Cod Almighty | Diary

How to make gravy

21 August 2025

"No other word will do. For that’s what it was. Gravy."

The poets among you may be startled, the vegetarians may ask nervous questions about its provenance, but all Town fans know that the start to this season has been different gravy. Raymond Carver, whose short stories had a kick like Greens, would have enjoyed writing about being in the away end as the limbs flailed and the joy was unconfined. The endorphins surge, the adrenalin kicks in and lasts long enough to fuel the long dark journey home. There is no feeling to beat a good away win against a tough opponent. And it feeds the urge to do it all again on Sat'day and bugger the overdraft.

At the start of the season your Guest Diarist, after hearing the manager talk about individual development plans for each player, resolved to write a three line IDP for the team. But there has been too much else going on so it never happened. I found the scrap of paper the other day on which I had written three bullet points. Well, I thought, so far they are hitting all of these:

1. Entertain  2. Try  3. Build community spirit     Nuff said.

Thursdays are good when you have won away on Tuesday. The buzz is still there and it's only 48 hours to the next hit. On Wednesdays in our house we watch Wednesday. She had a zinger of a line last night which struck home with me. Something like it's never FOMO with me but FOBI. The Japanese have a word for those like me who retreat into a closed world. For me it is gardening, cooking, telly. The word is hikikomori. I love to read about how great the atmosphere is and urge fans to cough up and show up in good heart. I did it for 45 years, then stopped and cannot start again. So now, gentle reader, I rely on you to carry the baton. If ever there was a good period to try to get your kids into supporting Town then now is it.

I have to leave you now for an early dentist appointment. She usually says "lie back and think of something nice". That's an easy one today. See yer.

P.S. Here is a lovely song called How to Make Gravy Give it a listen.....