Another day and I'll have finished The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. The first of his Millennium Trilogy. Books two and three had been on our bookshelf for several months, bought for my wife by her sister. Strange that she never sent us book one, I thought but never mind, started to read them in that order before being told that our lad had taken book one a few weeks ago. Doesn't matter at all. There's a connection between books two and three but book one is more of a stand alone. Haven't been able to put any of them down. I've read quite a bit of Scandinavian Crime Fiction, mainly in Norwegian rather than English but this trilogy beats the rest hands down.

Haven't stopped thinking about this all afternoon. I watched Football Focus yesterday and remember thinking how well he looked. He seemed a really genuine guy, liked by many. RIP Gary.

Yep, that shirt is a winner - there'll be two Darreners wearing them pretty soon! Clare - I'll let you know our seats later. Written the numbers down but now can't find my bit of paper. Did it all over the phone. They had saved us seats in the East roughly on our 20 meter line but opted for seats on the North Stand side of the halfway line which were more central. koi - never had any problems with getting away from the big car park behind the East. Always stay until the end but must admit I shift a bit once the hooter goes!

Had a lass from Wigan ticket office ring me today asking if I'd received my season ticket pack. I had already spoken to her last week to say I wanted two seats in the East as near to the half way line as possible. Anyway, turns out she's saved us two seats in advance of us completing the pack, which hasn't arrived. Now that is service!! Also, I see a car park pass for the whole season is only £39 - how good is that?! Come on Wigan!

Ooh 'eck - have you tried the Railway Road tapas restaurant? - that's very good.

Sorry to hear about that koi. You trying to get a ticket for Saturday?

Head out of Darwen towards Bolton. Over the moors and past all the conifer plantations and it's on your right hand side before you get to the Cross Guns pub. Virtually the first building on your right in Egerton.

Twas our 32nd wedding anniversary on Thursday so, Saturday evening we were out for a meal. I wanted somewhere in the Ribble Valley, my other half wanted Ciao Baby, what used to be Borocco's at Egerton. Egerton it was then. After arriving at 7.55 for an 8pm booking, we were still sat in the bar area at 8.20 and after speaking to a waiter twice, we were finally shown to our table at 8.35. A couple of screeching four year olds at the table behind meant we asked to be relocated and we were. The place was packed to the rafters and waiters were toing and froing at breakneck speed. There was so much noise (customers, waiters, kitchen staff, background music) you couldn't hear yourself speak. The food was quite good but the overall experience less so. Whilst we may just give it another try on a quieter midweek night, I think it will be some considerable time before we do.

Great game of rugby league tonight. A few days ago I predicted Wigan by 14, so 44 to nil was very welcome. Catalan have some big, strong hitters but once Wigan got their noses in front they opened up and at times played some superb stuff. For me, Wigan peaked this season with the Warrington cup win at their place. We had enough momentum to carry us through the semi and then the final (just) but since the Wembley game have been a little flat. Tonight was like a second wind and has given me some hope. We can certainly see Saints off again next Saturday and whilst I feel Warrington are still favourites, I am feeling more optimistic. Come on Wigan!

Couldn't make the Wigan game today. With the cup run, we've had a very tough end to the season - Warrington away twice in cup and league, Saints twice in league and play offs, Leeds twice in league and cc final. I woudn't say we're running on empty but it's starting to feel a bit like that. Warrington have had it easier at the business end due to being knocked out of the cc and are scoring for fun anyway. Unfortunately, as a Warriors fan, I think their name is on it. Let's hope someone can put this post up in a few weeks time and call me a *!*!*!

Great game today and a great show from the sea of cherry and White. Another try at 16-0 would have probably sealed it but credit to Leeds. They came back strongly and pushed us to the limit. At one point I thought it was theirs but Wigan have a defence second to none, The Tomkins brothers try was the pick for me and I'm made up for Jeff Lima, a real unsung hero. Good to meet up with you Clare. Just a handful of happy Rovers fans tonight!

Yep, £41 tickets in Block 130, going down Friday and stopping Fri & Sat nights at Hendon Hall Hotel. I've sent you a pm.

Turned out to be a stroll in the park tonight but still impresive, especially second half. Not knocking Pat but his kicking recently hasn't been up to his high standards. Tonight they were either right in front of the sticks or moreso way out wide. We could have been looking at 70 points on the board. Let's hope his eye is in for next week, I'm sure it will be. What can you say about Sam? Man of the match again and oozes quality whenever he gets the ball. Plenty of good performances and some great tries. Superb night. A decent win but mainly everyone coming through unscathed was all we really wanted. Roll on Wembley!

Have you seen the thread on the RLfans forum, Wigan section. Folk buying/swapping/selling final tickets?

Yeah, we couldn't really see what happened sat right at the far end of the East. That answers it. A nice, comfortable win and yes, what an absolutely brilliant try by man of the match Sam. My wife's favourite player and I can't argue with that! Good to hit the 50 point mark as well.

Visited Darwen's latest gem last night, Tapizza. Tapas and pizza restaurant on The Green adjacent to the White Lion. We opted for the 6 tapas dishes (each) for £7.95 and with a shared garlic bread starter, 2 pints of Peronni, a glass of wine, 2 sweets and 2 coffees the bill came in at a very reasonable £38. The sweets are advertised as minute and come with a complementary coffee, so don't expect a decent sized portion. Nicely decorated, there are two rooms with around four or five tables in each, so it gets full pretty quickly which makes the atmosphere good. The food was very nice annd overall great value for money - 'Darwen, the dining capital of the north!'

koi - I was thinking the same, getting tickets via Wigan but went on the Challenge Cup website last night and got my tickets within a few minutes - thanks Clare! I had to register but got the £41 tickets in the west/Wigan end, more or less behind the sticks.

Thanks, but I'm not a season ticket holder. Will have to wait until Thurday or Friday now! What price tickets did you get Clare? We're now actually booked in the Hendon Hall Hotel about 3.5 miles from Wembley. Couldn't get two nights at the other place - we're going down on Friday and stopping Friday & Sat nights, so if you want to meet up for a drink we can do. It was a belter today and the scenes at the end were superb. As we were walking back to the car, you could look back into the South Stand and still see and hear the mass or cherry & white bouncing away!

Well, at least I now get to visit the new Wembley courtesy of Wigan Rugby rather than Blackburn Rovers. A close game in the end. Following a tough first half Wigan started to pull away but a moment of madness by Joel Tomkins could have cost us dearly. Chosing to pass when it was easier to take the four points(and put the tie to bed), a nailed on try was squandered and Saints went straight down the other end and put points on the board before going over again shortly after to make it a nail biting last ten minutes. I don't think we could have had a tougher route to the final so well done to one and all. Crowne Plaza Ealing booked for two nights, just got to get tickets now.....

Revenge is sweet! Warrington bossed the game at the DW earlier this season and deserved their win but we did more than avenge that this afternoon in an absolute classic. The lads were up for it from the off and I thought our pack was immense. Everyone played their part and whilst Warrington came back into the game well and had the momentum at one point, Wigan moved through the gears in the second half. Scoring 44 points at Warrington is no mean feat. The atmosphere was electric, a sunny, warm day, a noisy, sellout crowd and the sheer joy on the lads' faces at the end spoke volumes for the performance and what it meant to both them and the superb Wigan following.

Another decent game last night, we were always going to win comfortably against a poor Trinity side. Let's hope all the handling errors (particularly first half) have been used up before next week's quarter final! Tickets for that one on their way, should be a real tester.

Any news on next season's home shirt and if it will be going back to a more traditional cherry & white hooped design? I must admit that this season's home shirt has grown on me but it is still the worst in a long time imo. I bought the 1989 Challenge Cup Final shirt in blue and white (absolute belter) instead! Games have been coming thick and fast for Wigan of late, hope the lads aren't too jaded today. Should have enough to register another win....not sure I should have posted that, may come back to bite me on the arse...

I know it's been mentioned on here a couple of times before but me and the Mrs tried La Salsa in Darren last night for the first time. Excellent! As much as you can eat tapas dishes for £14.95 (think it's £9.95 Mon to Thurs) and we managed a cool 16 between us. I'm sure that can be bettered though! There's 44 tapas dishes on the menu. Mrs CLB had a glass of wine, I had two pints of Estrella (on tap) and we bumped the overall bill up by having two sweets & two coffees, one a Baileys. £53 the lot. The place was very busy with most of the tables being taken, upstairs and down, which created a good atmosphere. Could just do with a few more Spanish style paintings etc on the walls upstairs to give it an authentic feel. Will definitely go back soon.

We'll be starting a Wigan RL Supporters Club, BRFC branch next. Tough game on Friday against Leeds but we just about held on for the win. Roll on Wednesday and Cas.

Cracking game last night and nowhere near as difficult as many predicted. Totally dominated Huddersfield. We now appear to be building up a head of steam and moving up through the gears. Bodes well for the business end of the season. Sam Tomkins? He's the Magic Man! Great crowd too, at just over 19k.