The Random Thoughts of Wulfy!

MOre MO for Your MOney!

2011-11-09T18:40:00.001Z

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

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

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

Me on Day 9 of MOvember 2011!

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

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

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

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

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

Gofer - Day 2! Modelling himself on Paul Calf!

The aforementioned Paul Calf!

If I Don't Have an iPhone...

2011-04-27T22:48:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

Ten Years.

2011-01-06T13:57:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

Wulfy's Wonder Year 2010: Music.

2011-01-02T23:10:00.000Z

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

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

Ke$ha: Rather hot too!

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

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

Anathema's Album of the Year.

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

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

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

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

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

DJ OF THE YEAR: Kitty Jay

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

2010-11-17T22:55:00.000Z

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

Wulfy Loves Gargoyle Tears.

2010-11-09T23:29:00.000Z

And, oh they'll be a flowing tonight!

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

The Pride of Devon: Officially EXETER CITY.

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

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

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

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

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

And We're Off! The Mo is GO!

2010-11-02T00:14:00.001Z

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

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

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

So on to the MOs!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bring on the MO!

2010-10-29T13:21:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

A Tough Few Months in My World of Music!

2010-10-22T18:55:00.001+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

World Cup, Local Cups, Charity Match!

2010-06-17T23:27:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Squeaky Bum Time in the Footy Season!

2010-04-09T22:18:00.001+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Decent Proposal After an Exam Letdown!

2010-03-05T12:23:00.000Z

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

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

But on to happier news...

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Photo Tells a Thousand Stories...

2010-03-03T23:15:00.001Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Results Day Approacheth!

2010-02-18T21:10:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheats! Football Cheating Takes Many Forms...

2010-02-10T23:58:00.001Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salem's Loot.

2010-01-16T15:08:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

2009, Wulfy's Year in Music.

2010-01-08T22:54:00.002Z

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

X Factor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Permanent Waves - Rush

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

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

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

On the Up in 2010?

2009-12-06T00:44:00.002Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I Want a Cat Like Simon's!

2009-12-03T22:19:00.002Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-12-01T14:01:00.002Z

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

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

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

Mo.. The Final Straight!

2009-11-29T11:50:00.002Z

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

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

2009-11-16T20:45:00.004Z

Another week in the life of Wulfy and the Mo!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The New Motorway Speed Limit: 50mph!

2009-11-11T14:15:00.002Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MOving into MOvember!

2009-11-09T12:04:00.003Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last Year's Main Mo!

2009-10-29T14:15:00.000Z

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

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

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

Awesome.

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

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

2009-10-27T23:51:00.002Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wave Goodbye to the Personal Life!

2009-10-16T13:44:00.001+01:00

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

FOOTBALL MANAGER has a new release!

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

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

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

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

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

Blog Updates.

2009-10-06T22:05:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

Gotta love the widgets!

Let's Play Darts!

2009-09-30T13:27:00.005+01:00

Darts has made a long awaited return to my life!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Season, New Housemates.

2009-09-05T23:27:00.008+01:00

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

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

Arsenal have started

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

ation in the first few

weeks.

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

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

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

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

lm.

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

---

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

I Hate Revision.

2009-05-29T00:07:00.006+01:00

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

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

Time will tell... wish me luck!

Football... WHY!?!

2009-05-07T23:02:00.008+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-04-27T23:14:00.014+01:00

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

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

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

This is Xandra II.

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

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

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

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

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

Panic Attack.

2009-04-16T21:43:00.009+01:00

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

Ironic, maybe, but pretty bloody annoying.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Mini Rant!

2009-04-14T23:58:00.005+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The New Life.

2009-03-05T15:35:00.010Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Surrey Calling!

2008-05-08T23:03:00.010+01:00

I am making a big change in my life. It is bigger than anything I have done before. I am upping sticks completely and moving to Surrey!

Sophie is at University in Farnham, at the U.C.C.A. there. She's going to (hopefully) be there for another two years. That's a hell of a long time to be travelling up and back from Devon... it's hard going more than a few days without seeing her. My solution: Move there.

First off, I wanted to find a place to live. Being a non-student (and seeking a job), I thought this might be difficult. Indeed, Sophie's first phone call involved a woman laughing at her, telling her she'd never heard of such a thing and that we'd need luck. Thankfully, the next call proved more positive!

The tenancy agreement is signed and ready to go and we will have a "two room suite" in a five bedroom shared house in Hale Road, Farnham. It will be redecorated too, and we have the opportunity to add our personal influence to the house, as the landlord is very open to what we want to do. That includes putting my dartboard up and hopefully improving my form!

As well as a house, I needed to sort a job out. How else would I be paying the rent; Sophie's loan won't cover it! I took a couple days off and had three interviews. At the second interview, for a firm in Alton, I felt right at home as soon as I sat down. Wettone Matthews' office is very similar to Easterbrooks' Sidmouth office. Thankfully, they liked me as much as I liked them and offered me the position of Trainee Accountant. I will be starting ACCA training next year and will be getting a nice pay rise!

What else in my life will change with this move?

Well, my duties with Rockbeare Rangers Football Club will reduce drastically, as they have already begun to. As of next season, I shall merely be Webmaster. And President or Non-Executive Director! I want a poncy name after being one of the Club founders! I will miss playing, especially with Ian on board to change the Club's fortunes...

Goodridge (link requires Facebook account) will also be doing without my services! They have replaced me with Johnny Beer and I guess he can do the job! I will be getting a team shirt and might play the occasional game when I'm back visiting any weekend! My testimonial will be coming up soon, hopefully against Mikey P's team.

I will not text my postcode to 66611 and neither should you. But I digress.

Darts is taking a back foot. Which it needs! Instead, I shall help Sophie improve her game. She's really keen to get better. Actually, I think she just wants to beat me!

I'm leaving my friends and family behind. It's lucky most of them are on my Facebook really! It's going to be difficult at first, knowing only Sophie's Uni mates, my new housemates and my new work colleagues. This is the only scary bit of the move really. My increasing social anxiety worries me, as I don't want to freeze among new people. First impressions mean a lot!

The move is the weekend of 19th July. My new job started on Monday 21st July. I think I'll start a Facebook group. I mean, you'll wanna know when the Leaving Do, Housewarming and other such parties are... right?

My Life in Thirty Seconds...

2008-02-08T12:02:00.004Z

Which is probably how long it'll take you to read this post!

My life is far more complicated than is absolutely necessary, usually by my own doing. I take a lot on, often too much at once. I help people out, as I feel I am a naturally caring person, and this has led to me getting shafted by various people.

Rockbeare Rangers are having a mixed season. And I've certainly had my ups and downs at the Club. I've given my two penny' worth to people that have asked, but for those of you that haven't, here's the quick version:

I helped form the Club, with Mark Walters (Chairman) and Ed Haine (Club Treasurer), as a number of us fancied playing regular football in the league. Some of us had played before and weren't happy with where we were, some of us fancied a change, some of us had never played league football before.

We needed someone to take control, and given my extensive Football Manager knowledge, I thought I'd have a go. A few positive friendlies later, I fuck up the start to our season by changing formation. I wonder if it would have made a difference.

After five or so games, the so-called Player Rep decides he's taking over. No discussion with the Board, just the players. And so begins the internal war. Now, I distanced myself from the Club for a bit by spending time with Sophie in Farnham. I still went to training (was injured for one week) but I was never likely to make the first XI. I was fine with that.
But the Board as whole were becoming more and more annoyed by the players trying to run the Club we had started. And not for the right reasons. So the Manager was replaced, in the proper manner.

This Manager subsequently left for personal reasons! We have now found an experienced Coach to come in and show us what has been going wrong. And after one training session and one half time team talk, things are already being learnt! We have a tough match at home to Awliscombe United tomorrow, who beat us 1-5 at their place. The report will be on the site on Monday!

We currently sit fifth from bottom in Inter 2. We have the promise to finish higher...

Money is a real concern right now. My "friend" Codge has his Mum die in October 2006. I leant him my Credit Card to help pay for the funeral. See? A nice guy, I am.
He screws me over. I'm left having to pay £125 a month to pay off his Credit Card debt, while he gives me between nothing and £300 a month... usually nothing. This leaves me a tad short, given I have my own debts to contend with!!

In addition, my previous house has outstanding bills. One of my former housemates is rubbish with money, choosing mainly to spend his on drugs. It leaves the rest of us trying to keep the debt collectors at bay.

Help will be at hand in May, when I upgrade my o2 mobile phone account. I'm thinking of getting a Sony Ericsson k850i, the latest model in my current phone's range on Online 30 (24 month tariff) as it includes unlimited o2 to o2 calls. I shall read the small print before I do...!

My love life really couldn't be better! Sophie and I have been together for over a year now and are closer than we've ever been. I could gush about how great she is, but you may be eating so I'll direct you to my Facebook profile if you wanna know how fantastic she is. Having started as a long distance relationship (she's originally from Hull), we have gone full circle while she is away at Uni in Farnham. We spend every weekend together though and are constantly on the phone or MSN to each other.

We do make the most of our time together, and try very hard not to take it for granted. We go for drives in the country, try to visit our families (mine is easier to visit as they're closer) or just stay in and enjoy each others company. Needless to say, we have an amazing sex life! We are so in tune with each other and that makes all the difference.

Sophie is currently doing a three year university course in journalism at Farnham UCCA. If she follows the journalist route, she would need to live quite close to London. To this end, I shall be attempting to relocate to Farnham in the summer. For someone who has never lived more than 14 miles from his place of birth, this represents a huge step. This is proving rather difficult though, as changing jobs and houses at the same time is nigh on impossible sometimes. It's all very much in the mixer at the moment, nothing is definite, apart from the intent!

Darts isn't going well. As many people know, I've played darts for over half my life... and once upon a time I used to be quite good at it. I've represented my county at Under-21 level and have gotten to the second round of the National Youth Competition. I captained my own side in the Sidmouth League for many years and now loosely captain a team in the Honiton League, not by choice! But my season has been appalling. Never have I suffered from such nerves. I am confident in my ability and know I can beat a lot of players in the leagues in which I play. But recently, my nerves have cost me games and I even missed the board completely going for bull!

So I'm taking a step back. Regardless of what happens in the summer, I will not be playing league darts next season. I will practice, play for fun and teach Sophie how to play. The way it's been going, I have not been enjoying my darts. And that's despite playing with two teams of people I really gt on with (mostly). Playing for fun is the only way to get my enjoyment of the game back...!

Work is alright. We've just had a hectic January at Easterbrook Eaton Limited. But on top of that I have a few personal clients. For privacy reasons I won't go into detail, but taken on this work outside of my usual office hours has been a little stressful! I can't help that I'm so damned good at it...

If I do end up moving, I will look at what I want to do. No doubt I won't change vocations just now... but a man of my intelligence should probably put it to the best use possible. I will apply myself more!

Well, there's a short (!) look at my life. I know... it's not that bad really!

The State of English Football!

2007-11-23T19:47:00.002Z

So, what can be said about Steve MclAren's reign and the way it ended on Wednesday night? Whatever I say about it usually involves a few expletives!

We can all look to Wednesday night's game against Croatia at Wembley and say we lost that and that's why we aren't going to Austria and Switzerland next year, but in truth that's not it at all! The whole campaign has been rather shit. Drawing to teams have of England haven't even heard of, let alone know where they are! The main problem we've had is not scoring goals when we need them most.

Before we lost 2-3 to Croatia, we'd only let in four goals in the whole Qualifying Campaign! Not bad. My Rockbeare Rangers side would have been proud of a record like that! So it certainly wasn't defensively we've struggled... with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand at the back we have one of the best centre back pairings in the world (obviously Kolo and Willy Gallas are better!). With Micah Richards coming through and other able deputies proving they can move up to the next level, like Nicky Shorey at left back, English defending has rarely looked stronger...

...until Wednesday night!
Back then, when you shove a 22 year old goalie between the sticks for his competitive debut in a MUST-NOT-LOSE game, that's a helluva lot of pressure! And fucking up the first thing he had to do probably didn't help. Was Scott Carson to blame? Not in my opinion... it's McLaren's fault for gambling in such a crunch tie. David James wouldn't have let any of those goals in.

On a plus note, I loved Crouch's volley. I was calling for Becks to come on (I love him, in a completely heterosexual way) and he did what he does, pings a superb cross in. And ol' Lanky did the rest.

Everyone now is going to blame the decline on English football, as they usually do, on foreign players at English clubs. Bollocks. If we had good English players coming through, and if the prices for home grown talent weren't so extortionately high (how much for Gareth Bale?!) then Mr. Wenger, who usually gets the brunt of the stick, wouldn't have to nick half of Barca's youth team!

Trying to limit the amount of foreigners that can play for a club is against everything the E.U. stands for these days and is never gonna happen. If bloody Exeter can fill up with bloody Poles who run off owing you £400 (that's another story), then Arsenal can have a few French blokes and Chelsea can have all the nationalities under the sun. Of course, Man Utd should never have been allowed that diving, crying, whining little fuck.

The English CLUB game is the best in the world. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are amongst the elite clubs. We have overtaken Italy and Spain as the club footballing world superpower and Arsenal's football in particular is a joy to watch!

So fuck it. England's national team and McLaren himself got what they deserved. Nothing. We'll go on the come third in a home nations cup next year (behind Scotland and Northern Ireland!) and I'll carry on watching Rockbeare Rangers steam up the local leagues...!

Heroes. No, not the TV Show!

2007-10-08T10:59:00.004+01:00

For years, I have not really thought myself as having a hero. I preferred to live my life how I saw fit. I did not need a role model and not want to copy anyone else's way of living. And, in a way, I still believe that.

I think most people have others they aspire to. If I were honest, I'd like to be a top footballer in the Francesco Totti or David Beckham mould. I'd love to be in a position to help others, something I think Mr. Beckham in particular takes seriously. It's never gonna happen, and I'm quite happy playing for the lesser known Rockbeare Rangers. My time at Arsenal will never materialise!

But I DO have a hero. I do have someone who I look at and think, "that's how I want to live my life". That person is Tim Waterfield, my brother.

You never see him unhappy. He always has a smile on his face, and is only to happy to share it! The room lights up when he enters and he commands people attention, which he loves receiving. I've never heard anyone say a bad thing about him and he seems to know the whole world!

I know, as my brother, he should be the first one to come to my aid but in that he has never let me down. I am a depressive, as many of you know, and he's always there when things are getting me down. Not that that is much of a problem at the moment, as I have Sophie keeping me happy!

He has been devoted (almost entirely) to one girl, his wife Julia. He loves kids and I'd be happy if I'm anywhere near as good with my own children (when we have them) than he is with any child he meets! He loves nature although that has gotten him into trouble (and as a result I'm now petrified of wasps!)... it's a wonder his house isn't full of animals like our Dad's is!

So if I aspire to be like anybody, it isn't a footballer, a musician, an actor. It's a white van man from Sidmouth who just happens to have a great big brother!

Long Distance Relationships: Can They Work?

2007-09-26T14:45:00.003+01:00

It's been said, that long distance relationships do not work. That view may be changing though, due to the rise of instant messengers and social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace.

I feel that I, more than most, can comment on this as I've had both good and bad long distance relationships. A lot depends on how you both feel, whether you are both willing to make the extra effort needed...

My current relationship started online. On occasion, usually late at night when I'm bored and am finding any excuse not to sleep, I frequent a chat site - lovingly referred to by it's users as shit-web. I would usually just sit there, offering random shards of wisdom and watching the roleplayers fight in their Final Fantasy kind of way! But I got talking to a girl who was already in a long distance relationship with a bloke she'd only ever met online. Her screenname I forget (she uses Phee mostly these days) and her name, as most of you know, is Sophie.

After a few months of sporadic chats, we exchanged MSN addresses and talked to each other on an almost daily basis. We would talk about how our days had been, what we enjoyed doing and, increasingly other more intimate subjects. This lead to the exchanging of mobile phone numbers and our daily instant messages became daily (nightly) phone calls. You can get to know someone fairly well without having met them... if they're being honest.

There is a growing trend on news sites and bulletins on TV whereby they constantly warn of the hazards of chat rooms and other internet based services. True, people must be vigilant as there are some strange people out there and bad things DO happen. But you never hear about the good things that can happen if done in a safe manner.

Just before the winter holidays, Sophie came down to Devon (from her home in a village just outside Hull) to stay with me for christmas. A lot of people thought it was strange/dangerous and, to an extent, there was an amount of risk attached to it. But it was worth it.

Since then we have spent six of the nine months we've been together with no less than 100 miles between us, as she has now started a university course in Surrey. Yet our relationship is far stronger than most others I know. We both love each other a great deal. We make sure the time we do spend together is spent wisely, doing things we both enjoy. We appreciate each other more!

So yes... they can work and they are becoming more common. With more and more of our lives being lived online, soon it'll be the only way to have a relationship!

First Blog.

2007-09-24T20:38:00.002+01:00

So, my loyal fans (do I even have any? I'd like to think so!)... this is my shiny new blog. It is taking over from my myspace blog which, to be fair, isn't really used with the takeover of facebook! Search for Carl Waterfield on there, by the way, if you haven't added me already!

I shall not write about anything specific on here right now, but in the future I shall do my best to keep it to one topic per post. It makes it easier that way. I shall also tr to give my opinion, should anyone care, on more than just my life!

Please feel free to leave nice (or nasty if you must) comments. I enjoy reading other people's opinions too! Especially if they are different to mine!

So for now, take care. I shall be speaking to you soon!