A frosty and romantic anniversary (From Times Series)

A frosty and romantic anniversary

11:06am Monday 9th March 2009

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The weather forecast for NW and West London this Tuesday is .... decidedly frosty.

The sad fact is that I asked Mrs S at the back end of last week if she wanted a ticket to accompany me to Brentford to see Barnet take on the current League 2 leaders.

"I suppose so", was the somewhat curt reply. "It is our wedding anniversary".

It is indeed the anniversary of that 42nd wedding anniversary I forgot when I arranged a trip to watch the Bees play an away game against Grimsby Town only 12 months ago.

I had to use all my PR skills then to convince the lady that a trip to Cleehorpes for a fish and chip supper - that's where Grimsby play, by the way - and a visit to Blundell Park was perfect for a romantic occasion. Actually, we then got thumped 4-1, the heavens opened again as we drove South ... and I bet she can't even remember Cliff Akurang's great headed goal.

"We'll have a trip on Eurostar to Paris next year", I promised. Guess that will have to be for her birthday now. I'll have to ask one of the kids to remind me when that is.

Mind you, I gained brownie points at the weekend by foregoing Barnet's six-pointer clash against Chester City at Underhill in favour of hosting twin daughter Claire's wedding to Woody.

The fact that the wedding was at The Shire, a mile or so from Underhill, contrived to make it slightly more difficult for me to be the imperturbable Father of the Bride - my fifth effort at this exacting but made to measure role.

I managed to concentrate on the task in hand at the ceremony, the photos, the pre-luch drinks and then as we worked our way through the Signy treat menu .... prawn cocktail, sausages and mash and gravy and bread and butter pudding.

As I rose to make my Father of the Bride speech, the first half was already over at Underhill and, although I couldn't hear the roar of the crowd from down Barnet Hill, I knew it was 0-0 at half time via Graham Slyper's mobile.

Graham, who had also given up watching the Bees, was in great demand with my brother Larry in the room sweating on league leaders Brentford's result at Rotherham United and my Chesterfield-supporting pal Tony Keeling being one-up from early on away to Wycombe Wanderers.

I was into my speech and up to the third paragraph marked 'Pause here for laughter' when I spotted Graham on his feet gesticulating like a deranged bookie that the Bees had gone one-nil up.

Barely had the laughter on the next gag died down than Graham was telling me it was 1-1. Suddenly I didn't want any laughter or happiness.

My pal John O'Flynn made it 2-1 and Paul Furlong three before I sat down. Larry had to endure a 0-0 and Tony the anti-climax of a missed penalty and a last minute Wycombe equaliser.

At the end of the day it didn't feel so much like I was giving a daughter away but instead I was gaining three points.

Team manager Ian Hendon dropped in at the reception to run through how his afternoon had gone. He had a message from chairman Tony Kleanthous ... Graham and I are banned as the team did well without us.

The chairman phoned on Sunday to inquire about my health. I told him I was "bunged up". He replied: "Don't know why, you weren't at football or in the cold".

The trauma of the day caught up with me as I called for a toast to bride and groom at cake-cutting time in the evening.

I didn't notice, but 200-plus guests did .... I referred to Claire as Chris at the end of the toast.

It didn't say 'Pause for laughter' at this point - but the laughter came. I guess it's a wise Father of the Bride who knows the name of his children.

PS I'm plugging for the next male grandchild to be named Ian or John.

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