A Norwich City double would suit this Ipswich Town fan

SO what does the weekend hold for us?

A strange one indeed, and one that will be made or ruined by the result of the skirmish that takes place at Carrow Road Sunday lunchtime.

The shadow of Christmas is looming larger and larger – I have to say I agree with a former colleague who says Santa should take a leaf out of the FIFA world cup book and call once every four years – and Saturday will be spent by yours truly shopping.

I shall be doing my impression of a well-ladened mule carrying the bags for my one-love and only letting go of the handles when it comes to handing over my hard-earned cash.

Hopefully, all can be accomplished on the day and that a few refreshment stops will be allowed along the way to keep me from buckling.

Football will take a rare Saturday back seat although Match of the Day will hopefully become a welcome relief after what is bound to be an exhausting day.

Bumped into the swarthy and well-tailored Fabian Wilnis while ensuring my bank had enough funds to cope with my up-coming shopping spree, and he reminded me that in Holland it is now St Nicholas Day when Dutch children receive their ‘Christmas’ presents.

Fabian’s family is coming to Ipswich in late December for Christmas – so will get the best of both worlds!

Sunday sees a certain amount of trepidation with the journey into that county just north of Suffolk.

It will be football matters again and just crossing that bridge at Scole prior to the ‘Welcome to Norfolk’ (Yes you are!) sign turns the blood cold.

It will hopefully be a quick in and out – and if three points can be brought back to Suffolk then so much the better.

I don’t see why not - although the best team does not always win derby games.

To be fair, the Norwich City staff are always welcoming and helpful, but there is too much hype in the game to allow someone as keen to see the Blues win as me to enjoy – until the score gets to 3-0 in Town’s favour.

The journey back on the A140 will see the King laptop in frantic action to meet the 5pm deadline for six pages of copy for Monday’s Evening Star.

I will hardly notice when that infamous Scole bridge is passed again.

But my senses will tell me, and what a wonderful double it would be – a completion of the Christmas shopping, and three Ipswich Town points.