Boys Like Peter Are Not Afraid of Wolves

Saturday saw the Pie tribe taking the train to Liverpool to attend a concert by the Royal Liverpool Philarmonic Orchestra.

The whole concert had an animal theme, before the finale where the orchestra played live backing the latetst animated version of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf produced at the Oscar ®-winning Se-ma-for Studios in Poland using stop-frame model animation ( Like Wallace & Gromit).

Despite the best efforts of the Pieman to fall asleep during the first half it was very entertaining. Ice-cream was available at the break but no sign of any pies. What's classic about that!

Santa Stuck

We've heard of Santa getting stuck in a chimney but not on the canal. Three Santa's are pictured today trying to negotiate Chemistry Lock with mixed success!


Hope your Santa arrived safely and brought what you wanted. The extended family pie is blobbed out on the sofa desperately coming to terms with the Ostrich they just consumed. We are feeling like Mr Creosote at the moment just waiting to explode. Hopefully this feeling will go before the plum pudding is served.

The Pieman wishes all friends and family a happy safe time over the festive period.

Christmas Shopping

Mrs Pieman and Pie Daughter No2 returned late Saturday night from a Christmas shopping coach trip to Cologne. This was with Mrs Pies's schoolwork place and included Pie daughter No 2 as a Birthday treat.

A great but tiring time was had by all. The markets both on land and water ( The Rhine) were excellent with both returning laden with goodies, except Pie which was a tad disappointing. This short trip also including Ice skating, a trip round a Lindt chocolate factory and sightseeing around Cologne specifically the Cathedral.

The trip was nearly extended when the coach broke down outside Brussels due a broken fanbelt. Three hours or so later they were fixed and a new crossing via the chunnel meant they were only half an hour late getting back.

Feed The Yak ! Feed The Yak !

Rain wind and more rain. A trip to Goodison Park today for the Pieman courtesy of the Dragonslayer. Unable to find a decent parking spot resulted in us getting absolutely soaked before we reached the Park End. Not a good start when the Pieman has been struggling with a bad dose of Man flu this week. However the thought of Pie kept me going. A new pie was on offer a "Scouse" pie.

Basically a meat, veg and potato offering which along with the Dragonslayer's Steak Pie was supplied by CLAYTON Park Bakery based in Hyndburn. Out of ten I would give it a seven. It had essential qualities for a football pie - heat, tray to hold it with and no queue. However it was noted that they served a large version of their Steak Pie and it was humungous.

Everton were pretty poor in the first half with Fulham having the better of the chances. Still not dried off by the start of the second but things started to improve on the pitch. Helped by the never ending runs, tackles and imagination of the Pieman " Steven PIEnaar" the toffemen ended up 3-0 winners, O happy days.

Having followed him from his Middlesbrough or possibly Portsmouth days, a hat trick by Yakubu resulted in 35,000 screaming evertonians shouting

"FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!

FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!

FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!"

which had the pieman laughing his flu off.

Big Pieman

In honour of the Pieman this was created by workmates and added to his computer as a screen background which couldn't be removed. Oh what japesters they are !!!!!

I'm just a bit concerned by the chap on the right. Is he trying to eat the pie or what???

More importantly where can I buy a Pie this big?

Animals Fight Back

There's always a price to pay for eating to many pies. Consumption is down in recent weeks due to illness, christmas approaching (room required) and the animal kingdom getting a bit uppity with the Pieman.

In the last few months the Pieman has been besieged by bullocks, harassed by horses, snarled & threatened at by a wolf (Multi Millionaire's Alsation - I wasn't trespassing) and scared witless by a cock pheasant.

I hasten to add that no provocation was provided by the pieman for any of these outbursts, except for the Pheasant who the Pieman tried to tread on whilst out walking recently. Ps Which of these has the Pieman never eaten?

The Counter Attack Starts

Another concert, same city different band. This time the Pieman and the Dragonslayer headed to Manchester Academy2 to see the ever rocking Alarm featuring Mr Mike Peters.

This was the final gig of the year before the band release a new album early next year. Some of the latest material was featured including Superchannel, Plastic Carrier Bags, Drunk & Disorderly, 45 rpm, Love Hope & Strength, Cease & Desist and My Town.

Plenty of favourites were thrown in including Knife edge, 68 Guns, Spirit of 76, Rain In the Summertime, Sold Me Down The River, The Stand (Pie Favourite), Where Were You Hiding, Absolute Reality, Rescue Me, Marching On (Pie Favourite), Blaze Of Glory. All this with a fantastic medley at the end of Anarchy In The UK, If the Kids are United, I'm So Bored With The USA and Blitzkrieg Bop and a rendition of Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody as well. Excellent!!!!

As usual Mr Peters/Alarm didn't disappoint with a very loud and committed set. The venue, which we've been to quite a few times before, was sweaty and cramped. The Academy has a number of different rooms and No2 was just right this time.

The ground floor entrance, bar areas and toilets have had a lot of work done on them since our last visit. Although on street parking is more difficult than ever. However we did discover the parking at the Manchester Eye Hospital just around the corner. Well lit, patrolled and £2.00 for three hours...not bad.

Apart from some medicated idiots the concert was great and the Pieman looks forward to the Gathering in January. Does anyone know of a drummmer who hits his kit as hard as Steve Grantley???

Time On Earth

On Thursday last Pieman and Dragonslayer went with respective spouses to see the fantastic Crowded House in concert at the MEN Arena in Manchester. Despite the rapidly changing plans due to a blown tyre we all made it on time.

Although it meant with time short we ignored all the offers of parking leading up to the venue and dived into the official car park next door ( £8.00 a pop!). Strolled in bought a drink, shown to our seats by a yellow (hideous) jacketed steward, lights went down, band came on......perfect timing.

A number of tracks were played from the new album "Time on Earth" including Your The One To Make Me Cry, Don't Stop Now, She Called Up, English Trees and the latest single Pour le Monde. But with an excellent back catalogue to trawl I don't think anyone was dissappointed. I can remember Locked out, Don't Dream It's Over, Not The Girl You Think You Are, Four Seasons In One Day, Something So Strong, Better Be Home Soon, There Goes God, Hole In The River, Private Universe, Weather With You, Fall At Your Feet, Distant Sun, Mean To Me and doffing a hat to sadly departed drummer Paul Hester, Italian Plastic.....

This was the Pieman's first visit to the MEN Arena and I didn't have chance to spot any pies but on the whole you have to be impressed by the arena itself if not the parking. We have since heard some horror stories re parking around and about the arena for events. As we were late we ended up on the 9th (Top Floor) of the official carpark.

After the concert we sat without moving for about 40 mins. However we had chocolate, fireworks, a view (Manchester at Night) and chat to occupy us. Once the queue did move it was very quick and efficient. So even with this I would not be put off going again to a concert.

Cherry Groovers Top League !

Following on from last week's first outing the Groovers took part in an inter school indoor competition at the Northgate Arena. Nine teams took place being split into two round robin leagues.

The Groovers won two and drew one topping their league and qualifling for the A league round robin which was very tough. They lost a couple of games by 1 goal but did enougth to secure third spot overall.

A number of games are now being lined up for the New Year with local teams.