DO WE NEED ANOTHER HERO?

Page Rank 2 - Well Don't Mind If I Do

2011-09-14T15:02:00.000+01:00

As anyone within the SEO industry will testify, the Page Rank of a website is important, as it signifies the authority that a particular website has.So imagine my surprise when I found out last Friday that this (great) blog that you're currently reading has a PR2.

It's not the greatest PR around but by it's by nomeans the worst either, especially when you consider I haven't update this blog since January 2011! Hopefully this recognition from the PageRank kings will give me the much needed kick-up-the-butt to blog a bit more regularly (here's hoping!)

MJY!

Generation Jobless

2011-01-21T19:29:00.000Z

Typical Queue Outside a UK JobCentre

On the front page of 1 British newspaper yesterday (January 20th 2011), was the headline “Generation Jobless”. The premise of the subsequent article was that 1 in 5 18-25 year olds are unemployed – and that the unemployment figures for the UK as a whole is now 2.5million.

I’m not going to lie, being in that age group, albeit towards the higher end, I was slightly angered, well not angered but annoyed at being pigeonholed in this way. I’m not denying that 1 in 5 of this age group, my generation as it were, are scrounging of the state, I can probably name a few people I know who are; but if 1 in 5 are currently unemployed and claiming benefits, that means there are 4 out of 5 18-25 year olds who are legitimately in either full time education or working. In some instances they may even be doing both, and if this is the case for you I doth my preverbal cap to you sir/madam.

Those that are either working or in full-time education are not only bettering themselves but they’re also helping the economy (and who can deny, at the moment in the UK it’s much needed help!)
Personally (without meaning to blow my own metaphorical trumpet) I’ve been working for the last 6 to 7 years; since I was doing my GCSE’s. During this time I’ve gained good GCSE’s, AS-Levels, A-Levels and more recently a 2:1 in Journalism and Media. Many of my friends and acquaintances have also worked and studied at the same time, breaking down the stereotype that our generation are lazy and workshy!

Even when I left one university – after realising the course wasn’t for me – I didn’t sit around watching day time TV and claiming benefits. Instead I got a job – and it just so happened that throughout my second stint at university (from which I gained the degree) and up until August 2010, I worked in various capacities for this same company. Now however, I’m working in an article marketing team as a content writer for an SEO company.

To dispel the stereotype that my generation are workshy, I (and again, others I know) have worked two jobs (legitimately paying taxes and NI on both) and also volunteered (myself, I’m a volunteer radio presenter at Radio Fox). I’m not putting it out there that I’m a saint, far from. I’m just an ordinary twenty-something male, who has been taught the value of money and that if you want something you have to work hard to achieve it (not sponge of tax payers money).

I know though, as an aspiring journalist that the story of 4 out of 5 18-25 year olds working hard/being in education, doesn’t make for interesting reading, nor will it sell papers. So I don’t blame them for a) running this article b) using the headline Generation Jobless; after all it’s meant to provoke a reaction and it certainly has as I’ve returned from the cold, dreary blogging wilderness after many months to blog about it – and I’m sure others have been talking and tittering about it too!

So why are MY generation so workshy as the paper suggests? After all, in a world where everything is based on technology, something we’ve been raised on, wouldn’t it make sense for us to be working alongside it?

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple and there are many reasons as to why 1 million young people (18-25 year

olds) are unemployed – by the way, a bit of trivia for you, this is the highest its been since records began in 1992!

Some may decide to blame the older generations and in-particular both the Labour and coalition Government. After all they’ve taken us into a recession and raised VAT, which has had a knock on effect of companies having to slash jobs or merging with other companies. In the media, the latter is prevalent on a daily basis, especially within local media (you just have to look at Capital’s takeover of Leicester Sound, Trent FM and Ram FM). By merging some staff are informed their jobs are no longer available, meaning that those with years of experience are now vying for jobs with school leavers and graduates, making the job market even more competitive. I can vouch for this as since graduating I’ve been attempting to break into the media industry, but have found jobs are becoming more limited.

Others though are blaming graduates for taking jobs which a decade ago graduates wouldn’t even take, meaning they aren’t there for the school leavers to apply for.

But in reality, when you stop trying to pave over the cracks and make excuses the reason that so many people are out of work, and I suppose this generation especially, is because they think they are too good for certain jobs. There’s always a job out there to be applied for. It may not be the most appealing job, but surely it’s better than being classed as a scrounger, isn’t it? After all if you’re working you’re gaining experience (which in a competitive job market is extremely beneficial) and you’re also doing your confidence and self-esteem the world of good.

Look at it this way, if you were an employer, would you employee someone who has shown they aren’t afraid to work at the bottom, to get their hands dirty, over someone who has spent “X” amount of time sitting around claiming benefits? I know I would.

*I’d like to make it clear, I do no there are viable reasons, other than being workshy/lazy, for people claiming benefits and I’m sorry for pigeonholing so to speak!

Please tell me there aren't any blog police?

2010-11-03T20:23:00.004Z

This is terrible, the penultimate blog I wrote was about neglecting my blog and saying how I'd make more of an effort to blog frequently (feel free to read it again, http://tinyurl.com/23joqbx) that was on March 31st 2010.

We're now 20hours and 25minutes (GMT) into November 3rd 2010, and since that post (not counting this one) I've posted ONCE! It's shameful, it's neglect, but fortunately there are no blog police around to bring justice to me! - Instead I'll have to make do with starting to build upany reputation I may have had amongst my followers back up!

I'm not sure why I stopped blogging, I think it's something to do with being stuck in a dead end job where all I did was respond to customers who had an issue with one of many aspects of the company I then worked for, and then spending the evenings jobhunting for an escape out of there! That escape cam in August (hoorah!) and now I spend my days still sitting infront of a computer, but now working as a content writer for an SEO company! I'm slowly getting to becoming a journalist / writer (although as with this blog, my attempt at writing a novel has gone very slow!)

The time since the last post and this one, a fair bit has happened - far too much to blog about, and far too much that isn't of any interest to many people - and that's just David Cameron becoming PM and England failing at the World Cup to mention two things!

I'm not going to make promise that I'll blog daily or weekly,but what I'll attempt to do is blog (a lot more) frequently -and on a mixture of topics!

For now though, it's cheerio (although feel free to follow on Twitter @MYounger14) and this time I will be back soon!

We do like a bit of humour.

2010-03-31T19:07:00.002+01:00

I'm not one to usually re-send forwarded e-mails, however this one I received from my mum today did make me chuckle. Is this really the state of the UK today?

These are classified ads, which were actually placed in a U.K. newspaper:

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.8 years old.Hateful little bastard.Bites!
FREE PUPPIES1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbour's dog.
FREE PUPPIES.Mother, a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd.Father, Super Dog... able to leap tall fences in a single bound.
COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.Also 1 gay bull for sale.
JOINING NUDIST COLONY!Must sell washer and dryer £100.
WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE.Worn once by mistake.Call Stephanie.

But perhaps the best one, and the one which all males no doubt would agree with is:

FOR SALE BY OWNER.Complete set of Encyclopaedia Britannica,45 volumes.Excellent condition.....£200 or best offer.No longer needed; got married last month.Wife knows everything!

Poor, neglected blog!

2010-03-31T18:17:00.003+01:00

I feel as though I have neglected my blog recently. It's a good job that it isn't a living, breathing thing that needs plenty of love and attention, otherwise I'd be reported to the authories and worse still it is likely it would be six-foot under with the worms! Not a pretty thought, and that's why I vow (once again) to change my ways, and make sure I blog more frequently.

The trouble is, since my last blog not a great deal has happened. Actually I don't think anything of note has happened. Ok, so I purchased a KA - she's a lovely all black 51 plate model, runs smoothly, comfortable to drive and is called KittyKa, Kitty for short - that's right I've named my new car, despite saying after getting attached to Penelope (R.I.P you little VW Polo) that I wouldn't name a car again; but I couldn't help it. It seemed the right thing to do.

Other than that, life is pretty much mundane - not in a bad way, but in Leicestershire not a lot happens. Monday - Friday I work 9-5 for a well known clothing company (although I work in their head office responding via e-mail / letter to complaints and compliments!), at weekends chances are I'll be working as a steward at the football and spending time with the lovely J; and then it is the start of a new week and off we go again! Boohiss!

There hasn't even been a great deal in the press that I've thought "actually I'd could make a good blog about this and my opinions towards it." but with the elections around the corner I'm sure that will change!

On the plus side though, I'm back on Twitter! Hoorah, so if you really want to, you can follow my daily antics (@MYounger14) starting this weekend as I'm off to London on Easter Sunday!

I promise, I will be back with something more exciting than this!

Hall of Shame

2010-02-10T18:39:00.002Z

In a month when it has been made public that the now former England captain cheated on his childhood sweetheart with his former team-mate's ex-girlfriend and a former Premier League striker has failed a second drugs test that could lead to a four-year ban, it's time to take a quick look into the annals in football's Hall of Shame.

What follows is a 14-man squad of football's bad boys - and a manager to boot. With an attacking formation of 3-4-3, the manager of this staring XI (find out who it is in part two), takes a leaf out of Brian Clough's book. Cloughie suggests if you had a good goalkeeper you were a tenth of the way towards building a successful team, so taking the number one jersey in the Hall of Shame, is none other than former Liverpool shot-stopper Bruce Grobbelaar.

In November 1994 Grobbelaar was accused by the Sun newspaper of match fixing during his time at Liverpool to benefit a betting syndicate, after being caught on videotape discussing match-fixing. The number one - perhaps best known for his wobbly legs - pleaded not guilty, claiming he was only gathering evidence with the intent of taking it to the police. This didn't stop the court from charging him with conspiracy to corrupt, along with the Wimbledon goalkeeper Hans Segers and Aston Villa striker John Fashanu (neither of whom have made the football bad boy squad, incidentally).

After two successive trials, neither resulting in a verdict, he and his co-defendants were cleared in November 1997. Grobbelaar later sued The Sun for libel and was awarded £85,000. The Sun appealed, and the case was eventually taken to the House of Lords where it was found that, though the specific allegations had not been proved, there was adequate evidence of dishonesty. The Lords slashed his award to £1, the lowest libel damages possible under English law, and ordered him to pay The Sun's legal costs, estimated at £500,000.

Captaining the team, and leading from the back, is the present day (ex-)leader of the pack,

disgraced Chelsea skipper John Terry - no stranger to controversy both on and off the pitch.

In the past fortnight it has been hard to get away from Terry's face being plastered over the front pages, after it was announced that the Blues star was the Premier League footballer who cheated on his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his two children. Terry's alleged relationship with French lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel has been dragged through the national press for several days, with reports ranging from her alleged history of sleeping with members of the Chelsea squad to the slightly more ridiculous speculation that Terry is actually the father of England and former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge's child.

But this isn't the first indiscretion against Terry's name. His share of 'mistakes' includes several public displays of drunkenness at home and abroad, and mocking Americans at Heathrow airport in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by stripping naked, laughing and vomiting. To top it off he was arrested for causing actual bodily harm to a doorman after a nightclub scuffle.

Supporting Terry in the middle of the defence is the man who has been given the Three Lions captaincy for the upcoming friendly against Eygpt - Rio Ferdinand.

At the start of his career Rio was tipped to become one of the greatest defenders of our time, coming through the ranks at West Ham United with the likes of Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and

Frank Lampard, before moving to Leeds and then Manchester United.
But for all his skill on the pitch, Rio seems to be a magnet for bad publicity, all of which have cast a cloud over his career.

In 1998, the then England manager Glenn Hoddle left Ferdinand out of the World Cup squad after the defender was charged with drink-driving, which also brought about one of Rio's four driving bans.

Three years later Ferdinand hit the headlines again after it was made public that along with two of his team-mates he was involved in a sex scandal - not to mention a homophobic rant live on Radio One's Chris Moyles show.

But it was the huge error in judgement the talismanic defender made in 2003 that seals his starting berth in this squad - missing a doping test in 2003 (because he forget due to moving house). This was a mistake which not only cost him an eight-month ban from football, ruling him out of yet another international competition (Euro 2004), but also left a bitter taste after it raised suspicions of yet another player who had wasted his talents due to drugs.

Ferdinand, now 31, has tried to remove his bad-boy image in recent years but there are still doubts over his suitability as England captain - most notably his recent appearance in front of the FA's disciplinary panel for violent conduct for swinging an arm at Hull strike Craig Fagan.

The third man in this fiercest of defences is Arsenal and England legend Tony Adams.

"Mr Arsenal", as he is known, was part of the 'famous four' that lined up in the Gunners defence renowned under George Graham for its disciplined use of the offside trap. On January 1st 1988 he became Arsenal captain at the age of 21 - his job for the next 14 years until his retirement.

Despite his strong discipline of the defence for both Arsenal and England - and the admaration of thousands - Adams had his demons, and none more so than a battle with the bottle.

His alcoholism, which started in the mid 1980s, increasingly blighted his life, reportedly often involved in fights in nightclubs and other public skirmishes.

On May 6th 1990, Adams crashed his Ford Sierra into a wall near his house in Southend-on-Sea, and when breathalysed he was found to be more than four times over the legal drink-drive limit.
On December 19th that year, at Southend Crown Court, he was imprisoned for four months.

However, after being released in February after serving half his sentence his alcoholism continued and he was involved in further drink-related incidents, including playing through a match in the 1993/94 season despite being hungover, falling down stairs and needing 29 stitches to a head wound, and letting off fire extinguishers with team-mate Ray Parlour in a Pizza Hut where they were being taunted by supporters of rival clubs.

On September 14th 1996 Adams admitted his problem to the public and, after seeking treatment, found a more sensitive side to his character emerging, including a return to education and an attempt to learn the piano. He became one of the most high-profile recovering alcoholics in the UK.

As we move forward into the attacking midfield, it is another former Arsenal player who picks up possession and builds the attack.

Paul Merson, a talented footballer but unfortunately for him a poor manager and a worse pundit, was blighted by a trio of addictions. Alcohol and gambling were vices popular among his crowd in the mid 1990s, but it was the third that put Merson's career on the line in November 1994 when he admitted to being a cocaine addict.

In a tearful press conference, Merson confessed: "For me, cocaine was a serious addiction and not something I did occasionally."

The Football Association arranged for Merson to undergo a three-month rehabilitation programme, meaning he avoided a ban. The attacking-midfielder returned to the Gunners line-up in February 1995, just before the dismissal of George Graham as manager.

Merson is joined in midfield by his England team-mate, and one of the loveable rouges of the game, Paul Gascoigne.

The former England star is best known for his off-the-field antics, despite his many wonder goals on it.

Gazza suffers from OCD, bipolar disorder, bulimia, drug addictions and alcohol abuse and has hit the headlines due to his actions, which can only be contributed to his drug and alcohol addiction.

In 2005, Gazza was arrested for assaulting a photographer, and in 2008 he was arrested on suspicion of criminal damages and was later sectioned because of fears he would harm himself. It is rumoured the England ace believed aliens were coming to get him.

And no more than a couple of days ago, Gascoigne was back in the papers for the wrong reasons after two arrests for public disorder offences over confrontations in a Yorkshire takeaway and a hotel in Darlington.

Providing the younger legs in the midfield line-up is Newcastle's Joey Barton, who along with the defence duo of Terry and Ferdinand is no stranger to bad publicity. However, unfortunately for him, he does not have the admiration or skill of his fellow midfielders.

Barton left Manchester City under something of a cloud after stubbing out a cigar in the eye of a fellow player, slapping a young fan who kicked him and allegedly punching a team-mate so hard he suffered a detached retina - a case he also suffered for with a New Year's stint in jail.

Having moved to Newcastle Barton's 'uncompromising' style of play has not mellowed, and, as such, it earned him a rebuke from the FA for a chest-high tackle on man mountain Dickson Etuhu.

On Tuesday May 20th 2008 he got his comeuppance when Liverpool Crown Court Judge Henry Globe sentenced him to six months in prison, declaring his part in a street brawl on Merseyside a "violent and cowardly act".

Vinnie Jones takes the final place in the four-man midfield, pushing Birmingham's Lee Bowyer onto the bench.

The former Welsh midfielder is arguably the hardest man ever to lace up his boots - the Wimbledon hero holds the record for the fastest ever yellow card. Just three seconds.
Jones has had his brushes with the law off the pitch - with convictions for air-rage and assaulting a neighbour and infamously once biting the nose of a Daily Mirror journalist. However, he now makes his money playing for an all-star LA side and has starred in over fifty blockbusters (not to mention the most recent series of Celebrity Big Brother).

Leading the attack are two men, one known for his womanizing and excessive drinking, the other for an addiction to drugs.

Wearing the number seven shirt is former Manchester United and Northern Ireland legend George Best.

Best's game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders, whilst his off-field antics combined drinking with womanising.
Best himself joked: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."

The Irishman is said to have been the godfather of celebrity footballers, but his extravagant lifestyle led to problems with alcoholism which curtailed his playing career and eventually led to his death in November 2005 at the age of 59.

In the centre of the three-pronged attack is Argentina's most famous number nine, Diego Maradona.

Whilst the pint-sized striker had the sort of skill most players can only dream about, controversy seems to follow him wherever he goes – including the 1986 World Cup, where his 'Hand of God' knocked out arch-rivals England.

From the most part of his career, from as early as the mid-1980s right the way through until 2004, Maradona was said to have been addicted to cocaine. He allegedly began using the drug in Barcelona in 1983 and by the time he was playing for Napoli he had a regular addiction, which began to interfere with his ability to play football.

Over the years following his retirement his health seriously deteriorated. On January 4th 2000, while holidaying in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Maradona had to be rushed to the emergency room of a local clinic. In a press conference, doctors stated that the problem was caused by heart muscle damage due to "an underlying health issue". It was later known that traces of cocaine were found in his blood and Maradona had to explain the circumstances to the police.

In March 2009 Italian officials announced Maradona still owed the Italian government 37 million euros in taxes; 23.5 million euros of which was accrued interest on his original debt. They reported that thus far, Maradona has paid only 42,000 euros, two luxury watches and a set of earrings.

At the tail-end of last year, following Argentina's qualification for this summer's World Cup, Maradona used abusive language at the live post-game press conference, telling members of the media to "suck it and keep on sucking it". Fifa responded with a two-month ban on all footballing activity and a warning as to his future conduct.

The final name on the team sheet is former Leicester City, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore.

In 11 years as a professional footballer, controversy followed Collymore around like a bad smell, as his self-destructiveness wasn't so much a streak as a rich seam.

The high of his notoriety was in 1998, when his relationship with television presenter Ulrika Jonsson disintegrated and it was revealed he had struck her. Collymore later courted more controversy when he was caught dogging in Cannock Chase, an accusation which was later confirmed.

Supporting the starting XI are a similarly hardy bunch including 6'3" Scottish striker Duncan Ferguson, seagull-loving forward Eric Cantona, and reformed bad-boy Lee Bowyer.

Ferguson shares the record for most red cards in a season - eight of them. He was also handed a three-month stint in prison for headbutting a fellow player. Frenchman Cantona launched the infamous kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons that saw the Manchester United forward landed with an eight-month suspension and threats of a prison sentence.

Bowyer joins the list, although his recent reforms and a rich vein of form with Premier League side Birmingham City could point to a brighter future.

Still, in his younger days the midfielder was a bit of a tearaway.

He was suspended by Charlton in 1995 for a positive drugs test (cannabis), fined £4500 by magistrates for throwing a chair at Asian staff in a fast-food restaurant in 1996 and then cleared of attacking an Asian student outside a Leeds nightclub in January 2000.
In 2005 he was also involved in an on-pitch punch-up with Kieron Dyer, his Newcastle team-mate at the time, resulting in a £600 fine.

Despite numerous accusations the midfielder has always strenuously denied being a racist, telling the press: "I am no racist. I have never been and I never will be.

"I thought it was best for me to keep quiet about what happened in the past and there were also legal implications and there was no reason for me to come forward and say anything.

"If people were inferring that I was a racist, well that's their opinion, but it was ludicrous really. I was brought up in a mixed community in London and all my friends and schoolboy pals were from different nationalities.

"All this has been going on for a long time now and I have not been in a position to back myself up if you like but now I want to put the record straight.

"I have always supported the Keep Racism out of Football campaign when I was at Charlton with my pal Carl Leaburn and at Leeds with Lucas Radebe. It is something I have always supported but people seem to forget that these days."

Lastly, but by no means least, managing the ragamuffins is the one and only former Spurs manager David Pleat.

In 1987 the coach was forced to resign after a tabloid reported his caution for kerb crawling around notorious red light districts of London. To make matters even more clear-cut, Pleat was cautioned not once but three times. He later rejoined football management at Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town again before returning to Spurs as director of football in the late 1990s.

A day of rest..................my ar$e

2010-01-18T18:25:00.002Z

Sunday is meant to be a day of rest, the seventh day, when according to Christians, after God had spent the previous six days creating the world and everything on it, he rested. I like to think he sat down, put his feet up, with a cuppa and a slice of cake, thinking "I've not done too bad here."As I'm sure you can guess, I'm not the most religious person in the world, but I think that it's a nice thought - and I'm also liking the though of a day of rest.

There was no such luck for me last Sunday (10th Jan 2010) – and due to the events that happened that day, I’ve realised how much I (and most of us no doubt) rely on material things.
After a shift working as a steward at the Walkers Stadium, in the freezing cold, as the snow fell and the bitter wind blew it into my face (the things we do for work), I de-thawed before driving J back up the M6 to Birmingham – a journey I make most weekends, I do it that often that I sometimes think I could do it with my eyes closed! Not that I would.

This time however, my beloved Penelope (a 1994 VW Polo Genesis) seemed to be ill (old age). The nearer to Birmingham we got, the more I noticed that the dashboard light was fading, although I could still see the petrol gauge and speedo, so I was ok – or being a typical male, that’s what I thought.

Penelope is similar to this but white!

As I made the return journey home, the petrol gauge was falling rapidly, as was the light on the dashboard, not to mention the head and rear lights. This certainly wasn’t normal, but then again, neither was my behaviour in Penelope. Not only was I talking to her, begging her to get me home, but I was also praying to the Big Man. Isn’t it strange how quickly we turn to religion when we want something!?!

Unfortunately the begging and praying did not seem to work. Either the big man was busy / not working (after all it was Sunday – a day of rest!) or he knew I wasn’t religious. Either way, a mile away from Junction 3 (a junction I could have left the motorway, parked in a side street and got picked up by my dad) I had to admit defeat and pull onto the hard shoulder. It was here, from 10pm until midnight that I waited to be collected by a tow-truck (and sods law had it that I did not have breakdown cover, as the year I had it, I didn’t use it!)
During my time on the hard shoulder, I had a visit from the Police, who were passing, but still managed to ask the ultimate question of “What appears to be the matter” – honestly, if I knew that do they really think I’d be standing in the heavy snow on the side of the motorway, freezing my dingdangdoolies off, and waiting to pay over £100 for the pleasure of being taken home?!?

There certainly wasn’t much rest for me on that Sunday, but it has taught me a few things (isn’t hindsight great!?)
1) I rely on Penelope too much, as at the time I wrote this in rough (yesterday) I was on the train back from Birmingham
2) I really should have listened to J and got Penelope serviced before Christmas
3) RAC were correct when they kept asking me to re-join them.

Ahhhh well, we live and learn by our mistakes, and they are only mistakes if we don’t learn by them!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

2010-01-05T20:40:00.002Z

It doesn’t matter how old you get, as soon as you see those first few flakes of snow falling from the sky, wherever you are, whether it’s at work, in the car, at home or on the train, you get all excited – a point proven today whilst I was at work.

Whilst the majority of the North of England appears to have been covered in snow and ice over recent days, and the South of England preparing to get hit by the same weather blanket, the Midlands, and especially Leicester seem to have got away lightly – much to the disappointment of some, but joy of others.

That is, until today. I woke up early for work (these early morning do not impress me nor do they get any easier) and saw a small (millimetres) covering of snow – not enough to cause too much trouble. But as the day wore on, the snow got heavier and began to settle – and that is when the excitement started to bubble in the office, it was almost like being back at Primary School, you would not believe that the office range from the ages of 23 (me – being the youngest) to 60 would get so excited from the white flakes falling from the sky. But we all love snow, and we all secretly hope that it causes business to close for a few days.

I for one cannot wait to wake up in the morning tomorrow and see that I cannot get to work, after all there are a few Xbox games I received over Christmas that I have not had time to play on yet, along with DVDs I have not watched, although it is likely to be wishful thinking and I am sure that there are many up-and-down the country who cannot wait for the sun to come out, as the weather continue to cause havoc.
Schools have been closed, cars have been abandoned in the middle of the road and even our gas supply is in doubt – all because, we cannot handle the freezing temperatures that bring so much joy!

Love is more than a four letter word

2009-12-22T20:56:00.002Z

Love is many things to many people. Love is an emotion that has no definite definition (even Wiki has trouble defining love). It’s hard, almost impossible, to put your finger on what love actually is and what it entails. But it is something that we all, as humans, animals, and living things crave. From our first to our last breath.

We get love from and give love to, various sources. Whether this be family, friends, that someone special, or something all together different (i.e. a sports team, a certain band, a car). Beyond all though, love is, when all is said and done, the one thing that makes the world go round and what makes life so special and magical.

Some of us go through life desperately searching for love from that someone special, falling hard and fast, to only get our hearts broken a few weeks, months (and sometimes) years down the line, when that love fades and the relationship cannot continue (we’ve all been there, at least one!)

Some of us after having our hearts broken once, continue to look for love, and repeat the cycle, whilst others, stop looking for love and let love find them – and this is what I did, and I truly believe that from stepping out of the ‘cycle’ and waiting for love to come and find me, I now understand the true meaning of love – what it means to be in love, to be loved, and to realise the true meaning of ‘love conquers all.’
I’m also pleased to say, that from stepping out of the ‘cycle’ I also understand the meaning of ‘love at first sight.’

I don't want to brag about being in love, especially not at this time of year, when our minds drift away in thoughts of those that we have lost, those absent family members and friends. Nor is this love a new thing. It actually goes back to November 1st 2007, the day after LCFC (my first love – in the non traditional sense) pushed Premiership side Chelsea all the way in a seven goal League cup tie thriller away at Stamford Bridge.
I can remember it (the falling in love / love at first sight, not the football) as though it only happened yesterday.

I had travelled from Leicester to Birmingham for a friends birthday drinking session. As I had a bit of time to waste before meeting the said friend and others for something to eat, I decided to walk the 6 miles from New Street station to Harborne, before grabbing a coffee in a well known ‘Italian’ Coffee Shop, before meeting the friend and some others for food. And that’s where it happened. On the pavement outside Varsity, as the traffic whizzed by behind us and the late afternoon shoppers hurried by, only 1 girl (J) had my attention, as she stood there in her brown roll neck jumper and jeans, not saying a word. Her beauty was shining through, and as cheesy as it sounds, she was more beautiful than a fairytale princess. My heart was fluttering, and my mind was doing overtime. 15days after first meeting J, we became M&J - a couple, and I’m happy to say that over 2-years down the line, we are still happily together, and I love her more than the day I met her.

It may not have been the most romantic of places to meet, or the most romantic of stories to tell the grandchildren in plenty of decades to come, but then again, other than in films, when is it romantic from the word go?

For me, the girl I met on November 1st 2007 in Harborne is the girl of my dreams, she makes me smile even when I’m sad, she offers me support and affection, she cares for me and about me. She is the one I want to wake up next to every morning, and the one I want to see last thing at night. She’s my rock, my soul-mate and my best friend.

When I think about the future, and I see all my dreams come true, she is the one standing next to me! I truly do love her more than I ever thought possible. She completes me! But as I said earlier, I don’t want to brag. But to me, what we have together, what she means to me, what she means to my life, is what I think the true meaning of love is.

Love is knowing that through rain or shine, the good times and the bad, the highs, the lows, the laughter, the tears, the struggles and the smooth rides, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, no matter what, that person will always be there for you, will always believe in you and your dreams, support you and comfort you. When you need them to, they’ll offer their loving arms for you to embrace, an ear to listen to your worries, or they’ll tell you that no matter what, everything will be alright. Love is about making sacrifices for that someone special.

Love is, more than a four letter word. Love is………………….!

It's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a new life.....

2009-12-09T21:45:00.002Z

It’s been a long time, nearly a month has passed since I last blogged. Have you missed me?
Since my last blog, it’s all be rather hectic in the world of ME, but some of that will become clear as you read on, so sit back with a nice cuppa / glass of wine / whatever takes your fancy, and enjoy – and when you get to the end, feel free to comment!

As hinted at in the last blog (all those weeks ago), I’m looking at making a few changes to DOWENEEDANOTHERHERO, to essentially improve it – not only for myself, from a writing perspective, but also for you, the readers. And as an added benefit, I’m hoping that it’ll attract more readers – and regular readers – so if you feel that my blogs (both past, present and future) are worthy, I’d be grateful if you could maybe highlight them to your friends, family and blogging communities!

Enough of the shameless plea for promotion, now onto these changes. Actually, hold your horse, put down your chosen drink, and take a few breaths to draw pause. The only changes that have taken place is the design, and I hope that you like it and approve J The other ‘non-changes’ – lets call them ‘resolutions’ that I intend to implement from here onwards, is to do with the content and frequency of the posts.
Firstly, the frequency of these random musings, the thoughts that pop into my head, and the random clutter which makes up life and these posts. In recent times, it’s been a bit splash-dash, hit-and-miss on the frequency. Sometimes I won’t post anything for weeks (as on this occasion) or even months on end; then WHAM, I hit it harder than a left hook by Ricky Hatton / Rendall Munroe / Mike Tyson – take your pick of the boxer you like! – and I post a multitude of posts all at once for you to get your teeth stuck into. But this is not good for any of us, after all we’re told by doctors and alike that we are meant to have a balanced diet, as too much of anything (yes I was tempted to say a good thing, but thought I’d attempt to be modest) is bad for us, and we can’t be having that now, can we?
So instead (work permitting – as I have, since November 23rd 2009, stated a 5-day-a-week 9-to-5 job (hoorah!) which will be running alongside my stewarding at the football and also my sports writer internship, so I’ll be a busy bee!) I shall (attempt) to blog more frequently – at least once a week – perhaps more if something catches my eye in the current affairs, or any random amusing thoughts I have. Which brings me nicely onto content – it is amazing how seamless these links are, you’d think that I plan them wouldn’t you!?!

So content, I’ve noticed, as I come across blogs, that the majority of them focus on a certain topic, whether this be food, drink, literature or a specific sport, etc, whereas mine range from sport to music, random science experiments to cakes – I see ‘Cake Sunday’ still hasn’t made it to a worldwide event! – and this isn’t going to change, because, life isn’t based solely on one subject, if it was, it would be bland. Instead, life, as with my blogs, is made up of various things, some good, some bad, some entertaining, some upsetting. That said, I have taken the feedback from one blogger (Rambles ‘N’ Shambles – if you haven’t checked her musings out, I recommend you do, very entertaining!) on board, and I will ‘ATTEMPT’ (I cannot promise that it’ll happen, as with all resolutions, they are made in good faith, but usually get broken within a couple of weeks) to cut down on the sport content, although, as anyone who knows me will testify, this will be hard, as sport, especially football and LEICESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB are a huge part of me, even at the worst of time, my love for LCFC never fades!

Are you still with me, as I know that this is a rather large post, but hopefully it’s entertaining, or at least insightful – and I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear that there is a bit more to come, although it isn’t based on the blog now! Oh no, it isn’t just with DOWENEEDANOTHERHERO that I’ve decided to make resolutions! I’ve also decided to make them in life too – yes I’m aware that most people make resolutions on New Years Eve, ready for the turn of the new year, but I thought, on November 20th 2009, as I turned 23, that it was as good a time as any to make a few resolutions, after all, it’s the start of a new-year, in a roundabout way, and I had been offered the aforementioned 9-to-5 job a few days earlier, so it seemed as good a time as any!

So what are these life affirming resolutions I’ve made I hear you ask!?!
The first one, is perhaps the expected resolution, one that many people worldwide will make on December 31st, and that is to get fitter. I wouldn’t say that I am unfit, but I am nowhere near the fitness I was a few years ago, I remember a time when I would be doing sports everyday of the week at a high level, but then as I got older, that stopped, the drinking started, and before you know it, you’re out of the swing of things. So-far, this resolution isn’t going too bad. I have joined (and am now manager of) a friends 6-a-side football team – it’s a start, and I would like to build up a bit more body strength, especially upper, whilst maintaining a healthy diet to ensure that I put on a healthy amount of weight! Time will tell!
The second resolution, which at the moment hasn’t left the starting blocks, is to live a lifelong dream, and to become an author – not in the sense of being a journalist (although yes, I do want to do that, but am waiting on the “YES” from all the job applications I have sent) or a blogger, but as a novelist, such as Mike Gayle, Danny Wallace, Cecelia Ahern et al.
Whilst I have a few ideas as to a plot outline, I have not been able to put pen-to-paper (or finger-to-keypad as it is nowadays!) Resolutions eh, I’m sure the definition is “something you plan to do but never will”

More of my published work

2009-11-24T19:25:00.002Z

The internship is still flourishing, although in the up-coming weeks, it could start to slow down - but all will be revealed in a blog coming soon.
For now, entertain yourselves with these little ditties of my sports related writing. (For those that aren't a fan of sport, I do apologise, again, look at for the next blog!)

November 3rd 2009:
Haas hit by swine flu
German tennis player Tommy Haas' season looks to be over after the Wimbledon semi-finalist pulled out of this week's Davidoff Swiss Indoor tournament in Basle after contracting swine flu.

Cole: "We need to win the Champions League"

Midfielder Joe Cole has admitted Chelsea must win the Champions League if they are to be considered among Europe's elite clubs.

Owen in for Rooney for CSKA test

Michael Owen looks set for a rare start in the Manchester United attacking line-up for tonight's clash against CSKA Moscow, with Wayne Rooney absent for the birth of his first child.

Kieswetter gets England call

Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter has been called into the England Performance Programme (EPP), despite not yet being qualified for his adopted country.

Stoddart in for injured Jones

Full-back Morgan Stoddart has been called into Wales' squad for the autumn internationals as a replacement for fellow Scarlet Mark Jones.

Pearson aims for Hull clear out

Returning Hull City chairman Adam Pearson looks set to conduct a major cull in the new year, to ease the struggling Premier League clubs financial problems.

November 4th 2009:
Injuries add to Rafa's woes ahead of Lyon clash
Liverpool take on French giants Lyon tonight at the Stade Gerland, looking to boost their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Wenger: "We want to finish first"
Arsenal go into this evening's Group H game at the Emirates Stadium against Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar, determined to avoid any slip-ups as they continue their bid to seal progression to the last-16 of the Champions League.
Bulls duo obtain visas
Bradford Bulls have announced that Australian duo Heath L'Estrange and Brett Kearney have received their visas and will arrive for pre-season training within the next two weeks.

November 10th 2009: - a busy day:
Safin blasts "guilty" Agassi
Former world number one Marat Safin believes Andre Agassi should give his tennis titles back after confessing he tested positive for a banned substance during his career and lied about it to the ATP.
Swann calls for consistency
Graeme Swann feels England are reaping the rewards of adopting a positive mindset from the outset of their tour to South Africa, but has called for his team-mates not to let their intensity drop.
Wales ring changes for Samoa clash
Wales are set to make five changes to the starting line-up that lost to New Zealand, as they face Samoa at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night. Ferguson 'sacked by posh'
Darren Ferguson’s reign as Peterborough United manager looks set to be over following a disappointing start to the season.
Gus Poyet named new Brighton manager
Former Tottenham and Leeds coach Gus Poyet has been named the new manager of struggling League One side Brighton and Hove Albion.
Bellamy 'picks club over country'
Manchester City's Welsh striker Craig Bellamy looks to have picked club over country after he flew out to Abu Dhabi for City’s mid-season training break.
Bendtner out for a month following surgery
Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner faces up to a month on the sidelines after undergoing groin surgery in Germany this morning.

November 17th 2009:
Kitson joins Boro on two-month loan
Middlesborough have added a second striker in as many months, as Dave Kitson joins the Teesiders on a two-month loan from Premier League side Stoke City.
Beckham overlooked for MLS all-star game
Former England captain David Beckham has been ommitted from the MLS All-Star line-up, despite helping to guide LA Galaxy through the play-offs.
Lee: I've a lot of Cricket left
Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has announced he is to take a break from the sport to rest a persistent elbow injury before deciding on his cricketing future.
Liverpool handed Gerrard injury boost
Liverpool have been handed a major injury boost after captain Steven Gerrard declared himself fit to face Manchester City this weekend.
Gatland rotates squad ahead of Pumas clash
Wales coach Warren Gatland has reverted back to the side that lost 19-12 to New Zealand for Saturday's Test against Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.
Diarra accuses Ireland of "making up stories"
France midfielder Lassana Diarra has accused Ireland's players of "making up stories" following the altercation at the end of the World Cup play-off first leg in Dublin on Saturday night.

November 18th 2009: - Another feature:
Who's next for the Tartan Army?
Following the dismissal of George Burley as Scotland manager, the Scottish Football Association are now beginning the task of selecting the right manager to lead the national team forward.

November 24th 2009:
Paul Hart leaves Portsmouth
Premier League strugglers Portsmouth have announced that manager Paul Hart has left the club with immediate effect.
Forest capture Villa's Shorey on loan
Championship side Nottingham Forest have signed former England international Nicky Shorey on loan from Midland rivals Aston Villa until the end of the year.

Are you smarter than a 10-year-old?

2009-11-17T20:52:00.003Z

The title of this blog is a simple question, a question which ordinarily I’d answer within a heartbeat, “Yes” and I’m sure so would all of you.
After all every generation believes exams were harder when they were at school, and thse are claims which get stronger every time a new set of “record” results are released – increasing concerns about declining standards and an increasingly dumbed-down culture.
However, answering “yes” was the wrong answer – unfortunately, despite gaining a 2.1 degree, I am ashamed to say: “I am not smarter than a 10-year-old.”

This news was broken to myself (and also my girlfriend “J”) on Sunday afternoon whislt watching Challenge TV and more importantly whilst watching the quiz show Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? (shock horror) as presented by Dick and Dom – of Dick and Dom in D Bungalowfame.

Other than the poor presenting skills (although what was to be expected from those two?) and the smugness of the brats that help the contestants, the quiz show wasn’t too bad for a lazy Sunday – and as seems to be the legal requirement when sitting at home watching a quiz show, we attempted to answer the questions. – What you have to remember here is that these questions are questions that Primary School pupils upto the age of 10 (supposedly) can answer, and that both myself (in Journalism and Media) and J have degrees – (both attained this summer), so really, as you’d expect we were confident that we’d do well.

How wrong could we be? We started well, but struggled with others, and I mean really struggled.
I imagine that as this moment, you sitting there thinking, how hard could those questions have been?

Well, I’ve managed to find a few questions that have been asked on episodes of the quiz show for you to try, so have ago at these:

Which planet out of the following is the coldest, Mercury, Neptune, Earth, Saturn?
What was the Spanish Armada?
A musical scale is made up of how many notes?
Which English banknote shows prison reformer Elizabeth Fry on its reverse?
To which country did England send prisoners during the 1800s?
In which city are the Sagrada Familia church and Park Guell?
Now you may be thinking that, actually they aren’t that easy, so perhaps I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. Well, unfortunately it got worse for myself later in the day, when I attempted to answer a maths question, again aimed at Primary School children.
The question was: Arrange the numbers 1-9 in the table below, so that all sides equal 12.

Bah'humbug

2009-11-04T13:02:00.002Z

We all know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the cold-hearted, tight fisted, greedy man, who despises the festive season which is fast approaching - and without turning into a modern day Scrooge, one does have some sympathy with him (whilst wondering how he'd cope in society today!)

We are only in the first few days of November, the nights are darker, the weather is colder (and so-far, especially for those in Scotland, wetter) and we are getting "C" rammed down our throats.

Up-and-down the country, councils have put their "C" lights up, ready for the big switch on (and to prove I'm not the modern day Scrooge - I'm going to Birmingham's light switch on, on 14 November!) whilst all forms of media, from newspaper adverts, radio adverts and especially TV adverts have been plagued with ideas for "C" gifts, food to eat during the festive season - basically anything and everything to do with the festive season is being rammed down our throats by the media.

By the time the day arrives, I have a feeling that myself (along with others) will be sick to the back teeth of it.

They haven't even shown the best "C" advert yet - perhaps, one I've seen that, I'll feel more Christmasy.

Is there really any need for the over-kill which surround "the day"? It's almost as if, as a nation we've forgotten the true meaning of "C" and only understand the commercialisation of it.
And if by magic, as I come to the end of this 'rant' adverts for "the day" are on the TV screen.

Ah Bah'humbug!

Derby Day - what makes a rivalry

2009-10-29T12:20:00.005Z

As my sports writing internship continues, I continue to churn out articles which I am proud of, and can happily say have been published online (hoorah!)
The most recent being the feature below, intitled: Derby Day - What makes a rivalry?(If you click on the link, you'll be fortunate enough to go to the live site to see the feature with the videos included)

"Football derbies are as much a part of the beautiful game as players, fans, stadiums and referees.
The atmosphere in the streets surrounding a ground on derby day is fantastic, there's a buzz in the air that cannot be described – it's electrifying.
Walking through the turnstiles, the smell of stale beer, sweaty men and meat pies seem more potent than normal, while the chants erupting around the ground as the terraces fill up make the hairs stand on end.
Fathers and sons, friends and strangers stand side by side, squashed from all angles by fellow fans singing their hearts out in honour of not only their team but their town and city - a return to the tribal instinct that burns inside every football fan.
Nothing can compare to the experience of a true derby day. It's the game that everyone looks for when the fixtures are released at the start of the season. Win against your local rivals and you have bragging rights until you meet again.
But what leads to a team being considered a rival? Is it their competitive closeness and league position? Is it history between clubs? Or is it locality?
A recent study on football rivalry in England, found that 45 per cent of those questioned see history and tradition as the reason why their main rivals are so, while only 35 per cent said it is because they're the closest club geographically, and a measly seven per cent feel the rivalry is mainly based on competitive closeness/ league position.
One of the Premier League's biggest rivalries - the north-west derby - took place over the weekend as Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United took on Rafa Benitez's Liverpool at Anfield.
The match finished 2-0 to Liverpool, with a brilliantly taken goal by a semi-fit Fernando Torres before Daniel Ngog wrapped up a much-needed three points deep into injury time to prevent Liverpool falling to a fifth straight defeat.
This is a rivalry filled with passion, hatred and envy - evidenced by the electrifying atmosphere within Anfield on Sunday - but as with many football rivalries, it was born off the pitch.
The hatred between these two clubs, two of the most successful in England, can be traced all the way back to the 19th century when the construction of the Manchester ship canal led to many job losses in Liverpool. The new construction meant ships carrying goods could bypass Merseyside directly into Manchester.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Liverpool were considered numero uno as domestic and European success flowed freely through the Shankly Gates, leaving United fans resentful.
However, since Ferguson took charge at Old Trafford, the tide has slowly turned.
Although it took the Scot six years to win his first trophy with the Red Devils, they have, as of last season, equalled Liverpool's long-standing record league title haul of 18 which makes this year's season pivotal for both clubs.
Having taken bragging rights after Sunday's clash, Liverpool will be hoping they can continue their success over their rivals when they face Everton later in the season in the Merseyside derby - a more deserving derby in the eyes of most as it is based on the two being geographically closest to one another.
This element adds split loyalties within families and friendship groups to the match-day experience, created an arguably more volatile experience with interest compacted within the Liverpool city limits.
Also known as 'the friendly derby', this rivalry has been going on since the 1890s, yet unlike others, it doesn't feature any divisiveness. There are no major religious, socio-economic or political factors that contribute to the rivalry - just kit colour.
The rivalry between Merseyside's biggest two clubs was born out of a rent dispute at Anfield Road in 1892, which caused Everton players and members to leave the ground and find another one. Those that left formed a club at Goodison Park while the remaining players and club at the now famous Anfield were forced by the League to change their name from Everton Athletic Grounds Ltd to Liverpool.
Since Everton left Anfield and made Goodison their home, there have been some breathtaking bouts between the two, especially during FA Cup games.
The two met in FA Cup finals in the 1980s with Liverpool victorious in both.
The first was in 1986 when Liverpool were trying to achieve the league and cup double.
Liverpool were able to boast stars such as Alan Hansen, Ian Rush and Steve Nicol in their line-up, while their Scouse counterparts had England forward Gary Lineker leading their attack along with Graeme Sharp and Kevin Ratcliffe in a strong starting XI.
Lineker opened the scoring with a goal in the 27th minute, before Liverpool fought back in the second half with three fantastically taken goals - Rush scored a double with Craig Johnston netting the other.
Three years later the two met again in the FA Cup final on an emotional occasion in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster.
Liverpool's John Aldridge opened the scoring in the fourth minute and it looked like it was going to end 1-0 - that is until Everton's Stuart McCall had other ideas and scored in the 89th minute with one of the finest goals ever witnessed in a cup final.
Extra time proved an equally thrilling affair as Rush scored to put Liverpool ahead, only for McCall to equalise again. Rush would score another and that would be that. Liverpool won 3-2.
The two teams have taken part in many bitter battles on the pitch, providing great games for the neutral. The most notable result came during a fifth round replay in the FA Cup in 1991, which finished 4-4 and ultimately cost Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish his job.
Off the pitch it is a different story - with respect being shown in the face of adversity.
When 96 Liverpool fans died at the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, fans of both clubs rallied round in a period of unparalleled unity. A chain of blue and red club scarves was stretched for the mile or so across Stanley Park from the gates of Anfield to Goodison Park in memory of the deceased.
Another long standing derby within English football is the north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur - a rivalry that will be reignited this weekend.
Unlike the 'friendly derby' both sides of the north London derby love nothing more than seeing the other inflicted with pain and misery.
The first game between the two sides took place in 1887 but was cancelled due to bad light with Tottenham in front - this controversy was to be the start of the fierce rivalry which has existed ever since.
Twenty years later in 1909, the two teams met again in another hotly contested clash, and then when the Gunners moved grounds from their old Charlton base in 1913 they were just four miles from White Hart Lane - stoking the rivalry still further.
A long-standing sore point between the two from the 1919 season has been attributed to escalating the intensity of the Tottenham-Arsenal rivalry.
That year the First Division was going to increase in size from 18 to 20 teams. Both Arsenal and Tottenham were lobbying for one of the spots, however League president John McKenna gave his endorsement to Arsenal and they won the vote to secure place in the top flight. This left Tottenham furious and convinced Arsenal had used underhand tactics to aid their campaign. Before too long, Tottenham were themselves promoted, allowing the Arsenal-Tottenham rivalry to take place on the pitch.
The first match took place in 1921 and was played in a nasty and spiteful spirit. After the next couple of matches continued in this vein, the Football Association stepped in and promised to have the game played behind closed doors unless both sides cleaned up their act.
Nearly 90 years on and although the threats from the authorities are less heavy-handed, the bad blood between the two teams continues to flow every time they meet.
Arsenal have traditionally been seen as the glamour club - the wealthier of the two run by the middle classes rather than Spurs, whose roots can be found in the working classes of Edmonton and Haringey.
The Gunners have also enjoyed much more success in the last 20 years, some of it coming on their rivals' own doorstep. In 2004, Arsenal won the league at White Hart Lane after drawing 2-2, despite Tottenham fighting back from 2-0 down.
However, in 2008 a League Cup semi-final between the sides saw Tottenham smash Arsenal 5-1 - Spurs' first victory over their neighbours since 1999.
Last season saw perhaps the most entertaining game between the two, as they played out a dramatic 4-4 draw in the Premier League, with Spurs scoring twice in the last two minutes to level the game.
The wild celebrations at the visiting end, even though the one point earned would have little bearing on Spurs' season, showed just how brightly the passion of a derby burns within every fan."

Along with the feature, in the last couple of days, I've also had a few articles published - comments as always on any of my writing is appreciated (and honestly, my next blog won't be about my internship!)

Stoke City plane makes emergency landing
Stoke City's evening went from bad to worse last night as the plane carrying them back from Portsmouth was forced to make an emergency midnight landing.

Andre Agassi in shock drug admission
Former grand slam winner Andre Agassi has admitted in a new book that he lied to the ATP about his use of illegal substances to avoid a ban.

Surrey stalwart Batty joins Gloucestershire
Surrey stalwart Jonathan Batty has played his last match for the club after he signed a three-year contract to join Gloucestershire today.

A month's worth of work

2009-10-21T15:28:00.003+01:00

Just over a month into my sports writers internship, I thought it'd be a good idea to get your views on the articles I have written (all of which have been published).
Below are links and brief strap lines to entice you to read the articles, they range from features to match previews, and all sports from football and tennis to cricket and F1 have all be covered.

As always your comments are encouraged (as is your promotion of my blogs).

Sol quits Notts County

Former England defender Sol Campbell has walked out on Notts County after only one game in League Two.

QPR keen to 'focus on football'

Queens Park Rangers will let their football do the talking as they head across London to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in tonight’s League Cup third round.

Cardiff vow to 'put on a show' while Villa look to make amends

Cardiff manager Dave Jones has vowed his team will put on a show for the 3,700 travelling Bluebirds fans at tonight’s League Cup game against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Sir Alex admits 'soft spot' for Wolves

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he has a soft spot for Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead of Manchester United’s League Cup third-round tie against the West Midlands outfit at Old Trafford this evening.

Diouf claims innocence over 'racist remarks'

Blackburn Rovers' Senegalese striker El Hadji Diouf claims that during Sunday's game against Everton at Goodison Park, home fans threw bananas at him.

Bellamy and Neville warned by FA

Craig Bellamy and Gary Neville will not face improper conduct charges over their behaviour during the Manchester Derby.

Hughes stands by Bellamy

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes maintains that striker Craig Bellamy will not face any in-house punishment after an altercation with a Manchester United fan towards the end of Sunday’s Derby.

Hughes calls for time keeping change

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes that it would be beneficial for the game if the allocation of added time became the responsibility of an independent body

Franco set for Hammers debut

Guillermo Franco, the 32-year-old former Villarreal striker, looks set to make his West Ham debut against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium in tonight's Carling Cup clash.

Gatland fears for Henson future

Wales coach Warren Gatland believes that it would be a “tragedy” if Gavin Henson never returned to the game.

GB drawn against Lithuania in Davis Cup

Great Britain’s first tie in the Davis Cup since being relegated at the weekend will come against Lithuania in March, it has been announced.

Will there ever be another Sir Bobby?

Under the vaulted roof of Durham Cathedral on Monday, a who's who of football's elite joined the friends and family of former England manager Sir Bobby Robson to pay their final respects.

ECB release 2010 match schedule

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have released the match programme for the 2010 season.

Government warns FA to 'reform or face cuts'

The government has warned the Football Association to implement reform or face cuts.

Everton breeze pas lacklusture tigers

Everton punished Phil Brown for putting out a weakened Hull City side at the KC Stadium as they bagged four goals without reply to advance to the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

Schumacher tips Button for title

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is tipping Brawn GP's Jenson Button to clinch the title.

Ireland passed fit after being rushed to hospital

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has returned home after being taken to hospital during last night's League Cup victory over Fulham.

Montgomerie slams Poulter

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has slammed Ian Poulter following the player's decision to pull out of Britain and Ireland's Vivendi Trophy team to face continental Europe.

Prandelli concerned by free-scoring reds

Liverpool travel to Fiorentina tonight looking to build on their impressive start to the season, and the Italian side's coach Cesare Prandelli has admitted the Reds' free-scoring form has him worried.

Alonso 'set to join Ferrari'

Ferrari are set to announce the capture of double world champion Fernando Alonso ahead of this weekend's Japanese grand prix at Suzuka, according to reports.

Delve ban reduced following appeal

Glouceser number eight Gareth Delve will now be available for the start of the Heineken Cup after having a three-game ban reduced by one match.

McAllister rejects Pompey after talks

Portsmouth's woes look set to continue after former Scotland international Gary McAllister rejected the chance to be Paul Hart's assistant at the south-coast club.

Wenger gunning for win to mark 13 years at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger will be looking for the chance of an early celebration as his Arsenal side take on Olympiakos tonight at the Emirates Stadium.

Smith counting on home advantage

Rangers manager Walter Smith will be looking for his team to put behind their league woes and make home advantage count as they face Spanish side Sevilla in tonight’s Champions League clash at Ibrox.

Vainikolo charges dropped

England and Gloucester wing Lesley Vainikolo has had charges of causing grievous bodily harm dropped.

Sheffield United striker jailed over crash

Sheffield United striker Jordon Robertson has been jailed for 32 months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Portsmouth's owner adds to clubs torment

Portsmouth's new owner Sulaiman al-Fahim has been admitted to hospital in Dubai suffering

from kidney stones.

"Totally different Liverpool" promised at the Bridge

Title contenders Chelsea and Liverpool will renew old rivalries at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the neutral fan hoping for a repeat of last seasons mouth-watering eight goal thriller.

FA to investigat managers' comments

The Football Association has confirmed that it will look into comments made about referees by Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce at the weekend.

Neville admits England career is nearing an end

Manchester United defender Gary Neville has admitted his England career could be coming to an end after he was left out of manger Fabio Capello's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Villa midfielder Osbourne arrested during training

Promising Aston Villa midfielder, Isaiah Osbourne has been arrested at the clubs training ground on conspiracy to rob.

Wolves accuse rivals of 'tapping-up' youngster

Premier League new boys Wolverhampton Wanderers have reported rivals Bolton Wanderers over an alleged illegal approach for academy defender Mark Connolly.

St Helens scrum-half, Long, faces RFL probe over betting accusations

St Helens scrum-half Sean Long, 33, has been told by the Rugby Football League to elaborate on accusations made within his autobiography.

Milner wants good reception for Barry

Two teams looking to crack the top four go head-to-head tonight at Villa Park, as Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa take on Mark Hughes' multimillionaires Manchester City.

Capello: England playing to win

Head coach Fabio Capello says England will "play to win" against Ukraine at the Dnipro Stadium later tonight, despite having already qualified for the World Cup finals next summer.

Trapattoni's intent on upsetting odds

Giovanni Trapattoni's Repbulic of Ireland squad are looking to upset the odds in World Cup qualifying group eight as they welcome Italy to Croke Park.

Heskey considers Villa future

Aston Villa target man Emile Heskey has admitted he is considering his future at the club, in a bid to secure his place in England's World Cup squad.

Crusaders 'to name Noble as new boss'

Celtic Crusaders are set to unveil former Wigan Warriors head coach Brian Noble as their new director of rugby, according to reports.

Hoggard "devasted" by Yorks release

Former England seam bowler Matthew Hoggard has admitted being "shocked and bitterly disappointed" at Yorkshire's decision not to renew his contract after 15 years at the club.

Wildcard for former champion Henin

Former champion Justine Henin has been granted a wildcard for next year's Australian Open.

Millwall to contest FA charges

Millwall are set to plead not guilty to charges brought against them following the Carling Cup match against West Ham earlier in the season.

Younis resigns following match-fixing allegations

Younis Khan has offered his resignation as captain of the Pakistan cricket team, according to reports coming from the Pakistan media.

Gerrard out of Belarus clash

England’s injury list continues to grow ahead of Wednesday’s final qualification game against Belarus, as Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard limped out of training earlier today.

Ireland look to end campaign on a high

The Republic of Ireland will look to get back to winning ways ahead of November’s play-offs, as they face Montenegro at Croke Park tonight.

Capello remains tight-lipped ahead of Belarus

With qualification already in the bag and the influential duo of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney absent, Fabio Capello is keeping his cards close to his chest on how much he will tinker with his lineup for the game against Belarus at Wembley tonight.

Notts County deny Sven job-share

Notts County have denied suggestions that director of football Sven Goran Eriksson has been offered the chance to take up a role with North Korea.

Wales rocked by Ospreys injuries

Ospreys full-back Lee Byrne has added to Wales' injury crisis ahead of the autumn internationals after being ruled out with ligament damage to his right foot.

Williams end engine partnership with Toyota

Toyota have announced they will no longer supply engines to the Williams team when their contract comes to an end after the current formula one season.

Foxes chasing Dutch ace Davids

Leicester City are in talks to bring former Netherlands playmaker Edgar Davids to the Walkers Stadium, according to reports in the local press.

Williams extends Harlequins deal

Harlequins prop Dave Williams has signed a new one-year deal that will keep him at the Stoop until the end of 2010.

More boardroom than bootroom

More Boardroom than Bootroom

2009-10-21T15:25:00.004+01:00

In the last 17 years, football has changed dramatically. There's been an influx of foreign players, the introduction of the Premier League and more importantly and most recently, football clubs are being run more as a business by foreign sugar daddies - a business which demands instant success and silverware at any cost.
When Roman Abramovich ploughed his millions into Chelsea, trophies were expected to come rolling in at Stamford Bridge. But when the silverware stopped, heads rolled.
First Jose Mourinho left the club by "mutual consent", then his successors Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari were sacked by Abramovich.
How many other bosses get sacked while in the top five in their division though?! Judging by this season alone, it could become a regular occurrence. The equation 'new owner + influx of money = instant success or heads roll' is becoming a prominent feature in the English leagues.
During the summer, Notts County were taken over by Middle East consortium Munto Finance.
The takeover prompted huge interest in the press, as the nearly extinct club appointed former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson as director of football, signed former England defender Sol Campbell, but kept County hero Ian McParland holding the reins.
McParland was Notts County through-and-through. He spent eight years at Meadow Lane as a goalscoring winger and had seen County at its lowest ebb two years ago when, saddled with colossal debts, the club narrowly escaped going to the wall.
This season, in his 12 games in charge, he'd led the club to fifth in the league – not a bad start for a club who had few new signings and, if media rumours were to be believed, some degree of turmoil behind the scenes. But this didn't stop the board showing poor 'Charlie' the door two weeks ago.
Following the club's decision to remove McParland from his role, chairman Peter Trembling said: "Everyone at the football club is genuinely sorry to part company with Ian.
"We are all aware of the commitment and service he has given to the club both as a player and a manager.
"It is an inescapable fact that the hopes and ambitions of the football club have been totally transformed in the past few months.
"Up until this summer the club's principal objectives had been financial survival and maintaining its status in the Football League.
"Now we have a five-year project to deliver sustainable success to the club and our focus is to reach the Championship and beyond.
"Ian has been manager of the football club for the past two years and during that time his passion and commitment has never been in doubt. However, as a board, for footballing reasons we felt a need to make a change to the current situation.
"Our next appointment is going to be extremely vital to the project we are endeavouring to deliver here."
A speech that, whichever way you look at it, implies the club want instant success and will do whatever it takes to achieve it - damning anyone who stands in the way.
Last night, it seemed that history was repeating itself as another young English manager was shown the door, despite seeing his club sitting in fourth place in the Championship and one point off top spot in a tight and hard-fought division.
The manager on the chopping block this time was former Middlesbrough captain Gareth Southgate, who'd been in the hotseat for over three years after taking over in the summer of 2006 from then England manager Steve McClaren.
Boro have endured an indifferent start to the Championship season following relegation from the top flight last term and the news was announced after a 2-0 win over fellow former Premier League side Derby.
Chairman Steve Gibson may have a reputation as a loyal, patient chairman, but when the turnstiles are not ticking and the cash is not coming in - even in an economically challenged area like Teesside - something has to give.
The sacking of Southgate, for those who have been following the situation at the Riverside, wouldn't have come as much of a surprise.
In recent weeks, the atmosphere at the Riverside Stadium during Boro's home games has veered from poisonous against Southgate to, crucially last night, one of apathy. But perhaps more damaging for Southgate was that the Riverside became a haunted stadium full of empty seats - the Boro faithful hadn't even turned up to boo, jeer and have a go. They'd just stayed at home.
Shortly before being fired, Southgate stated: "The margins are fine. We are a point off the top but it would have been very different if we had not won against Derby.
"You wonder about the consequences of defeat. You know four home defeats on the bounce would have been difficult for everyone involved with the club to accept."
Following the announcement that Southgate had been relieved of his duties, Gibson said: "I appointed Gareth in a situation that was greatly unfavourable to him. He is a good man and has all the qualities and integrity that we wanted in a manager.
"However, the time is right for change and that change has had to be made. Gareth will always be welcome at our football club. English football needs people of his stature and we feel certain that this experience will serve him well.
"Gareth deserves another opportunity once he has had the chance to rest and refresh himself."
It is a sad fact that Southgate has been sacked - he was following in the footsteps of some of the game's current great managers, such as Martin O'Neill, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, by building and nuturing a young team.
But success wasn't coming quick enough for either the board or the fans.
The culture of football is changing in line with the 'instant gratification' society and becoming more boardroom than bootroom - even the chairman most lauded for his patience couldn't resist his twitching trigger finger.

The above is a feature, written by yours truly (as part of my internship), which can be found on this news site

Plastic's not fantastic

2009-09-29T18:47:00.002+01:00

As those of you who have read the blog ‘London Bound’ will be aware, I spent half of last week in London’s Canary Wharf, training for a sports writers internship.
As part of my journey from Leicester to the office, I passed close to the national stadium, Wembley – and I have to say, what a disappointment it is.
Having visited the ‘old’ Wembley on two occasions, following Leicester, I have mixed memories of the site – the first time I visited, we lost to Spurs, the second time we beat Tranmere.
So far, with the disappointing few seasons that Leicester have had, I haven’t been fortunate enough to visit the ‘new’ Wembley, aesthetically it looks appalling.

Gone are the famous twin towers that greeted the fans as they made their way along ‘Wembley Way’, gone is the old stadium and the memories it held – from classic FA Cup finals to the greatest moment in England’s history, when they lifted the 1966 World Cup aloft.
Replacing the once great ground, which any true football fan would have been proud to call the national stadium is a ‘shell’ of metal and plastic, which frankly speaking could be any home ground in any city in the country.
It isn’t just the national stadium which has lost all its characteristics. It’s a problem which is occurring across the country as teams leave their once unique stadiums to move into a more modern ground.
Some examples of this include Southampton, Coventry, Cardiff and my team, Leicester City.All of the above have moved grounds since the turn of the millennium, from grounds which whilst not the greatest to look at, hard a charm, smell and feeling about them which were special to home fans.

I remember as a young fan going to watch Leicester play at Filbert Street. It wasn’t a very attractive ground, in fact Martin O’Neill whilst manager of the Foxes, would walk new signings out of the tunnel backwards, so that the first stand they saw was the (then) impressive Carling Stand, instead of the less then impressive ‘Cow Shed’ which held the away fans.Walking to the ground, the atmosphere would be electric. As I walked through the turnstiles, the smell of stale beer, sweaty men and meat pies would fill the nostrils, whilst the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, as the first chants from the Kop erupted. Those truly were the days.
Now, as Leicester play a stones throw away from Filbert Street, everything has changed, the atmosphere no longer feels electric as I walk towards the ground, the above mentioned smell has now been replaced by the smell of plastic and with the ground built to push the sound onto the pitch, the chants no longer make the hairs stand on air.
Whatever happened to grounds having a sense of uniqueness? With all stands now appearing to be more and more similar, away fans no longer have the chance to mock the home supporters with chants such as “my garden shed.”
Critics and fans alike have blamed various elements of the modern game, from all seater stadia to the influx of foreign players for taking the atmosphere out of the beautiful game. But honestly, as a fan, I think that the atmosphere has been curbed, if not destroyed, due to the tribalism being taken out of the game as generic stadiums continue to pop up.Long gone are the days when fathers and sons would stand side-by-side, squashed from all angles by strangers, singing their hearts out in honour of their team; defending the end they stand. – This has all been replaced by the prawn sandwich brigade who are moving out of the executive lounges and the boxes into the terraces.

Will there ever be another Sir Bobby?

2009-09-29T16:44:00.003+01:00

Below is a feature I wrote recently as part of my internship,it looks at whether any of the current crop of managers can ever replace the late, Sir Bobby Robson.

If you'd like to view the article in its news form, visit here

"Under the vaulted roof of Durham Cathedral on Monday, a who's who of football's elite joined the friends and family of former England manager Sir Bobby Robson to pay their final respects.
Former England striker Gary Lineker led the tributes, calling Sir Bobby "the single most enthusiastic and passionate man in football" who was "gentlemanly, dignified and diplomatic".
Lineker went on to say: "Bobby was not just a brilliant leader of men that brought the absolute best out of his players.
"He made you feel good about yourself and good about the game.
"He loved the game and the game loved him. He was a lion of a man, no, make that three lions."
Echoing Lineker's sentiments, I fully agree that Sir Bobby was one of a kind. He was of the same ilk as greats that include Brian Clough and Sir Matt Busby, but stands out on his own. No other manager has achieved universal acclaim.
Of the managers which currently ply their trade within the English leagues, can any of them come remotely close to Sir Bobby?
The honest and short answer is no.
Despite the fact that fans of clubs he manages, admiring him, I don't believe that Harry Redknapp will reach the level and admiration of Sir Bobby. For all the charm and charisma Redknapp displays, he continues to fall short at the final hurdle, occasionally shooting himself in the foot along the way.
Redknapp began his managerial career in 1976 with a spell as player-manager stateside with North American Soccer League team Seattle Sounders, before taking over the reins at Bournemouth following Don Megson's sacking in 1983.
During his spell as the Cherries manager, Redknapp led the team to a shock FA Cup win over Manchester United in the third round before taking them to the old second division in style - winning a club record 97 points in the 1986/87 season.
From Bournemouth, Redknapp went to West Ham, where he helped bring through a number of young players from club's academy, including Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.
Thirteen years after joining the coaching staff at Upton Park, having failed to achieve any real success, Redknapp left with a cloud over his head when a four-year contract was withdrawn after comments Redknapp made to a fanzine.
From his Upton Park departure, Redknapp's managerial path took him back to the south coast, and to Portsmouth, who he left for neighboring rivals Southampton. The acrimony created by this controversial switch was compounded when he promptly left after just over a year to join none other than Portsmouth for a second spell.
This proved more successful as he guided the club to the FA Cup final where they beat Cardiff City to lift the trophy.
The cloud hovering above Redknapp's head following his departure from West Ham expanded in 2006, when he was shown on BBC's Panorama taking what appeared to be an interest in approaching a player illegally.
Despite Redknapp denying any involvement in 'tapping up' or illegally approaching players, the damage had been done – especially in terms of his chances of landing the England job for which he had been overlooked on numerous occasions.
Even though Redknapp has achieved some level of success in the game - after all he is still managing after 33 years when some managers would have been forced out long ago - his failings in the trophy stakes and the corruption allegations will prevent the once promising manager from ever becoming a true great.
Nor do I believe that the young pretenders, Martin O'Neill and David Moyes - who have looked promising in their early managerial careers and will surely go on to great things before they call it a day - will be able to reach the bar that Robson set so high.
O'Neill started his managerial career in the 1990/91 season as he took over the reins at then Conference side Wycombe. Four years later, after two successive promotions with the club which saw them playing Division Two football, O'Neill left for a short spell at Norwich, before taking over at Leicester City.
After a difficult start at the club, he guided the Foxes to the Premier League in his first season, via the play-offs.
During his five-year spell in the Midlands, O'Neill achieved consecutive top-half finishes in the league along with two League Cup triumphs - showing that even with limited resources success could be achieved. The result was that O'Neill was tipped to be a future international manager.
It hasn't just been with small English clubs that O'Neill has shown what he can achieve, though. In June 2000, O'Neill left Leicester broken hearted as he departed to join boyhood idols Celtic.
In his first season, the man Celtic had nicknamed St Martin won a domestic treble, which included a dramatic 6-2 victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers; and success continued to follow.
In his five seasons at Celtic Park, O'Neill lead the Bhoys to the 2003 Uefa Cup final, whilst winning three SPL titles, three Scottish Cups, and a League Cup. He also oversaw a record seven consecutive victories in Old Firm derbies, and in season 2003/04 Celtic created a British record of 25 straight wins.
Following a break from the game to look after his ill wife, O'Neill returned in 2006 taking the helm at Aston Villa. Coinciding with the Ulsterman's arrival, Villa's form improved substantially, with the club on the brink of breaking into the top five for the past few seasons.
The second young pretender, Moyes - despite appearances that he's been in the management game forever - started at struggling Preston North End in January 1998.
During his four-year spell in Lancashire he guided the club to the Division Two title and the following season, with largely the same squad, he took them to the old Division One play-offs, where the club were 90 minutes away from reaching the Premier League.
In March 2002, Moyes took the step up in management - replacing Walter Smith as manager of Everton.
It's been here that Moyes has made a name for himself. As with O'Neill, he has turned a middle-table team into one that can break into the top four through astute signings. Under Moyes' stewardship the club also narrowly missed out on silverware, as they were defeated by big-spending Chelsea in the FA Cup final last season.
O'Neill and Moyes certainly tick the boxes in terms of being gentlemanly, dignified and diplomatic throughout their careers, but their lack of major silverware or pushing for top spot in the league - along with their inability to land the England and Scotland jobs, respectively, will prevent them from reaching their true potential.
The final manager, who some may argue is nipping at the greatness bestowed to Sir Bobby, is Sir Alex Ferguson.
No one can deny what Ferguson has (so far) won, including an unprecedented 11 league titles.
Undeniably Ferguson is a good manager and has achieved some great things within the game. But he doesn't have the full package which held Sir Bobby close to our hearts; he lacks the important finer points which made Robson who he was.
Ferguson himself hit the nail on the head during his tribute to Robson, saying: "People admired Sir Bobby's courage, dignity and enthusiasm."
It is here that Ferguson's failure to reach true greatness is highlighted. In recent seasons, Ferguson has become embroiled in numerous verbal disputes with managers of rival teams, including Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez, Arsene Wenger and, most recently, his former player Mark Hughes.
But it isn't just managers who feel the wrath of Ferguson.
The Scot no longer speaks to be BBC after the 2004 documentary Father and Son, which portrayed his agent son Jason as somebody who exploited his father's influence and position to his own ends in the transfer market. Ferguson has gone so far as to say that the broadcaster is "arrogant beyond belief" - a rich comment coming from the man who five years later, after being the centre of a few too many controversies, still continues to hold a grudge.
Sir Bobby Robson will continue to stand above Ferguson because, despite being the victim of constant bile by the tabloid press during his time as England manager which saw some redtops handing out badges demanding Robson be sacked as early as 1984, the great man still continued to give interviews and press conferences. This was still the period following a disappointing European Championship, remember. A true gentleman indeed.
While we continue to see great players grace the grounds around the country, we will never see another Sir Bobby Robson.
Sir Bobby, we will miss you but we'll never forget you."

London Bound

2009-09-23T20:55:00.003+01:00

It's been a few weeks since I've graced you with my presence and for that I apologise.
But as I sit on the train from Finchley Road tube station to Watford, I though it was about time that I blogged again (although this has originally been written the old fashioned way - on pen and paper - as I didn't have my laptop on me at the time!)

Since starting this blog in 2008 I have posted a few blogs about myself, including 'An hour with a legend', 'D(egree) Day', 'The Man & Me' and 'Not to blow my own trumpet' to name a few (feel free to browse, comment and spread the love with your friends!)

This blog shall follow in the same vein, and as with 'Not to blow my own trumpet' is myself basking in the recent good fortune I find myself in.

As regular readers of the blog will be aware (and if you read 'D(egree) Day' you can get upto date) I graduated this year with a degree in Journalism and have been applying for jobs ever since. - Actually I've been applying for journalism jobs for the past year, but have unforunately been facing a brick wall of rejections, but this hasn't put me off!

Last month I spent two weeks on work experience at a local paper (The Hinckley Times) where I managed to build on (if I do say so myself) an already impressive portfolio.
The praise and enjoyment I recieved from the work experience spurred me on to succeed even more in the field of journalism and fortunately I haven't had to wait too long to get my next break.

Earlier this month I was invited to an interview for an unpaid sports writers internship - other than being unpaid, it is a dream job for myself.
Despite arriving an hour late, due to troubles on the tube, I seemed to have made a good impression, as a few days later I recieved a call from the sports editor offering me a position and inviting myself down to Canary Wharf for three days training.

All of which leads me to writing this blog, as I travel back from a days training (the day started at 5am as I decided it wouldn't be too bad to commute from Leicester to London - in hindsight, perhaps not the best decision!)

If you'd like to read the articles I have written in the last two days, then feel free to click on any one (or all) of the nine football articles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), one rugby or one tennis article, all of which can be viewed on this news site.

Anti-English? No Chance

2009-09-07T11:26:00.002+01:00

The last month or so has been a mixed bag for English sport, from the highs of England regaining the Ashes against a (weakened) Aussie team and England Ladies Under 19s winning the European Championship, to the lows of the football hooliganism which overshadowed the West Ham / Millwall League Cup game and also the Midlands derby between Nottingham Forest and Derby County. Yet one debate that is bubbling in the football world and making the rounds on the terraces at the moment is the thesis that FIFA (the governing body) are anti-English.
This thesis has been built most recently on the punishment handed to two of the premier league’s “big four” for offences which all teams throughout the world have been guilty off.
Firstly, FIFA have handed a two-match ban to Arsenal’s play-maker and Croatian midfielder Eduardo, for simulation (diving) during the Champions League qualifier against Celtic at the Emirates Stadium. Secondly, Chelsea have been handed a transfer embargo until the January 2011 transfer window after they were found guilty of inducing the then 15-year-old Lens winger Gael Kakuta to break his contract – the player has also been handed a four-month playing ban.
Any football fan who tries to deny that these two offences should avoid punishment are naive, as are any football fans who deny that such actions – which are ruining the game by powering the bigger clubs and destroying the smaller clubs – have not been going on since the game began.
I am fully behind the punishments and I’d like to think (although it’s hard to say until put in the situation) that if my beloved Leicester City Football Club were punished for the same offences, I’d support the reprimand.
But do I think FIFA are anti-English?No. Far from it. I honestly believe that they are doing their best to clean up the image of the game and make the game as great as it once was without having to introduce unnecessary technology. It is just an unfortunate consequence that the two teams, which are being made an example of, are English. But then again when you consider that the Premier League is the most popular and most watched worldwide it isn’t any surprise.Those that are calling the governing body anti-English, it can be argued are making early excuses for any possible failings that English clubs or the National team make on the world stage.

Curtain Call

2009-09-07T11:20:00.002+01:00

Finally there is light at the end of the metaphorical reality television tunnel.
Channel 4 have kindly – albeit a good five / six years to later – announced that the once entertaining and now blood boiling Big Brother will soon be departing the station for good! After next summer, once the current contract between the programmes makers, Endamol, and Channel 4 expires, we fortunately will not be subjected to the programme taking over the airwaves – personally I just hope that no other mainstream station decides to jump into Channel 4’s place, and that instead B.B (and all the spin-offs / adjoining shows) are laid to rest once and for all.
Originally I enjoyed the first few series’ (upto about series 3) of B.B. after all there we had a unique show, dubbed as a psychological experiment. The idea behind the show was simple – place a group of strangers into a house, give them tasks to complete while in the house to receive awards and allow the watching audience 24-hour coverage.Honestly, I don’t believe that the makers expected the show to be as popular as it was and nor did anyone see the celebrity status of those that entered the house being as high as it was (and in some cases, still is).

Unfortunately the popularity it once possessed dwindled a good-few years ago – and for numerous reasons, including Kinga and the “wine bottle” incident, which on a show that children watch was highly inappropriate and I’m sure she regrets it and the fact that those entering the house are all to aware of what has worked on the show before and therefore try and re-enact it only for it to fail miserably.
Perhaps the final nail in the coffin, which signalled the beginning of the end for Channel 4 bosses was the celebrity series involving the late Jade Goody and the race row – something which has been covered to death and certainly doesn’t need mentioning in any great detail, although if you do want to read about it, click here.

For now though, we’ll have to put up with one more series next summer of the show before it is put to bed for good (let’s just hope C4 replace it with something more entertaining and less reality based).

If Music Be.....

2009-08-21T13:24:00.002+01:00

There have been many sayings about music, from Martin Luther’s “have no pleasure in any man who despises music. It is no invention of ours: it is a gift of God. I place it next to theology. Satan hates music: he knows how it drives the evil spirit out of us.” Victor Hugo’s “Music expresses that which can not be said and on which it is impossible to be silent” to probably the most famous saying of them all, William Shakespeare’s “If music be the food of love, play on.”

Music can also mean many things to a lot of people, whether it reminds them of a time in life such as university, school, a trip, a person such as their first love, a group of old friends or a family member, their first kiss, etc, etc

But perhaps what is most impressive about music is that it can tell you a lot about someone, what they are like, etc.
This is something I was reminded about during early August whilst watching One Tree Hill when Peyton was making a list of her favourite albums with her biological father. (Yes, I’m admitting that I watch the US Teen Drama – and I actually like it – for my sins! and Yes I am referencing the programme.)
Unlike Peyton (and her biological father) at this moment in time, I am unable to list my favourite albums of all time – I like to think that perhaps my favourite album is still to come, but only time will tel

If it is true that someones taste in music tells a lot about them, then I wonder what mine says about me (other than, perhaps I have bad taste in music!)
Some of the top rated and most played songs on my Itunes included:

Bowling for Soup’s Punk Rock 101, My Hometown, Emily and The Bitch Song.
Made Up Love Song #43, Guillemots
Jessica, Elliot Minor
Emo, Blink 182
Cupids Chokehold, Gym Class Heroes
Oh Lately Its So Quiet, OK Go
High School Never Ends, Bowling For Soup
Close Your Eyes, Young Love
I Don't Wanna Be, Gavin DeGraw
A Praise Chorus, Jimmy Eat World
I'm no Superman, Scrubs Theme
I'm Not Okay (I Promise), My Chemical Romance
Kiss Me, New Found Glory
Ready to go, Republica
My Paper Heart, The All-American Rejects
The Funeral, Band of Horses
If You're Not The One, Daniel Bedingfield
Father And Son, The Enemy
Fall Out Boys, Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued and Of All The Gin Joints In All The World, Fall Out Boy
Wonderwall, Oasis
Perhaps, the best anthem ever (which reminds me of my A-Level years) Mr Brightside by The Killers
And probably one of the best songs ever Teenage Kicks, The Undertones

No Swine Flu here!

2009-08-18T19:05:00.002+01:00

With all the media attention surrounding the 'pandemic' which is Swine Flu, I am pleased to say that: I OFFICIALLY DON'T HAVE IT! (Hoorah!)

I never actually thought I had it, however, while attending a walk-in-clinic due to an infected leg, which resulted in my left calf balooning up, I was checked - and passed fit (although I did have a high temp of 37 degrees!)

Instead I'm stuck taking Flucloxacillin for the infection :(

It's finally here

2009-08-07T21:36:00.006+01:00

One Hundred and Twenty Five years ago, Leicester City Football Club (at the time, they were known as Leicester Fosse) were formed by a group of former public school boys and members of a bible class who met in the Emmanuel Church in Park Street.

But after a long wait, since the final game of the 2008-2009 season, when the Foxes lifted the Championship trophy, in 16 hours, Leicester City F.C, once again led by Matt Oakley, will be walking out of the tunnel at the Walkers Stadium with Swansea to kick off their 2009-2010 season and I for one cannot wait!

It's set to be a fantastic league, with any of the teams capable of clinching promotion, in what has got to be the tightest Championship for years.
So why the Premier League continues to be a four-horse race, I shall be following The FOXES, home and away, day and night, through thick and thin, the highs and the lows.

Cuz the kids aren't alright

2009-08-06T13:02:00.002+01:00

BBC 3 is currently running a series titled: "The Adult Season" - the tag line for this season is: "real stories from the frontline of adulthood."

The controller of BBC 3 has said on the season that: "This Season aims to explore the boundaries between being an adult and a child, and how these appear to be changing in Britain today. We want to start a conversation with our audience about the age of adult responsibility – and the dangers of growing up too fast."

Being the inquisitive person that I am, I decided that I'd watch a few of these programmes, including the one of documentaries such as "Tony: I've Lost My Family" and "Otto: Love, Lust and Las Vegas."

These documentaries aren't as frightening as some of the other programmes within the season, i.e. the 'My Big Decision' a five-part documentary series following teenage girls on the cusp of womanhood, facing very adult situations and decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.
But as the girls set off for a five-day voyage of self discovery and fact finding, they are not alone – their mums and nans go with them.

However, perhaps the scariest of all the programmes in the season, is "Young, Dumb and Living of Mum" - a programme which 'moddlycoddled 17 to 25-year-olds with no life skills are fast-tracked into fully functioning, independent adults using real life challenges in just four weeks' with the eventual winner of the programme winning a 'round-the-world-trip' - talk about rewarding the layabouts of society.

Having watched a few episodes of the series, I have realised that, although I am far from the perfect 22year old living at home, compared to those taking part in the programme, I am a saint; because whilst they struggle to understand the basics in sharing a house (e.g. cooking, cleaning, being curtious, etc) I pull my weight around the family home (hoorah for me!) and as for working, well......I'd love to be able to sit around doing nothing and having my parents run around after me and fund my lifestyle (as seems to be the case with those on the programme) I, firstly no that this isn't possible and secondly, I'd be bored as hell sitting around doing nothing all day.

If these programmes are signalling what it is like to be growing up in society today, then I'm worried for what the future of this country holds - after all we are currently in a poor financial state (as if the news hasn't made us aware of this already) and with these being the future leaders, healthcare workers, etc of the United Kingdom, things can only get worse.
I believe the phrase which I am looking for (and sums the future up) is God Help Us (and where is the nearest exit?)

Competition Time

2009-07-26T12:43:00.003+01:00

To keep myself busy whilst job hunting, I have entered a competition with SKYSPORTS, to be a regular blogger on all issues Leicester City Football Club.
To enter, all I had to do, was write a 500 word blog about my predictions / expectations for the upcoming season with Leicester City - easy, or so I thought. It's amazing how quickly the 500 words go, but below (in italics) is my blog for the competition - fingers crossed I'll be selected.

"One hundred and twenty five years ago, Leicester Fosse were formed just off Aylestone Road, Leicester.Since that fateful day, they’ve changed their name to Leicester City, played 111 years at Filbert Street – a ground in which a former manager (Saint) Martin O’Neill walked new signings out backwards so that they saw the Carling Stand before the ‘Cow Shed’, moved to the Walkers Stadium in 2002 (a butt of jokes for travelling fans visiting “the crisp bowl”) and won many trophies, including the League Cup on numerous occasions.
On August 8th 2009, the Blue Army faithful will fill the Walkers, as the Foxes open their first season back in the Coca Cola Championship, after a year in the football wilderness that is League One; and I shall be there, both as a lifelong fan and a steward in the Kop!
After a fantastic campaign last season, which saw the Foxes not only clinch promotion at the first time of asking but also clinch the League 1 title, at Southend, after a hard-fought season, which saw skipper, Matt Oakley, lift the League 1 trophy to rapturous applause by the Foxes faithful at the Walkers Stadium on the final home game of the season – something our rivals from down the M69, Nottingham Forest nor the supposedly ‘big club’, Leeds United have managed to achieve, with the latter spending yet another season travelling to teams including Exeter and Brentford.
Nigel Pearson has spent pre-season strengthening the squad, which already includes experienced heads Steve Howard, Chris Powell and Bulgarian International Alexsander Tunchev alongside the youngsters who have established themselves as first-team regulars, such as Joe Mattock, Welsh international Andy King, and Frenchman Max Allan-Gradel; not to mention the youngsters Ashley Chambers and Luke O’Neill who have had a fantastic pre-season and are on the fringe of breaking into the first-team squad; by capturing, after successful loan spells, defenders Jack Hobbs and Wayne Brown from Liverpool and Hull respectively, new-boys including former Manchester United and Doncaster midfielder Richie Wellens, Bristol City goalkeeper Chris Weale and youngsters Dany N’Guessan from Lincoln and the unpronounceable Ajdarevic from Liverpool; who have not only added strength in depth but also competition for places, which can only push the squad to give that little bit extra.
Realistically, I’m aware that it’s going to be another hard fought season, perhaps a harder season than our last campaign in the Championship, with the biggest yo-yo club of them all, West Brom back in the Championship, alongside Southgate’s Middlesborough and managerless (not to mention, freefalling) Newcastle, who’ll also be wanting to prove that they are better than their current league status suggests.
Whilst the ‘so-called’ experts, pundits and bookies seem to be backing the three teams mentioned and writing Leicester off, in terms of being serious contenders for the Championship; in my heart of hearts, I honestly believe that the Foxes, with the fantastic support both home and away of the Blue Army can expect at least a play-off place, if not more."

No Kiss and Tell

2009-07-20T12:50:00.005+01:00

Celebrity ‘news’ (the term should be used lightly) isn’t something which appeals to me. However, that’s not to say that I am not aware of the importance it seems to play – after all, if you go to your nearest shop and look on the magazine shelves, you’re bound to find a handful of magazines dedicated to such a genre.

Perhaps, one of the biggest celebrity stories around (in such magazines) at the moment (other than the deaths of Fawcett and Jackson) is the demise of the marriage between Katie Price (aka Jordon) and Peter Andre.This is a couple, who found love on hit ITV reality show, ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ and have since had a fairytale wedding (and renewed their vowels), two children (and Peter has also raised Katie’s eldest, from a previous relationship) and numerous reality shows about themselves as the cameras for ITV follow them around to record footage for ‘Katie & Peter…’

They appear to be a couple who aren’t flustered by the ‘press intrusion’ – they handle it very well – however, in the past week and a half, it has been interesting to see how they have used the media for their own gain (or not as the case may be).

While Katie went onto media mogul, Piers Morgan’s ITV show, and gave a frank and revealing interview, sharing some intimate and private news, which was probably best left unsaid. Peter went onto ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and acted in a dignified and respectable manner.Although hosts Phil and (the now departed) Fern probed to try and get some of the ‘gossip’ from the break-up, a emotional Peter, politely declined, stating that he ‘purposely hadn’t spoken about it’ because ‘when you do speak you have to think long term’ adding that the reason he hasn’t spoke out (despite saying “there’s so much I want to say, but I hope I never have to”) was because he didn’t want his children to hear anything negative about the split when they are growing up.

I’m not a fan of either Katie or Peter, but I do have some respect for Peter for not “kissing and telling” on national T.V.

Short back and sides, no more!

2009-07-20T12:39:00.002+01:00

To look at your best, grooming is a necessity. It doesn’t matter whether you’re male or female, young or old; it is important to take, not only care, but also pride in your appearance – which means the occasional trip to the hairdressers.

In the ‘good old days’, this wouldn’t have been a problem for men – they’d pop along to the barbers and within five minutes be back out after having a quick short back and sides.I still remember when I was a youngster, before my ‘appearance’ and the latest trends became important to me. I’d go with my dad to a barber who worked out the back of a camper van in (if I remember correctly) a pub car park, because I was small, I’d have to sit on a plank of wood that had been put across the chair, whilst the barber worked his magic with the clippers.Now, however, the man has gone; as has the pub – and my appearance matters – especially as we now live in the age of metrosexuality.

Instead of paying a fiver at the barbers, I tend to go to a ‘stylist’ and pay anywhere between £15 and £30, to get my hair styled and cut. I don’t have a problem with paying the amount, mainly because nine-times-out-of-ten I’m happy with the outcome. What I do find uncomfortable (and the truth be told, slightly unnerving) about the experience is:

SITTING IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR STARING AT YOURSELF FOR TWENTY TO THIRTY MINUTES! How are you meant to act / look, whilst the hairdresser is styling your flowing locks, especially when you are sat there facing yourself.
Are you meant to sit there and smile throughout or do you look sullen faced?Surely, as I see it; if you sit there grinning like a Cheshire cat, you’d look like some sort of weirdo who gets their kicks out of having their hair cut and fondled by someone else. Yet on the other hand, if you look sullen faced, the hairdresser may become uncomfortable and panic, thinking that you’re not happy with how the cut is going. Then what? Is there a middle ground which I’m not aware of?

Honestly, I’m starting to think that perhaps there is – but that it is a secret between women. This isn’t some sexist comment I’ve just plucked out of the air, it’s came about after I accompanied my better half to the hairdressers the other weekend.As she sat there, chatting away to the ‘stylist’ as though they’d been friends for life, she looked relaxed as her reflection gleamed back at her through the GIGANTIC mirror.If there is some sort of ‘hairdressing etiquette’ which you ladies out there are aware of, I think it is only fair that you share it amongst us men!

MOT for Teachers

2009-07-07T15:25:00.005+01:00

Drivers need a licence to drive, 007 super-spy James Bond has a ‘licence to kill’ and from under new plans, included in a White Paper announced by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls, teachers will require a licence to teach.

(factual information/quotes taken (and edited - slightly) from BBC News)
The licence, which will have to be renewed every five-years, is to be introduced for newly-qualified teachers (NQTs) from 2010 and then wide spread, meaning that teachers without the licence will be unable to teach.
The licence is intended to ‘weed out weak teachers’ and ‘boost the status of the profession,’ with Ed Balls believing that it will make sure that schools face up to inadequacy; yet it has been met with mixed opinions.

The N.U.T (National Union of Teachers) are said to be against the idea, as they don’t feel it is ‘necessary at all’ while the A.L.T said it would be a ‘bureaucratic nightmare.’
However, NASUWT have said that the licensing scheme would give teachers ‘the long overdue recognition that it is a high status qualification’; while the head teachers leader argues (with a fair point, may I add) that ‘We expect our doctors to be up to date when they treat us. It is reasonable for the public to expect teachers to be up to date when they teach their children.’

Personally, I think that these ideas, which are being dubbed as MOTs for teachers are a sound idea, and in some cases long overdue.
Whilst I acknowledge the hard work teachers put in not only before they qualify, through placements, degrees and in a lot of cases from a young age in the educational cycle; but also whilst teaching, through all the preparation, marking, reports, etc. There will be some people who are just getting into the profession or have been in the profession for a few years, plus, who don’t inspire the pupils they teach or just teach pupils to pass exams and not to educate them.
On the other hand, I do worry that the licence could lead to more teachers, teaching to pass the ‘licence’ tests, instead of teaching to educate.

To be fair, all thoughts which came up from reading the original story surrounding these proposals can be seen in this clip from BBC’s Question Time

D(egree) Day

2009-06-29T23:26:00.003+01:00

When most of you work up today, you'd have had those usual Monday morning blues, the weekend is over, you didn't get done half the things you wanted to, but they'll have to wait now, as you have another week at work, despite the urge to call in sick as the weather (if you're here in the UK) is meant to be sunny all week (hoorah!).

However, for myself, I woke up in a hot sweat, dripping wet and feeling sick to the stomach, nope I hadn't had a nightmare; but today, was the day my university degree results came out. The day that the three years I've spent studying at De Montfort University came down too, all those hours in the lecture halls, in the library, on work experience, reading around the subject, writing assignments - and obviously the party side of university life - it all boiled down to a few clicks on the computer and internet at lunchtime today, when I'd find out my results.
The amount of times I dashed to the toilet expecting for my guts to come out one end or another (sorry for the detail), the nerves running through me as the computer started up - it seemed slower than usual - the tears I shed due to the nerves, not only on my dads shoulder, but also my girlfriends; then as the house became empty, the screen changed, I was logged onto the university page where my fate would be sealed - would I be happily moving onto a new chapter, will the hard work, (occassional) blood, the sweat and the tears all be worth it, will I be able to continue on the quest of finding a full time job. Or would I fall at the final hurdle, be held up by one assignment, one presentation, one slight error along the way?
I was a wreck as I looked at the results - the course, the degree I was working towards, then finally the grade I'd achieved - there it was, in front of my eyes..................................I had to take a few glances to make sure I wasn't seeing things, but it was there, my future, on the screen infront of me, no mistaking it. I'd achieved, a 2.1.
Relief washed over me, the tears fell; all that worrying earlier today for nothing.
I can now proudly say (and I have been to everyone that would listen) that I have achieved a 2.1 BA Joint Honours in Journalism and Media Studies, and I AM PROUD OF MYSELF!

Twinning Tour - The Plan, Part 1

2009-06-23T14:11:00.003+01:00

The seed for the idea surrounding this 'tour' was sown whilst reading: 'Join Me' by Danny Wallace

In one section of the book, during the early stages, he mentions how his girlfriend has had to put up with a lot from him, one occassion he mentions is when it fell to him, to plan their holiday - his girlfriend wanted somewhere 'different but familiar'.
He then proceeds to explain his idea - which fundamentaly is what I have built upon, so I've decided it's best to quote his idea, but explaining why I want to build upon it:

"...I realised that whichever town Bath was twinned with would be quite different but at the same time fundamentally familiar. And then I discovered that Bath was twinned with lots of different towns. And those towns, in turn, were twinned with lots of different towns themselves. So in one busy afternoon, I planned a route around the world...."

Needless to say (without spoiling the book) they didn't take the trip(s). If they had, I wouldn't have thought of the idea to build upon his idea, as it would have been done.
So instead, I am (slowly) building upon the idea; my reasons for this are:

It has always been my dream to become an author - but, I've never found a subject I could write about that would interest others - a fatal flaw when wanting to be an author - this trip could /would lead to a book of my adventures being written.

I am due (in July) to graduate University (hoorah!) as a journalist - unfortunately, there don't seem to be many / any jobs around in this field (boohiss!) so whilst I look (and work my partime job) I can save for the 'said trip'

If (within a year) I am still in the same situation (no job in journalism / full time job) then I plan to take the first steps to making this planning a reality

Unfortunately, the idea does have a few flaws - the first being, the girlfriend thinks it's a "silly boy idea" - hence why I'm blogging on it, to make it sound less of a silly boy idea and more of a chance in a lifetime adventure! Another flaw, is the lack of funds - but within a year this could (and hopefully will change!).

So far, I have looked into, where my hometown (Leicester) is twinned with and have found that:
Strasbourg (France), Krefeld (Germany), Masaya (Nicaragua), Chonqing (china), Rajkot (India) and Haskovo (Bulgaria) are all twinned with this glorious **coughcough** city.
Now all I need to do, is find out where each of those towns are twinned with, plan a route and check costs of the travel. Oh and perhaps how, following the basis of only travelling to a city / town that is twinned with another (starting with Leicester) how I'd travel.

I shall keep you all informed!

Wimbledon

2009-06-23T13:21:00.004+01:00

Hoorah!
It's that time of year, where every British tennis fan gets their hopes up and believes that "this year" is the year that our number 1 can win the tournament.
That's right, it's WIMBLEDON - probably the most famous tennis tournament on the circuit, and the one tournament that you can guarantee will be affected by rain - although this year centre court does have a retractable roof - a roof which takes around 8 minutes to close and a further half-an-hour to aclimatise - but a roof none the less.

As I type this, sitting in my kitchen (it's the trouble with not having wireless) Venus Williams is on the said centre court taking on Voegele; currently 1 game all in the first set, although I'd imagine that Venus will win (this set at least).

WIMBLEDON started yesterday, under almost perfect playing conditions, slightly overcast skies, no rain and little / no wind. Unfortunately, one of the hopes for Britain, the wildcard, Laura Robinson was knocked out in the first round. Although to be fair to L.R, it was her first SENIOR tournament, she is only 15 /16 and last week was taking her GCSE's - so to prepare for WIMBLEDON, her home tournament at the same time, shows dedication and I can see her being a star in the future.

Today, day two of the tournament, sees the flying scotsman, Andy Murray take to centre court.
It is expected that with Nadal out of the championship through injury and Murray's fantastic season, this IS THE YEAR that a British player will win, (the last British man to win, was Fred Perry in 1936) - it's a long time coming.

To keep upto date on all the action, visit: www.bbc.co.uk/sport or http://www.wimbledon.org/

Other British players who have the hopes of the nation on their shoulders include:

Joshua Goodall, Daniel Evans, Alex Bogdanovic, Anne Keothavong, Katie O'Brien, Elena Baltacha (all play today in the singles, Tues 23rd June 09) and Ross Hutchings (plays today in the Men's Doubles)

James Auckland, Chris Eaton, Colin Fleming, Johnathan Marray, Jamie Murray, Kenneth Skupski, Alexander Slabinsky, James Ward & Jamie Delgado (all in the mens doubles, some also feature in the singles)

Sarah Borwell, Namoi Cavaday, Jade Curtis, Amanda Elliott, Jocelyn Rae, Anna Smith, Melanie South, & Georgie Stoop (all in the ladies doubles, some also in the ladies singles).

GOOD LUCK TO THEM ALL

If this is reality

2009-06-12T15:04:00.003+01:00

Douglas H.Everett said: "There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other."

Well after reading on Yahoo news (http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/blog/article/203210/) that a fan of the 'once hit' reality television programme, Big Brother, has sent a 'death threat' to the boss of Channel 4 - threatening to kill the daughter of the boss, unless the reinstate the live feed of this series of Big Brother. - I'm not sure why this 'person' didn't follow the lead of others and sign a petition, it's more likely to work than a death threat!

I'm sorry, but if this is the reality which we currently live in, a reality where some people cannot go without watching a bunch of strangers in a house situated in London for a few hours, then I honestly would prefer to live in a dream world - at least then I'd have control over it and wouldn't have to pick up a paper or turn on the news, and read/hear about another stabbing, child abuse case or the most random acts of behaviour such as this.

This isn't the first time that Big Brother has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons - but perhaps this is the most obscure; I'd dread to think what the reaction would be if they do go ahead and cancel the 'reality' show once the contract ends!

Money Talks

2009-06-12T13:53:00.002+01:00

The saying that ‘money talks’ definitely seems to be true, especially in the football world where players are getting paid in excess of £100,000 per week on top of their bonuses from sponsors. For example J.Park (the Manchester United midfielder) gets around £6,200 a week JUST for wearing NIKE boots – easy money if ever there was such a thing.

Perhaps the area of the football world, which sums up the ‘money talks’ ethos, is transfer fees.Only a few weeks ago, Spanish giants Real Madrid broke the world record fee by signing Brazilian ace Kaka for £56million from AC-Milan. Now the same team are on the verge of smashing the transfer record fee, after having a bid of £80million, for Manchester United winger & Portugal international Ronaldo accepted. – A year after Sir Alex stated that Ronaldo wouldn’t be leaving, despite the player himself expressing his desire to leave (he’s done the same thing this time around too, according to reports in the media!)
As United fans have already stated (with some also claiming he is a ‘one trick pony’), Ronaldo leaving won’t have a detrimental affect on the team, as they have the ethos that ‘no player is bigger than the team,’ it didn’t affect the team when former aces Cantana and Beckham left.On a personal level (being a non-United fan), I hope that the transfer goes through (despite it being for obscure money, which I believe is poisoning the game – but that’s a different subject in itself.) as while Ronaldo is a skilful player, the play-acting he brings to his game, the arrogance he has and most of all his sulking is something I don’t enjoy seeing in the game and the sooner it is removed from the English leagues, the better. After all, as already mentioned at the beginning of the blog, these players are getting paid well in excess of £100,000 a week doing something that they love, whereas the everyday folk, who go to games and ‘pay the players wages’ are struggling to earn that amount in the current financial climate doing jobs that aren’t great.The gap between the players and the fans, is the largest it has ever been – the reason for this is MONEY, because money certainly talks!

Previous World Record Fees include:
A.Common £1,000 (Sunderland to Middlesborough)
S.Puddefoot £5,500 (West Ham to Falkirk)
D.Jack £10,890 (Bolton to Arsenal)
B.Ferreyra £23,000 (Tigre to River Plate)
H.Jeppson £52,000 (Atalanta to Napoli)
J.Schi’fino £72,000 (Penarol to AC Milan)
E.Sivori £93,000 (River Plate to Juventus)
L.Suarez £152,000 (Barcelona to Inter Milan)
A.Sormani £250,000 (Mantova to Roma)
P.Anastasi £500,000 (Varese to Juventus) J.Cruyff £922,000 (Ajax to Barcelona)
G.Savoldi £1.2m (Bologna to Napoli)
P.Rossi £1.75m (Juventus to Vicenze)
D.Maradona £3m (Boca Jrs to Barcelona) then £5m (Barcelona to Napoli)
R.Gullit £6m (PSV to AC Milan)
R.Baggio £8m (Fior’tina to Juventus)
J-P.Papin £10m (Marseille to AC Milan)
G.Vialli £12m (Sampdoria to Juventus)
G.Lentini £13m (Torino to AC Milan)
A.Shearer £15m (Blackburn to Newcastle) – he famously turned down Manchester United to go to Newcastle Ronaldo £19.5m (Barcelona to Inter Milan)
Denilson £21.5m (Sao Paulo to Real Betis)
C.Vieri £32m (Lazio to Inter Milan)
H.Crespo £35.5m (Parma to Lazio)

The last three World Record transfers have all been to Real Madrid – all before Ronaldo’s expected £80m transfer (how he can be in this list of greats at Madrid, is beyond me!)

L.Figo £37m from Barcelona
Z.Zidane £46m from Juventus
Kaka £56m from AC Milan

WordPlay

2009-06-11T12:27:00.000+01:00

U.S web monitoring firm, Global Language Monitor (GLM) have declared the MILLIONTH English word to be (drum roll please…….) WEB 2.0 – a term for the latest generation of web products and services (hoorah!).

GLM search the internet for newly coined terms, and once a word or phrase has been used 25,000 times, it recognises it. Perhaps, us ‘bloggers’ could make up a word, slot it into all our future blogs, threads on internet forums, etc and coin a new word for the English language!

GLM said that Web 2.0 beat words / phrases including N00b (I’m still unsure what that means), Jai ho (used in the Pussycat Dolls song, I do believe) and Slumdog (as in the hit film) to take top spot.

Unfortunately, traditional dictionary makers are casting doubt on the claim and the methods behind it (boohiss).

Visit GLM’s website: http://www.languagemonitor.com/ I’ll be honest with you, it’s interesting, I wasn’t aware that some of the words in the list are actually words…have a gander below for a list
999,996: Cloud Computing – The ‘cloud’ has been technical jargon for the Internet for many years. It is now passing into more general usage.
999,995: Carbon Neutral — One of the many phrases relating to the effort to stem Climate Change.
999,994: Slow Food — Food other than the fast-food variety hopefully produced locally (locavores).
999,993: Octomom – The media phenomenon relating to the travails of the mother of the octuplets.
999,992: Greenwashing – Re-branding an old, often inferior, product as environmentally friendly.
999,991: Sexting – Sending email (or text messages) with sexual content.
999,990: Shovel Ready – Projects are ready to begin immediately upon the release of federal stimulus funds.
999,989: Defriend – Social networking terminology for cutting the connection with a formal friend.
999,988: Chengguan – Urban management officers, a cross between mayors, sheriff, and city managers.
999,987: Recessionista – Fashion conscious who use the global economic restructuring to their financial benefit.999,986: Zombie Banks – Banks that would be dead if not for government intervention and cash infusion.

I'm no superman

2009-06-11T12:00:00.003+01:00

Think of a superhero, any superhero you like.
Chances are the superhero that comes to mind, no matter your nationality, was one of the following:
BatmanSuperman
Spiderman
Or at a push Wolverine (as the film is currently out) or The Incredible Hulk.Now try this, think of any BRITISH superhero………………………………………...
Could you?
Before I did some research into this, I couldn’t. I had a few in mind which I thought could be British, but I wasn’t sure (thankfully they were).
Through the research, I found that British superheroes first began appearing in the Golden Age shortly after the first American heroes became popular in the UK; however, most of the original British heroes were confined to anthology comics magazines such as Lion, Valiant, Warrior, and 2000AD.

Perhaps the most famous British comic-book superhero is MARVELMAN (he’s before my time), although he is heavily based on the American superhero Captain Marvel.
Writer-artist Mick Anglo created Marvelman in 1954 for publisher L. Miller & Son.
The series ran until 1963, but due to being highly popular with the British public, he was revived in 1982 in a dark, post-modern deconstructionist series by writer Alan Moore, with contributions later by Neil Gaiman.
A second superhero (also before my time) is DAN DARE, a British science fiction comic hero, created by illustrator Frank Hampson. Hampson not only invented Dan Dare and his entire world, he also put together the original team of artists and wrote the first two stories. Dan Dare appeared in the Eagle comic story Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future in 1950, dramatised 7 times a week on Radio Luxembourg (the same station where Radio 1 breakfast show-host Chris Moyles made his name).Dan Dare has been described as "Biggles in Space" and as the British equivalent of Buck Rogers. Dan Dare was distinguished by its long, complex story lines, snappy dialogue and meticulously illustrated comic-strip artwork.
After doing a bit of research on the above two British superheroes, the three others I came across were: SUPERTED, a Welsh animated television series about (believe it or not from the name) a teddy bear with magical super powers. It was produced by Siriol Animation for Welsh television channel S4C where it was aired in the Welsh language, and later aired in English throughout the whole of the United Kingdom on BBC1, and dubbed into Irish for RTE. The series won numerous awards, including the 1987 BAFTA for best animation. BANANAMAN, a parody of Superman with shades of Captain Marvel, his British twin, Marvelman and occasionally other Silver Age characters, while also combining comic slapstick with a heavy dose of eccentric British humour similar to Alan Moore's contemporary work on Captain Britain.The Bananaman comic tells the story of Eric Wimp (aptly named), an ordinary schoolboy, living at 29 Acacia Road, Nuttytown (later changed to Dandytown after Nutty's demise), who eats a banana to transform into Bananaman, an adult superhero, sporting a distinctive blue and yellow outfit complete with a yellow two-tailed cape resembling a banana skin. The superpowers of Bananaman, include the ability to fly, superhuman strength (often quoted as "twenty men... twenty big men" but sometimes limitless, with "nerks", "women" and "snowmen" all being used in place of "men"), and seeming invulnerability.If Bananaman needs extra power, bananas can be eaten for strength boosts, provided by his faithful pet crow; if he does not have enough strength to shatter an ice block, for example, after eating a banana, he will have enough. If he eats lots of bananas in one sitting, he quickly becomes obese in his transformation; if he eats bananas that are not full, he transforms with extra weight in the lower part of his body. There have also been comics where he has eaten a variant on normal bananas, and transforms differently, reflecting the difference in that banana. It should be noted that the effects of eating the bananas are not consistent from story to story.

I’d have to say that Bananaman is perhaps one of the best BRITISH superheroes, if not one of the best superheroes of my time; although the following superhero, DANGER MOUSE, does come close.

Danger Mouse , produced by Cosgrove Hall Films for Thames Television. It features the eponymous Danger Mouse, a British mouse who works as a secret agent. The show is a loose parody of British spy fiction, particularly James Bond and the Danger Man series starring Patrick McGoohan. Some influence clearly also came from the Sherlock Holmes novels of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, as seen in references such as the location of his post box-home (Baker Street) and his attitude to his bumbling, Watson-like assistant Penfold. The show originally ran in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 1992. In the English-language version, the titular hero was voiced by David Jason (aka: Del-Boy from Only Fools & Horses).
Danger Mouse has recently seen a bit of a comeback, being shown early on the BBC and also featuring on various clothing items currently found on the high street.
Whilst a few of the British superheroes I have mentioned (SuperTed, Bananaman & Danger Mouse) all rock in their own way, it seems that none of them are as big (or ever will be) as their American counterparts, after all none of them seem to have a box-office hit behind them.

Go Go 'flower' Power

2009-06-03T11:59:00.004+01:00

Cristiano Ronaldo is 'supposedly' the best footballer in the world (although I think, after the Champions League final 2009 in Rome, that honour goes to Messi!)

We normally see him in the papers due to his footballing ability, his theatrical antics on the pitch, a proposed move away from Manchester United or crashing his car, but now it looks as though during his summer break, Ronaldo is trying to start a new trend........................FLOWER POWER for men!

Will it kick off? (excuse the pun)
Honestly, I don't think so.

I first heard about Ronaldo's fashion faux-par (or fashion trend, depending which way you look at it) on BBC Radio 1 yesterday, when Jo Whiley was talking about it (and listeners texted in with their pictures copying the trend).
Looking on Jo's page on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/jowhiley/galleries/4626/#gallery4626) I'd have to say that it isn't working, but you can all make your own minds up.

Looking at the picture of Ronaldo in the national paper today, I'd have to say that he happens to pull it off, but with all that money to spare, he can know doubt pull anything off!

An Update.....

2009-06-01T13:15:00.002+01:00

Since my last blog (regarding the BNP) I thought you may all be slightly interested in the "discussion" that is taking place on a forum regarding the same subject......it's available here: http://www.lcfconline.co.uk/online//index.php?showtopic=4669&st=40&start=40 It'll be interesting to see the outcome of the European Elections on the 4th June (Thursday) to see how well the 'leading' parties do compared to the 'smaller' and what the turn-out is like!

BNP - What is it good for? Absolutely Nothing!

2009-05-21T11:18:00.004+01:00

Warning: This blog is fairly long! But well worth the read!

Warning: This blog is POLITICAL!

As the circus continues surrounding the MPs and their expenses (as previously commented on here), a second political circus has arrived in town, this time in the form of the BNP.Before I go any further, I would like to make it clear, that I don’t in any way, shape or form, support the BNP or their views. To be honest, if it wasn’t for three elements, which have all occurred within the last couple of days, this blog would not have entered my head, let alone made it onto here. As it is though, these three elements have occurred and it gave me the inspiration to write a second political based blog in a matter of days. The first element was a small article from the Daily Mail, which happened to bring a wry smile to my face, as it happens to belittle (slightly) the BNP (hoorah). The second element being some views I read on a internet forum and the final element, is Charlie Brooker’s column in G2, the supplement from The Guardian, titled: The BNP represents Britain’s workers? They don’t even represent basic British Craftsmanship.

Yesterday (18/05/09), seemed a day for the BNP to appear in the news, not only were they mentioned in the above two articles, but they also made the news, due to one of their members being at the launch of England’s bid to hold the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, but what can you say about that?

For those that haven’t came across the BNP, their views or opinions before, they are a political party, who believe that Britain should be a country for British people and that the immigrants and asylum seekers who currently reside in our country do not belong here, especially as they are taking British peoples jobs – this is paraphrasing - according to their website, they stand for: “The British National Party exists to secure a future for the indigenous peoples of these islands in the North Atlantic which have been our homeland for millennia.We use the term indigenous to describe the people whose ancestors were the earliest settlers here after the last great Ice Age and which have been complemented by the historic migrations from mainland Europe.The migrations of the Celts, Anglo-Saxons, Danes, Norse and closely related kindred peoples have been, over the past few thousands years, instrumental in defining the character of our family of nations.While we recognise the United Kingdom as a political entity, the BNP does not arrogantly seek to impose one set of Westminster dominated decisions across these nations. We embrace and cherish the native cultural diversity within the British Isles and wish to extend the concept of democracy to the lowest possible level, where those that are affected by a decision are the ones who influence and make the decision”

The article in the Daily Mail seems to poke fun at the BNP, for a few of their recent advertising campaigns, to drum up support.Whilst the BNP claim that there should be British jobs for British people, it has came to light, that they, themselves have used ‘foreigners’ to be in their campaigns. These foreigners include three Americans posing as builders, a Polish driven fighter jet and an Italian elderly couple. Surely this is double standards? After all, going by their opinions, these are jobs which British people could have done, after all, don’t we have an array of builders, pilots and elderly people? Isn’t it great that this political party, who wish to be taken seriously, cannot seem to practice what they preach and have such double standards – it must be a political thing!

Charlie Brooker’s article follows a similar vein, in that he, as with the Daily Mail article, pokes fun at the BNP, especially (yet again) their advertising. This time in the shape of their political broadcast, one, which has received chuckles of derision.
The broadcast in question is said to be: ‘badly made’ – something that Brooker is not surprised at, as he claims: “Extremist material of any kind always looks gaudy and cheap, like a bad pizza menu.”Brooker continues that there is more than the adverts failure than its hideous use of colour schemes. Claiming that every aspect of it is bad, including the framing, sound & script. Brooker, also states (comically, may I add) that: “For all their talk about representing the Great British Worker, when it comes to promotional material, the BNP can’t even represent the most basic British craftsmanship.”
Like Brooker, I did not witness the political broadcast at first hand (to be honest, unlike Brooker, I haven’t taken the time to view the said political broadcast on the internet.) Instead I am willing, on this occasion, to take his word that the production is poor, if however, you would like to view the video, Brooker comments that it is on Youtube, so you can always pop along and view it (it would be interesting to hear your views on the video.)

Furthermore, on Brooker’s article, I would like to share in his fantasy, as quoted from his article:
“We – the decent British majority – spend years toiling in secret, creating a life-size replica of Britain in the middle of the Pacific. It’s identical down to the tiniest blade of grass, or branch of Gregg’s. And one nigh, while every member of the BNP is asleep, we whisk them via helicopter to this replica UK, this Backup Britain. Put them in replica beds in replica houses. Then we fly back home to watch the fun on CCTV. For several weeks, they walk around, confused, but pleased. The weather’s nice! More importantly, there are no black faces! Then the infrastructure breaks down and they start to starve, and there’s no one to blame but themselves. And then someone with GPS on their phone works out what’s happened, realises they’ve all become immigrants in their own land. Half of them go mad and start attacking each other. The rest desperately apply for asylum in Britain. The real Britain. The decent, tolerant Britain. The country you can be proud of.” – if only, eh?!? For the full column by Charlie Brooker, visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/18/charlie-brooker-bnp-racism

The final element, which has led to this blog being based on the BNP, is due to an internet forum, in which a ‘debate’ has occurred after one user states that they: “distrust any of the 3 main parties Labour, Conservatives even the Lib Dems they are all with their noses in the feed bag siphoning off cash” before continuing that their vote is “going to the BNP this year as these guys are just a bunch of serious piss takers and now disgust me with all the economic crisis happening and people losing their jobs in record numbers they are creaming of the top.I mean if you were to ask the entire population if they wanted asylum seekers here the majority would say no lets just kick them all out now save the government billions of pounds which could be spent improving the lives of the indigenous populace.”

Whilst the forum is open to honest, frank and controversial debate, it can sometimes lead to topics, which may be considered to go ‘against the grain’ and this is one topic which certainly seems to have lead to a healthy debate, one which touches upon the viewpoints of both sides of the argument.In response to the above comments left within the thread, a second poster, has questioned the original, asking:
“So you believe any NON CRISTIAN person should leave this country???I'm an atheist and the BNP don’t agree with my views so you think I should leave, thanks for that [name removed for privacy reasons]!!”Before continuing and raising valid points, which question the BNP’s opinions / views: “I also have many friends form different religions and races who are born and bred in this country its a shame you want them out as well!!So you believe every person should stay where they come from??? Better tell the millions of British expats who choose to find a better life elsewhere that they better get home!!Better go home and pack my bags despite the fact I'm white British male with a ancestry history in the UK!While there are many who are exploiting the system the vast majority of Asylum seekers are genuine cases who have stood up to oppression and done more with there life then me and you combined son.The "entire” population doesn’t agree with that view by the way! While many agree some new measures should be introduced but to deny these people the right of entry when they have stood up for the same principles we are so proud of...”

A valid point, if ever there was one on such a topic; but one, nonetheless which required answers of the original poster, and answers which were duly received (I did say it was an interesting read / debate).

“As a nation we are becoming a boiling pot of cultures, but in the last 20 years we are making special provisions for asylum seekers who have not contributed 1 penny to our way of life like Driving lessons, Free Bills, £4000 grant for a car and furnished homes. I have no problem with any foreigner who comes here to embrace our way of life and work and pay taxes regardless of colour, creed or nationality, but I do despise those who come here to exploit it. Take the country, United Arab Emirates for example, anyone can have asylum there but they get nothing from the state so they are used as a labour force for the nation.[name removed for privacy reasons] these kind of things are really cheesing off the population to the point where they will end up voting for the far right parties. It happened before in Germany during the 1930s every election the parties like the BNP are getting more and more votes and soon I reckon they will have a voice in Parliament as they are on some council seats already.I have not claimed one penny off the social in my life I have given 10 years in her Majesty's Navy, I have paid tax on my earnings since I was 16 only to see foreigners take it in benefits to sit on their arse and do nothing all day.(I know UK people sponge benefits as well).”
I’m sure that you’ll agree that both of these forum users express valid points regarding their opinions on the matter of the BNP, and that they fit into this blog, although that doesn’t mean that I agree with the opinions expressed, in their entirety or at all, but what I do agree with is the freedom of speech offered within the United Kingdom.I could be biased towards the country of my birth, the country where I have grown up, but as this topic has clearly pointed out, it is a country with many, many faults, as all countries have. But the one thing that the United Kingdom can stand proud of, is the multicultural life it offers and the support it offers to those that reside here.

In the words of Charlie Brooker, this is: “The real Britain. The decent, tolerant Britain. The country you can be proud of!”

Class of 2005

2009-05-19T19:55:00.002+01:00

Have you ever looked back on your school days and wondered where it all went?

Of course you have, most people do, after all, weren’t they the days where everything was easy, your dinners were provided, you lived rent-free and didn’t have to worry about bills, rent or any of the chores that make adult life. The only real worries for the majority of us, during our school days were exams and how you’d manage to fit in all your coursework, revision and homework, with plenty of time left to go and chill with mates, whether it be at the park (chavving it up / partaking in exercise), in the pub or anywhere else that you may have ‘chillaxed’ with friends.Obviously I am aware that there are some exceptions to this rule, but in general, our school days are seen as the best days of our lives, because everything is there for the taking, some of us take our chances and go on to achieve greatness, others wait for the chances to pass them by, until it’s too late. This is just human nature, it’s a fight or flight situation and depending on your personality, depends on the path you go down.

A question which may not be as straight forward to answer, is: have you ever looked back on your school days and been happy with who you were then and what you have achieved since?
I have recently came across the yearbook for my sixth-form (A-levels). A yearbook, which was made in 2005, whilst it was only made four years ago, the changes in me are vastly different, for example in the section which asks about the respondents ‘ambitions’, I answered: “To become a successful English Teacher, married with kids, and happy! Being rich wouldn’t be a miss either!”

Firstly, reading that back after time has passed, I notice the grammatical which aren’t a good sign for someone with the ambition to be an English teacher.

Secondly, I realise (perhaps I’ve always known it) money isn’t everything, and whilst yes it would be great to be rich, that certainly is not the be-all-and-end-all of life.

Furthermore, my ambitions now, four years down the line could not be further from those I wrote in the year book towards the end of my sixth-form education. I no longer wish to be an English teacher, or a teacher of any subject for that matter, not at this moment in my life anyway. Perhaps I never really did have it in me, perhaps it was a stop-gap whilst I tried to find out what I want to do. Luckily, (without making this into some soppy look back on the last four years) whilst trying to find out what I want to do with my life, I moved to the UK’s second city, made some great friends (friends for life) and had a go at my ‘then’ ambition – something which led me to my now partner, a great girl, who is working towards her ambition, of becoming a science teacher (primary school level), whilst I work towards mine, of becoming a successful journalist, having studied the course for the last three years (graduating, this July).

Whilst back in 2005 I wanted everything to be there on a plate for me, with me having to put in minimal work, I now realise that hard work is required to achieve my ambitions; something I am prepared to do, even if it means making sacrifices elsewhere. Sacrifices four years ago I would not have been eager to make or made.

I also know that I’m not the only one who has changed in the four years that have passed, as those that I still keep in touch with (and more often than not, share a beverage or five with) have also changed, with some even managing to achieve their ambition, in the short time that has passed – although the ambition was only to grow a proper goatee!

Isn’t it strange that in such a short space of time, drastic changes can take place; although, looking at my life as it stands at the moment, I am certainly glad that they have – despite the lack of job offers in the field of journalism, but that’s a blog in itself!

A place to think...

2009-05-14T14:52:00.005+01:00

Many of us have our favourite places, whether it be our favourite holiday destination, a place to go with a loved one / friends / family, or a place to think about everything and anything.

While it isn't my FAVOURITE place to think, after all, I don't honestly think I have a favourite place to think, but I have found that:

THE SHOWER is a fantastic place to think, and I've found that I'm not the only one; I've came across at least two other people who also think about everything and anything in the shower, whilst someone else admitted that the place they do a lot of their thinking is on the LOO; spending sometimes upto 30 minutes sitting on it thinking!

I have a feeling that the shower became the place for me to do a lot of my thinking during my S.A.Ts all those years ago and carried on during my GCSE's, AS-Levels and A-Levels, as along with placing revision notes up on the walls of my room to revise from, I'd also have them on the outside of the shower, so that whilst in their, I didn't have to take a break from revising.
Since then, it has stuck; I think about all sorts in there, as I honestly do find it a great place to clear the mind!

I also find that whilst driving, listening to a few chillaxing tunes, in the rain is another good place to think!

Random but true!

Do they expect sympathy?

2009-05-14T13:12:00.004+01:00

Since my last blog a few weeks ago, I've been racking my brains trying to think of a subject to write about.
Something that I feel passionate about, that is topical and also opinionated. The subject then hit me a few hours ago, listening to the news on the radio. It's a subject that is hard to get away from here in the United Kingdom. It has dominated the papers, the news on TV, the radio and the internet for the last couple of weeks; although it is also an area to tred carefully, as I'm sure a libel case would just be around the corner.

What is the subject?

That's right, none other than the 'expense claims' made by the MPs.

Around seven days ago, a leading broadsheet paper, revealed the MPs expenses, which include:

£16,000 in mortgage interest payments DESPITE the mortgage having ended 18months previously
£6,557 on cleaning services for a Westminster flat
£5,000 on furniture - in a 3 month period
£75,000 to fund a second home
£4,000 on furnishings (including 22 cushions)

For an indepth list of claims, and also the responses from the MPs/Government, visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm

Since the claims were exposed, the uproar throughout the country has grown, the response by the MPs / Government (in my opinion) has been lacklusture and the feelings towards the Government, is one of anger and dismay.

During the last seven days, I've heard many things from members of the public, regarding the situation; some being that: "perhaps if the MPs hadn't used OUR taxes to pay for things, the country wouldn't be in the state it is." and "Why don't they all get sacked / We disband the government."
Whilst the latter, is in theory a nice idea, after all, how much do the government cost tax-payers each year??? In reality, it isn't possible, just research countries without a government (i.e. Somalia).

Personally, I feel that the news of the MPs expenses, has hurt the voting public so much, is that we are constantly reading and hearing about how services such as the NHS, Schools, Police, etc could do with more funding; funding which comes from our taxes, so to hear that those 'in control' (I use the term loosely) of our country, are spending OUR hard earned money, generally on materalistic items for themselves, instead of on services that desperately need the money, is frankly, appauling!!!!

The current situation regarding this disgrace is that a Tory MP has today (14/5/09) quit his post (see here, for full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8049614.stm), after his party told him that his claims were unacceptable (weren't they all?) and our 'great' leader, Mr Gordon Brown, has called for all claims to be reviewed (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8046287.stm).

Are we, as a country and taxpayers, expected to have sympathy for these MPs that have resigned / have been named (and shamed)?
Shouldn't they all be under police investigation for corruption or alike, or are they bound by different laws to the rest of the country?
It's just a shame that we cannot refuse (without punishment) to pay our taxes!

An interesting read on the what the MPs are allowed to claim for, can be found here: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/GreenBook.pdf

Leicester are Back

2009-04-29T12:10:00.003+01:00

Just over a year ago, I was writing a blog regarding my disappointment, anger and disbelief at Leicester City F.C, the team I’ve supported since I can remember, getting relegated for the first time, in their history, to the third tier of English football (League 1).

Fortunately now, as the League 1 season comes to an end on Saturday, I can sit back, relax and enjoy the day, along with the 20,000 other Leicester City fans who turn up, week-in week-out; as the Foxes clinched promotion back to the Championship, at the first time of asking, and the League 1 title, against Southend on April 18th 2009 (the last team to clinch promotion straight back from League 1 were Manchester City, back in 1999 – although they did it via the play-offs).

Having clinched the championship away at Roots Hall, Leicester’s celebration party didn’t get into full swing, until the final home game of the season, last Friday (24/04/09) against Scunthorpe; before the game Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall completed 29laps around the Walkers Stadium, raising money for three charities – this was his 29th season of running around the pitch – surely it is time that he is made a SIR?

The game also saw the fans turn up in force (just over 30,000; around 10,000 more than the average attendance at the Walkers this season!)I’d love to be able to tell you about the game, but unfortunately, in my capacity as a steward for the game, I wasn’t able to see a great deal of the action, only the fans reaction; which itself was blurred with balloons and blow-up beach balls as the players walked out onto the pitch to a standing ovation – one that got louder as the news came over the radio that we’d signed on a four year contract (now ex-Liverpool defender) Jack Hobbs.What I can tell you is that it finished 2-2, thanks to goals from Michael Morrison, which meant that we have gone the whole season without losing at home, in all competitions, an unbelievable feat considering our home form in the previous few seasons.

As the final whistle went, the party started. The 650 Scunthorpe fans that’d made the journey south for the game left the stadium, whilst the grounds men worked to put the stage together for the players to be presented the League 1 trophy. Again, I’d love to be able to tell you about the presentation of the trophy, but unfortunately, I had to have my back to it and keep an eye on the Foxes faithful in the Kop.

It’s been roughly 30years since Leicester City F.C last lifted a League trophy and despite being there, I was unable to see the action unfold! Whilst I have enjoyed my time as a steward, I feel that perhaps, I should take my rightful place, back in the KOP as a fan.

Roll on next season, as we venture back into the Championship, to face local opposition including: Derby, Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Peterborough. With the possibility of our West Midland counterparts Birmingham City and West Brom also joining us.

Hats of to the Head....

2009-04-24T15:06:00.005+01:00

During a 15minute break at work this morning, I picked up a copy of one of our 'great' national papers; one that is usually full of doom & gloom, such as how we are killing the planet by driving, how the recession is worse than first thought, etc.
Normally, it isn't a newspaper I enjoy reading. As a training journalist, I feel that the coverage of the news within the paper is poor, yet, today, for the first time in a long time, it made me chuckle and bought a wry smile to my face.

Why? Because of its coverage of a story, involving a head teacher, who sent 61 pupils home in a single day for breach of the rules (read the full article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172861/Head-sends-61-pupils-home-flouting-school-rules-different-code-comes-Facebook-page.html)

I'll give you a brief snippet of the article, but I do urge you to read the full article on the above link, as this blog cannot do the story justice, no matter how hard I try:

"Mrs Langley-Bliss has shocked parents by sending an astonishing 61 pupils home in a single day for minor breaches of rules.
It is understood that hundreds more pupils received detentions or were sent to punishment classrooms for failing to bring the correct equipment.
At least one child was sent home for failing to have the correct school jumper in his bag"

Perhaps some of you, once reading the article will have a different viewpoint to myself, but having left the state educational system four-years ago, I personally feel that the head has done the right thing here.
She is a young head, who is trying to improve the image, reputation and standard of the school, through rules she has implemented and informed both the students and parents of before and during the recent Easter breaks.
If the pupils / parents cannot abide by these rules, then surely it shows that they are needed.

I say hats of to her, and wish her all the best on her quest to improve the school; hopefully, as one of the comments on the website with the article says 'more heads will follow her example.'

One criticism I do have with the article though, is the use of bringing in the Headteachers PERSONAL life into question, such as use of her facebook - including pictures and comments on there. Those of you that subscribe to such social networking, I am sure, as with myself, have some less than flattering pictures, include nights out, when I have been a bit worse for wear. They, however, don't mean that I am poor at my current job (either of them) or that I would be poor at the career I aim to go into once I graduate this July.
I see this as a cheap and easy pop both by the parents of the pupils affected, the pupils and unfortunately, the newspaper.

'The Man' & Me

2009-04-23T12:23:00.003+01:00

Ok, so it could just be me that relies on 'THE MAN', due to my lack of practical manual skills; however I fear that it is not just myself, but instead is my generation and generations that have followed.

We are the generations that have been bought up in a society full of technological advances, such as mobile phones, the internet, games consoles, blackberries, ipods, etc, the list is endless. Yet unlike the generations before us, very few of us are skilled manual workers, instead we rely on 'THE MAN' to fix things for us, whether it be the dishwasher, the cooker, lawnmower, or in my case, the car exhaust (darn speedbumps up a road where they aren't needed).

I think that the reason that our generation and the generations that have followed us, lack such practical skills is due to the lack of apprenticeships available.

My dad for example, he's a skilled engineer, a trade he learnt after leaving school and taking up an apprenticeship. Myself, however, I've gone through the whole educational system, am due to graduate in July (good times!) yet I'm not very skilled at all, because I have never needed to be.

This showed on Tuesday of this week; the previous evening, as I turned into my street after a 4hour shift at work, the exhaust on Penelope fell off.
Did I:
A) Have a look at the problem and come up with a solution to fix it myself when it was light

B) Curse and sulk for the rest of the evening?

answers on a postcard!

The situation of relying on 'THE MAN' doesn't appear to be changing any time soon; even in an economic climate such as that of today, apprenticeships still are not pushed, instead university places continue to be the most popular choice, despite work at the end of a three or four year course within the field studied is becoming less and less - I suppose the good news is, that in the current climate we find ourselves in, 'THE MAN' will continue to prosper

Sunday is................

2009-04-21T20:01:00.003+01:00

According to every students friend, Wikipedia:

"Sunday is traditionally associated with Church attendance. In the Jewish law, Sunday is the first day of the Hebrew calendar week. In many Christian traditions it is considered the 'Christian Sabbath', which is a change from the seventh day, Jewish Shabbat.For many Christians it began to take the place of Jewish Shabbat in as the day set apart for the public and solemn worship of God.The Gregorian calendar repeats every 400 years, and no century starts on a Sunday. The Jewish New Year never falls on a Sunday. Only those months beginning on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th."

A nice titbit of information there; but I propose that Sunday is:

!!!!CAKE DAY!!!!

The premise behind this is very simple, at some point EACH SUNDAY everyone should eat some form of cake, whether it be home made, from the shop or any other means of getting cake (although, I am not condoning stealing - freeganing is ok though! - isn't it? if you're unsure as to what freeganing is, I've included it at the bottom of the blog).

The idea for CAKE DAY came about around a year ago, when the good lady worked, on a Sunday, for a well known Bakery's (advertised by a certain Comedian); after her shift, she'd come home with some 'scrummy' cakes - this happened every Sunday without fail, and therefore Sunday become a kind of unofficial cake day.
I would like to say that our CAKE DAY started before that of a certain Radio 1 DJ’s Friday Cake Day – but I cannot be certain of this!

Even now she has left her job, to focus on her final year of studying, we still partake in CAKE DAY - it's a brilliant way to end (or start, depending on which way you look at it) the week.

Enjoy Cake Day responsibly!

P.S: I wish to add that SUNDAY CAKE DAY is in no way linked to WORLD CAKE DAY (which happens to be on June 1st!)

Freegan / Freeganing - as taken from Freegan.org

"A freegan is someone who tries to live simply, reducing their consumption and the pressure they place on the environment, through such things as recycling, sharing resources and using one’s time to help others.Freeganism is about climbing out of the socio-economic system and living with a new motivation. Rather than working for money, as in the current system, freegans occupy their time giving and receiving for free."

Babyface isn't the dad

2009-03-27T14:19:00.001Z

Earlier this year, we will all of heard, read or watched the news coverage of the baby faced dad, Alfie, the young boy, who at the age of thirteen became a dad; having engaged in sexual intercourse with his older girlfriend, when he was only twelve, not even a teenager, barely out of nappies himself and he was having unprotected sex.
When this story first broke, I refrained from writing a blog, because all I could think at the time was:
1) What was a 14 year old girl doing having UNPROTECTED sex with a 12 year old boy and vice-versa. Actually scratch that, why were these two children, who are babies themselves having sex in the first place, let alone unprotected
2) Where were the parents? Why were they letting this go on, especially as it (supposedly) took place at the girls house – alarm bells are ringing!
These are still questions I have regarding the matter, and questions if I was related to anyone of those involved, I’d be asking. It sounds like something that you expect to see on the Jeremy Kyle show (how long until we see this couple appear?).
The story took an unexpected (in some ways) twist on Thursday. The tabloid news, have suggested that the young boy, who claims to be the father, in truth ISN’T! This is a revelation which came about after a £300 DNA test (although, in an article he admits he wasn’t sure what a DNA test involved), which he took after lads at his school claimed to have slept with the girl as-well.
Having read the article, the feeling comes across that the paper may be slightly gloating over the poor lads misfortune, of what is best described as being ‘duped’ by the girl; and in some strange way, you cannot blame them, although you do pity the lad.I cannot help but think, though, that when the lad has grown up, gone through the educational system, settled down, etc he’ll look back on this ‘chapter’ of his life and breath a huge sigh of relief.

When did we start caring?

2009-03-27T14:04:00.001Z

Have you ever seen a sight that makes you think about when and where it all changed?
I don’t mean, when you stop and think about how you got to where you are today; but when you think about how much easier life seemed to be, when you didn’t seem to have any care in the world other than who you were going to ‘play out with after school’ and who your best friend will be that week.
Today, this is what happened to me. Nice and early, before 9am this morning, whilst walking through Bede Park, I wondered, perhaps not when and where, but why?!
The reason for those thoughts (and subsequently, this blog) is one little boy, a stranger, who I’ll never see again (and before today, had never seen before).
It wasn’t anything he said, either to his parent / guardian he was walking with, or to myself, nor anything to do with what he was doing, whilst walking to school, but because of what he was wearing. You may read that, and think, whoa, hold your horses, where is this going? – Don’t fret chum, it is all-innocent.
As I passed the aforementioned stranger and his parent / guardian, something caught my attention, out of the corner of my eye; that something was a mask, a tigers mask to be exact. A tigers mask that this young boy was happily wearing as he walked to school, there seemed to be no obvious reason as to why he was wearing the mask, but he didn’t seem to care, and for that reason, I can honestly say, I was (and perhaps, still am) slightly envious; I’m not jealous, after all, if I really wanted, I could go a buy a tigers mask (even though, we all know monkeys are the worlds greatest creatures) and walk through Bede Park with it on, but I won’t. Why? Because I’d be worried (perhaps worried isn’t the right word), I would be concerned about what others may say or think. Despite the huge probability that those others will be complete strangers, I would still care, in some respects, about their opinion of me.
It’s the same for all of us, I think from the age of 10 upwards (when we start to think, and in some cases, act like adults) we begin to care about what people think about us, about the style, colour and arrangements of clothes we wear, about the music we listen to, programmes we watch, interests, etc. All the material things, that in the end, don’t really matter, after all, they are only a minuscule part of what we are, not who we are.
Honestly though, I know, and you all know, deep down, that the opinions of others, don’t matter to us, especially if we are never to see those people again; but for some strange, unbeknown reason, we do care (and we do judge) – and this shows.
How many of us dress in what is considered the norm / fashion? 99% of us, why, because we care about other peoples opinions. Saying that however, when I was in Years 9 – 13 (so, I’d have been between the ages of 13 and 17), I knew and for a large part of the time, was friends (through a friend to start, but then directly) with a girl who lived a few minutes from my street, to be honest, she was a pretty cool girl (in both sense of the word, because she was different and didn’t care.), she didn’t seem to care about other people’s opinions, especially when it came to her taste in clothes; after all she’d wear these bright coloured cord trousers, which wasn’t the norm; but she wasn’t afraid to be different; even when people commented on her attire, it didn’t bother her (or if it did, she didn’t let it show). The sad thing is, I drove past her the other week as I was going to work and she looked like everybody else; wearing a white shirt and black trousers.
If only we could have the same attitudes we did when we were young, and not bother about what others think if we wore brightly coloured trousers, or died our hair multi-coloured, or walked through parks in the city centre wearing animal masks; wouldn’t the world be a better place?

Are you a snoop?

2009-03-17T12:04:00.003Z

When the creators of the, now hit, BBC drama, Spooks pictched the idea for the drama, the first two paragraphs read:

“Tell the truth, when was the last time you eavesdropped on a conversation you weren’t supposed to hear? Read a fax that wasn’t addressed to you? Glanced at a document on someone elses desk? Interesting wasn’t it? Or maybe you spent Sunday morning going through your teenager’s coat pockets to find out what they really got up to the night before? Discover anything useful?
Like it or not we all snoop. Deep down we are all spies. At work. At Home. In Love. And in Life. We all have our own agendas and allegiances. We all have sources, informants and go-betweens.”

If, as the pitch asks, you are honest with yourself, you can admit you have ‘snooped’. Perhaps your partner, sibling, friend or a random stranger left their phone lying around / emails open, and you had a quick glance. I know I certainly have and to be honest, I would do it again.
Not because I’m a snoop or a busybody, but because society makes it easy for us today.
99% of you reading this will have either a: facebook page (there are around 175million active users worldwide), Twitter account (according to Twitterholic.com, I am currently: ranked 840,561st on twitterholic! (by followers) and ranked 1st in their location on twitterholic! (by followers in 'East of the Midlands') – although these figures don’t seem to add up!), Myspace, Friends Reunited or even all of them, along with others.
These are websites where we openly post information about ourselves, whether it be drunken pictures from a night out, a bitch about friends / family / work / school / love, what we are up to on that day / during that week and what we have been up to. Some of us, even put more personal information on these sites, such as email address, phone-numbers, house address.
Each and everyday, we are allowing more and more people to access information about ourselves, whether it be through the websites mentioned above, forums or even ‘innocent’ phone conversations / general conversations we have in the street.

It'd be interesting to hear what you have over-heard / 'accidently' read in a text / email, that wasn't yours.

No Bull.......

2009-01-29T11:07:00.003Z

In this current economic crisis, which has now officially seen the United Kingdom go into recession, you’d think that scientists would be spending their time and more importantly MONEY, on important studies which will benefit the world for the better.
How wrong could you be?
Scientists at Newcastle University have found that dairy cows with names such as Ermintrude, Daisy and La vache qui rit may produce as much as 454 pints more each year than cows with no names.
A few things strike me here as being slightly odd and also making the study irrelevant.
1) The results state that these cows MAY produce more milk each year than cows with no names!!!!
2) Farmers that can / do give their cows names, are more likely to have a smaller quantity of cows and therefore provide more care / love / attention to those cows – meaning that the fact the COWS HAVE NAMES is irrelevant

The results published show that:

“The average amount of milk produced by a cow over its annual 10 month lactation period is 13,198 pints (7,500 litres). Those cows with names had an average higher milk yield of 454 pints (258 litres).”

And

“Nearly two thirds - 60 per cent - of UK farmers said they "knew all the cows in the herd" and 48 per cent agreed that positive human contact was more likely to produce cows with a good milking temperament.”
Honestly, how is this going to help the country? Unless these scientists know something that we don’t and that we are going to have a milk shortage in the near future, I couldn’t care less whether my milk comes from a cow that has a name or not - as long as the cow is healthy!

This story has however, led me to "google" other random scientific studies and I've found that:

People will eat more if offered more food.
Scientists have constructed the world's smallest car. The car is less than four nanometers - a strand of hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide.
Those who follow up on a new year resolution to “detox” by buying products that claim to clear their bodies of toxins are probably wasting their time, a study by science students has found. - No s*** sherlock; it's called marketing!!

If you know or hear of any more, please do let me know!

And so, the end is near.....

2009-01-15T13:37:00.004Z

As the curtain slowly falls on my 17 educational system life, I thought it’d be good to look back on some of those moments that have made me who I am today and got me to where I am today (so to speak).
Out of the 5 schools I attended (3 Primary, 1 High School, 1 “college”) only a few stick in my mind – mainly 1 Primary (for nearly all the wrong reasons) and the latter two – because that’s when ‘things got interesting’ (oioi!).
Where better place to start, when reminiscing about school life, than PRIMARY school. I’m sure, as with most of you, I cannot remember my first day at primary school, it no doubt though involved paint, sand and a warm bottle of milk during a “playtime” – isn’t that what primary school is meant to be about anyway? Not learning; so what if 1+1=2, it could so easily, had the inventor of maths (no-one knows for sure who invented the subject, but it is believed that the Ancient Roman’s first used it. See, these blogs can also be (slightly) educational, but back to the point…..), equalled 5.
Perhaps the above theories (1+1 could equal anything, theoretically; and that primary school at least is meant to be about painting and playtime) are two of the reasons why:
a) the majority of primary school reports (especially from one school) states that I see school as a social occasion (in my opinion, nothing beats being out in the playground kicking a football around and having a laugh with friends)
b) It took me more than 1 attempt to get a C in GCSE maths (but I got there in the end, and that’s all that matters).
Those said school reports (for the majority of my school life (yrs 1-11) also mentioned that I like the sound of my own voice / talk too much.) – how rude!

I have digressed a bit here; back onto the path. Memories of primary school; there are a grand total of THREE which stand out; ignoring the after-school-activities, such as Cross Country on a muddy field / park on a cold Saturday morning; playing for the school football teams (then as a midfielder – how times have changed) and the less manly singing at De Montfort Hall with the choir (yes, I have done that – you wouldn’t believe it if you heard me sing today; but my main concern would be, why are you in the shower listening to me sing) and the ‘wonderful’ roles in school productions (mainly a farmyard animal.)
The first 1, unfortunately has been slightly altered, by that I mean I’m not using names of the people involved, just their initials, the rest is all FACT.
Picture the scene, a class of 20 – 30 pupils (roughly Year 3) sitting working hard (other than me, no doubt, I cannot remember that much detail), when a boy young G.T wets himself and leaves a puddle on the chair, that has got to be upsetting and embarrassing enough for anyone, but that isn’t where (in my opinion) the humour ended. After being leant a P.E kit from a kind class-mate (it wasn’t me), G.T came back to the class and wouldn’t you know it, sat straight back down, in the puddle of pee. And they say lightening never strikes twice.
To this day, I’d imagine that G.T is still embarrassed by the whole situation, myself, I find it hilarious.

Memory number two. Unfortunately, this one I don’t find hilarious, to be perfectly honest with you, I find it darn right harsh, but it’s stuck with me, and probably always will.
Same school, same teacher that was teaching during memory number 3. However this time, the only people involved are my good (young, charming self) and THE teacher (who won’t be named, EVER!).
Whilst I’ll admit I was never the model pupil at school (see comment about it being a social event), the words that came out of her mouth on this occasion I feel were unnecessary, harsh (and in hindsight, untrue). Why she said these things I’ll never know, it certainly wasn’t to inspire a young pupil and if it was to get me to behave and act more responsible (bare in mind I would have been no older than year 4) it certainly didn’t work.
The words the teacher uttered were: “You’ll never be anything.”
Well “miss”, looks like you were wrong, so in your face……..!

The final memory from primary school (still at the same one too), again involved me and the teacher from above. Perhaps this was an act of revenge or to prove a point. One thing that you can be certain of, was that in the end, it was an act of stupidity (oooops).As briefly mentioned earlier, I wasn’t the model student and I did like the sound of my voice; which is what, on this occasion got me into trouble. The lesson was “art”, we were drawing bottles that the teacher said (whether I believe her, I don’t know, they looked to clean and well kept) she’d dug up from her garden. I was never the keenest of artists and to be honest, nor am I very good at it, so I decided that whilst working, I would multi-task and chat to my then best mate M.L. This multi-tasking didn’t go down well, and as a result, I was sent to the head mistresses office, so off I trot, knock on the door and wait……………no answer, so I try again, and still no answer. So, I trotted back to the classroom and instead of saying that I had been told off by the head, I informed the teacher that the head wasn’t around (thinking that would be the end of the matter, as at least I’d been honest.)
Ohhhhhhhh how wrong I was, the teacher decided instead to write a note for my parents asking them to come into school as soon as possible to chat with the teacher. ‘Oh s**t, this is serious, I’m going to be in trouble’, yet the next sequence of events are slightly bizarre. Instead of giving the letter to my sister who was older and in another class, or posting the letter to my house; the teacher gave me the letter to give to my parents – perhaps, there was a way out of this.

To jump ahead a bit. On the way home (as I only lived a two minute walk, next to a brook, from the school, I was allowed to walk home alone / with M.L – my neighbour), I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t give the letter to my parents or put it in the bin, so I through it in the brook and watched it float away. Problem solved, end of the situation. WRONG.
The next day and consequently for a few weeks after, the teacher kept asking when my parents would be coming in to see her; I managed to fob her off on a few occasions, but then PARENTS EVENING (the dreaded phrase for any pupil) arrived and the state of affairs unravelled, and culminated in me being grounded (d’oh).
Looking back on the situation, I’m not sorry I did it, far from it, however I am sorry for the embarrassment I must have caused my parents – sorry!

High school wise, not a lot happened. Other than I suppose the usual, I became interested in girls (oioi!), had a few detentions, etc, etc. The most memorable situation(s) probably involve the production of Bugsy Malone, which was our year 9 leaving production (and I starred in). It was a great performance, and despite the long hours rehearsing (which got me in trouble, when I missed one to play a football game. The game will live in the memory too, as it’s when I scored my spectacular own goal from 18yards out – a sweet volley, if ever there was one!) it was all worth it in the end, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

College, was very similar, although I knuckled down more with my studies and by now had stopped seeing school as just a social occasion. Perhaps the reason(s) for this were that:
a) I had the up-most respect for some of the teachers (two in particular, so thank you to them)
b) I realised how important education was, and wanted to prove the primary school teacher wrong, and become something
c) I fell in love for the first time (awwww) – although not as in love as I am now (again, awwwww! Where are those sick bags?)

Whatever the reasons, I’m glad that I did (finally) take education seriously, as it has led me to be here today, 17 weeks away from graduation and hopefully (fingers crossed) a life as a (successful) journalist.I’ve had fun along the way and will be (slightly) sad to finally close this chapter in my life, but onwards and upwards to bigger, better and brighter things!

Not to blow my own trumpet!

2009-01-15T12:20:00.002Z

Not one to blow my own trumpet (mainly because I don’t have one, I was a drum player – but that’s besides the point!) thought I’d write about the fairly fantastic end to 2008 I had.

Forgetting Christmas and New Year’s Eve for a moment – they were both great, as I got to spend them with loved ones (all together now, “awwwwwwwwwww”) and had a fantastic time – despite losing to just about everyone (including: my parents, grandparents and girlfriend) on the Wii Bowling and being the only person (out of EIGHT) not to get a strike on it!!!!!! ( I was letting them win, honest!)

One of the main factors to the year ending on a high, was that I received a phone call, (whoop someone loved me enough to ring me; only kidding), from the editor of a national magazine, Shortlist.

The editor was responding to an email I’d sent only a couple of days before, asking if it would be possible to gain a few days / weeks work experience with them. She was inviting me to go to their offices in London for a WHOLE MONTH!!!!!!! She understood that I was at uni, so asked when would be best for me – just so happens that 3 days after my dissertation is handed in (the dreaded ‘D’ word) I shall be heading to London, to hopefully make a big enough impression (and name for myself) to be offered a full time job with them – fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed!
I’m already excited and at least I know one thing for sure. May 4th 2008 is going to be a hell-of-a-lot better than May 4th 2007 (if you’re unsure why, scroll through previous blogs until you find one regarding our national sport! – we don’t mention the event!)

A bit about SHORTLIST for those that are interested (this has been taken from their FACEBOOK group; whilst on the subject of facebook, if you haven’t already done so, feel free to join the group linked to this blog!):

“ShortList is your new free men’s weekly magazine! Make sure you get your free copy every Thursday. ShortList is distributed throughout the UK; by hand in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Brighton, Liverpool and Aberdeen, and available in retail stores, gyms, hotels, airports and more. BUT don’t panic if you missed your ShortList this Thursday you can always read it online at http://www.shortlist.com/”

It was also announced (officially) as the UK’s largest circulated men’s magazine (Feb 14th 2008).
I shall keep you up-to date on any progress / how I get on at Shortlist; until then, Happy New Year (better late than never) and keep coming back to check out new blogs!

An Hour With a Legend

2008-11-25T12:52:00.004Z

Thursday November 2oth 2008, was not only my 22nd birthday; but also the day I was to interview, a legend in his own right, Alan Birchenall (MBE).
For those that don't know who 'The Birch' is, he is an ex-footballer, who played during the 1960s through to the 1980s, for clubs including Chelsea, Leeds, Notts County, Luton and of course, the great Leicester City Football Club.
Since hanging up his boots, he has been working for LCFC
As you can imagine, I was slightly (perhaps that's an understatement) nervous about meeting him, especially as it was at the training ground. However, the time went by without a hitch (if you don't count, me forgetting to turn on the Dictaphone!!! oops!) actually it was FANTASTIC.
The reason for the interview, was for an assignment within the journalism course, titled: ONE LIFE.
Below (in italics) is the said assignment:

Alan Birchenall, MBE, is many things to many people. Son, father, dad, legend. One thing he states he isn’t, as we sit in his office, next to the players’ canteen, at Leicester City’s training ground is ‘Mr Leicester City.’
“Due to some of the greats that have been here, Graham Cross, Walsh, Sep Smith. I’m just an ex-player, I wasn’t the greatest player but I wasn’t the worst. I always put 100 per cent in.”
‘The Birch’ as he is affectionately known by the Leicester faithful who hold him close to their hearts, made his football debut aged 18, for Sheffield United in September of 1961. A few months later, he was lining up alongside Sir Stanley Matthews in a charity football match.
During an illustrious career which took in clubs including, to name a few, Leeds United, Chelsea, Notts County and Leicester City, ‘The Birch’ himself admits that he has played with and against some of the greats, yet when asked who was the greatest, he answers with a fond smile spread across his face, “that’s easy” before going onto name-drop players such as Pele, Beckenbauer and George Best, not to mention his friends, such as Osgood and the late Keith Weller.
Before telling me, with a wry smile across his face, like a child in a sweet shop:
“I also scored a few goals against Banks.”
From an illustrious career on the field to an infamous one of it, the Birch states that his proudest moment, within football was:
“Coming out of administration was one of the happiest times, along with the club winning the Coca-Cola and Worthington Cups. We weren’t out of the woods, but it was good to have that monkey of our backs. It was an emotional day.”
Mid-interview, as my nerves from meeting and being in the presence of such a Leicester Legend, The Birch shouts out to a passing player (Kisnorbo) and introduces us, as though we have known each other for ever.
The rapour, Birch has with the players is immense, despite seeing, as he puts it “thousands come and go,” he gets on with all of them like a house on fire; with friendly banter flying from both sides.
“He has more stories than Walt Disney,” Kisnorbo warns, before being summoned out by the Birch, so that we can continue.
Without breaking a breath, Birchenall, continues to tell the story of how he got into his charity run, some 29 years ago.
“I’d just finished playing, I was 35 years old and received a letter from a young girl asking if I could help raise some money.”
Listening to the Birch, you would think that he had only just got the letter from that young lady, as he continues to recall the moment he decided that he’d do his (now famous) end of season run.
“I didn’t want to jump out of a plane, I’m not that daft” he says, chuckling as his eyes light up with the memory, before adding, “I didn’t want to abseil; so I thought I’d run 90minutes around the (old) Filbert Street pitch. A few members of the supporters club passed buckets around the crowd and I think we raised a couple of hundred quid.”
Since his first run, The Birch, with the donations of the Blue Army during the last home game of the season, has managed to raise an incredible £250,000 for local charities, in what has became a tradition at the club and could hopefully be spreading further-a-field.
“We’re currently meeting with the PFA to expand it through to other clubs.” If anyone is daft as me.”
For a man, who is hitting his mid sixties, although looking at him, it would be hard to tell, as despite enjoying the odd drink, keeps himself in good health, a 90 minute slog, on what he states is: “the hottest day of the year. If we did it today, it’d be the hottest day of the year,” must be taking a toll, so will he ever hang up his running boots and say enough is enough?
“Oh yes. Each year, after I’ve finished, someone sticks a microphone in my face and asks if there will be another. It’s not a good time to catch me and I say no.”
“However, after I get a second wind. I decide, around this time of year, I will do another.”
Pre-empting my next question, the Birch, continues: “I do it because I can. I’ve lost some good friends over the years, Weller…” as the Birch mentions his great friend, he turns the picture that sits at his desk, revealing a young Birch and Weller, during the Bloomfield era of Leicester’s and Birch’s distinguished history, before continuing, “and Sjoberg, who we had a minutes applause for recently.”
“I hope long after I’m pushing up daises it’ll carry on. Whether it is my son, who runs with me now, or another ex-player.”
Whoever takes the batten when ‘The Birch’ finally calls it a day, certainly has big shoes to fill, made even bigger in 2002, when he received an MBE for his charity work.
“That isn’t for me, it’s for the fans who no matter what put their hands into their pockets and dig deep.”
With a twinkle in his eye and the infectious smile, which has been beaming from the moment I walked through reception, spread across his face, The Birch recalls the moment he got the letter informing him that he was to receive the award.
“At first I thought it was Savage winding me up. He used to cut holes in my underwear in this room. Then I saw the letter, with Her Majesty’s symbol on the top and thought it was from the Tax Office.”
“I had to read it twice. Then showed it to my mum, she’d been ill in hospital. To see my mums face. She started crying she was so happy. I told her, that her raggy-arsed son from the East End of London, was going to Buckingham Palace.”
“That was my proudest moment.”
From talk of his playing days to his charity work, the Birch is a modest person who clearly doesn’t take anything for granted; family, friends and Leicester City are things that he loves and cares about the most, in that order.
“This is what keeps me going, being here at the training ground. For me it’s a plug, pull it out and ……” signalling a flat-line with his hand, the message couldn’t be clearer.

Not only did I get to meet Kisnorbo during the interview, but also Paul Dickov (both of whom are really nice people) but I was also taken on a brief tour of the training ground, and introduced to one of the "starlets" Mattock! All in all it was a cracking day. Topped of by some fantastic presents from the family, including an amazing present from my Princess; an adopted Chimp (from Dudley Zoo) called Barbie!!!

Blood Brothers

2008-10-26T11:53:00.000Z

Willy Russell’s international hit-musical Blood Brothers, which tells the captivating tale of twin boys, separated at birth only to be re-united by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret, set in the writer’s native Liverpool, is celebrating its 25th anniversary at Birmingham’s Hippodrome.On Saturday October 25th 2008, I was fortunate to see an outstanding performance by all the cast.

As the lights dimmed and the backdrop of the Liverpool skyline was revealed, the audience waited with bated breath and anticipation, as the cast, including Birmingham’s own, former X-Factor semi-finalist, Niki Evans (Mrs Johnstone) who was making her musical-debut, appeared in the dramatic opening scene, which included the moving “Tell me it’s not True” song, belted out beautifully by Mrs Johnstone.The musical tells a contemporary nature vs. nurture tale revolving around fraternal twins, Mickey and Eddie who were separated at birth, as Mrs Johnstone reluctantly gives one of the twins (Eddie) away to Mrs Lyons (Vivinne Carlyle).The twins' different backgrounds take them to the opposite ends of the social spectrum, as Eddie becomes an Oxbridge graduated councillor while Mickey ending up on the dole and in prison for a while. Trouble ensues as they both fall in love with their childhood sweetheart, Linda, ultimately this conflict leads to their tragic death.

Niki, was one of the many convincing performances on show, during the Saturday matinee, as Craig Price (narrator), Sean Jones (Mickey) and Simon Willmont (Eddie) all pulled off a believable scouse accent, to add to their already powerful dramatic performances, whilst native scousers, Daniel Taylor (Sammy) and Linzi Matthews (Linda) who all seamlessly switched between playing fun-loving children, to troubled teenagers, which added to the unbelievable and thrilling rollercoaster ride, that Blood Brothers takes you on.By the end of performance, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, with members of the cast, having tears in their eyes, whilst the sniffles from the audience could just be made out over the loud clapping of the deserved standing ovation, bestowed upon the cast.

Food Glorious Food....

2008-10-02T10:03:00.005+01:00

Jamie Oliver, the human version of Marmite, you either love him or you hate him.
Personally, I am a fan; and have been from the first time that he hit our television screens, because, unlike some of the other "celebrity" chefs, he seems like a genuine 'regular Joe' (despite the fame and fortune); who in is trying to give something back to 'Great' Britain. (The term Great in my opinion, when describing our nation, needs to be used sparingly!)
First, Jamie went to war (a war which he is hopefully well on the way to winning, for the sake of future generations) on school dinners, due to the unhealthy nature of them, which was giving us a "fat" nation. From what I remember about school dinners, on the few occasions I did have them (preferred to take my own lunch, even from an early age), they were revolting.

Now, Jamie, is battling, the ‘horror’ of this country: People who cannot cook.
In his latest television programme, shown on a Tuesday evening (Channel 4), called Jamie’s Ministry of Food, Chef Oliver, has started a revolution to get people across Britain cooking fresh food again, starting his mission in Rotherham.

Watching the first programme in the series, I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I am worried for the future of this, once, great nation; the problem is, I’m not sure what I am more worried about:
1) That so many people cannot even cook the basic of fresh food (e.g. Pancakes) or boil an egg
Or
2) That so many people, seem content to eat on a regular basis (as in, upto four times a week) takeaways and junk food! Jamie’s Ministry of food saw one mother feed her young daughter (roughly 5 years old) kebab meat and chips and cheese, the mum, even admitted that she has never given her children a freshly cooked dinner!!!

Perhaps, like Jamie, I am living in a bubble, oblivious to the real world; although, we all know that this isn’t the case, that the two worries mentioned above are genuine worries, worries that shouldn’t be around in this day and age.Whilst I’m aware that everyone’s situation is different, and that I am no means the healthiest person on the planet, nor am I a master chef (despite dreams of yesteryear); I have always been a keen cook, from an early age, watching my grandparents from both sides of the family in the kitchen, along with my own parents, I picked up recipes, and added to these recipes through various cooking programmes, such as those featuring the previously mentioned Jamie Oliver, and also Delia Smith and Gordon Ramsey; whilst also experimenting myself.
There is nothing more relaxing or satisfying than cooking a nice meal (even if it’s only a main course), the feel of raw meat, fresh vegetables, herbs and spices; trying a new recipe or cooking something more exotic, especially if the end product is something that other people enjoy eating.

I beg you, tonight, don’t order a Chinese or Indian takeaway, but down the frozen pizza and pick up some pots and pans, and have a go at cooking something from scratch, you never know you may even enjoy it (and heaven forbid if you’re actually good at it!)

Respect Campaign, pfft, not from this lot!

2008-09-21T16:24:00.003+01:00

The English Football Association, after one of the biggest opinion surveys, have implemented a new initiative, the RESPECT campaign.
The aim of the campaign is to combat unacceptable behaviour in our game at every level - on the pitch and from the sidelines, ensuring a safe and positive environment for everyone to enjoy football.

However, it seems that the RESPECT campaign, seems to have bypassed Manchester United; especially, listening to the commentary from Radio 5 Live today (Sunday September 21st 2008) of the game against Stamford Bridge at Chelsea.
Not only have they had seven players booked (Scholes, Ferdinand, Neville, Berbatov, Rooney, Evra and finally Ronaldo) – not a surprising list of players booked, if I’m honest; compared to Chelsea’s one (Obi); but Rooney, yet again, took it upon himself to moan and whinge at every opportunity to the referee, whether it was about unfair challenges, or players getting booked, when he (Rooney) felt that they shouldn’t have been booked; at one instance Rooney, had to be held back by one of his own players, to prevent him from having ago at the ref.At the end of the game, Rooney and Neville, had to be “dragged” off by Alex Fergurson (I refuse to call him Sir, as he hasn’t done anything to be knighted, in my opinion), again to prevent themselves from having yet another rant at the referee.

This sort of behaviour, is the exact behaviour which the FA are trying to stamp out, via the respect campaign, yet one of the, if not, the biggest club in the world cannot abide by the rules, so how do the FA expect other teams, throughout the divisions and Sunday League footballers too, when they see, players of Rooney and Co. calibre, throwing their toys out of the pram, and spitting their dummy out, everytime a decision goes against them?

The FA’s code of conduct for Adult players, states:

On and off the field, I will:

Adhere to the laws of the game

Display and promote high standards of behaviour

Promote fair play and behave within the spirit of the laws of the game

Always respect the match officials’ decisions

Never engage in public criticism of the match officials

Never engage in offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour

Avoid bullying, intimidation and poor behaviour

Speak to my team-mates, the opposition and my coach/manager with respect

Ask my team captain to talk to the referee if I have a problem relating to the game

Remember we all make mistakes

Shake hands with the opposing team andmatch officials at the end of every game

Yet through the commentary from 5 Live, today, I can think of numerous instances, where both Chelsea and Manchester United decided that they didn’t want to play by the rules set out in the code of conduct, especially when it came to respecting the match officials’ decisions, high standards of behaviour, intimidation and fair play.
To support these statements, you only need to look at the bbc.co.uk/sport website, which, and I quote states (with the times):

“1526: Gary Neville could have been off. He has already been booked and mistimes a challenge on Michael Ballack. Had the German gone down it would have been trouble but he opts to stay on his feet. Honesty of the highest order.
1525: Mike Riley has proved to be something of a merry whistleblower (credit - Mike Stephenson) today. Ronaldo goes down after next to no contact with Lampard. Free-kick follows.
1444: Nicolas Anelka in a bit of space out wide. He takes the optimistic option of shooting and misses the target. Ferdinand booked for dissent. Me ref?
1409: A foul committed by....Paul Scholes. I love it when he is described as the complete midfielder. He might have mastered all the sublime, difficult skills but he sure can't tackle.”

Not only do the players of these teams, along with various others throughout the weekend, I am sure, fail to adhere to the laws of the code of conduct, but so have the FA themselves, in many respects showing one rule for one group and another set of rules for others.
In recent weeks, we've read / heard about, if we follow the sports news, about managers such as Phil Brown (Hull City FC) and David Moyes (Everton FC) being fined for abuse towards match officials, while yesterday Mick MacCarthy (Wolverhampton Wanders FC) being sent to the stand during their Championship game, for abusive behaviour. Yet Alex Fergurson, constantly comes out in interviews and slates the performance of referees, or is giving the fourth official the "hairdryer" treatment, yet no charges are brought against him, why?
To add to this, the FA, in my opinion, failed to respect the referees (Mark Halsey) decision, to send John Terry off, rightly so, against Manchester City, last weekend (September 13th 2008), when he virtually rugby tackled Manchester City's striker Jo; by overturning the red card, meaning that instead of Terry missing three games as result of the ban, he was able to line up in the centre of defence for Chelsea against Manchester United, today.

Personally, I agree with the commentators from the game today, the RESPECT campaign, if these two “giant” teams cannot adhere to it, then it is pointless, as how can the FA expect other teams to follow it?

That England's gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away, but I know they can play, cos' I remember

2008-09-09T12:38:00.004+01:00

Only a couple of weeks ago, the nation were celebrating a new breed of sporting idols, which had restored the pride back into the country.
These heroes were the GB Olympians, every single one of whom competed to the best of their abilities, with great spirits, in what has been one of the greatest spectacles within sport for the last century.

Not only, did Beijing 2008, see GB’s medal tally see us finishing in fourth place overall, our best since 1908; with us dominating the cycling, or as the Aussie’s put it “the sit down sports”; but it has also seen pride, passion and dedication from all our athletes, whether they’ve won medals or not.
There is no denying how well Rebecca Adlington did in the pool, winning not one but TWO gold medals; along with the sailing and cycling teams; but perhaps, the most entertaining, heart-warming and show of passion, commitment and pride, came in the mixed doubles badminton match, featuring Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson – a match which featured passion, spirit, grit and determination which we could only hope to see from our “so-called” national football team, who after failing to make the European Cup this summer, along with featuring in a couple of, what can be described at best as, poor friendly matches – have yet again, on Saturday evening, failed to perform to the ability that their wage packets suggest they should perform at, with a disappointing 2-0 win, in Spain against a “part-time” Andorra team, who placed all 11 players behind the ball, to defend, with the hope of nicking a goal via a counter-attack or set piece. The first half of the game was awful, with no real highlights, the second half wasn’t much better, but luckily Joe Cole came of the bench to spare England’s blushes; all this against a team, which your local Sunday league team could beat, comfortably, despite suffering from the night before!

At least over the weekend, we were able to see some pride shown whilst wearing the Three Lions.
This came on Sunday evening, when a host of ex-players, including the formidable strike partnership of Shearer and Sheringham, lined up alongside “celebrities” such as Danny Jones (of McFly fame), Craig David (who won man-of-the-match) in a charity match for Unicef, which saw England beat a strong rest-of-the world team, featuring ex-players, including Figo, Jaap Stam and Romario, 4-3, thanks to a brace from Shearer, one from Sheringham and the winner coming from “celebrity” Johnny Wilkes.

Lets just hope that on Wednesday against Croatia, the team play better and continue to win; but unless you have Setanta, you won't be able to watch the game, thanks to the "sell outs" at the FA!

Blast From The Past

2008-08-06T12:44:00.002+01:00

With Sky One earlier in the year bringing back the 1990s Saturday evening favourite, Gladiators; whilst rumours are also abound that Sky One have also managed to tempt Cilla Black back to TV with a new dating show, called Loveland.Cadburys have followed Sky One’s lead; by bringing back another favourite, in the form of Wispa!
All these blasts-from-the-past re-appearing, it got me thinking into what other things from the 1990s should be revived, from food to television programmes; comprised below is my list (feel free to add, via the comment section) of things that would be great to see back.

Food:
Fuse – what a chocolate bar, similar to Snickers (previously Marathon) but with raisins too! Not as nice as a Double Decker, but still....yummy!

Lucky Charms – I am aware that these can still be purchased from Selfridges, but at £7+ a box, that’s daylight robbery; they should be brought back to all good supermarkets AT A REASONABLE PRICE (such as Cornflakes)

Penny Sweets – Those were the days, when you’d pop down to your local newsagents with your 50pence pocket money and carefully select a small paperbag full of sweets, from Cola Bottles to Strawberry laces, from Chocolate Mice to SpaceShips (filled with sherbet), then you’d take them to the counter, where the shopkeeper would tip them out and count them (either breaking your heart, because you’d miss counted and gone over OR making you happy, as you’d miss counted and have enough money left for a few more sweets) – Kids today don’t get the chance to experience these simple joys (which help improve their maths too – honest!!!)

Television: Probably the largest section, due to TV being poor nowadays!

Sesame Street – Ultimately THE BEST CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME (or at least the best to come from America), with classic characters such as Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie….not to mention those that managed to branch out on their own: Kermit (the Frog), Elmo, The Muppets!Sesame Street was both entertaining whilst also being educational – something that programmes such as Globo Loco and The Tofus aren’t! (Yes I’ve just quickly changed the channel to CITV)

Rainbow – THIS WAS (and still is) THE GREATEST EVER CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME TO HIT OUR SCREENS! What more do I need to say??Surely none of you can disagree!!!?
Playdays – Again another classic with Peggy, Whybird and “the magical musical merry-go-round” Rosie!

Postman Pat / Fireman Sam / Thomas The Tank Engine – Three great programmes, which surely stand the test of time and would still be firm favourites with the younger generations for decades to come!

Saved By The Bell – I’ll admit, it wasn’t the greatest programme, BUT the theme tune was so catchy, that a chunk of it I can still remember today: “When I wake up in the morning, just as days is dawning… (As much as I try to at the moment, I can’t remember the lines that connect these two sections)…by the time I grab my books and give myself the looks, I’m at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by; it’s alright cause I’m saved by the, it’s alright cause I’m saved by the, it’s alright cause I’m saved by the bell”

Noel Edmonds House Party – A classic Saturday evening programme, with his Gotchas, Mr Blobby (who can forget his chart topping hit??!!!)

Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover

2008-07-24T11:50:00.004+01:00

The joys of late night television, flicking through the channels on Freeview, from midnight onwards, viewers can watch either; cheap porn news programmes such as MTV’s Porn: A Family Business, Playboy’s Sexcetera or Nuts TV’s Sextastic; repeats of programmes which weren’t great the first time round and definitely are no better on a second or third viewing, such as Reaper and Rock of Love, not to mention a host of BBC programmes on Dave (i.e. They Think It’s All Over and Have I Got News For You); or tacky, pointless, gameshows, hosted by Z-List celebrities, with either free entry online, such as Bingo Night Live or extremely high call charges if people want to take part (e.g. QuizCall)………not to mention at this time of year (the summer – believe it or not with the weather we’ve had, it is honestly summer!) live coverage of Big Brother, which should have been shelved at least 3years ago, if not sooner.
Yet, despite the lack of decent entertainment on the box, I find myself, as do millions of other people, sitting / lying in-front of their television sets, mindlessly staring at the screen, instead of sleeping or at least doing something more productive / stimulating, such as reading or spending time with loved ones.

What is it that the electrical box that sits in the corner of our rooms has over us, despite the continuous stream of trash, which we view, not only at night, but also during the day, we continue to watch, giving these programmes high viewing figures deeming them popular enough to keep on air; while selling figures for books decrease, year on year.
Television seems that is the be-all-and-end-all of some people’s existence, something that they turn on first thing in the morning, eat all their meals in-front of and watch continuously instead of spending time with the family.
Is it any wonder that five million people have left school without basic literacy skills; when they spend all their spare time staring aimlessly at the multicolour box, which sits in the corner of their room!

For some funny quotes on TV, visit: http://www.quotegarden.com/television.html

Bouncebackability

2008-06-17T13:22:00.005+01:00

On Sunday May 8th 2008, I, along with thousands of other dedicated Leicester City fans woke up feeling a mixture of emotions, including, hope, Optimism, anticipation, anxiety and fear; not to mention the need to go to the toilet every few minutes due to nerves, as the Foxes along with an army of fans, travelled to local rivals Stoke, for the final game of the season.
A win for Leicester and they keep their place in the Championship, a draw would also guarantee survival, as long as they beat the result Southampton managed; anything less and the unthinkable would happen. For the first time in the clubs history they’d be playing football in the third tier of English football in the 2008 / 2009 season.

As two o’clock drew near, I took my place in a pub in Birmingham, the adrenaline building up inside, with my heart racing......
There it was, the first whistle of the afternoon, signalling the start of the game, there was no turning back now, those selected eleven players who crossed the white line, wearing the famous Leicester City blue, held the hopes of the county and the clubs future, in their hands, surely they’d step up to the mark, grasp this final opportunity of survival and end the season on a high and as ‘heroes’; wouldn’t they?????

As the game worn on, and with Southampton battling tooth and nail for survival in the Championship, the hope and optimism I’d woken up feeling, was slowly beginning to fade and merge into fear, desperation and worry, it looked as though the unthinkable was soon to become a reality.
The SKYSPORTS cameras scanned the Foxes faithful who’d been lucky enough to secure a ticket to the game and made the short to Stoke; the look on their faces mirrored that of mine, the hands clasps in the traditional prayer position, mirrored how my hands were placed in-front of my virtually untouched pint on the table; this was it, this was the last throw of the dice….. it was now or never for the team I’ve supported since I was a young boy, through thick and thin, the good times and the bad, but nothing in all that time, had prepared me for what I was about to feel.

Everything that I’d been feeling before the game, the hope, the anticipation and the belief, to everything I’d felt during the game, the anger, fear, disbelief and anxiety, all disappeared into numbness. I couldn’t muster up heartache or anger anymore (although they did come back), instead I felt completely numb; it really had happened, the team I’ve supported forever, the team I’ll continue to support until the end of time; for the first time in their history had slipped into the third tier of English football, a reality which later the same night, in the middle of Walkabout in Birmingham, in the middle of Broad Street with hundreds of drunken revellers around brought me to tears, not just a few stray tears rolling down my face, but full on (John Terry in the Champions League Final) blubbering, am I ashamed? No, after all, I know I’m not the first and I won’t be the last!

Just under a month and a half later, despite the distraction of EURO 2008, the reality that hit home, so sharply, painfully and heartbreakingly on the last game of the season, has returned, perhaps not as strong, as I’ve had time to adjust and look to the future, but nonetheless, it is still there, inside. I’m guessing it is the same in every other Leicester fan, as they glance down the fixture list for the upcoming season, which has just been released.

Leicester’s first EVER (I know I’m repeating myself, but before May 4th 2008, we were one of only NINE clubs never to have been outside the top two divisions, something even Manchester United couldn’t achieve!) kicks off on August 9th 2008, at the Walkers Stadium (home to Leicester City F.C) against newly promoted MK Dons, managed by ex-England international Paul Ince (linked to the current managers job at LCFC); with the season ending away to Crewe!

Lets just hope that the team (soon to be under new management) can take the experience of last season and use it to propel themselves back into the Championship, first time of asking.One thing is for sure, when the first whistle blows on August 9th 2008, at 3pm, signalling the start of the season, there will be a sea of blue, backing the team, come rain or shine, through all the highs and lows of the season and will continue to do so, until time stops, because FOXES NEVER QUIT!

Petrol Tankers Strike

2008-06-14T19:17:00.003+01:00

Friday, June 13th 2008 (yesterday), saw the first of a planned four-day strike by tanker drivers who deliver supplies of oil (yes David Walliams – oil and petrol, when described like this are the same thing – for those of you who watched 8 out of 10 cats on Channel 4 yesterday) to Shell forecourts around the country.

After two days of meetings, being the tankers union (Unite) and the government, which ended in a stalemate, the tankers are striking over pay.

They feel, for the job which they do, which is considered stressful and highly dangerous, due to having transport over 40gallons of highly flammable petrol, across the country, they don’t get paid enough; which when you consider how much petrol costs and the amount that sport-stars get paid in society today (it’s rumoured that C.Ronaldo has said yes to £300,00 per week, if / when he moves to Real Madrid), is a fair and valid point.

Our ‘wonderful’ government, however, seem to think otherwise. Not only have they described the strikes as ‘pointless’ and have asked the country “not to panic” (this probably has something to do with the 70pence plus tax they get on each litre of petrol sold – which when you consider the cheapest petrol is 114.9pence per litre, is a mockery!)

Today (Saturday, June 14th 2008), on only the second day of the strike, has seen around 15% of Shell’s forecourts being affected, with demand being “high but not extreme” according to the firm. – I, however, as a driver, would like to differ on this, as the single Shell forecourt I visited today (as I was in the ‘red’ on petrol) have found that they are out of diesel (luckily it didn’t affect myself) AND they were very limited on the petrol they had, with on V-Power Unleaded available (at a cost of 7pence per litre more), whilst Sainsbury’s petrol station had also ran out of diesel (demand has definitely been ‘extreme’).
Some ‘good’ news for drivers though, who are running short on petrol, is that members of the Unite union, have warned that they WILL STRIKE AGAIN, next weekend, unless the dispute is resolved!!!

I would also like to place on record, that I fully support the tanker drivers that are striking, along with the 130 drivers who have staged go-slow protests along the M6 in Warrington and in North Wales, today, against the increasing cost of fuel!*

*Unless it effects me getting to and from work – therefore affecting my already depleted bank-balance / getting to and from Birmingham!!! (Kidding)

Avril Lavigne (NEC)

2008-06-04T13:50:00.002+01:00

“Hey Hey, You You, I know that you like me…” sings the multi-talented Canadian singing, and she couldn’t be more right, judging by the crowd at the NEC on Friday May 30th 2008.

As the crowd settled into their seats (or the standing position, if they had standing tickets), one, over excited, teenage male fan, tried to get the buzzing crowd, even more hyped by running along the right hand-side of the seats, telling the crowd that in the corner he was in, they’d be starting the ‘Mexican Wave’ and asked everyone to join in, which they duly did, much to the appreciation of the rest of the seated crowd, who quickly joined in; until the lights went down (which brought high-pitched, ear-piercing screeching from the crowd – especially the young girls behind me!!!!) for the support act The Jonas Brothers.
The Jonas Brothers are a rockier, Canadian version of McFly; who during their 30minute set, got the crowd hyped up, with their catchy-songs and cheesy dance routine, which saw the three of them, do some random (if not slightly camp) walk to the front of the stage.
After they’d finished, and the half-an-hour interlude was over, the lights once again dipped, more ear-piercing screeching (I still don’t understand why people do this at gigs) started, all for the self-proclaimed ‘mother-f*****g Princess’.

In the 1hour 45minute set, Avril wowed the crowd with songs from her 3 albums, opening with her most recent hit ‘Girlfriend’, with the crowd singing along, knowing every word; fortunately, she didn’t do what a lot of ‘artists’ tend to do now and hold the microphone out to the crowd, so that the audience tend to pay to hear the crowd sing and not the artist!
As Avril continued to wow the Birmingham crowd, with songs such as ‘Hot’, acoustic versions of hits, such as ‘Complicated’, she also thrilled the crowd, by showing off her talents, which included playing the drums (whilst singing), the piano and the guitar; all of which were in her trademark pink; along with keeping the crowd entertained throughout, with her dancing, engaging the audience and allowing her dancers to show of their talents, including break-dancing from both the male and female dancers!
As the crowd called for an encore, Avril, answered these calls by coming back onto the stage, firstly, singing a re-mix version of ‘Girlfriend’ and ending with her biggest hit to date, the song which started of her rise through the charts, ‘Sk8r Boi’!
Not only did the crowd enjoy the gig, but also, it was clear to see, from the smile on Avril’s face that she is clearly doing a job that she loves doing and long may that last!

1-0 and we ****** it up

2008-04-27T12:30:00.001+01:00

Last home game of the season; crowd of over 29,000 Leicester fans and yet the "professionals" (the term is used lightly) couldn't perform and have let everyone connected with Leicester City F.C down, from themselves, ALL the staff, past players, but most importantly THE FANS - the people who pay their wages and continue to turn up week in week out, travelling thousands of miles each year, spending thousands of pounds each year, to support this once great club!

Yesterday was the biggest home game of the season, not only was it a full attendance (a miracle considering the season we've had), but also a must win game, against a team, who like us are struggling to keep their Championship status alive, an early goal by Hume and the ground was rocking; sun-shining, players performing well and it looked as though Lady Luck was on our side!
How quickly an afternoon can turn sour................3pm - 3:44pm and the Leicester faithful were rocking.............from then onwards it all went downhill!
Grown men and women with tears in their eyes and venom in their spit; once again the Foxes have ruined the best chance of survival they have had all season!