Last week and a return to Cardiff City Stadium to conduct poetry workshops for the club and LitWales as part of the All Skilled Up project.
Delighted to be back, as I'm sure were the others involved, Mike Church and Patrick Jones.
Nothing and everything had changed.
The fee had been cut drastically (writers get used to this, I'm afraid), but I was looking forward to working with children from two Primary schools.
I breezed in like some ex-player rejoining (like Danny Gabbidon , in fact) and told the receptionist of my intentions.
I confidently walked into the corridors only to find that the Community office had gone, replaced by the Finance Director's (shut). Trapped in the bowels of the ground I envisaged having to remain there till the weekend game, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finding me, so I'd have to tell him -
'Listen up OGS, with all due respect....... you are clueless!
Since you took over we've had no team spirit, organisation or tactical awareness. You've changed the team every game, then asked for consistency!'
Of course, I wheedled my way out and ended up back at reception, like some annoying board game.......never got to meet Ole, or even Scott Young, who used to be head of the Community programme , but has moved on to training youngsters.
I was fortunate to be sent to the wrong room, the Captain's, where I'd never been before and surrounded by large photos of our finest captains. Age kicked in, when I recalled watching many of them. Kav was one of my favourites......how we need someone like him now!
Our proper venue was disappointing, as we used to work in the higher-up suites where pupils could gaze over the stadium and make notes for their poems. The meeting room was windowless,claustrophobic.
Panic stations as there was no flip-chart, just a computer and screen which went AWOL for the afternoon session ; a bit like most of our players for the second half of last season!
Yet the kids were tremendous : enthusiastic and imaginative, they volunteered many rhymes for Noone and Ralls, even Marshall and Scott Young (you really can't escape him).Though they asked me for ones for Dikgacoi.
From the Bridgend area, they included a fair share of Swans' fans and one girl wrote a poem about a derby match where we were the red devils, while Swansea were 'angels in white' !
But the Swans - for all their excellently-run club with 20% supporter ownership - don't have this particular project : a tour combined with writing workshop.
The workshops do need a bit more time, especially after lunch and I do think their tour should take in the outside of the stadium as well.
There is much to be seen : the Keenor statue and his extraordinary story, Bluebird gate and plaques, the memorial garden and , of course the pavement of bricks.
Just a glimpse at those inscribed bricks will tell you how vital blue and Bluebirds are to the club's past. My son bought me one with 'Bluebirds' Poet' on it and I am so proud, even though it's a little faded.
There are rumours on the messageboards of a change back to blue.
I think it's possible, not for sentimental reasons or because Tan wants to win the fans support or create unity, but for simple commercial reasons.
Everyone now buys retro shirts and scarfs, but nobody dons the red. Sales of new shirts must be at an all-time low. Can't be good for business!
'Lucky red' meant relegation and is now causing panic and talk of Solskjaer being sacked.
A return to blue would make sense on every level, as players who have left like Fraizer Campbell (whose goal celebration mocking Tan was the best of last season) and Mark Hudson have stated.
One girl at my workshop sported her blue scarf and declared herself 'Blue, through and through! ' (note the rhyming).
Workers at the ground in red looked as if they were wearing a company uniform (which, in a way, they were).
Anyway, it was great to be back........me and Danny Gabbidon,eh?
RHYMING SOLSKJAER
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER...........
summoning our ire
making us into criers
players without desire
footie's looking tired
tactics are dire
appointed by Tan the Liar
we are in a mire
hopes soon in a pyre -
Pulis is for hire,
but.....will he be fired?
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