I need to start this blog with a follow up to last weeks edition. Mainly the frozen bread/Wetherspoons breakfast incident. It occurred to me on Friday evening that bread can be defrosted in the microwave. I did this once or twice back in the 90’s but it completely slipped my mind last week. Tried it and it worked a treat. Still glad I did Wetherspoons last week though as it was a good visit.

Anyway yesterday I woke up very excited. My beloved Walsall FC were going to be playing in The F.A Cup with the match being broadcast live on BBC1. The national broadcaster’s main channel. Apparently we were live on this back in the 80’s before my time as a Saddler but this was to be a first for me.

I was meeting the lads in Katz but needed breakfast first. Jack & Ada’s was busy, no setas available and the queue the longest I’ve ever seen it. The magic of The F.A Cup does have its downsides. It was 10.50 so I dashed round to McDonald’s. God bless whoever sanctioned the end of the breakfast menu being moved from 10.30 to 11.00.

I walked in and Christmas music was playing which concerned me as I’m taking part in Whamaggedon (a game where you have to go as far into December as possible without hearing the original version of Last Christmas) and was still alive on December 2nd after 1st day knock outs the past two years.

One double sausage and egg McMuffin and no Wham songs later I was heading to Katz. On entry Prince Charming by Adam & The Ants was playing. An excellent song to hear when you are avoiding Wham.

Swill, Matt Whelan, Josh and his daughter Maize were already in the upstairs room along with a few other Saddlers. Goughy and his dad joined us too. The room continued to fill, the jukebox was loaded with Blur songs and all was good in the world. Then the coverage started.

Kick off time approached and all of a sudden the match was called off. I felt for all my mates that had travelled to Alfreton but knew they’d just hit the local pubs so would make the best of it. I had been worried about the game, playing a non league team two levels below us as we are bang out of form to go with it.

Pezza arrived just after what would have been kick off, declaring just a few minutes earlier and he’d have gone home. We went downstairs and got stuck into the drinking. Cat anecdotes, Tinder comments and BBQ tips were all on the agenda for discussion.

We moved onto the The Fountain, a pub renowned for good beer and great cobs although upon entry the tray usually containing the latter was empty. Fair play to the barman who offered to rustle me up a ham and cheese cob. Goughy Snr rushed over to recommend the Silhill “Blonde”. Silhill is a brewery I know little about but their beers seem to be popping up in Walsall more and more, they are always good and this was no exception.

I was glad he made this shout as I had been struggling to read the beer menu chalked on the wall. I know dimly lit pubs seem to be all the rage nowadays but a least provide a bit of light in the appropriate areas.

This was another good visit but by early evening the group was dispersing. So I headed to Wetherspoons for a night cap, as you do at 5.30. Upon arrival though I really needed a toilet visit and not the urinal type. I vary rarely use the cubicles in pubs so it was a trip into the unknown. Trap 1 had a lock on the door but no seat on the loo. Trap two had no lock on the door but a seat on the loo. Trap 3 was occupied so he must have got the best of both worlds. It was getting time sensitive so I headed back to trap 1 and got to work.

Class day with great people. I got home earlier than planed, under budget without having my team embarrassed on national tv….and I’m still in Whamaggedon.