Premier League game against Fulham

 The Premier League game I was going to experience was much anticipated, although I would easily have picked a more exciting opposition.  No disrespect to Fulham - it just is not going to be as satisfying as a victory over a top-six side!  Our team has always been known as the party poopers and we seem to lift our game against stronger opposition.

This was the first time I was watching a Premier League game ‘live’ since its inception in 1992.  I have always been rooting for my team thousands of miles away on television so it was really special to be at St. James Park with fellow supporters watching our team clinch victory in the competition.

I had been waking up in the wee hours in England as my biological clock was still used to Singapore time.  I would either wake up and watch programmes on the goggle box or go around walking at 5 or 6 am in the cold there.

I started the day with breakfast at Tiny Tiny once more.  I had wanted to give it a chance after the not-so-appetising breakfast I had had the previous day.  I asked for recommendations again and a bowl of oats and a dish I cannot remember.  I only asked for a bit of meat this time and had some bacon in it.  It was better compared to my experience the previous day.

There was not a lot of time to waste that day as the match took place in the afternoon.  I only had time to walk around a little before deciding to reserve a seat at a restaurant for dinner after the game.

I arrived two hours ahead as the hospitality package included a three-course meal before the game.  As I made my way to Club St James for the meal, I found my heroes of yesteryear seated around - not only John Beresford, who recognised me from our interactions for the Benfica game, but also Rob Lee this time!  I was so excited and chatted with them a little.

The meal at Club St James saw us go collect our food; it was not served to the table like the previous time at Wings.  Still, food was pleasing.  Just to note - hospitality at whichever sector would see us getting the match programme that include details and write-ups of the teams.  It also came with a commemorative pin of the opposing team.  To collect the full set of the other nineteen premier league teams, one would have to watch all nineteen home games using hospitality tickets.  That would really cost a lot (I got this one at four hundred and twenty-two pounds!).

If you are reading this - anyone from the club - Newcastle United won both games that I watched at our shrine!  I hope that is a reason to invite me back for more, if not all, home games in future!  We sealed victory in the closing minutes of the game.  The atmosphere at the game was amazing again, but it left me with a tinge of sadness that it also signalled that my holiday in Newcastle upon Tyne was ending and the daily grind beckons once more.

I went to have dinner at Tomahawk Steakhouse.  It was located at the Quayside, just next-door to Rio’s which I visited a few days ago.  The atmosphere was more homely and I enjoyed the meal.  Though the portion looks big, it was actually manageable and it was tasty.

I retired to the room afterwards, pondering what I could do just before I left the next day.