aston villa 1 v 2 bournemouth

And so another season begins, but this time it's the Premier League - not the Championship.

Our opening game at Tottenham Hotspur sees us seize an early lead through a John McGinn goal as Villa put in an impressive first-half performance. But then Spurs pile on the pressure after the restart and sadly we leave 3 v 1 to the worse.

So now it's our first home game against Bournemouth and the excitement is palpable.  The exterior of Villa Park has been smartened up with a fresh coat of paint, new badges and a huge photo on the North Stand that features Dean Smith and Jack Grealish clutching the Championship Play-Off Cup.  Some things, however, remain the same.  My son, Ben, makes a bee-line for the 'Bostin' Fish'n'Chips' stall and lunch is sorted.

It's buzzing inside the ground - a near sell-out crowd. The teams emerge to rapturous applause as the North Stand ticket-holders lift up a series of cards that come together in a giant AVFC mural. Sadly the feel-good factor doesn't last long.  Tin Heaton, our new goal-keeper, concedes a penalty in the first minute. Joshua King steps up to the spot and before we know it we're one nil down. 
Things go from bad to worse. A mistake by Douglas Luiz, our new mid-fielder, lets in Harry Wilson whose buzzing shot hits Tyrone Mings and deflects past the stranded Heaton. Twelve minutes in and two nil down.

The second-half is much more like it. Villa drive Bournemouth deep and a superb shot from Luiz sails into the back of the net. Sadly, despite attack after attack, Villa fall short. Two games, two defeats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a special time

We had such a fantastic time on Sunday.  Lucy and Mandy came round with their daughter, Martha. Guinea pigs were stroked, a puppy played endlessly on the lawn with a lovely young lady, cheese, bread and cake were consumed and conversation flowed effortlessly.

Have you ever met people you feel instinctively you've known all your life?  This was one such occasion and thank you for such wonderful, wonderful company!!

the next generation

We watched their family grow and now we watch as their children become parents in their own right.

Thank you, Colin and Debbie, for being our friends. It's been a long and, at times difficult, journey through life but so much very special love has been shared along the way.  

Here's to the next generation of both our families.