Being clear is essential. To illustrate this, I’d like to provide you with a few useful examples:
Firstly, there is the problem of ambiguity: Children can make delicious snacks. Red tape holds up new bridge. Don’t let worry kill you, let the church help.Secondly, the importance of punctuation: Danger! No swimming allowed! Or: Danger? No! Swimming allowed! Let’s eat, Grandpa. Or: Let’s eat Grandpa. The man dropped the bullet in his mouth. Or: The man dropped, the bullet in his mouth.Thirdly, capital letters: I helped my Uncle Jack off the horse.Finally, grammar – the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you’re shit.
I cannot take the credit for these examples as they are readily available via a simple internet search and no one person seems to be an obvious originator of any of them.
A record of the sporting events I’ve attended in 12 months between August 13th 2011 and August 3rd 2012
13th August 2011 Wigan vs Norwich City (1-1) The one event at which I failed to take a single picture or anything…
27th August 2011 Chelsea vs Norwich (3-1)
We left my mum’s house in the west of Ireland at 7.45am and missed the 3pm kick-off by 10 minutes having had an epic journey including a flight from Knock to Leeds, dropping off eldest at home in Holmfirth before driving to Rickmansworth where we parked the car at Drew Buddie‘s house before taking a tube that we eventually bailed out of at Baker Street when we realised there would be a chance we might miss the whole game. A London taxi took us the last few miles and provided commentary via the radio. Spent a lovely evening with Drew and his kids post-match.
17th September 2011 Bolton vs Norwich City (1-2)
Victory!
1st October 2011 Manchester Utd vs Norwich City (2-0)
An impressive performance from City, missed a few great chances and could have had a draw at least. “We’ve come for our scarves!”
22nd October 2011 Liverpool vs Norwich City
My favourite sporting experience thanks to the kindness of Pete Rafferty and others. Read all about it here.
5th November 2011 Aston Villa vs Norwich City (3-2)
If we knew then what we know now… (Paul Lambert’s departure to Villa).
26th November 2011 6 Days of Ghent Track Cycling
Another memorable ‘away’ trip – this time abroad. A full account can be found on John Sutton’s ‘Irontwit’ blog where I wrote a guest post.
3rd December 2011 Manchester City vs Norwich City (5-1)
Something of a humiliation by the eventual league winners.
17th December Everton vs Norwich City (1-1)
A brief Youtube from this one, too:
2nd January 2012 QPR vs Norwich City (1-2)
7th January 2012 Revolution Track Cycling Manchester
Having enjoyed the cycling in Ghent, we went as a whole family to the Manchester Velodrome.
14th January 2012 West Bromwich Albion vs Norwich City (1-2)
The first of two victories over West Brom in as many weeks.
28th January 2012 (FA Cup 4th Round) West Bromwich Albion vs Norwich City (1-2)
1st February 2012 Sunderland vs Norwich City (3-0)
A miserable mid-week evening fixture. A long journey and bitterly cold. Norwich failed to turn up… I really felt for those fans that had travelled all the way from Norfolk.
17th March 2012 England vs Ireland (6 Nations Rugby) (30-9)
Amazing experience, only marred by the result.
18th March Newcastle Utd vs Norwich City (1-0)
The stadium that impressed me most. Also another ‘take an away fan to the game’ experience. This time we met up with Liam Murphy.
9th April 2012 Tottenham Hotspur vs Norwich City (1-2)
The winning goal:
(Must remember to hold the phone the right way round…)
A sweet, sweet victory.
21st April Blackburn Rovers vs Norwich City (2-0)
Having ensured top flight survival, this felt like players’ hearts just weren’t in it.
26th July 2012 Olympic Football, Old Trafford United Arab Emirates vs Uraguay (1-2) Great Britain vs Senegal (1-1)
A strange but nevertheless fulfilling experience. I wrote about it here.
3rd August 2012 Olympic Park and Ladies’ Basketball Angola vs Croatia (56-75) Russia vs Australia (66-70)
An experience never to be forgotten. The teamimg throngs on the Olympic Park, the buzz, the friendliness and the basketball itself all bathed in beautiful sunshine.
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