Blackpool

 After a couple of years of being in a different league, we were back down at Blackpools level. Bad news for the team but good news for us as it’s one of our favourite away days. It was here, in 2017, where DaBall scored a second half brace and famously turned our fortunes around. We went from discussing if we would still support the club in none league (Vicky -yes, us-bring on the Arsenal), to celebrating promotion at Wembley. The last couple of times we had stayed in a hotel in Fleetwood where I fell out of the car into a big puddle, and a posh one near the Pleasure Beach. This time we decided to take Dame Shirley. 

Alas for us, the day of the game was also the day Storm Darragh hit. The news was full of portents of disaster, with huge red weather warnings all over and a doomsday text scaring the life out of millions of people. 

Storm Darragh

Still, you know what they say about football, it’s not a matter of life and death (it’s more important!) so we set off on the Friday afternoon for Donkey Creek Farm Caravan Site. I had phoned ahead and the lady said it would be fine as long as we didn’t put the awning out! She also gave me the barrier code and pitch number, number 30. At this point the match was still on, despite the fact that all the other games on the west coast, apart from the Merseyside Derby, were off. The trip was easy and uneventful, probably due to the impending apocalypse, and we arrived at Donkey Creek Farm about 5pm. It was difficult to see in the dark, but pitch 30 appeared to be in a bit of an exposed spot with no one else around. Still, it wasn’t under any trees. Ian got us all set up no problem and I rustled up a chile for tea. We then shared a very expensive bottle of red to celebrate the sale of Walters Hawson and Ian’s upcoming retirement.

Donkey Creek Farm 

Bleak pitch 30

Vicky arrived safely around 11, and we shared a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate Ian’s upcoming retirement.

Retirement drinks

We settled down to bed in calm conditions. Storm Darragh arrived about 5am making Dame Shirley seem like a ship at sea and bringing lashing rain on her roof. It was worse for Vicky in the drop down bed, but we all survived and even managed a nice lie in. We had some boiled eggs for breakfast, and the club were telling us that we could make a last minute decision to go to the match with tickets still on sale. 

Boiled Eggs

Around 11am the Merseyside Derby went. Still we were being urged to go to Blackpool in 100mph winds and heavy rain. Around 12 noon the announcement came. The ref thought the game was fine, the club (Blackpool) thought the game was fine, but due to those 100mph winds that had only been forecast for the last two days, the safety committee decided to call it off! Presumably they hadn’t seen those safety concerns coming. Steve Evans was livid, Blackpool apologetic, the fans resigned. We all knew it was inevitable. A day in stormy Blackpool it was then. We layered up and took Vickys car into town. It was very busy and the first two car parks were full. We could see a big multi story that seemed to have no entrance but after driving round a bit we found a way in. Inside it was very luxurious, fresh smelling, large well marked bays, top level security, practically empty (probably because no-one could find a way in!) Must be pricey we thought. £14 for 12hours. Ouch! But wait. Special offer for Xmas. £2 for four hours then the usual price. Good old Blackpool. We exited the Luxury car park into the wind and headed for the front. It was brutal down there and we all got sandblasted while posing for photos. 

Fresh on the front

Time to head indoors and to our favourite amusements. Coral Island. Vicky got some 2p’s and headed for the machines. There was a tiny key ring perched on the edge and she began feeding coins in in a vain attempt to get it. Coral Island has changed since the DaBall days. I’m sure all the coins are stuck on and the rim at the edge has been heightened. No way was that key ring falling into the void. Shame on them!

Fun on Coral Island

Disappointed, we went out into the wind once more and had fun getting blown up and down the road, as you do. A bit of shopping followed then fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens. Did you know you can get a fish and chip afternoon tea? We stuck with the regular type.

Fish and chips in Harry Ramsdens

We arrived back at The Luxury Car Park three minutes before our cheap time ran out. We had to pay £2. A bargain. We drove back to Donkey Creek along the front so we could see the lights. By this time the sand was really swirling along the road. Back at Dame Shirley we watched a bit of telly before retiring for the night. It was another windy one, lots of rocking once again, but much calmer by morning. We breakfasted on porridge and toast then loaded into the car for a trip to Lytham St Anne’s. Blackpool is a tip, Lytham is lovely. We parked in the central car park to find it was free xmas parking. We wandered up and down the lovely high street checking the charity shops for posh frocks for my cruise. Sadly no joy for me, but Vicky dropped on a lovely multi coloured number. We then had a lovely lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant. Ian had a big mixed kebab, Moroccan Lamb for me, and veggie paella for Vicky. 

Mediterranean Fayre

Afterwards, we had a little stroll on the front, in the freezing cold and brisk breeze, to walk off our snap.

Fresh on the front, again

Luckily, we passed a car wash on the way back, so we called in to get the sand off Vickys car. They even removed the window moss for free! How kind of them. We returned to Dame Shirley for coffee then Vicky departed for Devizes. Not long after we packed up and set off for home too. Despite the lack of football we had thoroughly enjoyed our Blackpool weekend. There’s always time for that special DaBall moment when the match is eventually played.