I’ve never been the biggest fan of horses. There are multiple reasons for this, but namely it comes down to trust issues. Horses are big, smart animals and just looking in their eyes you can see that they’re sussing you out! Regardless of this fact there have been a few points in my life where I felt as though I’d give them another chance and, sure enough, just as things start to go well it quickly falls apart leaving me with a lower regard than I had previously. Continue reading
Ticket Touts
For the ardent football fan who likes to go to most or all of their teams’ games the biggest obstacle to achieving their aim is the availability of tickets. Things aren’t too bad if you have a season ticket but they can be hard to come by if you support one of the top clubs and even that won’t guarantee you a ticket to every game. I have had many frustrations with tickets over the years leading to numerous supposedly shady dealings with less than authorised ticket sellers. What I don’t understand is why these guys are so vilified. Continue reading
Watching Football in Italy
I discovered the joys of watching football in Italy almost by accident. Back in 2001 my team, Liverpool, drew Roma in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup. I had always wanted to see the Stadio Olimpico as it had been the venue for two of Liverpool’s European Cup finals. I had missed both glorious victories and was keen to get a taste of what it would have been like to be in the stadium. The draw presented me with my opportunity. Continue reading
Golfing Disasters
It has to be said that neither I nor my golfing friends are players of any great skill. We are perfectly capable of some great shots from time to time and have even delivered some impressive rounds but things don’t always go entirely to plan. Whilst we have had some wonderful days golfing we have also had a few mishaps. None of these involved a fatality or anything truly drastic but we have had to explain a damaged club house, injured wildlife and some very strange behaviour! Continue reading
A Golfing Holiday in Spain
A few years ago some friends of mine suggested that we take a golfing holiday in southern Spain. I pointed out that I had never had any desire to travel to the Costa del Sol and that I was not a great fan of overtly touristy destinations but eventually I agreed to the trip. Sadly it wasn’t long before I started to regret my decision. Continue reading
The Granddaddy
When I visited the golfing Mecca of Myrtle Beach some years ago it was hard to choose the courses to play as there were so many and every one of them looked good! One course which I knew I had to include on my itinerary was Pine Lakes as this was the original club on the Grand Strand and had a fine reputation. The historic course was known as the Granddaddy and when the day to play at the course arrived I was a little apprehensive. This place looked more formal and frankly snobbish than the others in the area and I wondered if I might feel a little uncomfortable. Continue reading
Great Golf Courses – The Witch
When you talk about great golf courses you are usually recalling the brilliance of the design, particularly awesome individual holes or the way the place is run. Every so often, however, you find a golf course which is remarkable for its unique and spectacular location or scenery and the Witch in South Carolina is certainly one of those. Continue reading
Having an Anti-Christmas
A few years ago I was feeling rather jaded with the whole Christmas thing. It was the inevitability of it all that got me down. No pretty snow outside, the same old sorry decorations, a pitiful offering on the television and guests falling asleep in their chairs after dinner. I couldn’t see the attraction of the festive season and wondered why everyone else seemed so excited. Perhaps they were just thrilled to be having time off work because from what I could see everyone else was just doing the same old things every year too. Continue reading
Women in Football – Slow Progress
I have loved football since I was a small child. When I was five years old in was my weekend treat to be allowed to stay up to watch Match of the Day and for years I was desperate to start going to matches. At the age of 14 I was finally allowed to go and once I had seen a live match I was totally hooked. For more than 30 years I travelled the country and farther afield following my team and as a teenager I played the game. I also refereed matches at university and so knew the game from every angle but I always understood that I would never have a career of any kind in the sport because I am female. Continue reading
Get Active It Could Save Your Life!
This week brings yet more evidence, as if we needed any, that an active lifestyle is good for your health. A study has revealed that walking for one hour each day significantly reduces the incidence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Regular vigorous activity reduced the risks even more. These findings are in line with most of the recent science with research always revealing that exercise is crucial, particularly in the case of cancer and heart disease. Continue reading