the belfast boy

how could i forget? i've furtively edited my last blog and added late remembered people, places and events but the best just slipped my mind. age, what have you done to me? i was in windsor park when he scored a legitimate goal out of banksies hands; i was there when he was sent off against scotland for chucking turf at the ref; i was there when he played with bobby moore at fulham; i was there when he played for rangers against chelsea in a testemonial. he was the best. how could i forget?

watch out for forthcomeing articles on danny blanchflower, harry gregg, peter mcparland, wilbur cush, bertie peacock, david healy.........

i was there

another few quiet weeks in worthing so once again i thought i'd cast my mind back and try to remember who and/or what I have seen “live” and consider which was best.

music: nina simone, woody herman’s herd, neil young, van morrison, elvis costello, brian wilson, bruce springsteen, neil diamond, john prine, iris dement, bonnie raitt, aimee mann, bob dylan, steve earle, tom paxton, tom russell, joan baez, roger mcguinn, nanci griffith, emmylou harris, mary chapin carpenter, thea gilmore, leonard cohen, josh ritter, billy bragg, wilco, loudon, rufus and martha wainwright, richard thompson and many many more……. never saw savoy brown but leo works for me.

so what was best? – impossible to decide! i think a lot depends on mood! of the big events, leonard was sensational and scores 10/10 but intimate little shows at the greys in brighton also score high because of surprise, surprise their intimacy - kevin montgomery, jeff finlan, chip taylor and carrie rodriguez. but how could i forget kris kristofferson dedicating a song to me in belfast [his only dedication] - sunday morning coming down. great song - thanks mary!

sport: was there when barry mcguigan beat pedroza to become world champ in shephard’s bush, when northern ireland beat england at wembley in 1972 (later spoke to terry neil about his goal, that goal!), was in the estádio da luz when the earth moved for becks, was at aintree to back highland wedding [100/8] to win the grand national (after getting a tip from the trainer’s neighbour whilst on a geography field trip to durham) – rushed back to aintree and then went to goodison park to watch everton play tottenham – my first live match in england. went to the open when greg won, saw brighton lose the fa cup, was at wimbledon final when jan kodes (who?) won, and was there when connors beat rosewall, and when bj king beat evert, saw grundy win the derby, and ireland win the triple crown, sussex win the 50 overs thingy at lords. was on telly with sven [got the video], have nick faldo's hole in one ball [walton heath - also got the video]. went to yankee stadium to see the yankees play, met the great '89 49ers including joe montana and jerry rice [legends]. scored a try at ravenhill [o/k 7 a side tournament but the field was still green grass and graced by some of the the greatest - love alliteration!]. NOTE: i keep adding to this paragraph as my failing memory recalls long forgotten events. keep tuned in..... just remembered beating the london batallion boys brigade at sion mills when i was captain of the ni [norn iron] battallion - sounds military but i can assure you it wasn't. i can now reveal that our secret weapon, who took most of the wickets, was a young catholic friend [the bb was protestant] who went on to play for ireland - raymond moan. i didn't care then and i don't care now.

what's best? - no contest! the clones cyclone - barry! however my first sporting memory was when my dad brought me to see ireland play new zealand in belfast in the late 50's. i can still see that in my mind's eye whilst many of the big events have faded. pass the bottle!

next week I will describe my greatest successes with vegetables.

when I grow too old to dream

so, so many quiet days and nights in worthing i felt compelled to write to dispel fears amongst my rabid readers that i might have ceased to exist. no –

i'm feelin' glad all over
yes i'm-a glad all over
baby i'm glad all over
so glad you're mine*

is anyone glad anymore? i’m glad you asked. i’d rather be glad than sad, wouldn’t you?

*dave clark five. no. 1 january 1964. i was glad then but i’m gladder now.

harry's game

yet another quiet week in worthing so i thought i'd ruminate. it occurs to me that some people, sad people, don't know who harry gregg is or why i assumed the frivolous diminutive for this blog. i'll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone….i am not, nor have i ever been, a fan of manchester united but i was always a fan of harry gregg. he had the misfortune of playing for “them”.

i guess most people have reasons for buying their first television. my dad bought ours in 1958 to watch northern ireland play in the 1958 world cup. we didn’t even have hot water or an inside loo - he was good on priorities! but we huddled around the small black and white screen (such interference in those days, especially in the middle of the sperrins - we called it "snow") and could just about pick out the ball. i can still remember most of the team - danny blanchflower; captain of spurs and perhaps the most accomplished half back in the history of the game, jimmy mcIlroy; gifted inside forward [what they?] and a legend in burnley; peter mcparland; villa winger who scored 5 goals. how many wingers would score that many goals in one tournament today? would he even get a game? a young derek dougan – the doog! and many, many more. but why am i writing this now?

simple. the recent remembrance of the munich air disaster reminded me of my true, real-life hero - harry. i saw him talk (no, he blethered – it didn’t matter. it was always about what he did, not what he said) at the recent 50th anniversary and it confirmed my opinion "once a hero, always a hero". he could have been a fireman – he didn’t run away from that crash he ran back in dragging others clear. what a man. i can still see him, in my mind's eye [1958 again – keep track!] running out of his box, grabbing off his cloth cap, to head away a dangerous long ball. and through all that snow on my tiny screen! i know it happened, i saw it. i remember it – i’ll never forget it. why don’t they show it again? how many of today's keepers would be multi skilled enough to do that?

does anyone read my ramblings? if you do, let me know; who is your hero and why?

mrtony i presume

christmas came and went, quietly, in worthing so i thought i'd go in search of the 21st century's intrepid explorer - mrtony. if you haven't read his blog, shame on you! found him amongst the kiwis; not sure he recognised us at first but he seemed to be enjoying himself in the underworld - eventually he understood the odd word(s). "come with us - soft bed, nice shower, breakfast prepared, car hired"! it didn't take long; normal service resumed. good man - great guide!

highlights -

[sadly] decadent business class. can i ever travel again without complementary lounge, champagne on boarding, choice of dinner wine, four course meal, cheese, port, flat bed etc etc? guess i've worked long and hard enough to merit it but...................

the politeness and helpfulness in hong kong

the spectacular scenery in new zealand. just when you think you've seen something special there is something better around the corner

franz josef glacier

cessna flight over the southern alps

the [fast] history of a young country - discovered only 160 years ago. trying so hard to do so much right

queenstown - is there a more scenic and exciting town anywhere?

san francisco was all it's made out to be. loved it!

lowlights -

hong kong pollution

san francisco begging. didn't expect to find it on most streets. a sad reflection in the self proclaimed land of democratic freedom!

would i do it again? oh yes!