Reading Roars!

I was feeling very pleased with myself until Sheffield United’s Rob Hulsa scored against Reading FC this afternoon. You see, I had predicted a 2-0 Reading win last night on Reading 107 FM. But whatever, it was a Reading victory and their first away from home this season.

Kevin Doyle put Reading ahead after just 16 seconds. The second was rammed home by South Korean star Seol Ki-Hyeon after 25 minutes. It was his first goal for the club. Hulsa scored for the home side in the 61st minute.

Read the match report on BBC Sport.

National treasure Raymond Baxter, a BBC broadcaster who presented the science show Tomorrow’s World, introducing to viewers the credit card, microwave and video recorder (remember them?), passed away yesterday at the Royal Berks hospital in Reading.

Read the obituary on Times Online.

Reading Roars! hit the airwaves yesterday evening, when I was invited to talk about this blog on local radio station Reading 107 FM.

Questioned by the talented Joff Hopkins (himself a blogger), I unveiled what this blog was about and proceeded to explain a little more about the quirky stories I covered during the week: the broken defibrillator at Reading Station, the Duke Street rat and international man of mystery Patrick Khoo.

Over the next few days, I will make the radio recording available to download on this site as a podcast, so that you can listen at your leisure.

Early this evening, I was waiting on Platform 8 at Reading Station for the train to Tilehurst. Not only was the train delayed (it eventually arrived 11 minutes later) but the monitor display kept rolling upwards manically. The devil was at work here.

My blood pressure was rising (trains make me tetchy), so it was reassuring to see the notice behind me reading:

This De-Fibrilator (sic) is out of use
The nearest one can be found on platform 9. Use the stairs/escalators and turn left. As you come down platform 9 stairs turn left. The de-fib is on the left hand side wall.

So the message is clear: if you’re going to go into cardiac arrest, make sure you aren’t on Platform 8 (or, God forbid, Platform 7) first. Especially if there is a crowd pushing their way up the Platform 9 single flight of stairs, as is quite normal during rush hour.

It’s a tricky situation.  You see a gorgeous random person and - bam! - you’ve fallen in love.  Or you want to bed them, at least.  So what do you do about it?  I would suggest (and I’m no expert) asking them for their phone number or inquiring about their availability (not easy, admittedly, if you get eye contact on a London Underground escalator). 

Do nothing and you’re filled with regret, like these two hopefuls leaving messages on Reading’s Gumtree:

Natwest bank, Reading town Centre, 12:30pm: You were the nurse with the most beautiful blue eyes in the world. Too beautiful for me to even attempt to talk to you! I’ve been kicking myself since then and can’t stop thinking about you. Get in touch, am sure you remember me..

Hi! We met getting off the train at Paddington on Saturday. I was nervous, you were patient! I wasn’t sure I gave my number correctly - my heart was beating so fast, it was a bit of a blur. I know it’s crazy but if I don’t try.. I’ll never know. xxx

 Good luck to you both!

Icelandic hero Ivar Ingimarrson scored the only goal as Reading FC beat Man City at the Madejski in the Premiership tonight.

The goal (21:14) was scored from a header in the middle of the penalty area, thanks to a direct free kick taken by Bobby Convey.

The win elevates Reading to eighth place with six points.

Read the BBC match report.

I was reading a recent edition of Technology Guardian and saw a strange notice sandwiched between IT Support Manager and Service desk operator job ads. The notice read:

Patrick Khoo a.k.a. Khoo Keat Eenh

Last known address was at 39 Clifton Park Road, Caversham, Reading, Berskhire, England RG4 7PD

Anyone who has any relationship with or who knows the above named beneficiary pleased contact:

Cheong Wai Meng & Van Buerle
Advocate & Solicitors
Penang, Malaysia

A quick internet search revealed not a lot. There is Patrick Khoo singing James Blunt’s You’re Beautiful on YouTube. This Patrick Khoo, it is said on the video-sharing site:

took part in the auditions for Singapore Idol and sang George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” so softly the judges couldn’t hear him

There is also the Patrick Khoo from Penang who is currently serving as the Honorary Secretary for Mensa Singapore.

But where is our Patrick Khoo? Is he still missing? If you find him let the lawyers know at cwmvbpg@streamyx.com - and cc me while you’re at it.