Happy memory.

A happy memory, wow I'm finding this one difficult, don't start feeling sorry for me though, I just can't narrow it down to one memory. 

So I'm going to have to be predictable. 

27th February 2011. 

Wembley Stadium. 

Birmingham City take on Arsenal in the Carling Cup final. 

To any passing Blues fans I'm talking about that day, that match, that wonderful feeling, the atmosphere, the joys not the sorrows that followed it. 

For me it started off wet, it was a cold, wet February day, we'd parked on a friend of a friends drive in Wembley and had walked to the ground so we were soaked. 

I went to the loos and tried to dry my shoes under the hand dryer. 

Then we went to our seats

WOW

We can all say something is breath taking but has it really taken your breath away... That moment did, to see Wembley unfold before me was amazing it took my breath away and I stood speechless for a moment. 

I'm not going to give you an account of the game, that's not my style and to be completely honest as a mum when you go anywhere with your children you've always got one eye on them or in this case me and Jack had our eyes on the backsides of the rather worse for wear girls in front of us!

The build up to the game was exciting and (bias alert) we were the better set of fans. The pitch decoration was awesome and has been Tommys screen saver on many occasions. 

Any journey with a four year old and an eight year is filled with untimely toilet breaks and this day was no exception. 

At 1-1 Paul turned to me and said I think we can do this!

At 2-1 we went BONKERS

And so did everyone else around us!  Two men gambolled through us, I think it's safe to say they'd been drinking! 

Final Whistle. 

We'd done it, we, the under dogs had won. 

I cried, Paul cried, the kids cried. 

Amazing. 

Jack needed the loo just as we were about to lift the cup, so we did a mad run to and from the toilets!

A truly happy memory. That can never be  taken away. 

Wordless Wednesday.

Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers

Jack and Tommy

I love going to the Blues I always have, I loved going when we used to stand on the Kop, I really loved sitting on the Tilton, the singing and the banter was fantastic.I used to stand on the Kop in the early 90’s and then when the ground was rebuilt we had season tickets in the Tilton. My seven year olds first season was in the Tilton corner but he spent most of it with his fingers in his ears so we have relocated as a family to the family stand, it makes more sense, if only for the financial benefits.

I’ve learnt a lot about going to the Blues, little things your average male fan wouldn’t think of, what shoes to wear, what weight of coat to take and whether I will have anywhere to put it if I need to take it off, sunglasses and gloves can be worn on the same day, you can leave the house in a torrential rain storm and be putting on the factor 30 at half time.

Walking up to the ground today to watch the first home game of the season holding my 4 year olds hand was a lovely feeling following my husband and our 7 year old who was about to start his 3^rd season up to the main stand I felt a slight pang, our first date had been at the Blues on Feb 8th in 1992 against West Bromwich Albion and here we were as a family strolling up to the ground.

Our 7 year old expertly lead the way and handed over his ticket and we all followed, Tommy paused to look out over the ground only to drop his ticket on to the roof of the paddock... luckily it was within reach.

From a personal point of view the first half was pretty uneventful, Jack needed the loo half way through and being about 6 people in I thought it might be a bit awkward but everyone stood up and we squeezed out and down to the ladies at the bottom of the stairs with out any trouble at all, no smelly loos, no lack of loo roll, no noisy hand dryer that automatically turns on when a small child brushes past it, no slightly worse for wear man to shout up the blues at us, and most of all no one scored whilst we were in there.

Jack sat on my lap for most of the first half and as there wasn’t anyone in the seat in front of mine we both had a decent view. I think Tommy enjoyed having his younger brother to impart his knowledge on and at half time they stood and looked over the edge. Jacks confidence grew during half time and in the second half he stood or sat in his own seat, clapped Fosters saves, any good chances and all the substitutions. We all clapped cheered jumped up and down and hugged each other when Gardner scored I even got to watch the replay on the big screen, something I didn’t think I would be able to do in the main stand.

I have to now admit that I think I might have thrown him in the air when we scored the second goal but he hasn’t mentioned it so I think its best that I don’t either.

It got a bit edgy towards the end of the game and slightly exciting for the kids when Robinson came up, I was convinced the ref was waiting for them to score before he finally blew his whistle.

Paul gave me a ‘Thank god we won and it was incident free’ smile at full time and we all agreed that it had been a good game and we couldn’t wait for the next.

Final Score Birmingham City 2 - 1 Blackburn Rovers

offically a working mum!

Well where to start!

Such a long gap between blogs I'm so sorry...but I have probably had the busiest year of my life so far!

My temporary work contract turns into a permanent one in January so I can relax a little bit and enjoy making the job my own I will have a bit of playground duty next term so Paul bought me a new water/wind/childproof coat today didn't want to take it off, very cosy and was very tempted to put it back on this evening god its cold!

The under 7s season has gone great so far a few petty bits here and there but to be expected I'm told! We are the only one of three teams in our club with money in the bank, a registered coach and regular training. Tommy is still our top scorer even though hes been in goal a lot and hip hip hooray we actually won a match recently made all the much sweeter as the 'manager' offered to take Paul out on the car park! Paul reminded him he was a member of the FA and watched him shrink away!
Yes i would say that was Paul's high light of the year he is now a FA (level1 - so far) coach and loved every second of it - he was like a kid at Christmas...already set his sights on level 2 and beyond!

Jack gets cheekier day by day and lived up to his name this Christmas with a tin of biscuits from Nanna.
Christmas also meant bikes , why do I have children who can only pedal backwards. I'm beginning to think there is a gap in the market for parenting books...the stuff you need to know once they're out of nappies and in school... how to to teach stuff like shoe lace tying, time telling, swimming, bike riding, falling out with friends,losing (in general - bad losers my lot) and general bribes and lies for an easy life..oh and why you can't swear.

Jack will be 4 in April and we had been telling him his birthday was after Christmas so what did he say boxing day morning....'is it my birthday now!'

Tommy has managed a whole Premier season so far and loves it more and more each game ...getting a bit jealous I mean who wouldn't enjoy being a Birmingham City fan at the moment?.....when I had a season ticket.....well we were crap! Hopefully Jack and me will be there next season...Europe?

Must'nt forget my little bro becoming a dad for the first time they had Ruby on Monday 14th December...they moved house Friday 11th December, crazy times for him but Ruby is gorgeous and mum and baby are doing great.

What about Martha?
I think she has enjoyed the peace and quiet when we are all out, she has a friend staying the night tomorrow! (we are dog sitting on news years eve!) so I'm sure she will sit up all night starring at him!
She has had a relatively calm time since her rabbit hunting on Shell Island, shes had her annual jitters around Bonfire night which cruel though it is can be very funny, its normally difficult to get her in at night but mid October to mid November we can let her out for a wee, someone up the road will let off a banger and whoosh shes in!
Oh yes its New Years tomorrow more fireworks!!!

Happy New Year All

Tommy and Jack made it to youtube!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyvhWBPUNoQ

surviving jitterbugs

Our 6 yr old went to The FA youth cup last night at St Andrews and came home a changed 'man' He has had a season ticket this season and only used it a handful of times so it was lovely to hear him say that a) he wanted to go and b) he had had a good time. His main concern is the noise and cheering when we score...does he not realise that this is Birmingham City we are talking about well known for being an intimidating club(apparently) and we dont score that much!!!!!
Well my 'new' son waltz into jitterbugs this afternoon, ran off and joined in...amazing a transformation!!
Mean while my 3 yr old usually confident and fun loving child, clung onto me and refused to talk to anyone, only opening his mouth to shovel in large quanties of cake.
He was back to his normal self when he got home and 6 yr old taught him to take his top off and exchange shirts in the garden at the end of a match.
As for the dog well she is transformmed too I have only had to 'remove' her from the TV once today (Dr Junos dog on Me Too must have looked at her!!) and she was golden when she went out.
Strange goings on in this house!!!! Voodoo me thinks!!!