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After the football disappointment of yesterday, it was good to see more bright blue skies and warm temperatures as I woke. The weather wouldn't get in the way of the evening plans. The Outlaw and other olds were off to knit and natter in the next village of Seaview. We arranged to meet them for lunch later and went out for a walk. Seaview is the local millionaire's row. A mix of huge houses front on to the bay. There are those that retain the traditional Edwardian residences and others where demolition has been the order of the day with the architects being given licence to go all Grand Designs thereafter. If you have a couple of million to spare, there could be a house for you. The school holidays had mainly been the 2 weeks prior to Easter, so normality had returned. The Clapham and Battersea set had fired up the Range Rovers and secured the seaside bolthole until the next Bank Holiday. It took about an hour of slow ambling to reach the beach. The sunshine was warm and pleasant. The sea was flat calm again. A huge car ferry inbound from northern France was making the only waves,
St Georges Park, Newport
The residents are heading for the exit as it slowed on approach to the forts. A plaque by the slipway marked the point where French forces staged the last invasion in 1545. They failed in their mission. The next plaque recognises the departure of troops for Normandy in 1944 as part of Operation Overlord. We walked up into the village centre and sat for a coffee outside the old general stores, which now boasts the only year round eatery in the village. I quote the fact from their own billboard. The Island Roast coffee incidentally is particularly good by the way. The estate agent in the next part of the old building were looking underemployed, but I guess commission from one sale in these parts will keep you going for a while. There was time to spare, so we turned the corner towards Ryde. There was no life at the Yacht Club. We had missed "Dinner & Dancing" on Easter Saturday. The emphasis on the £35 price on the flyer suggested somebody thought that was good value. We secured a table in the Old Fort with a view out towards Portsmouth and waited for the olds to join us. The fish and chips went down well. I
Seaview
The Old Fort really like the Old Fort. A couple more hand pumps of real ale would not go a miss, but you can't have everything. You certainly can't fault the view. If I lived here, I would spend huge amounts of time in there. We walked back to St Helens and cut the point to Priory Bay. The golden sands were uncluttered with people. It was all very peaceful. The Duver was alive with the afternoon dog walkers. The tide was rushing through the narrows in the mill wall. Gulls waited for the harvest of small creatures floundering with power of the water.
I loaded the car up with some garden waste and headed via the tip into Newport. The civic amenity site as it is known here was pretty competitive and the whole process was more time consuming than I had anticipated. However, I was soon parked up once again for another stab at getting in a game at Newport IOW FC. The Gold Cup Semi Final tonight was positively the last chance. It was scheduled to be the last competitive match before the bulldozers moved in. As both teams were from the Island football ranks, I didn't fear a
repeat of the Alton team yesterday. The trophy itself is worthy of a mention. However whilst it could be described as a mickey mouse regional cup competition, the actual trophy is made of solid gold and reputably is the most valuable trophy in the world. Forget your World Cups and FA Cups, this is one nobody gets to keep. It comes out of hiding for a presentation - suitably insured - and then is returned to the bank vault
Cowes Sports play in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier League and were two levels higher than the opposition of Whitecroft & Barton Sports. The all conquering Newport based Whitecroft were unbeaten in all competitions this season, but were apparently missing 4 players including the captain. I suspect Cowes thought it would be quite straightforward. They scored fairly early through John Mckie, who I recognised as the key man from my Island derby the previous season. A few tasty challenges from the lower ranked opposition failed to unsettle Cowes and despite a lack of clear chances, you expected them to settle in the 2nd half. However, a towering header produced the equaliser and Whitecroft looked the likely winner as the game went
on. There was no extra time, so after the 1-1 we were straight to penalties. Whitecroft slotted home their first 3 strikes and Cowes were denied by a great save, a crossbar and an absolute shocker. It finished 3-1. Newport IOW FC awaited the winners on Saturday at the neutral venue of Beatrice Avenue, home of East Cowes Victoria. It was a shame I couldn't make it. The attendance was announced as a very healthy 379 - huge by Isle of Wight standards, including a good few Newport fans saying goodbye to the home ground.
The weather spoiled itself the next day. I ended up as a taxi driver, as further portions of the family fortune were invested in the Isle of Wight Pearl shop. You have to hand it to this business positioned in the middle of nowhere on the Military Road towards the Needles. If they don't take your pennies in the shop, their cafe scoops up the residual. The weather was assisting them in their quest today, as a couple of coach loads wandered unable to venture outside to take in the splendid view. The rain finally cleared at lunchtime, although bizarrely it had only amounted
to a few spots back at base. We headed for an afternoon walk by the beach. On the Thursday, we once again found ourselves back in Seaview. There was little sign of activity in the properties at Seagrove Bay. Alas, it just shows how weath is concentrated in the hands of a few. They can have these £1 million plus mansions on seafront for the occasional weekend and a few weeks in the summer. One of the city big hitters was on the promenade, pacing up and down whilst he directed the lesser beings back in the London office on his requirements for the latest deal. There was after all money in his partner's account apparently to complete his latest acquisition. The latest batch of cash secured, he happily wandered back through his gate to the huge property behind. The local yarn bombers had been competing with the NEPSR experts to adorn various parts of the seafront with small woollen creatures. We gravitated into the Old Fort and dined on a posh fish finger sandwich. As before, I highly commend the Old Fort. Seafood was the order of the day later on too down at Baywatch on the Beach. The
Other Half reckoned the seabass fillets went down well, as we gazed out over St Helens bay. I reckon I could get used to this life. Meanwhile, her half brother sailed past the window on his cruise ship bound for the Azores.
We took a slightly shorter voyage back the following morning. Southampton beckoned again.
Isle of Wight Senior Gold Cup Semi Fnal (Sponsered By Harwoods Dacia)
Whitecroft & Barton Sports FC 1 Cowes Sports FC 1 (Whitecroft & Barton Sports Won 3-1 on Penaltes)
Date : Tuesday 23th April 2019 @ 1930 Hours
Venue : St Georges Park, St Georges Way, Newport, Isle of Wight. PO30 2QH
Attendance : 379 Whitecroft & Barton Sports : True, Ewbank, Shaw, Rayner (capt), Whillier, A.Sainsbury, Bilton, Yelland, Appell, Evans, Knowles. Subs: East, Adams, Bennett, Mitchell, Cantelo.
Cowes Sports : Hatt, Conway, Bryan, Brett, Jarvis, Chase, Bricknell (capt), Phillips, McKie, Wykes, Furmidge. Subs: Broomfield, Watkins, Coode, McEnery, Sexton.
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Rainyb
Lorraine Brecht
What are those attached to??