Tumbling down to the Norwich-Rotherham match

Tumbling down to the Norwich-Rotherham match

by rick olivares

“The man in the moon came tumbling down

And asked his way to Norwich;

He went by the south and burnt his mouth

With supping cold pease porridge.”

As a youngster, my mam read and recited that children’s rhyme to me countless times. I had no idea where Norwich was and only learned later on that it was in England.

As for the man in the moon, he became that astronaut award for MTV.

On a cold Saturday morn last October 4, I made my way to Norwich and instantly thought of that rhyme. I am the man on the moon who came tumbling from the Philippines in glee.

The previous day, I made the mistake of going out in thin garb and the sudden burst of cold weather killed me. But I am not in England to lie down on my sick bed for a day so I made my way to Liverpool Street Station to take the East Anglia train to Norwich (£50.50 two-way) to catch the Norwich-Rotherham match at Carrow Road. As I stepped out of the train, the cold wind wrapped its arms around me and I felt the chill shoot up my spine and to my head. Instant brain freeze.

I sought refuge in a nearby coffee shop where I ordered some hot chocolate and promptly burned my tongue just to keep warm.

Once I hooked up with one of my best buddies, Craig Burrows, at the coffee shop, I kind of forgot the cold.

You see on this day, he was watching his beloved Norwich City Canaries live for the first time in 30 years. I was going to witness that reconnection.

On the train to Norwich, I noticed that there were about six people who got on board wearing the yellow colors of the squad. As we passed through the different stops along the rail line, more and more people got on board wearing Norwich colors. Interestingly enough, there were a lot who boarded from Ipswich station. I thought to myself, isn’t this Suffolk community fierce rivals with Norfolk foes, Norwich?

I only learned later in the day that Norwich has a lot of supporters from the outlying areas, Ipswich be damned.

Norwich City was to play Football League Championship foes, Rotherham. Norwich was relegated from the Premier League last season while Rotherham was promoted from League One. According to fan John Winter who has watched almost every single home match by Norwich since the 1960s, they understand their place in English football. They are happy to be able to go up to the Premier League but don’t think the world will end when they get relegated. “We’re not a moneyed club like the other top sides,” Winter commented. “We are just merry to be supporting our club wherever they are. That doesn’t mean we do not believe we can survive the top flight. I think we’re learning from our experiences.”

While the Canaries are atop the Championship table with a 6-2-2 record (tied for first with Nottingham Forest) and as of today are looking like a team that will once more get promoted to the Premier League, they have struggled at home. On the road, they have looked imperious winning four and taking one loss.

In their previous fixture, they took a 1-nil loss to Charlton while Rotherham dumped Blackburn Rovers, 2-0, to move them to 17^th in the table. Clearly, there was pressure on the home team.

“I hope Norwich wins in my homecoming,” mused Burrows.

For much of the first half, it seemed as if the Canaries were going to send their fans home happy. The Canaries overcame a nervy start to the match when midfielders Nathan Redmond and Bradley Johnson began to raid deep into Miller territory. On defense, Norwich centrebacks Michael Turner and Jos Hooiveld repelled all attacks allowing wingbacks Russell Martin and Martin Olsson to link up for the attack.

Rotherham United, 17^th in the 24-team standings and with an entire row of supporters on hand to cheer them, occasionally threatened on the counter. But one fortuitous long ball found striker Paul Derbyshire with some space to try and beat Turner. Norwich keeper John Ruddy rushed out to grab the ball but instead bowled over the Rotherham player. Referee Phil Gibbs instantly pointed to the penalty spot; he was awarding Rotherham a penalty in the 44^th minute. Millers midfielder Paul Green made good on his spot kick to put his side on top, 1-nil, heading into the half.

“That is why football can be cruel,” commented Winter at the half. “We’ve been dominating the match but the visitors are leading because of one mistake.” Norwich forward Cameron Jerome had three excellent chances to put his side on the board but the 6’1” Huddersfield native muffed all of them including a backheel that was turned back by an alert Rotherham keeper.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, with Rotherham’s defense a little more compact, Canaries manager Neil Adams changed his formation from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2. The extra man in the midfield helped but Norwich still could not find the back of the net.

In the 77^th minute, a handball outside the box on Rotherham defender Kari Arnason outside the box gave Norwich another shot at goal. Substitute Kyle Lafferty’s shot cleared the wall and struck the post but Jerome was quick to react as he slotted in the rebound past keeper Adam Collin. Carrow Road broke Into cheers with football’s oldest song, “On the ball, City” reverberating throughout the stadium. It was a sweet moment for the Canaries and their faithful as up to that point, Rotherham’s vigorous supporters had outcheered them.

Norwich nearly claimed the three points as they had several opportunities to add to their goal total but whether by over eagerness or poor finishing, they failed to connect.

“I’ll take it,” concluded longtime fan, John Winter. “No, I am not disappointed. After years of watching this game, you learn to take the good and your lumps and fight on for another day. I am not disappointed with the result.”

Craig Burrows clearly empathized, “We should have won but I am just happy to be here. I missed this!”

With the rain pouring and the winds chilling us to the bone, we made out way to the train station to head back to London. Unlike my outward trip, this time the train was packed with Norwich fans from first class up to the last carriage. “You’d be surprised that there are a lot of Norwich supporters who live in London,” explained Burrows.

Standing in the food carriage (as the train was packed), we ordered some hot chocolate to warm our cold bodies. Just as I did when I arrived, I burnt my tongue. “Anyone got pease porridge,” I asked to no one in particular.

The barista gave me a quizzical look for a moment and smiled.

“Football,” he mumbled as the train rumbled on through the cold English night.

With long-time Norwich fan John Winter

Like visiting an old friend: My trip to Rough Trade Records East

While my introduction to music was the Beatles and then later on bands like Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, KISS, Queen, and Deep Purple to name a few, I guess I came off age, in terms of music in the 1980s when I was in high school and the New Wave era was in full swing. It was there I bought my first vinyl records and began to expand my music horizons. I eschewed the 70s and went for the anti-establishment that was punk, reggae, and ska. 

If you were a serious music fan back in those New Wave 80s then you would have heard of Rough Trade Records. At first, they were the purveyor of indie music that made the genre available to the culture-starved like me. But you still had to be a moneyed person to get the releases coming out of Rough Trade if you lived in Manila. 

Eventually, Rough Trade branched out and became their own record label. I have the complete catalogue of British Sea Power in addition to picking up music from Microdisney, The Fiery Furnaces, The Libertines, and The Strokes.

I finally made the connection the other day as I journeyed to Rough Trade East (the original in Kensington is closed). It was musical nirvana. I thought of old friends and my youth. It was an affirmation of myself as a music fan and as an indie music fan. And stepping inside the stores was like visiting an old friend.

Taking the Game of Thrones Locations Tour of Northern Ireland

My tribute to the immortal Hulk Hogan on a rock at Carrick-a-rede and Larrybane where Brien of Tarth wins he place as a part of the Kingsguard

Taking the Game of Thrones Locations Tour of Northern Ireland

by rick olivares

SORRY BUT I WON'T POST THE BEAUTIFUL PICS I TOOK TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SWIPING THEM WITHOUT PERMISSION. IF YOU WANT TO SEE ALL OF THEM YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE.

As a fan of Game of Thrones (both the book that I read first and the television series), I had to take this tour guaranteed a look and then some of picturesque Northern Ireland.

While chatting with former Ateneo Women’s Volleybelle Patty Taganas-Crampton who has lived in Northern Ireland for the past two years about my trip to the United Kingdom, she suggested taking the tour (of which she hadn’t as well).

I have admired the work of Robert Boake, the series’ location manager, who recently was the recipient of an award for his work on Game of Thrones. While the series has been filmed in a number of countries – Croatia, Iceland, Malta and Morocco – the most number of set locations have been in Northern Ireland. If the Lord of the Rings showcased New Zealand to the world, Game of Thrones has painted altogether another picture of a place that in most minds in strife ridden. And I assure you it is not.

We took McComb’s Game of Thrones Tour that was slated to last a whole day for £35. It is not so bad considering you are seated comfortably in a nice coach and with a group of not more than 30 people. But for our tour, there were about 24, an even more intimate number because the bus isn’t the cramped. Furthermore, we had a cracking good time with our hilarious and awesome tour guide, Derek Gordon, who spiced his commentary about Northern Ireland and the Game of Thrones location sets with his humour.

More than the wit, Derek added to our tour with side trips to other scenic spots in Northern Ireland. Leaving Belfast, our first stop was Carrickfergus Castle, one of the earliest settlements on Northern Ireland that was later used as a base by William the Conqueror. I swear, I will never look at William the Conqueror again in the same manner (in a height and carrots-manner). You'll understand that if you take the tour.

Once we left the city confines, we traveled along the sunbaked and wind-swept east coastline that was simply breathtaking. It was a stark contrast to the rough road out of Belfast International that was some teasing scenery such as tree line that resembles the Dark Hedges and some urban decay. But what modern day city doesn’t have that? It greatly improved as we left Belfast.

We passed by Cairncastle where in the first episode of Game of Thrones, Ned Stark beheads a Night Watch deserter. We didn’t stop though for any photo opportunities as there really wasn’t much to begin with.

Larne where Liverpool FC manager brendan Rodgers was born and raised. The location in County Antrim is also home to the memorials for Paddy the Pigeon and SS Periot

Our second side trip was to picturesque Larne where according to Derek, current Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers was born and raised. That got a huge whoop out of me and some boos from Pete Stott, a Manchester United fan from Birmingham. Derek and I kind of got on Pete in a good-natured manner that left the other tourists roaring with laughter.

Larne is beautiful for its lovely seaport that has been in operation for over a thousand years! This is the port where Scots used to land when migrating to Northern Ireland.

The Harbour also has two memorials – one for the SS Peridot that sank just off the coast due to bad weather and another for Paddy, a pigeon that was used during the Allied landings at Normandy to carry messages. To date, Paddy is the only recipient of the Dickin Medal that is the Irish’s equivalent of the Victoria Cross!

From all that history, we moved on to another key location for Game of Thrones!

This one was at the Chushendun Caves where the frightening scene of Melisandre giving birth to the Shadow Creature was filmed as Davos Seaworth looked on in horror.

There are two caves here. The one that comes from the sea is where Davos and Melisandre step out. And the wider cave is where the witch gives birth to that foul creature. With the set design, it looks downright creepy but in the daylight sans props, it’s an ordinary cave in a lovely setting.

Our next stop was Carrick-a-rede and Larrybane where Brien of Tarth defeated Sir Loras to win her place as Renly Barratheon’s Kingsguard. It’s an old limestone quarry, hence, its white walls. And it offers a beautiful view of the sea and nearby Sheep Island where a farmer supposedly let his sheep graze as a means to combat poaching.

You have to be careful about walking around and taking photos because some places have a treacherous drop while some grass areas have sheep and cow dung. But luckily, the area is well maintained because of the tourists who come in on a daily basis.

From there we drove off to lovely Ballintoy Harbour that is the set for Iron Islands’ seaport and the scene of Theon Greyjoy’s homecoming in Season Two. Obviously, the set producers had to make it look like a medieval seaport. But like everything else, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

By the Harbour is Roark’s Kitchen, a traditional Irish pub. It was close to lunch and I along with the other tourists were already hungry. I just snapped some photos but we as a group repaired to the Fullerton Arms Pub and Hotel that is along the Main Street. This is where the cast and crew of Game of Thrones go for eats and drinks during breaks in their shooting schedule. The pub itself has its own Game of Thrones Room where there is a mock Iron Throne and a Map of Westeros!

My first authentic Irish meal? Steak and Guinness Pie at £8.50! After a sumptuous lunch and a time for bonding with the rest our tour group, we proceeded to Ballycastle that is the home to Lady Catelyn Stark although we didn’t stop for any photos.

Lunch at the Fullerton Arms Pub

Our second to the last stop was at Giant’s Causeway. As a youngster, I read about the myth of Irish warrior Finn MacCool who battled the Scottish giant, Brenandonner. The result of their battle was Giant’s Causeway. With the 40,000 basalt columns placed in near perfect symmetry, it seems as if Giant’s Causeway is man-made. But it is not. It is the result of an ancient volcanic eruption and since 1986, named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I am either Ian MacCulloch or Ralph Macchio. Take your pick.

There were hundreds of people scrambling for photo ops and selfies atop the basalt rocks. But none more beautiful and romantic than a newlywed couple’s photo op while kissing.

Our last stop was the Dark Hedges where Arya Stark escaped to following the beheading of her father, Ned Stark. The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees that were planted by the Stuart family some two centuries ago. Their gnarly branches and formation make for a magnificent sight and are always the subject of many a photo essay and pictorial. Me and some friends? We reprised that famous Abbey Road crossing along the Dark Hedges! Brilliant if I may pat my own back. Hahaha. Now since this was our last stop, we had a tour group picture.

Abby Road style-crossing of the Dark Hedges

The entire tour, including the side trips, has been one postcard sight for sore eyes. When you think about it, its £35 well spent. If you had gone on a personal trip it might have cost more. Sure you travel at a pace of your own. But in a group, especially one as boisterous and cool as we had – including the insightful and humorous commentary by Derek, our tour guide; it was added to the pricelessness of the trip. The trip wasn’t just a connection with a fantasy series I have loved since the book’s initial release (and to the subsequent HBO series that is even better) but it was also a trip down some of the best locations on God’s green earth.

 

Our tour group missing four people!

Our terrific tour guide Derek Gordon! My fellow LFC brother and Northern Ireland's funnyman.

A book tip from an ex-football hooligan on board a train from Edinburgh to King's Cross

On a train from Edinburgh to King's Cross in London, I sat across a massive man who you do not want to rumble with. In addition to being muscular, he stood about six-foot-one and had a bunch of tattoos. And we got off on the wrong foot.

When two-Macau residents (who was with me for the entire Edinburgh tour from King’s Cross) and I boarded the 5:31pm train back to London, we went to our designated seats. My seat was free while one the two girls’ seats was occupied by the aforementioned large man.

He said he bought a ticket and the seats were never marked “reserved” (as they normally do) so he wasn’t budging. The seating area had a large table in the middle and a window view for the picturesque ride back to England. The girls didn’t argue at all and went to sit somewhere else. I took my “reserved” spot in front of the large man. While I understood his point I thought he could have handled it in a nicer manner.

Sometime later as the train got going, he apologized for his gruff manner. I said I am fine but I think he scared off the two girls who don’t mean anything at all. He stood up and went to the girls to apologize. That was surprise number one.

Surprise number two is that we talked the rest of the way until he got off at Darlington.

Turns out that he was a former football hooligan who rooted for Leeds United. He had the tattoos to prove it (plus the fact that he looked like he was a brawler who got cultured). He shared his experiences, good and bad to which I said, he could write a book about those hooligan days (with respect intended). He replied that he wasn’t much of a writer but he’ll think about it. Eventually he said one day he got real and said it was time to be responsible rather than traveling to away matches and picking fights. He now works in Edinburgh where he stays for two weeks every month before flying off to Spain for another week. Mr. Ex-Football Hooligan works for an oil company.

I told him about my adventures around the UK and he suggested that I visit York since I was into history especially Roman culture. The city has a Roman influence that is prevalent to this day.

He then produced a book that he is currently reading and he got me to purchase it at WH Smith the following day on my way to Northern Ireland.

The book was Simon Scarrow’s Under the Eagle, the first book (of 12 so far) of Roman military fiction. And so far, I am loving it. I have always been fascinated by history even historical fiction. I have a small but burgeoning collection on this genre in various media. From Shakespeare's Julius Ceasar to DVDs of Gladiator and Rome to Valerio Manfredi's The Last Legion novel. Now I can add Scarrow's series to this.

Who knew that I’d get some valuable tips from a former football hooligan? 

The inspiration and magic of Edinburgh

The inspiration and magic of Edinburgh

by rick olivares

While in the middle of my Beatles Taxi Tour of Liverpool, the line from “Penny Lane” resonated with me, “Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.”

If much of the early songs of the Beatles were about life in the Merseyside then how much of Edinburgh was an inspiration to JK Rowling?

The celebrated author of the Harry Potter novels used to spend hours writing from the back of The Elephant House along George IV Street with a terrific view of Edinburgh Castle. Just a stone’s throw away is Candlemaker Row, with its “wizarding-sounding name,” a street that aside from the popular eatery and pub Greyfriars Bobby is home to book and comic book shops.

Edinburgh castle has obviously influenced Hogwarts School of Wizardry. And the row of coffee shops and pubs like The Elephant House, comprise Hogsmeade. Its winding and cobblestoned streets with its curio shops are Diagon Alley. Down south towards London’s King’s Cross, the East Coast line that runs all the way to Edinburgh could be the Hogwarts Express running out of platform 9 3/4. When I enter Transreal, a shop dedicated to fantasy books, I am almost surprised that the man behind the desk isn't in wizard garb.  

Sipping coffee in one of Edinburgh’s many coffee shops and walking its streets, it is easy to see and feel how Edinburgh has influenced Rowling’s world of wizards and witches.

Outside the bustling Princes Street, the city features a slower and laid back life. Perfect for writers like Rowling and Robert Louis Stevenson (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), Walter Scott (The Lady of the Lake), and David Nicholls (One Day that was adapted into film starring Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway) to name a few who are looking for the ambiance to commit words to pen, paper and now, laptop.

The city has a romantic feel to it as it is a confluence of the worlds old (the castles, medieval cemeteries, old streets) and new (the posh shops along Princes Street and beyond). As the city is home to 12 different colleges and universities, it is a perfect cauldron for inspiration for the idealistic and the intellectual.

While coffee shops like The Elephant House are drawing tourists because of its Harry Potter connection, I wondered if the budding writers who have yet to pen their own line of books that will capture the imagination of a generation. Where have they gone? What shop do they retreat to now?

As a writer who thrives on writing about people, places, and events while embedding myself in stories as an observer, I can totally relate and appreciate how places like Edinburgh can shape one’s stories. And I suspect that in places like this, magic is always being concocted. We should consider ourselves lucky.