Semi-Coherent Villa Fan Ramblings

BBJ on his trip from Ireland to Villa for the Hammers game.

I woke at 4.15am on Saturday and finally clambered back into the pit at 1.15am Sunday. So - 21 hours out of the scratcher - and for what? The Villa! - that's what!

I shall spare you vivid descriptions of Dublin Airport on a pleasant weekend morning in the summer (Black hole of Calcutta gives the flavour) and also pass over my feelings whilst waiting on the tarmac at a rainswept BHX at around 7.40am whilst the nice man went to get the key of the door into the terminal.

I passed the morning pleasantly enough in Brum with a visit to the Co-op Bank to check on my offshore portfolio and also to the Museum & Art Gallery (excellent suggestion from Trekker). Out then to the Addies to say hi to some stalwarts including James06, fellow-grandad Meyouldy, Ratman - who has mysteriously grown 2 feet since last I saw him - and Cristo. Then Trekker and Jonah whisked me away and we partook of excellent burgers at the van with no name before making our way to the ground.

The UK based son being on holidays, I was inflicting my fascinating company on them in their plush Trinity Road surroundings. I saw a mysterious light towards the front of the stand and when I drew Trekker's attention to it he told me it was the aura that surrounds the mighty Fear himself. Imagine then my ecstatic joy when he caught sight of us and gave us a munificent wave!

The game was great - and others have written very eloquently about it. The final score of 3-0 did not reflect the domination of Villa nor did it do justice to one or two enterprising West Ham attacks, one of which was foiled by an excellent save from Freidel.

Perhaps 7-1 might have been a truer reflection. Trekker and Jonah, excellent companions for the day, agreed that we might now be possibly in the hunt for seventh. As we left the proceedings at the end, I noticed that I had a mild pain in my face through exercising muscles I seldom use at Villa Park - I was smiling.

Off to Villa Village where I had a brief chat with Steff - and I purchased for £20 a long-sleeved away top with Lichaj's name and number on the back. Obviously, I now hope he ousts Luke Young.... The flight back was due at 8.35pm but we got delayed by over 3 hours and finally took off at 11.45pm.

Several Villans had to be poured onto the plane as they had kept refreshing themselves during the protracted wait. The flight normally takes 40 to 45 minutes but the pilot obviously wanted to get to bed too so got us there in 33 minutes, one of which was quite heart-stopping as he seemed to slam on the brakes, change down into another gear and drop about 2,000 feet. My better half who had dropped me at the airport in the grey dawn was there to bring me home and it was a tired boy who trudged up the stairs to his trundle bed when we eventually got there.

Was it worth it?

You bet your sweet bippy it was worth it!

bbj

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