Anne Williams - knocked back again...

Details of last weekend and the trip are coming - don't worry. But I couldn't wait until those posts are up (as they'll be lengthy) to post something about this.

Anne Williams - mother of Hillsborough victim Kevin Williams - has had her case refused by the European Court of Human Rights today. She apparently was "out of time" to present the case. Was this supposed deadline known? To anyone? One would imagine not as Ms. Williams herself has - with all that's going on - quite publicly kept people up to date with the details of her travails.

Or just arbitrarily decided upon spur of the moment? Dropped out of the blue after three years of fighting to get this heard? And for being "out of time" no less - as many have already noted today, more than a bit horribly reminiscent of the notorious 3:15pm deadline imposed by the police on April 15, 1989.

Denied justice in the UK and now in the European courts, who were supposed to be more forward-thinking and unencumbered by the political baggage that has subverted Anne's case at home. Almost 20 years to the day after her son died from the wilful negligence of those "in charge", the denial of treatment that could've saved his life and the countless cover-ups of both afterwards. So now, she must start again, going back to appeal to those who've denied her her say before. What a fucking joke - sorry - and it's impossible to conceive of what she's been through and a punch in the gut this must've been after it seeming like she might finally get what she'd been fighting for all these years.

YNWA, Anne - and as hollow a sentiment that sounds on a stupid blog, it is nonetheless heartfelt. JUSTICE.

Alright, alright....

I know you're probably saying, "What the hell, Connie - you expect anyone to keep reading this blog if you don't bother posting to it but every few weeks?"

Well, my personal life lately has been a bit hellacious, which is part of what's kept me away. But my refuge from that - *this* (i.e., our Redmen) - have certainly given a lot of joy, haven't they? And with joy comes even more distraction.

And what a wonderful two weeks full of distraction!

I won't bother recapping too much because if you don't know, you've far more important things to be doing than reading this (like coming out from under that rock?!).

But in summary:

• Twatted Real Madrid

• Said goodbye to Coco

• Twatted Manchester United (and made Fergie look like a raving lunatic in the process)

• Signed Rafa to a new five-year deal

• Drew the oh-so-familar-by-now Southern Bluesh*te in the Champions League

• Saw the kids through to the FA Youth Cup semifinal (again!)

I'd say life is pretty pretty pretty good!

I've let you - and myself - down as everytime I'd had a few minutes to start a post, something's come along to put me off. And I can't even do much for you today as I'm trying to wrap things up before catching a flight to Manchester this evening.

But I promise (!) when I return I'll have some stories to share. Big ups to The 11th Street Kopites - will miss you Sunday but will make my own noise from the Main Stand (albeit way the hell in the back of it).