Having lived outside the M62 corridor for over 30 years I can only really recall perhaps a decade that bucked that trend. Lingering death, perhaps. But it'll comfortably linger longer than either you or I, I suspect.

As for a north east coastal walk, if you've never been to Ross Links (about an hour north of Newcastle) I strongly recommend it.

I'm going.
Not looking forward to it.
Can't go to Wembley either.


Meh.

Not being able to shift a measly 8,000 tickets suggests either, or all, of these... 1) Your not passionate about your side as you make out 2) most of you are on benefits and simply can't afford the tickets and travel 3) you're not interested because you expect to lose.

And those half-hearted "fans" moaning that they aren't going because it's the correct side of the Pennines and that it's on tv will doubtless be first in the queue for tickets for Wembley should the 'Whinos' get there even though that is also on telly and it will take you 3 times longer to get there than it will to get to St Helens.

The average attendance for Widnes in 2013 was just under 6000 - if 8000 is measly what is 6000?

Tomorrow, I will be mainly driving between Maiori near Sorrento and Lago di Como. Not much chance of seeing the game BUT I hope all those that do attend enjoy it (supporters of both teams) and that the boys put in a decent shift. If we win, so much the better.

As another fat old git said earlier this week, my days of worrying about the result of a rugby match are long since gone.