OT - What are you doing now? (2026)

Battleborn

CPFC1905

1976,  do you remember it?   I do and it was a hot summer, so much so that it became a cultural reference point for the UK.  And then last Summer happened.  In a peculiar portent Spurs were last relegated to the second tier in the season starting in 1976, and a glance at the table suggests the most recent hottest summer looms like a harbinger.     It’ll make a terrific case study; Red Adair manager arrives and makes things worse, players disinvest - they are contractors remember and many are sought by major clubs elsewhere, the business model centres around revenue from the stadium - not the football team, and the second tier is a renowned vortex of black hole proportions.    Elsewhere, stuff has happened. 

Burnley vs Bournemouth, back to losing ways the Clarets are playing out time now - being 10 points from safety.  The Cherries are in good form, undefeated in the last 6, and that won’t change here.  0-2

Sunderland vs Brighton, meh - possibly the game that assure the filthies of PL football next year.  The Maccems have hit 40 points and I am thrilled for them, no really - I am, honest.  Away win sees the media darlings reach that mark too, but if the shots are still invested then 1-1 is more likely. 

Arsenal vs Everton, the Toffess are great away from home and so no push over for the Gunners, but I think they are over their wobble now and will nudge closer the title. 2-1

Chelsea vs Newcastle, a couple of curious teams at the back end of curious seasons. For the Chles it can all need well with top 4 not out of the question - but it would be easier if they stooped getting players sent off.  Toon are welded to mid-table and their Euro campaign is faltering.  A season of promise has turned to dust.  And north of £100m spent on players, too.  2-1

West Ham vs Man City, the Hammers pose the greatest threat to Forest and Spurs, despite being point behind - because they have found more reliable form since January. This game is only ever a free-hit for most teams and a draw is not out of the question. But City scoring early will end the contest. 0-1

Sunday

Palace vs Leeds, tricky.  Leeds are not safe nor in great form. Palace continue to stumble forward. A draw is not ideal for either, nor would they turn down the offer. Could flatline completely as a match and it feels like a single-goal settler. Naturally I will go for 0-1.

Man United vs Villa, 3rd host 4th and in opposite trajectories. Utd are looking comfortable amongst the top 4 now and that’s a paradigm shift from the first half of  the season. Villa have wobbled recently and an adverse result here could see them slip to 6th.  Have tog o with home win, but narrow. 1-0

Forest vs Fulham, touch times for Forest - they are amongst the relegation mire and still in a European comp which just acts to sap resources.  Fulham are just plain odd and bobbing on the tidal swell of the doldrums. Screams drab draw, with an outside chance of away win.  1-1

Liverpool vs Spurs, well this is gloomy and let’s assume a home win, but will the failed random rescue act of a manger still be in post for Spurs - 90 seconds after this latest shambolic outcome?  3-0

Monday

Brentford vs Wolves, and then there’s this match. Wolves have chosen the peculiar strategy of playing all heir best football once all hope is lost.  Two wins on the bonus,  thats 66% of their total victory count, and they’ve become the muddle factor. The Bees have vague hopes of European football, but frankly their season is done because they can’t win anything nor go down. 0-1 just for fun. 

Quite the epistle there, well done if you’ve got this far.  And don’t forget the rugby six nations ends on Saturday and the title is a three way race.

MasterC

I do remember 1976, a year we celebrated our Bicentennial of this great nation we call America 

CPFC1905

MasterC said:

I do remember 1976, a year we celebrated our Bicentennial of this great nation we call America 

And do you regret that more, or less now? 

Battleborn

CPFC1905 said:

MasterC said:

I do remember 1976, a year we celebrated our Bicentennial of this great nation we call America 

And do you regret that more, or less now? 

Curious question. 

CPFC1905

Battleborn said:

CPFC1905 said:

MasterC said:

I do remember 1976, a year we celebrated our Bicentennial of this great nation we call America 

And do you regret that more, or less now? 

Curious question. 

I assume that sort of thing is discussed often in fledgling countries of the new world? 

dbCooper

On the topic of fledgling, I read recently the Royal Navy has over 250 captains in the ranks but only about 20 warships.  And possibly more generals than tanks in the army?  

Ozzie_Isaac

I’ve started rewatching Ted Lasso so I can follow along with these footy conversations.

Battleborn

My wife and I have been together for 20 years and have had thousands of meals together. Yet every night that we try to decide what to eat, we forget every meal that we have enjoyed. 

Battleborn

We beat you at yours, can you beat us at ours?

Battleborn

Nope

CPFC1905

dbCooper said:

On the topic of fledgling, I read recently the Royal Navy has over 250 captains in the ranks but only about 20 warships.  And possibly more generals than tanks in the army?  

Very likely,  they are an odd bunch.  And some of the ships aren't ships at all but in fact what I, and possibly you, would call 'a building'   Made of bricks, miles from water and to my untrained eye look uncannily like an Army or RAF mess hall.   

CPFC1905

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I’ve started rewatching Ted Lasso so I can follow along with these footy conversations.

Well done, partially filmed in the cradle of the mighty Eagles 'Selhurst Park' - hence also Richmond's red and blue kit. 

MasterC

No regrets here. Planning a party for our 250th Birthday this year, won't be here on the 300th.

DoubleEgger

Checking out the recent sales auctions from the unbelievably great Irsay Collection of guitars. $15.5M for David Gilmour’s and $11.5M for Jerry Garcia’s. 

Canugghead

@CPFC1905 Found these in my collection of junk, tells you how ancient I am  Are you old enough to remember them?

GrateEggspectations

DoubleEgger said:

Checking out the recent sales auctions from the unbelievably great Irsay Collection of guitars. $15.5M for David Gilmour’s and $11.5M for Jerry Garcia’s. 

Quality guitars - even ones not played by famous musicians - are generally pretty decent investments. 

JohnInCarolina

Appreciating that hard-won ACC tournament victory.

CPFC1905

Canugghead said:

@CPFC1905 Found these in my collection of junk, tells you how ancient I am  Are you old enough to remember them?

Wow, they are some age.   I never had one of those, but my family always banked with Nat West.  
My Dad was suspicious of any modern innovation and coincidentally remained highly sceptical of credit cards. 
I do remember the very early cash machines that were belt driven and probably accessible with a bent spoon. 

lkapigian

Cooked for Kings and Tulare County Veterans 

lousubcap

Way to step up @lkapigian.  I'm sure it was quite rewarding.  

lkapigian

lousubcap said:

Way to step up @lkapigian.  I'm sure it was quite rewarding.  

Thanks @lousubcap  ! 

JohnInCarolina

WeberWho

I did my driveway and two neighbors driveways this morning. My buddy who runs a snowplow business asked this past Thursday if I could help out with shoveling. My other buddy was going to help out as well but he ended up breaking his thumb yesterday. There was supposed to be other guys as well but people kept dropping out to help. So I had to hit it hard. A bunch of grunt work. I needed to push the snow away from the garage doors so a couple tractors could drop their snowplows a safe distance from the garage. Once the garage was clear the entryway sidewalks to each townhouse needed to be shoveled. Six hours of shoveling this evening. I bet I had to be pushing 70 townhomes that I cleared out shoveling. Going to be feeling it tomorrow. I'm ready for summer!

GrateEggspectations

Way to step up, @lkapigian and @WeberWho!

lousubcap

That's going above and beyond right there @WeberWho.

Canugghead

Now I can't decide if I want to be @lkapigian or @WeberWho when I grow up 

Gulfcoastguy

My brother in law learning how to make deer sausage.

Gulfcoastguy

The rest of the news isn’t as good as. My 95 year old father is back in the ER with congestive heart failure. When he gave his dog away he seems to have given up.

Gulfcoastguy

That was deer, pork, and cheese sausage. He made 125 pounds and it’s now in the smokehouse.