On nights when Newcastle United enjoyers drift into deep sleep, two smiling faces unblur to focus, and side-by-side stand Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba.
An idyllic memory served by two astonishing goalscorers who partnered to a fond season ingrained in the brain of any long-term Premier League watcher.
Settling down on a Saturday night to watch the highlights and see these two dazzle in a black and white shirt is something to be re-lived.
It was a year of pure jubilation, genuine consistent enjoyment in a tumultuous time, a one-off that did not happen again until just two seasons after the takeover.
This journey has a satisfying destination - no plot twists, null and void of trials and tribulations. This is a love letter to the 2011/12 Newcastle season.
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The build-up
Finishing twelfth in the prior 2010/11 campaign suggests you are mid-table fodder. Nothing threatening the top seven, and never considered in relegation chatter.
That was a return to the league after playing football in the Championship after a historically disappointing demotion for such a giant club.
Head coach Alan Pardew was in the business of results, and at a time of uncertainty on Tyneside, he was a reliable figure. Some fans were less realistic and more ambitious and would call for his sacking, but nothing was indicating he truly should depart.
Important transfer decisions created the improvement that was to come. Yohan Cabaye joined Cheick Tiote in midfield from Lille in what was a categorically solid move for a squad that was inconsistent with results in the previous year.
Davide Santon joining from Inter Milan was another statement signing, but it was Demba Ba leaving West Ham and joining on a free earlier that window which proved the greatest.
A comedic opening pre-season game against Darlington saw a pitch invasion following a Sammy Ameobi goal, which quite frankly, is the most unnecessary reason for a pitch invasion, ever.
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Unbeaten start captivates Magpies
It took until the 12th game for Newcastle to be defeated after a bright start to the season which included a derby day victory at the Stadium of Light on the second matchweek.
A cross-cum-shot from Ryan Taylor caught out Simon Mignolet in between the sticks in what was the only goal of the game in a typically tense match between the two.
Ba also announced himself after a slow start to life up North in September with an emphatic hat-trick over Blackburn Rovers after doubts over his ability.
Who knows, maybe it was the strawberry syrup mixed with water.
Key players had an impact at this time, including Hatem Ben Arfa who returned from a long-term injury, and Tim Krul, who was keeping goals out at the other end with long-haired Argentinian Fabricio Coloccini protecting him.
The results took somewhat of a slump in the months leading up to and including the busy December schedule.
A winless period between late November to Christmas dampened hopes of an incredible season as the Magpies dropped from third to seventh, but Pardew was not to rest on his laurels in January.
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2012: The Year of the Cisse
On January 17, Newcastle announced that 26-year-old Papiss Cisse was joining from Freiburg in a deal of around £9 million.
He was not available instantly, as he joined up with Ba for the African Cup of Nations with Senegal. Cisse had netted nine goals in 15 in Germany that season at the point of his departure.
The year had already started on a positive note on Tyneside with a 3-0 thumping against title-challenging Manchester United at St. James' Park in the first game of 2012.
A Sammy Ameobi flick-on from Krul's goal kick fell to Ba who volleyed home superbly. A thrilling Cabaye free-kick rattled off the bar and in before Phil Jones capped off the scoring with a climactic own-goal.
Once Ba and Cisse returned, the dynasty began. Instantly, the pair scored in a 2-1 win against Aston Villa at the beginning of February and declared their nuclear power to the rest of the league.
In a decisive game against Tottenham Hotspur immediately after, the Magpies lost 5-0 at White Hart Lane damaging the chances of a stunning Champions League qualification.
The second Tyne-Wear derby the following month ended in a draw at home for Pardew's side. Nicklas Bendtner scored for the Black Cats while a Ba missed penalty was bailed out late on by Shola Ameobi to secure a draw.
April was the beginning of an end-of-season onslaught of goals for Cisse, beginning on the first of that month against Liverpool. A back-post header and clever feet around Pepe Reina contributed to his brace, with both goals assisted by Ben Arfa.
Cisse made a double five days later against Swansea to strengthen Newcastle's grasp on a Europa League spot.
The not-quite goal of the season was scored just after that in what was turning out to be a honeymoon period for the Toon. Hatem Ben Arfa received the ball in his own half, immediately chopped it past a Bolton midfielder and was on his way.
He glided forward, tapped it past three or four Bolton defenders and sailed through to poke home, Pardew clapping along in awe. The Frenchman was having an astonishing campaign, this moment lifted him into the ascendency.
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The goal of a lifetime
Newcastle only lost one game in five that month and secured Europa League qualification, but Papiss Cisse was about to have the most glorious day of his career on a Stamford Bridge night.
It will escape many a memory that Cisse scored two wonderful goals in this game, rather than that second one.
Rewatch it, because the left-footed volley for the first one is a peach. His right foot flicked up the ball, completely stationary and smashed the airborne ball emphatically past Petr Cech.
The shame for Chelsea is that they defended resolutely in this game, but were shocked by two goal-of-the-season contenders, the second of which did win the award.
Ameobi chests it down from a throw-in, and to pose a question to the Senegalese striker - what was going through your head, Mr Cisse?
It quite literally could remain the greatest goal the league has ever seen. An outside-the-foot volley, curling away from the goal dips over Cech and finds the side-netting. He celebrates like he meant it.
Cech, who was impossible to beat at the best of times, looked defeated as he puffed out his chest in shock at the goal. Didier Drogba exchanged a reaction of disbelief with the Newcastle head coach following the unquestionable goal of the season.
It is disbelieving that this goal happened. No player even attempts this once a season. This will not be recreated in such a game again.
Speaking in a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Papiss Cisse, speaking French, and translated by Demba Ba, said: "The second goal, when he saw the ball coming back from Shola, he just wanted to kick it.
"Obviously, he had no more power, he was just tired and didn't want to keep the ball so he shot it".
When asked whether he meant it, Ba answered, "Yeah I think so, otherwise the ball would be going in the stand".
Newcastle fell short of finishing fourth after two defeats to end the season, but it would not have mattered as Chelsea won the Champions League, stealing fourth from Spurs.
Alan Pardew picked up Premier League Manager of the Season for his efforts to take the Magpies to fifth place against the odds.
The following season saw Newcastle finish 16th, just five points above relegation, connoting how glorious and unexpected the previous season was.
This season, however, was defined by a wonderful duo with a superb backing cast. With 29 goals apiece in the league, Ba and Cisse delivered an unforgettable ten months at St. James' Park.
