Face Of Cheam

Been a quiet time recently. No noteworthy gigs to report though I did go to the Jolly Farmers in Purley a couple of weeks ago for the local band Fire & Water who play tribute to Free & Bad Company in their first set and Led Zep in the second. Only stayed for set one though, and version of Good Lovin Gone Bad and Wishing Well were top notch as always.
This weekend was perfect despite being my birthday (34 aargh!). Firstly on Friday the new series of Peep show started on Channel 4. Not exciting but needed to have a slow start this weekend. Very funny though and hopefully will be watching a recording in the future as it is on Friday nights. Saturday was my actual birthday and in the evening after a few pubs, (one of which was the Hofbrau serving Ship & Shovel in embankment where I hadn’t been before), my brother and sister in law took me to see mind illusionist Derren Brown at the Garrick theatre. This was the 2nd time I have seen him and he is undoubtedly impressive. Having read his book however, you think you know how he does a lot of it, especially as he is basing this act on a 1930s style and has said in the opening a lot of it is based on distraction. Still his timing on some of it must be immaculate. Another plus is that the ice cream sellers also sold Grolsch at the interval.
Sunday was crunch time in the Championship as Saints last game took place at home to Sheffield Utd. An early start and engineering works meant the half eight train from Sutton. However the connecting service was then delayed outside Havant for an hour. Still as I was allowing plenty of time still managed to get down about an hour and a half before kick off. A few calming beers in the royal oak, where the utterly gorgeous barmaid, Amanda, came over and asked how I was. Too nervous about the match and suddenly very tongue tied! She must think I’m a gibbering nutter if she didn’t already alas…
Then onto the match. A must win for Southampton and reliant on other results. I used to kid myself that I enjoyed days like these when we were in the Premiership always surviving on the last day.
Things didn’t start too well as we go one down halfway through the first half. Then shortly after Sheffield Utd attack again and the goalie does a fantastic save and a scramble off the line and possibly post keep us in it. Saganowski gets his first goal for ages just before the break and we’re back level. As it was a sell out there was no chance of a half time beer so after pacing around aimlessly I got back to my seat for a ding-dong second half where two Stern John goals took us twice the lead. With Saints winning, Leicester drawing and Coventry getting thrashed this was enough and although Stern John got sent off ensuing a nailbiting last ten minutes, Saints were safe. Celebrations meant I could walk on the pitch at St Marys before heading back to Sutton for several evening beers with my friends to celebrate not only Saints survival but also my birthday. Top notch all round!