Football Tourism

We had been to a few matches in London at the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal) and Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) - so to expand our appreciation of 'the beautiful game' (as they call it) and its ugly fans... we jumped at the opportunity to go to Anfield when friends suggested that they could get away supporter tickets to see Chelsea take on Liverpool.

It was great - I'm not sure I've ever been in a similarly 'charged' atmosphere. People hated us, (and we hated them for the 90 minutes plus halftime) - The job of the away supporter section is to be the antagonists - singing songs (the lyrics of which are not fit to print here), pointing fingers, and generally trying to be louder than the over 40,000 Liverpool fans.

under the Chelsea banner

the guys in front of us

the security guys between our small section and the Liverpool supporters

It was a really good weekend - from the train ride up (getting back was a different story because of the snow that shut down the country), to getting to explore a new city in the UK (Beatles songs have been stuck in my head since as it was almost omnipresent), the atmosphere on the streets around the stadium as we searched for a place to get food (the Liverpool street dogs were just not that tasty...), and then the great people that wanted to talk to 'the Americans' in a great little local pub we found after the match.

post match security deployed

So we're creatively dubbing it football tourism, and we're already excited for Newcastle in April.

Here is a link to the top stadiums in the Premier League as rated by away supporters
and
the BBC's Premier League section

Liverpool (not footbal related)

Instead of creating a separate photo page I thought I'd just upload some of what I saw as we were in Liverpool on a Sunday-Tuesday to see a football match.

We stayed at a new hotel that pays homage to Liverpool's 'favourite' sons and it was a really great location to be able to explore and get a good feel for the city.

Liverpool was the 'European Capital of Culture for 2008 (it is Vilnius, Lithuania for 2009 if anyone is looking for a travel tip...) - so there was a tremendous amount of effort and funds devoted to a regeneration of certain areas and polishing of others that could be seen as we walked around.

the Liverpool Cathedral (more info here)

..and inside

'we all live in a....'

the Tate Liverpool museum is on the left with the orange pillars

our delayed train... can you see it? neither could we...

and this is why

It was a good trip - you can see the whole city in two days -- and we enjoyed it -- the people we met were nice, their accent is great, we had a really good meal, saw some history (recent, musical, WW2, maritime, etc) as well as the match at Anfield.

quick horn tooting...

At the end of my first full season of playing at Old Fold Manor Golf Club I managed to take two of the 'major' tournaments played throughout the year...

The Jubilee Trophy

This post is not meant to be a 'look at me, I won' -- just wanted to show / share -- one of my goals had been to make sure that I won one of these events while playing at a UK club so that my name gets added to one of the wooden boards throughout the clubhouse for posterity - and I got to bring home the trophies for a month (which adds an unnecessary challenge/responsibility to our efforts next weekend when we 'move flats')

The National Playing Fields Salver

so - now that the 09 season has kicked off (unofficially as its been the coldest and whitest winter on record for 10 years +) - its back to it again hoping that I have some good play and good fortune in this year's events.

the OFM awards dinner...

Can't get enough...

Of this salad that I found on Smitten Kitchen.

Kerry recommended the site for me, and I check it regularly for ideas. She is a wonderful, city cook and photographer and a former vegetarian. I love that she cooks in a tiny kitchen, with no dishwasher and that she has a passion for what she does. (The photo above is from her as well.)

I made this salad about two weeks ago, and had it on a week night paired with a whole wheat pita, and green salad dressed with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper. I was amazed at how flavorful it was, and how satisfying during a cold winter night. The lemon-tahini pairing was huge, and it was filling yet healthy. I quickly made another batch for TJ, and we loved having it on hand for a quick weekend lunch.

Now this week, I've made a double batch and I can't wait for dinner tonight. Thanks Kerry!
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Warm Butternut and Chickpea Salad with Tahini Dressing
Smitten Kitchen: Adapted from Orangette, who adapted it from Casa Moro

Yield: 4 servings

For salad:
1 medium butternut squash (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/2 teaspoons ground allspice (I skip this)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (1 1/2 cups)
1/4 of a medium red onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

For tahini dressing:
1 medium garlic clove, finely minced with a pinch of salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons well-stirred tahini
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more to taste

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

In a large bowl, combine the butternut squash, garlic, allspice, olive oil, and a few pinches of salt. Toss the squash pieces until evenly coated. Roast them on a baking sheet for 25 minutes, or until soft. Remove from the oven and cool.

Meanwhile, make the tahini dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic and lemon juice. Add the tahini, and whisk to blend. Add the water and olive oil, whisk well, and taste for seasoning. The sauce should have plenty of nutty tahini flavor, but also a little kick of lemon. You will probably need to add more water to thin it out.

To assemble the salad, combine the squash, chickpeas, onion, and cilantro or parsley in a mixing bowl. Either add the tahini dressing to taste, and toss carefully, or you could serve the salad with the dressing on the side. Serve immediately.

Do ahead: Molly says this salad, lightly dressed, keeps beautifully in the fridge, that you should hold a little of the dressing on the side and that it can be reheated in the microwave. I, for one, have never had any leftovers.

Quintin Head Race

We are in a new season for rowing - Summer is shorter Regattas and Winter is longer Head Races. We competed in our first - the Quintin Head a few weekends ago. (I am in seat number 5.)

Training has been a bit more intense. I awake at 6:00 each weekend morning, for the first outing at 7:45. We're usually out on the water until sometime around 10:00 - then head into the club for some tea and biscuits - then back on the water for the second outing until about 12:30.

I'd love to report that with all of this training, we blew out the competition and finished in the top boats at Quintin. But alas...we rowed up to the start, boat 94 out of 99 - passing our competition along the way.

Our competition in the Women's Novices division were 16 yr old girls. They had pig-tails and leg warmers. And the blew past us, one by one. We finished last.

But what a good day...and each weekend morning when I feel sick to my stomach getting up that early and exhausted each afternoon....there is always a moment of glory. Being on the river that early in the morning with the sun rising, hearing the birds talking to each other and the sound of the boat...I am amazed that at my age, I am participating in this fantastic sport. (And then the day dreams stops as I get a blade in the back because I am out of time, or catch a small crab, or feel a leg cramp....and I am brought back to earth.)

Hampstead Heath - yet again!

I can't get enough! TJ and I stole away for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon in January - after rowing and golf...to go on a long walk in the Heath.

There were kite-fliers on Kite Hill....

a cold snap to the air....
and a bright winter light.


The colors and light are amazing. I could have afternoons like this every week and be completely content.

After seeing it covered with snow just a few weeks later, I'm already looking forward to the blanket of green it will wear in the Spring.

All pictures are here....(have you had enough of pictures of the Heath?)

SNOW!

I am a little behind in the posts...but thought that since this topic is gettin' all the press, it would be timely.

We awoke after a night in Liverpool, (watching the 'football'....hence the need for more posts,) and I came down into the hotel lobby for a morning run, to see the tv screens all turned to CNN and the big ticker....

"LONDON UNDERGROUND - ALL LINES SUSPENDED! NO BUS SERVICE DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER!"




No tube...no buses...hmmmm. (I was mocked a bit for saying..."The tubes are down, the tubes are down." I guess the correct term, is the underground. Pllllbbbbbbhhhhhhsssss. That's my raspberry.)

We spent the day with our eyes on the storm, talking about how amazing the city must be....and checking the train schedule for updates hourly. After one canceled train, and a pretty lengthly delay, we arrived home to a quiet city. The underground was back up and the sidewalks and stoops were covered with snow.

The next day was another snowday - and we headed out in the heath. Beautiful!



All Pictures are here!