Went to Vina's in Great Harwood on Tuesday night. Food very, very good and reasonably priced. Service excellent. Only three parties in (including us) so not very atmospheric but it was a Tuesday evening. They have a website with menu which can be easily googled.

Dave Gilmour and his band were on tv on Friday night (Live in Gdansk) followed by Pink Floyd stuff - very, very good. Just spanked the Mastercard by ordering the 3 disc set of the Gdansk gig but it'll be well worth it!

Just watched whittle blue's you tube clip of this game. The Blackburn End was absolutely packed due to the Riverside being knocked down and there only being three sides to the ground. I was in the Blackburn End that day and can't ever remember it being so full, (for some reason I missed the City cup game in 1969). Watch and enjoy - you'll have to find it yourself because I can't do the link things, sorry!

Nice to hear a good report about the Butlers cos they do have a battle on.

I went to the Millstone at Mellor last night.......

Hehe, we nearly went there but decided on the Butlers instead when the Clog was full. It was our 29th anniversary and we actually had our reception at the Millstone all those years ago. Good to hear it's still a fine place.

Went to the Clog & Billy last night. They don't take bookings, we were told just to turn up. We knew when we drove on to the car park it was going to be full. Packed to the rafters more like it with a one and a half hours waiting time.

Never mind, we headed for the Butlers which was excellent. We've been there before once or twice and it seems like their menu has been 'upped' to more resemble that at the Clog. It's a very good alternative if the Clog is clogged.

Will try the Clog & Billy in a few weeks or perhaps go mid week when it'll be a little less busy.

The proposed flag for the Blackburn End should be massive - should fill the whole lower tier and carry a club crest together with a photo of Jack. With the words....'Local Man Who Supported His Local Team. Legend.' or something similar.

We may as well do away with the Wild Rover theme just before kick off - hardly anyone joins in and the nouveau Rovers don't understand it anyway. Just have, 'There's Only One Jack Walker' as our song.

Thinking of going to Strada in Manchester this weekend, has anyone been there before?

Went to Strada in Manchester the week before it opened. They were looking for volunteers to test the chefs, waiters etc. So you got a free two course meal and only had to pay for your drinks.

It was very good as well - even better when you're not paying!

Clog & Billy opens today. Menu looks very interesting and in line with that at the Three Fishes.

For Spanish food, Casa Tapas in Didsbury is very nice, cheap and cheerful and much better........

Sounds superb reading the reviews. Fifty mile round trip but will put it on the list to visit!

When we live somewhere as beautiful as Darwen though CLB, it's great even when it's raining. Agreed it was a bit damp at lunchtime - I went for a run out the back and was running in flowing water on the paths on the moor. It's always a shame when Jubilee tower disappears in the mist.

But then tonight it was clear, the view over to the tower was fabulous and the colours at sunset were stunning.

Those lovely sentiments about our town brought a tear to my eye Tris.

To think it's been referred to on here as a 'mini Burnley!'

Day 21 for August and, in Darwen, it's now rained on 19 of them. Just thought you'd like to know. I'm bored.....and wet.

There is no real difference now between winter and summer in the north west of England. In winter it is cool, wet and windy and in summer it is barely warm and wet. Just a few degrees 'warmer' in summer. Basically the whole year is similar to what autumn used to be like. Global warming? It's global wetting round here.

Norway fan club on the up thanks to gamst - maybe time to sign another!

Norway Fan club

They're coming over for the United game at the beginning of October. Met up with some of them in the Fox & Hounds last season (can't remember the game) when there were about 50 of them although not all Rovers fans.

Lower Buck at Waddington well worth a try - been there twice recently and both times excellent.

.... never seen so many Rovers in the 'home end'.

A lad I know from Wilpshire was with six of his mates (seven of them in a row) on the side but right up near their end behind the goals. Their intention was to sit quietly if Rovers scored. Needless to say they were all up when the first one went in.

I was a good boy with the main contingent of Rovers fans.

His mother loves him. Well she used to when he was a baby.

For the United cup game there were flags all along the Blackburn End and Darwen End railings. I remember the commentator on tv reading out one from the United end saying Chorley Reds and one from our end saying Chorley Blues. Funny how trivial things stick in your mind.

Keep em coming Ozz these reports are fantastic!

Does or did anyone know the fella from popular music group Blancmange, who supported Rovers-he listed Noel Brotherston as a hero in an interview on a copy of Smash Hits once. From Darwen I remember.

In the early 70's I went out with a lass, for about half an hour, who was seeing a guy at the time. Only half an hour because she was deliberating what to do. Me or him. He (Neil Arthur) won!

I've gotten into a Canadian folk group called The Wailin' Jennys recently. A trio of girls, they are superb musicians with beautiful voices. I've checked out some of their earlier stuff and it's a bit poppy for my tastes but the latest album, Firecracker is a far more mature offering.

Saw them at Bury Met a few weeks ago. Very good with lovely harmonies but not sure I want to take a risk and buy any of their stuff.

Just got Genesis' DVD "When In Rome" from their 2007 tour.

Awesome!!

On in Bergen tomorrow and Oslo 12 June.........

Went to see the Foo Fighters at Wembley Stadium last friday.

Twoz an awesome show indeed!

They`ve been playing bits of the shows on Radio1 this week.

Never bought any of their stuff before but am just waiting for Skin & Bones to arrive, bought via Amazon for five hundred and sixty three English pennies including postage!

Saw Wailin' Jennys at Bury Met last night. Not normally my cup of tea (American/Canadian Folk) but have to say I was quite impressed. Good looking girls too......

I take it you have had a better experience with this brand....

No, not really. Padihampedro recommended it in a previous post. They had it on draft and bottled in La Vina so I thought I'd try it. Had two bottles and I thought it was quite good. I prefer either Guinness or bitter these days but because we were where we were I thought I'd try something Spanish!

Cruzcampo is the most God awful sewage-like pig swill I have ever had the miserable misfortune to drink...I had a pint in Lanzarote and only finished it out of sheer alcoholic defiance but it tasted like out of date seawater, please don't tell me it's disgusting flavour has reached our wonderful shores?!!!

If ever I organise a sewage-like pig swill drinking contest, then you're the man!