Watford v Reading. Paul Ince, a man whom I really think was an incredible player, takes his team to Vicarage road to face Rob Edwards' Watford. This was Tim Dellor's, BBC Berkshire sport editor, view on Reading before the season started: Had you asked any Reading fan on 7 May, when the team had just lost to Luton and finished the season 21st in the table, what they expected from this next season, you would have got short shrift. At that stage most fans would have hoped for 21st and survival again. Despite the transfer embargo hampering recruitment, and the fact they lost several key players over the summer, head of football operations Mark Bowen and manager Paul Ince seem to have strengthened the squad. The additions of goalkeeper Joe Lumley and midfielders Tyrese Fornah, Jeff Hendrick and Sam Hutchinson are eye-catching, but the real excitement surrounds the return of club favourite Shane Long. He first played for Reading 17 years ago as a teenager in Steve Coppell’s record-breaking Championship-winning team. Long is likely to be behind Lucas Joao in the pecking order as first choice striker, but Joao’s injury record suggests Long will get plenty of opportunities. If Joao and Yakou Meite stay fit, and senior players like Andy Yiadom and Tom Ince have good seasons, Reading may surprise a few people. As the season draws nearer, fans' confidence in the squad seems to be on the rise, and there is real hope the team can do rather better than 21st. The Championship is proving its somewhat unpredictability again, as Reading have won 5 and lost 3. Watford, on the other hand, have won 3, drawn 4 and lost 1. Both teams have shipped a fair few goals too, nevertheless they sit up there in the embryonic table. Now, after the Hornets managed to keep Sarr and Pedro, and Edwards having had more time to work with the squad, it's time to hopefully see an upturn in not only results, but performances too. ¡¡COYH COYH COYH!!
I'm not either, but my friend is a Pagan (one of several I know) and I am friend's with a Wiccan. I'm an apistevist and agnostic atheist. I have no time for the Abrahamic religions. None at all.
My friend lost his wife a few years ago and she, Debz, had a proper full Pagan funeral. Their son, who I watched grow up to be a fine young man, died a couple of years before of AML. Debz never recovered. I'm just ecstatic that my friend has found love again. Trust me, it's gonna be emotional!
And back on topic... the eldest son of the chap who decided not to go to the Southampton 7-1 match is a Reading fan. His grandfather took him there more often than his dad did to Watford. Back in the 80's I used to take him to Elm Park on the bike, probably 30+ times. And away. Card carrying "Reading fan" I was!
Lot to be said for Paganism with its roots in nature..... apistevism... I thought it was something to do with bees! I used to teach pyschology of religion at Uni........ and a big difference between spirituality and religion.
Apistevism is the rejection of Faith, from the Greek Pistevo. So I reject the belief in god or gods (atheism) and reject the concept of actually knowing the answers (agnostic). I can no more prove the lack of a god than a religious person can prove its existence. The religious have the burden of proof, they make the positive claim: you cannot prove a negative, the null hypothesis. I was a doubter from my first Sunday School session, I remained "spiritual" (my wedding vows were based on Native American writings) and lost my faith completely, and my "spirituality" having reread the bible at the behest of the aforementioned Reading fan (and then reading it a second time to make sure and then the koran!) which was immediately followed by the proof of the Higgs Bosom which had long been hypothesised. My pal is now, sadly, in cahoots with Ken Ham and the Answers in Genesis organisation. He is lost.
It's what I really like about this forum, wide ranging thoughtful discussions on a variety of topics with a bit of humour thrown in and generally no one gets upset (but even that could be amusing when SH was around). I often feel quite humble as I cannot contribute much that is worthwhile.
Sad to hear the Queen is in ill health . Bad omen that last time we played Reading at home was when Prince Philip passed away .
So finally I've found a word for myself! I too was a Sunday School doubter - never really believed for a minute the messages they were trying to get across. Luckily for me, Religion wasn't part of the school curriculum during my primary schooling, so I never had to endure that - although I ran into trouble at WBGS on more than one occasion (particularly during Founders Day Services when I refused point blank to get down on my knees and pray). I did think I'd run into trouble with my wife-to-be when discussing our wedding plans - her being a confirmed Catholic at the time - but she saw sense, we were married in an old farming homestead, with food/music/clothing appropriate to the era - 1850s - and our vows all based on Runrig songs - odd that, given that the group originated from one of Scotland's most fiercely religious areas . Never for a minute did I think I'd get my way with that...
Surely will be this weekend then if some games are already off? Carry on as normal afterwards unless the funeral is next Saturday.
