On the Up in 2010?

Before the traditional "let's all look back at 2009" blog (expect that on January 1st!)... I'm looking forward to next year.  The reason is that is going to be jam packed with awesomeness!

There are birthdays and anniversaries a-plenty, and not small ones either!  My Phee will be 21 in March so that's sure to be a major event.  Nobody has any idea what we're doing for it yet, but hopefully her friends and family will come down for whatever it is!

There's birthdays and anniversaries at work too.  Two more 21sts in March and November, and some members of staff with other big celebrations.

And in December, my Dad and step-Mum will celebrate 25 years of blissful marriage!  Again... bit early for plans yet, but I'm expecting a big celebration!  At least the next twenty five years will be a lot quieter, having already raised the four of us that used to live there too!

May is going to be a massive month!
First up is my sister's wedding on Saturday 15th.  Jodes and Rob have been together for what seems like ever and have two great kids (it stills pains me that I missed Charlie's birthday).  They have been engaged for a while now too and have slowly been getting things together.  There's no way in the world I'd miss it, so we'll definitely be down in Devon for that weekend.

That said, we'll be coming back home straight from the party.  No next-day hangover pics from me!  The reason is because on Sunday 16th, Phee and I are off to Florida!  It'll be the first time I've been out of Europe and the first time either of us have been on a long haul flight.  And that scares me... I still don't understand how jumbo jets fly!  I know, I know, it's all about thrust and drag, but really... how much!?

We'll have a full seven days to visit Walt Disney World, slap bang in the middle of our fourteen days on International Drive, Orlando.  I am very much looking forward to meeting Mickey, Minnie and the gang, sharing a joke or two with the Genie and chatting up Ariel the Little Mermaid and Princess Jasmine (Phee might veto that one).

We also have a full 14-day pass to Universal Studios and a water park which will get attention during the days either side of our Disney ticket.  Plenty of time for swimming and sunbathing!  I'd also love to catch a b'ball game... Magic vs the Sonics would be good!

And straight from the plane home, we will most likely be driving straight back to Devon!  That is because my brother, Tim, and his wife, Ju, are expecting their first baby the day we leave the U.S.!  Peanut, as (s)he is currently named (after Jeff Dunham's character?), will be niece/nephew # 12 and, as Tim's my only full sibling, is the most blood related.  Not that I treat any of them differently - you can't have favourite, can you?!

After that, we'll no doubt be needing another holiday!

The other significant event of 2010 will be Phee and I properly moving in together, in June or July.  On our own.  With only me to annoy her!  Looking at the house prices around, we should be alright and have been eyeing up places in Farnham, Alton and Bentley... all on the train line to London.  We're not too fussy with what we get.  We'd prefer it to have two bedrooms, rather than one and it has to really be a house, not a flat.  This is because we need a place that is cat friendly...

... as this little (as yet un-named) cutie is hopefully going to be joining us:

Luna and Ebony are still my favourite names!  Phee doesn't agree, but is too busy with Uni to think of anything better!

Oh, and here's hoping the results of this week's exams (due in February) are positive too!  I want two out of two and stay one step ahead of the girls at work who are getting rather competitive!

I Want a Cat Like Simon's!

I love cats.  Both sides of my family have always had them, loads of them.  Personally, I have had Tammy, Sooty, Tigger, Misty, Tiggy, Spike, Winston and Saki at various times of my life.

And in eight months time, I shall have another one, an as yet unnamed female black kitten.  Phee and I have been promised one of my Mum's cat's recent litter.  This is subject to finding a house in Hampshire/Surrey that accepts pets... if not, my Mum keeps her in Devon!  Phee is currently thinking of a name for her... Luna, Ebony, Jette and Aduke (my favourites so far) have not really grabbed her imagination!


From real cats, to realistic dipictions!
I first inadvertently stumbled upon Simon's Cat years ago when at my previous job, as somebody forwarded on a little animation involving a cat trying to wake his owner.  I didn't know at the time that any more had or were being made!  It involves said cat doing all the usually feline waking tricks... padding on you, playing with your face, miaowing loudly!  And then... WHAM!  It finds a sure fire way of getting it's owner to wake up:



The guy who created the animation is Simon Tofield, and his website is Simon's Cat.

Since then, he has gone on to create numerous other masterpieces, all of which I have almost wet myself over!  And here they all are (I'm too good to you):

Let Me In - why cat flaps are the humane answer!

Fed Up - maybe Simon's Dog will get a website?!

TV Dinner - if the cat's not fed...!


Fly Guy - cat v fly: the winner is unknown, the loser is always the homeowner!


And the newest addition to the website:
Hot Spot - what your cat really does when you leave your desk!



And finally...
A link that's been doing the rounds here.  The cutest kitten ever!

They Think It's All Over - MO is NOW!

Yes, MO fans, MOvember is over.  It's been a great MOnth, I'm sure you'll agree!  Unlike James from a course I've been on recently, my other half won't let me keep it (although I have snuck an extra, bonus, day).

Please DONATE all you can afford, for Prostate Cancer Research, either in person or via my MOvember page!

So, without further ado... the final, slightly handlebar-ish, MO:

Mo.. The Final Straight!

From the MObile phone.. the mo is almost complete!

Bonjour, je suis Monsieur Mo. J'aime les darts!

Another week in the life of Wulfy and the Mo!

Having calmed down somewhat since last week's road rant, it's been more business as usual.  Outside of the office itself, where I have been sporting the Day 10 Mo (to the right - I am not completely naked!), I have begun my revision for the upcoming exams I have in December.  The realisation that they are, in fact, less than four weeks away grabbed me by the metaphoric throat!  Corporate Law, my examination nemesis, is first up on Tuesday 8th, followed by Financial Management on the Thursday.

I need to pass this Law sooner rather than later or I may become disillusioned with the whole thing.  It's imperative I understand it, as it forms a vital part of being an accountant.  The Contract Law section is something I do enjoy... I can apply it in many walks of life!

The Financial Management is more important for the type of accountant I aspire to be, in that I choose to work in practice, rather than in industry as a management accountant.  It's all about debt management and working capital.  Yeah, if you're not financially minded, that probably means nothing to you.  But I find it interesting!


This weekend was not as full as it initially was, as the mighty Chawton Athletic FC had their game called off.  Apparently the Farnham College pitch was a tad wet!  It's gutting, as I was really up for that match, a win in which would have seen us draw level with our hosts, Morley Road.  Hopefully, the week off will not hinder us in trying to keep the momentum gained from the previous weekend's excellent win against Blue Bell.

I did get to play darts, after missing the previous week's game.  Before my visit to Hull, and the loss the week before, I was in the Alton Friday Night Darts League's Top 32 players list.  With that in mind, I really wanted to win in my singles game against Friday's opponents, Gentleman Jim B.  To add to the pressure, by the time I got to play my game at 11pm the team was 2-3 down in the single match (having already won the double 3-0).

I had seen my opponent (who arrived very late) in the doubles, so knew I had my work cut out!  I through first in the first leg, and managed to keep in front thanks to a few scores of 80+.  And I eventually took it after missing six darts at my favourite double-10, by hitting double-5.
The second leg didn't exactly go according to plan... scoring 9 twice in a row (different methods though!) put me well behind!  And it was a relief when the other guy finished, as it gave me time to take stock.
After again winning the toss (no going for bull in this league), I started with my first, and only, tun of the match.  We matched each other all the way down, and after struggling on double-4 and dropping down to double-2, I found the double blocked by my first two darts.  Cue a change in stance (far right, by the bar!) and bang, in it went for the 2-1 victory, my third in five games.

I have struggled with nerves over the past couple of years.  It causes my arms to feel very heavy when throwing.  But double-2 has always been kind to me.  The support of my team-mates is always appreciated, especially Scotty and his "Carlos-arriba" mexican style whooping!  I try to shut it out a little, as it can add to the pressure... but it'd be far, far worse if all I got was dead silence!  Maybe if my support looked like these fine darts players...

This week I might open my self up for more ribbing... the full blooded Mo arrived today, day 16 of Movember!  I have ditched the goatee beard on my chin, opting for just a smidgen of fluff under my bottom lip to keep Phee happy.

A poor man's Tom Selleck, I know, I have been told it makes me look French!  Well, it is one of three languages I speak (not as fluently as I once could).


I will return... I have a few things on my chest to get off.  Ranting is good for the soul.  If I believed in them.

The New Motorway Speed Limit: 50mph!

A trip to Hull and back this weekend, a round trip of almost six hundred miles, reminded me of some of my pet peeves on the road!  And yes, I'll leave the new "Mini" alone this time...

The first thing I was not really surprised to encounter was roadworks.  But it was the sheer amount of them that really made the journeys longer!  I swear I spent more miles at in "average speed camera" marshalled 50 mph limits than on roadwork-free roads!  And most of them didn't even have anybody working on them!

Of course, I understand the need for road improvements and the like, but surely the whole M1 doesn't need repairing?!

One three junction stretch of the M1, spanning a good five to ten miles, appeared to be down to one lane so they can put more overhead information boards up.  With cameras.  Always with the cameras!  Speed does not kill... irresponsible speed kills.  The autobahn in Germany seems to work perfectly fine, bring it in here I say!

The traffic on the roads was also it's usual pain in the arse self.  You had the normal twattish driving from almost all BMW drivers.  Driving right up your exhaust pipe, too impatient to wait for you to get out of their fast lane, even though you're doing ninety!
You had the normal "I own the road" attitude from anyone in a 4x4.  Cutting you up because they forget how ridiculously big their tanks are.
And you had the normal lorries overtaking lorries... when will bloody HGV drivers realise they are all speed limited?!

It's also been noted (by me) that the price of petrol has been slowly creeping up to extortionate levels again!  And we can't blame the 2p rise in tax this time!  A global recession, yet the price of fuel has gone up by 20p  (equating to about 20%) in the last six or so months.  It now costs over £70 to fill my bloody tank up!!  I know... my own fault for having such a big car!

Why is nobody else concerned?  I haven't seen any complains about it recently...

That said, I still love driving.  It helps that I still really love my car, despite the constant "French tin" abuse she gets from the girls at work.  Black leather seats, awesome aircon/heating, good sound system... exceptionally good for those six hundred mile roundtrips.  And let's face it, with my family in Devon and Phee's in Hull, there's a lot of driving to be done!

MOving into MOvember!

Yes, mo-fans, Movember has officially begun.  And just because it's been all quiet on the blog front, does not mean I haven't been taking pictures to update you!  I have, in fact, just been ill and/or busy with Football Manager 2010.

Well, to start with, here I am pre-Movember.  Yes, I am aware I have a grin that looks like I prey on young girls (thanks for that comment, Ellie).  At this point, I decided that I'd grow a beard during the early stages of Movember, to avoid looking like a pubescent school-boy; I expected a good bum-fluff stage!

I have a shiny new(ish) razor by Wilkinson Sword, that also has a mini electric shaver on the other end.  It's battery powered and perfect for Mo grooming!

The first week of Movember has seen me sitting around at home more than work!  Two Mondays off (including today) and two days off sick with my asthma rearing it's ugly head.  It was probably just as well I missed yesterday's awesome Chawton Athletic win over high-flying Bluebell.

I missed the game as Phee and I popped up North for her little sister's birthday party.  We managed to slip a trip to Maysum in too, the North's best chinese.  MmMm all-you-can-eat buffet!

So, the Mo.  Day six was getting pretty prickly, as you can see.  Although, the bits down the side are getting a little irritating, so a change in design is imminent!  Will probably keep the little bit below the bottom lip, and a bit on the chin too... probably.

Last Year's Main Mo!

As I said in my first Movember post, pictures of Gofer were coming.  So here is his mo is in all it's Village People style glory:

That, I'm sure you'll agree, is a quality mo!  I know, he mascara-ed it, but blonde hair really doesn't show up well in photos!

Some thing else to keep you entertained, it's the Movember UK promo clip, courtesy of YouTube:



Awesome.

Keep your eyes peeled for the pre-Movember photo, coming soon!  It will of course be added to my Mo Space!  I do have a promised donation, so I have officially raised some money for looking silly - many thanks to Sarah for her pledge!

My Small Part in "Changing the Face of Men's Health"!

A very small minority of you will know by now of my crazy plan... I going to grow a moustache!

But this isn't some whim, as I have had them many times before with various goatee beards and long ginger manes!  I am taking part in Movember, the world's biggest moustache growing, money raising campaign.  In it's third year in the UK, it was brought to my knowledge by Gofer last year.  He grew one and coloured it in with mascara at the end of the month so people could see it (picture to follow!)... but he did it for fun!

Now while it is all a bit of fun, I thought I'd try raising a little money too, even if only spare change!  I have set up a team with the official website partner called the Surrey and Devon Movember Collective!


Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in blokes, a fact that scares me a great deal.  35,000 men get it each year, and plenty of them die from it.  Even Andrew Lloyd Webber has it, so the rich and famous are just as likely to get it!  The charity involved is The Prostate Cancer Charity, and info on the event is on the website.

To join my collective of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas (who can just support the Mo Bros, not necessarily grow one themselves!) click on this link to the Surrey and Devon Movember Collective - even if you're not actually in Surrey or Devon!  I was under pressure to come up with a name...!

The style of moustache, I have not decided.  Possibly a big handlebar type, which will see me banned from all intimate relations from Phee for the entire month?  Probably a good start, but when the dry spell gets too long I may make it a bit less ridiculous and tidy it up nicely!  I've never gone that long without shaving it off, so we'll see... the world is my moustache shaping oyster!

If you're feeling generous, donating is easy... just follow the links on my page and donate using your debit/credit card or PayPal.  Or you can pay by cheque, made payable to "The Prostate Cancer Charity - Movember", and I shall forward it to the right place (with my Movember number, 54513, on the back).  PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!

With your help, I might be able to help "change the face of men's health"... whilst looking exceptionally cool!  Or stupid.

Wave Goodbye to the Personal Life!

It's Autumn.  And that can only mean one thing:

FOOTBALL MANAGER has a new release!

Football Manager 2010 isn't actually released in full, boxed form until the 30th October, but they have released the demo versions.  I had my first little play last night, after working out how to update Milla's DirectX without an internet connection!

The feature I'm most looking forward to using, the new database editor, I have to wait for.  But the other significant improvements have been to the backroom staff advice and the tactics.  The backroom staff now give you advice on almost everything!  As Arsenal, I'm pretty sure their advice is pretty on the money too!  When I have a go as Exeter City, I'm sure I shouldn't rely on it as much!

The tactics module is very different.  Gone are the sliders.  In are the different type of playing for every position.  In are the touchline shouts.  It's now so much more important to play the more extended highlights, to make sure you team is doing as you say!  I only got round to playing one match last night, a 3-0 win over my own reserve side!

Arsenal are not as strong as they have been.  Disappointingly so!  Vermaelen is so much better in real life!  I'm sure the "wonderkid lists" will be all over the internet in the next few days/weeks... I try to resist them, but I do end up creating a list of good talented youngsters to develop at Arsenal.  No money for big name signings for me!

Look out for updates when the full game is out... I intend to create the top two divisions of the Pentigarnian League with the new editor.  That's a league me and my mate Ratty made up years ago at school!

Blog Updates.

I have taken the not-too-radical step of adding a couple of new gizmos to the blog.

Firstly, there is the Followers gizmo.  This shows blog readers who actually reads the blog regularly.  More importantly, it shows me!  It's always nice to know I'm not just sprouting my (often over-opinionated) bollocks to myself!
It also allows you to keep track of any updates to it!  Woo for you too!  Although a select few of you have been selected to receive updates anyway - I'm so good to you.

The second one is the Commentators gizmo.  I added this mainly to try to encourage feedback.  Yeah, yeah, I know it's not a competition!  But hey, anything that encourages people to interact!

Gotta love the widgets!

Let's Play Darts!

Darts has made a long awaited return to my life!

After a practice night the other week, last Friday saw my competitive debut for Alton Cricket Club's AC/DC darts team. Captained by Ian Gillingham, AC/DC play in the Alton Friday Night League.

I had already made an impression on the practice night, by beating the captain in our friendly match-up and also performing well in the "finishing challenge".

My first league game in over a year was more intense though, as the nerves that had thwarted my last season in the Sidmouth League returned under the pressure of standing at the oche. That said, the team had already lost the single match and over match by the time I was on last (being 0-5 at that point).

I stepped up for the straight-501 start, wishing I had the chance to build up a head-start by starting on a double - one of my strengths! Alas, I had to make do with a 40 average (if that!) and found myself slightly behind all the way down. The difference between me and my opponent was finishing. I finished both legs within three darts, including a 63 out. A 2-0 win isn't bad for someone who hadn't played a proper game since May 2008!

I wasn't selected for the doubles, as we had ten players available for the first match, and the team went down 0-3 in the doubles. That's 1-8 over all! But, as I'm not available this coming Friday, I keep my 100% record for two full weeks!

The league itself is actually split into a singles league and a doubles league. Bizarre, but there you go!

This weekend sees the sending off of some good friends of mine, Ed and Tilly. More to come on them (and my football teams' progress) after this Friday nights drunken shenanigans!

New Season, New Housemates.

Ah, gotta love Autumn! It means football's back with a bang!

In the professional game, my teams are having mixed seasons.

Arsenal have started

well, despite not really strengthening the team. Kolo Toure was replaced by Thomas Vermaelen, who looks pretty awesome, but Adebayor was not... time will tell how important that decision will be. Through to a fairly easy group in the Champions League and only beaten by a lucky Manchester United team in the league means we have set a good found

ation in the first few

weeks.

The diving issue reared it's ugly head though. I hate diving. I am actually happy that Eboue got a yellow card for it and that Eduardo got a two match ban. I am really irritated that Wayne "Shrek" Rooney has gotten away with it. He was practically on the floor before Almunia got near him against Arsenal and was at it again with England tonight... although his shirt wa

s tugged by the Slovenian, another foul that is under-punished.

I have had the pleasure of visiting the impressive Emirates Stadium this week. Absolutely amazing place. My brother, Tim, and his wife, Julia, bought me the tour for Christmas and I chose to go on my 31st birthday. And my lovely Phee bought me a personalised Arsenal shirt too, to make it a birthday to remember!

Exeter City have just been enjoying life in League One. They managed to pick up their first win all the way up in Carlisle United, but have found other points tricky to come by and now sit just above the relegation zone. It's going to be a tough season, but I am confident they'll stay up with Paul Tisdale at the he

lm.

It's good to see the League One highlights on the BBC. They're doing a good job! I know I'm biased, having starred in the adverts for it. The day out in London filming the ad was great fun... in fact, being a mascot actually is great fun! And it's such a good bunch of people. Everybody gets on with everyone else, like a big family (and I know all about them!).

Playing wise, I ready for it! I have been playing 5-a-side for the Pit Club side in the Sidmouth Indoor League randomly over the summer. With that and going to the gym (let's not mention the treadmill incident), I'm kept my fitness right up. And with the 11-a-side kick off this weekend... it's all systems go!

Rockbeare Rangers, the team in Devon I'm President of, got under way this afternoon and started with an excellent 3-1 victory at the newly named Silver Lane Ground. The awesome Bryn Lister got the final goal... and I always enjoy seeing him on the score sheet. He's been a great player for the Rooks over the last two seasons and it's good to see some of the original squad still in the team... Rob, Matt S, Matt D, Si, Mike F and Ed are all still involved.

Chawton Athletic start their Farnham Sunday League campaign tomorrow morning. We will be hoping to do better than last season, where we finished bottom with three wins all season. It looks like I may well be starting on the left wing, in front of the gaffer's brother Paul Ireson... a full back who rarely runs forward. This suits me down to the ground, as I can concentrate more on attacking!

My aims for this season are to be on a winning team (I didn't manage it at Chawton last season!) and to get on the scoresheet at least once. I will take the lead and go for all penalties and free kicks if I can... my dead ball shooting is pretty good, certainly better than most I've seen at Chawton!

---

This weekend saw some of the new housemates move in and I'm hoping to be better accepted this year. After the antics of last year and all it's ignorance and hypocrisy, the signs are good. Jamie has moved in and Phee and I have been getting on well with him, even sorting out the brief power cut Farnham seemed to have!

Erin also popped round to move some of her stuff in, before finally moving in next weekend. Again, we all seemed to get on like a house on fire. This year is going to be a definite improvement on the last one, enjoying the company of people who are easy going. We might even get to hang out at the UCASU without me feeling like a leper... (although I feel duty bound to point out that Phee's closest friends, Abbie and Rebecca, never made me feel like that).

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On a final note... I have found a darts team! Woo! The practice night for the Alton Cricket Club darts team is Friday 18th September, with our first league game of the season the week after! Thanks to John and Jamie at work, I have my board up in the house so I can get some practice in and not look too out of sorts. This first season is all about getting to know the side and enjoying myself... with the games will come the scores, hopefully, and the wins.

I Hate Revision.

Really, I do. Three exams towards my ACCA qualification coming up next week. I almost didn't get in as my application was lost in the mail...

Corporate Law scares the living crap out of me. I just can't cram it all in! I'm hoping I scrape a pass, as I should be okay with Taxation and Performance Management.

Time will tell... wish me luck!

Football... WHY!?!

Why does it have to be so bloody heart-wrenching! This season, I've suffered both highs and lows. Mostly lows, it would seem! And this week I've had both extremes. So here it is, my football season's review, even though in some cases it hasn't quite finished...



Exeter City have exceded almost all expectations this season, mine among them! Manager Paul Tisdale has a reputation for achieving promotion, following his very successful stint with Team Bath before we snapped him up. And this season, he followed up last year's Conference Final win at Wembley, but repeating the feat of promotion... but without the lottery and potential heartbreak of the play-offs.

I remember thinking, on a murky November afternoon at Aldershot's Recreation Ground where City lost 0-1, that given our form at the time, scraping the play-offs would be a tricky task. But a rich vein of form at just the right time has helped erase the memory of that defeat and the even more painful defeat to Curzon Ashton in the FA Cup!

Needing a win away at Rotherham United to guarantee automatic promotion, it wasn't until way into the second half when BBC Sport finally told me Exeter had taken the lead. I bounced up and down on my comfy bean bag, frantically texted Wayno at the game (which, due to money issues, I was unable to attend - grrr!) and started chanting loudly... alone in the house!

When the final score came up, I immediately ran downstairs to the (sexy new) car and put my ECFC scarf on the parcel shelf... I'd never been as proud to be a fan of the Grecians!



Compare that to three days later. The last hope Arsenal had of winning any silverware this season evaporated before my eyes! Needing to turn around a 0-1 first leg deficit, Arsenal came out of the blocks, all guns (pardon the pun) blazing! And then Kieran Gibbs fell over. Fan-fucking-tastic. The fact that the whining, crying, arrogant, Portugeuse, diving wanker rifled in that free kick made it even worse (although not for John, who won the next goalscorer sweepstake!).

Arsenal had long been out of the title race, although had scraped a Champions League spot for next year. They'd looked capable of winning both domestic cups, but blew it when the got close to the final. I'd pinned all my gooner hopes of the Champions League trophy... and the bastard Manc scum took that away from me too! Thanks for that!

Still, we can get some kind of revenge at Old Trafford in a week or two and we have Chelski this weekend. 3rd place in the league is sneakable... and would make the season a little easier to swallow.



The fact that I was watching the Arsenal-Man Utd match at all was because my new 5-a-side team couldn't raise a side! Chawton Athletic Fives was started up as a means of getting through the off season. The first three games were a mixed bag... a horrendous 0-21 opener against the Alton Tuesday Fives League champions, was followed by a credible 1-1 draw. This was followed by another heavy defeat!

This week's game, however, had to be fortfeited. From a growing squad that is now probably double digures, I could only muster three of us. A very poor showing for a team that was well up for it before the season began. And three points given away to a team that, when we get used to playing together and get fitter, are most likely beatable!

Personally, I've not been doing too bad. My stints in goal haven't been too costly, outfield I've been getting stuck in (maybe too stuck in at times) although I have yet to score a goal. Having said that, the team have only scored three in total!



The 11-a-side Chawton Athletic team we take our name from didn't fare much better! Although we did manage a couple of wins in the season (none that I played in!), there were quite a few shoeings. This led to people dropping out, which led to more shoeings. A nasty vicious cycle. And bloody annoying at that!

Again, personally I had a really good season. I joined the team halfway through the Farnham and District Sunday League season, and instantly made myself a first team regular... not that we had any subs! As versatile as I am, it meant I was able to ensure that come next season, I should be in the starting XI. And I intend to stay there!



A stark contrast to Rockbeare Rangers where, despite starting up the Club in the first place, I never held down a regular starting place. I was happy taking my twenty minutes at the end of games!

This season has been another season of changes for the Rooks. I am now (Honorary) President of the Club I helped form with a few of my closest friends. I did even manage to make one appearance too, in a match I helped turn around and win 2-1.

The Club's Board has been taken over and it is now moving forward. Something I initially did not like the sound of, but have grown to accept as the best way forward. That aside, there were some sneaky side-shooting tactics employed when push came to shove... a move that wasn't "anything against me as a person". Indeed not; I can clearly see what the game was. And as it really made no odds, I did take it a little personally, though never showed it to anyone else...



So goodbye to 2008/09 (well, almost). Next season I doubt I'll play for Rangers (although I will sign on anyway) as we have a huge squad. I will instead be concentrating my efforts on both Chawton Athletic sides. Keep up to date with manager, Matt Ireson's blog for the 11-a-side match reports! Meanwhile the 5-a-side team also have a website!

Let's see if City can make it three consecutive promotions and if Arsenal can finally get their hands on some silverware!

Spend, Spend, Spend... There's a Recession, You Know!

This month, I have mostly been spending... LOTS!

For the first week, I eBayed a load. I got a funky new Nigeria football shirt (I'll explain that one another time), some Battlestar Galactica stuff (lapel badge, which I collect, and a mousemat with hot cylons on for work), a leather jacket (because I've wanted one for ages) and some CDs (Rammstein, Guns 'n' Roses).

And I was excited by all of that! But today my excitement has hit a new level, thanks to this:


This is Xandra II.

Legend has it that I crash cars. Unfortunately, the legend is true. Xandra II would be my sixth car so far. One was old and had knackered suspension, two hit things, one wasn't in a fit state when I was given her and one survived!

One of the two dead ones, was the original Xandra. A dark metallic green Peugeot 406 Coupe SE, identical to the new one. And she was the love of my life (other than Sophie, of course!). Oh how I went into mourning for at least two months after smashing her into a pole, wiping out an entire villages electricity in the process! But the wait is over...


Xandra II is the same 2L model I had before. The 3L version would require me to take out a mortgage to feed her petrol habit! She has plenty of grunt, and a pretty big exhaust to scare small dogs with. For the £1,650 I paid for her, there are a few little dinks to iron out with a good t-cut and polish and a small crack in the front bumper (not my parking for once), but it was still a good price.

Little Tammy, the 1.2L Corsa, is on her way back to Devon soon to meet up with her new owner. It's shocking how the car sells for a grand less than I bought her last year! But it'll do nicely anyway.

I think my spending spree is pretty much over now though... the £60 to fill her up each time is going to clean me out real soon!!

Panic Attack.

My favourite song by my favourite (one of them) bands, Dream Theater, is Panic Attack. How ironic, then, would it be to actually start suffering from them?

Ironic, maybe, but pretty bloody annoying.


Some of you will know that I have always been a very up and down person. I've never been properly diagnosed with any type of depression, but do consider myself a sufferer of it. What started out in my teens as shyness, soon turned to random bouts of depression when I left school. This was coupled by an almost over-whelming fear of rejection.


For the majority of the time I was fine, just very quiet. I've often been described as laconic... I don't speak unless I have something to say (then I talk incessantly!!). But when I started going up to Hull to stay with Sophie, things got worse...

I would get claustrophobic in the kind of places I'd usually be fine. Being surrounded by hordes of people I didn't know scared the living crap out of me. At my first "social function" as Sophie's beau, I actually felt sick. I had to go to the toilet to cool myself down, and barely spoke to anyone. I stuck out like a sore thumb... and that made me incredibly self-conscious.

This continued to happen at random. Both in Hull, Farnham (Sophie's Uni) and even in Devon. I'd never had a problem with the age gap in our relationship, but maybe I was still worried what others thought...


But things got worse in January this year. My best mate, Gofer, another friend from school, Baz, and I set up a huge party to celebrate our 30th birthdays (belated for Gofer and I!). Eighty guests in total, about eighty percent of which I knew. I was to perform a DJ set of rock/metal music at some point that night.

I was nervy from the start, but managed to talk to a few friends and family members. But the closer to my set it got, the worse I became. Then, five minutes before my time, it struck: PANIC!

I mumbled at Gofer that I couldn't do it, and fled to the stairwell. Where I stayed for all but the last half hour of the night, when I'd been coaxed back down to sit with my family. For most of the night, the only contact I had was with Sophie and Matt Feld, drummer extra-ordinaire of Sanguine. Between them, they made sure it wasn't a complete waste of my time being at my own party (thanks guys)!


The straw that broke the camel's back came three days later. Back at work, I went to the toilet, feeling a little ill. When the upset stomach continued, and some came into the Gents and asked how I was, it struck again: PANIC!

Needless to say, I swiftly went home and stayed there for three days. I went to the doctor, who referred me for psychiatric treatment (still waiting!!) and put me on tranquilisers. These didn't work, as I had another attack trying to visit my Mum in London.


Since then I have been on Cipralex, an SSRI-inhibiter anti-depressant. Things are looking back up. After a further two weeks off work (whilst the Cipralex took effect), I began to feel better. Since then I have been at work and on course consistently, visited friends and family back in Devon and managed to play football again up here.

I have also joined a website for depression and anxiety disorders, No More Panic. They have been very helpful in my recovery and offer a lot of good advice. My bosses at Wettone Matthews, have been incredibly supportive, and that has been key to my recovery.



But I do not kid myself.
I am feeling better because I am drugged up (albeit it on a reasonably low dosage). I still get the twinges of thought... the feeling it could all go wrong. But they never appear, because they are masked by medication. I still have to work hard to overcome the crux of the problem... and the shrink will hopefully help me out here! But I'm still waiting for them...

It most likely boils down to my early childhood, where I was shipped about a bit. Parents divorcing is hard on any kid, and I'm the sort of person that bottles things up. Clearly, it's come to a head. Depression also is in the genes...


I must work hard to overcome my fears. I can beat this. I can do anything when I put my mind to it...

A Mini Rant!

What is the deal with new "Minis"? They are just so bloody common now!

Phee's friends at Uni all seem to be getting them, with three of her little circle of friends having "bought" them in the last year. They're just bloody everywhere! And the both the cars and their drivers annoy me.


First, let me start on the cars themselves. They are just not Minis! For a start, the inherently British icons of the motoring world are now German! And for a German car, they apparently have quite a few known faults. I mean, don't get me wrong, the Germans and Japanese make awesomely reliable cars on the whole!

And it's just not diddy enough. It's too big looking. It doesn't even have diddy wheels! This picture shows that the newer version is bigger. And just doesn't have the cute appeal:

And as for the drivers... well, they drive just like any other BMW driver: like a fucking wanker. No Mini EVER, will own the road. So why the drivers of them seem fit to try, I dunno! The tailgating bastard up my arse is now a BMW, 4x4 or a new "Mini" driver... basically, these silly cars are just BMWs for women!

And all these people go on about is how cute their car is. No it's not, it's bloody huge! And they normally have those ridiculous stripes now them. Or a silly roof!

If you want a Mini... get a REAL ONE!

The New Life.

So, it's been almost a year since my last blog! So much for keeping everyone up to date, eh!?


Well, the move itself went well. I had ample help from Tim, Julia, Ant and Steve and the van(s)! I didn't have much time to settle in before starting my new job at Wettone Matthews, a small firm of accountants in public practice. I'd had seven years experience in the field and so could fit in well!


The job itself has been going very well. I have made some new friends, in particular Aldershot fan John and the two younger ladies in the office, Hannah and Ellie-Grace. My bosses are quite easy going and very understanding (but more on that later). Through John, I have been able to get some vague type of social life back... playing for a few football teams.


I first joined the 5-a-side team he played for, Voyager. They played in the Basingstoke Powerleague, although we rarely won any games! I made a good impression and was soon an important member of the side. But alas, when the captain moved to Hong Kong the team soon folded!

Since them I have been playing some 5-a-side on a Wednesday night and have joined a Sunday league team, Chawton Athletic, who play in the Farnham and District Sunday League. They were short of players when I joined, and have been since. I've played on both wings and at right back so far, and been playing fairly well so hope to keep my place in the side. I've also made a good friend in George Petrie, who alternates the wings with me!


The new housemates are a mixed bag. On the one hand you have the very laid back James. He likes to chill out in his room, playing on his synthesiser and generally has a relaxed attitude to cleaning! Taras, or "The Russian" as I often refer to him, is a huge bloke who looks a little like Hagrid from Harry Potter, but without the beard! It's hard sometimes to understand each other, but having learnt two foreign languages I usually succeed. Then there are the two girls, Katie and Sidonie. One is a self-confessed arrogant rich girl who wants for nothing, the other is the most bizarre OCD-sufferer I've ever come across. And here stems a lot of the problems in the house... of which there do seem to be many. But again... those run-ins will be discussed in another post!

The house itself is old. Victorian, I believe. And it often shows. The landlord, Derrick, is quite helpful and often gets the numerous faults quickly sorted. Occasionally, he does seem to take the cheap way out, but the two rooms Phee and myself occupy seem fine now. We did have to redecorate ourselves (something I won't ever offer to do myself again!) but the rooms are now as we'd like them... albeit still very cluttered!

The bedroom is fairly simple. We have a new bed, white and metallic, and a few random furniture bits for clothes etc. The "office", as we refer to the larger room, is extremely cluttered. This is mainly due to the TWO computer desks and the quite large TV stand, complete with shiny new Xbox360! Incidentally, SabreWulf7 is my XboxLive handle!


The area around here is nice. We have been on a few walks to the Frensham Ponds and also to Waggoners Well. Basingstoke is just a half hour drive away and is our preferred destination for both shopping and entertainment, as the cinema is large and fairly cheap! Farnham itself is okay, and the Marlborough Head has footy on TV to keep me happy! Alton, where both Phee and I work is also a nice little market town.


Back home, I'm pleased to see the mighty Rockbeare Rangers finally going from strength to strength. After being accepted into the Lucozade Sport Performance League and Cup, there's a real buzz about the Club. Although there has been some managerial turmoil this season too! I'm struggling to drum up interest in the clothing range, despite the fact that the stuff MattD, Ed and I got is bloody awesome! And I miss being a part of the day-to-day stuff! But I keep myself involved by doing the website and being the PR guy. It works for me, it works for the Club. It's also nice to see that people at the Club still view my opinion and seek out my help from time to time!


Right... that's all for now. The next post (coming soon) will be documenting what's NOT right with both Phee and myself right now. That's coming soon.