Paella and Bovril

In the cold dark days that are the close season I was asked to write for the Raith Rovers web site about being a Raith Rover Abroad, and I suppose about being a football supporter of a wee team away from home. Hope you enjoy. I am filling in the dark days with Euro 2012's. Can Spain make it a triple, 2 euros and a world cup!?! It is actually quite an achievement that a wee bit of plain white stitched leather can affect the world so much, but it does.  This wee ball can be bouncing around amongst millions or covered in mud and being chased by a dog in your local park.  I am, of course, talking about the beloved game of football. I have been living in the absolutely crazy city of Barcelona for nearly six years now.  Before moving out here, I was a Stark’s Park regular (work permitting, of course) and I have to admit as far as the pros and cons of moving out here are concerned, not seeing Raith was a big con.  It was going to be hard enough...

So another season has blew in (with a little bit more force than wanted at time!) and busted (well almost for some clubs) out again, and what a season it has been. For some football has been, sadly, such a small part of their season. After the dramatic last minute cat out of the bag survival on the pitch, the battle commonsense for Raith Roves off the pitch to contract some to stay and say goodbye to others and hope than someone good will come say hello! However the wonder that is 22 men and a wee white ball that is football will be filling our summer and keeping our addiction well fed! Euro 2012 and I am sure someone on the BBC mentioned that the Olympics might be in London this summer! I will be of course be following the Spanish national side with a sangria in hand and from the comfort of my sun lounger (now that I have said that it will rain for a week). I hope to give a few "paella and bovril" updates during the tournament so keep your eyes peeled. With the a...

Phew we are almost there and we survived!!! Yes folk time to wrap up the season is a coming and where do we look for our football fix, The Euros, The Olympics, whatever you choose I hope you enjoy!  As a Raith fan I should be used to the "sqeeeeeky bum" that comes with the end of the season, but you know what I am not! Last Saturday's (April 28th 2012) match against Queen of the South was one of those games that put the wee heart to the test. A must "point" match to keep alive the possibility of the Scottish First "Fife" division of football.  The sun was shining down on Stark's Park and the game sounded like a wee ray of sunshine on what has been a pretty damp season. Jamie Walker was The Kingdom's answer to Messi by all accounts and of course the player of the year Dave McGurn saving more than our bacon on many occasions! This wee dish of Paella and Bovril comes from the Queens match. Raith 3 - 1 Queen of the South PLEAS...

Being a Raith Rover Abroad with Apple products. As some of you know Apple and Flash Player have been at war for a few years now and on most Apple-based products and the Safari web browser, FlashPlayer-based streaming won’t work. A quick step-by-step set up guide. ·       Make sure you are up to date with all your software, if unsure go into settings menu,   go to general,   then you should see the option of software update.   If you are up to date it will say, if not update now. ·       Safari won’t run flash player, therefore won’t play the commentary, you need to use another web browser. There are a couple available through iTunes app store http://www.apple.com/uk/ ·       Puffin and iSwifter are the two that I use on my iPod touch and Ipad 2. (iSwifter is for iPad only)   http://www.puffinbrowser.com/            ...

The season end is closing in on us and maybe in more ways than one the end is near for this footballing year.   It has been an interesting year, clubs skating on the thin ice above liquidation and other having managers that maybe should keep it to themselves more. This serving of Paella and Bovril comes from the not so exciting defeat mid-week at the hands of Livingston (10th April 2012). I know that I have dished up before about the refs but it is a subject that just keeps coming back, maybe to haunt us, and it gets everyone going! Enjoy! PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR MATCH DAY PROGRAMME AND THE GUYS THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN. Paella and Bovril Sometimes people do things that bring out the worst in you, they aggravate your little pet hates, and every football fan has one in common, referees. The man in the middles has had the best game of his life when he is never mentioned. The last thing you want to be as a ref, I think, is to be famous for your last match. Cause if a...

Is it me or does it seem to be that when spring has sprung madness is not far behind, riots in my beloved city of Barcelona, last minute goals from left right and centre, men swimming with the boats of Cambridge and Oxford and clubs on the brink of something!  It is the time of year when the some games mean everything and other mean another Saturday not going round the shops (we will have plenty of that in the close season). The season has not been an easy one for Rovers and I for one know that the "at the death" goals have been saving us, and destroying my speakers thanks to the guys at Raith Rovers Abroad ! This wee serving up of "Paella and Bovril" come on the back of two draws and a home win. We won at home to Hamilton in a pretty terrible first half, but more than made up for it with a pretty spectacular (well so it sounded with a pretty long gggggooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll from the commentary team) second half. Enjoy! PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TE...

This weekend in football has seen more than it's fair share of sadness this weekend. At times like this my thoughts are with those who have loved and lost in the spotlight of football. It is that time again when finals are played and relegation is to be avoided with skins of teeth!  I was almost sectioned by my neighbours the other day due to Raith Rovers! My Internet went down at kick-off aaahhhhhhh, I need my Raith Rovers Abroad.  to get me through my Saturday afternoon. Luckily Barcelona city has an ok free WiFi service, so I went out to my local bench in the sun and listened, and jumped and cheered and screamed and almost cried at Damian Casalinuovo last kick equaliser.  Anyway again enough of my gabbing and I will let you settle down with Paella and Bovril.   PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TEAM AND ALL WHO SAIL WITH HER! Paella and Bovril Spring has sprung here in Barcelona, the sun is shining, the locals are starting to move away from the thermals, hats ...