Distance from Coventry Building Society Arena to Portman Road - 132 miles (212km). Travel time 2hr 45 mins 

So great result last week against Millwall, and we followed that up with a 1-0 victory at home to Plymouth Argyle. So as we head to Ipswich this morning, spirits are high. Six points are in the bag. Also in the bag is Galaxy chocolate, Frazzles and too much fizzy pop. The diet starts on 1st January. Honest. Until then, Eat Chocolate, Eat Crisps. Drink Coke. Ooh. I like that. I might get that as an inspirational quote and hang it on the wall in the lounge. 

And remember. No great away day starts with a salad. In fact, this away day started with a Sausage and Egg McMuffin. Without the egg. I mean, it’s not egg, is it? It’s not been anywhere near a chickens bottom. I think they make it in a rejected tyre-rubber plant. And my body is a temple. A temple that has no congregation and is in ruins. But it’s got character. 

Anyway, 100% sausage and no egg McMuffin demolished, and the boys are on their way to Ipswich. 

Now then, Ipswich are on a roll. They are 2nd in the division, and this is going to be a tough game. And we’ve got plenty of time to think about that as we make our way to East Anglia. Down the M6, and across on the A14, through Northampston, Thrapston, Bury St Edmonds and Newmarket. 

We cross the River Orwell and enter one of the oldest towns in Britain. Ipswich dates back to about 970 AD. And it looks like it stayed there. It is a major port, and they shipped stuff in and out to Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. And there is more history and stuff, you know, just like all the towns and cities in the UK, but it’s pretty boring. 

Land stuff, King stuff, Church stuff, but nothing massively interesting or indeed funny. And it’s in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by countryside and farmers. It’s the type of place where they greet each other with a high six. 

Oh. Here’s something interesting. Ish. The very first motorised lawnmower was manufactured by Ransomes of Ipswich in 1902 and there are several tractor manufacturers in Ipswich. In fact the football team are called ‘The Tractor Boys’. Another boring fact. Ipswich is the home to many insurance companies, such as LV, Axa, Churchill and Legal and General. So yeah. Insurance people. Boring. I tried. 

Hang on. Ed Sheeran grew up in the area and is actually one of the main sponsors of the football club. This could be interesting. Nope. I’ve just listened to his music. It’s boring. Get to the good bit. OK. 

We got off the coach and found the nearest KFC. I told you. The diet starts next month. Then we went to the ground. Turns out Portman Road is slap bang in the middle of the red light district. Blogit shielded Scarpa's eyes. This was not the type of action we were expecting. We quickly hurried into the ground. No, we did. 

Oh bugger. Ipswich were brilliant. They went 2-0 up in the first half, the second goal was a worldy. All seemed lost. The boring Ipswich vibe had infiltrated the players. We tried to liven things up with a rendition of The Addams Family theme. You know the one….’you’re sister is your mother, your father is your brother, they all love one another, the Ipswich Family’. City roused, hopes raised. City won a penalty in the 76th minute. We missed. Hopes dashed. Despite the miss, City pressed and we were consoled with a last minute goal. The whistle blew. We lost 2-1. The comeback has stalled. Oh well. I got Frazzles on the coach. We crossed back over the River Orwell and into 2023. We Ate Chocolate, We Ate Crisps and We Ate Ipswich. #PUSB