Friday 19 January 2024
Yesterday was the 60th day of January and another of yoga, walking, Spanish lessons, more yoga and more Spanish lessons day for me. In the evening Marianne and I ventured into Glasgow for the opening night at Celtic Connections. No not the football club, the folk music festival that is a regular event in Glasgow in January. Despite living in Barrhead for well over 20 years this was only our second time at the festival and we deliberately chose the opening night to sample a variety of different music on offer. The first two acts (Danish band ‘Dreamer’s Circus’ and Edinburgh singer Rachel Sermanni) did that but there was then an early half time break to reset the stage. The second half was an hour of ‘World-acclaimed’ mandoline player Christine Thile, backed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and singer Sarah Jarosz performing the symphonic piece ATTENTION! Much like Charlton performances throughout this season this proved a somewhat confusing period of the evening. There was no doubting the talent of all those on stage in all aspects of the production and it definitely held our attention. There were moments of pure brilliance in the same way that Corey Blackett-Taylor can outpace a full back to get to the by line but then it all seemed to peter out. Ultimately we were rather disappointed with the end result. This was not the best of team performances with perhaps too much emphasis on the star performer (and his mandolin!)
‘Inmates were running the jail’ quote from Troy Deeney in his attempt to save Forest Green Rovers from oblivion (well relegation from the football league at least). Was he referring to Ryan Innis I wonder? Well Deeney lasted only 6 games in charge and that makes him the sort of manager that Charlton like to attract.
There were a few transfer rumours yesterday surrounding possible signings of another goalkeeper (Harry Isted is fit again so do we need one?) and a different centre-forward. Nothing announced by the club but perhaps they have earmarked Fridays as the day to make signing announcements, we will wait and see.
There is a Premier League Cup group stage match scheduled for tonight at Norwich for our under 21s. Will have to see if the weather allows this one to go ahead.
7.00 pm – Norwich u21s v Charlton u21s