'It's back', he said. 'What's back?' she inquired. But when she saw his smile, she knew.

The pitch is set. The stick is shiny. The competitive spirit is eager.

Which means only one thing: the mixed hockey season has officially started!

I usually feel really great on Monday nights. I used to think it was because I was still rested from the weekend- a kind of positive hangover.

Then the hockey season ended and I wasn't so buzzing on a Monday night...

So I was left with the conclusion that it must be the hockey that makes me feel so well.

I think its all those en-dolphins flying around my body...

We won tonight (I think) which was good. I played in what is fast becoming my favourite position of right sided winger.
Zooming up the flank, and then flicking it in to the D for a striker to score.

That is, most of the time I pass it in. Sometimes I try and shoot- seeing the headlines: WYLIE WONDER GOAL SEALS VICTORY, STAR WINGER IN STUNNING HAT TRICK...

:-)

Adios.

It's Longbarn time again!

Ah Longbarn! What a great week- new friends, happy memories, and the smell of wood smoke on my clothes!

I've just arrived back to newcastle now and my head is full of Longbarn moments.

Cooking on a fire, laughing with really cool leaders, managing part of a concert, and throwing myself into some great games (sadly the leaders lost at handball- again).

So many great times- making lush pancakes on a fire near the woods, hilarious one liners from the campers and joking about random things till my cheeks ached!

True a shower will be nice, and eating in a quiet place instead of with 50 kids will be a good rest for my ears but it is sad to have left Longbarn again.

Maybe I'll keep a wood-smoked shirt around just to remind me of it all...

Adios.

Mother's day

I'm going to start this short post about mother's day by talking about fathers.

Strange I know.

But it struck me that our greatest ally on this day to celebrate our mothers are our fathers!

A quick ring- what would she like? A text- is now a good time to call her? An email from him, reminding me about today! Or even an elaborate plot hatched to make sure she will be in the house when a son comes to visit unexpectedly. (Not me this time mum I'm afraid.)

So on this great day for mums let's say a thank you for dads too!

When I was small mother's day involved making breakfast in bed, doing a homemade card, and saying whenever she tried to do some work- oh no let me do that, it's MOTHER'S DAY!

Now I'm away in newcastle many miles from home so even if I wanted to do house work for her it would be a struggle!

Thank you to mums for loving, caring, ploughing (into our lives, not fields), supporting, mentoring and guiding us.

And thank you to my mum for all that and more!

Adios.

Missing a spring? It must be Spring, sprung

As I sit here tired, slightly bloodied and with sand in my feet (from hockey) my thoughts turn to Spring.

Have you noticed the tiny buds on the ends of the branches on the trees? Little teardrops of potential which will burst into colourful brilliance in just a few days.

One tree I saw today had already bloomed. Pink flowers flowed over into the road, a sure sign that Spring is here.


The other thing that shows we're into the second season of the year is the lighter evenings. This was particularly noticeable tonight as we started hockey in the daylight. Lovely.

On another weather related note, have you ever looked straight up into the sky when its raining?

If the rain droplets are coming straight down it looks beautiful. In particular if you look up under a streetlight the light creates a beautiful effect. Something worth doing next time you think of it.

Health warning- your face does end up getting pretty wet however!

Well, I'm not far from home now on the metro but just have time to tell you that this is my 60th post- my diamond post!

So, until next time, the slightly less momentous 61st post, adios.

Malta: truly Mediterranean. Pretty good for defecting Libyan fighter pilots too.

The title refers to an advert I saw on the train...

Ahh the south. Warm, sunny, comfortable. Or maybe that's just what being at home is like.

I have been there for only a short time this weekend after a family party in London, but it was lovely.

Yes it is a Monday, and i'm writing this 'live', so I am indeed on holiday. Which is as pleasant and relaxing as it sounds.

I've been thinking recently about all the goings-on in north africa and the middle east. Here I am, in comfort, writing on my blog and posting things on facebook, but some people in libya or iran or egypt are posting messages covertly about their situation, probably risking their lives in the process.

I've heard it said that the time we should really be concerned is if a revolution starts in saudi arabia. We "have to worry" because it would send oil prices through the roof and we'd pay loads more for petrol.

I'm sorry?

If such a revolution took place people, who are most likely heavily repressed, would be taking an extremely brave stand and saying they have had enough. They may be facing beatings, imprisonment, even death. But the concern here is about how much it costs to fill up our cars?!

Surely we've got something wrong there.

Adios.

It's Monday, so it's hockey.

4-3 to us. I'm clocking up the wins! That's two (or three, the press association doesn't keep a record of Monday night newcastle matches) wins on the spin.

England will soon be calling. :-)

My Monday night adventure

It's a bitter night here temperature wise. I'm waiting to go to hockey.

Birmingham was so good. (See previous post) It was great to see Jono in his 'natural habitat' - at least his natural habitat for half the year.

On the metro train now. Yesterday I was on a metro that would more accurately be described as a sauna on wheels. The heat was intense!

I'm going to be late for hockey which may mean I miss the 'run round the pitch jumping up and down' section.

This is followed by the 'dynamic stretching' section and then drills and then THE GAME. :-)

THE GAME is generally my favourite bit. If you've ever played a game - of any type- with me you'll know I'm very competitive.

And so in THE GAME I put all of my effort in to haring up and down the pitch doing my best to tackle/pass/shoot/block.

----

It's now two hours later.

THE GAME's result? 3-2 to us. :-) With me on the score sheet!

I did miss the run around and stretches but did plenty of drills followed by THE you-know-what. Started off in defence and made a couple of goal line blocks.

Later I switched and went into midfield, collected a cracking pass and whipped the ball into the goal!! :-)

Very pleased.

Off home now to iron some shirts...

Adios