Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2 - and a couple of visits!

Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2. Can I just repeat that once or twice? Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2. It just keeps sounding better each time I mention it! To be honest, on driving up to my sister's place for a couple of Kent shows, I really didn't want to hear about the Manchester derby. The build up to it had been sent into an hysterical stratosphere with the Munich coverage - added to which City had been playing so badly of late and United so brilliantly that I could only see my beloved Man City getting a caning of Biblical proportions. I vowed to avoid the match if at all possible and listened only to CD's for much of the journey. At one point I had to change CD and with my radio pre-tuned to Radio 5 Live, straightaway I heard the commentary when the radio cut in - just in time to hear Darius Vassell put City 1-0 up. I was happy, but it did remind me a bit of the old line from the movie "Blazing Saddles" where the Sheriff is warned not to shoot the big bad guy as it would "just annoy him". It seemed the same with United - don't score against them - they'll just get angry. I put another CD on and carried on with my journey. Much later I tuned in to find out the score, only to hear that City were now 2-0 up, and there was only a few minutes left. Now was the time to start listening, but typical of my luck just as I start listening United go and score. Thankfully City hung on for a deserved victory which prompted some horn honking and whooping from me as I trundled round the M25.

My two days in Kent were great fun as well. The first of my shows was my fourth annual appearance at dear old Oakfield Junior in Dartford. It was so nice to be back at this wonderful school. As ever all the teachers were hugely welcoming and polite. The children were a delight - bright and sparky and full of fun and questions. Some of their costumes were fantastic and a lot of work had been done by family members. After lunch they sang me a couple of wonderful songs, accompanied by their teacher on a classical guitar. The rest of the afternoon shot by and a hugely competitive joust was won by a good ladies team.

Tuesday was a brand new school for me. Quenborough Junior in Sheppey. This was another fabulous day. About 130 children and some incredibly wonderful teachers all made for an exciting, fun and hilarious day. I had years 2, 3 and 4 all in with me and they were a delight. Full of beans and very sparky with lots of laughs aplenty. I thought some of them might pass out they were laughing so much during the stocks session! Another superb jousting tournament, the gents finally managed to get a win in for once.

It was a lovely couple of days staying with my sister and her husband, and a delight to be at two such lovely schools, but I am very glad to be back this evening and I am thoroughly looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again!

Back on the Morning Jo Show tomorrow on BBC Somerset, then I am off to Romsey on Friday for a banquet at a school.

Oh, and Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2. Nice!