A new tube and an Italian Job on the Tigers!

We sleep straight through until seven and I feel better after the early night and after letting Norman out I breakfast on smoked salmon on cream cheese with rye toast, he has Bakers. After breakfast I text John Chapman, as I can't remember if it is today or tomorrow that he is coming to decorate the hallway. John texts back to say it is today, so I arrange to drop the key off for him at his house in the village. Before leaving, I knock up a vegetarian Bolognese and leave it to simmer in the slow cooker and hang out my white washing on the line then put the fluorescent tube in the car, to make sure I buy the right one from town. As we leave the cul de sac, John's car is coming in the other direction, so I wind the window down and pass the keys to him and tell him that I have left the coffee percolator ready to go and put some oaties out. We collect the terriers from Cherry, shortly after ten and then walk them on the Westwood. The cold northeasterly persists, it has been stuck in this direction for weeks, the Blackthorn bushes, that last year were in full bloom at this time, are yet to show a flower. By the corner we see Diane Fairhurst and Angela Semple with their dogs and my three run up, as Angela always carries a pocket full of treats. Duly treated they continue on their way and we complete our circuit of the common and I return them to Two Riggs just before noon and then drive to the Leisure Centre. The pool changing rooms are crowded with baby buggies, so there must be a mother and baby session. Fortunately they are in the small pool and the main pool is quiet so I have the luxury of a lane to myself. Despite my best intentions, the limited availability over the school holidays and Easter, meant I only managed two training sessions last week, and this week is likely to be similar, as I have Louis on Friday. Nevertheless, today's training session is good, I complete 2.5k in 4 x 500m individual medleys, followed by a 500m warm down on front crawl and backstroke. Afterwards I have a tea and a scone in the cafe, before driving to Saturday Market, to Briggs and Powell, our local hardware store, to sort out the kitchen light. A helpful woman assistant, tells me that T12 tubes have been superseded by slimmer T8's and assures me a T8 should fit and work, offering a refund if it doesn't. The tubes are slightly more expensive than the DIY store, but the helpful advice was worth it. When we return, around three thirty, John is nearly finished and just glossing the doorways. He is also about six foot five, so I enlist his help in fitting the tube, as he can do this without the aid of steps. The T8 works fine, but the diffuser no longer fits, as it worked by clipping on to the body of the fatter T12 tube. I will have to return to Briggs and Powell tomorrow to see if they have any diffusers that clip on to slimmer tubes. I make coffee for John and myself and we chat for a while before he leaves at four thirty. I give Norman his tin and then make a brown rice salad to accompany the cold schnitzels left over from Sunday, accompanied by the remaining glass of Gewürztraminer. At six thirty It is time to set off for the KC stadium, the Tigers are playing Watford tonight, 2nd plays 3rd and if we win, we will be seven points clear in second place. The stadium is packed when I arrive, Watford have brought over a thousand fans and all the seats in the home stands look to be filled. Watford's manager is an ex Italian international, Gianfranco Zola, who used to play for Chelsea and his team is essentially Udinese reserves. Udinese are an Italian Seria A team, and their owners also own Watford, hence the link. In the opening minutes, our flying right winger, Ahmed Elmohammady, is steered into the hoardings by Watford's left back, another ex Italian international. Elmo gets up with a grazed knee and thigh but is somewhat subdued for the rest of the match. The Tigers dominate the opening twenty minutes, but gradually Watford take control, their discipline and ability to keep possession is really impressive and they deservedly take the lead five minutes from half time, with a beautifully crafted and executed goal from their leading scorer, Troy Deaney. After the break, Hull City throw everything at them, but without success and with fifteen minutes to go, the manager makes a double substitution, bringing on two midfielders, Quinn and Evans to replace Bruce and Gedo. This makes an immediate difference, as we were being bossed in midfield and now the roles are reversed. Uncharacteristically, George Boyd shoots straight at the keeper when he is clear through on goal, and several other shots are saved by the young Watford Goalie, who is having a blinder. Despite bringing on another striker, Nick Proschwitz, for a defender, with five minutes to go, Watford hang on to win 0:1. There is nothing like an Italian team to defend a one goal lead! The Tigers are still second in the Championship and Watford still third, but now they are only one point behind us. Perhaps a draw would have been a fairer result. It is a cold night, the temperature has dropped to well below freezing, so I walk briskly from the match and head straight for the chippy down Spring Bank, that is usually open after the match. But not tonight, nor the Chanterlands Avenue Chippy or the one at Mill Lane, when I drive back into Beverley. In the end I drive to Saturday Market and buy a burger and chips from the Ladygate Tandoori takeaway, that stays open until all the pubs shut, and then eat it in the car before driving home. When I open the door Normy is waiting for me wagging his tail, so after letting him into the garden to relieve himself, I give him a few biscuits and then sit him on my knee and tell him about the match before turning in around midnight.