Winning - Better get used to it!

Hello everyone,

Welcome back. This week I have tales of winning awards to compliment my tales of hockey. Not only that, but I will bringing you part 3 of my amazing West Coast holiday plans and topping all that off with some foody delights. You know it makes sense so keep on reading!

Status Update

I don't usually talk about work, but this week I will make an exception to the rule. This week was the annual staff party and company awards at work. Every year 5 awards are given to congratulate the individuals or teams that exemplify the values of the company and have generally done something great over the past 12 months. Alongside that it is generally a melee of drunken colleagues enjoying each others' company and blowing off steam from the humdrum of day-to-day life. This year there was definitely a lot of drinking, but not from me because I was driving so got to watch as people lost their inhibitions and dance the night away. I may have also joined in because I have very little shame and love to bust a move!

Anyway, back to the big news. This year my team and I were up for an award because we had been nominated for our continued good work to modernise the way in which sheltered housing is marketed in the borough and ultimately reduce the number of empty properties on our books. This year we have managed to do just that and have received high praise from colleagues across the company, but have not received any critical acclaim for our efforts. Last year we were nominated for a similar award, but fell just short of the post so I wasn't 100% sure we would win. All I knew is that we sure as hell deserve it for the blood, sweat and tears we give up every day! Anyway as the envelope was slowly prised open by the guest presenter my heart was in my mouth. I felt a hush come over the usually rowdy team and I began to wonder if the other contenders would have pulled on enough heart strings to beat us and I would have to put on my gracious loser face. Well there was no need for that because we won! To hear our team called out as the winners was unbelievable. It is always great to be recognised for the hard work everyone puts in even if it is a certificate and a handshake, but it is just nice to feel appreciated. So, congrats to everyone working in the Housing Plus team and I hope the good news just keeps on coming.

Haggy's Hols

A couple of posts ago I told you about how after a whistle-stop tour of LA we would be taking in the sights of Las Vegas. Our fun doesn't stop there, if anything it will only have just begun! We have an authentic road trip ahead of us as we make our way gradually towards the city of San Francisco. I won't jump ahead of myself though and this edition I bring to you our next steps of our tour - Yosemite National Park.

We will be staying in a lodge at the bottom of the mountains in a town called Oakhurst. I found a cool looking place for a very reasonable price called Queen's Inn By The River which has individual suites and it's very own wine bar. Admittedly, we will be travelling there in a drop top car, but can you forgive me?! I mean if you are going to do something you may as well do it properly hadn't you? Plus, if I am driving through a desert to get to Yosemite I may as well catch some rays hadn't I? After taking in the wonders of the man-made world it may well be a welcome reprieve to travel to a place of natural beauty to experience the peace and quiet of the mountains. We are only there for a day, but I plan on making the most of it by waking Vic up early and driving up the hillside to take in the views and rent some bikes or go for a walk. Either way we will be taking a cracking little picnic to chow down on and spend a relaxing day amongst the trees and meadows before heading back down the hill as the sunsets. I hear that is how the locals do it so figure I may as well join in. And after a long day like that I believe a steak is in order and a bit of website searching suggests that there may be a couple of restaurants happy to provide me with that!

After Yosemite we plan to drive on to Napa, but I will save that for another issue because you can't just skip over Napa especially with what we have in store!

Food Glorious Food

This week I have been eating a lot of chorizo. It literally can be used in anything from salads to roast chicken dishes, but I thought I would share with you one of my faves - Chorizo and Bean Chilli. It is quick and easy to make so well worth a try. Initially I found the recipe on the Good Food website and it used chickpeas, but being the thrifter I am I changed that for cheaper butter beans and to be honest I prefer the creamier taste of them in this dish. So, feel free to change the beans for different sorts but remember that they bring different flavours and textures.

Ingredients (serves one)

50g chorizo sliced

Half a can of kidney beans

Half a can of butter beans

Half a can of chopped tomatoes

1 teaspoon of hot chilli powder

Method

Before you start get some rice on because it takes about the same time to cook as this meal does to prepare.

1. Fry off the chorizo until it is starting to give off some of its oil

2. Add the beans and fry for a couple of minutes

3. Pour in the tomatoes and reduce the heat

4. Add the chilli powder and season

5. Simmer 5-10 minutes

6. Serve with fluffy rice and enjoy!

Hagg's Hockey Corner

The Northern Ball Hockey Conference continues and the Comets continue to reign supreme. Going into this week's game it was possible that we could clinch the title. This was reliant on other fixtures going our way and obviously us winning our own fixture, which was Newcastle Wildcats. In a game where we dominated from start to finish the Comets came out 12-1 winners. It was a game that had it all from goals to fights, but unfortunately no shutout for our hard-working goalie Taz. Goals and assists came from all over the team and confidence is evident every time we hit the court and the score could have easily been more if the referees hadn't disallowed goals that ripped holes in the net! On a personal level I also bagged a hat-trick and I am feeling great on a line again with Justin and Leafy.

Unfortunately, Dekstars Supernovas were beaten 9-0 by Northumbria Sharks so we are not yet champions. It does however set us up for an epic clash this week against the Sharks themselves. If we don't lose we claim top spot, but if they win they have an outside chance of claiming the title on goal difference. We are not going to let that happen, so watch out Sharks the Comets are coming!

A quick comment on the NHL. A few weeks ago I brought to you some of my fears about being a New York Rangers fan. Turns out I didn't need to be so worried because as they regular season came to a close my boys came good and won 9 of their final 13 games to be one of the hottest teams going into the playoffs securing a 6th place seeding in the East. To those non-hockey loving people out there that won't make much sense but it doesn't need to. All you need to know is that the ice hockey season is about to get feisty because it's playoffs time. That means teams going against each other in epic 7 game series to win the highest prize in ice hockey, Lord Stanley's Cup (with strong connections to it's creation in the UK).

First up for Rangers is the Washington Capitals who unfortunately are on a hot streak of their own. It is going to be a very tough series and a replay of a series from last year which Rangers won 4-3. I am concerned about the speed and skill of the Capitals, but Henrik Lundqvist is performing wonders in goal and finally the forward lines are clicking so fingers crossed we can best the Capitals and go on to have a long and successful playoff challenge. Lets go Rangers!

Have You Heard What Haggy's Heard?

Story of the week - I don't usually get political in my blog (mainly because I don't want to bore any of you) but with local elections approaching and a by election in South Shields coming up I can't help it. However, I won't be commenting on local issues but instead on a story about a Gloucestershire election candidate. John Sullivan of UKIP has claimed that exercise prevents you being gay and congratulated the Russians for banning Pride events. I have played hockey with enough gay guys to know this is not the case. Now I accept that people may be favourable of UKIP's immigration policies, but in a country that says it promotes tolerance of others I can't understand how someone can be so damning and downright ignorant of others can even be considered to represent our society. If you live in Gloucestershire and read this I implore you to go out and vote on election day and ensure a tolerant and intelligent candidate gets elected instead. To read the initial story click here

Song of the week - There are two tracks I am excited about this week so it is not just song of the week, but songs of the week. First up is a track that is totally mainstream but signals a return to form for the classic dance duo Daft Punk. Teaming up with Pharrell Williams to bring you a catchy track that is made for the summer as long as it is not overplayed and you are not bored of it by then!

Next up is a track from another electronic artist by the name of Pretty Lights. I use a music app called Jango to get my hit of tunes when out and about that takes one artist you like and creates a radio station just for you, what's more it's totally free and has no adverts!!! Riding back from hockey training on Sunday this track came on and just reminded me of beach chill out sessions. Definitely going to be on my summer playlist for many years to come. Ladies and gentleman, Pretty Lights - Finally Moving.

Quote of the week - "A relationship isn't a relationship until you've wafted the quilt" Classic workplace banter from Elaine! She knows her onions.

TV of the week - This week's TV isn't TV per se. Instead it is a regular YouTube program from the Canadian YouTube sensations by the name of Epic Meal Time. The concept of the show is that a group of guys who love bacon and beer make big big BIG meals and consume them on a weekly basis. I have got to say their older stuff is better, but their gluttony does make me laugh. Check out their channel by searching for Epic Meal Time, but to whet your appetite here is one of their videos.

Film of the week - This week's film of the week goes to a sci-fi classic, The Fifth Element. I remember watching this film and instantaneously loving the combination of action and aliens. Not only that, but it filled with tension and comedic moments to keep you entertained throughout. I do seem to recall this film being fairly violent at times so I was amazed to see this film being shown at midday on a Sunday following a morning of hockey. I loved that I wasn't having to keep myself awake late at night to enjoy this classic, but I can't imagine many parents were totally pleased to see their children watching Bruce Willis mixing it up with a load of Mangalores in a shoot-out. Ah well to the future and thank you Channel 5 for being brave with your TV scheduling!

Laters,
Haggy

Feria and the sweet taste of victory!

Hola amigos,

Welcome back. This week I bring you stories of my most recent adventure to Seville and also tales of how my hockey team captured the title of champions. Please stick with it because it may be slightly longer than normal under the new format, but it has been a fairly packed week. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Status Update

It has been a long week and my overriding feeling at the end of it is exhaustion. Filled with late nights in Spain and running myself into the ground playing hockey I am taking a well deserved break tonight and probably going to get an early night. I just can't work hard and play hard in the manner I once used to be able to.Wow does that sound like something an old man would say or what?! It has been a fun week and I got to see Vic again after a few weeks apart so I really cannot complain at all this week, not that I would anyway...honest.

Haggy's Hols

At 7am on Tuesday (after driving from Newcastle that morning) I climbed aboard a cramped Ryanair flight from Stansted and headed off to Seville. It was actually the first time I have been to Seville since November last year and I think I timed it perfectly. After hearing of some epic thunderstorms I arrived in a gloriously sunny Seville and basked in the mid 30s temperatures - not bad hey?!

Alongside getting to see my beloved I got to experience another truly Spanish holiday, Feria. Seville is internationally renowned for Feria, which is basically a week long party. I am still confused as to what it really celebrates, but lets be honest the Spanish don't need an excuse to have a good time and neither do I!

When you think of traditional Spanish clothing with the frills dresses and flowers in the hair you are thinking of Feria clothing. Everywhere you look women are wearing bold colours and trying to outdo each other with the size of their dresses or the size of the flowers in their hair. Let me tell you this they may all look glamorous, and they are, but underneath it all there is a lot of pain being endured from either the heels or even more so from the dresses that are so hip-huggingly tight that it is difficult to breathe!

We arrived at Feria at about 4pm after catching a bus with many a lady dressed in full Feria regalia. In the UK you would probably get funny looks for wearing fancy dress at that time of day, but for possibly the first time I didn't get stared at for being a foreigner, in fact we were greeted with smiles. As we approached the main event we were passed by many groups of party-goers on horse-drawn carriages and there was a palpable atmosphere of excitement and anticipation in the air. My first impression of Feria was that it was much bigger than I expected. A huge ferris wheel towered above a huge site crammed full of marquees or casetas.

Essentially the casetas are small tents designed to house small groups of people and as such are very private and exclusive. They are often reserved for high-society and act as a great way for people to show off their wealth and power. Some casetas and seat about 20 whereas others are huge and can hold what appeared to be well over 100 people. Each and every one was designed to look like someone's front room and pretty much is a home from home for the party people during Feria. Food and drink flows inside and if you are lucky enough to get an invite you best make the most of it. For those without an invite there are several public casetas that give you the same experience, but maybe with a bit less of the razzamatazz.

As the evening approached and the night drew in the party really came alive. The temporary streets were lit up with decoration and fairy lights and the casetas began to glow from within. We met up with some of Vic's colleagues and headed to some of the casetas that they had invitations to. As we drank rebujitos (recipe later) and ate tapas the festivities really began. Live bands played and people danced and chatted in the streets. A genuinely fun and friendly atmosphere ensued and we celebrated with the locals into the wee hours of the night. Overall, Feria was a fantastic experience and one unlike anything I have ever been part of before. Same again next year if anyone wants to join me?!

Food Glorious Food

This week I am going to dedicate this section to something slightly different...cocktails. We all love food, right? But have you ever had a drink that really made you forget about food in a good way that is not a 'I don't remember last night' kind of way? This week I enjoyed many a cocktail that brought back some fond memories so I thought I would share some of my favourite recipes with you so that you can create your own memories and then promptly forget them!

Rebujito - A classic Spanish feria drink that the locals love. These strong, but sweet cocktails are best served cold and served in a shot glass. That doesn't mean down it though it means enjoy in moderation and sip on it whilst the conversation and festivities flow.

Ingredients

500ml Sherry wine

Lemonade (to taste) 

Method

1. Put plenty of ice in a large jug

2. Pour the ingredients over and stir

Mojito - The classic and no cocktail party would be complete without it. Mix it up try new flavours and spirits, but enjoy! Best served at any time of the day and in copious quantities!

Ingredients

Mint (approx 8-10 leaves)

Lime wedges (approx 4)

1 tsp Brown Sugar 

50ml Rum (I like to use golden or honey)

Sprite (to taste)

Method

1. Muddle (mash) the limes, mint and sugar in a tall glass

2. Add some ice and give it a quick stir

3. Add the rum and stir again

4. Top the whole thing with a splash of Sprite

Raisin Expectations - I first had this cocktail in Popolos in Newcastle and enjoyed it so much that I just had to recreate it over the Christmas period. It is a luxurious cocktail that reminds me so much of melted rum and raisin ice cream. Honestly it is well worth a try and if you can't find a raisin syrup then make your own. It's easy just mix equal amounts water and sugar and boil until thick, then add a generous handful of raisins and blitz until smooth...yum!

Ingredients

25ml Raisin sugar syrup 

50ml Dark Rum (if you can find it use Myers)

25ml Cream 

50ml Full Fat Milk

Method

1. Pour all the ingredients in a shaker with some ice 

2. Shake well

3. Strain and Serve

Hagg's Hockey Corner

Where do I begin this week? I guess by bringing you the news that this week the mighty North East Dekstars  took a trip to a shed in the middle of Lutterworth and came home crowned the champions of the UK Ball Hockey Southern Nationals! The sweet taste of victory has come at a cost though as in our first came I received a stick to the face and am now sporting a lovely gash above my eyebrow which will likely scar. Winning has however made it tolerable and people have told me that women love a scar. I am not quite sure what Vic will think when she sees it though!

Anyway, back to the hockey. Over the course of a long, drawn-out day we would play a total of 8 games against a variety of different teams from across the country. Initially we were grouped with last year's national champions London Crusaders as well as Ealing Eagles, Sheffield Storm, Tayside Thunder and Shaw Millionaires. We drew our first game 2-2 against London and built on this by recording wins in each of our remaining group games. It was a fine run of form against some tough opposition and really helped us bond as a team and gain in confidence. Ultimately we topped the group and that saw us through to the knock out stage of the tournament as top seed.

In the semi we faced Ealing Eagles again and as ever it was a close game. Ealing play a very attractive form of hockey with good passing plays and are competent on the ball so we had to do our best to put pressure on them. As a result the game was close and went right to the last whistle. For me I came away from the game feeling both happy and mad at myself. Just moments after grabbing the only goal of the game I took a stupid penalty that left us defending the lead in the last minute on the penalty kill. As they had all day the defence stayed calm and did a great job seeing us through to the final.

The final saw us face off against the team we played in the first game of the day, the reigning national champions London Crusaders. It was always going to be a tough game and especially having lost 3 players before the start due to injury or prior engagements, but we went into it full of confidence. On the first shift of the game we lost a player to yet another injury and we would have to double shift for the rest of the game. This would make things more difficult but Justin Presseau got the first goal of the game and we never looked back. We went on to win 2-1 on the back of a further goal from Justin. It was a great feeling and it felt like a fantastic reward for all the hard work the team have put in over recent weeks.

Next stop nationals!!! We will go into it full of confidence and hopefully the injuries we suffered on the tough road to glory will have healed and we will all be ready to go again. We are only 3 weeks away from the main event. Let the countdown begin.

Have You Heard What Haggy's Heard

Story of the week - This week's story is in support of North Tyneside General Hospital's children's ward. In 2002 a signed Newcastle United football shirt was donated to the ward and brought real joy to the kids ever since. Last week someone stole this shirt. Why someone would do such a thing let alone on a children's ward defeats me, but if you see this shirt anywhere please report it and lets get it returned to where it belongs. For the full story click here

Song of the week - This song has been around a while and I have been listening to it for a while, but it is still not getting old. Although the lyrics are somewhat depressing this song still feels upplifting and pretty epic in general. So song of the week goes out to all the Biffy Clyro fans out there. Ladies and gentlemen I give you 'Biblical'

Quote of the week - This one is mine. During Feria we were stopped by the local news and asked to sum up what we think of Feria. Not knowing much conversational Spanish I went with the tried and tested "Guapa!" to satisfy their need to for soundbite. Little did I know that I had actually made the news until the next day when I was stopped in the street by Vic's landlord. So this week's quote of the week is the word that made me a local celebrity for all of a second - "GUAPA!!!!"

Book of the week *special edition* - Yes I know it's unbelievable, I can read! This week I finished reading Neil Gaiman's American Gods. In the modern world following the death of his wife one man gets mixed up in a mythical world of warmongering gods of yesteryear and the 'gods' of the modern era. Filled with twist and turns I was intrigued by the back stories of many of the gods who appear as well as the main thread of the story. It was a gripping read that gathered pace and really developed character profiles well. I really don't want to give too much away because every piece of the story is part of an intricate puzzle, but I would really recommend people go out there and check it out. The good news for all you non-readers out there is that apparently the book has been picked up by HBO and is getting a Game of Thrones-esque makeover.

See you later,
Haggy

We're an international family!

Hi there blog family,

This week I have done a bit more Google Analytics assessment of my blog. Now I may not have the biggest of readerships, but thank you for all being so dedicated and wanting to read about me and some of the things I get up to. Not only are you all great for doing this and making me feel loved, but you are all now part of an exclusive band of brothers and sisters across the world. That includes regular blog readers in the UK, USA, Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan. Belgium (Jenny-Ruth is that you?!), France, Spain (Vic?) and Brazil (Flav I assume that's you though!). It's strange to think that people I have not met, but hopefully one day will, take the time to read about little ol' me. So, let me take this opportunity to say thanks to all my readers wherever in the world you may be, you make it all worthwhile even when I am up till the small hours finishing off posts on a regular basis. And now on with the show...

Status update

It has been a fairly busy week of visitors this week. I have been joined by my brother (@patrickhagg) and also an old family friend (@GibboAndy) for a weekend of football and fun. Thursday night saw 10 of us go and experience what turned out to be Newcastle United's last night in Europe for the season. The European endeavours have allowed many a chance to see some good midweek football for a good price and also in an atmosphere where there were potentially less expectations and so a more relaxed and fun environment. A fun and loud St James' Park cheered on the team to a 1-1 draw, but overall a loss on aggregate. Ultimately, it is a little disappointing that it had to end, but it was a fantastic night.

On Saturday Andy and I went to The Baltic to take in a bit of culture. Usually I don't get art, but there were some really good exhibits and I especially liked one by Fabrice Hyber because it was interactive. The exhibit had different pieces about the weather, but I really liked a shed which, when the door was open made the sound of thunder and lightning. I think I may now need to build myself a similar box!

I just want to take a second to say something about riots and particularly football riots. Only a day after the disgrace of Milwall fans in-fighting I witnessed a deflated Newcastle United get beaten by a more fired up Sunderland team for the 'fans' take their frustrations out on others and disrupt what is usually a fantastic and friendly place. During the riots that swept through the UK a couple of years ago Newcastle was one of the few major towns that didn't get caught up in the idiocy. At the time I thought it was people genuinely cared about their town, but I saw behaviour today that has shaken this belief. After seeing drunken groups of young men (even some who looked 15, 16 or 17) racing around the streets looking for a fight. For pictures and a report just click here. These groups are in the minority and majority of football fans frown on this behaviour, but the problem needs to be addressed and quickly. Lifetime bans for these people is a start, but this only stops problems in stadiums. Often violence will flare up elsewhere and to me I viable option could be extended to city bans for these people on match days. If they want to be idiots they can be, but not in places where they are young children, tourists and, well, generally decent human beings around. A big well done to the Police for their crowd control skills today because it was an intimidating atmosphere they had to walk into and all without undue violence being metered out.

In other more light-hearted news the house where I was born in Newcastle has come on the rental market. I am giving some thought whether I should move back! It is in a fantastic location, but costs more and would mean I would have to move in with some friends to afford it. That would be cool, but living alone has its perks (being a slob etc). Also, I am not sure whether it is just the nostalgia that is a drawer. I guess a the very least I can go view the inside and report back!

Haggy's Hols

I have not been anywhere new this week so I guess it's time for part deux of my preview of my West Coast of America Tour. Last week I told you about LA where I will be spending a brief day and a half. After that I am off to take in the sights, sounds and carnage that is Las Vegas. We are there for 5 days and will be staying in the lovely Vdara hotel. I am definitely looking forward to living the high life and trying to win big!

One of the stipulations for Vic agreeing to the trip was that we would have to see Celine Dion in Vegas during our stay. This was fine by me because it means I can do some other cool stuff without Vic complaining! In my haste to ensure we had good tickets it turns out that I booked a pair of tickets for June instead of July and have since had to buy some more! I must of been having a stupid moment and am now exploring my options to get a refund, but I don't think that is happening so its resale for me. If anyone wants to buy a ticket for June 4th then please get in touch!

Other than that I don't have any plans set in stone, but no doubt we will be gambling, relaxing by the pool with cocktails and probably going to see the Grand Canyon! I know people have been to Vegas before so if you can recommend and places to eat, drink and play I would appreciate it.

Food Glorious Food

With my brother coming to visit this week and not knowing when we would get time to eat I thought I would rustle us up a traditional Hagg family recipe that is not only quick and easy, but really tasty. Now when you hear what it is you may scoff, but trust me once you have tried it you will never look back!

Baked Bean Pie - The instructions are so straight forward even a novice can make this awesome meal! I will give you the quantities to make a meal for 2, but this can easily be multiplied out to suit.

Ingredients:

• One 400g can of baked beans
• 2 large potatoes
• A knob of butter
• A splash of milk
• Cheese to sprinkle

Method:

1. Peel your potatoes and cut into squares approximately 1 inch square
2. Boil the potatoes in boiling salted water until soft
3. Drain the potatoes and mash until smooth with the butter and milk (seasoning to taste)
4. Put the beans in the bottom of an oven-proof dish
5. Layer the mash on top and sprinkle over the cheese
6. Bake at 180°C for 20-25mins or until the cheese is golden and crispy and the beans are piping hot
7. Devour!

To go one step further you can always add some pre-cooked sausages to your baked beans, nom nom!

Haggy's Hockey Corner

This week the Comets got back to the task of trying to win the Northern Ball Hockey Conference. We faced off against a fellow Dekstars team in the form of the Galaxy. Galaxy have had a decent season and pushed teams hard in every game they have played. They have some real quality in their team and can create chances if you are not alert. Going in to the game we were all confident of a victory, but maybe not in the manner it came. The game itself was a very high scoring affair with every shot in the first period seeming to result in a goal for either side. It was a nervy one, but from the first shift to the last we were in the lead and never really looked back. In what turned out to be a 11-5 result goals were shared amongst the team and I picked up 1 goals and 3 assists.

It must be said that the Comets slightly out of favour at the moment because despite our continued success in the league. Other teams in the league have had match write ups or previews on our club website, but we get very little coverage. It's a bit of a shame because the team has bonded really well this season and have put on some fine performances at times and everyone on the team has developed in some way. I guess word of mouth will just have to do now to strike fear into our opponents!

Have You Heard What Haggy's Heard

Story of the week - Beaver bites man to death in Belarus - I saw the title of this story and was instantly shocked. It is not often you hear stories of fatal animal attacks and especially from creatures you think are cute little critters. Well it turns out beavers bite back and this one managed to tear an artery on a man's leg. Have a read and watch the connected video where it shows another beaver attach. What I would say about the video is that film maker should have let the beaver be because if someone followed me up the street on my way to the shops I would be riled too!

Song of the week - Lupe Fiasco has come through some trials and tribulations since his breakout hit Kick, Push, including the record company holding back his 'Lasers' album because it wasn't commercial enough. It was only a fan petition that finally persuaded record execs to release the album. Lupe is back with a new album Food and Liquor 2 and in my eyes it is a great album. I want you to go listen to it and to help you do this I thought I would share with you one of the lead album tracks - Battle Scars ft Guy Sebastian.

Quote of the week -  I have not heard any one liners this week, so I thought I would Google some ice hockey quotes. I am glad I did because I found this little gem and thought I should share it with you. "Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental" - Jim McKenny

TV of the week - Everyone has seen Man vs Food, but have you seen Diners, Drive-ins and Dives? This programme is hosted by Californian restaurateur Guy Fieri and travels the USA visiting small restaurants and exploring new foods and different cuisines. There are no food challenges, but it captures the passion that people have for food and really celebrates all the hard work people put in day in day out to feed their loyal customers. I love this show and will happily watch it any time. Check it out!!!

Film of the week - sorry no film of the week because I went to the football, but ironically I received The Iron Lady from LoveFilm on the day of Margaret Thatcher's passing. I am looking forward to watching it in full having only seen clips before, but I hear good things. I will report back soon!

A bientot mes amis,
Haggy

From low-key to LA

Hi there,

Where have you been all my week? Hopefully out doing something fun. It might make up for my fairly low-key week. I suppose we all have to have them at times, but come on allow me one because life has been full on since the turn of the year. Don't get me wrong though I still have some cool stuff to share with you and don't go skipping a week of reading because the next few weeks are going to be pretty great because I have some big plans just around the corner.

Status Update

Like I say this week has been fairly quiet, but it did not stop me going out to Shark Bar to meet up with my hockey line mate, comic fanatic and massive Toon fan James 'Leafy' Dixon (@dixon10) to watch the Europa League match between Newcastle and Benfica. Stupidly when asked what I was doing for the game I thought it was the home leg so told people I was going to the match only to now not be able to live down the fact that the game was in Lisbon and all the while I was in freezing Newcastle! Anyway, after being told that I was very much mistaken I went for a few brewskis and caught up with Leafy. It was a good evening and the match was pretty entertaining even if the result was less than ideal with Newcastle losing 3-1.

I hold out hope for a thrilling return leg as Benfica looked fallible at the back and Newcastle were the makers of their own downfall for a couple of the goals. The away goal definitely makes things interesting and if Newcastle get the first goal then it is very much game on! So, fingers crossed that I get to witness a great game of football and a massive night in Newcastle's European history. I already knew I would be going to watch with my brother and my hockey goalie Darren, but from the sounds of it there will be a whole crew of us and St. James' Park is a sell out. It's fair to say that I am quite excited about the night already!

Haggy's Hols

Get ready to set your jealousy meter up to 10 because I am about to give you a preview of my epic Summer holiday to the west coast of America. In 110 days I will be boarding a flight to Los Angeles to tour LA, Las Vegas, Yosemite, Napa and San Francisco. I have a tonne of things I plan on doing, but if you have anything you feel I should not miss then please do let me know!

Anyway, I thought I would use this week's Haggy's Hols to tell you about part one of my trip or more specifically my short visit to LA. I say short because I am actually only going to be in LA for 48 hours, but have so much to fit in.

After touching down at LAX I will picking up a drop top car courtesy of Alamo and hitting some of the main tourist sights like the Walk of Fame. I think I should be able to do this over the course of a long evening and take in some of the sights and sounds of Los Angeles as the city wakes up for the evening. I don't think I will be getting much sleep and may well have to follow in the footsteps of millions before me and hit the clubs for a drink or three. That is if jetlag doesn't grab hold of me!

After all that I will be returning to the house we are staying at in the Hollywood Hills. I mean if you are going to do it you may as well do it in style hadn't you! I found the house using Airbnb and to be honest for the price of similar to or less than a hotel I am getting an authentic experience with some of the best views of the city I could have hoped to. I plan on living like a rockstar and relaxing with something bubbly on the balcony as I watch the sunset over this iconic city and watching its neon lights blaze into the night sky. Just look at the view from the house (below) and check out the advert here. Jealous much?!?

My host in LA also suggested going to either a farmer's market or flea market on the Sunday morning we are in town (it is almost as if she knew my infatuation with markets) so no doubt we will be doing that. I was thinking it would be cool to pick up a memento of each city I visit on my tour and it would be a great place to do this. Also, a bit of googling tells me we might also see some celebs perusing the market stalls, as you do! Whilst in LA it would be rude not to hit the beach and have high hopes for renting a bike and cruising the broadwalks, oh and maybe trying to re-create the Baywatch style shallow dive into the sea!  Unfortunately, I think that is about all we can fit in during our visit, but it will be a great start to our journey. However, if you have been before and there is something glaringly obvious you think I am missing out on then PLEASE PLEASE shout up!

Over the course of the coming weeks I will give you a preview to the next parts of my holiday and trust me it gets much bigger and much better as the holiday progresses. Oh and I can let you know about the many high and lows that have befallen me as I have opted not to use a travel agent and have organised it all off my own back. Yeah I know foolish, but hopefully it will make for a much more enjoyable and organic experience. Real America here I come....maybe!

Food Glorious Food

I usually try and eat healthy and balanced meals everyday and this includes the lunches I take to work. Not only does this save me money, but it stops me finding my way to Greggs for a Sausage and Bean Melt or a Steak Bake. Well, anyway, usually I take a salad to work, but I had got a bit bored of the same old same and opted for soups this week. It has been a welcome change, but I have been really surprised that apparently half a can of soup amounts to one portion. All these years I have been knocking back a can without realising. This isn't a major concern, but I have actually tried to stick to half a can each day and have been pleasantly surprised at how filling it actually is with a couple of slices of bread for dunking. Honestly try it and you might be surprised yourself. If nothing else it will mean you have to spend less money on food and in these times of austerity that's never a bad thing.

Given the health kick I have been on recently to get in shape for hockey nationals I have found myself craving (and giving in to) chocolate and sweets and all things bad for you. I think I can just about justify it all given the amount of hockey I play and the stresses of work. I guess it is a better vice to have than alcohol...well on a school night anyway! With all that said I would like to tell you about a recipe that caught my eye this week - Crispy chocolate fridge cake. Now I haven't tried this one, but given it is fully chocolate and all the good things that make fridge cake amazing  I don't think it can go wrong. I personally will be giving it a whirl in the very near future. I mean just look at the picture below! Nom nom nom!

Haggy's Hockey Corner

The slump is over!!! This week I had two fantastic training sessions with Leafy and Justin and everything really clicked back in to place - goals, assists and celebrations galore! It felt great too and just at the right time because we have league games coming in thick and fast, as well as another tournament ahead of the ultimate national tournament. Line 1 is back in action and delivering goals like the goal below (I am not even kidding).

Also one of the training sessions was with the Nomads ice hockey team which means that as soon as I get a Thursday evening free I will be back on the ice and playing again. I have missed it, even if it is Whitley Bay.

Now I usually only talk about my own hockey experiences but this week I thought I would give you a bit of an insight into the trials and tribulations of a New York Rangers fan as well.

As the playoffs approach in this shortened NHL season, last week heralded the trade deadline and like usual the New York Rangers were an active force in the market. This is something that often fills me with dread because some recent trades have seen some of my favourite players depart (Brandon Dubinsky and Brandon Prust), even if it was to make way for the all-star player Rick Nash. Despite this acquisition the Rangers have been playing well below expectations and to be honest making it difficult to envisage us achieving a playoff spot at times, yet alone winning the Stanley Cup. So, to hear one of last year's stand out players Marian Gaborik, despite having an poor season, was on the chopping block came as a bit of a shock, especially to hear we would be getting some players back in return who hadn't exactly set the world on fire this season.

I said at the time that I would reserve my judgement until I saw how the players adapted to the new team, tactics and style. I did hope that they would bring back some of that grit that we had lost in the summer and bring more of a balance to a team that was heavy on talent, but played a grinding style. Wow am I glad I kept quiet! All the incoming players scored in their debut game and made the Rangers look like the team of old with all the fight and grit need to make the playoffs, but with the added bonus of scoring potential that went on to rout an ailing Pittsburgh Penguins team 6-1. Since then the team has generally stepped up a gear (thankfully) and I am much more hopeful about making the playoffs. This is good news as many of my friends' teams are doing well and I don't want to be the laughing stock at the end of the season! Well no more than usual anyway!

Have You Heard What Haggy's Heard

Story of the week - This week's story is a shout out to the GB Men's Davis Cup team. Going in to the final day of their match up with Russia and losing 2-1 victory look unlikely. The GB players were lower in the international rankings and were long shots to say the least. However, some great play saw GB surprise the Russians taking the tie 3-2. It is the first time GB have come back from being 2-0 down in over 80 years and just goes to show that tennis prospects in the UK are improving and with funding and hard work there could be a bright future and we won't have to solely rely on Andy Murray at Wimbledon this year. For the full BBC write up just click here

Song of the week - So the sun was shining this week and I could even get away with wear a t-shirt! Check me out...no sleeves! As soon as the sun comes out there is one song that instantly makes me smile and feel great about the world, Jason Mraz - Make It Mine. Quite honestly seeing Jason Mraz live was one of the best gigs ever with an awesome live band (one of whom now follows me on Twitter) and some seriously awesome tunes. If he has so far gone under the radar for you then that needs to stop today...go check him out!

Quote of the week - "The turtle never makes progress unless it sticks its neck out" - So, if you haven't already come out of your shell, stick your neck out and start making progress. Either that or just laugh at the quote because I found it mildly funny rather than inspiring!

TV of the week - Well this really needs no introduction but this week was the second episode of Doctor Who and it continues to be an acceptable way for a grown man to get his geek on. I personally miss the Daleks and actually being frightened when I watch, but there is something just about space and time travel that continues to appeal to me. I guess I am just a big child. Also, I don't think it hurts that the new companion is the easy on the eye Jenna-Louise Coleman. So far the series has been fairly good, but I think there are some good stories in the pipeline and a meeting of previous Doctors is on the cards too.

See you next week for a more exciting instalment in The World Of Hagg! Apologies if you thought this one was below par, it probably was!

Ciao,
Haggy

Viva Espana!

Hola compadres,

Welcome to this week's blog dearest readers. In the newly formatted style you can jump to the parts you like most if you really want to, but why do that when I have so much to tell you?! This week's blog is jam packed with tales of my holiday in Spain, reports about soaring Comets and a truly wonderful song of the week. So settle down with a brew even though this edition isn't the longest one ever!

Status Update

Easter week rolled round very quickly this year. I don't know whether it has been the unseasonal cold snap we are currently experiencing in the UK or that I have been living alone so have had no excuse for going on nightly chocolate and sweets raids of the local supermarkets. Either way I have had nowhere near enough chocolate in the lead up to Easter. To make up for that fact I have been on somewhat of a chocolate overload over the weekend and have put away numerous Cadbury Creme Eggs, Malteaser bunnies and Cadbury Caramel eggs. So, much so I think I might have to hit the gym again just to bring my net calorie intake down...nah! I guess Easter comes once a year, but then again so does Christmas, birthdays etc.

Haggy's Hols

I have just returned from 4 days in Spain. It was a very welcome relief from the freezing temperatures over her and I did end up catching some sun through a cloud and getting sunburnt ever so slightly! Honestly, I couldn't tan at gunpoint, but I could burn through a cloud. I met up with Vic to celebrate Semana Santa (Spanish Easter) in a relaxed little Spanish town about 20km east of Nerja called Almunecar. It made me think about what the Costa Del Sol was like before us Brits got hold of it and made some garish land of expats and all day English breakfasts. It was the kind of place where you need to try speaking the lingo and you were made to feel welcome for doing so. At the end of the day it is a different country and why would you go abroad to sit and eat a bacon buttie and have a cup of tea?

With the sun shining through the clouds and temperatures up to a tropical high teens we thought we would set out to explore this seaside town and what it had to offer. Let me just tell you for a small little place it has a lot  because we ended up walking about 8 miles to take it all in. From rocky coves and chilled beach bars to a castle and tapas culture we had a really great time. Each day was full of things to do and we earned some well deserved siestas with all our adventures. Some of the best spots were hidden down side streets and we found one place that served up a mean mojito and then gave us gummy bears as well as peanuts, you couldn't get much better than that!

Over the course of my holiday I took in the sights and sounds of an Easter parade. Spain remains a strongly religious community and will take an opportunity to throw a party. So, Easter provided the perfect opportunity for that. After a late paella meal in one of many local squares we headed to the main street to take in the parade itself. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. Locals dressed in what can best be described as different coloured KKK masks lined the street as a group of 30-40 men in similar garbs carried a giant stature of Jesus. This was all accompanied by a marching band stomping along behind them. It was all a bit surreal, but everyone got involved and it created a sombre yet fun atmosphere. It was a cool way to spend the night, especially as it was all topped off with a night cap of Ponche de Caballero with coke...yum!

What was lovely about the whole week was that the place was buzzing with activity every day and everyone got involved from young to old. For example, the day after the big celebration a group of young kids did their own mock parade with homemade figures and created their own music. Everyone loved it and it brought a smile to everyone's face as they passed by.

Just to make you all that extra bit jealous it is only 2 weeks until I return to Spain and more specifically Seville to take in the sights and sounds of Feria.

Food Glorious Food

This week's FGF is dedicated to Spain, mainly because I have come back from enjoying traditional Spain. When I say traditional I mean the kind of place where if you ask for a beer they will give you a tapas dish free of charge and the longer you stay the better the food gets and that's not just the beer talking! It is a great way to try new things and also save a bit of money.

First up. Paella - A Spanish staple that is easy to make and will bring back the taste of many a holiday...guaranteed (no actual guarantee)! A dish that packs a subtle spicy punch, but does not overwhelm classic tastes of fresh seafood. Vic actually let slip that I make a good Paella and she is notoriously critical of my cooking so I think I have reason to brag now. Eventually I will get myself in order and share with you my tried and tested recipe, but it is at a bit of a taste and adjust state of play at the moment. My advice to you right now would be use proper paella rice, find good spices and most of all give it some love and attention. You can always enjoy a glass of wine as you create this crowd pleaser!

Berenjenas frita con miel aka fried aubergine with honey - A great tapas dish that can be enjoyed on its own with a cold beer or as part of a party spread. A really simple dish that delivers on crunch and taste every time. I was lucky enough to have this made for me in Spain, but will definitely be adding it to my repertoire and I really think you should too. My one word of advice with this dish would be to dedicate yourself to the process and draw out the moisture with salt to get a better fry and cut the aubergine as thinly as possible to get the best crisp you can. Also, use a decent honey because it will add an extra dimension to the dish.

Haggy's Hockey Corner

The Comets continue to roll in the Northern Ball Hockey Conference. On Tuesday last week we faced off against a fellow North East Dekstars team; The Dekstars Stars. We entered the game with high spirits after our last game out against the Northumbria Sharks and that confidence showed as we eventually won the game 9-2 (it could have been 10). The scoreline, however, does not reflect that this game was another tough one and we struggled at times to contain many of their team. The Stars gave it their all and we had to drastically change our usual free-flowing tactics to man-mark at times and see out difficult parts of the game. This year the Dekstars have split their talent between all teams and I think this has really benefited everyone with games being close (often closer than score lines suggest) and also I have seen some incredible strides amongst new players. Genuinely everyone is great to play with and as long as we all give it our all great things can happen to this club.

Personally, the game against Stars saw my slump continue and although I contributed a few assists and like to think I defended solidly all game to end up with a good +/- I could not put that ball in the net. I think I am over thinking things at the moment and just need to relax more, you know, have a bit of fun with it. As they say success is a mentality and I am trying to force it right now. I know I really shouldn't complain as the team continue to win and I am getting points on the board for my assists, but there is something special about scoring a goal, mainly that I get to break out a pre-crafted celebration. Next time out I hope to be reporting that I have recaptured the fun of the sport and am performing to my potential as a result.

Have You Heard What Haggy's Heard

Story of the week - Well it was April Fools this week so this shouldn't be difficult at all and I am sure there are many you can probably point out to me (please feel free to share below). Anyway I have opted for a story that may appear like a prank, but isn't...genuinely. This week a Police Officer is suing a businessman after they tripped over a kerb at their premises whilst investigate a crime. Click here for the full story and sorry it's from the Daily Mail. I am in a state of shock because I fear for the future when the police are suing. Should I be doing a health and safety assessment of my house just in case? Surely part of the job is accepting a bit of risk and this makes a mockery of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty?

Song of the week - I am a massive fan of conscientious rap and there is really no-one better in the business than Common. If I could I would point you in the direction of all his back catalogue I would, but unfortunately that's not what song of the week is about. He has come out with some more mainstream stuff, but I usually prefer his more chilled soulful stuff that gets less airtime. If you like this track I really encourage you to go check him out. Also, look up J-Dilla as he is possibly one of the best, late producers out there.

Quote of the week - This week's classic comes straight from the mouth of a Spaniard. Now you may think the classic Spanish man is a passionate lethario, but having witnessed men leering and shouting 'Guapa' at any passing woman my opinion is very much different. The quote of the week goes to show that contrary to common belief Spanish men have no style. Coming back from fiesta we came across a guy following a clearly uninterested girl down the street. Initially he was shouting "Chica! Chica!" to get her attention, but he really stepped up his game and came out with the show-stopping chat up line "Chica en blanco!". Shockingly that didn't work, but I was pretty much crying with laughter at his lady-killer moves afterwards. Must try harder or just stop trying!

TV of the week - Storage Wars. I didn't watch much TV because I was trying to take in some culture this week and hotel TV is usually pretty rubbish. I am going to be honest and say that this experience was no different, but there was one bright spark amongst the dross and that was Storage Wars. Essentially, a program about people who go round buying abandoned storage lockers and selling their wares on in second hand shops. On paper it sounds a bit pants, but ask anyone who has ever watched and they will tell you otherwise. It is funny and at the same time interesting because occasionally someone will come across a gem of a find.

Film of the week - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest. After reading the Millenium trilogy by Steig  Larsson and being gripped from start to finish I held out high hopes for the associated films. Often I would advise against having such hopes and the English speaking version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo starring Daniel Craig really let me down, but the original Swedish films have really lived up to the hype of the book. I have just finished watching the final instalment thanks to Film4 and Sky+ and have got to say I have been impressed by them all. The final episode was tense and gritty and did a great job of managing complex storylines as they come to their climax. It is a long film, but throughout I felt entertained and my mind was not caught wandering. Admittedly the books are better and the films do edit out some scenes and details, but if you can't face reading I would recommend dipping into the Swedish versions of the films.

Catch you on the flip side (next week) and as ever if you can't go one day without me find me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @adzhagg

Hasta luego,
Haggy