Paella and Bovril

To quote a great Mr Simpson "see you in spring toes"! It is the festive "fat-up" here in Barcelona. I am in the middle making my THIRD Christmas dinner in less than a week! In 2013 I think I will be staying out the kitchen for a few days and running a wee bit! This serving of Paella and Bovril comes from the Fife Derby against Cowdenbeath on the 29th December. After a being 2 goals down at half time Raith came back to get a point. Enjoy. PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR MATCHDAY PROGRAMME. Paella and Bovril When I was a wee teenager I would regularly be found on a football terrace. Being a pupil at Balwearie High, just behind the railway stand here at Stark’s Park, meant that I could use my “study” periods to come watch one of the reserves games that used to be regularly played.   Of course you do not expect a large crowd at these matches, I am sure that at some of these games I was the only supporter there. But it was a reserves match ...

Thanks guys for the support! Gosh it seems like a lifetime ago but I have had word that "Tri-ing 4 the Rovers" raised £110 for Raith! Thank you to all those helped me across the line in the Garmin 2012 Barcelona Triathlon! Well it is that time of year again when bad taste jumper are the best thing in fashion and socks are your number 1 gift, yes guys it is Christmas. I am finding it a bit hard to get in the festive spirit but I am sure that will change. Anyhooo we are here to read the latest "Paella and Bovril" so enjoy. This was first seen in the Rovers match day programme of the 8th December 2012 when Raith had a 6 goal thriller against Morton ending in a point each. --> Paella and Bovril When you are away from you homeland you do try sometimes to recreate a wee bit of home.   I have been known to smuggle a haggis thru customs for a Burns Night supper and will spend a month trying to feed a whole bottle of brandy to ...

The festive season is creeping up on us and there feels like no escape. We can only hope that the weather is kind to the Scottish football grounds. A few weeks ago the topic came up "what would you change about the scottish game". This wee serving of Paella and Bovril gives you an idea of what I thought. What do you think? This was first seen in the Programme of the Scottish Cup tie with Deveronvale on Saturday 1st December. Raith went thru to the next round with a 2-1 win Paella and Bovril It seems that every 5 minutes somebody somewhere wants to sweeten the Scottish game it by changing it’s structure. Mix this division with that league, add a dash of grass roots, stir them about and voila! -the perfect cocktail of football. Well that is what they keep promising to serve up to us. What would give Scottish football the perfect flavour? Regional divisions or fewer teams, maybe bigger leagues; but what about the actual 90 minutes? On a recen...

After a stressful footballing weekend I think we have all calmed down here in Barcelona. After what felt like an age the the derby match came, and went! What a "interesting" match, things got a little heated and the ref din not seem to have the best hand on the game. In the end Rovers finished the match with ten men and 3-1 down. Not the best of Saturdays. Any way onwards and upwards or whatever way it maybe after the announcement this week about yet another "shake-up" of Scottish football. I hope you enjoy this dish of Paella and Bovril and it reminds you that size does not matter! Paella and Bovril Sunbathing season, for the locals, is well and truly over, with temperatures only reaching 20 or so during the day and 15 at night, the flip-flops have been swapped for fur lined snow boots and the bikini boxed away.   The bars on the streets and plazas that were bustling till late during the summer are rolling out the patio heate...

Phew, sorry that this has been a while but a late night Tuesday following twitter into the night, waiting to see if Raith could get thru extra time against Airdrie. With only just over 900 fans out to watch, Raith went on to win in a 7 goal thriller finishing, Raith 4 Airdire 3! Well done Rovers! As my oven is on the blink, I went round to a friends yesterday to make my Christmas Cake. After 3 hours of baking and a round of scones for good measure I headed home. I was on my bike, back pack filled with a brandy soaked cake and was met by a stormy sea of people and some very on edge police! As I weaved my way thru the crowd hoping my cargo survives I hear the now familiar call "Inde Independencia" Enjoy this hot serving of P n B! Paella and Bovril Before going to visit family in England the boyfriend and I went on the traditional present hunt for the wee nieces!   Our expeditions lead us into the local memorabilia and gift shop, “El Cau de...

 Wow it seems like a ages since I posted a P n B, I suppose it has been, but then it has been 5 weeks since Raith had a home game! I will be posting a full Paella and Bovril on Tuesday to keep you warm during the Cup replay against Airdrie. See you all Tuesday Carol

No party without fireworks! After a few hot baths and plenty of pain relief I seem to have survived and recovered from the triathlon. I have to admit I had a good time, well worth the 50 euros to enter. Yes I know I spent money to torture myself but the feeling of crossing that line was amazing. Not bad on the back of a few weeks of partying! This weekends P n B comes from last weeks. 6th October 2012, that saw Rovers AGAIN loses a last minute goal to allow the opposition snatch a point! Hope you enjoy this more than the past few results! Paella and Bovril The past few weeks Barcelona have been locked into “fiesta” mode. La Merc è is the big one! The whole city centre turns into one big festival site, stages pop up in parks and on corners of streets, plazas turn into giant tapas bars and wine tents, Barcelona likes to party and party it does, especially with the current crisis, everyone, it seemed, was out for their wee bit of free diversion. ...

I DID IT!!! About to rack up! I did it! I actually finished the Garmin super Sprint Triathlon, and in under an hour. On Sunday I swam 400m, cycled 10km and then ran a wee 2.5km. All in the name of Raith Rovers, and my pride. Official times! Nombre Tiempo Time Swim Bike Run        Carol Smith        00:59:50 00:11:31   00:23:25     00:19:23                                                      ...

October is finally here and normally I would welcome this with open arms, cooler temperatures, no festivals to lead me a stray (I hope) and this year I have a Triathlon to complete! In April  I fell victim to the Spanish crisis and found myself with plenty of time on my hands, a few extra (extra extra extra) kilos to shift and something to prove! So I quit the gym, dusted of the bike, got some running shoes and hoped that green peace would not try to save me when I went swimming in a wet suit. I did not start out thinking I would do a triathlon, but I needed a bit of motivation to keep me going! Now eeeeeekkkkkk it is only a few days away.      On the 7 th of October I will be swimming, cycling and running along Barcelona’s bonny beaches.   After deciding to go from couch to triathlon in 4 months I have been training hard(ish) and during one of these many many runs I thought that maybe I need some extra motivation, so lets do this for something you care a...

Hola Just short note to announce that on the 7th of October 2012, on the bonnt beaches of Barcelona, I will be participating in my first Triathlon, and I will be TRI-ing for Raith Rovers. I have created a Facebook page www.facebook.com/TRIing4theRovers to allow you to follow my progress. I will also be posting detail of how you can sponsor me in raising money for Raith Rovers Supporters trust. Please have a look at the page and let all your football friends know!

Jessica Judd World Youth 800m silver medalist The past few months in Barcelona have not been the best. First losing my job, less than a week later the boyfriend loses his, the crisis has hit hard! But with my new found free time I went to see some inspiring young sports people and now, well, now I am doing a Super Sprint www.garminbarcelonatriathlon.com This P n B was first seen in the Raith matchday Programme from the 15th September. Raith were taking on Airdrie, and after a rocky past few weeks a win was a must. It was a great 2-0 display that gave Rovers the boost they needed. PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR CLUBS MATCH DAY PROGRAMME AND ALL INVOLVED! Paella and Bovril Barcelona is a stunning city, I know I maybe a little biased but if you have visited the city you are bound to agree.  I am of course talking about the architecture, the food, the beaches and of course the weather makes a big difference to how great this place can be, but what I love the most about this city...

After melting for a few weeks a cold snap of 22 degrees at night has hit and now I am complaining of the cold, and to think I'm Scottish. But it is not as cold as the homeland. It is getting to that time of year where the Scottish football fan starts "layering up", thermals, jumper, jacket, club scarf and hat (bbbbrrrrrrrrrrrr, making me shiver thinking about it). The serving of P n B today comes from the matchday programme of the 25th of August, Raith v Livingstone, which ended in a goalless draw, enjoy. Paella and Bovril After breaking up on the 22 nd on June the kids of Barcelona will be returning to school on the 12 th September (yes nearly 12 weeks!). So of course the local stores have been full of back to school stuff, and amongst all the usual paraphernalia needed for the return to academia and the well know household names in school wear, FC Barcelona has become one of the biggest names in school fashion.   You name it you can g...

Well what can I say, Raith's season is off to a tremendous start and what is even better is the goals are just flying in! What a great job and I will be watching in a few weeks! This serving of P n B comes from a 7 goal thriller against Montrose in the cup In between my sunbathing and general meltingnuss (YES I know that is not a word but no Scotswoman should be baked in 35 heat in her own bed! ) I have been following the ups and downs of Scottish football, although it is very hard to imagine those cold terraces whilst picking sand out from your toes!  So here we are a hot dish of Paella and Bovril awaits!  PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM AND MATCH DAY PROGRAMME! Paella and Bovril Being proud of your team is part of being a fan, wearing the team’s colours, flying the flag, even taking to the streets to show how much you love the team.   Or so I thought! I have been living in Barcelona for nearly 6 years now and in that ...

After a couple of weeks of Olympic fever it is time to settle down to some football. The season is here and we were treated to a Raith win at the weekend.  This weekend also saw the return of  raith rovers abroad and it was nice to get back into the swing of things, even if I did have to have an ice lolly at half time to cool down here in Barcelona!  Next game is the 14th of August 2012 so if you can't get to Stark's Park, bring Stark's park to you!  This serving of Paella and Bovril comes from that match against Hamilton, which saw Raith win two nil, with goals coming from the man of the moment Brian Graham.  I hope you have not had too much Olympics as this P n B has an Olympic feel. Enjoy. PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL FOOTBALL.   Paella and Bovril Oh my gosh it is hot out here in Barcelona. Sometimes it can get too hot. So why in such heat was I chasing a flame around the city? Cause the Barcelona Olympic flame was giving us l...

Phew we have made it! After a summer of sport we are back with the nations favourite, the footy! We are ready for 2012/13 to thrill us, chill us and above all make us cheer!  Paella and Bovril is back for another season and I hope that this season servings live up to last years!   "Paella and Bovril" first appeared, and still does, in the Raith Rovers matchday magazine. To those new to this blog, I am a wee Raith fan, based in Barcelona, who likes to write about football.   Not your game analysis, players stats, but just a fan writing about being a fan! Hope you enjoy! This weeks dinner plate sized offering is from the cup game Raith V Berwick Rangers. A 7 goal match that saw Raith's name making it into the hat for the next round with a 4-3 win!  So here we go, I hope you enjoy the fresh, hot, new hot plate of "PAELLA AND BOVRIL" PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR CLUB AND THE MATCHDAY MAGAZINE !! Paella and Bovril So ...

Here in Barcelona I am getting "sported up" to the max. Over the summer I have been watching the Euros, Tour de France, Olympics and now the Scottish football is back to join the party! With a few days to go before you can get your teeth into the new season of "Paella and Bovril" I thought I would give you a wee taste of and old one, trust me this Paella does not go off! A few years ago I went to montmelo, the Spanish home of Formula 1. This serving of P&B is from the programme that followed.  Enjoy and see you soon!  PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TEAM AND IT'S MATCH DAY PROGRAMME! YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU! VVVVVVVVRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM………… I am just back from a day at Montmelo (Melon mountain). For those who do not know, Montmelo is the home to the circuit de catalunya, the track used for the Spanish Grand Prix.  Today was part of the test weekend being held before the season starts. Now a tickets to the Grand Prix start fr...