Skip to content

Posts from the ‘Family’ Category

Mar 15

11 Comments

A taste for more

“What is your favourite city” my son asked as we both looked out of a Shard window 33 floors up (photo). A bit of loaded question that, although since I was old enough to explore London on a 36 bus from the bottom of Sandhurst Road in Catford I have always given the same answer.

My Kent-country-living son is a lot less travelled than I was when I was 16, but Saturday with no football was the ideal opportunity to open his curious eyes. Admittedly my Dad and I were never fortunate enough to be in the position to blag ourselves into a posh restaurant with no reservation and a pair of trainers and jeans on, and all the same you’d normally have found us in The Valley Club on a Saturday afternoon.
Please click for more

Mar 6

7 Comments

Avoid season tickets at all costs

I’m at the airport flying overnight to Gatwick for a week in London mixing work, family and friends. I had planned to be at The Valley next Saturday but Sky Sports scuppered my plans, so I will almost certainly make the trip on Tuesday instead for what is the ultimate six-pointer.

MK Dons have on a far regular basis than us this season collected vital wins that sees them 7 points better off than us. But when Ms Meire talks about budget I would expect Karl Robinson’s side to be below us in the wage and spending stakes but on a different planet when it comes to forward planning, strategy and stability.
Please click for more

Feb 18

6 Comments

16

My son is 16 today. It makes you sit down and attempt to remember where all that time went. I haven’t been a conventional father, possibly not a great one, but I have always tried to be there for him and to influence his personality and his decision making the best way I can.

Please click for more

Dec 31

10 Comments

Happy New Year

Ordinarily New Year’s Eve is a time for reflection but I sit here this morning ruminating over the future of something I have loved since the first afternoon my Dad walked me down the huge steps of the East Terrace in 1975.

Two years ago today the club was shrouded in rumours of an impending takeover by a mysterious Belgian, one of the richest men in the country. 24 months later hardly a day goes by that further shocks me at what damage this man has caused. The spivs’ CV is widely impressive compared to what has gone on since their departure, but potless and disinterested we all welcomed new investment, enthusiasm, better communication and an opportunity to build on the foundations that Chris Powell and players that etched their name in CAFC history like Yann Kermorgant, Dale Stephens, Michael Morrison, Ben Hamer, Rhoys Wiggins, Chris Solly and Johnnie Jackson had started.

Only Solly and Jackson remain and they cut forlorn figures on The Valley turf at the end of the game on Monday as anger poured down from three sides of the ground. Shiny new seats and painted steps a reminder of how f**ked up this whole journey has been.
Please click for more

Dec 30

Family guy

As expected my body forced me awake early this morning, but it was nice to be back in my own Bermuda bed after a great Christmas at home with our families.

However the imperturbable other half will tell you, my disposition driving anti-clockwise around the M25 from Heathrow to pick my son up on the day we arrived was not particularly festive. Anyway a better journey under the now toll-less Dartford Tunnel to an old mate’s house in St Albans to be met with chili and lot’s of red wine did the trick, and despite a hangover the drive to Oxfordshire on Christmas Eve via Henley had me ready for Santa.

I was on the nice list, which was a pleasant surprise, as was my daughter, which was less of a surprise, and my other half’s family were in great spirits and we had a wonderful couple of days with them before we left early on Boxing Day to drive into London to my brother’s. My parents were already in situ as was my sister in law’s family and we had another very lovely day, rare days of us all being together that should be cherished.
Please click for more

Dec 28

2 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2

I wrestled with my conscience today but decided that I wanted to spend the day with my family and Roland Duchalelet could stick my £17 and my son’s quid up his a**e.

Rather disconcertingly we spent the afternoon close by at the O2 travelling by Clipper on the Thames and beforehand giving the Emirates Air Line a twirl. As we climbed into the air my other half caught me staring a little bit too long at The Valley down below in the short distance. It was a strange feeling being that close but not going to the game.
Please click for more

Dec 25

Happy Christmas

Our day began in a shower of wrapping paper and smiles after the half eaten carrot on the kitchen table early this morning told our daughter all she needed to know. 

Strong coffee to awaken tired eyes followed and the first Bloody Mary has just been shaken and I’m looking forward to a fun family day. My almost sister-in-law has 15 for lunch and I am currently working on an advance party to get to the pub to help build up an appetite. 

Enjoy your day and I’d like to wish everyone of you and your families a very Merry Christmas. 

Dec 22

1 Comment

Home for Christmas

We fly home to the UK tonight from Atlanta to spend Christmas with our families, which I am really excited about. Tomorrow after we land at Heathrow we have a bit of M25 navigating to do, first of all we have to nip around to Kent to pick my son up and then go back around the other way to friends in St Albans where we are going to spend tomorrow night.
please click for more

Dec 18

2 Comments

Christmas spirit

Christmas begins in the Chicago Addick family later today when we fly to Atlanta for what has become our little traditional festive jaunt. We base ourselves in Buckhead and will get out to see the awesome Botanical Gardens Christmas Lights and Stone Mountain Park as well as have tea with Santa and his missus. There will also be time for some last minute shopping and this year we have tickets for the Cirque Musica at Phillips Arena.
Please click for more

Dec 6

Christmas. Where did that come from?

Depending how you view this Blog, then you will see snow falling down the screen. That can only mean one thing.

Our tree is up, in fact we have two. We have about 1,500 lights flickering around the house making sure that the local Bermuda electric company make their Q4 earnings and wherever I wonder around the house Christmas tunes can be heard, as well as in the car. The Elf on the shelf appears every night in a different place, sometimes in different outfits. You don’t know what the Elf on the shelf is? Then good for you.
Please click for more

Nov 26

1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.

Whereas using pumpkin in every recipe and sending your kids out onto the cold streets dressed as ghosts on October 31st and tomorrow queuing to get into Bluewater to buy a £100 telly has gleefully been embodied by Brits, sadly having a day off work, eating like you are never going to see food again, getting drunk with family and friends and watching football on television all day on the last Thursday of every November has not.
Please click for more

Nov 8

Rugby week

Seeing JPR Williams, one of Britain’s most recognisable rugby union ex-players, walking around Hamilton yesterday can only mean one thing. Add to that loads of big fellas trying to balance on moped’s driving past me in a line on a typically windy Bermuda road this morning and it has to be Bermuda Rugby Classic week.

The Bermuda Rugby Classic began here in 1988 after organisers crystallised many years of end of season rugby tours during the 70’s and 80’s starring players like JPR and John McBride to create a veterans tournament that spans a week of drunken frivolity, and that is just the players!
Please click for more

Nov 1

4 Comments

Show time

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but I will let you in on a couple of snippets from our trip last week.

Last Tuesday night we saw Elton John at the Caesars Palace Colosseum. We were joined by OAP’s, couples, queen’s, teenagers, uncles out with their nieces and more OAP’s and Elton was in his element in his Las Vegas residency, just extended into next year. His sense of humour shone as bright as his sparkly pink coloured jacket as he rattled through 120 minutes of what must be hundreds of songs from his play list.
Please click for more

Oct 25

5 Comments

Vegas baby

Just as my body clock resets itself I am back on a plane and will be taking my heavy Charlton heart out west again later today.

Las Vegas is our destination and it is half-term, and my daughter’s 6th birthday so we thought why not. Not the usual holiday spot for a 6 year old but there is plenty to do in daylight hours for young kids and the week is all about her except for a small window on Tuesday night when the other half and I have got tickets to see Elton John and will grab a nice meal afterwards.
Please click for more

Oct 18

Formula One on water

Ever since the 2017 America’s Cup was awarded to Bermuda last December the buzz has gradually built into a crescendo. There has been a real feel good atmosphere around the island supressing the negativity of poor economic conditions, the countries debt and record unemployment.

However the 2017 America’s Cup has already seen some green shoots of recovery with new hotels under, or ready to start, construction and hundreds of competitors and their families already living here and bringing a boost to the island’s economy.

This weekend the island, particularly the capital Hamilton was fully decked out to celebrate the The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series. This is a qualifying race for the main event in two years time.
Please click for more

Sep 14

Travelogue – Brussels

My only ever visit to Belgium had been a day trip to Ostende to break up a drunken boys weekend in Ramsgate many moons ago. My Mum’s bucket list had for the longest time had a trip on the Eurostar listed on it, so I decided this was one she should tick off and my son and I took her to Brussels in August for an overnight trip.

The only way to get the Eurostar from their home near Eastbourne was to get up at the crack of dawn and drive the country roads to Ashford International. The one Brussels train of the day departed at 7.28am, but we hardly saw another car and took our window seats and were soon in the tunnel and on our way to Calais.

Noticeably in both directions the train was 15 minutes late arriving as it slowed through Calais due we suspected to the illegal immigration problems at the French side of the tunnel, but despite bouncing forward an hour we were in Brussels at just after 10am.
Please click for more

Aug 23

Where dreams come true

After a fantastic week in Belize and Guatemala we are now in Orlando, kicking ourselves that we didn’t do this part of the holiday first as suddenly my daughter has forgotten all about riding horses, Mayan temples, tubing on lakes, feeding tapirs, watching toucans, being licked by a jaguar and listening to howler monkeys and is now all wrapped up in Mickey and Minnie!

The difference between reality and fantasy at her age is hard to dispel, but attempting to instill an appreciation of a broad range of experiences is something we are both keen, and mostly lucky to be able, to do.
Please click for more

Aug 23

On days like yesterday

My brother sent me a text this morning saying that it is games like yesterday that you remember why we are all Charlton. It was unreal bro he continued.

“They wanted to win so badly and piled forward in numbers in injury time. It would have been a massive injustice if that game ended up a draw. The ground went bonkers – we didn’t know what to do with ourselves. It was pure madness, I didn’t even know Luzon was sent off until last night! I’ve not seen Charlton sing all the way the station and on the platforms for some while”

Aug 17

2 Comments

Miami nice

After a couple of days in Miami we have moved our holiday onto the relatively undeveloped Belize jungle, which brings something of interest to no one but myself and my mobile phone provider, but means I will follow Charlton’s game in Nottingham on Tuesday night from another country, the 4th different one for each of the 4 games played so far…. The Valley SE7, Bermuda, Florida USA and Belize.

Anyway Miami as always was fun packed, an effervescent oasis marooned amongst the rest of Florida that Dave rediscovered recently.
Please click for more

Aug 13

7 Comments

Belize

We leave for our summer holidays tomorrow beginning in one of our favourite weekend spots of Miami, before flying two hours to Belize on Monday morning for a week. We then return to Florida and will head to Orlando for our second week, but plan also to spend a bit of time out on the Gulf Coast while we are in the sunshine state.

Living in Bermuda allows pretty quick access to Central America via Miami and we have already had some great holidays in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama whilst living here. Belize has been on my list since when I was dying to drive down from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to see it’s incredible barrier reef, but scorching hot weather and a young baby made us the see the error of our ways.
Please click for more

Aug 7

5 Comments

One more sleep

Here it is then, another Charlton Athletic season of blood, sweat and tears. Remember a baby is made and born quicker than a football season and it is important not to get too high with the highs, and too low with the lows. What rubbish eh? Whoever spouts this kind of stuff is clearly not a football fan!

The Championship season, tucked away behind a cloud on Sky Sports, unless you are Leeds United, has another look of throwing up all kinds of possibilities this season. Upon doing a little research to write my previews of each team (click here on part’s I, II and III) it only highlighted the myriad of differing ambitions that clubs have and how they plan to attack them.

It is almost impossible to strive for midtable security in The Championship, and I think Charlton need to be wary of that ideal. The Charlton approach should be to keep away from any danger and attempt to improve on last season but if horror upon horrors there is the slightest chance of a play-off opportunity, then Roland Duchatelet and the club needs to embrace it. 
Please click for more

Aug 2

4 Comments

Cross Channel

My son and I fly back to the UK tonight to spend a week with my parents down on the sunny East Sussex coast, which culminates next Saturday with a trip up to The Valley for the Addicks’ first game of the new season.

My Mum for the longest time has had on her ‘bucket list’ a trip on the Eurostar, so in the middle of the week my son and I are taking her to Brussels for a couple of days. I think, hope, that the crazy stuff going on at the moment is restricted to the freight trains and not passenger. Certainly trains seem to be getting through unhindered.
Please click for more

Jul 29

7 Comments

Sticky wicket

I have my son with us here at the moment which always makes me happy. We have been running around all week, avoiding the heavy rain showers with my daughter, and tomorrow is the start of a four day holiday weekend.

Bermuda’s Cup Match weekend has the annual cricket match between the west and east end’s of the island at it’s core, but there are all kinds of other activities going on mostly held in beating down sun and heat. The rain is expected to clear away for the weekend which will be most welcome.
Please click for more

Jul 2

1 Comment

Careers week

Out of the frying pan and into the fire as I escape a scorching and sweaty Bermuda for a scorching hot and sweaty London!

I fly to London tonight for a week primarily to see family and take my son into the City for the day and attempt to show him what the old man does for a living, albeit nowadays not in the square mile but in Bermuda.

Careers week for me when I was at school was an hour with a scary lady sat in an office talking to me about apprenticeships and higher education, and writing a letter to every company listed in the Yellow Pages, which I actually did, pretty much anyway.

The topic of careers advice was taken away from local authorities and given to the schools under the coalition government, and I think has been met by much negativity mostly because many schools have neither the skills nor the finance to provide any external services.
Please click for more

Jun 15

Carnival weekend

Work has reached a crescendo of uber busy so it is with great joy that I woke up this morning to a national holiday. Explaining to our overseas colleagues and clients that Bermuda shuts down today was a little tricky but the office is closed, the lights are dimmed and the air conditioning is off.

National Heroes Day first came to prominence around 7 years ago when the Bermudian government ditched the Queen’s birthday and decided to celebrate those closer to home instead
Please click for more

May 25

Lazy Monday

First day of the summer, a bit of a swim, and heat up the barbie, otherwise a lazy Monday, although I will carve out some me time later to regale myself with some play-off memories.

It’s bank holiday Monday in Bermuda as well, as the island celebrates Bermuda Day. The highlight being the traditional running of the ‘Derby,’ a half marathon road race that this year runs from the far east of the island in St George’s up and down hills to the capital of Hamilton. A record number of over 1,300 runners are expected to participate in 106th year of the race.
Please click for more

May 4

5 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 AFC Bournemouth 3

The great thing about being a Charlton Athletic fan is that expectations are always low. A 3,440 mile overnight flight with little sleep, quick shower, a hire car and a race from Gatwick to pick up my son and then my mate before getting to The Valley, all to watch us be two down by half past twelve!

It was always going to be a strange day. Another team and their fans celebrating on your own ground is hard to find enjoyable, even if it was a team as deserving as they are, but I at least hoped we might give it a go.
Please click for more

Apr 7

2 Comments

Bunny, bunny, bunny

Back to the work grind this morning after a laid back Easter weekend on the barrier island of Amelia Island, which lies just south of the Georgia and Florida state border.

This charming, leafy and pedestrian oceanside refuge hit all the right notes for a lovely break. The hotel was a kid’s paradise and it went to town with the Easter bunny, who even paid us a visit to our room one night bringing milk and cookies.

12,000 eggs were laid out for the Sunday morning Easter egg hunt, which about 150 kids swept up into baskets ranging from supermarket plastic bags to elaborate picnic hampers in about five minutes flat. Our little ‘un took my tactical advice and ignored the kids stopping at the first sign of them, and ran to the back to make out like a bandit until the other kids cottoned on.
Please click for more

Apr 1

Easter charms

We are spending Easter weekend in Florida, at the very north east of the state close to the Georgia border at a place called Amelia Island, named after Princess Amelia the daughter of George II.

According to my research Amelia Island is known for it’s shrimp festival, one of America’s most important petanque tournaments and is listed on Travel & Leisure as one of the USA’s most quirkiest towns!
Please click for more

Feb 14

Hearts of Palm

Home after a week in Florida, the majority of which was at a crazed work event in South Beach, where having a pee, let alone sleep, was at a premium. I had the two girls with me, so we schlepped it up to Palm Beach on Thursday morning to get a couple of days of family time, and sleep, which was great.

I do like Palm Beach, kind of like Eastbourne, but with high hair and false boobs. The place is dripping in money and a cooler, swankier street than Worth Avenue is hard to find.
Please click for more

Feb 8

5 Comments

Beached

On my way to Miami Beach this morning with the family for the week.

You might find it hard to believe but I am actually working, proper working. It is our group’s annual Symposium which is my favourite work week of the year, but it entails back to back meetings and presentations from early morning to late at night starting this afternoon.
Please click for more

Jan 6

10 Comments

Big game Saturday

So I have decided to come home. I will scoop my son up from school on Friday, go and grab my brother on Saturday morning and we’ll head to The Valley early for drinks and conversation with mates before giving Bob and the team all our support.

As my brother and I have always said to each other: “they need us bro.”
Please click for more

Dec 31

10 Comments

Happy New Year

2014 wasn’t the smoothest of years. At home we had to come through some personal anguish, my other half also lost her job and I attended a funeral of someone close that came all too suddenly. Work is never easy and will continue to be challenging and not in a revolutionary way.

On the flip side I went to a couple of great weddings, headlined by my brothers, where he and his now wife pulled off a glorious day in the middle of a forest. My daughter started primary school and is absolutely flourishing and my son continues to make great strides at his school in Kent as he approaches his GSCE’s head on.

I got to cross off more places to visit on my long list and we were lucky to have a couple of fabulous holidays.

Charlton Athletic of course continue to be both the ying and the yang of one’s frame of mind, but that is why we love them and undoubtedly the Addicks sit in a better place today than they did 12 months ago, although the sacking of Chris Powell wasn’t one of my year’s most endearing moments.
Please click for more

Dec 24

9 Comments

Merry Christmas

We arrived home from our Christmas excursion in Atlanta this afternoon and since putting the little ‘un to bed we have followed the same pattern as every other parent in the world and wrapped presents, sipped wine and argued over who will neck the majority of a glass of port and leave crumbs from a deliciously flakey mince pie!

This is the first Christmas we have spent in Bermuda for 5 years and now we are at home and unpacked I am very much looking forward to our own bed and not having to live out of a suitcase for a week, even though tomorrow I know we’ll have a moment when we’ll have a yearning to be with family.
Please click for more

Dec 18

2 Comments

Just peachy

Feeling a little bit Christmas partied out this morning. Some people may call it a hangover.

Partying Work does come to an end tomorrow afternoon as the family head to Atlanta for a few days to have what has become traditional our pre-Christmas weekend, although we are later than in recent years.

Atlanta is a strange place. No boundaries, no oceans, no mountains so it just grows and grows, meaning sadly it lacks a real heart, but we stay in Buckhead which is a little pocket of refined and cultured (a little like me last night) and stay at the fantastic St Regis. So fantastic that Santa Claus comes to visit you, for a small fee of course.
Please click for more

Nov 23

2 Comments

Christmas is coming

At least it is in the Chicago Addick household. Today we emptied umpteen boxes of Christmas decorations and started the long but merry process of putting them all up.

The music is on, my daughter has had a Rudolph flashing nose stuck to her face all day and the smell of mince pies is coming from the kitchen, and yes I know it’s only November!
Please click for more

Nov 11

1 Comment

Lest we forget

11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Bermuda takes today very seriously and the day is a national holiday with shops and businesses closed to remember those that were lost. The island lost 125 brave men and women during the World Wars fighting overseas on behalf of the Brits, Americans and Canadians protecting the freedom of those back home on a 21 sq. mile island in the middle of the Atlantic.

At 11am today guns are fired at Fort Hamilton and Ordnance Island in St. George’s, to signal a two-minute silence and a parade by war veterans is held in Hamilton ending with wreaths being laid at the Cenotaph and new war memorial on Front Street

A national holiday is a creditable way to honour those that lost their lives, and it is a shame that other countries don’t consider today as worthy.
Please click for more

Nov 10

Queen Elsa, Roman Abramovich and Mike Tindall

What do they all have in common?

Driving into Hamilton today I at first thought that a huge block of snazzy flats had been built in the harbour, but on closer scrutiny it was in fact the return of Roman Abramovich’s 533ft long super-yacht ‘Eclipse.’

It was here last year, which I did a little bit of research for, but since then the Russian billionaire has lost his title of owning the world’s largest superyacht to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s whose newly constructed Azzam, which is 57 feet longer! Boys and their toys, although both yachts are available to charter, which is more tax efficient apparently, the Eclipse to hire for a week? $2 million. A snitch.
Please click for more

Oct 29

1 Comment

Disney

We have been in Walt Disney World, Orlando since Sunday, an idea conceived behind my back when I was travelling with work recently.

I thought we were going for a few days of school half-term to New Orleans. Think jazz, beignets and hangovers, but my two girls decided that we finally dispel any notions that I expel that Disney doesn’t exist and come and visit Mickey & Minnie. Think Elsa, hot dogs and aching legs!
Please click for more

Oct 21

1 Comment

Weary

My body is normally a temple, as those that know me will attest! But this morning it is questioning how it ever got mixed up with me in the first place. The last four Sunday’s I have been in Bermuda, Los Angeles, Miami and Eastbourne. Not quite Del Boy’s van, but in the same condition.

This morning we are off to meet an old mate of mine from Chicago and his beautiful new fiancé for breakfast in Bills. Just what I need, another pile of bacon, sausage, egg and mushroom, but I am looking forward to seeing them all the same.
Please click for more

Oct 17

Hurricane Gonzalo update

We landed at a reasonably warm Gatwick Airport this morning, and have just said goodbye to my girls who are heading into London’s west end, whilst I shower and get myself ready for the drive to Royston in Hertfordshire for my mate’s wedding this afternoon.

I felt a mixture of relief and chicken when I boarded the BA flight last night and our thoughts are with friends and colleagues who remain on the island. It will be difficult to think of much else
Please click for more

Oct 15

4 Comments

Hurricane Gonzalo

Bermuda is bracing itself for potentially the most powerful hurricane it has faced in 50 years. So far Gonzalo has all the characteristics of Hurricane Fabian which killed four people and caused $300m of damage to the island in 2003.

Currently fluctuating between a CAT 4 (wind speed up 156 mph) and a CAT 3 (wind speed up to 129 mph) around 590 miles away from here north of the Dominican Republic, Gonzalo is barrelling towards Bermuda and is anticipated to bring 27 hours of tropical storms beginning tomorrow afternoon and 8 hours of hurricane force winds beginning Friday lunchtime. It is currently expected to be a CAT 3 when it arrives, but hurricanes although predictable are also highly erratic in their behaviour.
Please click for more

Oct 12

Mr Popular

Whilst I was swashbuckling my way around South Beach last night, Bermuda was getting walloped with a Tropical Storm.

As my wind-swept over half will tell you I have a mystifying habit for being off island when big storms take a swipe at the island and last night TS Fay took a direct hit to Bermuda with winds gusting to 120 mph and people waking this morning to a lot of damage.

Our house was fine, although the alarm rang for the whole night, although a couple of guys I am with in Miami lost windows.
Please click for more

Sep 22

Eastbourne Pier

Great to hear that the Eastbourne Pier will re-open this weekend just two months after a fire ravaged the front part of it. My parents, who live very close to the town, texted me on that fateful night in July distraught, not because they will miss the penny slots, but because the pier is the centrepiece of the seafront where they spend many an hour.

The photos did not paint a good picture but thanks to the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, insurance recovery and fundrasing by the Pier Benelvolent Fund the pier will be back open for business on Saturday.

Visitors will be able to access two-thirds of the Grade II listed building after walkways were constructed to make is safe. Access will be from the front of the pier which will take people around to the parts that were saved from the fire including cafe’s, the fishing platform, shops and the Atlantis Nightclub.
Please click for more

Sep 5

9 Comments

Big school

My little girl, not so long a baby so tiny that she could slip through your fingers starts ‘big school’ today.

Almost 5-years old she starts Primary school at Bermuda High School (BHS) today, and watching her last night help lay her school uniform out and runaround in her new school shoes bought a lump to my throat. Where did that time go?
Please click for more

Aug 26

Attack on the senses

A couple of very enjoyable days in Mexico City are over and we flew today onto the beachy Pacific Coast and Punta Mita.

First impressions of the Mexican capital are not kind. Journeying in from the airport in the west, once on the outskirts but now swallowed by this megalopolis, the overwhelming welcome is of noise, fumes, and of overcrowding.

We stayed near the huge Bosque de Chapultepec, one of the largest public parks in the Western Hemisphere and an area dotted with hotels, offices and signs of investment in half completed tower blocks, yet re-gentrification of this part town is far from complete and a walk from our hotel to the park was an ugly attack on the senses.
Please click for more

Aug 22

2 Comments

Hasta la vista

Instead of being sat in the Chadwick Lawrence Stand tomorrow I will be swapping bitter for tequila and heading off to Mexico on holiday.

By Tuesday afternoon we’ll be out on the Pacific west coast at Punta Mita, a small beachy peninsula town 45 minutes north of the much larger Puerto Vallarta. The area is dominated by a couple of large hotels, one of which we will make our home for almost a week. The plan is to pretty much do nothing except test the water and experience the local cuisine and selection of beverages.
Please click for more

Aug 20

9 Comments

Charlton Athletic 3 Derby County 2

My first sight of the new revolution in SE7 last night and quite frankly I was astounded.

The first 10 minutes I sat in a kind of self contained bewilderment as Peeters’ side imposed their passing game on most people’s favourites for promotion. Derby hardly got a sniff of the ball until they kicked off again after George Țucudean scored a beautifully crafted goal in the 11th minute.

I cheered with others, but I was equally a little bit speechless if I’m honest. I don’t think in 40 years I have seen a Charlton team play such a deliberate passing game. Good passers, yes, but all eleven players in a predetermined way look instinctively for the pass first, I don’t think I have.
Please click for more

Aug 17

1 Comment

Gone fishing

I’m flying back to Gatwick tonight with my son, who has been with us for two weeks.

We had our final swim a little bit earlier and I’m feeling nicely sleepy for the flight. My son, as tired as he is, will watch movies from the minute we take off until the moment we land.

I am only back for two nights and have a bit of running around to do. I will base myself at my parents down on the South Downs, but will be in the City Monday night to meet up with some mates for drinks and then Tuesday we will be at The Valley.
Please click for more

Aug 6

2 Comments

New motor

Bermuda is not a place for petrol heads or car buff’s. Limitations on choice and size of cars plus the extreme expense cloud real excitement in buying a new motor.

I bought my first new car in my mid-20’s. Probably one of the most exciting days of my life. I love cars, I don’t know much about what goes on inside them, but to drive, stroke and admire, oh yes, yet, I have never really owned a properly nice car.
Please click for more

Jul 31

MIA

Thursday and Friday in Bermuda are national holidays, officially known as Emancipation Day and Somers Day, but more widely known as Cup Match, when the two end’s of the island take each other on at cricket.

It’s a fun time to be in Bermuda, but I’ve ticked that box a few times and it is hard to give up an opportunity to go away for a long weekend. Thus, we find ourselves at the airport on our way to Miami, a familiar retreat for us.
Please click for more

Jun 15

Dreamlike

My brother and his now wife pulled off a dreamlike wedding yesterday in the middle of the Berkshire countryside.

A stunning setting, a forest lit up in flood lights, glitter balls, silver chandeliers, fairy lights, swings, photo booth, dancing, fire pits, smoke bombs, great food, too much booze, four DJ sets, an audience of cows, wellington boots, golf buggies and an awesome show-stealing best man’s speech symbolized a magnificent wedding day that was nearly all held outside.
Please click for more

Jun 13

14 Comments

10 years old today

There has been many times when I have stared at the keyboard or stared into space with no inspiration at all, nothing.

Nothing going on at Charlton, nothing going on in the football world, nothing going on in my daily life, of particular interest to anyone else at least, nothing that I have seen on the telly or in the street that has sparked a rant. Nothing.

It happens when you write a blog and has happened to me many times during the 520 weeks of Chicago Addick.
Please click for more

Jun 9

One wedding and a funeral

I go home tomorrow night for what was always going to be my brother’s wedding, but sadly I now have to attend my best mate’s Dad’s funeral on Wednesday as well.

The funeral will be held at Hither Green Crematorium, which will also enable me to visit my dear Nan & Grandad. Afterwards we will have a couple of beers in the Catford Cricket Club, both at the bequest of my mate’s Dad, as was banning any black clothes because as he used to say: “funerals were too depressing.” So colours it is.
Please click for more

May 26

32 Comments

10 years on

During the next month this Blog will be 10 years old and I’m giving myself a pat on the back.

I remember that June Sunday evening well, sat in my apartment in Chicago juggling with Blogger’s idiot-proof yet bewildering templates to pen my first post.

Only the venerable Professor Wyn Grant has being blogging Charlton longer, although Daryl, the original inspiration for me to start still writes intelligent and punchy words here at 853.

As others will tell you blogging is often a labour of love and can be equally time consuming and frustrating. It has never been a chore though, otherwise I would have stopped. Writing has always been a release, and despite many bumps in the road, I have selfishly pushed on, writing 2,824 posts in the process but always taking great delight in knowing that many of you stop by to read my latest ramblings on whatever pops into my mind and not just the trials and tribulations of Charlton Athletic.
Please click for more

May 13

Roy’s 23

I got a little buzz from the announcement of Roy Hodgson’s England squad yesterday, a teensy one anyway.

If you remember 4 years ago before South Africa, England and the FA were in right old mess, but yesterday was different. From the way Hodgson handled the reporting of the squad, to stupid questions from the press like “is this squad capable of winning it?”
Please click for more

Apr 17

Good Friday after a bad Tuesday

It has been hard to shake Tuesday night. I tend not to dwell on games after 24 hours, but I have struggled with Tuesday. A restless night’s sleep preceeded the flight home yesterday and my unease wasn’t even shoved to one side by a large dose of Games of Thrones.

It was a long way to go to see that, but I have always said that when you pick your games and when you are a Charlton supporter, you have to retain a sense of inevitability.
Please click for more

Apr 10

Wild west

It was a little ways to go for a long weekend, but I really enjoyed our short trip to Scottsdale. There is a 4 hour time difference between Arizona and Bermuda and when we finally pulled into our hotel on Friday at midnight it had meant we’d been up for 22 hours, and one of us had woken with a raging hangover.

Then as always happens, the three of us were wide awake at 5am starving and ready to start the day, only to tire by evening time. Fortunately I’m out of the habit of all night clubbing, with the family anyway, so early nights followed by a couple of very enjoyable morning walks with coffee, blue skies and a just-perfect morning chill worked wonders.
Please click for more

Feb 2

3 Comments

Contrasts

In a warm Miami this morning after a journey back from a very snowy Colorado yesterday evening.

In the last three days we were in Beaver Creek 36 inches of snow fell, the most at this time of many years. This had caused earlier airport issues with a bountiful of cancellations and the tiny Eagle airport near Vail was stretched to breaking point yesterday, as was my patience.

Our flight had a weight problem, so they had to throw a few fatties off and some luggage which caused a lot of consternation and an hour delay all the while after I had to push a wheelchair, carry 7 bags, and herd a 4-year old.
Please click for more

Dec 21

Bolton Wanderers 1 Charlton Athletic 1

The East Sussex Chicago Addick family household burst into life at eleven minutes past three this afternoon as Jeff Stelling announced a Yann Kermorgant lead at The Reebok. Fully deserved said the reporter perched up in the stand after Yann finished a delightful Wiggins run to put us ahead after dominating the early stages.

Sadly just before the half-time whistle the teleprinter told of a Bolton equaliser by Kevin McNaughton, although by then we perhaps should have been further ahead.
Please click for more

Dec 20

1 Comment

Flying home for Christmas

We’re flying home tonight for Christmas. This year we have cut back on our tour around people’s houses as I don’t think us and our copious suitcases are always as welcome as we think! Whilst friends are going back to work, there we are showing up on the doorstep still spouting Christmas guff and waggling wine and cakes in people’s faces. It’s a difficult balance when you are always the visitor and never the host.
Please click for more

Dec 6

Christmas expedition

We are taking what has become our annual weekend trip to Atlanta later today.

Tea with Santa, the Atlanta Christmas parade, a puppet show, the Christmas lights at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the Aquarium and some Christmas shopping if we can fit it in are all on the agenda.
Please click for more

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »