9th November

On my 60 day anniversary in Sierra Leone, we felt, in a word.....average. The night before had taken its toll and we awoke very slowly, Parksy, in particular, felt unmoveable.....how he loves to dance!
However, we were both excited (when I say both, I mean just myself) by the approaching football match between United and Arsenal and, eventually, we gathered enough strength to call for the car to pick us up, with the idea of travelling to our favourite football viewing haunt on Liverpool Street. On arrival, on what was to be an unlucky day for United (very unlucky) we realised that neither of us was in for a particularly enjoyable day. Both seated on a crate, in a narrow aisle alongside 60 Sierra Leonies, after 45 minutes of the stuffy atmosphere, fuelled by slight illness and constantly moving to view the TV screen, we called it a day at Liverpool Street and set off for the YMCA....United were 1-0 down at half time. At the YMCA, although the atmosphere was more relaxed, the day continued to have the happiness sapped from it by the powers that be....United went 2-0 down. As soon as the game ended, my head held high (wearing a sleeveless United shirt!) we left for home turf. I was less than happy, neither was Parks, though he was roused by my own displeasure briefly.....
The day passed in a gentle fashion from here on, neither of us in a particularly awesome temperament....2-1.....2-1....