A Weekend to Remember: Saturday Night with Family, Friends, and Football

Yesterday, Saturday the 18th, started off as a pretty normal day. My dad popped over in the early afternoon for a quick visit before heading off to his weekly game of snooker with one of his mates. I’d planned a quiet day and evening at home, but as often happens, plans can change.

Late in the afternoon, my daughter texted me saying she was bored. She’s been at her mom’s this week, and I think the quiet there had got to her. She suggested going out for food with my sister, but neither of them had any money, so I offered to treat them to a meal.

We ended up at Wetherspoons, my daughter’s choice. I’d already eaten by then, so I didn’t order anything, but if I hadn’t, I’d have had something. Even though Wetherspoons doesn’t cater to my whole food diet, I believe the occasional treat is absolutely fine for rare occasions like these. Besides, you can’t really go wrong with Wetherspoons – it’s cheap and cheerful, and there’s something about its straightforward charm that makes it an easy choice.

After the meal, we decided to go to another pub to catch the end of the Arsenal v Aston Villa match. By that point, my dad had finished snooker and decided to join us. While we were there, a group of bikers from The Outlaws Motorcycle Club turned up. For anyone unfamiliar, they’re a well-known MC, and they came along with some of their sub-clubs like the Saxons and another called Danelaw. My dad knew one of them and his wife, and we recognised a few others from our local pub, where they’re occasionally about.

As the evening went on, we decided to move to a different pub for a change of scenery. Not long after we arrived, some of the MC members came in as well, and we ended up chatting with a couple of the older blokes. They were all really nice – proof that first impressions aren’t always the whole picture.

By the time we were ready to head home, it was getting quite late. My daughter somehow managed to feel hungry again, so I handed her and my sister my card to grab some food from the chicken shop while my dad and I finished our drinks. Once they got back, we all headed home. It was well past midnight by then, and I was ready to crash.

Once home, one of my American friends messaged me about TikTok and the recent ban over there. It turns out it wasn’t banned at midnight UK time, but when I woke up this morning, she’d sent me a screenshot showing the app was no longer available to her. It’s a bit of a shame for Americans who enjoy it, but I reckon if Trump gets inaugurated, he’ll probably reinstate it. I wouldn’t be surprised if that earned him some favour over there.

As for today, I’ve kept it simple. I finished watching the Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday match, had some food, and now I’m planning to dive into a bit of Football Manager. FM25 is out now, but I’m still enjoying FM24. I can’t quite decide whether to get FM25 for my Xbox or my MacBook – a decision for another day, perhaps.

I hope everyone’s had a brilliant weekend and is making the most of a relaxing Sunday. Here’s to a great start to the new week!