Thursday 19 May 2011

Happy Days!

Its that time of the year again. The bit where the sun comes out and makes everybody happy. Well it is for me. I've been slumped in a heap as close to the radiator as possible for the last 8 months trying not to freeze to death. A slight exaggeration there, but you get the picture.

Now, for around the next four months, my legs feel like they can move without breaking and my arthritis has gone off on its holidays to someone else who lives in a colder climate. I also have slightly raised energy levels, which means my brain kicks into gear faster than normal. That would usually be a good thing, but with me it means I always make some rash decision which comes back to haunt me. And so it has come to pass.......

I now have in my possession two brand spanking new tickets for the Champions League Final. To be played at Wembley Stadium next weekend.

The thought of going to the final popped into my head at the beginning of the season. When I truly believed my beloved team, Arsenal, were about to win every cup going.
Apply for tickets, thought I, as it would be a 'once-in-a-lifetime' event where one of my children would witness history. I say one because only two tickets were buyable at one time and an adult had to go with one child. Also the prices for the tickets were far, far out of our reach. Possible out of the reach of any normal working person on this planet! But tickets for the disabled were a different story.
So I applied like everyone else and waited to be informed I was unsuccessful as the tickets were oversubscribed and everyone's names were being pulled out of a hat, like some magic trick. But like some evil payback for asking genie for wishes, our names were successful and after half a dozen e-mails to the FA giving them passport numbers??, disability confirmation, and payments, our tickets arrived.
Train tickets are paid for, all 8 of them, not including the tube tickets. Yes, eight tickets for two people on a return. One each to go, 3 each to come back. Someone must have stolen the line again because numerous bus diversions are needed.
Hotel is booked too. And its free!! Its my brothers house, (I love him for living so close to the stadium)!
Now all we have to do is get there!

I'd always told my two girls that if they ever wanted to see a football match I would take them. I managed to take one back in January to Ipswich Town when they played Arsenal in the Carling Cup. Naturally my team lost, as they always do when I go to watch them! The season seemed to go downhill from there! (Sorry boys I will never go again!) But it was a great starter game for my daughter. Unfortunately she hated it so I won't be going for a season ticket there!
Now the other daughter gets to watch the team I believe plays the most beautiful football in the world, (next to Arsenal)! Barcelona. As we will be supporting them, and my track record for winners is extremely dodgy, I will be sticking a tenner on Man U to win, then I will be slightly less gutted if they do beat The Barca Boys.

So now my daughter has packed for the two day trip. Bearing in mind we have to travel light because of the wheelchair, I have had to turn down her request to take her laptop, soft toy, mobile phone, jigsaw puzzle, DVD of Bugsy Malone, (She said she may get bored) and four changes of clothes for a more sensible option. But she is looking forward to it and is counting down the days till we go.
I have a feeling it will take quite a while for me to get over the amount of effort I will need to use the get there and back but, like the advert says, it will be priceless.