Got the bus into Norwich yesterday for my first stint on the front desk of the Norfolk Family History Society. That's not the funny bit... Just stay with me.
Before going to the society building on St Giles I did my usual - chips from Norwich market. I found a bench at the end of the market and tucked in.
Raised up above the market is the Remembrance Garden. People often sit in this garden to eat their lunch. There's nothing better on a warm day than sitting in the garden and chomping on something bought on the market which has just about every kind of street food imaginable.
Close to where I was sitting was a sign saying "please don't feed the pigeons." As I sat there eating my chips ( funny bit is coming I promise) a pigeon hopped onto my lap. Over 60 years ago this would have delighted me. When we holidayed in London when I was a boy the only place I really wanted to go was Trafalgar Square to feed the pigeons. You bought pigeon feed to obviously encourage the birds to stay there.
Then they decided that the acid in pigeon poop was having a detrimental effect on buildings and the pigeons were banished.
But enough of that. Back to me sitting in Norwich market. I brushed the friendly pigeon away. None of my chips was he having.
I was sitting there minding my business whatever that was at that moment in time when I suddenly got hit on the head with a handful of chips. Somebody had slung chips over the wall for the pigeons. Now wasn't that hilarious I thought as I wiped away the salt and vinegar. I was so shocked I didn't even stand up to remonstrate.
My stint on the front desk was my first. I spent over 10 years as a trustee of the society. Now I've stepped down as a trustee I still want to help the society in a small way and will probably be doing some transcriptions in the future.
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I was very sad to hear that Radio Two's Steve Wright has died suddenly. It came as quite a shock.
He had one of the great radio voices and his shows were always hugely entertaining. I even liked his Sunday Morning Love Songs.
Who remembers DJ Silly Boy? It was Wright's alter ego on his afternoon show on Fridays.
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Norwich manager David Wagner had a go about fickle fans booing his team during the match against Watford.
Actually the fans were booing his tactics. We let a two goal lead slip into 2-2 and for some while the coach's substitutions and tactics were shambolic. We even had one of the Norwich players attempting to score in his own net with a 40 yard back pass. We went onto win 4-2 but Wagner had a go at fans who criticise him and his team and suggested they should stay at home.
I have been critical of his ultra defensive back peddling approach to games and what gives me the right to criticise the manager. How about
1/ I was born and raised in Norwich
2/ I have been actively supporting them for over 60 years
3/ I have seen more Norwich matches than Wagner has had hot dinners
4/ I will still be watching and supporting Norwich long after this coach has departed.
5/ I have played, coached, watched and reported on football for 50 years. When I see a player with acres of space in front of him fail to enter that space and set up an attack but prefer to turn round and play the ball back to his own goalkeeper and when a kick off which should initiate a forward move and attack ends up with our own goalkeeper I feel I have every right to complain.