Decent Proposal After an Exam Letdown!

Last month's exam results were not what I hoped or particularly expected.  At the time of the ACCA exams in December 2009, I was 50/50 as to whether I'd passed either of them.  So obtaining 48 in Law and 47 in Financial Management (pass mark was 50) was disappointing and very annoying!  So close, yet so far...

With the holiday to Florida, my sister's wedding and my brother's first baby's birth all being in May (well, the latter's expected date!), I don't have time to revise for both again.  Thus, I shall only be re-taking Financial Management - and am determined to pass it at the second time of asking.  Third-time-lucky for the Law will have to wait til December, or even June 2011 if I run out of days off at work!

But on to happier news...

I am engaged.  Yes, he of "I'm never gonna get married as I don't want to get divorced" fame finally bit the bullet to make and honest woman of Phee.  I won't bother you with the sloppy details, but it was on her 21st birthday, in the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth with just a few squirrels as witnesses!  And I did get on one knee, albeit it after the actual proposal.  And I did get a ring, despite having very little money!  And Phee loves it, which is what counts...

As for the what's, when's, who's, hows and whys... there is so much to work out.  The provisional date, which had been set way before we got engaged, is the 29th December 2012... the next time my Nan's birthday falls on a Saturday, and is six days after the anniversary of when we first started dating.

Family are already expecting an Engagement Party... or two!  The likelihood is that we will have a gathering in Hull and in Devon for both sides of the family.  I shall no doubt arrange the Devon shindig, with maybe a small(ish) get together at the Three Tuns in Honiton, as I'm sure my Mum can get it cheap/free!  Of course, DJ RichieB will be spinning the (digital mp3-shaped) discs!

My best man, as if was ever in any doubt, is my best mate Gofer,  Phee's maid of honour is her best mate, Hannah.  I will probably stick with tradition and have some of my brothers as ushers and I know that Phee wants her sister, Tasha, and my niece, Alice, as her bridesmaids amongst others.  And no doubt my brother's unborn baby, code name Peanut, will be pageboy/flower girl!

We will not have a religious ceremony (unless it's satanic), nor will it be in a registry office (I want more atmosphere).  Current venues (which is likely to be in Surrey/Hampshire, where we live) are a decent hotel, a small castle type place or Nuthanger Farm!  Okay, given the latter is no doubt owned by people I don't actually know, it is highly unlikely... but I'd love to get married on/near Watership Down!

They are, I think, the only details that have vaguely been decided.  Any other questions can be forwarded to our official wedding planner, Julaloo!

A Photo Tells a Thousand Stories...

Since moving to Surrey, I have been getting more and more into the world of amateur photography.  I don't have any plans to go pro, as accountancy pays way better right now, but it is something I am looking at taking more seriously.

It started back in Devon, taking pictures of Rockbeare Rangers FC with my then-new toy, a Fujifilm Finepix S7000.  Although only 6 megapixel (only 1MP better than my mobile phone) it had a pretty good lens and a nice optical zoom on it.  The auto mode for Sports Photography did a reasonable job of capturing the action at matches, and my pictures have long graced the (now defunct) Rangers website (I do have plans to go to a game and get some of my work on the new Rooks' site!).

I also took the S7000 to my brother's wedding.  They had a professional photographer, at a cost, but upon seeing the two hundred half decent shots I got, they preferred a lot of mine to the official guy's work!  Again, I was using the automatic settings... barely photography at all, just a point and a click!

When I moved to the Surrey/Hampshire border, I was provided with a wealth of new scenery.  Ever since my Valentine's Day trip to Lydford Gorge with Phee in 2007, when I captured a curious robin, I have loved taking pictures of nature and natural landscapes.  I have always loved the great outdoors, which isn't surprising given I grew up in Devon!  But being able to capture it's beauty (and use it as a computer wallpaper!) has made me appreciate my surroundings even more.

I started taking photos when I went to the Kings Pond in Alton to feed the ducks after dropping Phee at work.  What had started as a quiet way to relax, during my most anxiety ridden times, turned into many a photo opportunity!  Indeed, I have quite the catalogue of the three (originally six) cygnets' life!

To show off my work, I have started an Artbreak account (see the right hand bar) and signed up to various other websites and forums, including the Digital Photography School site and forum (for tips and hints) and NetModel (in case I want to take portraits).  I've uploaded a few of my better photos to the Artbreak site, but new photos get added infrequently; I only want the very best of my photographs added!  Adding photos the DPS and having them critiqued helps too... a fantastic way to learn (who needs a photography degree, eh?!)

So, getting into it more, I sold my S7000 to my Mum and upgraded to a Fuji S200EXR.  This still isn't a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, but it does take some good pictures!  It's a superzoom bridge camera with 12 megapixels, reducing the need to zoom in too much.  I've been learning about such things as aperture and noise, although it's all very difficult to get your head around when you're only a starting amateur!

I'm having a little trouble with the settings on this new piece of kit.  With no designated sports mode, I'm having to use the shutter speed setting to get the best shots, without being too dark or blurry!  My portrait pictures seem to be okay, but I've not been able to take very many so far.  Should get Phee modelling for me more!

Most of my portrait and people pictures will be the normal posed or candid shots, but I do intend to be good at the art-nude type shots made famous by Petter Hegre, husband of Luba, and friends (as seen in the free galleries at the very NSFW Coolios site).  They will only ever be of my better half, unless it's a well paid job(!), so will not make it to my Artbreak site - unlucky!  So for now, at the very least, you'll have to entertain yourselves with those I do upload there!

Results Day Approacheth!

Monday 22nd February sees the next lot of ACCA exam results come out.  In December last year, I re-took one exam, Corporate and Business Law (F4), and took another exam, Financial Management (F9), for the first time.

The Law exam I failed first time out, in June last year.  Certain parts of it, particularly that regarding contract and employment law, I found really interesting and thus did quite well I thought.  And this time round, I was disappointed to find there was less of it!  But I did work a lot harder for this sitting, so failure will be that bit more disappointing.

The other exam involves things like debt management and value of businesses.  This is the sort of thing the bosses and the senior staff at my firm do, so I was keen to do well in it!

Because it was my first attempt at F9, I was allowed to go on a "taught" course, down at BPP Southampton.  That, coupled with the short, but intense, studying I did pre-exam, I am hoping is enough to earn me a first time-pass!

When I came out of the exam hall in December, I honestly felt that both exams could go either way.  Thus there is a 25% chance I will pass both but, equally, the same odds of failing both!  I answered every part of every question in both exams, from what I recall... let's just hope I didn't write a pile of crap!

Currently, I am one exam ahead of my three colleagues who started the ACCA journey at the same time.  Whilst it isn't a race, I will admit to being a weensy-bit competitive.  Therefore, I really want to keep my nose in front!

My sister-in-law has recently had some mixed results from her AAT exams.  They seem to be done way differently to how I did them, years ago.  I don't miss those exams, although these ACCA exams are on a different level (despite what my colleagues think!)...

I am proud to have my AAT qualification, easy though I found it... let's see whether come Monday I am any closer to getting the next one!

Cheats! Football Cheating Takes Many Forms...

I find myself incandescent with rage at the way certain footballers conduct themselves.

The particular incident that most pisses me off right now is the current complaint being lodged in the Farnham and District Football League.  Chawton Athletic, the team I play for up here, had got a very hard earned victory in the semi-final of one of the many cups we play.  This is the first cup final for the Yellows.  And it came after a penalty shoot-out, that I could not participate in as I'd been subbed.

So what do CSL Hartley Wintney do after they trudge off the pitch?  Fucking complain!  They couldn't take losing to a lowly team like us, so they lodge a complaint with the league using the very dubious reason that the referee only played twenty minutes of extra time, instead of the regulation thirty.  This, after it had been agreed before the extra time began!

I really hope they laugh at their sore-losing faces at tomorrow night's meeting.

Notice they play in green and white!  Okay, I'll stop about that...

Another thing that annoys me... DIVING!  And Niklas Bendtner bloody did it for Arsenal tonight.  Stay on your feet if possible, but never throw yourself to the floor like a dirty cheat!  Eduardo looked to have done it last season, Emmanuel Eboue has a reputation for it.  I wish Arsenal would just play their slinky football with out resorting to falling over!

And the fake card giving.  Why?!  Why the hell do you need to tell the ref how to do his job?  Are you a qualified ref?  No.  So stop trying to be one and just get on with the game.  They should dish out yellows to ANYBODY who flashes the imaginary card.  That'll stop them... or make games an interesting 7 v 7 affair!

Salem's Loot.

After discovering our kitten is actually likely to be a boy, Phee and I decided to name him Salem.  I came up with the name from Stephen King's novel, Salem's Lot.  It seemed nicely eerie for an all black cat.  Phee liked it because it was also the name of the cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch!  The gender of Salem hasn't been confirmed yet, but if "he" does turn out to be "she", the name will likely change to Luba (a nude model - link NSFW).

We finally got to meet Salem just before the new year.  We stayed at my Mum's for one night of our two-night stay in Devon.  Being excited as I was, I bought him (and the three siblings) a set of three toy mice!  And Salem, in particular, loved them:




Salem is now the sole remaining kitten, as his siblings have all got new homes.  But he must wait for six months before moving in with us.  And six months is such a long time!  Hopefully he'll be fully litter trained by then, and weened.  And also, a house cat!  Even if we do have a house in a safe area, I would worry too much that he'd wander away.  Curiosity might kill the proverbial cat... I don't want it to kill ours!

So here am I snuggling Salem.  In the mean time, I shall watch more of Simon's Cat... like here, in the snow!

2009, Wulfy's Year in Music.

Music never dies... it's always everywhere.  It's always on the radio... when there aren't adverts or Chris Moyles talking away it is!  It's on our TVs... live music, music quizzes, X-Factor!  And everyone has an opinion on it!  But this is what music I've been listening to this year, either voluntarily or not!

X Factor

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of The X Factor.  2009's show has been more about making money for Simon Cowell than talent or music.  Point in case is "Jedward", who have no singing ability what-so-ever, remaining in the competition when the rather more talented, and infinitely hotter, Lucie Jones (looking mighty fine, to the right) was sent home.  The show turned into a farce, albeit a farce that raked in the viewers!

It was good to see a singer on there with a more "rock" sound, in Jamie "Afro" Archer.  But he was never destined to win the show.  And I didn't care for the final two either.  Olly Murs definitely is like Robbie Williams... not the best singer, but does like to put on a show.  Not my cup of tea.  And the winner, Joe McElderry, has quite a bland singing style.  He'd be pretty good in musical theatre, maybe, but as a pop artist he doesn't cut it.  So much so that Rage Against the Machine's infinitely better "Killing in the Name of" pipped him to the Christmas number 1.  Awesome.

My Musical Taste has Progressed
Lovely play on words, that.
This past year, I have been listening to some new bands and (obviously, perfectly legally) downloading a discography or too.  Mostly, this has been in the progressive metal genre.

As a fan of progressive metal kings Dream Theater, who's "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" triple CD set I got this year, I decided to try some other bands of the genre.  The first band I got into was Porcupine Tree.  They are a four-piece from the UK and have only recently been leaning towards progressive metal, having originally been more psychedelic.  The first album I got was "Deadwing", which is a masterpiece concept album, like DT's "Scenes from a Memory".  The album tells a ghost story, which has been planned as a film for ages!  The two stand out tracks, "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here" and "The Start of Something Beautiful", have been in my car ever since!

The next album, "Fear of a Blank Planet", is just as good.  It's heavier than the previous album and deals a lot with mental illness (which I've been dealing with myself, recently).  And the new album, out this year, is the two-CD "The Incident".  I've not really got into this as much yet, but I'm sure it won't take long.  Check out the band's videos at their website, including "Something Beautiful"'s Tool-esque stop-go animation video!

I have been listening to some other progressive bands.  Amongst these are The Mars Volta, Stream of Passion and the classic prog band from Canada, Rush.  I've known about Rush for many years, having heard "Spirit of Radio" in my Mum's car when I was young!  But I've obtained their back catalogue and I can hear the influence they had on Dream Theater!

The final band I have mostly been getting into this year is Anathema.  I had one of their songs on a magazine compilation, so I bought the album it came from: Judgement.  Much like Porcupine Tree, the album (or most of it) has been a permanent fixture of my car's CD multi-changer.  Click here from the haunting "Parisienne Moonlight" on YouTube.

It's a very atmospheric album with tracks that blend into each other.  Some say it's a tad depressing, but then again that's often what I listen to. It's not surprising from a band that started as doom metal!  The older music is okay, but not entirely up my street, but their more recent (more progressive, slightly gothic) albums are equally as good as this first CD I have of theirs.

I am looking forward to their next offering, currently titled "Horizons" and slated for a release this year.

Final mention for the music I've listened to this year is for one of my old favourites, Guns 'n' Roses.  Although it was technically released in 2008, I didn't get "Chinese Democracy" until last year.  It differs a lot from their previous stuff with Slash et al.  There's a greater range of sounds and some new twists, all of which I have to say I like.  Very catchy and right up there with my favourite albums of the last year (or so).

Dance the Night Away
I have also been listening to non-guitar orientated music this year.  As well as new music from The Prodigy and Pendulum, I have been listening to two DJs in particular.

The first has been around for some time and played some of the biggest clubs in the UK.  Deadmau5, who usually wears a huge mouse head when playing live, had hit singles featuring vocals from Kaskade and Pendulum's Rob Swire.  I haven't quite gotten around to buying his albums yet... really should do that!

The other DJ is an up and coming turntable master from Exeter.  Okay, he's my evil twin (Gofer) in DJ form.  RichieB has been playing his dirty funky electro-house since late 2008.  His debut gig (I think) was at our joint 30th birthday party last January (less said about that night, the better).  Since then he has played many of Exeter's biggest dance event of 2009, with Pams House/PHunky and Digital Passion with a residency at EX4 and regular slots on the Terrace at the Phoenix Club.  Hopefully, 2010 will be an equally big year for him!


And so on to my favourites list, a kind of Wulfy's Music Awards if you like:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:  Black Clouds and Silver Linings - Dream Theater
NON-ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR:  Lungs - Florence and the Machine
SINGLE/EP OF THE YEAR:  Live, Consume, Drive - Sanguine
SONG OF THE YEAR:  Stargazer - Dream Theater
NON-ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR:  I Remember - Deadmau5

MOST LISTENED TO ALBUM:  Judgement - Anathema
MOST LISTENED TO TRACK:  Arriving Somewhere but Not Here - Porcupine Tree

CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR:  Permanent Waves - Rush

DJ OF THE YEAR:  RichieB and Deadmau5 (tied!)


2010
There are a few albums I'm looking forward to this year; I've already mentioned Anathema's new album.  Avenged Sevenfold were to have a new album out too, although it remains to be seen if it does get released soon due to the untimely death of The Rev.  I'm also interested in hearing (possible) new albums from My Chemical Romance, Stone Sour, Rage Against the Machine and Deftones.

Feel free to add comments regarding your own favourite music of 2009!

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!

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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!