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).

Feel like running and dancing for joy...

I'm in love with 11 (alright 14) wonderful boys!! (And their manager!)

What a great night - up there with some of the best this club has had, and we've had more than our fair share. Made up beyond belief and if nothing else happens between now and May, I refuse to let any moaning, complaining, "why can't Rafa do this in the league" saying tw*t ruin it.

Tonight was oh so special - enjoy it, people.


More soon.

****** on a bike...

Can we not have one big match - and it always seems to be before a Champions League match - without some supposed drama going on behind the scenes? Do people really feel the need to stir things up - are they that afraid of us?

They'd better be.

COME ON YOU REDMEN!!! The Bernabeu awaits.

Harrumph...

So Chelsea beat Villa and it's all "they're not out of it yet" now from the pundits...?

...Meanwhile we are still closer to the top and it's all "unconvincing, no threats except Torres and Gerrard" (nevermind we've been without one or the other for most of the season), blah de feckin blah. We've been pretty much written off all over.

Where is the love, people? I ask you, where is the love? That's fine - it will make that hoisted V-sign/middle finger that much sweeter when the league is finally won, be it this year or whenever. Go right tf.

* * * * *

I hung out with my buddy Lee from the supporters' club last night - much fun at B.B. King's on 42nd Street as Wings (yes, Wings!) soundalike band Band on the Run performed a great set and there was much fist-pumping from me, I will tell you what. By all means check them out if they're back around these parts and you're a Macca fanatic like myself. I was in heaven and didn't care how much of a [your expletive here] I looked.

The opener was a dude named Dave Jay who does an act called "johnpaulgeorgeringo" where he does schtick impersonating each of the Fabs, performs some of his own Beatlesque songs (as well as covers) and answers questions from the audience in character. Not something I'd necessarily see again and as Lee joked, it would be great to see him rehearse his act. A pyschologist's wet dream.

Anyway, the act went down ok - some were concerned that he was in fact the promised band and freaked. Others like myself were bemused and said ok, let's see where this goes. There was a last group of - oh, for lack of a better word - wankers! Clearly wanted to pull Dave up publicly for doing something they thought was just too weird or just didn't approve of really. Well, I have to say that while Dave's act was not something I'd make a point of catching again, he jumped up in my estimation by leaps and bounds in the way he dealt with his hecklers. This was worthy of the Fabs themselves:

Prat: "Hey Ringo - what'd you do with all the money your mother gave you for singing lessons?"

Dave as Ringo: "I spent it on your mother."

Feminist that I am, I should probably say tsk tsk to that but ahhhh.....I loved it. And a big "right on" for Dave. Even if it's not your bag, you've got to give someone credit for having the stones to do an act like that, so while I was thinking "ooh this seems well dodgy" when he first started, I felt major respect when his act was over. Especially if you're quick-witted enough to verbally slap down obnoxious Noo Yawkers that deftly...what's not to love?! Reminds me of someone else I've a whole lot of respect for that I've already written about on these pages. Rock on, Dave Jay.

Too much beer, tequila and god knows consumed by the time the evening was over but a great night in what - I have to remind myself often as I curse it out - really is a great city. Useless fecker today as a result but got the laundry done, made a lovely gumbo for dinner and have written this bit of nonsense. Not a bad day despite the hangover. Oh except for the bloody Mancs ...

Roll on tomorrow - come on you Reds.

A wee break...

Yes, I know let way too much time go by since my last post but I tell you what - I was so annoyed after that last minute loss to the Blueshite and the most excellent (I don't give a f*** what anyone says) Portsmouth game, I didn't know what to say. And you know how I feel about this "international friendly" nonsense. I think I needed the break and with the three-day weekend with no Liverpool football - as much as that drove me crazy - to calm down. Gain a little perspective, give the liver a reprieve (cough) and regroup for Act III.

'Cause that's where we are, folks! A third of the season remains - we are at "the business end of things" as they say. 13 games to go, 39 points up for grabs. Five points behind the Mancs can seem daunting but that's a hell of a lot of points still available for *me* to say it's over. Not my way and won't do it until the numbers say otherwise.

Now is the time to see what the team is made of - what we as supporters are made of. Now more than ever is when all hands must be on deck, rowing in the same direction - never mind if you disagree with where we're going or how we're getting there. Plenty of time for those discussions after May 24th (and hopefully, if things go the way we'd like, we'll have those talks/arguments with the biggest hangover ever).

I can't wait - though I sense a run coming on Tums and Pepto-Bismol over the next three months.

Oooooooh baby!!!!

Nothing else to say right now ... more tomorrow (if I can be arsed).

Thank you, lovelies!