Forward pass by Andy Hughes

It's been 6 games since I last saw Andy Hughes make a forward pass. He hasn't played all the games (thankfully), but he's featured in most of them. I have developed something of an obsession: can't help counting his passes. No forward passes completed in 6 matches, playing right mid-field. None at all. Tonight he got put at left-back. Not much to pass to behind him, but he managed a few backward passes all the same and then ... a transformation. I counted at least 6 forward passes. 3 crosses too. The whole team played well. They won 3 - 1. Would any clubs like to buy a utility player, great enthusiasm and energy but not much skill? He's still got to go, even though nobody laughed when he applauded the crowd this time, and some people even chanted his name.

On a less important note, the family are well.

Joe doesn't have to wear glasses any more! The detested eye patches and the not-very-regularly-worn glasses did the trick at last. Maybe if he doesn't take his chemo properly too, the leukemia will get better.

Sammy has got his ASA swimming level 1 (a 7-year-old boy in my year 2 class got his level 2 the other day, so I reckon Sammy must be doing well for a 3-year-old). He has the occasional kick from the polar bear, so his pregnancy is progressing smoothly. He is getting a lot of tummy aches and leg aches though, which require exercises (just like Joe's) and attention. And occasionally he lies on the floor and says he's dead and needs some medicine, which is actually quite sweet rather than upsetting.

Joe has started to be a bit nicer to Sammy. He sometimes acts as if he is a parent and sometimes a sergeant-major. But he's working towards brotherliness. And Sammy does wind him up something rotten.

Tinsel is turning into Alien. You can watch her squirming around beneath the skin. Sue's stomach undulates and bulges and threatens to burst. Three weeks to go. Sue's stopped work and is now undertaking a gruelling schedule of coffees and lunches which leave her drained at the end of the day, poor thing. Mustn't take the mickey: I came in late this evening, went straight out again and came back at 10.15, which didn't give much bedtime-boy-support.

I'm sure Sue understands. After all, Hughes DID make a forward pass tonight. I had to be there to see it.