Hello everyone Yes, I'm back again, hopefully for longer this time! No great drama just really, really busy but I've missed you all So, have I missed anything exciting?
Yes, since you've been gone, we are crap, the board is crap, the manager is worse and the fans are crap. Saints not606 have I missed anything?
Must admit, there's been a part of me happy to stay away because I can just imagine some of the meltdowns but you were all too much of a magnet...
No, I was sitting on the settee! Not a quiver but friends 5 miles further away from the epicentre felt quite a shudder.
(Resists 'earth move for you' joke) As for meltdown, I like to think we just bubble nicely like welsh rarebit
Anyone catch the article about Lidl applying to open a new store on the Jaguar Landrover site, in Banister Road, just by Stag Gates? There’s a piece in the Echo criticising the lack of notice given, of a public consultation, which was today. I live locally, so was invited to attend, receiving my invite only yesterday, so the short notice complaint is valid. Having attended the public consultation, I predict major traffic issues due to the car park entrance being in Banister Road, when it would be better in Hulse Road, away from the massively busy junction of Banister Road and The Avenue. I raised that as a concern and asked if they had consulted with the Highways Department about the impact on traffic flow, but they haven’t yet done this. I suggested that they would need a box junction outside the car park entrance, to prevent cars being blocked in the car park or prevented from entering it, but even with that it would still be a major problem. I have no issues with the store being there, but would object to the current plans. By switching the planned car park with the planned shop location, they could move the entrance to Hulse Road, but it would probably cost more as the current network of sewers and pipe work etc, would probably need to be moved/extended. Typical do everything on the cheap and not consider anyone other than themselves, approach that I have come to expect from this company. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/16066923.Lidl_unveils_plans_for_FIFTH_store_in_Southampton/
I finally saw my two favourite La Liga teams in action against each other at the weekend, Sevilla v Athletic Bilbao, and it was quite an enjoyable game. What surprised me though were the number of guys from the UK. I met a guy from Reading at the ticket office, and we found ourselves sitting next to each other undercover in the stadium for 40 euros!! Having purchased a ticket, I took a long walk around the city and found the Real Betis stadium in the leafy suburbs where all the consulates are located before trekking back to the Sevilla stadium in time for the kick-off. On my way back I observed a group that were obviously going to the football. It turned out they were on a long weekend from Shrewsbury. Before arriving at the stadium we parted company as they had more pressing issues to attend to (a pre-match drink). What was interesting to learn from them was the cost of the flight. 50 pounds return from Manchester Airport with Ryanair. That will be cheaper than their journey to Wembley should they get to the final of the Checkertrade Trophy or the play-offs. I stayed in a hostal on the edge of the old city. My friend managed to spend an hour going round in circles in order to meet me at a specified bar. I am sure many of us have done that on our visits to famous cities I certainly have in Sitges of all places. Sevilla is known to be one of the sunniest places in Europe. Not for the four days we were there, for the heavens opened and let loose three months of rain in three days (Storm Emma). For those who like to see splendid buildings, the Mesquita, going to Cordoba is very easy on the train. Costs will vary depending on the train and time of the day. Travelling on the AVE is well worth the experience. So if anyone is up for it, what about a Saints fans trip to the Iberian Peninsula next season. Everyone goes to Madrid and Barcelona so what about Bilbao, Sevilla, Valencia, San Sebastian (Real Sociedad)?
