All-Star... All Wulfy!

I've turned fashion designer this week.

Well, I say "fashion"... but I tend not to follow it.  I had never really got into the Converse trainer thing that others did.  My fiancee, Phee, my mate at football, Marc, are both often wearing a pair.  I even own a pair -  a limited edition "Jamaica" pair of Star Players.

But then I came across... the All-Star Designer.  Yes, you can make your own!  So I did... lots!  So here are my creations thus far.


The Yellows Collection

I decided to create a range of Chawton Athletic FC trainers, because I am a sad, sad man.  First off, I made some "home" coloured Chuck Taylor All-Stars:

Chawton Home Chuck Taylor All-Star Shoe

And then the "away" coloured version:

Chawton Away Chuck Taylor All-Star Shoe

For those wanting a more upmarket Chawton trainer, we have the sexy leather version of the home shoe:

Chawton Home Chuck Taylor Leather All-Star Shoe

And if you don't like cold ankles, you can get these in a boot!  I know, I too good to you:

Chawton Home Chuck Taylor Leather All-Star Boot

The Wulfy Collection

The shoes I want that aren't anything to do with my football club.  That's not to say they are normal colours though; it's fun to be different.  First up, we have what the Wulfy about town would wear during the day.  Inspired by my taste in music, which is mostly rock and progressive metal, the Rocks Boot:

Wulfy Rocks Star Player Boot

But when the sun goes down, it's time to party... in GLOW IN THE DARK shoes!  The colours for these were pretty limited, so they are probably quite similar to every other glowing All-Stars:

Wulfy Nights Chuck Taylor All-Star Shoe

Just because I can, I had a good at the multi-tongue shoe.  With that many tongues, the colour schemes are endless!  Should have done a rainbow:

Wulfy Chuck Taylor Mutli-Tongue Shoe

The Gofer Collection

And finally - one for my evil twin, Gofer.  He's getting married soon... and his colours are purple and silver.  Converse don't do silver, so phantom grey will have to be close enough on his shoes:

Gofer Wedding Shoe (his or hers!)

Custom made shoes to go with the two pairs of custom made football boots I play in and the custom made flights on the darts I throw.  Maybe I should move on to tie design next for my office wear.

Individuality is fun - have a go yourself!

MOre MO for Your MOney!

Yes, ladles and jellyspoons, it's that time of year again: MOvember!

It's a time for growing ridiculous moustaches with the aim of raising awareness for Prostate Cancer - one of the biggest killers of men in the country.  Over £11 million was raised in 2010, with Mo Bros and Sistas from all walks of life participating.  This year's celeb participants include a host of television and sports stars including Joey Barton, Lance Armstrong and Marcus Collins on the X Factor.

Personally, I do it more for the awareness and fun of being a Mo Bro, than for actual raising of money.  I am too busy (in revision mode!) to have to collect everybody's cash donations.  But having my own MoSpace means anybody that wishes to donate money on my behalf can do so.  My brother, Jay, is my first sponsor this year and I hope others kindly donate too!



Me on Day 9 of MOvember 2011!



This year I have even joined a team, which includes my ex-housemate, Erin.  Our team is Stead fast and Dapper - thus my mo must be carefully groomed throughout the month!  I wouldn't want to let the side down!  Team leader, Jack, always has an impeccable mo!

I must admit to having a running start this year though.  Having a week off before MOvember started, meant no proper shaving for an extra week.  November 1st saw a shave down (if it's good enough for QPR striker Jamie Mackie, it's good enough for me!) but the handlebars are all November mo!  I'm hoping that this doesn't put people of donating - it would be a shame to use this as an excuse for no supporting!

As well as my MOvember team, I have a couple mates joining in this year - Gofer and Ed.  I'm not sure if they have any links, but I'm sure they would welcome any online donations being made through my MoSpace!  I know, that's cheeky... but it's all in a good cause!  I'll update with links if they have a MoSpace of their own...

On that note, I shall leave you with some pictures of their progress so far:



Ed - Day 9!  Needs to shave of the non-mo hair!



Gofer - Day 2!  Modelling himself on Paul Calf!





The aforementioned Paul Calf!



If I Don't Have an iPhone...

... I don't have an iPod.  No, I have mp3s on my Desire.
... I don't have my music at my fingertips.  Yes I do.
... I don't have my playlists.  Yes I do.
... I don't have iTunes.  Good, it sucks.
... I don't have access to the AppStore.  What, like Android's?
... I don't have access to the largest amount of apps.  Most of them are crap anyway, there's no app on the iPhone I'd want that hasn't been made on Android.


If I don't have an iPhone, I don't... well, have an iPhone.


Thank fuck for that.  I'd rather have a phone that can actually be used as a PHONE and won't break the bank!

Ten Years.

Today I am mostly thinking of a friend, lost ten years ago to this day.

A bright bubbly character, Natasha Liversidge, loved her friends and family, her horses and life in general.  A life that was taken away in a blink of an eye thanks to Meningitis.  She always put others before herself and even after her passing was still helping others.  As an organ donor, she helped change the lives of five others.

Shortly after she died, I created a memorial page on my (now mostly defunct) website.  It is still there, in case any of you wish to see her: Tasha's Page.

For more information on Meningitis and to donate money to the Meningitis Trust, please click HERE.

For further information on becoming an organ donor, please click HERE.

Wulfy's Wonder Year 2010: Music.

In much the same way as I did for 2009, I thought I'd look back on the last year.  This time, though, I shall write a series of smaller blogs on different subjects, rather than just the large music one for 2009.  First in the series will be my soundtrack to 2010.

I didn't really listen to a lot of new music this year.  I did go through a habit of listening to Radio 1 at weekends when driving around the Hampshire and Sussex countryside, so did get more of a pop music intake than I usually like!  And of course there's the continuous barrage of pop and RnB on television too...

Ke$ha:  Rather hot too!

Some artists from the non-rock world have got my attention though, mostly due to my other half.  Although I haven't actually heard the full albums, I have been enjoying the singles released by Lady Gaga, Ke$ha and Tinie Tempah.
Ke$ha's single with Taio Cruz, Dirty Picture (links to YouTube video), was excellent (although the radio edit kinda loses some of it's "charm").  Lady Gaga released the reimagined album, The Fame Monster, at the tail end of 2009 and the singles from it have been very catchy, particularly Telephone and Bad Romance - which have been on rotation in the car's multi-changer.

Obviously, despite the fact I think it's a great big fix, I have been watching the X-Factor again.  The two artists I was following didn't really have a chance of winning though.  Paije Richardson I thought was a very soulful singer, but never really looked the part for the judges.  Aiden Grimshaw (the love of Phee's life), who's versions of Thriller and Mad World were amazingly spooky, was just too weird for most tastes.  Just not generically pop enough!

Anathema's Album of the Year.

Now then, back to the real music!  I did get a few new albums this year... some new releases, some very old. I got Anathema's new album, We're Here Because We're Here, which is good.  I still prefer Judgement though!  I also got one of Porcupine Tree's older albums, Stars Die.  Going old skool, I also got The Very Best of Thunder!  It has all their hits, all my favourites, and a load more!  The other album I bought this year was the debut album by Canadian band Domenica, The Luxury.  Domenica are a female fronted rock band, verging on gothic, quite similar to Evanescence.

Video of the year, although released at the end of 2009, was definitely Pussy by Rammstein.  I shall leave it to you to google it (careful as you go!), but it is definitely NSFW!

Well, that actually is longer than I'd planned!  Still, Wulfy's Music Awards for 2010 are:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:  We're Here Because We're Here - Anathema
NON-ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR:  The Fame Monster - Lady Gaga
SONG OF THE YEAR:  Pussy - Rammstein
NON-ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR:  Dirty Picture - Taio Cruz & Ke$ha

MOST LISTENED TO ALBUM:  Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'n' Roses
MOST LISTENED TO SONG:  All Along the Watchtower - Bear McCreary

DJ OF THE YEAR:  Kitty Jay

It's a Mo, Jim, but not as we know it!

The handlebar is going fairly well, with a mere two weeks to go!  Unfortunately, I just can't get it bushy enough for my liking!

Wulfy Loves Gargoyle Tears.

And, oh they'll be a flowing tonight!

I write this shortly after my beloved Exeter City have beaten their fiercest rivals, Plymouth Arygle, 2-1 at their own ground.  Yeah, it's only the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.  It's a cup we're still in after Saturday's F.A. Cup first round match at Bury, but it comes way below League One survival in terms of importance.  But this is Argyle.  Or Gargoyle, as most of us call them.

The Pride of Devon: Officially EXETER CITY.

This is a rivalry just as fierce as a Manchester derby (like the one tomorrow!).  Just as fierce as the Scouse derby.  And ranks pretty darn close to the Old Firm derby (which does have the added religious spice to it).  There is almost always violence following the matches and reports indicate there's an amount of it tonight.

I remember my first, and as yet, only proper Devon derby.  Just about.  It was an awful long time ago and the result was not a good one (the actual result I've blocked from my mind) so the walk past the rows and rows of smiling Argyle fans shouting shit was unbearable!  Too much for my Mum, who threatened to take them all on.  All five hundred of them, against one of her!  Well, four of us...!  Just an intense atmosphere all round.

Grecian the Lion and Pilgrim Pete... not the best of friends!

It's been eight years since the last derby match.  Well, that actually counts.  And although it was kind of put to one side, although never forgotten, the fact that Argyle were relegated last season couple with City's last match save from relegation themselves meant they found in each in the same division at long last!  But when the JP Trophy draw through us together, it went up a notch... three derbies in one season.

Well... one of them down, and it's a 100% record for this season and City now edge in front W20-D19-L19 overall, according to a local historian.  11th December is the next match, again at Home Park.  When hopefully we'll do it again...!  Chin up, ya janners!!

And We're Off! The Mo is GO!

This year's MOvember has begun.  I will upload a picture when I have some meaningful growth, but tonight I shall share with you the options!  And this is where you can help (and I find out how many people actually read my ditherings!)...

On a post-it note I doodled some possible beards to grow ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.  The latter will clearly be the more popular!  But instead of just uploading a mobile phone photographed crude yellow drawing, I turned them into superbly crafted digital master pieces!  I love Paint...

Before you choose from the awesome facial growth designs, you should see how my hair looks naturally.  I have to admit it is a pretty good likeness!  I have been growing my sideburns for a number of weeks now, and these will not be going during MOvember at all, thus the base face includes these!  My usual clean shaven self has been proven in the past the make me look younger than my thirty-odd years.  Beards and MOs will age me!

So on to the MOs!

First up is Le Francais.  This has been inspired by Poirot and almost every French waiter in the world.  As much as I hate to look like the proverbial garlic muncher, it would be an amusing MO to go for.  The challenge is in growing enough on the sides on the mouth to wax and turn upwards!  I shall then don Phee's beret and buy some onions to hang from my mountain bike!  It has a flat tyre, but the look will still work I'm sure.
I didn't even mention the phrase cheese eating surrender monkey in all that.  Oh.  Damnit...

Next is the Cornell.  Some of you may wonder what the hell I am going on about here, so let me enlighten you.  Chris Cornell is the lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave.  Phee told me the other day he was pretty hot.  So of course I've been sporting a beard like his ever since.  But to finish the look I need the MO to go with it.  The rockstar wannabe in me likes this look!

MOs and beards named after people.  One other famous one for you to consider is the Brent.  Not Spiner (Data from Star Trek), but David Brent from The Office - as played by Ricky Gervais.  I do work in an office, granted, but I would like to think I'm not such a tactless, awkward imbecile as he is!  This style was originally to be called the "Dad", as my old man used to sport one of these before he decided to go bare-lipped.  And thus, it had to be re-named.  Still, apt for an accountant.

The next two are the comedy beards.  I'm expecting one of them to win.  First up, we have the Porno.  Yes, you guessed it, it's a big bushy caterpillar on my top lip, with not much else.  In particular I'm thinking 70s porno-chic MOs, as made famous by John Holmes and the legend that is Ron Jeremy (be warned, those links are best not viewed at work).  Big Ron's MO is just quality... in fact the only non-porn actor who is up there with it is Tom Selleck.  But "Porno" sounds better than "Selleck"... haha!

The second funny one, is the Cowboy!  Yes, we're talking full-on handlebar MO goodness - as seen on Amazon!  Curving round my top lip and down the chin as far as it'll grow!  The downside to this is that I may get hit on by more forty year old blokes, but it's a good cause so I'll take one for the team.  Not literally, you understand.  I will, inevitably, have to buy a check shirt though and put on a deep southern US accent to get into character... and camp it up.  And start shooting like Yosemite Sam!

Aaaaaand finally... the Full On.  This ain't just a MO.  It's basically an unruly facial mess.  MO, beard, bit of cheek stubble.  An excuse not to shave at all for a month.  Although I do reserve the right to shave my neck!  It makes me look slightly fatter if I have a hairy neck!  Oh, and I might get the sack...
In fact, I'll probably go with this in the early stages to see how the MO is going!


After you have decided on which is best, please do comment below and let me know you thoughts.  It can be anonymous if you prefer.  But then, why would you want to be?!  The winning MO with the most votes will be the one I sport for the final week of MOvember.  A whole week!

Please use the blog to comment.  It make me look popular and it's easier to collate the answers in one place!  Yes, I know a a lot of you read the posts on Facebook or get it delievered to your email inbox, but make some effort and go to the blog itself.  I will reward you with MO-glory!!

Bring on the MO!

It's that time of year again, folks!  MOVEMBER!

And yes, yours truly is going to have another attempt to grow a decent amount of facial hair in aid of a good cause.  Currently I am sporting a vague goatee beard, nothing like Beppe di marco from Eastenders - contrary to what the girls at work think.

I have been asking people what sort of mo I should gro(w).  Current favourites are the pornstar, the cowboy and the full "Brent".  Illustrations of these will follow as soon as I've played around with Paint some more!

For now, please visit my MoSpace and donate.  or join my team, if you're raising too!

A Tough Few Months in My World of Music!

It started the moment I got back from my late spring holiday to Orlando, Florida in May.  I found out that Ronnie James Dio, Rainbow's real lead singer, died while I was on holiday.

Rainbow have always been right up there with my other favourite bands, Guns 'n' Roses, Tool and Dream Theater (more on them later).  I grew up listening to both Dio-era Rainbow and the later stuff with Graham Bonnet and liked both.  But Rising was always my favourite album and Stargazer has always been my favourite song ever.  With Dio involved, the lyrics were often set in Lord of the Rings-esque fantasy and had a progressive edge to it.  I was saddened by Cozy Powell's death, many years ago, but for me Dio WAS Rainbow (well, him and Blackmore!).

Since his passing, I have been listening to a lot more of Dio's solo stuff.  I had heard Holy Diver before, as I'd come across Killswitch Engage's awesome cover of it on some satellite music channel... probably Scuzz!  I got hold of Heaven and Hell's album and am hoping to get some of the Dio-era Black Sabbath stuff.

Rock music has lost one of the greatest singers of all time.  And the inventor of the iconic horns hand signal seen at every rock/metal gig in the world.  Ever!


In August, Guns 'n' Roses came to England.  Yay!

But noooo, Axl Rose has taken a right bashing.  Now then, I don't condone the way he clearly takes the piss getting his arse on stage.  But people are forgetting he's always been like that... there have been riots in the past because of it.  And it seems these detractors have one sole reason for directing it at him...
"New GNR" are not as good as the original line-up.

Personally, I can tell the difference between the older stuff and Chinese Democracy, as most can, but I like both!  Indeed, Phee had never heard much of the older stuff, bar the obvious songs, and became a proper fan off the back of their latest offering.  Obviously they'll never been the same without Slash, Duff and the guys, but Axl owns the name, the music does sound pretty GnR-ish so he can do what he wants.  And having seen them live before, they are all talented musicians in their own right.  Do people slag Slash off for playing GnR songs at Velvet Revolver or Slash's Snakepit gigs with Axl?  No.

And the insults aimed at him for the way he looks?  Fuck me, that's low.  The guy's almost hitting 50, of course he's gonna be a little rough around the edges!

He needs to be more professional in this day and age though.  He might have ruled the world in the 90's with the Use Your Illusion world tour, but now he has to prove himself all over again, without the old band mates.  Time will tell whether he manages it... but I will be gutted to wait another fifteen years for a GnR album!

All this said, I did see them live last week.  Phee and I went to the O2 Arena in London for their Wednesday night gig.  We sat around the Blueroom for a while, listening to their albums, before catching the end of the support act - I believe it was Sebastian Bach.  Judging by the timings of the support band and how long the turnovers can be at any gig, I was expecting Axl and the boys on stage at about 9:30pm.  They were a mere ten minutes later than that.  Impressive for him!

Once again, people still come out saying he was an hour late.  An hour?!  The door didn't open til half six.  With the support band, safety checks regarding the pyrotechnics and the sound set-up there was no way they were gonna be on stage at 8:30!  No way in hell.

The gig itself was good.  Took a few songs for Axl to warm up it seemed, but when he did I loved it.  We had to leave at midnight, missing all but the first song of the encore.  Bloody trains!

I loved it.  Phee loved it.  Critics can go to hell.

However, I would have preferred going the following night.  Not only were the Murderdolls supporting, but Duff McKagan joined in!  I'd seen Izzy Stadlin' play with them at Download in 2006 and was gutted I didn't get to see Duff up there with Axl.  I almost wet myself with excitement when I found out!  And Duff quite liked it too...


Finally, comes the news last month that Mike Portnoy has left Dream Theater.  This is devastating news, although not surprising when you read his statement.  He has long been one of the best drummers in the world of any genre, but particularly of progressive music.

It was time for him to take a break from the band and I wish he'd been able to work out a compromise with the rest of them.  Tool take years between albums, so most DT fans would have waited for the next album and tour til he'd recovered from the burn-out.  But no compromise was forthcoming.

And now he plays for Avenged Sevenfold.  I'm fine with that.  After the Rev died, they needed a decent drummer and they got the best, in my opinion.  They'll be better for it.  I like them too.  The criticism levelled at Portnoy and at A7X is ridiculous!

You have to follow your heart in this life.  If it's not in what you're doing, move on...

World Cup, Local Cups, Charity Match!

A month of football is well under way and some interesting goings on at the World Cup in South Africa!

The biggest shock of the tournament so far was yesterday's defeat of Spain by minnows Switzerland.  An error by Iker Casillas of Real Madrid, so often Spain's saviour, gave the Swiss a 1-0 win.  It makes their last group game against Chile more than a little interesting!  Even more baffling is keeping Cesc Fabregas on the bench... he's scored more goals this season than the entire starting midfield!  Does Vicente del Bosque not like him or something?

It was amusing seeing Mexico bring the French to the brink of elimination though.  Thoroughly deserving of their 2-0 win, despite a slightly offside second goal (possibly, maybe).  They cheated to get there anyway, so here's hoping one of my sweepstake teams, Uruguay, go through instead!!

My home nations, England and Nigeria, aren't really having the best of times.  England drew a fairly one sided, but flat, opening game against the Yanks (immortalised here in Legovision).  We should still go through though, as the other teams in the group look even worse!  I just hope we win the group... Germany look awfully good, so I'd rather not meet them in the second round.  Save them for the final!

Nigeria find themselves on the brink of going out.  A narrow defeat to Argentina in game one was today followed by another loss, this time to Greece - who'd never ever won a game at the Finals!  It was Sani Kaita's fault.  A shockingly reckless kick got him sent off and cost the Super Eagles the match... they were easily in control, and leading, up until that point.

Not that I entirely blame him.  The Greek he kicked probably would have got a push from me too, if he'd shoved the ball into my chest!  I too have been petulant in matches before... the odd retaliation tackle (notably, I fractured a kid's arm when at school) or flailing elbow (well, if Mr. Peters will insist on tugging my shirt...!).  It's not big, it's not clever, but it does feel good for a split second.  Until you see the red card (which, somehow, I've not seen).


Before the world's biggest competition started, there had been mixed fortunes for my local teams.  Both reached their first cup finals, both were unlucky to lose.  Chawton Athletic were robbed by shocking refereeing in the Runwick Cup Final and Rockbeare Rangers lost in extra time in the Geary Cup Final.

Even more sad, for me, is he news that the Rooks will not be continuing in their current form.  After the gaffer, Ian Keenan, quit due to work commitments, nobody came forward to manage and run the Club.  The brain-child of me, Gofer, Ed and MattD has ceased to exist.  And the swanky new Nike kit I single-handedly got the club is been sold... unworn by Rangers!  That's a tad gutting!

There is hope that the name may live on.  Plans are afoot to resurrect the club, but it won't be until at least the 2011/12 season.  News on that, for those of you that care, when it arises.


This summer's main match is the charity match I'm playing in.  The match forms part of a "family fun day" at Feniton FC, in aid of the Special Care Baby Unit at Derriford hospital.  The SCBU saved the lives of a mate's very premature twin boys and thus he raises money every year.  This year's highlight is a charity match between S.C.B. U-nited and the Exeter City Legends.  Being a massive City fan, I'm well excited!

Scooby United, as I call them, are having some friendlies, to ensure we don't get completely dicked!  Last weekend's friendly was my first, a 6-6 draw with a Taunton charity team that included former England cricketer, Andy Caddick.  I got a goal, had another heinously ruled off for a non-existent offside by the cheating linesman, and overall had a good game.

The fun day (link requires Facebook, I think) is on Sunday 1st August from 10 til 4.  Kick off is, I think, at 10:30...

Squeaky Bum Time in the Footy Season!

A little over a month to go until the end of the football season and it's getting tense for all my teams!


In the English Premiership, Arsenal are surprisingly mounting a title challenge.  They may be third at the moment, but the top three are separated by just three points.  Arch-rivals, Spurs, have the chance to decide the title as they have to play all three of the title challengers!  Arsenal are the first to play their dirty North London rivals with Chelsea and Manchester United to follow.

Cesc Fabregas' injury means he;ll miss the rest of the Gunners' season.  And he ain't the only one!  There's also long term injuries to a host of other first team players, meaning others like Niklas Bendtner, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott (left, no excuse needed to put a pic of his other half on here!) need to step up to the plate!

And then there's the disappointment of the stuffing Lionel Messi's Barcelona side gave them this week!  The side probably won't need to gee themselves up for the derby match, but they will need to up their game.  Messi was quality, but the Arsenal defence also gifted the Spaniards possession in dangerous positions... do that against Spurs and Defoe will be a happy man!

Exeter City have seen themselves fall into the League One relegation zone recently, but four points over Easter have seen them catapult up a very competitive table.  But any two of six or seven sides could join Wycombe and Stockport (who are all but down, it seems) in League Two next season.

City's hopes of survival took a big dent this week, with the sad news that East Devon Grecians' sponsored player, Adam Stansfield (right), is suffering from bowel cancer.  Stanno has the right fighting mentality to beat the illness though, so hopefully he'll be back to play the Argyle scum next season!  I wish him a speedy recovery...


My local sides have had mixed seasons too.  Rockbeare Rangers have made it to the semi-finals of the East Devon cup, their best ever run and one game away from their first final!  In the league they have loads of games in hand, and could still mount a promotion challenge.  This week's defeat to Bampton didn't help the cause, but if they players can knuckle down they can achieve good things!


Chawton Athletic have gone one better, albeit with less rounds, by reaching their first ever cup final.  In two weekends time, they will travel to their conquered semi-final opponents' ClubSoreLoser Hartley Wintney's ground to play Royal Oak in the Runwick Cup final.  The club hope to have a large supporting contingent for the game, which kicks off at 14:00 on the 25th April.

After five weeks without a game (I was inadvertently left on the bench last time out), I had a starting berth last Sunday.  Unfortunately, five weeks out took it's toll!  I was disappointed with my level of fitness, so have been for a few runs since then and some training on Wednesday.  I don't expect to keep my place, but am still hopeful I can convince Matt I to start me in the final - I have, after all, started each Runwick Cup match so far!  I gotta put some real work in first though...

Before the final, we have the last league game of the season, against our closest rivals in the league, Royal Exchange.  That game could decide whether Chawton finish bottom of the league for the second successive season, or make it one position better!