Premier league

Hello everyone!!

Last night's premier league match was SO great!! I realised it was the sixth country I've now been to football in (sorry Pa, I get teased over here if I say soccer!); Australia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and England. I got home from school, bolted down some dinner, put on my winter clothes (thermals! How exciting!!) and then set off. It felt like I was going to a Friday night game at the MCG!

Walked to the station with my backpack while chatting to Jamie. When I hung up Stephen (who I was going to the football with) had messaged me saying there were severe delays on the district and Hammersmith & City lines due to a 'passenger incident' at Upton Park (the station we required). Awesome! Got the northern, central then district lines to avoid as much as I could. The district line part of my journey (five stops) took 50 minutes due to banked up trains. I arrived at Upton Park at 7.20pm, and Stephen was held up even longer, arriving at 7.50. We legged it to the match. The atmosphere outside was cool. People chanting, police on horses "just in case" (Uruguay flashbacks - shudders!). Apparently the trains and traffic were so bad that Newcastle walked the last mile to the ground and were nearly late too!

Luckily for us the turnstiles we needed were close by. We went through, the bag check was MCG-esque:

Man opens bag

Me: "it's literally clothes"

Man: "go in"

I must look trustworthy :)

We made it in just as the game started and took our seats when it was 40 seconds in. Just missed the 'blowing bubbles' song but there was more singing to come. 

For the next 90 minutes I was entranced. I never used to like football (sorry again pa!). Scratch that, I used to despise it. And there are still some things I dislike (0-0 draws, sooky players). But the premier league was AMAZING! So much faster than our crappy A-League, and imagine Subiaco filled with 34,800 west coast supporters and 200 opposition, but with everyone screaming the entire game and singing and chanting. Some of the stands actually reminded me of the old Victoria Park days!!!

We had fab seats. Near Newcastle supporters, so heard their chants. But also near West Ham supporters so we heard their responses! Chants were quite crude at times so excuse my French, but we had a good laugh!

"Andy Carroll, he left 'cause you're s***!" (Should have changed that to St Kilda in 2010 a "Lukey Ba-all...!"

"United!" *clap clap clap*

"There's only one (insert name here I couldn't hear!)"

And not to forget their classic 'Blowing Bubbles' song accompanied by bubbles going onto the field and up into the air!

Most chants were to the same tune as the ones used at home, and we sang along with the victory or afl games: "there's only one Tony Lockett!" And "suuuuper, super Kev, super Kevin Muscat!"

The best part of the entire evening happened just 9 minutes in. We were right near the goals and West Ham were kicking to our end. I started filming to show the kids at school (but was just pointing, wasn't actually looking at the screen, I was watching properly!). It was so fast and then BAM! a fantastic goal was kicked by Payet and everyone lost it and went crazy. Including us!! Boy have I missed being part of a crowd and shouting and being excited! Adrenaline rush much...made me miss the footy!! I jumped up and punched the air and yelled (you can hear it in the video!). 

The rest of the game was great. Saw an injury, a yellow card, a goal at the other end by the same guy. And then before we knew it it was all over. We took a few photos with the ground and then were rushed out because they were closing the gates after literally 5 minutes post play!!!

The train station was a disaster, so we walked two tube stops to West Ham. On the way we saw a school with vicious looking barbed wire - scary! And lots of chavs (derros in Aussie speak!). I got the DLR monorail from West Ham to Jamie's and stayed at his as that got me to sleep lots faster than going all the way home! I was so hyped I couldn't sleep for a while anyway though. Stephen got the tube. 

This morning I got up very tired and made my way to school. I got everything done I needed thanks to my photocopying yesterday and the day began. PE first, then literacy. Then music assembly and handwriting, with maths in the afternoon. We had our special treat of looking at Miss G's football photos and videos too. They loved it and are even more excited for Chelsea ones after tmro! Not too much to report really otherwise. Got a fair bit done at lunch and after school so I'm all sorted for tmro and everything is marked and up to date. I've attached some photos of some puzzles we are making this week. The kids did a drawing yesterday and stuck them on foam, and today I've trimmed them and drawn the puzzle shapes. Tmro we cut them out and finish them!! Highlight of the day was one of the kids hugging me and saying "I wish I lived at school and could do work all the time!" ...wonder how long until that changes!

This afternoon I walked the 8 minutes from school to the station only to think "hmm - my leg is cold!". My dress had literally been caught up the whole way. Sorry Putney!

Home tonight to cook, chill out, watch some more 'Harry Potter' and pack my things for more football tmro!! On the topic of sport - snap poll. I've realised there are still rugby World Cup tickets left. Didn't know there were! Aussie vs Wales is £175 and NZ vs Namibia just under £90. Am I stupid to consider going? It's a lot of money but I think the atmosphere would be amazing, didn't realise how much I missed that until last night. Email me please! I need advice! I would have to go alone too, but I'm used to that by now. 

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox