An 'heirloom' close to my heart

Signed by the 2 goalsccorers, 

John Richards
Kenny Hibbit
Mike Bailey (Captain)

This team shirt of the 1974 League Cup Final was signed by the 2 legends of Wolves, John Richards and Kenny Hibbit. In addition, the captain Mike Bailey also signed this classic momento.

The faux aluminium cover which gives it a real glossy look 

I remember paying a small fortune for this piece which comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from the Sports Musuem as well as a photograph of the 3 gentlemen signing it together with an serial number. 

Wolves had been a force in the 50s till the early 60s then it was downhill all the way with only 2 bright (but short) periods, one in 1974 (the year I decided to support them). The decision was an emotional decision based on teenage yen for identity at a small inflection point in my life. 

Those days in the early to mid 70s, I recall when I was studying in Secondary school, was clearly one of the happiest days of my life. I made lifelong friends, whom we meet regularly till today. Every week, on the way back from school (taking the bus 111, 171 and the like) I would stop at Bencoolen street  (named after the second viceroy to Singapore Bencoolen after Farquahar ha ha what a name!) and then walk along Middle road towards Sophia Road, where my house was. 

Along Middle Road, there would be a row of shophouses, and I would browse and eventually buy the 'latest' Shoot Magazine printed and imported all the way from UK. Never mind that the bi - weekly (every 2 weeks as I recall) was printed and shipped to Singapore 2 weeks after the event but way back in 1975 till 1978, it was a pure form of 'escapism' that this slightly  overweight teenage boy with the dark and thick glasses and unkempt hair would pore through the magazine called 'SHOOT'. 

In addition, every Sunday (after Church or sunday school), there would be also a delayed telecast of this hit football show called Star Soccer (guys of my vintage I can expect are nodding in recognition.)

So, after reading the Shoot Magazine, and watching my weekly dose of Star Soccer, I chanced upon this team donning the colours of the "Old Gold and Black" with a typical young and handsome striker called John Richards and said, "Hey ! I want to be like them".

Sadly, since the 70s, the team had been in the doldrums and went all the way down to Division 4, and spent much of the next 40 years in Division 2 (now called Championship League) and Division 3 (now called League 1). There was much angst amongst the hard core fans. I consider myself a new 'convert' as I was embarassed to be associated with a 'Joke Club'.

In the mid 1980s when I happened to tour Europe with the University tour group, I even cajoled my mates to make a visit to Wolverhampton to visit the Molineux ground. It was in a pretty rough neighbourhood then, and we had some fun playing on the actual pitch until we were chased out by the gorundsmen !

Well, that is the history of my fascination with a club from the Midlands. Now, in 2019-20 season, they are riding high with Fosun (Chinese) support, a fantastic visionary manager and 5th in the Premier League and all to play for in the Europa Last 16.

Great players they have (see my earlier posts) and great things are expected from them in the future.

I am so happy to make a small investment in the 1974 shirt which takes pride of place in my bedroom. I am a churlish teenager again !

   

Say Something - Justin Timberlake and Jack Stapleton ; a really really cool song

This song reminds me of a song which Phil Collins would do ; or so it sounds so much like Phil Collins and Genesis that I mistakenly thought it was Phil's song.

GIve it a listen.

The epitome of cool. 

A really special player Adama

Scintillating Match with Wolves the deserved winners ! What a time to be supporting them

3 strikes on goal, 3 goals ; this game speaks volumes of Wolves clinical finishing ; from the back to the front the entire team played like Champions of Europe ; on their day no team can come close to beating them.

The goalscorers, Matt Doherty, Diogo Jota and Raul Jiminez made it look so easy, but this team is ready to etch their names in glory for the history books. The entire team can walk right into any national team at this moment. Only Coady and Boly are not capped by their respective countries. 

Rui Patricio (Portugal)

Conor Coady (England)
Wily Boly  (France)
Roman Saiss  (Morocco)
Matt Doherty (Rep of Ireland)
Reuben Neves  (Portugal)  
Joao Moutinho  (Portugal)  / Leander Dendoncker (Belgium)
Reuben Vinagre  (Portugal  U21) / Morgan Gibbs White (England U21)

Adama Traore (Spain)  / Pedro Neto (Portugal U21)
Raul Jiminez  (Mexico)
Diogo Jota.   (Portugal)  / Daniel Podence (Portugal)

My guess is that they will win 8 games of their remaining 10 with only Chelsea (away) and Sheffiled United (away) being 'difficult' games. They potentially can end up with 66 points which given this season's very close league they can end up either in 4th - 6th position, an improvement from their 2018 - 19 great start at 7th in the league entering into Europe for the Europa League Cup. 

They also have a realistic chance of making it to the finals of the Europa League this year and if they actually  do win it ; I will buy another 3 - 4 team paintings !  

Kamoshita - A Revisit ; same great simple Japanese cooking

Fish Cake Oden

We had not been back to this superb Izakaya (Japanese Inn) place for more than 6 months, and our return was marked by eating and drinking some superb oden (Japanese soup) which is served according to your selection, (like Spanish Tapas) warm and cold. 

My wife and I had a total of 8 dishes ; some of which are shown above ;

a) Firefly squid with Yuzu sauce (below)

b) Warm Potato salad (below)

c) Smelt Tempura (below)

Firefly squid with Yuzu sauce 

It indeed looked like a largish grey fly and the texture was soft and not chewy. While it didn't excatly melt in my mouth, it had a little bit of the sea flavor which we found a little off putting. The Yuzu (yellow) sauce more than  made up with its tangerine and tangy sweetish flavour. 4.5 out of 5.

Warm Potato Salad 

This dish really stood out, we were really taken by the myriad of flavors, with potato salad filled with some ham (bacon ?) bits, small sprout leaves, butter and yuzu. 

5 of out 5 ; a top quality dish 

Smelt Tempura 

These small fish can be eaten whole, head, tail and all just like white bait or a cracker snack.It did my elevated cholesterol levels no good but what is there to live if one only lives by bread alone ?

Its crunchy, and flavorful, add the pink rock salt by the side for a superb entree.

4.5 out of 5. 

Smelt Tempura 

Warm Potato Salad

d) Radish Oden

e) Teriyaki Grilled Rainbow Runner

f) Boiled Egg

Radish Oden

Radish Oden.

A beautiful nuanced soup dish with very mild flavors. Good for cold evenings in Japan, not in warm and humid Singapore. But we loved it nonetheless.

5 out of 5. 

Water Cress with Fatty Iberico Pork Soup 

Water Cress with Fatty Iberico Pork 

The watercress was boiled for some time, and the pork was fatty, so the taste of the soup was absolutely yummy. So, the vegetable was tasty and not crunchy, same as the pork.

It seemed like a dish we could have easily made at home but probably with a different outcome :)

5 out of 5.

Teriyaki Grilled Rainbow Runner 

Teriyaki Grilled Rainbow Runner

The only dish which we felt was ordinary. The flavour was above average, though we felt that some parts of the fish were a little undercooked. The white radish, with the chopped spring onions garnished with a light soya sauce was a nice touch. Again not too sharp a taste.
4 out of 5.

The restaurant is practically the best Izakaya (Inn) we have tasted in Singapore, and it is indeed value for money. We only had a juice and an Asahi beer to complement our fine meal and the total bill came to $110 for 2 pax.

The closest MRT is probably Tanjung Pagar, and if you do drive, park opposite Maxwell Road Hawker Centre at the URA building along Kadayanallur Road. 

Kamoshita 
5 Neil Road  (shophouse)
S'pore 088806.

   

Bassai Dai Shito Ryu

Beautifully executed by a Japanese Master ; side view shows the stances,blocks kicks and punches perfectly.   

Bassai Dai - Bunkai

This is the application of the most recognised of all Shito Karate style katas. Called the Bunkai, it shows off the many one to 4 step of block and counter strikes in this most beautiful performed katas.

I am adding this as a technique reminder for today's class (1st March 2020).