Tales from the Toon. The ups and downs of an NUFC supporter....

[Rooky9]

Today is undoubtably the lowest of the downs since this thread started. Today I lost my last grandparent, the one I was closest to and the one who is the biggest part of me. I cant even begin to contemplate having the ability to write something that could do him justice, or my feelings for him, or the loss that him not being there will create in my life. Whilst it has being coming for a couple of weeks the deteriation in his health was frightening, seeing someone you love lose the will to live is pretty tough for me to take. My nana died about 11 months ago and know he found it tough, I think not long after that he wanted out. Coping after 60 years with someone must be tough. He developed lung and bone cancer (still waiting to find out which was the primary - he was due for an appintment today, which my dad was to attend for accuracy) and he lost his apetite. He wouldnt eat, whether he could or not I dont know, but I think that was very much his choice, even under pleas from family.

I have no ability to be able to let you know, but if I could I would thank you for all you have done for me, for being the best grandad in the world and making me laugh so much. I'm never going to forget you.

[Colchester Kev]

Very sorry to hear the sad news, Condolences to you and your family.

[mondatoo]

Really sorry Rooky

[maldini32]

Really sorry to hear about this Chris.

[Horneris]

norrrrrrrrrrr, sorry to hear the sad news.

[Longy]

I am sorry to hear that Rooky, my thoughts are with you and your family.

[amcgrath1uk]

Very sorry to hear about that Rooky. All thoughts with you and yours.

[cdw1111]

Sorry to hear this,sounded like he had a big influence on your life.

[Geo the Sarge]

Sorry to hear this mate. Sincere condolonces.

Geo

[Rooky9]

I said goodbye to my Grandad yesterday and I have decided that today marks the start of an increased effort to live life. As part of this I am setting myself some big (ish) physical challanges for 2009 in which I will look to use the memory of my grandad to i) provide motivation and ii) to influence the cause I will undertake these for.

The challange is 4 fold.
i) Leeds 10k. Run a PB (under 50:58). Look to run sub 48 mins.
ii) Walk from Liverpool to Leeds (127miles via the canal route)
iii) Great North Run. Run a PB (Under 1:59:00). Look to run under 1hr45m
iv) Marathon (hopefully the NYC marathon). Run a PB (bit of a cheat, never ran a marathon!). Look to finish! under 4 hours would be brilliant for me.


Football wise the direct debits for next year's season ticket have started to come out of the bank. Obviously at the time of signing up I didnt see a particular risk of commiting and having to watch Championship football. Actually I dont see that as a huge risk (in terms of us going down and the fact I'd still go anyway, though perhaps at a lower fee!). It will be interesting to see how many season ticket holders there actually are next year, I think there will be a huge hit unless relations between fans and owners improvesd dramatically, we get a 'proper' manager in and there is sign of significant commitment in the summer.

On the manager front you really do have to feel for Joe Kinnear. I dont want him as our manager, but I dont verbally air that at games as I dont see that as having any positive effect (to be fair there has never been many rumblings against the manager). Sadly the position was never really going to suit someone with health issues and I just hope they have caught his latest setback to not have too much of a long term effect on his life.

A cracking result last week against West Brom, though I did have little faith of not throwing a two goal lead away after they got their second. There are a number of key games for us to win between now and the end of the season and if we can get down to only having one of two injuries then I think we'll be reasonably comfotable. We are operating at the moment without arguably the first 4 choice strikers, two central midfielders who would be competing for a place alongside Nolan for me (for most games) and a proper right back. Every team in the league would suffer massively with a list like that. I think ourselves and West Brom were top of the injury list last weekend.

Anyway, a well timed two week break should hopefully give us a chance to get some of those back, and get on a bit of a run.

[mondatoo]

Good Luck with the challenges

[Rooky9]

Good Luck with the challenges

Cheers mate

[Rooky9]

A high (non football related obv)

No more exams ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (we'll see how true this holds, but potentially anyway)

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[Josedinho]

A high (non football related obv)

No more exams ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (we'll see how true this holds, but potentially anyway)

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Congratulations. Can't wait to be in the same position!

[Rooky9]

A high (non football related obv)

No more exams ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (we'll see how true this holds, but potentially anyway)

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Congratulations. Can't wait to be in the same position!

Good luck, get there as soon as you can! If u put the effort in then you will get the results. Such a relief to be done rather than anything else, but good all the same!