More of the same.

Monday the 18th of June brought a new week but no new weather which was still not great considering what we had enjoyed previously.

I shall begin by clearing up a matter from a previous entry where I mentioned the Schvargo bar at the bottom of the Portadown and how I could not remember what it was previously called. I have now discovered it was the Classic which I should have known but I am getting old and it was a long time ago. I am sure this is of precisely no interest to anyone reading but I like to tidy up loose ends.

Back then to my unholy trinity of reports namely weather, World Cup and breakfast.

Weather – still rubbish, ’nuff said.

Breakfast and I need hardly tell you. Ulster Fry “Lite” as pictured yet again. Go on, be honest, my small band of followers. I know you only read this drivel so you can look at pictures of a heart attack on a plate on a daily basis. It is probably superfluous to say it but I really could live on these. In fact, when I am back in Northern Ireland, I do but enough of this and onto the football which I have left to the last for a reason.

Three matches today kicking off with Sweden beating S. Korea 1- 0 in a pretty boring affair but the Scandinavians did what they had to do.

Little Panama did well to hold Belgium 0 – 0 at half-time but then the inevitable happened and the Europeans ran out fairly easy 3 – 0 winners.

The reason I left the football to last in this entry is that this was the day of the first England game of the tournament against Tunisia. As always there has been so much hype in the British press since they qualified but this time it is not of the usual type trotted out at every major competition that England will win it.

This time the media seem to be getting their excuses in early by correctly pointing out that it is the youngest squad in the competition, youngest captain in Harry Kane etc. etc. In the event it was the young captain that saved England’s bacon. They started very well and for a while it was possible to believe the hyperbole about the new flowing, exciting football manager Gareth Southgate was supposed to have introduced with his group of youngsters. Kane scored after 11 minutes and they were looking quite dangerous in attack but for some reason they just seemed to stop wanting to play. Tunisia equalised and it had draw written all over it which would not have been a complete disaster but neither would it have been ideal. With the final whistle looming Kane settled the issue with a real poachers header and proved that he really is a class act. I dread to think what it would cost to buy him. Panama next which should not be too much of a challenge but with England you never know.

As I was walking home later on I caught the unmistakable smell of Tandragee.  Rotarua in New Zealand stinks of rotten eggs due to the sulphur hot springs all around but the village has a much more pleasant odour, that of frying potatoes from the Tayto crisp (potato chip) factory which operates 24 hours a day.

I have gushed here before about the superlative cheese and onion flavour which are easily the best crisps in the world but the other flavours and snacks are great as well, try the prawn cocktail or onion rings snack if you get a chance.

On one occasion I was instructed to bring a whole box of them to Canada in my luggage as my friend had become totally addicted to them when she visited Northern Ireland. She even tried to order some for delivery but they don’t export to North America. They are not heavy obviously but they don’t half take up some room in your kitbag not to mention some fairly searching questions from the over-zealous immigration types at Edmonton airport. Between her, her sister and little niece I think they lasted about three days.

With the smell of Beef & Onion still in my nostrils I took to my bed and again slept soundly.

Author: Fergy.

Hello there. I am a child of the 50's, now retired and had been enjoying travelling pre-virus. Now I am effectively under house arrest. Apart from travelling, I love playing music (guitar, vocals and a bit of percussion) as the profile pic suggests and watching sport, my playing days are long over. I read voraciously, both fiction and nonfiction I'll read just about anything although I do have a particular interest in military history of all periods. I live alone in fairly central London where I have been for over 30 years since leaving Northern Ireland which was the place of my birth. I adore cooking and I can and do read recipe books and watch food programmes on TV / online all day given half a chance. View all posts by Fergy.