Arsenal

The photo is of Sarah's flat complex, allegedly a space that used to be a doss-house described by George Orwell in Down and Out in Paris and London.

We were due to go to Glenthorne in the Lakes on a Quaker weekend, but decided in the end that Danielle's health, and Rowan's netball meant it better to stay at home.

Saturday morning friend Paul rang with an offer of a trip to Hull to see Arsenal play, courtesy of a pair of season tickets. The new KC stadium is really impressive, just about perfect for watching football [even Hull]. Arsenal won 2-1 with the last kick of the game. Great day out.

I first saw Arsenal in the early 80's with Mark when we lived in Highbury. Liam Brady had left, and what was left was a dreadful team in search of a centre forward to lump the ball up to. The fans used to chant "we all agree, Rix is better than Hoddle" which was a mix of hope and plain untruth. We used to go to the European games, and the 4-1 loss, at home, to Spartak Moscow will live with me for ever. The Russians were brilliant, and by the end of the humiliation the Arsenal fans were applauding their skill. Yesterday they were just fantastic to watch; some change.

The last time I saw them before this weekend, was with Danielle and nephew Tom in 1995. Rioch was manager, Bergkamp had just arrived and they were still pretty dire. It was a friendly against Inter Milan.