Grasshoppers beat top of the table Basel 4-0 at the weekend to stay 3rd and go eleven points clear of 4th place with four games to play. European football all but guaranteed for next season.

Since my last post, Grasshoppers have won five out of six games to very much consolidate their third position in the Swiss top flight. Despite a 3-2 reverse to city rivals FC Zurich, Grasshoppers have churned out the results and have just beaten the then top of the league Young Boys 2-1 followed by a good 1-0 win away at St Gallen. Just wish I was still over in Zurich to watch them.

Just back from Grasshoppers 2 Neuchatel Xamax 1 I think there were 16 away fans - even Wimbledon in their Premier League pomp would have brought more! It's been a balmy 22 degrees here in Zurich today, a bit cooler tonight, but a great night to watch football. Pizza and a couple of beers beforehand and another couple on the ground. A whopping crowd of 3,600 (there are reasons for that but I won't bore you with them) but the atmosphere and singing were superb, some of the chants in English. Grasshoppers consolidating their third position in the top flight here. No chance of getting any higher than that as Young Boys (Bern) and Basel have got positions 1 and 2 sewn up. We return home to Blighty for good tomorrow first thing (unfortunately). If Easyjet fly to Zurich wef June, as rumoured, I will be tempted to come over for the Zurich derby, Grasshoppers having won the last one. Zurich, over and out.

We went for the same thing - one quick drink and to admire the view. As soon as we sat down they brought over a bowl of peanuts which hadn't been asked for. It was dispatched back to them pronto as, apparently, they charge a fiver for the privelage (that was last summer,so they could have stopped that caper now).

Just got back from the Cranberries at Zurich Hallenstadion. Dolores & Co, I'd forgotten how good you were/are! Awesome! The support band, Outside Royalty, were quite good too.

Thanks for putting the shirt up, Tris. It sells here for SFr 119 which is just shy of £75. As you say, it's a lovely shirt. Just weighing up whether to buy one!

Grasshoppers (Zurich) are in a rich vein of form at the moment and have moved up to 4th place in the Swiss top flight after today beating St Gallen 2-1. Since their stadium was demolished three years ago, they have shared the Letzigrund, which is home to arch city rivals FC Zurich. Recent problems with the roof at the Letzigrund has meant that Grasshoppers got behind with their fixtures whilst it was repaired. Fixtures are now coming thick and fast but Grasshoppers are taking advantage nicely. Grasshoppers have struggled financially over the last few years and whilst they are record holders for both Swiss titles and cups, it is a few years since their last trophy. FC Zurich are currently the better supported of the two Zurich clubs and indeed clubs like FC Basel and Young Boys (Bern) get a lot more on each week than Grasshoppers. I have adopted them as my team whilst we are in Zurich - the underdog status and the blue & white halves sealed it for me.

Quite like Irish music - anything from The Pogues & Saw Doctors to The Dubliners & Wolfe Tones, so off to see the Cranberries at Zurich Hallenstadion on St Pats Night.

Ozz, I don't know if you remember, There's A Ghost In My House by R Dean Taylor. A Blackburn Mecca soul classic in the 70s? A few months ago it was on the outside radio at work. One minute some pop 3 minute ditty, then out blares R Dean Taylor! Wtf, I thought and just had to go out and stand right under the speaker to get my fix. Blackburn Mecca, Saturday or Sunday night, mid 70s, some great memories!

Thanks PB, I'll look out for you next time we're in. And I'll bear in mind the Boars Head as well. Been in there years ago. Was it a Brewers Fayre type place at one time?

Sorry, I don't know how to do a link, but if you go on the website :- www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk and then key in 'minutes silence' into the search bit, a report together will picture will come up.

The way it's described on the menu - something like 4 ounce steak on an English muffin garnished with bla, bla, bla - and it came on a wooden board (as it does at the Three Fishes).

Went to the Bull at Broughton yesterday (just south of Skipton). Been a favourite of ours for a few years now. It's recently joined the Ribble Valley Inns stable. Very good, rather than excellent and I thought the menu cold have been a bit more extensive. I opted for Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas. The fish portion was 'big' and tasted excellent. The peas were few in number and the chips were home made but basic. Previously the Bull did those really thick, soft chips which I thought were superb. Mrs CLB had the Fish Pie, again very good rather than excellent. Miss CLB With Attitude had the posh Burger & Chips which was very nice. The desserts were very tasty and testament to the size of the mains meant that none were fully finished. All in all, I have to say I preferred the place pre RVI but a waiting time of 45 mins prior to getting our table was evidence of its popularity. The Royal Oak at Riley Green has been a favourite of ours for many years and if I had to choose between the two, I would choose the latter because of the value for money element.

I know it's not a restaurant, but I'll put this here, I'm loving Starbucks' raspberry cheesecake and caramel latte at the moment. It doesn't matter where I am or what the choice is, but if I see cheesecake on the menu, I have it. Simple as.

I've found the food there quite good on the two or three times I've been. What I don't like is that sodding 'birthday ditty' played at 6 million decibels when there is a birthday in the house, accompanied by one of the waiters doing a whoo-whoo at 4 million decibels.

The fukwit said exactly the same sort of things in our favour when we signed him. I know it's been repeated time and time again but anyone who thinks virtually all footballers aren't a bunch of overpaid, brain dead, mercenaries needs their head examining. Goodbye and good riddance. For the comments I've just made you can perm any 99 out of 100 footballers. If only they were all like Ronnie and Bryan!

1975 - February, I think. There are a good few stories about the Plymouth game in the I'm In Heaven section, right at the bottom of page 1.

I would have thought a minutes silence appropriate - may be at the next home game. I think Don won the fans over at Ewood - he was less than average for a while but then seemed to get a second wind and in the 74/75 season was a pivotal member of the 3rd div title winning team. RIP.

I remember Ron Kennedy reports in the late 60s - I think he covered when Alf Thornton was away and if he was a freelance that would add up. I was at SMC and his brother was our form teacher and maths teacher. Can't recall his first name now, but we used to call him Toss Kennedy. Great reading those extracts!

Very sad indeed. It's had a fair bit of air time over here, as there are close links to Germany. Feel extremely sorry for his widow who will have to try and get back on track again.

Well done Whittle - brilliant as ever - some great memories. The 91-92 season doesn't seem that long ago, but it's 18 years!! Hell, another 18 years and I'll be sixty sodding nine.

One of my all time favourites - what a classic.

We've been going to the Bull for a few years now, on and off. It's got to be on and off because you can't afford those prices on a weekly basis but well worth a visit all the same. I can see why they've taken it over, just a few tweaks here and there and it will be on a par with their other establishments. By the way, it's hardly in 'deepest Yorkshire' as written by the Guardian fellow - it's barely over the border!

Just had to return to the Crown & Thistle tonight - fantastico! Tandoori chicken & prawn starter with lettuce and dijon mustard dressing was superb. Followed by a hearty fish, chips and mushy peas main - damned large portion. Mrs CLB had the breaded mushrooms starter followed by salmon main - equally superb. Who needs the Ribble Valley?

Hughesy - If you know where the football pitches are at Blacksnape, head along Roman Road towards Edgeworth and Bolton. You first pass the Red Lion and about 2 miles on you come to the Crown & Thistle in a dip on the left hand side.