Hump Day History!

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"Glory, glory, Man United . . . And the reds go marching on, on, on!" 

Last Saturday I was fortunate to experience my first professional football game, starring the hubby's favorite team.  We (I mean Kieran's mate who generously volunteered himself to drive) made the 5 hour trek to Manchester early in the morning and travelled back the same way late that night.  The whole thing was a bit of a blur, but overall a great experience.   Some interesting differences I noticed to American sporting events I've been to...

1) No booze allowed in the stadium.  WHAT.  How do you enjoy sports without a cheap plastic cup of Budweiser in your hand?

2) Due to issue #1 stated above, you're more likely to see fans holding cups of tea.

3) No vendors selling food, drink, or merchandise in the stands.  Oh well, I always found them distracting anyways.

4) Betting agents stationed outside the stadium door helping you empty your wallet in hopes of winning some bets on the sporting event.

5) So much singing!!  They had people selling Man United songbooks outside the stadium.  It was brilliant.

6) Not as much unnecessary merchandise (i.e. foam fingers, blow-up bats, beer hats/helmets) on sale.  


However, I did find the abundance of junk food and post-game traffic to be similar to what I'm used to!


In addition to the new cultural things I learned and experienced, I also found out that Manchester United's home stadium--Old Trafford--has an abundance of history, too.  Next month, Old Trafford will turn 102 years old.  However, the team itself goes even further back, to the 1870s!


Man United's story began in 1878 by employees of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company wishing to form a recreational football club.  Thus, New Heath LYR was started.  In 1902 the club was saved from near bankruptcy and re-named Manchester United Football Club.


The club has come back so many times from adversity and near destruction. It survived early financial problems and poor public opinion.  It was all but destroyed by German bombs in May 1941.  In 1958 a horrendous plane crashed killed most of their star players and critically injured the manager at the time.  You have to commend the spirit of the team and the fans that kept them going all these years.  


Like me, you might not be the biggest sports fan ever--but everyone can enjoy a good game atmosphere and an interesting back story helps, too!

The massive hot dog--an international sporting event tradition

Nothing is happening yet

Stretch it out, boys!

Goodnight, Old Trafford.  Thanks for a great day!

Laters!
xxxxx

Worthing News Flash

Here's what's happening in my neck of the woods...

I guess I can no longer complain that nothing interesting ever happens in Worthing, West Sussex--this morning they found a dead body near the pier!

My co-workers and I knew something was up when we heard the pier was roped off and cops were everywhere.  Not long after, the local paper (the Worthing Herald) reported that a 54 year old local man was found dead on the beach this morning between the pier and the lido.

Crazy stuff for an otherwise calm seaside town.  My heart goes out to the gentleman's family and friends.

Hope the news has some more cheerful things to report tomorrow.


Amanda

Hump Day History!

Show me the money!

11 January 1596 marked the first state lottery to be introduced in England. Lots were sold the the public at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.  The state-funded "national lottery" in England continued until 1826 when the government decided it was immoral and perpetuated poverty.  The state-franchised lottery we know today was established in the 1990s and although it was established by the government, it is privately operated by the Camelot Group.

What would you do if you won a chunk of the cash??

Top 5 things I would spend major lottery winnings on:

1.  Help our families pay off any debt/mortgages/student loans/medical bills
2.  Buy a few houses outright--a few in the US, UK, and in a few holiday destinations.  Rent out the properties when we're not living in them
3.  Quit our jobs and go on a holiday!
4.  Give our family and closest friends whatever money they needed
5.  Donate to charities that mean a lot to us and become more involved with charity efforts

The rest would go in the bank and we'd live on the interest and the money we get from renting out our properties.


Ahhh, that'd be the life.  It might help if we actually played the lottery. 
Until then, I'd better get some sleep for work tomorrow! 

xoxo
Amanda

Fresh Start for 2012

I'm back!!  No good reason for my absence besides general winter malaise and laziness.  Sorry, folks.  I'm gonna be better in 2012!

Winter is cold, dark, grey, and sometimes rainy here in the UK which is a recipe for general blah-ness.  I wake up and it's dark and when I leave work it's dark again.   Thank God for windows at my office or I'd get no sun!  I turned to the husband today and said with desperation, "is it Spring yet?!?!"

Even so, I do like the idea of January--the new year.  A chance to make changes you were too scared or lazy to do just months before.  A perfect opportunity to leave the regrets and bad memories of the previous year behind you in the dust.  A time to reflect on all the positive memories and achievements you've made but were too busy keeping up with life to notice at the time.

2011 was a crazy year!  I started 2011 in Worthing (visiting Kieran and his family last Christmas) with Kieran and our UK friends ended it just the same, but perhaps a bit drunker this year.  In between I . . .

• Went to an amazing gig I always wanted to (DC101 Kegs & Eggs 12)
• Planned a wedding
• Married my dream man--the Ken to my Barbie...except not as skinny and wearing sweatpants
• Sold and/or gave away all my possessions except for 2 suitcases and a box
• Said painful goodbyes to the people I loved the most and to the place where I grew up
• Immigrated to a new country
• Lived in my first place in the UK...and then moved 6 months later with all our new (and heavy) possessions.  FML
• Adapted to driving on the left side of the road (not quite ready for manual cars yet, though)
• Came back to DC in November and had the best Thanksgiving I've had in years!
• Despite challenges early on, found success with new and exciting career opportunities
• Made new friends and nurtured relationships with old friends
• Fell in love with being a wife, with a country, and with my new sense of "normal"

The other day I was Skyping with my mom and she said, "people always ask me how you like living in another country and I never know what to tell them."  Sometimes I forget I'm living in a different country when I'm concentrating on boring things like work, domestic stuff, bills, etc.  I guess that must mean I'm settling in better than I thought I would!  

It's been a wild and mostly cheerful 12 months (though I admit I've had a few pity parties where I'm the only attendee) and I've learned a lot about myself and my ability to adapt to new things. I'm really excited to see what 2012 has in store for us!  There's already a few items on the agenda, including a Caribbean wedding (and belated honeymoon!), Passover and Thanksgiving in DC, a new job for me, and at least 2 other weddings to be scheduled.

Yesterday also marked 9 months since we got married--hard to believe!  We also finally received our professional wedding pictures today!  It makes me smile to look at the pictures, it was such a happy day with everyone we love around us.  I think we clean up nice, eh?

 

I have to go, The Grudge is on TV and Kieran has turned out the lights and making scary sounds to freak me out.  Ohhh just a normal weeknight at home! <3

Thanks for your patience as I prepared my re-entry to the blogosphere.  Hope you'll continue to check my blog for 2012 updates.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year to come!  What are your wishes for 2012?

Amanda