Fidler in the Hood: 70 years of unrequited love

Friends, Romans, countrymen… lend me your ears. Thanks for your condolences, much appreciated. When tragedy happens, you think life is not worth living. It’s only when friends run to your side, comfort you, reassure you that life does goes on, that you realise you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.

ALSO READ : Fidler in the Hood: Going ‘Chinese crackers’ … and a growing reputation

I was so sorry for myself, I wanted to end it all, but, friends and family came to my rescue, telling me that there IS life after football, and, it’s only a game. Really?

Blue Moon Rising

For the ‘non-footie’ fans let me explain: your scribe was dropped on his head when he was an infant. The injuries sustained were manifold, the worst being that the poor lad became a follower of Manchester City. Seventy years of pride, passion, unrequited love and heartbreak reached its zenith at the weekend when his beloved City reached the European Champions League Cup final.

Seventy years, and now we were about to be crowned kings of Europe.

The morning started with a brisk walk along Lilliecrona Boulevard. The air was crisp, the sky was clear blue, the moon was still high in the sky. I sang three choruses of Blue Moon, now I’m no longer alone. The omens were good. This was it: my beloved Manchester City will be champions by this time tonight. What could possibly go wrong?

The End of The World

Twelve hours later the end of the world arrived with a bang. The lads lost, and beaten by some team from London. I was grief-stricken, no amount of consolation by the CO would suffice. The air was blue, not Man City blue, but the royal blue of Chelsea.

As Greta Garbo once said: “I want to be alone”. Move over, Greta; I want to join you. I drowned my sorrows, but not from the bottle of champagne put on ice in anticipated celebration. “Never again,” I told the CO, “I’m giving up on football. I really mean it, pet. I’m calling it a day.” The CO somehow didn’t seem convinced.

Gloomy Sunday followed. What was there to live for? The CO came to the rescue. A hearty breakfast, the Full Monty. That helped. The sun was still there in the brilliant blue sky. That helped, too. In the afternoon, the most beautiful rainbow appeared over the blue, blue ocean. That helped, as well.

Maybe that rainbow was sending a message of hope, belief, an omen. My face lit up: “That’s it! There’s gold at the end of a rainbow. Manchester City will win the Cup next season. I know so. The rainbow was telling me so.”
Only 12 weeks to the new football season. Will I ever learn? After all: it’s only a game of football.

Moondeckers: Best Yet
If the blue moon rising was a false hope, then the same could not be said for last week’s golden full moon, which appeared in all its glory at the monthly Moondeckers get-together. The Ramsgate Conservancy was full to capacity, a record attendance, I think.
The day had been overcast, cloudy, the omens (there’s that word again) were not good.

But, the full moon appeared right on time. Moondeckers clapped and cheered as the moon broke through the clouds, lighting up the sky and sea. I think David Halle has an ‘understanding’ with ‘somebody up there’. The moon never fails to appear and Moondeckers is one of those events which is a ‘must’.

Narrow Escape
The evening was somewhat marred when Moondecker attendee Vanuzia Ferreira was involved in a motor accident on the way home to Southbroom.
Vanuzia, formerly from Bahia in Salvador, Brazil, narrowly escaped serious injuries to life and limb when an oncoming bakkie collided with her (actually husband Norman’s) bakkie. Get well soon, Maria from Bahia. Or should that be Vanuzia from Bahia?
See you.
Rob.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram