2274 Game of Thrones Clash of Kings 2 54-203

I will begin this second record of my reading of the Clash of Kings, the second volume in the George Martin series of Fire and Ice books after watching the fourth episode of the TV series the Game of Thrones, season two, not from page 54 which concerns Ayra once more but with pages 138-149 on the story of Daenerys Targaryen my favourite of the female characters although Ayra Stark comes a close second.

On seeing the comet Daenerys is convinced it is a sign that her time has come following her emergence from the fire of her husband’s funeral pyre and the hatchings of the dragons from their eggs. Where would she go? Ser Jorah Mormont her adviser now appointed to head her paltry Queensguard was clear, there was only one direction to travel if she was not to be destroyed by those who never accepted her  or would now do anything to acquire the three only living dragons in the known world, albeit fledglings without their potential power.

Unlike the TV series the book is explicit on the extent to which the weak in her party commence to die, the old men, the young infants and how everyone suffered from the lack of food and water. She protected the dragons by searing the dead horseflesh and the creatures consumed several times their weight each day, growing in size and strength. The remaining follows retained their belief in her and never questioned her decisions because of what had happened

Just when everyone commenced to fear for their immediate future they came across and empty ruined city but here they found cold water, food and shelter to replenish themselves. Some were hesitant about staying long fearing the place was full of ghosts. It is at this point that the books parts company with the TV series for in the latter they send out riders in each direction to find the best way to go and one returns saying he reached a city on the shore and they had promised a welcome having heard who she is and that she was the mother of dragons. In the book representatives of the city, of the thirteen who  governed this city come to Daenerys and ask to see the dragons. In the TV series she approaches the city where all the thirteen wait and demand to see the dragons and when she refuses insisting that her people must enter and be fed and given water first they make as to return and close the gates. One of their numbers dissents and uses his position to act a surety for her and thus she and her party are allowed to enter. My feel us that her story, her role in the series will take time to develop and emerge.

It is therefore to Ayra Stark that I turn next on way to the Wall in secret dressed and shorn to appear a boy (50-59). There is a good description of the state of Kingdom as they travel north and they encounter a posse of Kingsguard on a mission from the Queen to find a boy. The eldest surviving illegitimate son of the late King’s eight known illegitimate offspring brought up as the son of a blacksmith.  Ayra who is out of sight thinks they come for her.

The group of thirty orphans, villains and volunteers is led by Yoren the leader of the Crows, those with the power to recruit for the Night Watch. They manage to get the upper hand of the men and send them packing but with the threat that on return they will have the disobedient Night Watch group leader. Ayra has also shows her defiance and lack of fear at the three men who are shackled and caged.

In a second scene (100-108) the position threatened when they narrowly miss encountering remnants of a battle without knowing which side the men are fighting, They are forced to lie low one night with fires, and short of food the water is said to have the taste of rotting bodies upstream. Ayra is confronted by wolves when she needs to relieve herself. She is miserable, dirty and misses her family and home. The third piece (156-167) brings the story up to the end of the fourth episode in the new series. The group of 30 destined for the Night Watch come across a deserted town where nearby they had hoped to find boats to cross the water. Here they shelter against the instinct of Ayra. Before the night is done they are surrounded by a troop of Tyrion‘s men acting for the said true King Joffrey they say and insisting they yield  their secure place while the rest of town is burning. 

The group resist when the battle appears lost, Yoren presses Ayra to take the other children away but while she endeavours to do this the men enchained plead with her to set them free. She provides them with an axe before getting into the tunnel of escape. However as they felt this was safe from all the death and fire above ground she hears a noise as the tunnel fills with hot smoke and dust so she bends down to the mud which she kisses and cries, trying to hold her breath. Throughout the ordeal her journey north  she has clutched the special sword, “needle” given to her by half brother Jon Snow to whom she had become the closest attached during their childhood together.

Jon as I have said elected to becme a member of the Night Watch after his uncle had taken him to the Wall before disappearing believed dead on an expeidition through the tunnel into the wilding country on the other side. Jon had wanted to leave on learning what had happened to his father and other family members but had stayed after saving the life of the leader of the Night Watch and being appointed his squire.

He is anxious about the expedition beyond the wall that will follow a day of fasting which he admits to gently Sam Samwell Tarly, also a Steward appointed such because neither the fighting skills and abilities to become Rangers, and who had disappeared over night having been sent to the Libary to find some maps for places they would be going. The young man had become so absorbed with the treasures that he had lost all sense of time and of his need of food before the journey commenced. Jon who knew of books kept by his father was not impressed failing to appreiate what books have to offer, This was not to be a small expedition but involve three hundred men, with three quarters of them Rangers.

An interesting revelation reflecting the position of those who take the vow of celibacy is that two of their young friends who were “recruited” and trained at The same time, had gone to enjoy the company of professional ladies of the night. Jon resisted sayng that he had taken the vow, of celibacy.

 A new party of recruits arrives at the Wall led by another of the Crows, with news of those outside, especially that Robb, his half brother, has been proclaimed King of the North and there is speculation about this on the eventual life which Robb will lead compared to that of Jon his older but illegitimate half brother. Robb who has declared there is no shame in being afraid of what they will confront on the expedition admits to be troubled by this news but he tells the Old Bear as Ser  Jeor  Mormont is known, the Commander of the Night Watch, I be troubled but “ keep my vows.” (69-78)

(150-155) Jon then comments on his travels with Mormont as they pass from the tunnel to the land beyond the wall and finds that the villages are deserted of the wildings, the people of these lands. Mormont insists that they continue to journey north to find a lake shown on one of the maps where they will camp and perhaps catch fish for their supper. There was a sense of an enemy being out there which Mormont promised to find, or as John thought in silence, “they find us.”

Back at the fortress home of the Starks the second bother, Bran (179-190) is effectively in charge despite his disabilities cause by Jaime Lannister at the instigation of his lover and twin sister Queen Cersei. He is required to entertain Lord Wyman Manderly the second son of the Lord of White Harbour. He had come to argue that with sufficient gold he could build a navy within a year for sufficient size to take Kings Landing and the Dragonstone. He also suggested that they use the Harbour to build a mint so that Robb would have his own coin.

There is much talk about forging alliance to build up the strength of the new Kingdom but Bran is still troubled by the memories of his fall and the nightmares which continue to beset him.

His reluctant care mother, Catelyn who husband had never spoken to him or her about his birth mother. She was proud that her first born now wore a crown, specially made as the original was lost, and he only a boy of fifteen years. Under the guidance of his mother King Robb, Robert Stark, given the name of his father best friend and former King of the Seven Kingdoms, has entrusted one of the prisoners from the House of Frey with a special mission.

We   had met Walder Frey senior  during the first season when he had allowed Robb and his men to the use the Crossing short cut and agreed to recognise  his cause on the understanding that when the fighting was done  Robb would marry one of the man‘s daughters from his eight wives.  As part of the deal Ayra had been betrothed a nine year old son of his seventh wife and where Olyvar of the Freys had bcome squire to Robb and where a grandson of the fourth wife Big Walder had become a fostered ward to Catelyn while a grand son of his third wife was also fostered and a ward of Lady Catelyn, known as Little Walder. Despite this entwined connection and agreement to support the cause of the Starks against the Lannisters, one of the sons of first the wife, had married the sister of Tywin Lannister, father of Queen Cersei, twin brother Ser Jamie and the new Kings Hand Tyrion and their son Cleos had fought and been captured by Robb along with Queen Cersei’s twin brother Ser Jaime. 

It is Cleos who is asked to volunteer to take the terms of a peace to Joffrey at Kings landing accompanied by a retinue of thrity of Robb’s best men.  First he is made a knight and then asked to vow that after delivering the message to Queen Cersei he would return remaining a prisoner. In exchange   for his two sisters and the ending of the betrothal to Joffrey Robb stated he would release two of the Queens other cousins now in his captivity. He required the remains of his father and those of the men who died with him to be returned together with his father’s sword. There would then be an exchange of prisoners except for Jaime who would be kept until all was resolved to ensure good faith. He would then be released upon the acceptance that he was reognised by them as the King of the North. They would also yield ten high born hostages who would be treated as guests and released two a year to secure the peace.

Having set this action in train Rob suggests that his mother should become his envoy gaining support from the Lords for more men and also to help him decide which of the Frey girls he should marry. Catelyn then heard news that the Lannisters were raising another army and concludes that she needed to try and gain the support of of the former Kings brothers-the Lord Renly and the Lord Stannis (79-89)

Meanwhile back at Kings Landing Tyrion is already fast at work in his appointed role of the King’s hand when he approaches the Master of the City Watch Ser Janos Slynt and explains that the head of the Night Watch expressed concern to Tyrion on his visit that he had no one to succeed him. The Hand had decided that Janos would join the Watch with view to becoming its Commander and that his family would be provided for.

Ser Janos explodes with resentment sayng that the Queen and King Joffrey would not agree. It was Janos who had put Lord Stark to the sword despite Tyrion and father wanting to use the man as a bargaining counter and it was Ser Janos who was responsible for the carrying out of the order to murder the children of the late King including the child of the whore at the brothel run by Lord Petyr Baelish, known as Littlefinger, the Master of the Coin in the house of the Lannisters and who had always coveted Catelyn Stark.

Ser Janos then finds that Tyrion is well prepared for  this reaction and has the newly appointed replacement at head of the City Watch, ready to escort Ser Janos an his trusted men to a ship waiting to take them north to the Wall. Tyrion later speculates how Queen Cersei will take the news that has taken command of the City Watch without consulting her.

He is also approached by Lord Varys, the Eunuch, some call Spider because of the web of intrigue surrounding him through his spies and information gatherers as Council member. He is inclined to appear all things to all men but he has his uses on providing some valuable information that in  addition to the now murdered baby of the former kings there is another, a son and older. Tyrion also appreciate of some of the advice and thoughts of the Spider, particular that power resides where men believes it resides no more no less. It is a shadow on a wall but Lord Varys adds that a small man can cast a very large shadow (90-100).

It was Grand Maester Pycelle of the Council who brought the news of the letters circulated by Lord Stannis denouncing the King and his mother (168-178) the queen was full of rage which amused Tyrion because what was being said was true. She fumed that she was being accused of being a whore, something which Tyrion points out was not being claimed, he does not say you were paid for bedding your brother he wickedly fanned the flames. Nor could he see any point in burning all the letters as the claims were now already generally known throughout the Seven Kingdoms.

The queen now wanted the Council to issue an edict that anyone heard repeating the claims would have his tongue removed. Tyrion successfully argues that this would only give credence to the talk and suggests a different approach with the counter accusation that the daughter of Stannis comes from a union between his wife and the court fool. Later at his residence Lord Varys explains that the real problem is that the three children of the Queen are faired headed while the known eight illegitimate children of the King were all dark haired thus giving credence to the charges against the Queen and the illegitimacy of Joffrey. Something which was still being kept from him.

Tyrion (192-204) is holding a kind of court hearing petitions delivers personally deciding who to see and who not, revealing a mixture of common sense thoughtful diplomacy and personal prejudices which could quickly appear to have been counter productive as when a visitor from the Wall is held in virtual captivity because Tyrion disliked the man on his visit without first learning why the man come all this way with a decaying hand in a jar.

He encounters the Queen who is on her way inspecting he defences at the gates and again calls on Tyrion to call on their father to bring his army to defend the city, because of the news that Lord Renly with the power of Storm End and Highgarden is approaching the city with allegedly one hundred thousand men. Tyrion is sceptical about the numbers and the immediate intentions of Renly who he believes is playing a waiting game in the hope that either Robb will defeat the South which will be handed over without shedding the blood of Renly’s men or they will be so weakened throught the protracted conflict that Renly will be able to Kings Landing with the minimum of casualties on his side. He is more concerned that he other brother Stannis would take to his ships they would be sandwiched between the sea and the advancing Renly.

He then confers with Lord Baelish and we learn something of how the man rose to power and his ongoing skill in making money for himself, making appointments which secure his position and avoiding offending anyone who might threaten his situation. To him Tyrion discloses his plan to but the neutrality of the wife of the previous Hand to the former King by betrothing his niece to her son and giving the girl to the woman in the meantime has her ward. Baelish speculates on the reaction of the Queen to this.

The action then moves to the Kingdom of Dragonstone and the influence of the woman Melisandre over the Lord Stannis who would be King not just of the South but all the Seven Kingdoms. The story is viewed through the eyes of the former smuggler Davos now given the place of Maester Cressen who had sacrificed his life in the hope of

ending that of Melisandre and her influence over Lord Stannis. It was she responsible for the burning of alleged enemies as a form of sacrifice to gain support for the cause. It was she who had arrange the theatrical seizing of a flaming sword from one of the fires by Stannis who had had been protected in advance by a padded gauntlet so as to be proclaim that he would fulfil an ancient prophecy that there would come one who would draw a sword from fire who would be the Warrior of Light, the son of fire, the Light bringer, once more to rule and bring his people to their proper place.
                    
It Davos when arranging the ships that news comes that the brother of Stannis, Renly is aso taking to the road in his own cause accompanied by his wife. (I08 -120)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

It is not clear how important and what role Theon is to play (121-137) of the House of  Greyjoy and who at the age of ten years had been surrendered by his father to Robert Baratheon and given to be a ward of Robert Stark brought up alongside his brothers. He an envoy of Robb to gave to his father a parchment seeking his assistance in the war against Joffrey and the South. He is not a nice man having seduced the captain’s daughter, a maiden, on the voyage and then abandoned her as soon as his homeland shore is sighted.

The TV series introduced one change from the book in that at the he is offered assistance by one who he assumes is a local girl and therefore open to his sexual advances only to discover this is older sister on arrival at the castle keep. In fact in the book he is greeted by another relative aware of his arrival and visit purpose as is his father. His father ridicules the dress and ornaments of his son and then burns the parchment saying he has no intention of siding with the family of those that killed his two brothers. He has plans of his own which will lead him to being king again but for the moment he refuses to disclose to his the son why he has gathered his ships in the bay.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

2273 A Game of Thromes: The Clash of Kings to page 53

I should be completing my reading of Le Carré’s Russia House but the pull of the second series of Game of Thrones with the first two episodes watched before the trip to London and the third and fourth upon my return led to commencing to read the opening chapters of A Clash of Kings, the second of the George R R Martin monster volumes of his series A Song of Ice and Fire with seven volumes in all but with one in two parts and each having at least 700 pages.

It is a good test of the effectiveness of the 10 episode first series and my reading and writing of the first volume as to how much I now remember. There were three principal groups in the first series.

The Stark family are the chosen family to represent integrity, loyalty, justice and honour. The family are happy and content together living in their stronghold Winterfell in a long period of unprecedented peace which appears to have been created through the reign of the King who lives at Kings Landing in the South. He and Lord Stark were close friends who fought to achieve the stability. The King had married the daughter of an ambitious noble family, the Lannister’s, although his heart remained attached to the dead sister of Lord Stark. When the Chief Adviser cum Prime Minister to the King dies in questionable circumstances he visits Winterfell to persuade Lord Stark to return with him to become in his “Hand” and to bring with him his eldest daughter who is beautiful but still a child to become the bride of his son, Joffrey, when he reaches the age of fourteen. He also brings his youngest daughter, Ayra who is a tomboy and realising that that the situation at the Court is thwart with danger he enables his youngest daughter to become skilled in self defence.

Lord Stark has three sons. Robb the eldest son is also a boy who finds himself the head of the family when his father is executed and after the murder of the King and the coming to power of Joffrey who the daughter Sanza has willingly married and made to declare her father a traitor and witness his death. Unbeknown to her mother and the rest of the family the youngest daughter Ayra escapes by pretending to be a boy.  A feature of the first volume is that many of future central characters are all in effect children and as they were during the Middle Ages until Victorian times and prepared to fight and to marry as soon as they became adolescents and if they were high born to participate in arranged marriages which furthered the interests of Kingdoms and Noble families.

Robb supported by his mother, Catelyn, assumes not just the title of Lord Stark but is recognised by the Nobles as the King of the North of the Seven Kingdoms which comprises a land area not dissimilar to that of the British island. Robb with the help of the northern nobles has engaged the forces of the family of Joffrey’s, mother, her twin brother and her father.  He has defeated them three times and captured the twin brother. He would gladly cease fighting and return home if Joffrey and his allies would accept the division of power and exchange the two daughters for the “uncle“.

Lord Stark has two other sons. The eldest is Jon Snow the name given to an illegitimate child, accepted into the family by Catelyn and who is persuaded by the brother of Lord Stark to joining the Night Watch, an order which guards and patrols the great Wall with separates the lands controlled by Joffrey and the Starks, and others, from the wild cold far North

The seasons in these lands do no go in conventional cycles but cover prolonged periods of Summer, as now or Winter, except that at and beyond the Wall it is a permanent Winter,  dark, mysterious and threatening. The Wall is a giant construction with only one access to the world beyond through a tunnel. Jon faces a crisis of conscious when his uncle disappears after investigating developments beyond the wall and seeks to return to Winterfell on learning of the death of his father and the position of his half brothers and sisters. However he stays after saving the life of the head of the Order after a Joffrey associated plot to kill the head and take control of the Order.

There have been disturbing developments north of the wall which heralds the approach of a new and prolonged winter. There was a time of magic and devilish spirits and of dragons.

The youngest son of Lord Stark remains at the family home cared for and protected since he lost the use of his legs having been thrown from a window by Joffrey’s twin brother, Ser Jamie Lannister after accidentally witnessing an adult relationship with the twin sister, the then wife of the King. It emerged that Joffrey was not the legitimate son of the King and but the product of this relationship and was therefore not the rightful heir. Joffrey’s sister and young brother were also conceived through this incestuous relationship. It also emerged that the King had fathered a considerable number of illegitimate children. Joffrey sets out to kill these children reminding of King Herod.

Having mentioned Dragons it is perhaps an appropriate point to introduce another family who form a central role, albeit in parallel to the events involving the Starks and the Lannisters.

The also adolescent young Daenerys Targaryen is the exiled princess of the Targaryen dynasty who were associated with the use and power of Dragons. She is effectively controlled by her brother (with suggestions also of incest and physical abuse) who seeks the position lost by his ancestors and the two are advised and to some extent protected by someone who facilitates their stay in warm climes with deserts suggesting a location similar to southern Europe. Her bother arranges her marriage to the powerful Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo because he promises to use his forces to help the brother regain power.

Daenerys is at first afraid of her new husband but after learning the Dothraki language, she genuinely falls in love with him, after learning that he is a good leader and a kind man. After embracing the Dothraki culture, she becomes stronger and rebels against her brother. She later becomes pregnant with Drogo's son who is prophesied by the Dothraki to be the conqueror who will unite the world.

Her brother resenting the position she begins to hold plots against her but is killed and the former King, on learning of he prophecy also attempts to kill her. The Drogo vows that he will use his forces to conquer the Seven Kingdoms so that she will regain her rightful place and for their son. During the journey to the coast Drogo suffers an infected wound incurred during a fight with a Dothraki tribesman which forces Daenerys to seek the help of healer Mirri Maz Duur to save his life using blood magic. But Mirri tricks Daenerys by using her unborn son's life as a sacrifice to heal Drogo which leaves him a permanent catatonic state, forcing Daenerys to end her husband's life. Losing both her husband and son, Daenerys punishes Mirri by burning her into a pyre which helps hatch the three dragon eggs Daenerys carries. With her baby dragons, Daenerys and what is left of her husband's tribe must find a way to gather new allies to protect themselves and reclaim the Iron Throne.

This brings me to the Lannisters, effectively headed by Cersei Baratheon, nee Lannister, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and was the wife of King Robert Baratheon. As stated she and her twin brother Jaime have been involved in an incestuous love affair since childhood. She had one son by Robert, who died in infancy of a strange illness. And her three surviving children are her bothers and not the former King’s’ She is calculating, ruthless, and cares only for power and the advancement of her family.

The twin brother is a member of the Kingsguard. He is nicknamed "Kingslayer" for killing the previous King, Aerys II, whom he was sworn to protect. He was allowed to keep his post in the current Kingsguard as he and his influential father helped Robert win the war, but no one feels he deserves this post which frustrates him. Away from the control of his twin sister he has shown some unexpected positive characteristics. The first is his respect for Lord Stark and a commitment to fair play. The second is his support for his brother, the height challenged Tyrion. The brother is captured by Lord Stark’s widow believing that Tyrion was complicit in the attempting killing of her youngest child and in the imprisonment and death of her husband.   Until his capture Tyrion was only interested in wenching and drinking but this near death experience as well as a visit to the Wall, changes his approach to life and he seeks the approval of his father by joining the battles against Robb Stark.

His mother died during his birth, for which his father, Tywin Lannister, blamed him as does Cersi his sister. While not physically powerful, Tyrion has a cunning mind, and often uses to his advantage the fact that others constantly underestimate him. His brother captured, his father recognises that Tyrion can play an important part in maintaining order while the war continues as the two brothers of the former King declare Joffrey a usurper and seek to gain the crown for themselves. Tyrion is appointed to be the King’s Hand in place of his father while the war continues, much to the opposition of his sister who sees her power challenged. Peter Dinklage, the only American among the leading cast won a number of awards as best supporting actor for his role in the series.

The new King, Joffrey, is unaware of his true parentage. He has shown himself to be vicious, cruel, a coward and a short tempered. He believes he could do anything he wants when the Crown Prince and on becoming King he quickly begins to act without the guidance of his mother and official advisers.  He orders the death of Lord Stark and the killing of the illegitimate children of the former King which he still believes was his father. So it is time for the second volume which begins with a prologue.

A Clash of Kings begins not with the Starks, the Lannisters or Daenerys Targaryen but with the King of the Narrow Sea Lord Stannis Barathon the older of the former Kings brothers and a rightful claimant to the throne over Joffrey. The TV series covers all the events and storylines of the book but in a different order, I will follow that of the book until the end of the fourth part although cover the story in two parts.

It is Stannis who writes to all the Lords in the land of the Seven Kingdoms to claim the Kingship over all, correctly stating that Joffrey and his brother and sisters are the children not of his older brother but of the incestuous relationship between his brother’s wife and her twin brother,

This is the land of the Dragon stone, the former homeland of Daenerys and her now dead older brother. Here Lord Stannis was cared for by Maester Cressen, his former tutor and healer and now an old man but still wise and anxious for the once boy  of the three sons who he helped raise after the early death of their father.

His place now had been taken by the woman, the red woman Lady Melisandre of Asshal, called red because of hair and her dress, a priestess, a witch, sorceress, a dealer in the black arts and who no was driving Lord Stannis to take on Joffrey alone without the help of his estranged younger brother or of Robb Stark. Cressen who dismissed the horrible visions of the Stannis young daughter Sireen, only ten years, as nightmares and saw no meaning in the appearance of a great red comet in the sky pleads with his Lord as had  to  find common cause with Stark and brother, Renly, something which is also supported by Ser Davos Seaworth, his principal adviser a man with seven sons, but their view is challenged by the Lady Melisandre and who in the matter of what their Lord  should do was supported by his wife despite his lack of regard for her since her inability to provide him with sons from their occasional couplings.  Concerned at the decision which events are being directed Cressen plots the death of Melisandre only to be thwarted by her skills as she turns the tables on his attempt to poison her with wine. He dies instantly but she drinks the rest of the wine without adverse effect.

It was Ayra’s good fortune to be discovered by the man entrusted with the task of replenishing the men sent to join the Night Watch at the Wall. He had been allowed by her father to take his pick of the cut throats and thieves held in the dungeons as well as the volunteers with authority to leave the city and journey north. He cuts the girl’s hair and warns her take care when she passes water so that no one else knows of her sex and identity. Also in the caravan is the eldest of the surviving illegitimate children of the king and therefore a rightful claimant to the throne. They have not travelled long before one of the other youths takes a fancy to the sword given her by Jon Snow. Faced with his challenge she resists his request and beats him badly in their subsequent fight. She is stopped from killing him by the leader who gives her a gently smacking out of sight of the others telling her to cry out in protest and warning her and the others what will happen if they engage in further conflict between themselves.  He warns her that half of the company would gladly give her up to the Queen and the other half would rape her first before doing so.

Back in Kings Landing a tournament was held to mark the birthday of the King, but there was to be a poor showing because of the situation. Sanza was expected to play the role of the loving betrothed although her situation had become one of constant torment as she was regularly beaten not just by Joffrey but by his younger brother and his adult companions at his command. She hoped the Queen would also attend because was able to restrain the wilder behaviour of her son. Unfortunately the Queen would not be present having arranged a Council because her father instead of coming to the city to support her was staying away.

When one of the participants worse for drink displeases Joffrey, he is nearly put to death being forced to drink until Sansa intervenes and saves her and the young knight by suggesting he is appointed the King’s fool. She is also supportive of the eight year old overweight brother when he makes a fool of himself trying to be an adult in the lists. This is cue for Tyrion to arrive and surprises Joffrey who believed him dead. Tyrion advises that he has brought his wit as a present for the King and tells Sansa that he is sorry for her loss and she in turn regrets what happened to him when taken by her mother. She has learned quickly to say the right thing although she finds it difficult to control her emotions as well as her words.

Tyrion then has to insist on being allowed into the Council when the news that he has been appoint the Hand by her father and only brought his own men,  a few hundred,  fills her with dismay and anger. She wanted an army now that Stannis and Renly as well as the Starks had risen again against her son. Tryion is able to convince of his value in acting as a brake upon the wilder actions of Joffrey that she has so far been unable to control. He demands that Sansa  remains unharmed as he works out a way to free their brother and he is impressed at almost all the ensures that have been taken to defend the city except for “quickfire” where the quantity created is  enough to burn down the city. She demands his allegiance to her and insists that he gets approval from her for everything he plans to do.

Tyrion chooses to reside in the official quarters despite knowing the fate of all those who have held the position in recent times, with the exception of his father. However he has brought with him the young woman, only eighteen years and a professional whore who has shown genuine affection and loyalty towards him. His father had insisted that she was not brought into the court so against her wish to be always with him he promise a home of her own  close to him in the city so he can visit he as often  as his duties permit. One of the members of the Council, the Eunuch Vaerys is  waiting for him at the Inn where he is staying, announcing that eh has come to see the woman for himself thus announcing that hi intelligence service remains as strong as every. Tyrion retaliates by warning that he kills any enemy and he has already shown his serious intent by demanding the heads of those killed be removed from the battlements despite Joffrey ordering that they remain until accompanied by those of Robb Stark, Lord Stannis and Lord Renly.
It was always my belief that the second youngest of the Stark sons Bran, short for Brandon is to play an important role. It is noteworthy that Martin in introducing Bran into his second book explains to the reader that one the boy was so fearless and nimble that he would climb the out walls and spent more time on the roofs of the city than he did in the other pursuits of a son of the a ruler.  He is cared for and dependent on his Maester Ser Rodrick Cassels who dismisses his concerns about the dreams and the arrival of the comet.

For explanation Bran turns to Osha a wilding woman taken prisoner and employed in the kitchen but who has a relationship with Bran as well as appearing to know of the ancient powers and ways. She warns that the Comet means blood and fire and nothing sweet and she is also altered that the howling of the dire wolves signals time of change and trouble. The dire wolves play some part in the first volume when the cubs of the mother slain are given as pet guardians to each of the children with that of Sansa killed, that of Ayra Nymeria run off but surely to have an important role in her survival, that of Brandon called Summer, that of the youngest brother called Shaggydog now aged four, that of Jon Snow with him at the Night Watch and called Ghost and that of Robb the Grey Wind.

Osha bring him a potion mixed with honey to make him sleep without the dreams of his being able to run and climb but always ending in tragedy and pain. He is still being called to go beyond the security of the Castle and its grounds. He is certain he has to answer the call or die. The books returns to the situation of Ayra while in the first episode we have also visited the Wall, Robb’s camp where he is accompanied by his mother and across the Narrow Sea to where Daenerys, her young dragons, her adviser and a few of the Dothraki still accompanying her go in search of sanctuary and revenge, across the unforgiving desert.

2271 A visit to the International home of cricket 2012

I arranged the visit to London to watch Durham play Middlesex at the Lords Cricket ground and to be able to make full use of the Members Pavilion.

It was my first opportunity to do so for five years, the period of time that Middlesex has spent in the second division of the County Championship. It is only as a visiting Member of Durham Cricket Club when playing Middlesex that one is allowed into the Pavilion at International Home of cricket, although in fact the International Cricket Conference which represents countries playing cricket is moving its headquarters from Lords to Dubai.

On Test matches days and on the other International and special matches the Pavilion at Lords is only available to Members of the Marylebone Cricket club of which there are 18000 members and 4000 associates but where sponsored membership usually takes twenty years such is the waiting list and such is the scarcity of the new places available. Members also have priority in relation to seats at some of the other stands in the ground for international matches. Entry subscription is £668 and annually £400.

The Lords Cricket ground is also the home of Middlesex County Council, whose members and visiting members from opposition playing clubs have their own stand adjacent to the Pavilion, the Warner stand. The ground is also the home of the English Test and County Cricket Board. The opportunity of this piece will be taken to explain the differences of the various interests and their roles.

As recorded I took the decision early on the first schedule match of the game not to visit because the weather was such that play was unlikely and in this I was correct. While further rain was forecast especially in the afternoon and for the rest of the week I set off for the ground irrespective of the amount of play to be witnessed on the Friday morning, exactly a week ago
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My intention had been to take the train to St Pancras and sort out the problem with the Oyster card having invested in a travel card for the second day in succession, making my way to Baker Street by underground in the first instance and then via the Jubilee line or by bus. However the anticipated train was a short one of only 4 coaches and there was a large party of adolescent school children waiting so I changed my mind and took the first train to Victoria when after changing a Green Park took the Jubilee line connection took to St Johns Wood a station several hundred years from the cricket Ground.

The entrance fee was only £8 for an elder concession and entrance ticket coloured pink. Pink is the colour of the Middlesex 20 20 team associated with a Breast Breakthrough  Cancer research and treatment charity. The team mascot is called Pinky.  It was the 20 20 side which beat Durham in their only appearance in Final’s Day at the Hampshire Rosebowl in 2008 which I attended. Middlesex went onto win the title and thus became eligible to participate in the now infamous Stanford Super series in the West Indies and the 20 20 Champions League(International). The team was also known as the Crusaders but this raised objections from the Muslim Community and  recently changed to the Panthers  thus the Pink Panthers which perhaps in mind  Inspector Cluzot (Peter Sellers)  comedy  film capers which commenced with the Pink Panther!

Full of a sense of cricket history I walked passed the warm up pitch at the entrance furtherest from the main Pavilion at Lords. This area is the size of a small cricket ground and the space is also sufficient to allow a number of concession stalls for food and drink during International and major Finals competition days. On the afternoon of the Sunday I learned from a member of the M.C.C that there is a proposal on the table to build Residential Properties  at the Boundary to the Street, following on what has happened  at Sussex and Yorkshire, Taunton and shortly at the Emirates Durham. There is to be a Members vote on the issue shortly.

This is also the end of the ground with startling designed media centre above the existing stand. It is here on one warm and sunny Test match day that I discovered seats allocated in the lower tier from which it is impossible to see the one of the scoreboards and you have to rely on small electronic notices fixed from the roof of the tier to learn what is happening. More memorable is that having dressed for the summer it was so cold that periods of play were missed to walk and sit in sunshine.

There is a difference in the colour of the stone used to front the main pavilion from that at facing onto the playing surface. The entrance is not unattractive but does not command respect as a building per se. However the pavilion seen form elsewhere in the ground is a most attractive sight with three tiers of seats and player’s balconies at either end of the middle tier. There are in fact two entrances with one usually kept closed.

There is at least one Steward at the entrance in the standard white blazer uniform which all staff wear, including the first female steward I have encountered who controlled one of the doors onto the middle balcony which was next to the sight screen. The atmosphere immediately noticeable upon entry to the Pavilion is that of a Gentleman’s club and indeed it is only within the past 15 years (1998) that the decision was taken to allow women to become members as until then throughout its 212 year history the only woman to be allowed into the Pavilion apart from domestic staff was her Majesty the Queen. Even then membership was selectively given to a handful of ladies who played or contributed to the game. The decision did mean that women supporters of Middlesex County Cricket Club were allowed into the Pavilion as long as like the men they are suitably attired.

There is a guest book on either side of the entrance for  use by MCC members and a recent addition is a small pile of information cards for visitors which concentrate on the dress regulations as well as improving information of refreshments and the location and use of other facilities.  Gentleman must wear a tie or cravat and in the past stewards had a supply to loan as well as the blazer as again gentlemen must wear a lounge suit or tailored blazer, or entitled military uniform.  The loan practice has ended because of Health and Safety considerations.

The list of dress exclusions number thirteen items for men, including sports shoes and sandals, Jeans and denims. T Shirts and singles, shorts, tracksuits and military style items other than a Service uniform, religious or national dress. Twelve exclusions apply to the ladies and the list includes strapless tops, Bikini tops or dresses showing bare midriffs. The Ladies may wear trousers which can be cropped below the knee or culottes and dresses, blouses and smart tops may be sleeveless.

On Friday (April 20th) after visiting the toilet in the basement where there are pubic telephones and a cloakroom I decided to use the top tier to view the game over the bowlers arms and after using a couple of tissues to dry down the bench I was sit at the front and at an aisle with one of the best views in cricket, similar to that at Nottingham but with the sense of all the Test matches played at the ground including my first visit to a Test here when I was around 14/15.  I had been taken to watch Don Bradman’s last Test at the Oval in 1948 and sat on the grass after queuing for hours. I was then nine years of age.

There was no time for further exploring before the first balls were bowled and in the even those first few over were amazing. Before  recording what occurred  I was struck by how few were in the ground where the talk among the Middlesex supporters around me as that of the unexpected win against Surrey in the first match  of the season when within an hour six batsmen were dismissed  to provide a 3 run win for the home side. Few Middlesex supporters had bothered to journey into central London for the event.

Andrew Strauss, the most successful Captain of the English team with Ashes win at home and in Australia and which propelled the team to the number one test side in the world had announced that he would be playing for his county in order to get some batting practice, Graham Onion dislodge his off and middle stumps with his second unplayable ball. Middlesex had lost their first wicket without a run being scored. Two runs later Denly was caught by Collingwood off Onions and Middlesex were 2 runs for two wickets. Thorp then had the other opening batsman Robson caught by Di Venuto for 0 and Middlesex had lost three wickets for only 2 runs. Rogers went for 0 off the bowling of Claydon caught Borthwick and the home side were 28 for 4. I was in dream land and the Middlesex supports in growing shock. Everyone agreed the wicket was on the side of the bowlers. There were jokes about the home team being all out before lunchtime. Derision had greeted the dismissal of Strauss repeated to other Middlesex supporters as they arrived over the course of the first hour of play.

There were darkening skies and the umpires called play off for an early lunch around 12.30, although the reason was reports of hard rain closing in. The wicket was quickly covered over and for the next three hours I was able to remind myself of what a wonderful place is the main pavilion.
At either end of the top tier there is a flat roof area where there are comfortable chairs and table and which enable a picnic lunch or tea. There are also similar facilities on the roof behind the top tier. Lords remains the only ground in the world where spectators are allowed to bring in a small quantity of alcohol, even for Test Matches as there are several areas of picnic hampers and boxes.

I had eaten my packet of salmon and cucumber sandwich early and sipped at the cool water kept in the flask placing immediately after purchase at Waitrose before the journey commenced. I had then discovered the members lounge which runs behind the upper balcony. Here there are comfortable chairs, newspapers and a television showing golf. It was not until later in the afternoon that I was able to get myself a chair. Close to the television and purchased a large and tasty Danish Pastry and a coffee, enjoyed reading the paper and dozing in front of the television waiting for news about the play. There are also several iced water containers with impressive standss filled with bottles available to be added to system. On the ground floor there is also an updated score board from all the other county matches. There is the Library from which there is the famous Bowlers Bar from which drinks can be taken outside overlooking the play. For some reason I missed the second floor Members Bar and from which drinks and refreshments can be purchased and taken out to the balcony and picnic areas.

There is also an area at one end of upper and middle tiers where it is still possible to smoke. The ground is owned by the Marylebone Club and therefore they can set the ground entry conditions. Another of their continuing roles is to determine the laws of cricket, internationally and they also produce a highly regarded coaching manual. The Laws of cricket copywrite is challenged by the International Cricket Conference, after its formation in 1993 and following the created of the English Cricket Board, and the ICC has been flexing is power, now that it has moved away to Dubai by making changes to the regulations such as recently in the one International competition without conferring with the MCC.

Just when it looked as if play was to commence at tea time there was further rain. I was not in the mood to stay having enjoyed the play, and the visit.

On the Sunday my approach was different. For the play before lunch I found myself a seat on the middle balcony. I had visited here on the Friday and sat at the back which is covered and close to where Andrew Strauss was having a private conversation with someone. There were fewer people in the ground than on the Friday, with only about ten individuals spread along the balcony area.

Middlesex had progressed to 188 the previous day with an excellent 65 from captain Dexter caught Di Venuto from Stokes. He had added over 100 runs with Malan who made 35 and Simpson who went on to make 35 not out.  Malan was caught by Mustard off Onions. Berg (2) was caught Di Venuto from Thorp while Murtagh made 18 before going to Mustard and Onions. Roland Jones also made 17 to Blackwell and Onions while England fast bowler Finn was caught Collingwood off Onions without scoring. Given the start, 188 on this wicket and conditions was a creditable score.  Graham Onions 6 for 45 of 24.4 with 7 maidens was the outstanding bowling performance supported by Thorp 2 for 43 and Claydon 1 54 and Stokes 1 for 33. Borthwick, Collingwood and Blackwell were not asked to bowl.

Several Durham batsmen had good starts only to then fall, De Venuto 30, Smith 29 Stokes 45 Benkentein 34 and Borthwick 33 with Onions at the end contributing 20. Earlier Collingwood 19, Blackwell 12, and Mustard 5 all disappointed with Thorp nothing and Claydon 8. The wickets were spread between 4 bowlers with Roland Jones 2 for 26 the best figures. The question to be settled on the Sun was a lead of 50 going to be sufficient for a result given further uncertainty about the weather.

On previous visits I only ventured to the ground floor facilities which include the famous Long Room where is possible view the game from behind the wicket through glass using comfortable chairs with arms rests or high chairs but which only require a small step to reach the seat thus enabling a view over the members sitting in the first row. On International match days this room is also crowded with those standing. The players (and umpires) have dressing rooms reached by separate staircases but converge into the Long Rooms as access to the playing area is through the centre double doors. This means that if a player performs exceptionally well the applause in the Long room is prolonged and reverberates while if there is a batting failure the silence is potentially humiliating. There is a tradition that Members do not approach or speak to players as they pass through the Long Room although if you know a player and are strategically placed then you may be acknowledged.

Running parallel to the Long Room is the Long Room Bar which serves a different main meal dish at each end. On Sunday having free entry to the ground I decided to invest the £8 with what I would have spent on a sandwich and bought lunch there. The choice was between a beef stew with hot veg or four chunky slices of beef in a bun with a variety of colds including new potatoes in skins with mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. It was an unusual concoction which I enjoyed and beef was fantastic.  Afterward I went on a little explore to view the Warner stand before the rains returned and where I noted the members lounge and bar was closed.  As it commenced to rain I bought a coffee in the public bar and managed to spill about a third down me as the lid failed to fit properly Yuk.

The Long Room bar contains some commissioned paintings of those players and other personalities of the game invited to become honorary members, including one large collection of former players where I spotted David Gower and Graham Gooch. Gooch has the highest number of runs in an individual Test Innings at the ground 333 versus India in 1990 and six centuries 19875-1994, plus the most runs in Test Matches 2012(39 innings) But where was Ian Botham? At the far end of the room there was one large portrait. It was Sir Ian smoking a fat cigar. Ian has taken 69 wickets in 26 innings to head the wicket takers and the best figures of 8 for 34 versus Pakistan in 1978

It is an experience to sit and watch a game from the Long Room and cold without a top coat I spent the afternoon and afternoon and evening either pacing the rear on using one of the high chairs. On arrival I had the second floor Members lounge to me as it was closed for refreshments and therefore I had been able to read what interested me in the Sunday Telegraph and the Sunday Times at leisure.

Back to the game. At one point Middlesex in their second Innings were 91 for 8 leaving Durham less that 50 runs to win had the innings then quickly closed.  However Simpson 47 and Murtagh 45 put on what became a match saving stand of 82. Durham tried all their Bowlers and it was Borthwick 1 for 7 off 2.5 who took out Simpson after Murtagh had gone to went to Claydon. Durham then still had more than 40 overs to get one thirty odd runs. Unfortunately there was a further heavy shower and it seemed to me that no one was in any hurry to get the ground cleared before the game restarted with the total having to get with only 17 overs of play.  Onion s4 for 28 was again the star giving him 9 for 73 for the match.  Stokes 2 for 22 also did well.

The situation called for 20 20 style batting and to the credit of Durham they had a go. De Venuto 29 and Mustard not 25, but no one else could get going and the match petered to a draw with Durham 82 for 6 and 50 runs short.  It was Finn 4.43 to do the damage.

A draw brings Durham to a relegation spot in the championship table and with  little play forecast for the game against Surrey, the season has commenced with the worst possible of all starts. There was no play at the Oval on the first day and there is an ominous yet to bat and Close up again although it only lunch time suggesting further torrential bursts and a saturated ground. This is not good indeed.

However I regard my visit to Lords as a great success and on the Sunday afternoon I spent several hours talking to a member of the MCC who was a traditional member without the fevered partisanship of the Middlesex Club supporter. As for Middlesex I suspect their fortunes like those of Durham will depend on the extent to which their International fast bowlers remain playing in the championship. For the past couple of years Finn has taken preference over the then injured Onions.

The present Lords ground is the third to bear the name at three have been within 250 yards of the present playing area. With the first 1781 to 1811 and the second for a short time until 1813. Thus the present site is 200 years old. With a capacity of 28000. The development proposal plans to increase the capacity to just fewer than 40000 with the ECB having given the commitment to play two Test matches at the ground for the next ten years.  A feature of the ground is the floodlighting system which is retractable following representations by local residents. Durham will be required to have floodlights for the Test match in 2013 and it appears they will have to adopt a similar system as that at Lords when it had wanted to the attractive system at Nottingham. The large transformer building has been completed.

I will make on further report covering the last full day of the visits and the return journey as well as the relay of the Opera Rigoletto.

2270 Salmon Fishing in th Yemen after a bus to Teddington and Richmond and then back via Clapham Junction and Brixton

On Saturday April 21st I was woken early by loud conversations between individuals whose first language was not English. The noise occurred for sometime around 5am but I quickly determined that this rude awakening would not spoil my day.  After what  had become my regular breakfast on this visit of a cuppa soup, and looking out over Croydon to the wooded hills and the prominent patches of blue sky above, I uttered the word “Cricket” and decided to dress for a second day at Lords, putting on my suit and tie, and top coat. Fortunately as events transpired I did not take my hat although this was unintentional as I also decided not to take with me the shoulder bag inside of which it would have been placed the hat for the journey to the ground.  The umbrella which had been opened to dry was folded again and had been placed on the desk and not back in the bag. I would use the coat and the brolly to protect my seat, although there is a tradition in the main Pavilion at Lords that seats are not pre allocated or numbered so that MCC members move about, engaging in conversation from time to time, except the Middlesex supporters who seem to me congregated on the top deck of the Pavilion although as it transpired some of did gather in the Long Room. However this is all for another day. Today would be for travelling on buses, for walking and for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

Having determined my day and approach to it, I set about some writing and later checked emails without paying attention to the clouding of the skies. By the time I reached the time set for departure there was an ominous look to the weather as if rain was imminent and I said to myself a quiet no and prepared to change the plan without knowing how.  Intending to travel light I only had with me the small Berlitz pocket map guides to the buses of the central London and to the Underground network which also had the theatres, the markets and congestion Zone area on small separate maps plus the geography of the river Thames but only from Chelsea to the Woolwich free ferry, useless as I was subsequently to need.

I made my way up the hill to the station but approaching the Dingwall Road Crossing, glancing across at the theatre and reminding myself that I had not checked what was on and not visited once in all the recent years of staying at the central Travel Lodge, I also saw that the queue for the X 26 bus was a good one suggesting that it was not long before the bus to London Heathrow airport was due.

Arrival was three minutes away so on the spur of that moment I decided to wait and see if I would have a seat when the bus arrived, I did although it was on the aisle at the raised level which meant one has to cling on around corners. Fortunately the person at the window alighted at Sutton and for the rest of journey I was comfortable at the window and able to make notes when inclined. But where was I going to? I decided to leave the decision to the weather, and if raining or looking like raining I would journey on, perhaps all the way to the airport.

I have previously taken this bus twice since discovering its route, once to the Hampton Wick end of Teddington High Street and once to Kingston and to then take a bus directly to Richmond via Ham. I enjoyed the fast route passage via Carshalton High Street passing the entrance to the park and pond the scene of many a Sunday walk after mass and then to the Sutton Post office where my birth and care mothers would alight there from Wallington to take another bus to Kingston for their lunch of fish and chips and look around the shopping centre.

Between Sutton and Kingston I was entertained by the exploits of an interesting young woman who had returned to the UK for the first time six months from her work in some hot clime which I suspect was more in the middle east than the Caribbean and where she was catching up with an older woman who was not her mother but for whom she brought a card and a piece of Jewellery which the woman did not open. The girl was attractive and engaging without being sophisticated or beautiful and which made her adventuring that much more interesting. The problem was that while I could clearly hear everything she said the woman spoke in soft tones so that important features of the conversation remain unknown. In contrast there was also a family located in three parts of the bus-- a young man with a child, which I presumed his mother, I think, sitting across from where he stood with the push chair, his wife and another child adjacent to me and his father and another relative towards the back where it was evident that it was it was a journey they had not made before and were regarding as great an adventure as the travels of the young woman to a land where peppers were a central ingredient to every meal.

I had no inclination to visit Kingston on the day and as the weather appeared to have cleared I decided to continue the journey to Teddington alongside the huge acres of Bushey Park rather than go for a bus which would take me direct to Richmond. It was still mid morning but I was feeling ready for lunch. The vastness of the open spaces of Bushey Park always causes me to think why I did not make more of the opportunity to visit when living for those three years at Munster Road.

Certainly I would like to have been a much wealthier man if my career had been carried out in London although despite it location a short walk to the west to the River Thames or to the East and Bushey Park and a couple of miles down the road from Kingston there are no regrets for experience of  living on Wearside and then Tyneside.

For some reason my walk along the High Street at  Teddington seemed to take less time than the previous instance as admittedly I paid more attention to everything along the way marvelling at the changes since living close by, but would still take the car and park in a side street when visiting usually over the weekend. I missed the Tesco where a sandwich deal could have been purchased and Mc D if there is one. I did take note of the large Travel Lodge located close to the Railway Station.

My interest focus on this occasion was property prices and I crossed back and forth to view the windows of the estate agents to see if there was anything for sale in Munster Road or similar deceptive l properties with the sunken gardens at the rear, with garden living rooms and converted coal stores onto domestic areas at the front, and coal shoots made into skylights.

There were two printed guides to take away. One concentrated more on properties £1 million with Prestbury House at Hampton Court overlooking Bushey Park one of the main attractions with seven bedrooms and 4 bathrooms at £6 million while a five level narrow front terrace with amazing views of the Thames from Richmond Hill was commanding £5.7 million for units 4665 square feet and off street parking only for one vehicle; a spacious family home at Kew was going for £4.7 with over 5000 sq ft while Rose House at Ham Common with a large lawn garden to the rear and a vast open plan ground floor design and 4900 sq ft was available for £4.5m, A 2 bed garden flat at Richmond available for half a million while you need three to four thousand a month to rent houses of any size. In Teddington houses close to the river or park command prices in the region of £1.5m.  My favourite had a part sunken garden patio area was in St Albans Gardens with 4300 square feet at £2.65.

The morning had become pleasant in the sun and I regretted the coat and abandoned my tie and rather than catch a bus I crossed the road to Teddington Lock and over the bridges into Ham and its common. The impressive church at the road junction before the lock has become an Art centre with occasionally concerts.

I followed the walkway signs into the Ham residential area where a local bus followed a circuitous route around the village before taking the main road to Petersham and Richmond where at the American University the bus branched of around the residential part of the town until the small bus station where I alighted. Unless there was something of interest showing at the matinee performance of the Richmond Theatre on the Green I proposed to journey on to Clapham Junction and Wands worth. I had no idea how to get there by bus and was therefore pleasantly amazed to see a sign across from the bus station which read Clapham Junction,

In need of food and determined to check out the Theatre I made my way into the centre of town and considered a burger and chips with drink offer at a Weathspoons’ type pub. Before reaching the Theatre at the far end of the Green I was accosted by a gentleman of similar years to me who had with a trolley and leaflets and enquired about a location. I had a vague idea of a similar occurrence on a previous visit but if it some play to engage I was mistaken because having explained I was a visitor he approached another passer-by.

There were some productions which appealed coming up at the theatre but alas the matinee for the day was Absolutely Fabulous with Pauline Quirke and not my cup of tea. It was back to plan B. I decided on a local Tesco and purchased a sandwich, a can of Pepsi and four fingers of Kit Kat, meal deal for £2.50. I missed a bus but the next came within 10 mins although there was a five minute turn around time. This was sufficient to have the lunch although at one point when it looked we would be immediately allowed onto the bus the drink spilled and soaked the property journals.

The journey towards Clapham was very slow because of traffic but the route was quickly recognised as familiar although or why was not remembered. The next discovery was that the bus was going to Wandsworth before Clapham so I was able to get off at the Town Hall where as previously recorded I once played Chess for Croydon Nalgo Social Club. It was a minute or two before 1 and I remembered that there was a showing of the film of interest at 10 past. I made the journey as quickly as I could. At the ticket counter a new system was being introduced which would enable an addition to be paid on top of the voucher to enable 3D to be viewed. The female assistant had difficulty in mastering the new system and I feared I would miss the start of a film about taking Salmon Fishing to the Yemen; I made it by about two trailers for forthcoming features. The film review will follow at the end of the piece.

Afterwards I was hungry once more and entered the adjacent McD which was very busy and after getting a Big Mac and fries for £1.99 I had to sit on a high stool to eat. Staff gave out colourful balloons to the children. I was then ready to return to Croydon and decided to do so via Clapham Junction and made my way to where I knew buses departed. I missed one but only had to wait a few minutes before the next.

Everything appeared straightforward until the Oyster Card was refused. The young assistant could nto read and the  young man at the nearby store shop confirmed it was still showing a debt of £1.16 and suggested I went to an underground station which would be able to print out the recent history. As the bus for Croydon could be caught at Brixton I made my way across the road to the department store where the bus stop was located. The assistant at the station tried to help. I paid £5 and he cleared the debt, but when I checked the following day for departure to St Pancras it was showing £5.40 in credit which was something of a puzzle.

The journey from Brixton to Croydon was most enjoyable because of a delightful one year old that smiled at me from the seat in front and opts out her hand to touch. This led to an interesting conversation with her mother who gave the impression of struggling with motherhood and being a single parent, the conversation moved from the demands of caring for a one year old to my experiences of Croydon since the War. The mother had assumed that because I was wearing a suit and tie I had been to work and showed amazement when I said I was 73 and which got the subsequent conversation going.

On arrival at the Travel Lodge my first action after booting up the lap was to find that Newcastle had won against Stoke by 3 goals to nil and with Chelsea managing only to draw this created a two point advantage and things got even better when in the 5.15 kick off QPR beat Spurs 1.0 and Newcastle were firmly in the 4th championship league position and only a couple of points behind Arsenal in third. I was able to watch the full 90 minutes on Sky Go after the QPR game. The first goal had come early on in the first half with a header from Cabaye, who during the second and an excellent second goal hitting the ball from the side angle across the goal keeper into the far corner of the net. The second goal came in the first part of the first half and was scored by Cisse. Ba had a couple of near misses but the aspect of the performance which impressed me was the quality of the organisation and passing which was on a par with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

It was time to check out tickets for the last home game of season against Manchester City. Newcastle has a touch end of season with three away games against Wigan still fighting to avoid relegation Chelsea, who if they lose tonight against Barcelona will need the European Place. I therefore have two reasons for Chelsea to go through and win the competition with a £20 free bet at £10 with Paddy Power. The Newcastle win has netted me a profit of £2 plus stake money.

Tickets were still on sale for Season tickets holders and Club member. This costs £25 for £12 month. There were only single tickets available in the area behind the goal and the concession price was increased from £22 to £32 making the visit cost £57 more than a single ticket in the special lounge areas but membership will enable advance purchase next season and £1 a time reduction on future purchases so is  a longer term better investment.

I missed most of Britain’s Got Talent as earlier the USA Idol which has reached the last seven and down to public response after the shock of the previous week where the most talented singer had to be saved by the judgers from premature exit. Her problem is personality projection which is understandable given that she is only sixteen years of age. I was ready for an early night but stayed up to watch Alan Shearer pour out his delight at the Newcastle performance before switch off and into bed.

I had seen a trailer for Salmon Fishing in Yemen and in addition to the amusing nature of the subject the repartee from the chief media adviser for the Prime Minister had echoes of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister.

The film has two entwined stories. A wealthy Yemeni with a home in Scotland with its own salmon fishing river  decides on a dam and irrigation scheme to improve the economic basis of the country and improve the lives of the people. The focus for the development is his passion for Salmon fishing and the wish to introduce the fish and its fishing into his country.  The Yemen does have a fishing industry using coastal waters although this has been adversely by piracy. The investment and other interests are looked after by a British firm with Emily Blunt playing the suitably sophisticated woman about town executive Harriet Chetwode-Talbot

Ms Blunt is a pleasantly attractive young woman neither beautiful, sexy or with a memorable personality. She is a good actress in the British tradition. I have seen many of her previous films without remembering she was in them; the most recent being the Adjustment Bureau and Gulliver’s Travels. The Young Victoria, Sunshine Cleaning, Charlie Wilson’s War and the Jane Austin Book Club and the Devil Wears Pravda are all films where I can recall a still or two and the subject matter of the film. Ms Blunt remains bland.

In this film she has commenced a passionate sexual relationship with an active Special Forces Officer who has been called away on a mission.

She approaches Dr Alfred Jones, a scientific officer within a the government department, hand picked because of his private expertise and interest in salmon fishing and having devised a fly which the wealthy Yemeni also appreciated as being effective in pursuit of the creatures.

Dr Jones is played by Ewan McGregor who is also a bland actor but has registered in my retained memory more than his co star. He made his name in the film Trainspotting which I have had no inclination to see and in Star Wars which I have always considered an overrated series. The one film in which I view his performance many times with appreciation is the musical Moulin Rouge. Little Voice, Rogue Trader, Black Hawk Down, The Island, and Miss Potter as well as Nanny McPhee are all films which I look back on with enjoyment.

While Dr Jones is obsessive, myopic  and introverted    and long time married to a down to earth ambitious career woman who is offered a once in a lifetime move to Geneva or somewhere similar in Europe. Fred is resentful because he will miss out on his regular mechanical sex which provides nothing for his wife and will her  company when he is not studying work matters or talking to the fish in his pond.  He is a boring man in a boring marriage with his wife the first to break out. He wants nothing to do with the project but is given an ultimatum of cooperating or resigning so he goes along and is there for Harriet when the short period boyfriend goes missing in action and is then reported dead along with all his comrades in arms.   

The reason why he is ordered to participate and assist is because the Prime Minister’s spin doctor is looking for a game changing event and finds the alleged fact of £2 million anglers in the UK of interest in terms of vote catching. It is absurd to suggest that at anyone time one is thirty of the British Population is fishing on a regular basis. There are not enough places to fish let alone fish. Along the Shield’s side of the Tyne at the river mouth and along the pier there are perhaps 50 off regulars with a number of other casuals, often on the dole in addition to the commercial fisherman who provide the fish markets at North Tyneside and Sunderland.

The spin controller is brilliantly played by Kristin Scott Thomas who is given the best lines. However her plan goes awry when those at Agriculture and Fisheries leak the plan to take ten thousand of UK salmon to the Yemen.  His marriage over and fired with some of the enthusiasm of the man picking up the tab for his secondment he resigns to work full time when the UK Government  backs off in the face of the political wrath of the fisher folk. During a visit to the estate in Scotland, disenchanted citizens, it is not made clear their political/social motivation appoint a single assassin but the plot is foiled by the clever use of the fishing line and from that point there is a debt to be paid.

The crazy plan goes ahead with use of farmed salmon on the basis that within their genes will be the instincts to go up rive to spawn involving jumping over obstacles. The British government through the Spin Controller then seize on the official launch of the release of salmon up river when it is discovered that one of the SAS team survived none other than the boyfriend who injured was cared for until able to return. He is flown to the site together with a Cabinet Minister who has fished in the past, unlike the Prime Minister.  But this is also the second opportunity for the rebels to strike and the make a successful attack on the dam release flood level water which kills most of the fish so it seems. The SAS man realises that a relationship has developed between Fred and Harriet, although Harriet is torn between her original affection and commitment, albeit based on only a short of period of time and her attraction to Fred who developed the successful plan for her to organise its operation.

Fred decides to stay and start again with her his partner although this time they will make progress on a more modest scale attempting to take everyone with them. Ensuring the benefits to the community are established and tradition are not threatened. The script makes the film