distressed, even frightened, when left by himself.
You hear of dog owners leaving the radio on for their beloved pets, well we leave the telly on for ours! As I have shown on many previous blog posts, Roman will sit back, face the screen and fall asleep, happy and relaxed.
One of his favourite channels is Sky Sports News. Claire and I often have this on, almost as background noise, despite not actively watching it. I think because of this, Roman has become accustomed to the channel and therefore finds it a strangely calming influence.
His other favourite programme to watch is Keeping Up Appearances. He loves the adventures of Hyacinth Bucket and her long-suffering husband. Again, this is most likely due to familiarity, as the sitcom is also enjoyed by Claire and me.
While using the webcam to check up on Roman this morning, I noticed that he had not emerged from behind his litter tray for quite a while. This was surprising. Food was in his bowl and good old Sky Sports was on the box.
By using a series of clever apps on my mobile phone, I managed to connect to my gadgets downstairs, turn off Sky and begin to play episodes of Mrs Bucket.
I shouted from my bed, making Roman aware that he was not the only living-being in the house. My bellows, along with that familiar Keeping Up Appearances theme tune, were enough to bring my fluffy friend to life.
Upon the realisation that everything was ok in the world, I was able to observe him running and skipping around his run.
Roman then did something that he had not done before. Having heard my voice, he began to search for me. My heart melted. It was such a cute sight to witness.
He looked to the wall and the door, from where I normally appear. After a while of being unable to spot me, Roman climbed upon his hay box and standing on his back legs, searched towards the sofa, for where I could be seated.
After that, I left Rome alone, in order to return to his BBC sitcoms. I watched the Ken Loach film, I, Daniel Blake, which I have been meaning to watch for a while. I will try to write a little bit, containing my thoughts on what I saw, but will do so on another day, as the content was rather heavy – who would ever have thought that, for a Ken Loach production!
I kept with Saturday afternoon tradition, and followed the football scores. Leeds had a weekend off, so were unable to ruin my weekend. Even they haven’t found a way to lose without kicking a ball, but I am sure if it was possible to do so, Leeds would find a way.
While Leeds failed to find a way in which to cause me anger, Bath City more than made up for it.
The Romans have been performing exceptionally well this season and before today, occupied second place in the league. Wealdstone are the ones to catch, sitting top of the table.
‘The Romans’ faced ‘The Stones’ this afternoon. Considering the permutations of the result, this was always going to be a high-profile fixture. Therefore, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that this is where Claire had chosen to go today.
Now, my wife is as passionate a supporter as they come. I was too, until my health severely restricted the number of home games I can attend and sadly fully prevents me from travelling away – there is no way of getting my mobility scooter or wheelchair on the coach. Then there’s getting me up the steps…
Despite Claire’s dedication to the Bath City cause, I am sure even she somewhat regretted not staying at home in the warm with her two boys – Hubby and Bunny.
Bath City lost and failed to score. Fancy a guess as to how many goals Wealdstone put past City today?
Not 1
Not 2
Not 3, 4 or 5
Not even 6
The answer is 7…
SEVEN. A 7-0 defeat. I’ve seen City lose to some heavy scorelines – 7-1 and 6-0 – but never quite as bad as today.
I’M SURE THE WEALDSTONE RAIDER ENJOYED HIS AFTERNOON!
I guess Roman and me were the only City fans not to have an utterly rubbish Saturday – not that receiving seven goal alerts from Wealdstone was a barrel of laughs for me. If I wanted to feel depressed, I would have watched that Ken Loach film again!
Over four and a half years ago, Bath City took on a little-known team from Essex called Concord Rangers.
City held onto a 1-0 scoreline for much of the game and it looked like they would take all three points.
Unfortunately, Concord equalised late into the match. What can I say? It happens. Considering that this took place almost five years ago and the result had no significant impact on the season, I feel that I have got over it!
I can’t really remember much about the game at all, apart from one incident involving their manager, Danny Cowley. Upon witnessing his team equalise, Concord’s boss ran to the Bath City bench, before spotting Twerton Park legend, Jim Rollo, and shouting like a yob, “I remember you! You’re a c**t!”
I remember you too, Danny.
I am sure you will agree, that kind of behaviour is disgusting – especially when addressing a hero like Jim Rollo. Sorry, Sir Jim Rollo.
Why am I bringing all of this back up now? Well, since that dark day of obscene profanity, Danny Cowley has been doing rather well for himself, progressing from club to club, climbing the football pyramid and his own career ladder. Despite his previous indiscretion, I can bring myself to congratulate the man on his achievements.
It just so happens, that this afternoon, Mr Cowley finally got the chance to take on my other team – Leeds United.
The former-Concord boss is now managing Huddersfield Town. Anyone who knows about football, or geography for that matter, will be aware that this is a local fixture for Leeds.
These derbies can be notoriously difficult, despite the fact Leeds are having a superb season, and Huddersfield are struggling.
Leeds thankfully won the game, to return to the top of the league.
How did Danny Cowley react? Did he call the world-famous Leeds manager, Marcelo Bielsa, a bad four-letter word?
Of course not…
Arse kisser Cowley. *
* admittedly, given the chance, I would kiss Marcelo Bielsa’s behind too.
This blog post aged well.
Written in December 2018, I fantasized about various outcomes, come the end of the season…
Leeds to finish as Champions – ha! We couldn’t even get second place in the end. Sure Leeds are in the Play Offs, but there is more chance of me running the London Marathon, than my team getting promoted.
Liverpool to win the Premier League – While my wife, Claire, was able to enjoy her team giving their league rivals a good many more problems than Leeds did theirs, the Reds ultimately fell short – losing the title this afternoon, to that lot in Manchester. No… not Manchester United. There’s more chance of me WINNING the London Marathon, than that team winning anything.
Bath City to win the Play Offs – It was the Play Off Final this afternoon. City were supposed to be playing. Well, according to my fantasy, from five months ago, they were! City weren’t even involved. This is because they had lost to Wealdstone, in an earlier knock-out round. Wealdstone then went on to lose themselves, so didn’t get to the final either. Overall a waste of time. Oh, fiddle-sticks.
Casting my fantasies aside, I also made some actual predictions. I would say that they are scarily accurate, apart from the fact that it was flippin’ obvious I would guess correctly…
Leeds to miss out on automatic promotion and bottle the Play Offs – So far, so predictably shite. Automatic promotion is but a distant memory. Leeds are still in the Play Offs, but the brewery has the bottles all ready to… well, bottle!
Liverpool to finish second, behind Man City – All over the news. This seems to have received more coverage than 9/11. I know this blog is just adding to the hype.
Bath City to finish outside the Play Offs – Not officially a prediction, as to my friends, family and fellow supporters, I’ve been saying the opposite all season. I thought being negative about everything, would make my blog post appear better… it works for Jack Dee and Simon Cowell. City did make the Play Offs, so proved me right, but sadly fell short.
While Bath City’s season is well and truly over, and won’t play a competitive game until August; Liverpool have a small matter of a Champions League final, while Leeds remain in the Play Offs – for now!
I predict Liverpool will be victorious, with Leeds ending calamitous. These are my serious predictions, but I would be delighted to jinx things and for Leeds to go up, even if in doing so, it costs my wife’s beloved Reds – sorry, Claire!
Bath City’s regular season ended on Saturday, with a 2-0 win away at Billericay, Essex.
However, for the first time in nine years, the Romans reached the play offs!
Unlike with my other club, Leeds, Bath City, do have a history of success in the end of season play offs.
We won them in 2010, don’t you know?
You can tell it was a long time ago, as I’m jumping up and down like a wally. A wally with a daft haircut.
2010’s play off final opponents were Woking. Tonight, we played Wealdstone.
Yes, that Wealdstone…
I seem to recall this man had a catchphrase. I can’t for the life of me remember it.
What was that daft thing, you used to say at school?
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”
Sticks and stones may indeed break bones. WealdSTONE are also responsible for breaking Bath City’s play off dreams and the hearts of lots of young children, waving black and white scarves – shame on you.
Wealdstone went ahead, early in the first half of the match, before scoring another in the second half.
The Romans battled on, scoring themselves, despite being reduced to 10 men, following a red card.
It was certainly a mighty effort, but alas, City were unable cancel out their opponent’s goals.
The Romans crashed out of the play offs, at the first step, losing 3-1. Gutting – especially after such a successful season.
Congratulations to Wealdstone. With no shred of sarcasm, I have liked them ever since I watched them play City a few years ago. They are a traditional football club, with some loyal, good natured supporters. I hope they win the Play Offs and get promoted.
Right now, most City fans will no doubt want to go to bed and have a bit of a cry. However, we must not forget the improvements made, over the last 12 months, both on and off the pitch.
If things continue to improve into next season, who knows? We might get lucky and miss out on the play offs altogether… by winning the league!
For now, though, I think I’ll head off to bed. Sob.
After tonight’s depressing blog, I thought I’d post some better news…
The irony hasn’t been lost on me, in that I was equally desperate for Bath City to get into the play offs, as I was for Leeds to avoid them!
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.
