Why football can be a good thing.

Last year, Hubby and the young man were devastated when their football team, Sheffield Wednesday were demoted to a lower league. However one blogger - with her finger on the pulse - noted that her local team would be in the same league, so there may be the chance of a meet up.

So, as the young man had never been to an away game, and it was hubby's birthday, I organised an away weekend to Southampton - the other end of the country - so that they could watch their beloved team lose 2-0 to Southampton.

Actual, that's what they thought - but the real reason was that I could meet 2 of my favourite bloggers. I was supposed to meet them in the park, by the monument for the Titanic Engineers. The park had about 100 monuments in it, and nobody in Southampton knew where this monument was!!! How could they not!! It is a beautiful monument.

And then they arrived!! The wonderful Lisa from Jumble and Jelly and the gorgeous Clare from Summerfete. Lisa brought her amazing children S and T who were so entertaining and had so much stamina to keep up with us all day!

(as you can see, Clare was actually the centre of attention all day, but she did bring chocolate - so fair do's).

I find it amazing that relative strangers can meet and get on so well. We chatted and laughed and got on famously all day - I can't find the words to tell you how lovely it was. It was like meeting old friends - but then again, I knew it would be. Although we 3 have totally different lives, we also have so much in common - we never stopped talking all day!. We had a truly wonderful time. Lisa had organised some tremendous blue sky, a cultural tour, a bit of shopping, a picnic and a wonderful and much needed tea stop (where time stood still and we seemed to spend well over an hour and a half drinking 3 cups of tea!!!!).

Clare was glad they brought me as she thought I might make Southampton look good in my photos - but I think the blue sky did that! This used to be the hotel where liner passengers (and the Titanic passengers) would have spent the night before their voyage,

And this was the offices of the White Star line where relatives of the crew waited for news of loved ones.

And near this spot, King Canute tried to hold back the tides (I didn't realise that he did this in Southampton!!!)

And some of the crew of the Titanic missed the ship as they were drinking in here!!

All too soon, we had to say goodbye - we had spent almost 8 hours together, but it went by far too fast.

Here's hoping that both teams are in the same league next year! Otherwise I'll have to find another excuse for visiting Southampton!!!

Lots of love to you both ladies - I am so happy to have you for my "blends" (bloggy friends according to Clare's hubby)
xx