Stewart was an amazing person - A wonderful husband, a fantastic brother, a loving son and an adored uncle. He was also a brilliant friend and colleague and is missed by so many people. His family are determined that his death will never be in vain and are doing their part to beat bowel cancer for good. We are fundraising
for the Bobby Moore Fund which is part of Cancer Research UK and specialises in research into bowel cancer. If you wish to donate to the fund, you can via https://www.justgiving.com/Geraldine-Smith3 .
If you haven’t already done so, please read the article which appeared in the Daily Record and learn from Stewart’s story
that you must never be complacent. It makes grim reading for us, his family, even though we were beside him throughout his ordeal, or battle; call it what you will. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/heartbroken-widow-geraldine-smith-raises-3452997
Similarly, if you haven’t heard it, please listen to Geraldine’s moving radio interview which was on Radio Scotland recently.
Stewart began writing The Grambler when he was between procedures and hoping for some form of recovery. He loved all aspects
of football and was a lifelong Motherwell supporter. His wish was that The Grambler should continue after his death and I have been happy to oblige. Welcome to The Grambler, the most
ill-informed blog you are ever likely to see. Read on and enjoy…
This week’s planned (g)ramble has been put on hold because of the week’s events. This week one of music’s most influential figures has pegged it. Yes, Stewpot has popped
his clogs. Who? Stewpot. That was Ed Stewart’s nickname. Okay, okay, somebody else died, as well. Before we get on to discussing the other bloke, what can I say about Ed Stewart? Umm... not a lot. He seemed to be
a presenter of children’s programmes such as Crackerjack. CRACKERJACK!!! Only people of a certain age will understand that. He also presented Junior Choice on radio. All of which worries me a little. Ed Stewart was
the guy who, when in his twenties or perhaps even thirties, had a girlfriend aged just 15. Something not right about that. Why was he allowed near anything to do with kids? I’m just saying.
Okay, on to the other big story. David Bowie has snuffed it. His name originally was plain old David Jones [Plane-old? That’s a funny name. - Ed.] but in his pursuit of
stardom, he changed it to David Bowie - pronounced ow as in cow, or is that ow as in blow? Some Americans even pronounced it as oo as in shoe; something to do with Jim Bowie, originator of the Bowie knife, or something.
Anyway, pronunciation aside, Bowie never seemed to be satisfied with a particular look or style. He began his career wearing his hair long as was popular in the very early seventies;
he did couple it with wearing dresses which was less popular. With men, anyway. He then had the hair cut short, so that he looked different to the long-haired style of the day. Then it was spiky. Then spiky with no eyebrows.
Then short. Then... basically, his hairstyles were all over the place. Then there were the ‘personae’. David Jones begat David Bowie who begat Ziggy Stardust, then the Angel of Death, Hallowe’en Jack, Aladdin Sane,
the Thin White Duke... I’m sure there were others.
On Monday, his death was given the sort of news coverage one might expect if the Queen herself were to die. 20 minutes of each half hour news bulletin was reserved for the news
that Bowie was dead. I don’t recall such news saturation for Elvis, or John Lennon. Why was David Bowie given such adulation? I have the answer [You would have. - Ed.]. In the early seventies, Bowie was the epitome (That’s
a good word, I must look it up.) of cool and students of the day picked up on that. I am generalising by stating that, I know, but he was incredibly popular among the student population at that time. University folk like
to be different (generalising again) and here was somebody different for them to follow. Very different. It would have really annoyed their elders that they identified with such a ‘weirdo’. Perfect. Now,
where am I going with this? Take a look at the people who are now in charge at the Beeb Beeb Ceeb and other TV companies. They are probably now in their fifties; just the age to have made them students in the seventies.
The reporters on Monday were not just coveying the news of Bowie’s death, they were mourning his demise themselves. For once, they were genuinely moved by the subject of their report.
Many people feel the same way; even Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger
What was my own view of Bowie? I didn’t not like him (apologies for the double negative; that’s a no no in my book), nor did I like him. I agree he was completely different
to anything that had gone before. However, in my opinion, he couldn’t sing for toffee. He had a style of ‘singing’ that was definitely not tuneful. Here’s something to consider though - If there had been no Bowie,
would Gary Numan have made it? Simple Minds? U2? Suede? Do you get my drift? He paved the way for non-singers to have a go. More’s the pity.
Now then, I think we should have a link to a Bowie toon, don’t you? This being thegrambler.com, you are perhaps expecting me to give you the Laughing Gnome, a tune from the
‘I’m not sure how to go about being a famous singer so I’ll just do my best impression of Anthony Newley’ phase of his career and one which he tried his hardest to distance himself from. I think it would be wrong
to dredge up such an embarrassing moment from his career. Totally wrong. Why would I do such a thing? Incidentally, in the late eighties or early nineties, Bowie went on a ‘greatest hits’ tour and asked his fans to
nominate and vote for their favourite tracks which he would then build his show around. Annie Nightingale, a DJ of the time, encouraged everyone who listened to her show to vote for the Laughing Gnome arguing that, if Bowie
was true to his word, he would have to sing it. He wasn’t and he didn’t. Laughing Gnome excepted, most of Bowie’s output was pretty dirge-like, depressing stuff. Space Oddity was not the cheeriest, nor was Ashes to
Ashes. I have a ‘best of’ album of his stuff, but, frankly, it never gets played. And it doesn’t even have Laughing Gnome on it; that was a big hit, surely (Don’t call me Shirley.). However, there is one song of
his, just one, which I play over and over and enjoy every time. It isn’t on his ‘best of’ and it never made the charts; I’m not even sure it was released as a single. It is from his Black Tie White Noise album.
Ladeez and Genullum, I give you the rather upbeat Lucy Can't Dance .
.....oooOooo.....
Any birthdays to celebrate this Saturday, the 16th of January? Definitely. I would even go as far as to say, some. Andre Michelin
1853 (Trivia: John Dunlop may have patented the inflatable tyre (1888), but it was Michelin who patented the detachable wheel (1891). Seems so obvious now.), Fulgencio Batista 1901 (Cuban b******.), Eric Liddell 1902 (Athleticky
bloke who wouldn’t run on a Sunday.), Ethel Merman 1908 (Loud woman.), A.J. Hoyt 1935 (Car racey bloke.), Jim Stafford 1944 (My girl, Bill.), Harvey Proctor 1947 (Ex MP who resigned after being charged with gross indecency.
He then started a business making shirts and became - cue homophobic joke - a shirt-making shirt-lifter. I do apologise for that. Uncalled for.), Cliff Thorburn 1948 (Snookery bloke.), John Carpenter 1948 (Joiner specialising
in bathrooms.), Martin Jol 1956 (Footbally bloke. Famously, fell out with Bobby Zamora.), Sade (Helen Folasade Adu) 1959 (‘I’m not shy or reclusive. I just spend my time with people rather than journalists.’ Wise words,
pity others don’t follow that principle.), James May 1963 (Jeremiah Klaxon sidekick.), Kate Moss 1974 (Clothes horse.), Bobby Zamora 1981 (Footbally bloke. See above. Probably something to do with who had the best birthday
cake.) and Nicklas Bendtner 1988 (Footbally bloke.)
.....oooOooo.....
Before we move onto grambling matters, do you recall last week I mentioned some rag in the U S of A calling Wills and Kate the romance
of the century? Well, there is another couple who might well fit the bill. I wish to draw your attention to the following engagement announcement...
Rupert is 84, Jerry is 59. I am reminded of Caroline Aherne’s Mrs Merton comment (slightly altered)... ‘So Jerry, what first
attracted you to billionaire Rupert Murdoch?’
.....oooOooo.....
Let’s move on to grambling matters. What happened last week? We won. Again. Yay! Yup,
£3.36 back from our £2.20 stake. £1.16 profit. Woo hoo! What happened? All is revealed below, fair reader...
Rochdale vs Chesterfield - Prediction Home win
Result - Rochdale 2 Chesterfield 3
Boo!
Jay O'Shea's placed shot put the visitors ahead, but Ian Henderson levelled with a diving header.
Lee Novak restored the Spireites' lead from Dan Gardner's pass and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake then fired in the third.
Rhys Bennett nodded in to give Dale hope after Gboli Ariyibi (Definitely cracking name of the week.) was sent off for a second act
of simulation [Sorry pardon excuse me? - Ed.], but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser.
Accrington Stanley vs Notts County - Prediction Home win
Result - Match postponed
Mansfield vs Stevenage - Prediction Home win
Result - Mansfield 2 Stevenage 1
Yay!
The Stags led when Chris Clements curled in a free-kick after Stevenage's Michael Tonge had earlier hit the post.
James Baxendale doubled the lead on his debut by firing in from 20 yards.
Armand Gnanduillet netted a consolation for Stevenage with the last kick of the game, tapping in from eight yards for his sixth
goal of the season.
East Fife vs Berwick - Prediction Home win
Result - East Fife 1 Berwick 0
Yay!
The home side almost took the lead in the 18th minute when Jason Kerr's long-range hit the post.
They did go in front just two minutes after the break when Kyle Wilkie's cross was headed into the back of the net by Nathan Austin.
The visitors had chances to level things up in the second half, but they were unable to find an equaliser.
Montrose vs East Stirling - Prediction Home win
Result - Montrose 3 East Stirling 2
Yay!
Goals from Kris Faulds and Thomas Orr looked to have set East Stirling on course for victory.
However Graham Webster and Greg Pascazio hit back to pull Montrose level.
Aaron Comrie completed the comeback with just over five minutes to go with a powerful strike into the roof of the net to seal the win.
So, after a shaky start, The Grambler’s predictions paid off. Three out of four ain’t bad [Wasn’t that a Meatloaf song? -
Ed.]. Ahem. What has he/she/it come up with this week?
Game - Result - Odds
Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough - Prediction Away win - 19/20
Hull vs Charlton - Prediction Home win - 1/3
Dagenham & Redbridge vs Northampton - Prediction Away win - 10/11
Hartlepool vs Wycombe - Prediction Away win - 21/20
Plymouth vs Stevenage - Prediction Home win - 17/20
If the bets (10 x 20 pee doubles plus 1 x 20 pee accumulator) all go as predicted by The Grambler, the Bobby Moore Fund will benefit to the tune of… fanfare please…
£10.34
1034? What happened that year? King Malcolm II of Scotland died in battle at Glamis. Duncan, son of his second daughter, succeeded
him. Not surprisingly, Macbeth, son of Malcolm’s eldest daughter, was a bit miffed. The rest, as they say, is history. Or perhaps not. The Duncan in Shakespook’s play was an old geezer, whereas the real King Duncan
was a young man who was often advised by his older cousin, Macbeth. Strange that Macbeth didn’t advise him not to fight against Moray in 1040. Duncan was killed in action against the men of Moray, led by... guess who...
Macbeth.
.....oooOooo.....
Teaser time. Yay! Last week I asked a question relating to football rules. I asked what can a sub not do when he is brought on
when play is at a standstill and why. He is not allowed to take a throw-in or a corner if either of those were the reason for the stoppage. Why not? Because he is off the pitch so has not, technically, entered the field
of play. Of course. S’obvious now.
What about one for this week? An FA Cup question for you. Who was the last English-born manager to win the FA Cup?
…..oooOooo…..
Once again, let’s finish with a mention of the main reason for continuing to publish this blog – to raise awareness about bowel cancer. If you have any bowel problems, don’t be fobbed off with the line that you are too young for bowel cancer to be a
consideration. Just point your doctor in the direction of http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/campaigns-policy/latest-campaigns/never-too-young-campaign .
…..oooOooo…..
And finally, Cyril? And finally Esther, I am at a complete loss as to how I could end this week’s edition of thegrambler.com.
If only there was a novelty song associated with someone connected to this week’s article.... Wait a minute... No, I couldn’t. Not that. No, it isn’t in keeping at such a time of grief. Sod it. Ladeez and genullum,
I give you the amusing (it says here) The Laughing Gnome .
A gnome, laughing
Happy Grambling.
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