Timeline

By The Humber yesterday

What a full day yesterday was for me. You get days like that don't you? Many days can be kind of empty - nothing of note happens - but occasionally you have days that are full to the brim and that was my Friday. I think I will explain with the help of times.

8.00 - Out of bed and into the shower. Downstairs to a simple breakfast with a mug of tea.

8.45 - In Butch the Juke with Shirley and we are on our way to Scunthorpe.

9.15 - At last we are on The Parkway heading away from the city having battled with morning traffic.

9.55 - We arrive at The Woodlands Crematorium in Scunthorpe.

10.30 - The funeral service is over. Farewell to Shirley's Auntie Mary. She was eighty six and one of her father's younger sisters. During the service - as she had requested - a song by Queen was played - "I Want to Break Free". Fortunately, Aunt Mary did not break out of her coffin. I must give some thought to my own funeral music. Could be any day now.

11.10 - We have arrived at a bungalow to the south of Scunthorpe town centre. We are here with Shirley's sister Carolyn to meet up with their brother Steve and his wife. For some odd and uncertain reasons they have not met up in over a decade. There was a rift over something or other but today was not the day to address that division. It was a time for healing and reconnecting. We sat in their summer house and drank coffee, nibbling at homemade oatie biscuits. As a kind of uninvolved bystander, it was nice from my point of view to catch up with them again. I hope the two sisters and the brother can move on now, leaving whatever it was behind them.

13.38 - I am on a Number 6 bus heading to Scunthorpe bus station. Shirley is driving back to Sheffield in Butch the Juke.

14.15 - I am on a Number 350 bus heading north to The Humber and then across The Humber Bridge to Hull.

15.45 - I have arrived at the Hull Transport Interchange.

16.00 to 17.30 - Walking. First to the old town in Hull and then along the north shore of The River Humber, passing old dockland and remnants from history. I arrive at The McDonalds  at The Quays Shopping Centre. I am only in there to use their toilet facilities. Thank you Ronald! I needed that.

17.40 - I am in  The Mahal Tandoori Indian restaurant on Anlaby Road. I order chicken bhuna, one chapatti and an onion bhaji. For once I decide not to bother with rice. They also bring me half a pint of Kingfisher beer and a pint of tap water.

18.20 - I leave The Mahal Tandoori and set off walking to The MKM Stadium

18.40 - As pre-arranged, I leave my  backpack at The Security Office. They are doing me a special favour. There are now strict rules about what you can take into a football stadium and even a medium sized camera is not permitted. Don't ask me why. In the past there was no problem.

18.50 - I climb the stair to the top level and buy a hot chocolate from the kiosk which is called "The Hunger Bridge".

19.10 - Tony and Karl appear and we have a good old chinwag about the football, politics, womenfolk and the price of fish.

19.55 - We are in our seats but I am sitting away from them next to a season ticket holder called Trevor from Cottingham. We were born in the same year. The two teams come out of the tunnel - The Tigers of Hull and The Lions of Millwall. The stadium is packed and once again we heartily sing, "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You". Thank you Elvis - or should I say Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss who actually wrote the song.

20.48 - Halftime. It has been an engaging match but no goals. Some stalemates can be gripping. I meet up with Tony and Karl again. Three wise men putting the world to rights and bemoaning the rise of the horrid Reform Party  in this country. Why are some voters so flipping stupid?

21.50 - The game is over. Still 0-0. Down to London for the second leg on Monday night but tickers for that match are as rare as hens' teeth.

22.00 - I have picked up my backpack from the Security Office and I am heading to the club shop. There are some nasty Millwall fans around. They have a wicked reputation. Maybe they did not approve of Hull City fans singing , "Back to your shithole! You're going back to your shithole!" I buy Phoebe a plate with Hull City written in amber  four times around the rim.

22.10 - Hundreds of City fans are still milling by the steps up to the railway bridge. Progress is  slow but after that bottleneck I am marching on to Hull Paragon Railway Station. I have a ticket for the 10.45 train back to Sheffield.

22.40 - I reach Platform 1 with five minutes to spare.

22.45 - The train is not crowded. There are a few Millwall fans on board but they are surprisingly civilised and not spoiling for fights with the other passengers. I read another chapter of my book. The train stops at Brough, Goole, Doncaster, Conisbrough, Mexbrough, Swinton, Rotherham an Meadowhall but it is bang on time.

00.15 - I disembark at Sheffield Midland Station and because it is a pleasant, dry night, I decide to walk home. I march the 2.5 miles and only stop for a rest outside "The Porter Brook" pub where there is an inviting seat though the pub itself is closed.

01.00 - I have achieved something from my personal bucket list. At last, I stand on the grassy roundabout at Hunter's Bar with its mini-woodland and its ancient toll bar. There is very little traffic around. Then I march up the long hill that is Ecclesall Road, never stopping until I reach our house.

01.15 - I am sitting at this computer with a large glass of red wine and a rice cake.

02.00 -  Bedtime.

Phew! On yes, blogmates, that was a day and a half that was and it was good just  to be alive - unlike Auntie Mary whose days are done. She lived them well and found a lot of joy in her eighty six years but now - just like Freddie Mercury - she has broken free. Perhaps she is in Grimsby.