The Mohair Diaries

Afghan Heroes Night, Queens Head, 12 November 2011

2011-11-14T18:50:00.006Z

Many, many thanks to everyone who came along to the Queen's Head on Saturday to make it such a great night. With any luck we've between us all raised a fair bit for Afghan Heroes, more details when I've got them in a later post. The later post will also contain rather more (and better) pictures of the event.

In the meantime, a quick shot each of the night's various entertainers:

Axial View

Sisters Of Swing

Fraser Road Race Band

Rock Bottom

Movember 2011

2011-11-02T13:58:00.003Z

It's that time again - itchy face, weird looks from people on the bus. Yup, it's Movember. Pop along here and leave me some words of encouragement. Cheers y'all!

Hoggin' Teh

2011-10-16T16:43:00.002Z

Update: Hmmmm. What's this gibberish? Probably best not to post things whilst pissed, but even in that state you'd think I could manage to complete the fucking title :/ I'll get round to a proper Hoggin' The Bridge 2011 post in due course. Possibly.

Tickenham - Rock Bottom

2011-10-14T15:34:00.002Z

Actually it's not such a bad place, THB. They've got The Star, which (whilst "kid friendly") is actually well worth a visit. And The Star have got Rock Bottom, at least on 21 October, so they should have you, too, also on 21 October. I need a drink.

Burger All

2011-09-22T14:39:00.004Z

I have exerted my influence (sadly this is in no way as significant as my girth) and burgers will be a-grillin' from around 16.00 at Saturday's Queen's Head bash. Get there early before I eat them all...

Please note that this is a "Macdonald's Advert" style impression of a Semple Burger and is not to be confused with anything that may actually be served on Saturday

One For The Hat

2011-09-09T12:23:00.004Z

Following the rather bizarre Mitsubishi Family Day in Feeder Road the other week there's another bash in aid of the National Star College at the good old Queen's Head in Fishponds Road, Bristol on Saturday 24th September.

Organised by this man...
We'd love to see you there. Music from Rock Bottom, BBQ, Raffle (run by Paul, so probably worth coming along for in its own right). Starts after whatever football's on live that day. Burgers may start earlier if I have anything to do with it.

Ah Ha

2011-05-16T09:25:00.001Z

Up and running again. Good. More later :)

See, It Was Well Worth The Effort

2011-05-06T11:37:00.013Z

Well, no, of course it wasn't. In all probability nothing will *actually* change here in Bristol - the "No Overall Control" council will continue the policy of total incompetence of their illustrious LibDem predecessors. Nationally, the LibDems are getting their first taste of a mid-term electoral bloody nose and would be well advised to see it for what it is and nothing more. The Labour Luvvies will continue to behave like schoolboys who have just discovered playing with their dicks until they find out that their local Tesco Express has run out of their favourite brand of ready-meal and they go back to sulking. Still, it was fun, wasn't it?

Just like New York, apparently
I've not seen a single non-blue Taxi since they were outlawed here on Sunday - I seem to recall the idea was to make Bristol more like New York (why??? and anyway, don't they have yellow taxis?) but never having been there (NY, sadly I'm in Bristol rather a lot) can't really say to what extent this has or has not been a success. I'm pretty sure there isn't a branch of Tescos every five feet in NY though, so in this regard the policy has failed completely. Over to Banksey and the boys, then.

In Bristol, you're never more than bottle-hurling distance from a Tesco
Suggestions would be welcome for new songs for the Rock Bottom set, ideally something that hasn't featured in a Disney film (thank you Mr Semple). Have a good 'un dudes.

Don't Forget To Vote!

2011-05-05T10:03:00.002Z

That's it, really. Get out there and use your vote.

And have a great day, too.

If That's Football You Can Count Me Out

2011-04-28T07:13:00.002Z

The press will have some sort of field day with it I guess - a great Messi goal but otherwise an absolute shambolic disgrace from which no one (Messi besides) emerges with any credit whatsoever. If this is the way people want their football then they can have it but count me out, I used to enjoy it when it was a sport but not now.

I imagine UEFA are creaming themselves that they'll get their beloved Barca into the final but, frankly, I no longer give a fuck.

Things To Diarise Whilst You're Bored

2011-04-21T08:24:00.003Z

And they're both on the same day, just to be inconvenient for you. The 30th April, to be precise. Put them in your diary now, because if you're sensible and have planned ahead you'll have all of next week off. You can spend that lovely holiday time thinking of those not-sensible ones of us who will be sitting at our desks next week watching the rest of you having fun/relaxing in the sun/smearing yourselves in jello and eating ice cream. But I digress.

The two events are simultaneous, so unless you like rushing about you've a choice to make.

At the Queen's Head, Fishponds, there's a memorial Irish Night in support of MacMillan Cancer. Live Irish band (apparently they're really, really good) with a dance caller (what could possibly go wrong?) and real Irish food made by Irish people (well, an Irish person). I am told the food will be green but that this is intentional colouring and not an indication of its age. I remain to be convinced about the quality of this idea, green ham sounds wrong on way too many levels I'm afraid.

If the Irish Night doesn't grab you, or you become overwhelmed by it and need to move on, there's a Japanese Night at the Star in Tickenham in aid of Japan. It's organised by Mitsubishi and is obviously aimed at raising money for disaster relief in Japan. There will be raffles (one prize is a free MOT, I understand) and live music from Rock Bottom (hence I'm going to miss out on the green ham mentioned above). I'm not sure what normally passes for food in Tickenham so can't comment on whether whatever's served up on the night is Japanese themed or not, but I'm told there will be food or some sort to be had. And beer, obviously. You can also park there, which is handy as according to Google maps it's way out beyond the back of beyond. Or somewhere near Clevedon, which is pretty much the same thing if you ask me.

Do try to make it to one of these dos. If not, well, have a great time anyway.

Threes Abound

2011-04-20T20:46:00.002Z

Three all. We're third. I can live with this. We're six points behind ManUSA (Da Vinci Code readers will be creaming themselves over the number sequences) and still have to play them, and they still have to play that lot from Fulham. No, not actually "Fulham", the other lot. BTW, do Fulham players all get issued with single gloves now?

Beer. That's a thought.

Yes, I Know It's A Mess

2011-04-20T09:41:00.001Z

Updating, dudes, updating. Bear with me.

Ride Of Respect Revisited

2011-04-19T18:12:00.009Z

I know you've all been waiting for this ;) Hannah's just sent over the picture of the Queen's Head bikers gathering before set off. And here it is.

Thanks to Curtis for taking the thing. And lets none of us forget what the whole event was about in the first place.

Fiddly Fiddly Fiddle

2011-04-19T12:09:00.005Z

The Sound Of Moh site has been "tweet reviewed" - constructively, I have to say - and as a result of suggestions received I've been making some changes. Please take a look here and let me know what you think.

Monday Morning And I've Got A Cold

2011-04-18T08:37:00.002Z

Hmmmm, something odd is going on with Blogger this morning, it seems. And not something connected with my unseasonable cold. But at least my ankles have stopped itching.

More later when I've figured out what's going on here.

My Ankles Itch

2011-04-15T12:06:00.004Z

Maybe it's just a sign of age, but my ankles (well, mainly my left one) have been itching all morning. Annoying, and the constant stractching probably makes me look even more simian than usual to my work colleagues.

Half way through the working day now and half way through getting the office fax system sorted out. So that's sort of on target then, or would be if there wasn't an external IT bod who isn't here yet involved (or not yet actually involved, obviously). Why do people still insist on using faxes? Is there some legal reason perhaps? Leave a comment if you happen to know if there is any reason apart from obstinacy for continuing to use the wretched things.

It's just about BBQ weather here in Bristol atm so if the weather holds out till tomorrow I could well be out in the garden knocking up some meaty/cheesy thing (OK, a cheeseburger) in time for the ManUSA/BlueMoonOilers soccer match-up in the afternoon. I guess if I had to choose who I'd like to win I'd go for City, them not being United and Chelsea not being involved, but it is rather like being asked which toe you'd like cut off first.

Enjoy what's left of your day!

RIP Danny Fiszman

2011-04-14T07:55:00.004Z

I wasn't going to comment on the ownership changes at Arsenal until the dust had settled and it was actually clear what the picture going forward was going to be, but Danny Fiszman's sad death - which likelihood given his illness surely has some bearing on other recent events - should not go unremarked, I feel.

Peter Hill-Wood said: "We are all deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend Danny. His voice, wisdom and presence around the football club he so dearly loved will be sorely missed.

"Arsenal Football Club will forever be indebted to Danny for his invaluable foresight and contribution during the move from Highbury to our new stadium.

"Our thoughts at this time are with his wife Sally, family and friends. We have lost a much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend."

In Danny Fiszman's passing the club have lost a great servant and supporter. May he rest in peace.

Night Of Respect Update

2011-04-08T11:21:00.005Z

The Queen's Head Night Of Respect raised the not-insignificant sum of £469.49, which is now safely in the hands of Afghan Heroes. Once again, a huge thank you to everyone there. Buy yourself a pint!

BTW, there's now an official Afghan Heroes YouTube page - it's well worth a look and you can find it here.

Pretty Pictures

2011-04-06T11:40:00.003Z

No, not here. Here. Some fairly decent shots of Rock Bottom at the Night Of Respect last Saturday. Anyone got any of the Fraser Road Race chaps?

Your Presence Requested

2011-04-05T15:02:00.007Z

Come along to The Star at Tickenham on 30th April for a charity event in aid of Japan Disaster Relief. Rock Bottom will be playing. The event is being organised by the local Mitsubishi parts unit. There should be raffles and other fun activities (raffles can be fun I think) so why not go a tad off-piste and head on over?

The Star's not entirely helpful website can be found here.

Nope, You'd Be Wrong There

2011-04-05T11:44:00.002Z

"At Arsenal the fans loved me, I think even today they love me" says Emmanuel Adebayor. You'd be wrong there, dude. I didn't love you then and I sure don't love you now. In fact I think you're a dick and I don't think I'm alone in this view.

Now just make sure you stay fucked-off in Spain or wherever.

Night Of Respect

2011-04-04T11:35:00.007Z

A great and very well supported night at the Queens Head on Saturday raised a good deal for the very worthy Afghan Heroes charity. We'll have a final figure once The Boss has taken the buckets down to the charity HQ. Many thanks to everyone who contributed, in particular the Fraser Road Race Band and Roast Busters who all came up from darkest Somerset to keep us entertained and fed.

The following morning saw 17 bikes head off from outside the QH to Wooton Bassett - sorry, ROYAL Wooton Bassett! - for the Ride Of Respect. Pictures to follow if Curtis remembered to take the lens cap off.

Now I'm All Confused

2011-03-30T07:49:00.003Z

Hmmmm. Perhaps those "England regulars" who sloped off back to their teams (well, largely Chelsea) after the "job done" against the pitiful Welsh on Saturday won't be feeling quite so smug this morning. England Lite put on a performance that was thoroughly professional and entertaining to boot. And against far better opposition than Wales.

Perhaps Don Fabio may now feel he can ditch the old boys?

Reserves: Wigan 2 Arsenal 1

2011-03-29T13:53:00.002Z

Jens played the whole 90 minutes, the team played most of the game with 10 men and we lost 2-1. And this evening it's England-Lite vs Ghana. Yippee.

Eezacont

2011-03-23T11:24:00.006Z

So will you be watching John Terry's Ingerlund? I'm frankly not sure I can bring myself to - JT isn't really representative of much that I've ever cherised about England, I have to say, and I do think it matters. Interestingly, whilst Space Admiral Blackthorn said he'd support the English football team no matter who was captain, he backtracked when a certain Mr Cole was suggested for the role. "Cashley? No ****ing way!".

Perhaps he's a closet Cheryl fan.

WTF??? It's Titanic-Bot!

2011-03-18T11:23:00.003Z

Here's a total "I want some of whatever the bloke who designed this is on" moment:

Has the return of Jens triggered an international insanity outbreak?

Conspiracy Theory Of The Day

2011-03-16T10:21:00.003Z

Hmmm. Who won the 2010 World Cup? Where will the 2018 World Cup be held? A somewhat prescient article that's worth a couple of minutes of your time can be found here.

He's Back!

2011-03-15T08:59:00.003Z

According to the red tops Mad Jens has rejoined until the summer. Absolutely fantastic news if true.

The rest of the season just got interesting!

And Here We Are Again

2011-03-14T12:44:00.003Z

Another Monday comes around and this week the sun's come out to play too. Nice here, nowhere near so nice in Japan of course. Good luck to all you out there.

On the home front, apparently there's a good chance John Terry will be made captain for the upcoming Wales game. This wouldn't be a good thing IMHO. What would be a good thing, however, is Mad Jens playing for the Arsenal again and it's being reported that there is also some chance of this. Now that would be fun.

Facebook

2011-03-11T16:50:00.002Z

I still can't get my head round this. Beer.

They Won't Like It Up 'Em

2011-03-10T08:58:00.006Z

Still fuming over the RVP10 dismissal, I've come to a decision. I'm supporting Spurs to win the CL. Odd? No, makes perfect sense. What better way to nip over to Europe, give the English-hating Platini and his UEFA cronies a bloody nose and get back in time for tea than for 'Arry "Barrow Boy" Redknapp to win the thing. "Gawd bless you, Mr Platini" as he lifts the trophy. Fuck 'em. Make it so, 'Arry.

Alan Green last night on 5 Live seems to have missed the point. Not unusual, I'll grant, entertaining though he might be. At the point RVP was sent off BARCELLONA WERE LOSING. Let's do that again. BARCELLONA WERE ON THEIR WAY OUT OF THE CL. Barcellona are in the next round by dint of the referee giving them an unfair advantage. Willingly or not they have cheated their way there. So hurry up 'Arry.

I'm going down the pub.

Afghan Heroes Gig 2 April 2011

2011-03-04T15:39:00.003Z

Pop along to the Queens Head, Fishponds Road, Bristol on the evening of 2 April 2011 for an evening of music and frivolity in support of the Afghan Heroes charity - many of the attendees will be taking part in the Ride Of Respect through Wooton Bassett on the following morning.

Music from The Fraser Road Race Band and Rock Bottom, probably the cheapest beer in Bristol and lots of people in leather. Sounds good, yes?

Hey Mr Tangerine Man

2010-12-21T16:53:00.003Z

David Dein wants to become FA chairman, apparently, and Commrade Usmanov has bought a few more shares, raising fears he may actually be planning to attempt a take over at the Arsenal. Quivvers all round, and not just from the snow.

The Joy Of The Interweb

2010-12-16T11:40:00.002Z

Hey, most cool indeed!

Check out this here site playmates!

Cheers, Drives

2010-12-13T21:49:00.004Z

Sorry, this one's a tad late.

Good evening with the drives on Saturday. Thank you chaps. Have a great Christmas.

Actually, He Might Be Right This Time

2010-12-07T12:46:00.002Z

Ashley goes bonkers again? Wouldn't be the first time, so the latest Newcastle shocker might well at first glance look like yet another blunder. But then, maybe not. I for one - on the admittedly none-too-sound assumption that the new manager really is a "good" one - think this may just well be a very shrewd move indeed.

Watch that there space, I reckon.

No Really, You're Too Kind

2010-12-06T14:24:00.003Z

At the bus stop at 07.50, raring to get into a new week. Still at the bus stop, and now frozen to the pavement, when a bus finally arrives at 08.35. Penguin-like, we the would-be passengers waddle towards the platform. Some of us even manage to get on. To discover the fares have gone up. Apparently, this is to make life easier for us penguins as we no longer need to carry about so much change. Bollocks. This doesn't help me at all. Up to today I carried a £2 coin which I gave to the driver and he gave me 5p back. So I'd still be carrying one coin both before and after the transaction. After today I will be carrying a £2 coin and not giving it to the bus driver because I will be walking to work in future. Thus I will still be carrying one coin.

The new policy does mean the bus drivers won't need to carry so much change, but in my experience they don't carry any anyway, and end up being told "oh never mind" by punters not thinking life to be long enough to wait whilst the driver explains that he hasn't got 5p, but that he could offer 2p now and 3p when you get off, if he's got it - or offer you a change ticket which appears to be some means the bus company uses to screw money out of you for absolutely nothing at all.

Enough already.

Same Old

2010-12-03T13:02:00.005Z

So no surprises in yesterday's news announcements. England didn't get the 2018 WC, NASA had in fact not discovered alien life but some unusual, though entirely terrestrial, bug in a lake in California. Much angst and dismay at the WC outcome in many places, most of it entirely justified IMHO. Whatever the strengths of the Russian bid the whole vote procedure stank most rank. And then Qatar got the 2022 WC. Right.

A number of people are suggesting England should boycott FIFA. I suspect this wouldn't work, but I think England not entering future WCs makes perfect sense. Concentrate on the European Championships where, let's face it, the majority of the decent teams play anyway. This will at least cut England's contribution to the FIFA cash cow.

As BoJo pointed out yesterday, FIFA can't continue in its present state. It's not even as if it's tainted with the *suspicion* of corruption - the evidence is there for all to see (they've even suspended their own members) and until there is radical change every even vaguely controversial decision will be seen as potentially the outcome of yet more underhand dealings.

I suppose one good thing to come of this is another nail in the coffin of the Bristol City new stadium fiasco. With no potential WC function to get excited about, the council may finally realise that they can't justify wasting more open space (and allowing yet another giant supermarket) just so a team that will quite possibly be in the third division of English football next season can have a WC standard stadium.

I fully agree that Bristol as a city could do with a world-class multi-function stadium but it should be one that potentially benefits the people of Bristol, not just Sainsburys and whoever owns the new ground. Build a really decent stadium/facility up by the M4/M5 junction.

Beer later?

A Day For Improbable News, Perhaps?

2010-12-02T13:33:00.002Z

So by the end of today (or actually a tad earlier if you must be pedantic) we may discover that England will host the 2018 World Cup Of Soccerball (15.00 GMT/Pedant Time) and that NASA have discovered proof of extra-terrestrial life (19.00 GMT etc). Equally, or perhaps more probably, we'll learn that the WC will be in Iberia - they by all reports having put in the worst bid - and that NASA have discovered something related to all the red dwarfs that have apparently just turned up.

On the improbable (if you thought about it a couple of months back) but now actual news front, Arsenal face Mad Roy's Keane's Ipswich in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. That Ipswich beat West Brom (not-so-long ago victors at the Emirates) on the back of a twatting from Naaarch in the Old Farm Derby makes you wonder just how good Delia's boys are. Maybe it's the food. She does a good roast in that TV ad atm.

Today's sandwiches weren't frozen. This is an improvement, I feel.

And They're Off...

2010-12-01T18:58:00.004Z

The Mos, that is. All gone. Well, all bar Rob's. He's a bit taken with his. He'll be a bit more taken when the men in white coats turn up, you mark my words.

£1,122 raised by Team Curtis Banks - pretty good stuff, I'd say, in support of a worthy cause.

Movember

2010-10-28T13:50:00.002Z

Coming shortly. Men everywhere will be spending November growing moustaches to raise awareness of prostate cancer. There's still time to start your own team or otherwise get involved, so visit Movember and take a look.

Maybe They Didn't Warn Him About The Rain

2010-08-12T14:28:00.004Z

So Steve Coppell's left the bobbin' lot from the other end of town after a mere 112 days in charge and with a competitive record of played two, lost two. David James must be wishing he'd joined the queue of ancient keepers outside the Emirates hoping for a job rather than ply his trade on a patch of grass which is going to be a supermarket sooner rather than later, I suspect.

Meanwhile the seagulls continue to plan. I don't suppose they care that John and I are on to them, they know their time will come.

Oliver Curd Trust - Queen's Head Update

2010-07-23T11:50:00.008Z

A quick update on the Oliver Curd Trust fund-raiser at the Queen's Head, Bristol, on Saturday 17th July. Thanks to everyone who made Saturday such a good night, in particular the Fraser Road Race Band who dragged their sorry arses all the way from Shepton.

A good time was had by pretty much everyone I think - even those who ate the cheeseburgers - and over £360 is now winging its way to the Oliver Curd Trust.

Outstanding.

Eduardo Off, Easynet Sold Off, Too

2010-07-23T11:34:00.003Z

Sad to see E9 off to Shaktar. More than enough's been said about what's happened to the poor guy over the last couple of years so all I'm going to say is thanks, and good luck.

I see that Easynet, or at least part of it, has extricated itself from the Murdoch empire. Quite what's going on here isn't at all clear, certainly not to me at any rate, but it's been organized by David Rowe, a man whose past record speaks for itself, and is therefore likely to be a good move for Easynet.

I wonder what will happen now to the Three Men I Admire Least?

Back Ache

2010-07-15T12:07:00.001Z

Ouch. And my ankle hurts. Perhaps it's all down to the weird, tomato-killing weather. Mind you, quite why I worry about the tomatoes when I don't actually like them when they're all nice and ripe and far prefer the green tomato chutney we might have to make tons of if the weather b0rks them again is quite beyond me. I'd like the sun back, though, please.

Today's Cesc-botherer: Sergio Busquets.

17 July 2010 - Queen's Head Bristol - Oliver Curd Trust Charity Gig

2010-07-13T12:30:00.003Z

Come along to the Queen's Head, Bristol (junction of Royate Hill and Fishponds Road) on Saturday 17 July for some groovy Rock 'n' Roll fun, a raffle and a BBQ all in aid of the Oliver Curd Trust.

Hey Boys! I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK...

2009-12-19T21:29:00.000Z

Oh yes indeed.

Oh Football Results, we smile at you!

We're Crap And They Think We Are

2009-11-08T19:52:00.003Z

And there we are, second and with a game in hand on the teams in first and third places.

Have a great week, I think mine is going to be hard work but I've no problem with that at this stage - I'm starting with a fair shot at things.

Make it a good one chaps, speak later.

It Be The Weekend

2009-11-07T09:28:00.002Z

Saturday's come and there's that there football on. We're away to Wolves. The result of today's game won't decide anything, but I'd not be surprised if, come the end of the season, we look back on this game as providing something of a turning point - a win would put as right in the frame with United and Chelsea, one or both of whom *have* to drop points tomorrow. We simply must win today.

Elsewhere it's off to Pucklechuch this evening for the Primary School fireworks do. This should be most excellent fun and there will, I'm told, be hot chestnuts and the like. Party on, dudes.

Right, where's that tea?

Incoming!

2009-11-05T19:01:00.002Z

It's Bonfire Night and the dark early evening sky is awash with splashes of colour and showers of baby stars. Unfortunately the accompaniment of explosions and other assorted bangings isn't being too well received by the house's K9 units. Impressed they most certainly are not.

Good result for us last night, not at all a clever one for the Scallies who are now, somewhat amusingly, favourites to win the Europa League thing. Those bookies are a right bunch of wags, are they not?

Could It Be Rafa?

2009-11-04T19:03:00.006Z

AZ Alkmaar at home in the CL tonight. A win is more than possible here, and it'd set us up nicely to be spending our time concentrating on other fronts for a while. Come on you Gunners!

Elsewhere, the Soaraway Sun is sticking it to Gordon Big Issues big time, and quite right too. Why the wretch can't just call an election is beyond me, it really is.

Very odd journey back on the bus today - well, it might be entirely normal for buses, but I'm a recent convert to commuting that way - loads of coversations, but all one-ended because everyone was talking on their mobiles to people off the bus. Weird. Rather sad, actually.

Update: Half Time sees us 2-0 up and the Scallies drawing 0-0. It's the 'Pool on the box and I have to say they're doing OK. Torres is useless, though to be fair he's supposedly injured, but Benayoun and Kuyt are playing really well. I have a sneaking suspicion Voronin's hard work may yet be rewarded...

Tuesday's Child Requires A Beer

2009-11-03T19:21:00.004Z

Stan Kroenke has purchased a further 427 shares in Arsenal's parent holding company and now has a stake of 29.6% - another step closer to the 29.9% threshold that would trigger the requirement for a formal takeover bid. A few years back I'd have been very wary about this situation, nowadays - SK having shown considerable decorum and respect in his dealings both with the club and us minion fans - way less so. The spectre of Usmanov lurks horribly and so Stan's the man for me if we really can't stay the way we are - and I suspect "the way we are" is the way most fans would like us to stay. SK seems, though, to understand the "patient and sane" approach AW has taken in his managerial stewardship of the club, and in particular the way the move to the new stadium has happened. Good.

Not a lot else going on, it would seem. So let's get that beer...

Yippeee! It's Another Week!

2009-11-02T19:38:00.004Z

A win over the SFTL is always fine, and one when (a) they've been bigging themselves up before hand and (b) David Bentley is playing will always be good. 'Arry wasn't happy, but then he's no more Brian Clough than Robbie Keane is Joe Namath.

Notice how his shirt number falls between DB10's and TH14's. It's all in the stars, they say.
A new job today, so this is just a brief one. More later in the week, I hope.

Have a good one, all.

It's Dark Out There

2009-10-29T18:43:00.005Z

Very, very dark in fact and it's only 18.44. Winter, is that you?

Great win last night - I listened to it on the wonderful Five Live, and most enjoyable it was too, though I was a a tad worried at times that John Motson was about to implode under the weight of his own implausible controversies. Alan Green is cool though. The stuff football's made of.

On the subject of what football's made of it no longer lists Marlon King as an ingredient. The journeyman player/full-time ****wit has been locked up for 18 months for breaking a diminutive female student's nose when she objected to him groping her. At his age and with Newcastle now almost behaving like a normal club it's difficult to see him getting back to top-flight employment - Wigan having done the decent thing and sacked him - when he gets out in about 3 weeks, so at least there'll be some sort of justice.

Friday tomorrow. I understand this to be a good thing, and will attempt to behave appropriately.

Heroes, Lies And The BBC

2009-10-28T18:37:00.002Z

David Shepherd, cricketer of these parts, umpire of 92 tests and bonne-oeuf-toute-circullaire, as young Pete would say, has died, aged only 68. He'd been battling cancer for some time. He will be missed - I suspect, though, that his Nelson-hopping routine will soon become a regular supporter dance routine at grounds up and down the country.

Elsewhere the BBC are trying to make Andre Agassi's confession that he lied about how he came to fail a drugs test way back in his dark days when he'd fallen down to around 140 in the world into a "star admits taking stimulants" story. No chaps, it's not. It would seem he took crank/tina/meth once and explained the test failure away as saying he'd drunk a doctored drink. Does anyone at the beeb know what this drug does? Do they seriously think he could actually *compete* regularly under its influence? Get a ****ing grip on reality and give credit where credit's due for the man's honesty.

Carling Cup tonight and we're at home to the Scallies. Bring it on, I love this competition, I really do!

Roll On The Big One

2009-10-24T13:48:00.003Z

Golly that was a long week! Still, here we are at Saturday and a welcome day of rest. Anything I do today will involve trips to the fridge, methinks. Tomorrow it's bike polishing and then off down to the Queen's Head for The Big One.

Normally Reds vs Reds derbies leave me a tad cold, but this is a MASSIVE game and no mistake - the beauty of it, too, from a Gooner point of view is that any result is a good one for us, so we can just sit and enjoy it for what it is. And enjoy it I'm certainly hoping to do. We do need to get a result at the Boleyn Ground later on, but I'm quitely optimistic we'll do that, however much of a bogey team/PITA the Hammers have proven to be in the past.

Right, off to the fridge. Laters, dudes.

Update: Smile, friends, the SFTL have just lost at home to Stoke :)

It's Good To Talk

2009-10-21T18:01:00.004Z

If people spent a fraction of the time engaged in dialogue that they do trying to avoid it the world would be a far better place. This strikes me as a pretty universal, if perhaps a tad obvious, truth. Whatever. Onwards.

Last night's result isn't going to set the world alight but it'll do just nicely, thanks. What on Earth is going to be made of the current plight of the Scallies is another matter altogether. Plenty of moaning on the fora today - I think they're quite possibly right that Rafa's more likely on his way than not, but I'm less convinced of an immediate descent into the Old Bob's Sunday Specials League just now. West Ham strike me as more likely to be going there next, IMHO. Sunday's game will be a big one, though, and no mistake.

And so to bed. Or at least the kettle.

Quite Tiring, This Working Mallarky...

2009-10-20T16:56:00.005Z

Another day at work and I have to say I'm rather tired. Pleasantly so, though: working at least leaves you thinking it's an appropriate feeling. Long may it continue. The work that is, not the tiredness of course.

It's dark and wet here in Bristol now - 18.00 and it's beyond dusk, Winter's well and truly on its way. I love this time of year, I have to say.

AZ Alkmaar away tonight in the CL. I know absolutely nothing about AZ beyond the fact that they're Dutch and bottom of the Dutch league atm. The former should always provide a bit of concern and the latter is pretty meaningless given they've only played two games. We've got a fair record against Dutch opposition, though, and if I were to jump off the fence and offer a prediction I'd go for an away win for us. It's live on SS3, so I won't be watching it, though it is also on Five Live so I may get to hear a bit until the Boss notices.

Hoggin' The Bridge 2009

2009-10-19T17:08:00.017Z

Sunday saw the 10th annual "Hoggin' The Bridge", a charity event organised by the Bridgewater HOG chapter. It's basically a rideout from the Aust Services in England over to Chepstow in Wales. It says it's 5 miles to Chepstow when you're on the English side. This is a tad deceptive in terms of how you'll be spending your time on HTB day...

First wake the neighbours...
We met up at sparrowfart with bacon rolls and tea, hoping to get to Aust before the place got too chaotic. It's a 10 minute journey from here, so our seven bikes and eleven people set off just before 10.00 for the advertised 11.00 start. It was indeed about a 10 minute journey to the roundabout at Aust Services. From that point on time went a tad random.

The roundabout was interesting. Several hundred bikes at each entrance, one car in the middle of it all. Not much fun for the car, and not too much fun for the bikers either - this is nowhere near as disciplined and well-marshalled an event as the RTTW, there's an element of "everyone for himself" that doesn't sit well with being in charge of an unstable (you're moving at walking pace) vehicle when you're surrounded by other similar vehicles all within inches of each other. Top Tip: make sure your clutch is properly adjusted before trying this particular game.

EasyBikerz
We eventually got into the Services, but got split into a couple of groups. No matter, we managed to find each other, have a few cups of tea (and yet more bacon for Andy) and then re-form as a group once the ultra-keen had moved off. We still crawled out of the place though, now in a none-too-clever three/four abreast convoy to head off over the bridge.

Aust Services: possibly not a good day to pop in to to wash the Porsche...

Time for a break
It didn't take forever to get over the bridge, but after that everything just slowed to a crawl. We weren't the only people (as you can see) taking a "revive my wrists" rest on the way. On reflection a number of us would probably have stopped more often had it not been for the riduculously short distance we were supposed to have been travelling.

Chepstow: actually quite scenic
And then we were in Chepstow. We sought out tea (even Andy was briefly off his bacon) and cooling breezes. A fair few people had gone out first thing thinking "hmmm, it's cold" and put on tights/leg warmers etc. To say they were regretting this by the time they got to Chepstow is an understatement of no small proportion.

Chepstow itself is really rather pretty. The town takes full advantage of the event, as well they should: even the senior citizens club had geared up with quadzillions of extra sandwiches to sell.

It's true, Andy can't resist the lure of bacon

Chepstow: also absurdly hilly
All in all it was a great day out, but I think if I do it again I'll just cross the bridge and head straight back. The ride into Chepstow was just too slow and too badly organised: an experience yes, a pleasure no. I might go back over to take another look at Chepstow, though. Looks like a nice place and there are plenty of pubs...

A Somewhat Different Week

2009-10-17T14:52:00.005Z

Interview on Wednesday, started work on Thursday. Brilliant. OK, so it's temp work and likely to be short-term but it's got me back in the game and it's released the Evil Empire's grip on my ankle. It's great to be back, I have to say.

Tomorrow is Hogging The Bridge day. I hope this turns out to be as much fun as it promises to be, good weather would be almost as good a start as the enormous number of bacon rolls the Boss is now geared up to make. There should be a few of us leaving from here - thankfully the neighbours all appear to like bikes - and I'm hoping we can meet up with the Invicta HOG lot for some tea and a greasy-thing-in-a-roll over in Chepstow. Pictures will, I hope, follow in due course...

Proper football is back today. It's half-time for the normal time kick-offs and we're 2-1 up against Birmingham. We *should* win this and, to be honest, we *have* to win this. Elsewhere, Chelsea have already lost to Villa and the Manchester Red Devils are predictably stuffing Bolton. Liverpool are managing to lose, being a goal down after the ball deflected off a balloon. Liverpool players are up in arms: read the laws, chaps.

More in a while, perhaps. And so to the fridge...

Update: Well we won, 3-1 in the end; United won, too, as did the SFTL. However, both Chelski and the Scallies managed to lose. Interesting.

The top five positions are now occupied thusly:

Man Utd 22
Chelsea 21
Tottenham 19
Arsenal 18
Man City 16

However, whilst the top three have all played 9, we've played 8 and Citeh 7. Early doors and all that. The blue half of Manchester play Wigan tomorrow, so I anticipate we'll be fifth come Monday morning. *But* we'll be only four points behind the leaders with a game in hand. Good enough for me for mid-October, I have to say.

Chaos. Not Just A Theory.

2009-10-13T14:34:00.002Z

Plenty of rushing about today, not a lot of achievement. Interview yesterday, interview tomorrow. Phone calls, emails. Busy busy busy.

More tea is needed. Back later.

Ride To The Wall 2009

2009-10-12T11:53:00.013Z

The Ride To The Wall is an annual ride out to the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield. The joint aims of the day are, firstly, to remember those who have died in service since WW2 and, secondly, to raise money for the Arboretum. The inaugural event last year raised over £10,000 and was deemed a huge success, as indeed it was. Obviously the organizers had hoped for a bigger do this year but even so I would imagine that they were both elated and amazed to have over 5,000 bikes turn up and to raise over £43,000!

From the Garden Of England: Wind, Fire and an electrically controlled Meerkat.

Ned and The Boss discover that even with Harley Davidson SatNav it helps to know where you are trying to go.
Bikers from all over the country - and a fair number from abroad - congregated at the Drayton Manor theme park and make the 12 mile journey to the memorial as a processional ride out. The level of organization that this sort of thing requires really shouldn't be underestimated, and it is to the very considerable credit of the organizers, marshalls and the police (who had given their time free for the occasion) that the whole thing went off without a hitch - mind you, the sheer numbers involved meant that the departure from Drayton Manor was somewhat delayed.

Meeting up at Drayton Manor.

Drayton Manor: the view from my parking spot.
The Arboretum itself is an amazing place and I'd recommend anyone who has a chance to go there to take it. I don't think there was anybody there on Saturday who wasn't moved by the place, let alone the event. The short service was poignant and to the point and if there were any dry eyes left after it they didn't make it past the Spitfire fly past.

Gathering for the service.

Respect.
All in all it was a wonderful, respectful day. The act of the ride itself and the support from everyone along the way - waving flags and cheering - prove once again that yes, we *will* remember them.

What A Gorgeous Day!

2009-10-08T12:38:00.002Z

The weather here in Bristol today is absolutely fantastic, no two ways about it. The sun is out and the air is crisp and clear. Wonderful. If it can stay like this for a few days then all the better, but I'm enjoying for what it is whilst I can.

It's a slow news day on the football front, as is always likely before an international weekend. More talk of debts at big clubs: today it's the Manchester Red Devils and their friends down the road in Anfield Road, Scalliesville. Neither story seems any more than aimless conjecture (well, OK, not entirely aimless, the aim being to fill the back pages in a couple of redtops) to be fair. More interesting is the news that the very likeable Arvam Grant is back at Portsmouth - this time as Director Of Football (wasn't he that before, before taking over as manager?). Good luck to him.

Arsenal are reported to be interested in Barcelona captain Carles Puyol. This seems highly unlikely to me - he's already 31 and whilst he's a good and flexible player he's surely not going to be (or want to be) a cheap-as-chips Silvestre-type back-up option? Perhaps it's a bit of Cesc-tapping payback? All very odd. He'll no doubt sign in January.

Rainy Day, Rain Away...

2009-10-07T18:23:00.003Z

It's that second Wednesday so the rain is probably appropriate. It'd be great if improves over the next day or two as it's the Ride To The Wall on Saturday, but I guess rain would be appropriate there too. If you're not already booked to go, you probably still can...

It would seem that typing is currently not helping my back, so this'll be a brief post, I'll have a new place for the computer sorted by tomorrow.

Take care all. Be righteous.

The Buck Moves On...

2009-10-06T10:06:00.002Z

Saudi businessman Ali Al-Faraj has apparently completed his takeover of Portsmouth and there are optimistic noises about new training facilities and further development of the club's Fratton Park home so perhaps the south coast will still have a top-flight team this time next week. Next likely candidates for lights-out? West Ham would be my guess. Watch this space...

Elsewhere, those popular US owners of the Liverpool GTAers are making it quite clear who will be to blame if the club don't win anything this season: Rafa Benitez. Says George Gillet:

"We have invested more money than our competitors, in keeping with the history of the club.

"In the last 18 months, we have invested £128m on top of what has come in. That means it should be getting better.

"Now if it's not getting better, it's not Gillett and Hicks, it's the manager, it's the scouting. You have to make sure you balance out your analysis."

That'll no doubt endear him even more to those loveable scouse scallies. And no, it's not your year.

Job Seach and EBay action today, so I think tea is called for. Have a great day, all.

And Another One...

2009-10-05T14:13:00.003Z

These "new weeks" are starting to crop up at one heck of a lick, I have to say. It's age, the Boss tells me. Well, thanks for that:/

Excellent result yesterday, and not just because of the three points and the high score but because we had six different scorers, not the sort of goal supply many other teams in the Premiership (is it still called that?) are going to manage this or any other week. This is, IMHO, a justification of AW's "don't waste money on big names, build a team" approach. On the subject of AW's "how to run a football club" philosophy, Portsmouth fans may not be the only ones atm who are looking over their shoulders at bankers who're now not even lurking in the shadows but creeping out, scenting blood. I can't help thinking that the time is not too far away when a top-flight team bites the dust.

The next England qualifying game - now realistically no more than a friendly - is going to be a "web exclusive". Interesting to see how pubs get round this one. Greek broadband?

Right, let's get on with it...

A Pot Pouri Of Fridayness

2009-10-02T10:37:00.007Z

Lots of Friday-ish stuff going on today, starting with a visit to the Bethesda Community Arts Cafe where Big Rich is a volunteer chef. I went along as apparently they're looking for someone to help run music groups, something I'd love to do, but the person I need to see wasn't there. No rush, no doubt they will be at some point. If you're passing the place (Redfield, in Church Road) in the morning do pop in for a cuppa or a cheap (and nicely made) breakfast or lunch. Not much "arty" going on there atm, though.

Rich in the kitchen at the Bethesda Community Arts Cafe. The Cafe's well worth a visit.
The discs in my back are doing a very good impression of a bag of Scrabble pieces today, and no amount of jiggling around is getting them to settle back into proper order. This is infuriating, but not actually painful. With any luck it'll clear up of its own volition.

Lots of groovy job application stuff to do today and then it'll be the weekend, for which I really hope the weather stays good as we're thinking of trekking up to Gloucester. If you find yourself with a few mintues to spare you could do worse than sign up for Mr Fisher's latest game site (it's free and quite addictive) The Legend Of The Green Dragon.

Have a good one, make it count!

Well Done And Thanks, Arsene

2009-10-01T10:16:00.001Z

AW today becomes Arsenal's longest-serving manager. Many congratulations, and thanks for everything you've done so far Arsene!

One To Watch

2009-10-01T09:46:00.002Z

Today sees the swearing in of the UK's own Supreme Court, which will in very substantial part replace the Law Lords as the UK's hightest Court of Appeal. The move marks the (almost) complete separation of the Judges from the Legislature and Executive and is in theory a good thing, I think. What happens in practice may be another matter but only time will tell that.

Routine (if, in that lot from Fulham's case, unconvincing) wins for Chelski and The Manchester Red Devils in the CL last night. All four English teams should make it into the knockout stages, though Liverpool are making every effort to ensure that they won't give themselves the chance to rest players in the later group games, which may not help their Premiership ambitions.

Good weather here today, if rather cold, and that's good as I'm going to be out and about. More later, perhaps.

Rewinding The Spring

2009-09-30T14:52:00.005Z

After that spate of interviews a while back things have gone a bit quiet on the job chase front so I was actually quite glad to be heading off to Prospects today for an improve-your-job-hunt seminar. Whilst the agenda - application letters, CVs, etc - might not sound too much like rocket science only a half-wit fails to learn *something* of use at this sort of event, IMHO. As it turns out, it was indeed very well worthwhile. The galling thing was that there should have been 27 attendees at this free event, on the day only four of us turned up. 23 people managed to find work in the week since this was arranged? Somehow I rather doubt it. It's people like that that get us unemployed types a bad name, I tell you. It does make you seethe a bit...

Another welcome win in last night's CL clash. Momentum is, as it is wont so to do, slowly building and with any luck we can add to it with a win at home to Blackburn in Sunday's early kick-off.

Right, on with the search...

Gi's A Job

2009-09-29T09:25:00.002Z

Tuesday's here and Monday's enthusiasm has given way to the weekly slog to the weekend. More job applications, more rejections, more ****ing leaflets. Still, I'm not complaining, there are way way too many people who are far worse off.

It looks like the US are serious about finally dealing with the wretched Roman Polanski, even if they so far haven't formally requested extradition. "We have an agreement with the US to apprehend those wanted for offences," says Switzerland's Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, "when we knew Mr Polanski was here and the US asked us to act, it was our duty to do so." Good.

Tonight sees us in action in the Champions League again, this time at home to Olympiakos. We'll be missing NB52 who somehow managed to drive his Aston Martin off the road in an incident where "no other vehicle was involved". Twat. SuperVito continues in goal as MA1's still suffering with his chest infection, TW14 is back and D15 is out for a couple of months with a fracture in his back. The match is on Sky Sports Extra, so I won't be watching it. A touch of Radio 5 Live may be in order, with a tinny or two.

Off to Lidl's shortly as the Boss requires a giant wurst thing.

DoubleStandardTastic!

2009-09-28T14:21:00.003Z

Apparently the Film World is up in arms about Roman Polanski's arrest in Switzerland and the possibility that he might be extradited to the US to face justice for his admitted statutory rape of a 13-year old girl back in 1977. That this odious man should have continued in the intervening decades to be feted by his fellow luvvies says nothing good about them at all, IMHO.

If you're not familiar with the case you'll find details at The Smoking Gun. Some people will find the victim's testimony a tad harrowing, I suspect.

It's Another New Week!

2009-09-28T10:21:00.009Z

Another new week is here, let's all try to make it a very fine one indeed! Arsenal's win at the weekend set us up for a good start, of course, and doing the tourist bit round Bristol (including a very welcome visit to the fabulous Myrtle Tree) did no harm at all, either.

A proper touch of Brizzle: multi-coloured terraced houses overlooking the floating harbour.

Bristol on a sunny Sunday can be a really nice place for a day's sightseeing, provided of course that you don't mind hills and traffic jams. To be fair, the bus service is great but using it isn't hugely groovy fun if one of your number is in a wheelchair. We opted for the car/"what a great traffic jam" option. And as luck would have it, the Myrtle Tree has a disabled parking space right outside.

Obligatory postcard view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Build something properly and it's likely to last. Mr Brown, please take note.

I'm shortly off to the Yellow Box Company to buy some cardboard for a bit of EBay action and then will be spending the rest of the day tending to the Boss who is still a tad Tom and Dick.

Update: Well it's just taken me more than three-quarters of an hour to fabricate a box to mail a guitar in. I've used a whole giant packing box, most of Saturday's Telegraph and an entire roll of packing tape. And people have the gall to moan about EBay packing costs!

Sunday Morning

2009-09-27T09:48:00.000Z

Well it ended 1-0 to us, and it wasn't particularly pretty. But it does mean that, after our much touted "disastrous start", we're six points off the top with a game in hand. I can live with that at this stage in the season. Right, it's Sunday and therefore beer is on the menu.

Pictures may follow...

Let's Make It Interesting

2009-09-26T12:20:00.006Z

I've never understood this "betting makes it better" thing. If you need to bet on sport to make it worth watching, perhaps you should be watching or doing something else? Nonetheless, I've offered some predictions on other games this season so I'll continue with today's away trip to Fulham.

This is never, well certainly not in recent years, going to be an easy game and we wouldn't be the first to come unstuck there. It's also a 17.30 kick-off, which I don't think seems to help us much. We've got AA23 and TW14 back though, which can only help. MA1 is still out. Come on you Vito! My reckoning? 2-1 to us, but it won't be pretty. Interestingly (or not, you may not be as sad about this sort of thing as me) this is also Lawro's prediction. I have no idea whether this is a good or a bad thing, but he's been getting quite a few of the results right of late (if not the actual scores).

The Kilburn Krew are up this weekend for a few beers, a bit of sightseeing and no doubt some more beers. A visit to the Myrtle Tree might well be in order, Andrew being a real ale man. Hangover prediction? Moderate to darkened room, I think.

Enjoy your weekend!

Update: We've got Liverpool in the next round of the Carling Cup. Bring it on!

Full draw:

Blackburn v Peterborough
Manchester City v Scunthorpe
Tottenham v Everton
Barnsley v Manchester United
Chelsea v Bolton
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Liverpool
Portsmouth v Stoke

Crikey, there aren't too many games in there you'd pay to see!

Watch That Man

2009-09-25T15:24:00.003Z

That MouseMan will have your cactus before you've even turned your back, trust me on this.

Friday. At long last!

2009-09-25T13:01:00.002Z

What started as a nice bright autumn day has gone grey and rather sad. A bit like my mood at the end of what seems to have been a very very long week. Something to do with the leaflets, maybe? More likely to do with the fact that "Funemployment" is as much a myth as the economic recovery Gordon has promised will prove to be. Maybe some toast will provide a lift. Dare I eat a slice of toast?

I'll give it a shot.

'Twas On The Thursday Morning...

2009-09-24T12:34:00.003Z

That Virgin came to call and install TV/Broadband/Phone. Fine job they did too, all done in an hour including our old BT number transferred over. Brilliant stuff. I'd recommend 'em, guv'nor, that I would.

No surprises in last night's football, so the usual suspects will all be in the draw for the last 16. No news of any substance ahead of the weekend's games yet, the only news of any real football sort is that the Government has lamblasted the FA over its failure to implement promised reforms - a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black if ever there was one.

Beautiful weather here in Brizzle today - the sun is out and there's just the odd decorative whisp of cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky. A gorgeous autumn day, there to be enjoyed. And enjoy it I shall, despite the leaflets. Try to enjoy your day, too.

Mad Dave's Online!

2009-09-24T08:57:00.002Z

You lucky people! You can now read Mad Dave's daily rantings on his new blog Gordon's Gang Of Despair. Drop on by and give it a look.

More tea vicar?

Unemployed Man Confesses Leaflet Hell

2009-09-23T11:51:00.005Z

I think they must be breeding. Everytime I come downstairs the mountain of boxes by the front door appears to have grown. It doesn't seem to matter how many of the things I deliver, the pile continues to grow. It's like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a teaspoon. But I must prevail. I *will* prevail.

With the Internationals banished for the moment there are at last things going on in the real World Of Football. A very young and pretty inexperienced Arsenal side overcame Championship high-fliers West Brom 2-0 at the Grove, helped in no small part by the early dismissal of the Baggies' former Gunner Jerome Thomas. Any win is good good good, this one particularly so as I (as I suspect do most Gooners) really enjoy watching the kids' outings in the Carling Cup.

Elsewhere, Sol Cambell has quit Notts County after one game. Will we see him playing again, at any level? I rather think perhaps not. Good luck to the fellow in whatever he does choose to do, he was truly a giant of the game at his peak.

Tea next, I think. And then leaflets...

The Rain Is Back

2009-09-22T14:17:00.003Z

It's only drizzling atm, but it looks ominously like there'll be some heavy stuff before long. That will really make the leafleting fun. Well, that and learning another exciting new part of the BS5 postcode area.

Tonight sees the return of the Carling Cup, with us in a home third-round tie with West Brom. That'll be the West Brom that won 5-0 at the weekend, so no pressure on the youngersters who'll feature tonight. Come on you Gunners!

Right, I need to get some leaflets delivered as having had an interview this morning I've not got any of the little lovelies through letterboxes so far today. There are many, many of them. Many, many.

And Around It Comes

2009-09-21T10:23:00.002Z

Another Monday. Good stuff. This cyclicality manifests itself in the football world, too. Last week saw the re-emergence of "lucky Arsenal".This weekend has brought us the return of Old Trafford's famed "keep playing 'til the home team win" time-keeping, Michael Owen downing the upstart Citeh Mancs with a winner in the 6th minute of added time. Splendid stuff. I really expect the start of a Citeh slide now, and if Given were to be injured or lose form then that slide could take them a very long way down indeed.

Yesterday we moved and set up a pig arc. How very rural. A lot of fun, too, as it happens. Today it's back to the streets with the leaflets. I am starting to develop a bit of a dislike for the leaflets. There's something accusing about that stack of boxes.

Tea. Post Office. Ebay. Such a whirl!

I Always Knew Tesco's Were From The Dark Side

2009-09-18T08:13:00.005Z

So there we have it. Evidence that no one can ignore: Tesco have banned a Jedi knight from one of their stores for wearing the hood his religion requires him to wear in public. And they *laughed* at him when he explained about it, and then they threw him out. Give Morrison's a shot.

Pleasingly the sun has once again put in a glorious appearance as there are a few hours leafleting in store for me today. I'm actually rather enjoying it: obviously I needed to get out more! After that it'll be putting (what I sincerely hope are) the finishing touches to the MouseMan's website and then it'll officially be THE WEEKEND!

Well, except for the leafleting, that is. I've got an awful lot of the things still.

Update: West Ham's Callum Davenport - seriously injured in a stabbing last month - is being released from hospital. He's unlikely to play again, though at least he won't be losing his leg, which had been a real risk. Good luck to you, young man.

Err, Yup, A Win

2009-09-17T07:10:00.006Z

Well we won 3-2 in the end, having been 2-0 down in 5 minutes. There is considerable suspicion over the validity of our second goal, too, so the "lucky Arsenal" jibes will be back with a vengeance. Who cares? A win is a win, and, whilst we should never have put ourselves in a postion where we needed to score three away, we did score the three we needed. If this is the beginning of a run of fluky wins that'll be more than fine by me.

A win for Liverpool too, so Les will be similing. Mind you, to be fair he usually is.

The MouseMan is coming up today for some help with his website, so no doubt the beer will be flowing. This does mean I've had to fit everything else I need to do today into the morning, so it's an early start and a whole load of pre-lunch leaflet action. Looks like it's going to be a nice day so the walking should be quite pleasant.

Tea is needed. And then more tea.

Update: He's here. Work for me. Beer for him.

The MouseMan drinketh

A Street-Walking Day

2009-09-16T07:28:00.004Z

As I survey the mountain of heavy cardboard boxes leaning against the wall in the hallway I reflect on the wisdom of taking Mr Fisher's advice. "Try leafleting", he said, "it pays quite well". Actually, it pays minimum wage which few people would describe as "well" but that's the way it is under Big Decision Gordon so it's got to be worth a crack. It'd be kind of nice if it can avoid raining for a few days though!

1-0 wins for both Chelsea and United last night. We start our CL campaign proper tonight with an away game at Belgium's Standard Liege. We do this with a *lot* of players missing, most notably both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski meaning we'll have either Vito Mannone or Wojciech Szczesny in goal. I suspect it'll be the former of the two, who's looked OKish when I've seen him play, but I have to say that's not really often enough to have a good picture of the chap. Good luck to whichever of them gets to wear the gloves tonight.

Other players out: RVP11, D15, SN8, AA23, JD20, CV12, TW14. Just as well Eduardo's now able to make the game, then.

Stupid amounts to do today, so let's get the tea flowing and stuff done!

PS: Loads of new stuff on the West Country Pubs site, so take a look. You'll shortly (quite possibly now, if Mr Fisher's got his magic code doing its thing) be able to upload your own reviews!

As You Were, Then

2009-09-15T09:30:00.003Z

Eduardo's two-match ban has been overturned in a largely-expected U-turn in the direction of common sense. He'll now be available for tomorrow's CL game away at Standard Liege, which is excellent news for us. That game could seriously do with being the start of a winning roll.

Elsewhere the Adebayor bitch-fest continues, with Kolo Toure now claiming Adebayor was pushed out of the Emirates to bring in some cash. "I know it because I was present" he says. Perhaps he's Adebayor's financial advisor or something. My once-considerable respect for Mr Toure is diminishing at a rate of knots, I have to say.

Tonight's champions league matches involving English teams both look like they might be worth taking a peek at: Chelsea are at home to Porto and the Manchester Red Devils travel to Besiktas. Oh, and there are a quite extraordinary number of replays on in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

It's a tad muggy today and I'm finding it an effort to get motivated. More tea is probably the answer, so I'll give it a go.

The Week Starts With An Ouch...

2009-09-14T09:36:00.004Z

Today started with an osteopathy session so I'm feeling a tad twanged as I try to get into the new week. It's positively autumnal here today with that lovely clarity to the air that the first of those chilly September days brings.

In football news it would appear the TogoTosser is going to be charged for his assault on CF4 in addition to the charge for the one on RVP11 and that run down the pitch. A ban of more than five games is being mooted. And then he'll be off to the ACN so Citeh types might be starting to wonder just how good an investment he actually was.

Lots to do today. Busy busy busy.

New Harleys Revealed!

2009-09-13T13:23:00.004Z

We're back from the Thornbury run. Very nice it was too, great weather, a really nice road and some fantastic scenery. We came back via Yate and Iron Acton, so got to explore some quaint countryside and all. Very fine.

Off, then, to Riders for the lauch of this year's (or is it next year's?) new Harley models. Decent rock band, burgers, tea and acres of shiny metal. Lots of hairy types gazing quizically at the various shapes of Harleys trying to figure out which are the new ones. You've guessed it: they look extraordinarily like the old ones...

Pigirontastic!
Now I think it's time for a beer. Weather's still really good, so I guess it'll be in the concrete beer garden. Fair play.

Good Morning All

2009-09-13T08:53:00.003Z

Here we are at Sunday morning. Eggs and bacon eaten, second cup of tea brewing, I'm ready for the day. Predictable stuff in the footy pages this morning: calls from "angry fans" for AW to go, Rooney the greatest thing since toast and so on. It's still way too early in a badly interupted season to form sensible opinions about anything other than John Terry being a complele ****, IMHO.

Off up to Thornbury today, I understand: not far but very fine scenery. If I remember to take the camera I'll post piccies later.

Again?

2009-09-12T18:20:00.004Z

The local news tells us that a 17-year-old kid has been stabbed to death just up the road from here. Part of an argument outside the World's End pub, they say.

It's beyond pathetic.

Give a moment's thought to the victim when you're breaking bread tonight.

What a ****ing mess.

Let It Flow

2009-09-12T18:03:00.003Z

There'll be doom-mongers saying that's it for the Arsenal, lost two games in a row and to both sets of Mancs to boot. I have to say I'm not worried. If you'd looked at the fixture list before the season kicked off you'd probably have taken both of those games as home wins and the fact that we were unlucky not to win in both games is I think something we should view as a definite plus.

We're getting the crap games out of the way early. We *will* move on from here, I'm sure. The team is certainly playing well enough.

The Boss is doing the hubble-bubble thing in the kitchen at the moment, and I have to say I'm falling under the spell of the odour.

Saturday! Proper Football! Beer!

2009-09-12T12:19:00.003Z

Just back from today's interview (very sensible day for them, IMHO, certainly makes travel easier) and have the rest of the day spread before me like an inviting banquet. So...

Off to the pub to watch football. Then, if my eyes are still focusing, I'll deal with my emails and that "stacked jury of correspondence".

Have a great day!

PS: Bristolians might want to remember it's the launch of the new Harley range up at Riders both today and tomorrow. Live music and BBQ, apparently.

It's Friday. Keep Telling Me It's Friday...

2009-09-11T15:30:00.012Z

I had an interview this morning, a follow on from the session in Bristol last Friday. How did it go? How can I tell? I did the best I could, I really hope it was enough. Anyway, I've another tomorrow, so it's time to prepare for that.

After the interview I came home/went back into town for a tour of the agencies with Mad Dave, who's once again one of Gordon's Happy Clan. There are a couple fewer agencies than the last time we did the round and those that remain are largely hanging on by the skin of their teeth or by the sheer good nature of their staff. One of our fave places in the former category ("that's the job, there, in the window") is still just about there, but (like a lot of the others) is relying on the "outbound charity calls" stuff. It's awfully sad that that should be the sort of work that survives a Gordon Browning: it really does seem tasteless in the extreme to be pulling the "you may think you're badly off, but look at this lot" trick when you're only doing it for profit.

Don't let those other cards deceive you, this is "The Job".
But Mr Sun had us putting our hats on and surely it did shine on Mad Dave. We revisited one of the better agencies that we went to when he was last looking for work (one that doesn't deal with the likes of me) and they pretty much signed him up on the spot. There *are* openings out there, and indeed more than there were only a few weeks ago, but you've got to be the right shape to get through the holes, as it were. Limber up, dudes.

Dave'll be pleased, then.
I'm now about to start work cooking the most awesome burritos since time began, or at least since the last time I made them. Then an early night, I guess. For the rest of you, the weekend starts here. Enjoy. Make it count.

Here We Go!

2009-09-10T11:19:00.005Z

Cool. With an emphatic 5-1 win over Croatia at Wembley England have secured their place in next summer's World Cup with a couple of games to spare. Even Don Fabio Capello is getting a tad carried away, claiming "we have one of the best teams in the world". Calm will descend when it dawns that even if this is true it's hardly the same as our name being on the trophy. Still, let's enjoy the moment.

Scotland are out now. Not much of a surprise there, sadly. Northern Ireland have now made it very difficult for themselves, but not impossible: let's hope they make it.

Elsewhere CF4 scored the opener for Spain in their 3-0 win over Estonia - that's their eighth succesive qualifying group win, too. Now Spain really *do* look to be "one of the best teams in the world"... NB52 scored for Denmark in a 1-1 draw away to Albania of all people (though any country whose national hero is Norman Wisdom is OK by me) and TR7 actually played for the Czeck Republic in their 7-0 stuffing of San Marino.

All good then? Of course not. AA23 is out for three games after picking up another injury whilst playing for Russia (3-1 winners away to Wales). Get well quickly, Andrey.

Lovely weather here today, I even enjoyed the drive up the A38 for this morning's interview. I dropped in at Curry's on the way back to see if they'd got a 3.5mm jack to 3.5mm jack lead. They had indeed, for £13.99! Are they mad? Maplin's next time I'm passing, then.

Food now. And tea.

Let's Be 'Avin' You!

2009-09-09T08:33:00.003Z

England vs Croatia tonight. England will qualify for next year's World Cup with a win; a draw would do if Ukraine don't beat Belarus in their game in Minsk. There's a lot riding on England's qualification, IMHO. England in South Africa could be the final push we need to get us out of the mess in which more than a decade of Mr Brown's economic ineptitude has left us. Imagine: a new Government, England at the World Cup Finals, the pubs full of people shouting the lads on, the flags everywhere. Come on England, get us there.

On the team front there don't look to be any surprises likely to be sprung. This game won't be a walkover, but England *should* win it. Perhaps I'll wear my lucky magic pants.

Elsewhere, things carry on as usual. I've got interviews to prepare for and the Boss is ill, so I'm playing nurse, too. Sadly I don't get to wear the uniform. This afternoon sees the fortnightly visit to Gordon's House of Grey Despair. No joy there.

Don't Bogart That Vick's Vapour Rub, Dude

2009-09-08T08:10:00.002Z

Sheffield United goalie Paddy Kenny has been banned for nine months for a drugs offence. His crime? He "knowingly ingested an over-the-counter medicine above the prescribed dosage without reading the accompanying package or leaflet". It appears no one disputes that all he was seeking was relief from a cold, not a competitive advantage of any sort. To some extent the current economic crisis is beginning to force the idocy of the New Labour "box ticking" mentality from our lives, but clearly it's hanging on in the anti-doping world.

This sort of decision does nothing to further the notion we are getting "drug free" sport as we really care about it - i.e. a sport free of performance enhancing drugs and "artificial" sportsmen and women. Are cases like Kenny's merely brought because they can't catch any "real" cheats? Or perhaps there aren't actually any "real" cheats and poor Paddy is suffering just so the anti-doping people can keep in work? Use some common sense, chaps, and don't deny a man his chance to work just because he caught a cold.

Not much else going on yet today. It would seem Don Fabio is starting with Hesky and not Defoe, but that he'll replace Wright-Philips with Lennon. Personally I think it would be rather amusing if the match ends up as a Rooney vs Eduardo dive-off, but I do actually want England to get to the World Cup so I will be rooting for a good 'un from the Three Lions. But that's tomorrow, after a tour of the agencies with Mad Dave and a visit to that awful place.

Happy Birthday To You! Happy Birthday!

2009-09-07T17:56:00.005Z

Happy Birthday to you, Bridget The Midget The Queen Of The Blues!

Have a great one and thanks for the cake things! The Boss has now started on her round of "I haven't had a drink, honest" phone calls. I may have to tell the victims who to blame ;)

The Goats Are Facing North

2009-09-07T08:33:00.004Z

A Norfolk native once tried to persuade me you can predict the weather by seeing which way the goats are facing. The only goat around here lives on a railway embankment and can only face in two directions parallel to the line of the bank or he'd fall over. I don't know if this has any bearing on the fact it's always raining here, but I don't rely on the goat method.

Living as we do on a hill in the east of Bristol I can look out across the city in the morning and see the weather fronts moving in from the sea. By around 10.00 am what's coming in tends to be what's set for the day. It's a tad early atm, and quite a lot could happen in the next half hour as they used to say on Stingray, but it's not looking good. The lawn won't be getting mown today, that's for sure.

There's quite a lot going on here this week, I've got a number of interviews lined up and the band are joined by a bass player on Thursday. Wednesday, however, sees another trip to Gordon's House of Grey Despair, which is *not* good, not good at all.

Also not good is news that Johan Djourou is out for six months following knee surgery on a an injury sustained whilst on international duty. Here's hoping he makes a speedy and full recovery.

Right, the new week is here, let's make it a great one!

Back From Avebury, Now For Beer

2009-09-06T15:01:00.012Z

So Sunday morning and afternoon were spent out in the wilds of Wiltshire, and a fine time was had by all. Today's destination: Avebury and its stone circle.

Ben's on time for once.
Avebury was OK. Stones all over the place, and you can actually get up to the things. In many ways a more interesting place to visit than Stonehenge, I'd have said. And at least there's a pub, which Stonehenge lacks. Mind you, the pub charges £5 to park in its decidedly undersized car park.

Steve considers the car park charges.
They give you £2 back if you spend more than a fiver at the bar, but given that the place must get the huge majority of its custom from visitors to the hamlet it sits in this seems a bit of a swiz, frankly.

Have beer in fridge and will be taking a sip once the feeling returns to my extremities :)