JOY --- and hugs

Walked down to the village this afternoon to take 2 bags of stuff to the Oxfam shop.  One bag of clothes and one bag of handbags.  The weather was lovely again - warm and sunny.  Very pleasant.

When I got back I went out into the street to bring in my wheelie bin.  My neighbour Ed was doing the same and we had a quick chat about Newcastle United.  Like me he's a season ticket holder and was going to the game this evening.  Just before we went our separate ways he said .... " Slimming World must be going well.  You are looking nice and slim.  And you are looking very healthy ".  Unexpected compliments are so welcome aren't they!

I had my tea early and around 6.30pm I headed to the bus stop to go to the match.  I hadn't gone far when I realised that the Sketchers trainers I was wearing were the ones which were a bit big and needed to be worn with thick socks.  I wasn't wearing thick socks.  So when I got to town I nipped into Poundland and got a pair of socks.  Fortuitously they were black and white striped.  Maybe a lucky omen.

Newcastle were playing Burnley.  Right from the off Newcastle were playing well and they scored their first goal after 24 mins.  Fabian Schar  was the scorer.  The team celebrated quite near to where I was sitting so I managed to get a few shots.  None of them were sharp as the players were excitedly jumping about.  So for my collage I used the Posterise effect in Picasa.  The photo on the left shows Schar being hugged by a fellow player. Schar is on the right of the photo.  Sean Longstaff - a local lad - scored the second goal after 38 mins.  Again the players celebrated near where I was sitting.  The photo on the right of the collage shows Longstaff - no 36 - being hugged and congratulated. 

No more goals in the second half and towards the end of the match Newcastle had to defend like mad - but they kept a clean sheet.  Another 3 points in the bag.  Yay!  Newcastle have moved up to 13th in the Premiership table.

The bus home was packed - all the seats taken and people standing right from the back of the bus to the door.  I was last on so I did have to stand for a while but I was glad not to have to wait for the next one.

Steps today - 11,723