a sense of reality

Set off at 8am, with a three and a half hour drive down to Wembley.

Bank Holiday traffic made it tougher going than I’d have liked.

It only started to feel real when we saw more Boro shirts.

This has been a whirlwind: we lost the original play off semi final, then the team that beat us were found guilty of cheating and thrown out of the competition. We were reinstated with 4 days till the final.

Scrambled to get tickets, no hotels available, trains reduced for the bank holiday weekend, so driving was the only option.

We managed to make it in time for the fan march to the stadium. My captures of this are dwarfed by others I’ve seen, so I’ll share that separately, but it was something to behold and be part of.

Not sure what the residents made of it, but a fair few were out recording it.

We had seats up in the gods, but that just gave us a wider view of the atmosphere

The game played out as I thought it would. We dominated but couldn’t score, exactly why we were in the playoffs in the first place.

They scored a counter attack goal in added time and that was it.

I’m glad it was all good natured in the end, with all the fans I spoke with agreeing that at least the cheats didn’t prosper.

Then another three and half hour drive home, got almost home around 10:30 and I blew through a questionable amber light, only to see a police car at the junction.

Cue some blue lights, and I experienced my first ever traffic stop.

The female police officer asked me why i thought id been stopped. I was honest and said i effectively jumped a light.

She then clocked out Boro shirts and smiled. You’ve had a bad day already haven’t you? She turned off her camera and said I’m not going to ticket you.

I got a stern lecture, and then some kind words that she hopes Boro don’t need the play offs next year!

Well, after a torturous hour on a ticket website, I got tickets to the play off final.

Not sure we deserve to be there, but it’s an experience I can share with my sons.

Never seen us win at Wembley, and suspect that will be a tradition that’s maintained.

Didn’t have this on my 2026 bingo card.

We’re not going to win, if this is upheld, but I’m glad the cheating got properly punished.

I feel sorry for some Southampton fans, not the ones revelling in the antics, but the others.

Prompt:

Sneak attack!! send this to your favourite blogs and mutuals and ask them to share one nice thing (big or small) they're looking forward to in the coming week(s)

Response:

I’ve struck lucky with this one. Last week I’d have been flailing desperately.

But tomorrow it’s my birthday, the day after it’s the birthday of my longest friend (so I’m one day older than him and we were born on the same ward) and on Sunday it’s my daughter’s birthday..

Tags?

I’m just going to type random letters and see who comes up…. If you want to play along

@isay

@sprogblog

@pandoranora2019

@kernyen-xo

I knew at half time that we weren’t winning this game.

It was a whim, and I’ve reached that age where I think all whims should’ve acted upon.

Anyway, it was all done seamlessly via my phone, and I woke up to an email telling me that I’d won a prize.

I let myself dream for a moment or two, then opened the email.

I am not retiring, but right now I’m ahead overall.

Even after buying a ticket for the next draw.

Another trip out today, Skipton castle with my daughter. We invited her yesterday, but she couldn’t make it, dropping an unsubtle hint that she was free today.

I do love days out with the kids, now they’re adults. No “are we there yet?”, although suffering her music choices can be a pain😃

We’ve clearly transferred our fridge magnet habit onto her too.

I’m glad she enjoys these trips, we’ve agreed part of her birthday gift will be a trip to a King Arthur themed cave.

Had a delightful day out: stopped for a great ice cream at Snugburys- regular sufferers will remember the 45ft tall Paddington Bear they have.

Now they have some animals, this pig was very friendly.

We then drove to Mow Cop, a folly built by the Elon musk of his day, to brighten the skyline. As you do

Amazing views in all directions.

In the background is Jodrell Bank, radio telescope.

To save you zooming in my new phone camera can do it for you

My, we’ve advanced a bit in 5 years.

My ability to set up new phones has not.

I can live without online banking right?

I jest, slightly, this phone was almost finished on day one as I circumnavigated loops of passwords and two stage authentications.

Had fish and chips on Friday, there were 41 people ahead of me in the queue. I had plenty of time to count them.

Today was glorious, so we took a trip up to the Lake District, to visit a Viking cross in Gosforth.

Slightly awe inspiring to think this is over a thousand years old.

Less awe inspiring was the two and a half hours it took us to do the 115 miles to get there.

But typically the weather looks like it will let us down.