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Glad I came along That extraordinary match of football (and the conclusion of our home fixtures) deserved marking and I'll try to pop in more often next year. The South Western's a cracking pub with decent beer. Plus the garden's top class when basked in sunshine. Stretched my statement of "1 or 2 drinks" to its limit but then it's been one of those weekends. In fact apart from briefly being convinced that I was dying whilst on the train back from London (Saturday AM), I've been hangover-free all weekend despite consecutive days of heavy boozing. Perhaps I should volunteer my body for medical research... Things I learned: apparently I don't look as expected (despite my Twitter account, as linked in my Location, featuring a recent pic of me ); despite my protestations I am still a kid (human, not goat) by 'The Lounge' standards; pap (R.I.P.) is now my chief career adviser; everybody meeting up must either be easygoing and amiable or you were all just on very good behaviour

I've not had a beer of lower ABV than 8% tonight and finished with one rated 15%. If I'm capable of words tomorrow, I'll be impressed.

Fine, I'm a definite! Have remembered it's my team's presentation evening on Saturday though so I'll only be good for one or two.

Does 28 count as youth? Haha. FWIW this currently is my plan. Only hesitate to confirm as I made positive noises about one of the last meets and then legitimately couldn't make it! Might be a wee bit hungover on Saturday as I'm visiting Brewdog in Clapham on Friday night with an old school friend...

Ooh, fan of The South Western here. No promises yet as I don't know what plans will be after the match. But if I'm free, I'm in!

Thought I'd be travelling up with mates but looks like I was the only one to bother getting tickets. D'oh. Anyone fancy a lift share? Don't mind driving but might as well make it efficient at least.

Was at The Dancing Man last night (new pub at Town Quay, in the old Wool House building) and it's top class. Done up beautifully and with 10+ decent ales on tap.

Good fun, that. Got 18/22, but I was only 7 at the time the Merlin 94 album (that the quiz is based upon) was released!

Probably about the best 3 quid you could ever spend. Great little evening, that. Apart from the obvious standout players, I thought Mugabi looked interesting going forward. Once he builds up a head of steam I'm not sure there's any stopping him. Gazzaniga's distribution was always excellent right from his days at Gillingham and it's now outstanding. I've heard good things about his U21 performances this season and he solidified it in my own mind tonight. Commanding and proactive - granted he'd be challenged far more often at a higher level.

I promise not to break anyone.

Personally have always had the desire to watch Saints purely because it's Saints. Good players come and go Sure, last Summer was an exercise in patience, but roll on the next phase of the rollercoaster. Speaking more shortsightedly, I'm happy about not having to shell out extra for 2015-16.

Great to hear! He's far and away my favourite comedian - the "haven't laughed so hard and often" especially resonates. Seen him on every tour since he returned to stand-up; the next time will be THIS next January. It'll be the end of that current tour, but all 3 hours/6 'episodes' of the refined material. Pretty damn excited! I was too young to remember his work with Richard Herring on Fist of Fun, but got the Series 1 and 2 DVD for Christmas and it's held up remarkably well given it was first shown in 1995. In fact I reckon some of it's probably even funnier than it was at the time, given what's happened in the world and with them both since. Most of the stuff I can't stand has already been noted so I guess there's not much value in regurgitating the list. I'd argue that there are still worthy British sitcoms but they tend not to find the mainstream. That said, most of the sitcoms/comedy shows I've watched lately have been American: Modern Family; Archer; Arrested Development; Brooklyn Nine-Nine; Community...

It's odd - I don't remember a lot about the area surrounding The Dell. Granted I was quite young, but even so... They are nice flats though! I moved into one a few weeks ago. This greets me every time I walk into my block

Looking at Arsenal's and United's remaining fixtures, I still wouldn't rule it out. Would take an absolutely mega run of form for us but we've got some tasty matches coming up. Chain wins together through those and who knows? Granted the 'what if' moments in February cost us, but there were plenty of matches earlier in the season where we stole something from nothing. Either way I'd say it's a fair assessment that we've over-achieved - 6th after 30 games is just ridiculous and any advance on that would be wonderland. I'm going to stick my neck out and say we'll finish 5th.

If true, he hid in plain sight...

With a few notable exceptions the Northam has been very quiet this season, by normal standards. Struggling to get 'When The Saints Go Marching In' going at some points, FFS. Thought yesterday was a bit of a missed opportunity in terms of turning Northam into a Kop of sorts. Lack of Burnley fans meant Block 43 and most of 44 were ours, yet those that bought tickets mostly sat on their hands. Shame.

Soz peeps, fully intended to show but was out until stupid o' clock into Saturday morning and somehow conspired to pass out until 2pm(!) It was all I could do to jump in and out of the shower, jog to Bedford Place, grab some chips and march to St. Mary's for 2.58pm. D'oh! I'll be more organised next time, fo' sho'. Glad to hear a good time was had by all in attendance. Usually some bloody nice beers at the Southwestern Arms...

All depends which festivals you go to. Some of the mid-sized ones eschew most of the downsides you've mentioned. Sonisphere (when it's on) even alternates time slots between the main two stages so that you don't have to miss a band on either. A lot of the less mainstream festivals also give you more space to play with in the campsite and proper facilities. Bonus being that they're generally nearer the £100 mark than £200+ and still feature plenty of decent-sized bands. Currently got Hevy Fest booked in (it's set on the grounds of a historic mansion that has a freaking zoo!) and am contemplating Download. Also went to Takedown Festival at Southampton Uni a couple of weekends ago which was bloody brilliant and a bargain at £40. Last year did Sonisphere and ArcTanGent in Bristol, which was a very pleasant surprise. Just avoid Reading/Leeds if you're over the age of 20. Went every year from 2005 to 2010 and by the end I was fed up to the back teeth of the school leavers (very clearly being let off mummy and daddy's leash for the first time). When you get to the last night and people are putting occupied tents onto fires, pulling down telegraph poles and fighting riot police you know it's gone a tad past 'high spirits'...

Fair chance I'll pop my head in. Not sure any of my mates are going to the Burnley match, bloody plastics

Dunno, perhaps that's the case more recently. Certainly in the lower leagues I can recall several fantastic midweekers - though granted the extra games per season meant they were a lot more regular. Agree that it wasn't necessarily vociferous on Tuesday, but the positivity (as opposed to the stadium audibly groaning every time a pass is misplaced) was evident. Shouldn't do, but demonstrably does. If I had to fathom a guess based upon where I 'sit', it'd be that the spread of those willing to sing is more vast when JCLs/plastics (delete as preferred) are in the ground. I'll happily try to get stuff going on my own, but if there's nobody in the vicinity to pick it up, there's only so much you can do. Really is only relative. Atmosphere's been simply dire at times this season. Even getting half of the Northam singing OWTS for a few minutes felt like a victory.

Well, quite. Perhaps a little perspective filtered through. Mind you, midweek games often feature more positive atmospheres. Probably a correlation between that and the lack of day-trippers (who'd do that for an evening game?) Less impatient people that want instant success and get irate when they don't see it.

Very much so. Was surprised to hear Block 43 piping up and starting some of the chants. Normally I look across and see a load of people sat on their hands, with the sort of steely gaze that suggests they've almost got somewhere else they'd rather be. Welcome change - more of this sort of thing!

Less fans in the ground, less glamorous opposition; louder support. Funny that.

Bloody hell, that's concerning! Maybe it's necessary to do a bit of vetting beforehand

Zzzzzippp. In retrospect, let's just say "I'm on POF, it's not all bad".