Just finished this year's effort - Doctor Who firing his sonic screwdriver, and an exploding Tardis...
Thursday 28 October 2010
Doctor Who pumpkin for Halloween 2010
Happy Halloween!
Just finished this year's effort - Doctor Who firing his sonic screwdriver, and an exploding Tardis...
Just finished this year's effort - Doctor Who firing his sonic screwdriver, and an exploding Tardis...
Wednesday 27 October 2010
Recipe: NewcastleDavey's spicy pumpkin soup
I've been making this for the last few years and it's difficult to get wrong. So, wash your hands & warm yourself up this Halloween with this delicious and spicy pumpkin soup :-
Cooking time: 45 mins
Serves: 5
What you'll need:
- The flesh of two medium pumpkins (take the seeds and 'hair' out first)
- Two medium onions
- Four chicken stock cubes
- One pint of boiling water
- Four red chillies (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
- Two medium red peppers
- 6 cloves of garlic
- Olive oil
- A couple of pinches of ground black pepper
And of course...
- A big cooking pot or pan
- Measuring jug
- Knives
- Chopping board
- Wooden spoon
- Electric stick blender
What to do:
- Scoop out the flesh from your pumpkins.
- Chop the chilli, onions, garlic and peppers fairly coarsely.
- Heat a good splash of olive oil in your pan and add the above chilli, onion, garlic & peppers.
- Boil the kettle and dissolve your stock cubes in a pint of boiling water.
- Stir the contents of your pan a bit until the onion starts to go soft.
- Pour and stir in the stock water from step 3.
- Bring to the boil and add the pepper & fold in your pumpkin flesh.
- Cover the pan and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the pumpkin is soft enough to mash, then blend.
Top tips: Why not carve a face or some such image into the pumpkin shells whilst the soup's simmering. Place a lit tea light inside the pumkin and dim the lights for full effect. Don't forget you've got a pan of bubbling, hot soup on the cooker...
Enjoy.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
New adventures in trainspotting: goal nets
I know I'm not alone in enjoying a good goal at a match, and I'm also sure I'm not alone in feeling that a large part of the excitement of a goal being scored is how the goal and net interact with the ball is it passes over the line. Regardless of the approach play involved, balls that go in off the post or bar, strike some support structure within the goal and either nestle sweetly or bounce back out somehow seem better goals than those which merely cross the line or disappear within a billowing net bag. Alas, the times they are a-changing. Or to be more accurate, they already have changed.
The football goal, is functional yet beautiful and iconic. Oft nicknamed the "onion bag", the football goal is the focal point of either end of a football pitch and without them, the game wouldn't be the same - for that matter, neither would Aberdeen FC's club crest which depicts the side profile of a traditional goal post with a ball in the centre to form an "A". They deserve to be considered stylish and recognised for the part they play in the game, indeed, how they can define a football ground. But, they've never been the same since the mid-80s when the advent of the "box profile net" began to take hold - the 1986 World Cup in Mexico heralding the future of goal nets, although they did make an appearance at the games in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.
With no inner support structures and with cord stretching from the top of each post to a support pole a few yards behind to support the netting, they're another example of how stale the game has become these days. The box net (left) basically provides four faces of a rectangular cuboid of goal net. Exciting at first - something new - but almost too functional to be cool and they don't make for the spectacular finishes described earlier. Fast forward thirty or so years and you now find them at almost every league ground - even some non-league grounds - reacting like a large string vest flouncing around on a washing line on receipt of a thirty yard screamer. And this is the trouble I have, with both the style of net, and the fact they're everywhere. Box nets do of course have their advantages - crisp in appearance and no stanchions to confuse referees - less chance of balls bouncing back out of the goal as if they may have hit the post - but at the same time I feel they're just a bit too clinical.
The classic styles from yesteryear appear to be long gone. Wembley along with others replaced their long standing 'long arm' stanchion goals for Euro '96 and the elbow loops of countless goals eventually succumbed. Before long, the characterful, shallow and tight backed goal nets of QPR, Southampton, Luton and Liverpool were no more. Slowly but surely, tens of league grounds' goalposts across the country relinquished their charm. In addition, stadia across the land lost part of their charm too.
Varying forms of traditional stanchion can lay claim to being, in some part, responsible for some of the most spectacular goals ever scored. In 1981, loop stanchions gave us Trevor Brooking's memorable England goal, his left footed strike wedging itself in the loop stanchion almost giving the goalkeeper a walk of shame to pluck the ball from the top of the goal. Two years earlier, Glenn Hoddle's screamer at White Hart Lane took full advantage of what I'd call, "a proper goal net".
Between the 1960s and mid 1990s, the goals at St James' Park hadn't changed much, elbow loop stanchions with white netting the design of choice on Tyneside. They weren't the most exciting goal post in the world but they contributed to some memorable and spectacular finishes. In 1988, Paul Gascoigne scored a screamer at the Gallowgate end against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup - the ball clipping the underside of the bar and bobbling in the loop. In fact, he pretty much repeated the feat in the next round at home to Swindon with a sublime, placed shot into the top corner (30 seconds in), and of course, we must mention Malcolm MacDonald's debut goal -the first of his debut hat-trick - at home to Liverpool in '71 which was placed right in the top corner. Beautiful.
Reach further back in history, and abroad, for a weird and wonderful world of outlandish goal nets. In 1969, Newcastle United's visit to Hungary for the second leg of the Fairs Cup final is a fond memory for any Newcastle fan - for me, the stripey goal posts were as incredible as the result. Ben Arentoft's 50th minute equaliser reacted well with the fairly taught net and back poles as he reeled away, and as Newcastle grasped European success.
Check out World Cup highlights from the 70s and you'll find more examples of the unusual yet wonderful goal designs, and how they contributed to the aesthetic of some spectacular and memorable goals. The 1970 final hinted at what was to come although they still had the decency to retain horizontal support poles above the net.
There are many more examples and I'm sure you'll all have your favourites but if I had one, somewhat superficial, wish for the future of football, it would be that the design of goals in grounds can once again be more freehand. That they can reform their own expressions and augment the aesthetic of the 'spectacular finish'. That thirty yards screamers can rediscover the benefit of "hitting the top corner" and more importantly, that stadia up and down the country can once again be recognised by the shape of their onion bags.
The football goal, is functional yet beautiful and iconic. Oft nicknamed the "onion bag", the football goal is the focal point of either end of a football pitch and without them, the game wouldn't be the same - for that matter, neither would Aberdeen FC's club crest which depicts the side profile of a traditional goal post with a ball in the centre to form an "A". They deserve to be considered stylish and recognised for the part they play in the game, indeed, how they can define a football ground. But, they've never been the same since the mid-80s when the advent of the "box profile net" began to take hold - the 1986 World Cup in Mexico heralding the future of goal nets, although they did make an appearance at the games in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. |
| Boxy McBox |
 |
| Wembley's classic long arm, in 1987 |
Varying forms of traditional stanchion can lay claim to being, in some part, responsible for some of the most spectacular goals ever scored. In 1981, loop stanchions gave us Trevor Brooking's memorable England goal, his left footed strike wedging itself in the loop stanchion almost giving the goalkeeper a walk of shame to pluck the ball from the top of the goal. Two years earlier, Glenn Hoddle's screamer at White Hart Lane took full advantage of what I'd call, "a proper goal net".
 |
| St James' Park's loops in the '80s |
 |
| "...it's a goal, it's a lovely goal..." |
 |
| The Azteca Stadium hints at the future in 1970 |
There are many more examples and I'm sure you'll all have your favourites but if I had one, somewhat superficial, wish for the future of football, it would be that the design of goals in grounds can once again be more freehand. That they can reform their own expressions and augment the aesthetic of the 'spectacular finish'. That thirty yards screamers can rediscover the benefit of "hitting the top corner" and more importantly, that stadia up and down the country can once again be recognised by the shape of their onion bags.
Monday 25 October 2010
The discourse community of football
"Football's just a branch of science", so sang the theme tune of 'Jossy's Giants', but in a broad sense it could also lend a hand to the study of humanities.
For some time, it has occurred to me that school pupils should be actively encouraged to study football as part of their English lessons. Football's rich lexicon has a lot to offer in terms of boosting an impressionable child's vocabulary. Indeed I recall being able to understand almost all of what Brian Moore and Barry Davies used to tell me whilst still at primary school - everything but the latter's evident dislike for my team. I understood that St James' Park's East Stand was designed with a cantilever roof, and I knew what that meant. European football coverage delivered the concept of aggregate scores as well as away goals, although I never did understand why commentators would insist that away goals counted double (they don't).
My introduction to watching football live, in a football ground was in the very early '80s. The concept of separating opposing fans inside the ground had been introduced and quickly I gained an understanding of the word segregation, meanwhile even the technical term for the humble goal net support structure also entered my vocabulary. Whilst playing for Crystal Palace in 1980, Clive Allen's sublime free-kick rebounded out of the goal and back into play. The referee, thinking the ball had struck the post, waved play on and during the protests, Clive can be clearly be seen screaming about the ball hitting the stanchion.
The scope for encouraging learning through football isn't restricted to just the development of English language skills but I think it's an example of how football can be used in education by leveraging a child's enthusiasm for something exciting, fun and not traditionally associated with learning. By bringing the world of football to the classroom, just think, subconsciously a child of eight or nine can begin to gain a healthy exposure to other words such as:
association, substitute, infringement, equalise, advantage, misconduct, caution, ricochet, erratic, disciplinary, suspension, abandoned, concession
As 'Half Man Half Biscuit' once said, "Apart from on commentary, where else on earth can you hear the word aplomb being used?"
 |
| Brian Moore's head |
 |
| Clive Allen complaining |
The scope for encouraging learning through football isn't restricted to just the development of English language skills but I think it's an example of how football can be used in education by leveraging a child's enthusiasm for something exciting, fun and not traditionally associated with learning. By bringing the world of football to the classroom, just think, subconsciously a child of eight or nine can begin to gain a healthy exposure to other words such as:
association, substitute, infringement, equalise, advantage, misconduct, caution, ricochet, erratic, disciplinary, suspension, abandoned, concession
As 'Half Man Half Biscuit' once said, "Apart from on commentary, where else on earth can you hear the word aplomb being used?"
Monday 18 October 2010
Sunday 17 October 2010
Jesus saves, but Coloccini heads home the rebound
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| God delivers the half time team talk, yesterday |
Sure enough, forty five minutes later - despite referee Pontious Halsey's continued hinderance - disciples Ameobi and Coloccini combine to rescue a point. Hallelujah indeed.
Friday 15 October 2010
Pumpkin madness
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| 2007: "I want to play a game" |
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| 2008: "Howay the lads" |
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| 2008: "Come Together" |
Who could forget the cleverly staged scene depicting a pumpkin spewing its insides down some steps. In an instant, the humble, custom of carving a face in the side of a seasonal fruit turned on its head and suddenly, I became intrigued and inspired.
 |
| 2009: "Aye aye captain" |
Update: Subsequent efforts include:
2010: Doctor Who
2012: Gus Fring from Breaking Bad
2013: Peppa Pig
2014: Disney fairy
2015: Ghostbusters
Wednesday 13 October 2010
Volcano sacks publicist
Once the darling of the media world and the focus of world attention, Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano (rapper name: "E15") erupted during April and May of 2010 and caused disruption to thousands of flights across the world. Since calming down, media attention has turned to other hot topics such as the General Election, the World Cup, the Chile mining disaster and Whitley Bay retaining the FA Vase. As a result E15 has somewhat disappeared from the public eye and has subsequently fired its publicist, Dax Bifford.
"It was only meant to last for a week but I enjoyed the attention so much I just kept going. I loved the fame, I became a monster and wanted to go on forever. In the end, I was worn out so I had to pack it in", explained E15 from its home in Southern Iceland. E15 went on to explain, "Mr Bifford told me that 'today's news is tomorrow's whale & chips wrapper'. I felt a bit fobbed off but I realised he was right and I've decided to let him go."
E15's voice subsided, "I apologise for all the disruption I've caused and I now realise my 15 minutes of fame are up. I am happy I'll always be remembered but I know now that I need to allow my crater walls to go cold and leave the headlines free for more important things."
Resigned to a quieter life, E15 has since been recouperating; taking in a spot of fishing, bird watching and firing out large plumes of hot water vapour from time to time. Some slight seismic activity had been observed during early June but E15 just "had a bit of a cough" and posed no threat to the World Cup build up.
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| Eyjafjallajokull at the height of fame |
E15's voice subsided, "I apologise for all the disruption I've caused and I now realise my 15 minutes of fame are up. I am happy I'll always be remembered but I know now that I need to allow my crater walls to go cold and leave the headlines free for more important things."
Resigned to a quieter life, E15 has since been recouperating; taking in a spot of fishing, bird watching and firing out large plumes of hot water vapour from time to time. Some slight seismic activity had been observed during early June but E15 just "had a bit of a cough" and posed no threat to the World Cup build up.
Sunday 10 October 2010
North Shields 2 Birtley Town 2
Northern League Division 2
9th October 2010
Ralph Gardner Park, North Shields
Attendance: 124
My second visit to North Shields happily coincided with my second Birtley Town game so it was somewhat fitting that the final score ended up at 2-2. With numerologists frothing over the date turning 10/10/10, I decide to celebrate John Lennon's 70th birthday by taking in a mouth-watering Northern League division 2 clash. I arrive in NE29 to grey but relatively mild weather conditions, and two goalkeepers warming up together on the pitch.
The crowd, partisan but friendly, give the teams a warm welcome as they enter the field, both sides wearing their native colours; Shields in all red and the visitors in green and white hoops. Liverpool v Celtic, if you will. The first half is an energetic but scrappy affair and few chances are carved out until midway through the half when the visitors have a goal ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. On 40 minutes and with our half time Bovril approaching, Shields open the scoring with a fine header. Birtley kick off, quickly regroup and level matters on the stroke of half time after some hesitant Shields defending.
With some folk still negotiating half time refreshments, Birtley take a surprise 2-1 lead and begin to assert some authority on the game. The game beginning to run away, the home bench barks instruction and Shields throw everything forward. Shields press but lack the finishing touch, Birtley meanwhile soak up the onslaught, always looking dangerous on the counter. The referee, whilst finicky, aloof and a bit 'corned beef', shows good judgement to award the home side a late penalty following a hand ball. 2-2. Probably fair.
9th October 2010
Ralph Gardner Park, North Shields
Attendance: 124
My second visit to North Shields happily coincided with my second Birtley Town game so it was somewhat fitting that the final score ended up at 2-2. With numerologists frothing over the date turning 10/10/10, I decide to celebrate John Lennon's 70th birthday by taking in a mouth-watering Northern League division 2 clash. I arrive in NE29 to grey but relatively mild weather conditions, and two goalkeepers warming up together on the pitch.
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| Shields go one up |
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| Shields make it 2-2 from the spot |
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