Anybody that knows me or has been following my output for long enough will know the indescribably important part Brady’s Pub in Dunboyne has and will forever play in my life. Thus, just when I was rebuilding some semblance of normality into my life after it was destroyed when my mother fell ill nearly six years ago, that’s been blown out of the water by the latest round of, in my view, needlessly excessive restrictions.
As has always been the case when dealing with my disability, not feeling like or being able to do something, I can live with, but being told one CANNOT do something is entirely different. The term ‘Free Country’ may as well be redundant in the current climate. It recalls a piece keyboarded in this web space about 18 months ago entitled Soon All I’ll have left are the memories. Back then, it related to the erosion of farming in the locality (Little did I realise my own agricultural operation would be kicked into oblivion without as much as an apology)
Never in 100 years was it envisioned, though, that the above headline in italics would be applicable to two of the main facets which make my life livable – the premises mentioned above and attending sporting events. Yet such has been allowed proceed as such without a whimper. However, one of the better, less emotion-stirring memories which came back to mind during the week was when World Darts Champion John Lowe ended up in the dart room in Brady’s about a decade ago.
Now, I wasn’t anywhere near as au fait with the darts scene then as is now the case. Truth be told if it wasn’t Phil Taylor, not an iota was had here. Hence, it was only when Lowe left – he was doing an exhibition in one of the pubs up the village as far as I can be recalled – that this writer went off and did a bit of research into who he was.
Even at that, mind you, it was a major shock to discover during the week that he’s now 75. He was back in the thought stream last night when watching the hitherto unknown – to me at least – Jason Lowe sensationally take Michael Smith out of the equation in the hunt for the Sid Waddell Trophy at the first hurdle.
Proving that, in this case, death, taxes and seeds falling out in December at the Ally Pally are among the few certainties there are left in life. Perhaps it was just a case of the mind playing tricks, but, I definitely thought there was a resemblance between Jason and John but seemingly not.
Elsewhere, the talented but erratic Dave Chisnell looked comfortable enough disposing of Keegan Brown, to whom the description in the line above wholly applies as well, Jermaine Wattimena saw off spirited newcomer Nick Kenny and Nathan Aspinall – who reached the last four in each of the past two seasons – was given what to my mind was the game of the Championships thus far by Scott Waites.
The former BDO man must be wondering how he actually let it slip having raced into a 2-0 lead only to be reeled in by his opponent.
The only low point to the night from the perspective of this spectator was the prospect of having to wait four days for more of the same.
Leave a Reply