Gillingham 0 - Oldham 3

My lord. What a performance. Cox sent off and the team failed miserably to cope with being 10 men. It rained solidly throughout and then the trains were delayed coming back so I was really smiling by the time I got home!!

NOT a GOOD end to the year.

MCG

Bah humbug.

But if any of you are interested in the place - my Oztralia blog now shows you my tour of the place! As well as fillin gup a few more of the days I was out there. Seems an age ago.

Happiness

has been my dairy for 2006.

2007 is Information! AND its half price in Waterstones. Which is why I have one! :-)

thanks to Lisa for introducing these to me - they have a different theme each year....!

Can't you see I'm busy....!

Back to work and the BBC website is providing some useful 'lunch time' reading....

100 things you never knew... I especially liked the one about Goths... though clearly for me I didn't quite make a fully income earning lawyer. But almost!

Well no point reading about the cricket as we have severely crashed and burned. Looking like the 5-0 option is favourite. And the news is full of tragic deaths and people still intent on killing each other. There was a story about a house in Sittingbourne being used as a cannabis factory... no surprises there then.

Went for a walk over lunch hour. Sales. All the good stuff has gone I think - though I did get 1000 evening primrose capsules for half price which I believe to be a bargain and an investment!

I was looking forward to returning. Well the tubes are quieter even though mine was trapped by signalling problems at Stockwell which gave me an extra 15 minutes to read 'Rabbit is Rich' by John Updike. Rich use of language is keeping me reading. Meanwhile on the streets it is very quiet. Hardly a soul around. Shame that as predicted the fog has lifted, the clouds are higher and it is bright and quite temperate. A great day for a long walk and plenty of photos. Oh well.

Got to work. Only a few of us in and even these few couldn't decide on a lunch venue! So a Tesco sarnie and bananas were purchased. Now I am going to spend the afternoon testing the Anchovy application and no doubt getting annoyed that it DOESN'T work!!! In other work related news - lovells.de has gone live! Hooray!!

And there it was...

gone.

over.

24 hours passed.

and what changed?

erm as far as I can see not very much.

Oh well. Work tomorrow. Deep deep joy.

Gillingham 2 - Leyton Orient 1

Pheweeh!

Having sat and watched us squander a 3-0 lead at the Orient I was really hoping to get some points back. It came. Eventually.

We easily out played them first half - and in fact played very well. But somehow they got the goal. It looped into the top corner of the net and we were down. We saw out the half and again rued the chances not put away.

Second half own goal, sending off and a penalty. All the ingredients for a tops game. But it felt really flat - despite the largest crowd of the season. It was odd - no sense of Boxing Day or anything vaguely festive. Hey ho.

Another 3 points and a shift into the top half of the table. Very appreciated.

Tranmere 2 - 3 Gillingham

Yes! 3 points away from home.
Only the second time this season and the first ever victory at Prenton Park.
A definite good start to the festive fixture list. Go the twiglet! And erm well done Mr Savage...

Foggy

The streets of London are paved with fog! As I stare out of the office window I can see a transparent blue sky with the sun light such as it has been fading fast. The are steam clouds coming up out of offices making it look like an industrial landscape. The Natwest tower looks golden like a temple while through the haze I can make out airliners floating through the misty skies.

Meanwhile at Heathrow the fog is keeping planes on the ground. So not the best time to fly to the other end of the country or to any part of Europe. And of course this is top news. I wonder what these people would say if the planes weren't grounded and because of the less than brillant weather conditions they were in the skies careering into each other?

So its the shortest day of the year. The Friday before Christmas. It's finally turned cold and the leaves have finally all fallen from the trees. Winter is here and that time of the year is here. Hibernation seems like a really good option!!

Travel safe everyone be it by road, rail or plane.

Stand Up ..

...if you hate Millwall...! (And Swindon)

Just found an interesting article on the beeb web about football chants... spot the one Sittingbourne fans sing to Chatham... aah such pride in my roots!

Mr Squeezy!

Hello! This one is for you!!

Keep smiling treasure! :-)

Chums!

Today and yesterday has been bump into or catch up time...



last night after my Wimbledon shopping run (open til 9pm!) I was walking home dreaming of multi grain pasta and pesto and olives etc when I spotted a face in the window of O'Neills! Then I spotted the second face and pressed my nose against the glass - it was Pab and Taff former regulars from the Nelson. So I went in and joined them for some festive beers and stories of untold nasti-ness related to late night drunken tube travelling. Falling down the escalator seemed quite tame!!




The today for lunch I met my brother's work colleague Ali(son) who is over from Oz to spend Christmas at her sister's in Sheffield (where apparently it is really cold). We were both suffering hang-overs so some Thai food and pints of water were in order!

I suspect tonight as people are 'breaking up' for their Christmas holidays a pint will be on the cards! Oh dear!!!

The legend that is...

Matt Jarvis...

Please don't let him be sold in January!! Unless it is for MEGA BUCKS!!!

and there they were gone...

beaten by the Aussies. Stuffed in fact.

Poor old Stu. But at least the Barmy Army were still being heard...

And so we now have to wait a few years to reclaim the Ashes... back here in lil ol England.

Deep sigh. What's the betting we lose the series 5-0?

Gillingham 1 - Bournemouth 1

Crofts scored a last minute winner. But I only know this cos I saw it on Final Score. This is officially the first home game I have missed all season.

Total lethargy and a general inability to get going. Which was odd cos my delivery came at 8.20am and I knew I needed to go to the Post Office. But I got to the PO at 1.15pm. And after that achievement went home for some breakfast.

Wonder if tall trespasser Tim noticed my non-appearence?

Feel bad about not going and then not doing anything. Guess my lack of enthused mood just took over.

Perth

.. let's not go there huh?

I woke this morning at 5am to the dreaded (P) MT back ache the works so got up for my trusty nurofen - and put on Sports Extra. I then forgot my pain as I tried to work out why they were at lunch. Ah thanks Aggers - it was infact lunchtime. So I drifted in and out of consciousness dreaming of my brother in a Brazil shirt (it was yellow but there is no way he'd wear an Aussie shirt!) and me n Emma laying on the floor laughing at his antics and listened as we were all out for 215. Batsmen - ?!?! And then the Aussie onslaught began... its all very dismal. Not sure I'll bother tomorrow morning...

Good night.

Festive

Today was the team Christmas lunch and very tasty it was too. Led to some rowdy moments in the afternoon but all good clean fun.

It also spurred me on to purchase cards and stamps and just generally get into the spirit (of Christmas - not vodka!) after work. Yes it's true I had a quiet Friday night. I came straight home! All I have to hope now is that the good old post office can do something special for my postal package to Australia - oops!

Not so festive is the news in Suffolk at the moment. All very disturbing. The cycle of drugs is indeed a very slippy slope and the lifestyles the news is sharing with us is so far removed from my day to day existence that I am beginning to feel naive. But for five parents to lose their daughters in this way and learn the realities behind the facades they knew is truly devestating. I was beginning to wonder if I had become de-sensitised to news stories - everyday is a litany of murders, bombs, death and tragedy - but this story is horrifying on so many levels. How did we let society get like this? The one thing that Christmas won't change sadly is the poverty, depravity and desparation that so many of the planets inhabitants suffer. It makes me grateful for small mercies and wish those I know and love a genuinely peaceful season and indeed, year ahead.

This time last week..!

I was supping wine on a boat!!!

Me - Mr Gee and The Prof

Me n Swansea Jack!

Me n Big Ben's tower!

Me n Swansea Jack (again!)

This time 5 years ago I was in a Chinese restaurant drinking beer!

(l-r) Simon Morley (back of the head!) me, Cam, Victor, Swansea Jack, Doug and Metin.... oh how times and people have changed!!!

Tubes

Here's something you don't see too often!! Good service on all lines! Amazing!

Let's hope by the time I get to the tube it is still the same? I spent Tuesday evening sat in the tunnel between Waterloo and Kennington for 20 minutes (technical failure) the lights all dimmed while station staff walked to the train. every other day this week a passenger incident has meant a delay/stoppage. I suspect too many late nights!!

Noise Abatement Part 1

So much for that theory - sewing machine drilling its way into my head at midnight.... !?! WHY!?!?!?! WHY?!?!

Noise Abatement

This evening I bit the bullet and plucked up the courage to say something to my upstairs neighbours. Perhaps spurred on by a restless night's sleep caused in no small part by 'changing room' noises at 2am. Why do they have to scrape furniture across the floorboards at all hours? They have no carpets you see.

So when I found myself in the hallway with Mr Upstairs I was polite and asked if he was ok and then asked if perhaps they'd consider that actually my bed room is underneath their lounge and perhaps possibly their constant noise was keeping me awake/waking me up. The essence being you seem to have forgotten I do actually live downstairs and your antics are upsetting my sleep patterns. I tried not to lose my temper and maybe my words could have been better - but what else can I do? Bang on my ceiling everytime they do it? Say nothing and hope it stops (it hasn't over the last couple of months)? I guess now all I have to do is wait and see. They will either make a slight effort or go all out to p*ss me off.. well more so then.

Why does putting across a well reasoned point of view make you feel as if you are in the wrong? I would understand it if I had loud parties every night or played my music at full volume til all hours. But I don't. And I think its somehow harder to disturb upwards... there's only 1 of me - there's 3 of them. And frankly I am also sick of being woken up by Mr Upstairs snoring over my head (he's on the couch for some reason but I thought it best not to mention that)... if I wanted to be woken up by snoring I'd move a snorey boyfriend in.

I feel slightly better but also a tad nervous... certainly one aspect that has changed over the last 12 months - I do find myself standing up for myself.. the wisdom of age perchance? Or blissful stubbornness?

I'll let you know how I go... oh yeah and they'll be getting a Merry Christmas and a PEACEFUL New Year card...

Sunny Sunday

Well it did come out for a spell this morning. So I tackled my washing - bedclothes etc etc and tidied up and got a flash of festive ness through my bones.. so the lights were put on and my few decorations came out... unfortunately my hectic week means that no cards have yet been purchased or written or sent - so apologies to those people down under - they may well get a card in January.. in the meantime here is a message live from my kitchen!!

So yes not had time to sit and blog properly for weeks - tonight I have put a few hurried piccies up and filled in some of last week's exploits - it was a good week! Next week is quieter so I may try and re-write the bits I feel unhappy with.

Finished 'State of the Union' by Douglas Kennedy last night on the tube back. I cried... what am I gonna do without Hannah and Dan now?!

And Louisa was voted off Strictly Come Dancing... boo. And Zara Phillips won 'Sports Personality of the Year'... what a strange world we are in...oh well at least this weekend there is no cricket woe to face and Spurs did win 5-1 so my dad and bro must be partially happy!?!

On a course tomorrow so best think about hitting the hay... ta ra for now and cheers everyone for making last week such fun and worthy of 4 consecutive late nights! Brilliant!

NUMAN!

Are Friends Electric? Or should I have gone to see Placebo instead this evening?! What would you have done?!

I haven't seen our Gary for at least 4 years - Shepherds Bush Empire - 6th April 2002 is my last known entry in any diary I have with me and before that Brixton Academy 20th October 2000. You were right Ziggy I was there!! And whilst searching I also discovered I have been to The Forum - 14th Jan 2000 with Lisa to see Gene.... so there we go!

Not the best photo - but proof if it were necessary that I was there!!!

Met my mate Ziggy at Kentish Town tube at 5pm for once the Northern Line was doing the biz!! Went for beers in a dimly lit north London pub called I believe the Oxford. A couple of hours later two other Numanoids jined us - Matt and Phil - who I know I haven't seen for yonks!! There was a phase back in 1994/5/6 when Gary Numan was a rather large slice of my life. I helped write a fanzine with Ziggy, Matt, Phil and Andy who seems to have dropped off the face of the planet - (there are several stories about Andy I could share but will save - especially the time he visited Leicester and thought I could turn him!). Heady days - including V96 at Chelmsford to the see the great man at a 'festival'. Ziggy and I went to see him at Nottingham Rock City and with my Germany winning sweepstake money we got a cab from Nottingham to Leicester. Other Numan trips included the disco's and staying at Matt's house and watching his interesting video's - well he was on Jim'll Fix It meeting the man! Such a young innocent boy made to sit in a go-kart and circle Gary while he sang Cars... Matt had very big feet then too. Heady days indeed. Fun days. After this particular disco evening we ended up on Clapham Common for a free gig and saw the Spice Girls... history can be so rich and varied! My article in the fanzine was a review of that self same gig. I guess this is a testimony to that evening, those great memories and the little man Gary Numan who drew all these threads together.

So The Forum - 8.30pm beer in hand we near the front on the left as Gary looked at us. The gig was to replay the album Telekon, which includes most of my favourite Gary tracks which he duly played! I was naive I have to confess to the huge 'T' that was on stage. Apparently it used during the original gig days of this album. So with T lit and the smoke rising bright lights and action...This Wreckage and a stroll down memory lane. We Are Glass, I Dream of Wires, Remember I was Vapour, Please Push No More (made more entertaining by Eddie Large's Billy Idol looking brother standing in front of us with his very tiny lady friend. It may have been love or he may have been hungry - who can say - but with the rings he was sporting I was saying nothing.) I die you die I enjoyed and the encore - my favourite song Down In the Park, and my old Karaoke favourite Are Friends Electric?!

As I have posted once already this week - chums - lives all move at such at a hefty pace we tend to neglect the good parts. It was great to see old chums and catch up. See how we are all aging gracefully! And Gary for his part seemed to enjoy the reunion of his fans - he smiling lots and exchanging comments with the audience... much the way he did when I saw him at Nottingham. So thanks Gary and thanks fellow Numanoids! Remind me to Smile - when I think of this evening - I feel it will happen without the reminder! Plus I have already seen Placebo this year! :-)

Yeovil 2 Gillingham 0

Clearly away from home we are less than great...roll on Bournemouth at home on Saturday!

Christmas Party

Unlike previous Christmas parties I have been too from work this was actually not held in a marquee! We were on the Silver Sturgeon at Tower Hill Pier. And very pleasant it was too - a few drinks helped get the sea legs in gear! Drinks and views. It was a pukka sit down 3 course meal - goats cheese tart to start, steak and veg followed by a choccie mousse. So much for my Weightwatchers this week huh! There was a moment tho when we thought all we were getting were bread rolls! They came round 4 times with fresh bread!!!!


My table of six - Swansea Jack, Andrew H, mother of Maya Manisha, Mikey Gee and Dan 'the Prof' Higgins. After coffee and mints the Silver S set sail along the Thames - and despite the chilly wind it was great to see the city I love from the river for a change. Somehow fitting bearing in mind I begun 2006 on the London Eye!

The trees on the South Bank.

The London Eye

Tower Bridge
The Eye and the Moon!
Wandered to the tube at 11.30 pm and had yet another annoying Northern Line ride home - hey ho!

Chums

Met Lisa at London Bridge for a drink and a much needed catch up.. time goes by so fast and people's lives alter at such rapid rates. It was good to see her and to share our news good, bad and indifferent. As I caught the tube home I felt for the first time like one of those players in a TV London based drama. I just had a real sense of my mortality and those around me.. so I fear I sent some emotional text messages when I got home cos its important to tell the people you care about how much they matter... my brother guessed I was a bit drunk but I'd have said what I said to all sober....

We did spend quite a bit of time being grumpy old women too... people have no manners, neighbours no consideration, commuters selfish etc etc etc.... its either our age or the city we live in!

Blackrock Masters

You cannot be serious!

Took my mum to the Royal Albert hall to see the tennis today - it's become something of a pre Christmas day out! We had a good afternoon people watching and enjoying the skill of the tennis pro's who are not 'young' enough to do the Grand Slams anymore.

Met Pops in the Porterhouse then took a turn around Covent Garden and ended up in Navajo Joes for tea - a bit loud but tops food and a good waitress meant we had an unexpected good evening. And the Hunter Valley Pinot Noir was divine!!!

A good day despite being alighted of 75 quid at the dentist for a tooth clean and a my second filling ever... it only took him 2 minutes and didn't hurt a bit - phew! Feels like my year is ending with some of the same notes that it started!

Port Vale 2 Gills 0

For travelling pikies we don't seem to enjoy it very much away from our caravan parks...

6 years

I have been in my job 6 years - the anniversary was yesterday - 4th December 2000 was when I joined a mere 27 years old and finally landed my first proper job in London. Gone were the paralegal days. Gone were the temping hours and lack of permanent desk.. here I was. And here I still am. Gosh how many faces and projects have I witnessed come and go? How many different buildings/desks have I sat at..

Is it time to move on I ask myself? How long is too long?

Astrobabble

Capricorn Today: You may be seeing the flaws in your life rather than the benefits. It may not be easy to open up to other people because you fear they may not be supportive, but try all the same. With Mercury now in the sign after your mid heaven you are very open to new ideas, especially ones likely to upset others. You have a slightly rebellious streak about you at the moment. You have the courage of your convictions and won't be swayed by criticism.

sadly I think this may be rather too close to the bone...

Aarrrghhhh

I endeavoured to get to work early so I could blog. I achieved that much wandering in at 8.30am to a blissful sunny sky and peaceful office. Its since taken me 45 mins to get my PC up and running and now I am in what can only be described as a bad mood. Thankfully no-one much around today so I can plod through my work. Mmm.

Bristol City 4 - Gillingham 3 (FAC2)

Well I sat and listened to it on the iNTERWEB. I had to listen to Radio Bristol's version as the Radio Kent link was playing the Sunday Slot - you know what Mariah Carey and plant talk is not what a girl needs when her team are fighting for a 3rd round FA Cup slot. I even paced the house in hat and shirt yelling when we scored. Come On! Get in! All in vain.

We fought back in the second half and until the final whistle went we were on course to draw... oh well. Better than a 4-0 loss and shows the lads have spirit - which is heartening. Who wants Coventry City at home anyway? Still a bit miffed as to the extent of Jack's injury. How can a goalie play on if he has had a really bad head injury? And with Swansea getting through my away day to the Liberty Stadium is once more scuppered. Unless I take a day off and go for the Tuesday pm re-arrangement, which it is bound to be. The joys of football. Oh well more iNTERWEB listening Tuesday night and Sat pm... til then Gills fan - keep the faith. Play offs here we come!

The Prestige

Went to the cinema this afternoon... and apart from the kids running amok around the cinema complex it was a pretty good film... well it had a rather dishy cast!!





Aaaahhhhhhhhh! Mmmmm!!!
The film wasn't as complex as some of the reviews had suggested... it was fairly obvious by the end what was what - but the chance to see Christain Bale, Hugh Jackman and Bowie were enough of a sway!! :-)

Frustration..

I am soo fed up that I haven't had the time to sit and blog - there's been so much happening, so many observations I have wanted to share. I love being busy at work but by the same token it means my brain is working over load and always thinking and composing.. I will endeavour to catch up over the weekend .. my first full weekend in London since later September... and in case I forget - Jaffa Cakes, Bush, rubbish, tubes, weather, Thai, and tings!!

Well done Collingwood by the way! Finally a glimmer of hope...!!

Until whenever - laters!

December

Delightful..