A Fitting Song

Played this song in the car today, and listening to the spooky lyrics it reminded me of Halloween, got home and the song was still in my head so I looked it up and there's a video for it. Great lyrics and a fab song, it's called 'Goodnight Moon' by Shivaree.

Halloween

Hope you all have a good Halloween today and do something a little spooky or devilish! As for me I've got a longish day at work and then hopefully I'll be able to get down my locals tonight for a few beers, I'm sure one of my locals will have Hobgoblin on tap. Some local pubs have lit pumpkins in the windows and I can't help thinking the market square lit by the lamps at night with the cobbles wet looks like a scene from a horror film of yesteryear.

For more about Hobgoblin beer and the legends of Hobgoblins during Halloween read here.

Sacred

I just can't wait to get my hands on Sacred 2 out later this year, fantastic music by Blind Guardian for it too. I think I'm going to treat myself to an XBox 360 nearer christmas, one of the new black elite ones (but the game is out for the pc too).

Anyway enjoy the games title track by German band Blind Guardian, the video is well cool !

I Didn't Realise !

'A Hobbit's Journal' was actually 4 years old earlier this month. How the years have flown by since I tentatively began blogging. I guess in the early days blogging did consume me a little, and it passed time on the night shifts during my last job.

I do tend to blog less these days, but do try when I get the chance, I also make a point of visiting other peoples blogs. I think we all used to blog more and comment more but life gets in the way and often the intention to blog is sidetracked by something else that suddenly jumps out, life eh?

So, to those who have ever read or enjoyed the Journal, then thanks.... it's still business as usual, just not as busy as it was!

Jimmy The Legend

Jimmy Sirrel, the age old Notts County ex Manager and legend that took them to glory has passed on today aged 86. I met Jimmy in a supermarket once, I was only a youngster and I think there was a stall selling merchandise and raising the profile of the club, it's all a bit vague and I can't recall much or who I was with.

I've been a Notts County fan since a child, I say fan as I'm not an avid supporter, sure I've been to a good few games but never been a regular, so can't really label myself a supporter. It was as a youngster, probably aged 7 or 8 that I had a bet with a lad across the street who supported a local team County were once playing, County won and I remember him chasing me in frustration, it was at that point my passion for the club began.

Jimmy took the club to great heights in Football and worked long hours, he was a dedicated no nonsense Glasgow man who cared about his players. Football greats such as Howard Wilkinson and Alex Ferguson have being paying tribute today, among many others.

Visitor From Afar

I got to meet a long time friend last week, the lovely Amanda from the States who had come over here on a rampant sight seeing tour of the British Isles with her friend Mike. I was priviliged to show her the around the place, chat and end up in my local for a drink! I'm pretty sure after all the amazing places she'd visited over here my home town paled in comparison but she seemed to like it! It was a really nice afternoon.

Here's a photo of Amanda outside my local. Not the best quality photo, these camera phones aren't all they are made up to be!

Rufford

I recently took some clients to Rufford Park, this time last week actually and had a lovely time. It's only about 10 miles away from me and such a great place, the breakfast was cheap too, about £3. It's a lovely walk around the place and everything is well sign posted as is how long it will take you to walk to places/do various walks.

Anyway, here's some photos, not my best but they were only taken on my phone camera.

By Any Means

Yep Mr Charley Boorman is back in his latest sojourn called 'By Any Means' in which he travels from his family home in Wicklow, Ireland to Sydney in Australia using any transport available in the country he happens to be in, excluding air travel.

I've watched the first two episodes riveted to the screen, he sort of reminds me of a modern day Francis Drake, Boorman is charismatic and witty, and compulsive viewing. It's nice to see Charley doing a series of his own, not that I thought he was ever over shadowed by Ewan McGregor in the Long way around/down.

Adlington

Olympic swimming double gold medalist Rebecca Adlington returned Mansfield yesterday to a welcome of heroic proportions. Mansfield is my former home town of 37 or so years and I watched the national and local news with pride at her homecoming.

I left Mansfield for several reasons, I can't really say I miss the place, though I do miss the people, most of my life memories are from there, it's where I grew up.

Watching the news last night I realised how good Rebecca winning the gold was good for the town, good for the morale of the people who have had it bad over the years with industry closures and something positive for them to hold on to. It will certainly lift the spirit of the townsfolk and give them renewed pride, for though I fell out of love with the town and moved away I still love the people there.

In it's euphoria Mansfield has already renamed a town centre bar after Rebecca and there are plans to rename the local swimming pool too. Watching the news though I couldn't help cringe at the loathesome town mayor Mr Eggington jockeying for a place on camera, he has always been a great self publicist, and in my opinion ideally needs to address more serious matters within the town, as you can tell I'm not a fan of the man or indeed how the local council has ran the town over successive years.

Anyway I'm digressing here, congratulations to Rebecca and lets hope there is more medals at London in 2012.

Click here for overhead footage of the town turning out for Rebecca in the market square.

Click here for Rebecca being presented with some Jimmy Choo shoes by the Mayor.

86

My dear old gran was 86 this weekend just gone and my aunt Kath had a party for a her, a simple affair yet a lovely afternoon. Family and grans friends kept dropping in throughout the afternoon and having a chat and some of the lovely food prepared by my aunt.

It's not been an easy year for my gran as she's had lots of health problems but has pulled through them all, if nothing she's a fighter. In truth I don't often do the family thing but hand on heart I really enjoyed the gathering on Saturday, it was great to see my gran up and about and good to catch up with family.

Below : Aunt Les & Gran.

Bottom : Aunt Kath presents Gran with her 86th Birthday cake.

Olympics

I have to say I was awestruck by the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing. The firework footprints to the birds nest stadium were absolutely amazing. It was not only a celebration of the Olympics but a celebration of the Chinese culture, one of the worlds oldest.

China have really set the benchmark with the panoply and pageantry of this years ceremony. My dad joked as we watched it that 'Chas and Dave' will probably open the London Olympics in 2012!

For me this was the most amazing ceremony I've ever seen, and to be there and witness it on the 08/08/08 would have surely been something.

When mankind can come together like this and share its achievements together beyond differences and religion it really is encouraging and heart warming.

* Chas and Dave are English folk singers from London who have little talent.

A Week On

Well a week has passed since I reached forty and in all honesty I don't feel any different, but then again I knew I wouldn't. Last Saturday was just an amazing night up in my local, the Fox and Crown. Almost everyone I invited came to my 40th party and it was a cracking evening. The only downside was it must have been the hottest night of the year so far!

Booba Dust (the band that played) performed brilliantly in what was excessive heat, the staff at the Fox did an amazing job keeping everybody served and fed and my old man even played 'Forever Young' on his guitar during the bands interval.

It was such a special night being surrounded by friends and family, and no, I didn't get drunk either!

Thanks to everyone that came and thanks for all the gifts!