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The Chicken Song
May. 13th, 2018 10:17 pmTo Malvern yesterday to join my cousin Sam and her boyfriend Dave for Eurovision. We were joined by a couple they're friends with, Tina and Darryl. Darryl is an Aussie, so my supporting Jessica Mauboy got a thumbs up from him - as did the lady herself.
Sam had had a go at making Portugal's national dish of seafood and rice, arroz de marisco. Despite her misgivings, it turned out rather tasty. We had a few anxious moments leading up to the Contest when the TV signal kept cutting out; happily Darryl was able to fix it by adjusting the set top box.
Darryl kept up a stream of jokey observations throughout, though some went over our heads. Our chat meant we heard only some of Graham Norton's commentary so at first we weren't sure what was happening with the stage invader during SuRie's performance. Once it became clear, we all thought SuRie's sheer professionalism and bravery in carrying on ought to help her with the voters. Darryl and I loved Jessica Mauboy, her song and her outfit, but Dave, Sam and Tina weren't keen on her at all. When the Israeli singer appeared, starting her entry with a couple of strange noises, I thought "just another weird entry that'll sink without trace" and wasn't feeling her at all - especially when she launched into a chicken impression - but Sam, Dave, Tina and Darryl all absolutely loved her. So did Europe, as it turned out. During the voting, as Israel and Austria emerged as the front runners we speculated as to what food Sam would be having a try at making for us next year - Wienerschnitzel, strudl and Sachertorte or falafel, gefilte fish and matzo balls. Tina had hysterics whenever I said matzo balls.
Sam dropped me at Malvern Link station this morning to catch the train to London for Millwall Lionesses v Doncaster Belles. The Lionesses play at the new Fisher ground; it was strange seeing the new houses, a street called Fisher Close, now on the site of the old ground which held so many memories for me. Arrived inside to find the stadium no longer has a licence to sell alcohol, so there was no bar, just a tea hut with tables. I wasn't enraptured knowing I'd have to watch the match stone cold sober.
Happily, I soon met my mate Jamie, who I'd always known as an Arsenal fan. I assumed he was taking in an extra game as he often does around London, but he told me "things had happened" at Arsenal and he now supports Millwall Lionesses. We found a good vantage point standing at pitchside. I joined Jamie in cheering on the Lionesses; they came close to scoring several times but were unable to get the ball in the net. Both keepers, Belles' Bethan Davies and Millwall's Sarah Quantrill, played blinders. At half time I got to say hello to the Belles fans I know, Kyle, Laura and Alan. Midway through the second half Belles got a breakthrough when a shot was deflected by a Millwall defender into her own net. Despite Millwall chances, 1-0 was how it ended.
I got the autographs of my favourite Millwall player Viki Wotton and some of her team-mates. Belles had been confirmed as division champions before kick-off, so their players went wild celebrating at the end and made for the dressing room. We heard them let off a bottle of champagne. After a while fans were let in to meet the celebrating Belles in the dressing room. I joined them; after the players had led the Belles fans in a couple of chants, a coach was about to show us all out, so I asked her if I could speak to Sophie Bradley-Auckland who I know from Notts. The coach went round the corner where Sophie was sat out of view, and Sophie emerged. I said congratulations to her and that I was glad she had a winner's medal after everything that had happened. She said "It was worth it." I said well played and 'have a nice summer' and wended my way out of the ground.
Shared a Tube carriage and chat with a group of beery but friendly enough Millwall men's fans who'd come along to a women's game for the first time after hearing the team was under threat of extinction. I had just one stop with them before having to change lines. 50 minute wait at Euston thanks to my not noticing the ticket machine right by my platform and going off to use one in another part of the station - that turned out to be non-working.
Finally arriving home about 7.40, I popped a Leighton Buzzard Brewery beer infused with Kentucky Bourbon in the fridge.
Sam had had a go at making Portugal's national dish of seafood and rice, arroz de marisco. Despite her misgivings, it turned out rather tasty. We had a few anxious moments leading up to the Contest when the TV signal kept cutting out; happily Darryl was able to fix it by adjusting the set top box.
Darryl kept up a stream of jokey observations throughout, though some went over our heads. Our chat meant we heard only some of Graham Norton's commentary so at first we weren't sure what was happening with the stage invader during SuRie's performance. Once it became clear, we all thought SuRie's sheer professionalism and bravery in carrying on ought to help her with the voters. Darryl and I loved Jessica Mauboy, her song and her outfit, but Dave, Sam and Tina weren't keen on her at all. When the Israeli singer appeared, starting her entry with a couple of strange noises, I thought "just another weird entry that'll sink without trace" and wasn't feeling her at all - especially when she launched into a chicken impression - but Sam, Dave, Tina and Darryl all absolutely loved her. So did Europe, as it turned out. During the voting, as Israel and Austria emerged as the front runners we speculated as to what food Sam would be having a try at making for us next year - Wienerschnitzel, strudl and Sachertorte or falafel, gefilte fish and matzo balls. Tina had hysterics whenever I said matzo balls.
Sam dropped me at Malvern Link station this morning to catch the train to London for Millwall Lionesses v Doncaster Belles. The Lionesses play at the new Fisher ground; it was strange seeing the new houses, a street called Fisher Close, now on the site of the old ground which held so many memories for me. Arrived inside to find the stadium no longer has a licence to sell alcohol, so there was no bar, just a tea hut with tables. I wasn't enraptured knowing I'd have to watch the match stone cold sober.
Happily, I soon met my mate Jamie, who I'd always known as an Arsenal fan. I assumed he was taking in an extra game as he often does around London, but he told me "things had happened" at Arsenal and he now supports Millwall Lionesses. We found a good vantage point standing at pitchside. I joined Jamie in cheering on the Lionesses; they came close to scoring several times but were unable to get the ball in the net. Both keepers, Belles' Bethan Davies and Millwall's Sarah Quantrill, played blinders. At half time I got to say hello to the Belles fans I know, Kyle, Laura and Alan. Midway through the second half Belles got a breakthrough when a shot was deflected by a Millwall defender into her own net. Despite Millwall chances, 1-0 was how it ended.
I got the autographs of my favourite Millwall player Viki Wotton and some of her team-mates. Belles had been confirmed as division champions before kick-off, so their players went wild celebrating at the end and made for the dressing room. We heard them let off a bottle of champagne. After a while fans were let in to meet the celebrating Belles in the dressing room. I joined them; after the players had led the Belles fans in a couple of chants, a coach was about to show us all out, so I asked her if I could speak to Sophie Bradley-Auckland who I know from Notts. The coach went round the corner where Sophie was sat out of view, and Sophie emerged. I said congratulations to her and that I was glad she had a winner's medal after everything that had happened. She said "It was worth it." I said well played and 'have a nice summer' and wended my way out of the ground.
Shared a Tube carriage and chat with a group of beery but friendly enough Millwall men's fans who'd come along to a women's game for the first time after hearing the team was under threat of extinction. I had just one stop with them before having to change lines. 50 minute wait at Euston thanks to my not noticing the ticket machine right by my platform and going off to use one in another part of the station - that turned out to be non-working.
Finally arriving home about 7.40, I popped a Leighton Buzzard Brewery beer infused with Kentucky Bourbon in the fridge.
