Iscape in action

There isn't a lot to say about these fine figures of men. The second photo captures the immediate aftermath of Dougie's challenge which led to the penalty.

Good to see Kev next to his favourites, Colin and Linford. If only Matt showed a similar athleticism on the pitch.

February Fiasco

Iscape crashed to a fourth consecutive defeat in losing 4 – 3 in a closely fought match on Monday despite taking an early lead and playing well for much of the game. Once more Dave contributed a goal but sadly at the wrong end to make it 3 own goals this month!!

The game kicked off with Iscape making an unusually positive start full of running and good communication and that led to the opening goal as Dave won possession and knocked on to Matt C who threaded a ball through to me in the area with my back to goal. Keepers frequently go to ground quickly as you turn and that meant I controlled, turned and lifted the ball over the prone figure into the corner of the net. We looked comfortable at that point and it took a wonder strike to level it as the ball bounced back to a player wide right who struck the ball at pace with the outside of his foot, the ball flying in off the underside of the bar. That was followed by another goal from a melee in defence which fell kindly to their striker for a left footed volley close to goal.

The scores were levelled as another pass from Dave found me just inside the area. I took it to the side and was tripped by a lunging challenge. The penalty cycle has returned to me and I sent the keeper the wrong way to equalise at half time.

Sadly Dave then slotted home from close in as he turned a cross home nutmegging Hen at the same time. Dougie then slid into a tackle in the area and the penalty was easily struck home. The scoring was completed when Matt C was pushed challenging for header leading to another penalty. Despite my reluctance to take another, I found myself with just the keeper to beat and struck the ball straight down the middle, rather fortunately beating the keeper who dived in the direction of the first spot kick.

With just moments to go, Kev had a good shot saved before the final whistled signalled the loss.

Hen Dave Matt I Matt C Dom Dougie Kev Iain (3)

Dom 1 Matt C 2 Dave 5 (less 3 own goals!) Kev 5 Iain 8


Glen played a league game against the leaders on Sunday and Rossgarth struggled from the outset with just 10 players available. Despite the adversity they took the lead with a great goal from Michael who hit home from outside the box following a corner. Sadly the 10 men became 9 when Eric, the leading scorer for Rossgarth, was forced off with a bad foot injury and taken to hospital. The remaining boys played very well in the circumstances and were just 3 – 1 down at half time. The opposition were excellent players and exploited the space well running out 8 – 1 winners.

I’ll be posting some action shots and mug shots of the Iscape later.

Sparrowhawk

The various photographs capture something of the last day with the first being of a sparrowhawk perched in our back garden. It was such a shock to see a bird of prey in the garden and is supposed to be a sign of a healthy songbird population. It is a female as the male has more bluish feathers and is somewhat smaller. Despite flapping through the hedge the bird was unsuccessful in catching anything this time but they are creatures of habit and we are likely to get another visit soon.

The other bird picture is not too clear at all but is of a male chaffinch but what is remarkable is that it only has one leg. I don't know how long it will survive with such a handicap.

There is a picture of a badger set which is loctaed just outside Woodlands. Rosie was very interested.

Finally there is a picture of Maisie.

I went to the gym again today and completed a 10.1km run which takes me to over 6 1/4 miles!! I haven't run that far since the late 80s!! That's the decade not my age. No cigarettes either.

48 hours and counting

I've now gone two days without smoking and all the nicotine has apparently disappeared from my body. Thanks to Paul's emotional blackmail, I don't blame you for using it, I have been looking up some information about the effects of smoking, the things you turn off to deliberately when smoking. I wouldn't say there's anything new in any of it, just the fact it is far less common now than I would have guessed from being out at break and lunch at school when all the kids seem to be smoking!

It shows how misleading appearances can be. Another factor would be the difficulty I'd have with my youthful looks of getting served as the age rises to 18 to be able to buy cigarettes.

I managed 18 months last time and perhaps if it hadn't been for Natasha's illness I wouldn't have started again. I don't know. Sometimes you just look for excuses although it was a terrible time. I've struggled to get to the point where I feel I can cope without having a smoke but I'm there now and have as good a set of reasons for stopping as anyone, as Paul pointed out.

I managed my longest run this morning as well. 8.5km which is over the 5 mile mark. I might run instead of smoking but it does get boring. I usually listen to Mark Kermode's film reviews on podcast which helps pass the time but otherwise it's whatever is on the radio in the gym and there is an unhealthy obsession with The Feeling and Razorlight.

Just downloading 'The Last King of Scotland' and 'Little Miss Sunshine' as BT say my internet connection is going to be between 2 and 8mbps from tomorrow and Kevin was chatting about films at football the other night. It's ages since I downloaded anything.

Oxford Brookes University

As mentioned in the previous post, I was at Oxford Brookes yesterday with Bridie and Alison. It is one of the places chosen by Bridie for her course starting in the autumn. She's going to be studying biology and psychology and has been accepted as long as she passes her access exams which seems something of a formality. The choice seems to be down to Oxford Brookes or Plymouth as the courses are very good in both places. Bridie wants to check Plymouth again following a successful visit yesterday.

The university staff were excellent and were able to give us a guided tour despite not havingan appointment or it being an open day. The surroundings were good and the atmosphere relaxed. I was amazed how normal everyone looked. What happened to students? They all looked like they were working too. Only a handful in the bar!!!! What has happened?

I wonder if the fact you have to pay back loans or similar has made a difference? Are they just more grown up these days? Tim Lovejoy might have to change his tune - I didn't see anyone listening to the levellers, many have jobs and they didn't need a wash. Worrying times and yet more evidence that change is not good.

Healthy living

Having now lost three stone since September I have got to the next stage which is to stop smoking. I went for a 7.77 km run yesterday which I understand is not that far under 5 miles, so I'm getting there. I had my last cigarette at Oxford Brookes University at midday and had no more excuses for delaying the start of stopping.

It's now well over 24 hours and I understand I no longer have any carbon monoxide in my blood which is a shame - I like carbon monoxide. It's better than carbon dioxide which just causes global warming or perhaps I've got to do more research. By this time tomorrow I should be able to taste things better and be less smelly. It will be hard to tell in either case as I pile the 3 stone back on.

I am determined that won't happen though. I must find things to keep myself occupied. Any suggestions? Keep them clean please.

Iscape crushed again

Actually it was only a 2 - 1 defeat this time but these are worrying times for the team. Despite the fact they weren't that great, neither were we and quite rightly it was mentioned that we've won games like that many a time.

The rain had arrived by kick off time but we had a full squad to choose from and perhaps the tone for the evening was set early on when a follow up shot from my left foot was heading toward goal until handled on the line with the keeper beaten. It was as clear a penalty as you could ever see but the ref just ignored it. The fact a second one was turned down in the second half when I was brought down by the keeper indicated it was not to be our evening. Their keeper actually told me he was a hopeless ref after he brought me down, acknolwedging what he'd done and got away with.

The score was 2 - 1 by half time with Matt C launching himself skywards to head home a corner from Dave. It was agreed Matt had actually got off the ground. I missed a wonderful chance to level when Dave squared the ball. The shot was saved as the keeper ran back across the goal but he didn't know anything about it, the ball just hit him. A disappointing game again - bring back Gary our favourite ref.

HEN MATT I DOM DOUGIE MATT C 1 DAVE IAIN KEV

KEV 5 IAIN 5 DAVE 5 MATT C 2 DOM 1

A few photos

I've taken a few photos to start the half term. There's one of the three cats together in our bedroom, Holly, Billy and Jellybean alongside one of a frog which turned up by our back door yesterday morning. Judging by the hair all over it I think one of the cats has had a play with it. The pond is full of frog spawn now and I guess the cat will have brought in from next to the pond.

The remaining three photos are from Glen's game this afternoon which saw Rossgarth show further progress despite a narrow one nil defeat. The only goal came after just a couple of minutes from a long throw and was followed by an excellent game featuring two fantastic saves, one for either side. It was great to watch and Glen had another solid game despite a late night when he slept at a friend's house in Alderholt.

Interesting week at school

Wednesday saw the Management Team leave school for the day to join a seminar run by the Hay group to look at a vision for the proposed new school as part of the Local Authority bid. There is a real possibility the new school opening when ours closes along with Millbrook, will be outside authority control running as an Academy for example. It seems strange that the best results we achieve will be rewarded in this way but that's the result of increasing parental choice. The Government wants greater diversity amongst the schools available for parents to choose from and that means they are actively promoting the competition element of bids for the running of the new school. The outcome is likely to lead to a major shift in emphasis regarding the ethos and values of the school but who is to say it won't raise standards in the longer term.

The outcome for teaching staff is fine as long as they feel able to subscribe to the values of the new school although you might argue that teachers aren't so highly principled as to be motivated by that kind of philosophical approach. Paying the mortgage is a higher priority. I don't know that is actually the case with many but there are some.

The day was about working with other stakeholders (this really is the language of education!) to ensure a distinct vision is put forward as part of the bid and it was a very useful addition to the NPQH, the Headteacher qualification.

I will probably hang on for another year into July 2008 and seek a position as Head in the run up to the school closure. My job is protected in the new school but I'm not sure I want to stay when the place will change so much unless the authority's bid is successful. By staying I would qualify for a retention bonus of at least 10% of annual salary which makes staying for another year a more attractive proposition.

The next day we had something of a bombshell when an English teacher announced she wouldn't be coming back after half term and learnt that a Maths teacher is heading into a private prep school at Easter. Given the fact a key member of Maths is already on long term sick leave, things are not going to be easy to resolve. That matters a great deal because Maths is the weakest subject in the school and our results have to rise significantly. Should be a piece of cake with no staff!

This was followed by meeting with Local Authority representatives about attendance. DfES has expressed concern about attendance in Southampton and 4 schools are being targeted. The structures in place at school are models of good practice apparently but our attendance is only 87% although the figures are 'clean' i.e. not manipulated at all whereas the suspicion (putting it mildly) is that the figures are massaged frequently.

At least there's a week's holiday to look forward to now. Maybe some more football photos?

Another thrashing

I told Kev I wouldn't be putting anything on the blog about the game last week but I mustn't let the fact he scored both goals put me off recording it. We received another punishing defeat although nowhere near as outclassed as the previous game. I think the final score was 7 - 2 but just 2 - 0 down at half time was seen as the springboard to victory in a frustrating game we created lots of chances in. It's difficult to argue you were unlucky losing 7 goals though and I'm not even going to try.

The first of Kev's goals came from a free kick which was caught on the swirling wind and curled into the top corner as the keeper came to claim the ball in and got underneath it. The second was almost straight from a kick off as I stumbled through tackle after tackle and passed out to Matt who unselfishly squared to Kev to place home into an empty net.

The final four games are all against sides below us in the table (there are some!) and ought to see us pick up a few winds in the next weeks.

Hen Matt I Matt C Dave Kev 2 Dom Dougie Iain

MATT 1 DOM 1 KEV 5 IAIN 5 DAVE 5

Glen Scores!!!!!!

On the way back from Plymouth we stopped at Wimborne for Glen's latest fotball match. He'd missed the last couple but the team had been showing real signs of improvement. This time they won in the league for the first time this year with an excellent team perfromance to register their first point in the top division.

The 6 - 3 win came courtesy of a good first half and a resilient response to a second half comeback which looked likely to leave them pointless. Eric got a hat trick before half time although Wimborne scored before the interval. Three goals to one became three apiece after two free kicks went directly in early in the second period with Rossgarth playing into a strong wind.

They could esily have folded but struck back from a clear penalty, a header saved on the line with both hands by a panicky defender. Shep slotted home and Eric added a fifth to make the points safe. Right at the death came Glen's moment of glory. Showing none of his father's stamina he picked the ball up in the left back position, passed to the wing and continued his run. Moments later he picked the ball up wide and cut inside. He approached the goal and smashed the ball in from an angle before running off uncertain what to do next but with a huge smile.

That's his first goal in 2 1/2 years and was well deserved as was the victory. The preparation of bed at 2am, 2 hour drive from Plymouth and a cooked breakfast at Little Chef seems to have proved a rounded foundation for success.

Plymouth Trip

We went down to Plymouth for the weekend to celebrate Murdina's 40th birthday and to join in the final part of her celebrations which have been going on for well over a week now. We went down to Plympton Cricket Club for the evening and had a great time with games of Pirates led by Paul who had to compete with a raucous crowd, and a rendition of the cricket club song which has to be sung by everyone stood on their chair.

I'm going up the sunshine mountain
Where the four winds blow
I'm going up the sunshine mountain
(I forget this line and will come back to it)
Turn your back on all your troubles
Hold your head up high
I'm going up the sunshine mountain
You and I, You and I (repeat until the person being pointed at gets it and stands on their chair to join in)

Afterwards we went to the Jolly Miller but it was sadly closing at 2.30 although Jamie had been in there for a while it seemed. Strangely enough a family group with an Irish grandfather were all talking in Irish accents by the end of their evening and Jamie was joining in too.

The photos show poor Wayne after he'd had his shirt signed (mostly with Wayne is gay) and then had it ripped off which was great waiting for the taxi in the pouring rain.

Weekend news

Saturday was a lovely day and I took the dogs out for a long walk round the new golf course in Woodlands and towards Horton. On Sunday we went up to Coventry for a family get together for Joe's birthday.

The photos show some of the highlights if such they can be termed. The block where his room is, the restaurant where we had our meal in the afternoon, the streets of Coventry. I believe Keith mentioned the Germans had not quite finished the job of demolishing some of the most unappealing parts of the city. I wish I'd photographed the pub we went in. It was the worst dive I've been in for years but still looked great compared to another we passed.

Five young men in their prime!

Difficult to believe as it is, the 5 strapping fellows pictured above managed to adjust their minds from comedy poses to football on Monday night but sadly played comedy football instead as Iscape fell to an onslaught from a young, fit, skilful side full of running and the ability to pass accurately. We would kill for just one of those attributes.

Very kindly the website suggests a 7 - 1 defeat but I can remember 8 and most of the others thought it was 9. We were taken apart and that at least meant we didn't take too long analysing things in the pub afterwards. There wasn't a lot to say. Thankfully even Dom didn't suggest they weren't that good.

Unfortunately myself (photographer) avoided picture being taken and Dougie was absent with a swollen ankle - insert joke of your own here.

The guys are: - (top down)

Fighting Matt Ironside
Big Dom Foot
Available Kevin Trill (appealing to readers of all persuasions - Linford and Colin particularly)
Glovley Dave A (I'm not sure how to spell the surname but it is Spanish - as is Dave)
Almost Welsh Matt Coombes

I'll have to attach Hen in the next installment and he does look the most normal to be honest.

The one highlight of the evening was a lob over the keeper following a neat header from Dave. I managed to squeeze it in despite being told 'unlucky' as the ball came down from the dark Wimborne skies.

Season scorers

Dave 5 Iain 5 Kev 3 Matt 1 Dom 1

I just ran a spell check on here for the first time.

It honestly suggested replacing Dougie with doughy. I'm saying no more.

Apologies to Kevin

I've managed to locate the lost goal and sadly it is Kevin's. Sadly because after that penalty miss he really deserves to lose any goals he has scored.

It is definitely not the property of Paul who, despite having scored a spectacular late equalizer in a cup semi final some years ago from his own half, is unlikely to have smashed home from Cardiff even if it is downhill all the way from that northern outpost.

You'd love playing the 7 a side Paul. Perhaps one week? There's always scope for some own goals!

Look out for team photos coming soon. Who knows - me might even have a full side one week.