Weekend

It was L's birthday last week, so come Friday I arranged for us to go out as a surprise.

All she was told that we were going by taxi at 7:45pm and that she should wear something comfortable but not jeans.

The taxi arrived, I made sure that the driver didn't mention where we were going to her, to prolong the surprise.

She figured it out quite quickly, but was still nice when we pulled into the Grange Hotel. http://www.altontruffles.co.uk/menus.html

Our friend is currently the Acting Head Chef there, so he had kindly noted in the booking diary that we were friends of the chef.

Arriving inside we chose to go the bar for a drink where we were treated to a complimentary glass of Champagne. The menus were bought over and we started to choose from which of the set menus we were going to eat from.

We settled on the three course meal rather than the gourmet 7 course menu. The Somelier bought the wine list over and said that our friend would like to buy us a bottle of wine to go with our meal, and that we should not worry about the cost, so we settled on a bottle of New Zealand Cloudy Bay, which due to it's difficulty in sourcing was £50.

We were shown through to our table, the restaurant was very quiet indeed, which helped add to the romantic atmosphere.

Having chosen our respective starters, main courses and desserts we settled down at the table still sipping champagne and the wine.

Our first course arrived, a Carrot and Swede soup appetiser, served in a cup the size of an expresso cup, which was the first of our additional courses courtesy of our very generous Head Chef friend.

Next to arrive were our actual starters, I chose the Scallops, having never had them before, L chose the Ham Hock and Foi Gras terrine, both of which looked and tasted superb.

Next to arrive was a oak smoked chicked wrapped in pancetta, another additional course, it was served with artichokes and a sweet tasting chutney, again very good indeed.

Main courses, L chose the Fillet of Beef with a herb crust, I chose the venison.

An apple sorbet cleansed the pallet and then our desserts of Chocolate Fondant with Praline ice cream arrived.

All in all a fabulous meal, portion sizes were immaculate along with the flavours, style and service.

We retired to the bar for coffee then a quick pint and a vodka and coke for L before the return taxi arrived at 10:45 to take us home.

Anybody who lives near(ish) to Alton should definately pay the Grange a visit, it is an eating experience that cannot be re-produced in the area.

Enough about food already I am starved.

So came the big game Sunday afternoon as Manchester United became the next challenger of Arsenal's unbeaten home record at the Emirates.

A slow start by the home side allowed the visitors to comfortably control the ball for the first 15 minutes Arsenal solidly defending and United probing and passing well.

Arsenal came back into the game as they regained more and more of the ball and looked continuously dangerous, Henry firing a short straight at Van Der Sar then latching on to a perfect ball from Adebyaor, but the Arsenal skipper could only direct his header into the waiting arms of the keeper.

0-0 Halftime, and quite an even game.

The second half was even until Patrice Evra overlapping down the left wing strode away from Fabregas to centre, the ball flicking off of the ever impressive Kolo Toure and stright into the path of a lurking Wayne Rooney who stooped to head brilliantly home past Lehman, could the unbeaten run be in danger.

Arsenal plugged away as United dropped deeper, Carrick and Scholes generally marshalling the midfield, but with Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas and Rosicky looking lively and dangerous.

Mr Wenger waited until 20 or so minutes to go before replacing Hleb with Robin Van Persie then Flamini with Baptista.

The equalizer came following good work from Rosicky who's cross evaded the leaping Henry and the lunging tackle of Ferdinand, Van Persie who had been still at the edge of the box as the ball was crossed, overtook Neville to meet the ball perfectly and fire high into Van Der Sar's net, giving the goalkeeper no chance. An 83 minute equalizer and the unbeaten run was saved.

Van Persie unfortunately fractured his 5th metatarsul whilst scoring so will be absent for around 5 weeks or so, a crule blow for a young man who's form had been ultra impressive this season.

Arsenal were in the ascendancy, and pushed for an unlikely winner. United were defending deep and when in the 93rd minute Rosicky and Eboue combined to rob Scholes, Ebouse's one-two with the Czech international sent the right back away and past Evra.

Eboue's pin-point cross cut out both Vidic and Ferdinand and Thierry Henry who had been mostly anonymous, met the cross perfectly and powered his header past Van Der Sar. 2-1 a brilliant result and thanks to Adebayor back in September, the double was completed over the old enemy.

Roll on Wendesday's Carling Cup Semi Final first leg game against Spurs.

Amazing isn't it...

The press have torn Rafa Benitez and his Liverpool team to shreds after their amazing 6-3 Anfield thumping at the hands of an extremely youthful Arsenal side in the Quarter Final of the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

The Gunners ,who in every round have fielded a team of youth and reserve team players mixed with the odd returning First Teamer, tore into the reds at the famous old ground with Julio Baptista slotting home four times to set up a semi final against Spurs at the end of the month. Benitez chose to make changes from the team that had lined up against and lost to Arsenal three days earlier in the FA Cup, but to no avail. Liverpool's 6 full internationals struggled to counter the movement of Arsenal's attacking players with Jeremie Aliadaire turning in another supreme performance as her ran Palletta ragged on the right hand side of the Liverpool central defence.

Almunia was outstanding in goal, and was incredibly unfortunate to have let in 3 goals, Dudek looked to have lost his confidence after the perfomance in the F A Cup, as time and time again Arsenal threatened his goal.

Aliadaire opened the scoring latching on to Kolo Toure's excellently flighted through ball, the young Frenchman expertly bringing the ball down and prodding goalwards all in one movement, Dudek blocked the initial shot only for the ball to fall kindly for the Arsenal striker who stabbed home.

The lead lasted barely five minutes as Almunia smartly pushed away a free kick only for it to be returned by Garcia for Fowler to cheekily back heel past the Spanish stopper.

After a lengthy stoppage which saw Mark Gonzalez receive treatment then be stretchered off, Arsenal re-took the lead with a typically Brazilian finish from Baptista, who expertly curled home a 25 yard free kick leaving Dudek a mere spectator. Song added a third as Hypia's clearance from a corner rebounded in off the Cameroon youngster and then Baptista and Aliadaire teamed up to add a fourth before half time as the Frenchman raced on the Baptista's throughball (although offside) before cutting the ball back to the Beast who had continued his run into the box slotting into a empty net.

Baptista missed his opportunity to score his hattrick after Hypia felled Aliadiare in the box, but soon made amends as Aliadiare tricked his way past Palletta on the left wing before find Baptista with an inch perfect pass, Baptista struck a low curling shot from 23 yards into the corner.

Back came Liverpool, firstly through a typical Gerrard strike volleyed past Almunia and again through Hypia and as the pressure mounted on the Arsenal defence Hoyte's long clearance was collected by Aliadaire who strode past Palletta again this time on the right wing before centering for Baptista to finish into another empty net rounding off the scoring with this fourth of the game and Arsenal's sixth.

Next comes Blackburn away, who will be looking for revenge after their recent 6-2 mauling at the Emirates.

Not a great deal is happening elsewhere, am organizing a trip Go karting at work for Monday 12th February and am very much looking forward to that.

Apart from that things are a little quiet Social life wise at the moment, currently experiencing a cash hangover from Christmas.

Our hoover stopped working properly recently and after e-mailing the vax help desk we decided not to pursue it anyfurther and so yesterday I picked up our new hoover from Argos; a Dyson DC08 Base, which I must say seems to be brilliant and currently half price at £119.99 so definately recommend that you all get one.

Happy New to one and all

I know just how much you have missed your update of everyday drivvel from Elias Mooseblaster, well now I am back.

Christmas and New Year went without a hitch which handy, loads of fun had by all, few visits to and from the Family and a couple of eventful evenings in the local. L has now discovered her maximum wine intake in an evening which was amusing.

Got some really handy stuff for Crimbo, waterproof golfing trousers, golf magazine subscription, some kitchen stuff, new jumper and some cash (which is going towards my beautiful Mizuno MP32 Irons that I bought before Christmas).

New Years eve was good fun too, normally we try to avoid the pubs etc as they are a bit too busy and loud for our liking, and wouldn't you know it, full of people who are out with the sole intention of getting plastered. Our friend J invited us to her house for dinner, a few drinks and some games. We were joined by her Boyfriend T who had finished his shift at the Grange where he is a Chef. Lots of beers and laughs were had before we settled on heading home at about 4:30am.

Suffice to say we were late rising on New Year's day.

The last week or so have been about saving cash and settling back into working. Thankfully we were mostly eased in with a 4 day week last week, but things have been surprisingly busy hence the lack of blogging.

Arsenal had a good Crimbo only failing to pick up any points from an untidy affair at Brammal Lane against Sheffield United and rounded off with a 3rd F A Cup victory against a strong Liverpool side at Anfield.

Mr Wenger says the he is not looking at bringing any new players into the club during the tranfer window, lets hope that the 9 or so players we currently have missing through injury all return soon.

Still haven't finished the painting as yet and am hoping to meet with my musician friend K at some point soon for some guitar tips etc.

Will keep you all posted

M