City 1 - 0 Sheffield Wednesday

Another 3 points lifts us to 8th after a hard earned win against the Owls. City were all over Wednesday in the first 20 minutes, and arguably should have been a couple up by then. In fact it took until the 36th minutes before the goal came, and ironically it was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who scored. He'd had (in my opinion - and most of those sitting around me) a torrid opening, unable to hold the ball up, passes going astray almost every time and so on. In typically fickle supporters fashion, a lot of people were saying "get him off", but then he scores and he's a hero. That's football.
To be fair he did much better after that - isn't confidence a wonderful thing - and his hold up play and distribution wimproved dramatically. City were looking good all round the park in the first period and Joe Ledly should have made it 2 when delightfully put through 1 on 1 with their keeper but pushed it just wide. Our "Rodge" (Roger Johnson) also hit the post with a decent header and Whittingham forced a save also.

The second half was completely different. A couple of rash challenges on Johnson and McNaughton who both required extensive treatment went unpunished, but both stayed on and as the Owls pushed harder, City fell deeper and rather than trying to retain posession just hoofed the ball away and waited for it to come back at them. The last 20 minutes or so, including the 6 minutes of added time was real nailbiting stuff and was pretty much all Sheffield Wednesday, but City held on for the win, and got a huge cheer at the end. The fans MoM was Kevin "Naughts" McNaughton who's back in a rich vein of form (his o.g. at Chasetown last week notwithstanding). This is more resilience than City have shown for a long time. Long may it continue.

More good news is that Ricardo Scimeca, Trevor Sinclair and RF are all on their way to recovery and fitness, Scimeca probably slightly ahead of the others. If we can get into the top 6 ahead of the run in with Scimeca back, who knows what might happen?
Up the Blooobirds!

Bluebirds Rants & Raves

I've had a comment left on one of my posts from a gent called "sportsobsessive". Seems like me he's a Bluebirds fan, and he too has a blog - though his seems primarily dedicated to the City. Always worth plugging a like minded site, so visit Bluebirds Rants & Raves for his opinions of all things City.
Scarily, looking at his profile, he has more in common with me than he might know......bizarre.

Another technical irritant

Bear with me...this is a long story.

Regular readers will know of my views on support services.....

PC's are generally much better these days than they used to be - despite my previous post about Vista's start up time. I remember the days when you bought a PC and had to install the operating system from scratch via floppy disks.

Now of course you open the box, plug it in, fire it up answer a couple of questions and away you go. But what if your shiny new purchase goes horribly wrong? Where are the floppy disks to start again? Well of course we don't have floppies these days, but the PC smugly reminds you (well it did remind me) that I needed to create a set of recovery DVD's. How clever I thought. It also said, this job can only be run once - presumably to stop those nasty softaware pirates out there creating multiple copies and flogging them on that well known online auction site. I'm not one of those people. I just want a robust backup solution because I've been there when a PC dies on me with no backup, and I know how painful it can be.

So I set the process off and at the predetermined point, the system said something like "This job requires two blank DVD's. Insert your disc 1." So I did. At least I though it was blank disc, but the application said there was something already on it and ejected the disc. As I only had one more spare DVD so I had to go and buy some more, but the application said it woiuld continue the process from where it left off next time I started it.

So, got some more DVDs, fired up again, and the system said commencing job from where it left off (clever or what?), but then I was aghast as it said "creating disc 2 of 2"! What happened to my disc 1 of 1 that had aborted? Now I'm completely stuffed. The system is going to create me a recovery set with only the 2nd of a 2 disc set, and I can't create another set because you can only run the job once! "Flippin' 'eck" I thought, or words to that effect.

Hunted down HP's support site and sent them an email crying for help. Got a pretty quick response that said, and I'm paraphrasing here....

"..Sorry to hear about you problem. I'd love to send you a set of recovery discs free of charge, but I can't because we're hardware technical support. Phone this number (a premium rate line at 60p a minute) and they'll sort you out. The email said this line was open Mon - Sat as did the web site. So I rang it, and the inevitable automated voice said, "We're open Monday to Friday" and then cut me off.

"Flippin' 'eck" or words to that effect I said again.

As I don't want to ring this line from work - which strangely is where I am between Monday and Fridays) - as they might baulk at me ringing a 60p minute line, and I'm not ringing them on my mobile I'm stuffed again. "Dash it all" I thought (or words to that effect).

So I've fired off another somewhat more robust email to HP support asking them what else they can do to sort me out.

This sort of thing really annoys me. Hardware support we'll give you free - software? That'll be 60p a minute sir.

Flippin' 'eck.

Star Wars - the inspiration for Firefox?

I'm a huge Star Wars fan. I remember watching the original several times when it came out, and have watched all of them too many times to remember. At one point, me and my mate John Fidler also knew the entire script off by heart, including most of the sound effects!

One of the key scenes in the original film, bizarrely called Episode IV, is of course the final attack on the Death Star and the flight(s) through the trench.

Tonight I was watching a rerun of the Clint Eastwood film Firefox (1982) which I'd seen before where he steals a Russian MIG codenamed Firefox (nothing to do with the Internet browser), and a scene in that where he's dog fighting another Firefox is straight out of the Star Wars trench scene.

Hadn't made the connection before, but if Clint Eastwood who also directed Firefox says he wasn't influenced by that SW scene I'll eat my hat.

Oh, and may the Force be with you.

Vista - is bigger better?

My new PC is installed with the Vista Home Premium OS. although it's had some bad press, I'm generally quite impressed with it. You can see how Microsoft (or Micro$oft as some are prone to call it) are trying really hard to make the user experience better and less technical - which of coures really hacks off (sic) the technically minded. Some things are undoubtedly irritaing though. It's insistance on warning you every time you do something that might change a setting (yes, warn me once but then let me get on with it I say). There might be a way to turn this off but I haven't bothered looking yet.

And it takes much longer than my XP system to boot up - and I thought that took a longt time! Googling suggests it not just me, and this protracted start up is quite common. I've turned off all the start programs I can, and I've added another 2 GB ram to the 1GB it came with.

3GB ram! My first computer (a Commodore +4, not a 64) came with 64k ram, and my first ever PC had (I think) about 1/2 MB ram. Blimey - it's hard disk was only 100mb. Ahh... those were the days

The magic of the FA Cup: 4th Round Draw

It was with bated breath I watched the 4th Round FA Cup draw at lunchtime today, hoping that the Blubirds could draw one of the "biggies", preferably away, but home would be fine. memories of recent cup history - that game against Leeds when we won 2-1 when they were the Premiership leaders - look what happened to them after that! Arsenal away last year, Liverpool away in the Carling Cup
Out came the balls, but City were nowwhere to be seen. Arsenal, came and went, Chelsea, Liverpool....still no Man Utd though. Then it was down the final four balls. Out came the penultimate home tie. "Manchester United...", surely it couldn't be "...versus Cardiff City"?
No, it wasn't - it was Tottenham or Reading.
So, we awaited our fate (I couldn't remember who else was left in) and only hoped for a home tie. But even that wasn't to be.
Tranmere or Hereford away. No disrespect to either of those teams, but that wasn't what we were hoping for, and neither I suspect what they were wishing for (big club that City are!).
On the plus side though it does provide a decent chance for us to progress to the 5th round - one away from the quarter finals, but I'm getting ahead of myself here. There were a few shocks last weekend - let's just hope we're not a shock come 4th round weekend.
Blooobirds!

FA Cup 4th Round Draw

It was fingers crossed as the draw was made, hoping City drew one of the big guns.
Not to be though - it's a trip to either Tranmere or Hereford. Still I guess it improves our chances of progressing to the next round.

My Alan Titchmarsh impersonation

Now I'm sure there might be a few sniggers out there when I say I enjoy a spot of gardening. I don't care.

When I was younger, my mother (God rest her soul) used to watch gardening programmes which used to bore the pants off me (although I remember Peter Seabrook on Pebble Mill at One!). She even used to try to get me to help out in what was a rather large garden where we lived in Lincolnshire, but to no avail - I had much more important things to do - fishing, playing with my pals etc.

As I've got older though I've become more interested (probably because a house has a garden that needs looking after), to the point where I downright enjoy the messing around in the garden. I can't claim to be an expert gardener, and latin names especially phase me. I describe myself as a bit of a potterer. Our garden isn't big - it's actually quite small at about 30ft x 25ft, although there's also room out the front.

Most things I plant tend to grow, and I have few disasters, and a few of my friends actually think I'm quite decent at it. I find that it's a great way to relax, and take your mind off things.

Today was quite bright early on, and I was "pottering" about clearing some dead stuff (see I told you I wasn't an expert), but I was amazed at how much out there is still growing, and even this early in January there are signs of life that suggest sunnier, warmer days are ahead. Maybe that's what it is that I like - the circle of life. Hmm... maybe that's a bit too heavy for a blog.

Anyway, I needed to try out my new secateurs......

FA Cup 3rd Round: Chasetown 1 - 3 City

A month ago this would have been a very dodgy match for City. Languishing at the wrong end of the Championship, leaking goals, not scoring many, against a side over 130 places below them in the football pyramid right up for a giant killing act. Thankfully City's form of late suggested that although a potential banana skin, if they approached it with the right attitude, class woud out. Still, I couldn't get those potential Sunday paper headlines out of my head..."Plucky Chasetown Shoot Down the Bluebirds", or similar.

That potential scenario was made more likely when City conceded the first goal of the match to a Kevin McNaughton own goal inside 20 minutes. Could a big upset be on the cards?

Thankfully no. City drew level on half time with a Peter Whittingham shot, before 17 year old Aaron Ramsey, another product of the City youth system nodded us ahead soon after the break. City now more relaxes built the pressure which inevitably told and on 73 minutes Paul Parry made it 3-1, which turned out to be the final score.

So, into the 4th round, though by all accounts Chasetown can be proud of themseleves. More important in the bigger scheme of things is another win for the Bluebirds - more wins breeds more confidence.

Next up? How about Man U away? Or even at home....dreaming...

Long hot summer days

I don't want to wish my life (or rather this year) away, but during the long cold, wet dark nights of winter, it's nice to have something to look forward to. This summer we're going to Zante (or Zakynthos if you like) to a resort called Kalamaki. Never been before, but the write ups are decent. It's far enough away from the throbbing nightlife of Laganas at the other end of the bay to keep me sane. All I want is a bit of sun (no problem there methinks), a pool or warm sea, and access to a bar that serves cold beer.
My daughter who's 10 (she'll be 11 when we go) has been on about going to Greece for about 5 years - lawd knows why, so this'll tick the box for her. If anyone's been to Zakynthos before, especially Kalamaki, post a comment and let me know what you thought about it. Make it good though - too late to change our mind now - it's paid for!

I don't like cricket - I love it

It's January, so that must mean.....cricket!
I coach the U13 squad at our club, and next week we start our indoor practice sessions ahead of nets and the outdoor training in April prior to the U13 League programme.
I've been playing cricket for years (ever since I was at school), but at senior level for the last 31 years (see I told you I was old), but only took up coaching a season or so ago. Last year I did my ECB Level 1 Coaching Assistant course which was great fun - if you help coach youngsters you should do it. We've got a thriving junior squad, which bodes well for the future of the club.
On top of that, senior nets start in about a month. I'll go along, but I'm not sure how my knee will hold up. Regular readers will know of my osteotic shortcomings. Providing I'm careful and try to remember that I'm not Brett Lee I should be OK. Whether I'll be able to make it at match level this year or not is another matter. I might be able to hobble around for the 2nd XI if selected. Keep up with Dinas Powys CC's year at our website

There's no business like snow business

And there's no snow here!
Someone said on the radio this morning, when there's inclement weather about nobody wants it (rain, gales, floods etc) but give a forecast of snow and 99% of the population (well kids and saddo's like me) actually want it where we are!
All the media are getting hot under the collar about snow and all we get is cold and wind. Not a flake in sight in South East Wales. Just as well really. Half an inch and the whole country comes to a grinding halt. Just imagine if somewhere like Norway or Sweden was full of Brits. Nothing would ever happen.
I like snow. My good lady doesn't, but then she works for the NHS and has to sort out all the problems when staff don't turn up because they can't get the car off their drive (walk to the nearest bus stop?).
Nothing beats a good days sledging, making snowmen and generally getting frostbite. Just a shame we don't see so much these days. I'm old enough to remember (just) the winter of '63 when we had feet of the stuff, and winters when we used to go sledging down a whacking great hill (or it seemed like it at the time) in Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire.
Still, there's still most of January and February to come, so chance yet.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.....

Back to work...357 sleeps to go

Well that's all that over for another year. Back to the humdrum of work today. Lot of people still off. The roads were pretty quite, the emails were almost non-existant. Should've taken another week off!
Still only another 357 sleeps until Christmas 2008!

Microsoft. How to annoy people

Well I'm getting on pretty well with my new PC that I got for Christmas, and generally I'm very impressed with MS Vista as an operating system. I've only found one of my existing programs that doesn't run on Vista, and that's Pinnacle Studio Plus 9 - a video editing suite. Shame really, I quite liked it, but I've already dabbled with Windows Movie Maker that comes with Vista, and it's acceptable (for my level of fiddling anyway, at least for the moment).
More annoying though is that I have a problem with Outlook 2002 which has filled my PIM needs completely since I've had it. Vista has a "known" issue with OL 2002 (and prior versions), and refuses to recognise the password you put into your email account when you set it up, forcing you to enter it every time you open OL to send and receive mail. It's not the end of the world by any means, but it's annoying, and apparently although there are work arounds involving scripts and executable files, Micorsoft have no plans to resolve this problem. I bet they could very easily if they wanted to, but equally I bet they'd much rather you upgraded to a later version of Outlook. Well stuff them. I'm not going to.
Vista does come with Windows Mail and Windows Contacts and Windows Calendar, of which the first is the "new" Outlook Express (a completely different program to Outlook for those who don't know about these things), but I don't want to use them. I want to keep using the program I've been using without problem for several years, and which serves me well. This is exactly the sort of problem and annoyance that companies like Microsoft do , almost certainly deliberately, and which really hack (sic) end users off.

Update
And something else that's occurred to me....this must be a deliberate "oversight", because as far as I know, all the rest of OL 2002 works fine with Vista. If all the rest's OK, why not this bit! Grrr...

City 1 - 0 Plymouth: Happy New Year!

Another win for City, and we've collected 10 points out of the 12 on offer over the Christmas and New Year programme. I'd have bitten your hand off for that at the start of December. As we had an early kick off today, other results are still to come in, but I reckon the worst we can end up today is 12th, and we could stay in 10th if Wolves lose and Burnely don't win.
Decent game today I thought. A goal from prize asset Joe Ledley was the difference on paper, though to be fair I thought Argyle were poor, and sub Steve Maclean had two gilt edged chances late on to seal a more emphatic victory for us. Kevin McNaughton had an immense game, and was in the view of the little crowd we sit with easily man of the match, though the official MoM went as it usually does to the goalscorer. Roger Johnson again was superb, but generally everyone played well.
Officially it was the last match of on-lone keeper Kasper Schmeicel's loan spell from Man City, although a little bird suggested to me today that Sven may let him stay a little longer, and he might, just might, get a loan until the end of the season. I hope he can - he's superb, and better than any of the other keepers we've got at City with no disrespect. He made a couple of good saves including one at the death to keep a clean sheet today. He got a huge and well desereved reception at the end of the game.
Looking good. C'mon City!

Out with the old, and in with the new: Happy New Year and all that

So that was 2007.

Here's my personal highs and lows.

Highlights

• An early break in February at Center Parcs (Longleat) - terrific
  
• Seeing my niece (and God daughter) get married in May - a great family wedding
• Another great holiday in Majorca, in Puerto Pollensa
• Playing for my cricket club (Dinas Powys CC) against an invitation Glamorgan XI as part of our 125th anniversary celebrations.
• Seeing my (then) 12 year old son in his first proper senior cricket match take 4-13 with his legspin against Blaengarw
• A brilliant family weekend break in early September in the Gower as part of the celebrations for my in-laws 60th wedding anniversary
• Watching City put up a great performance against Liverpool at Anfield in the 4th round of the Carling Cup

Lowlights

• Exacerbation of the arthritic problems with my knee, resulting in me being listed for an operation - if I was a horse they'd shoot me
  
• Noticably deteriorating eyesight - need my glasses more and more
• Haven't won the lottery (yet) - well not enough to retire on
• Seeing Michael Chopra go to Sunderland for £5m
• Watching Cardiff City underachieve after a great start to the 06/07 season.
• Watching Cardiff City underachieve in the first half of the 07/08 season
• The rainy summer

So there we go - I'm sure there are more in both categories, but that's what I can think of now.
Into 2008, and let's hope it's a good one for everyone.

Naturally I have a couple fo New Year resolutions

• Lose weight (I've been saying that for about 8 years)
• Take my good lady out more - never seem to have the time - always in front of the PC, playing cricket or skittles etc etc
• Be more tolerant......well maybe two out of three!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy Birthday Palmblogging

Us bloggers like to tip a wink in each other's direction now and then, and so it's only right to congratulate David over at Palmblogging on the first anniversary of the blog. The posts are mainly on or about Palm related stuff (as the name would imply), but bravely, almost all his posts are made on his Palm device (currently a Treo 680), which is no mean feat. Although I post to my site on my mobile devices, I must admit that most of them are done on the PC.
I drop by theblog most days, and always read any posts I've missed.
Happy birthday Palmblogging. Keep up the good work.

7pts from 9: Preston 1 - 2 City

I said (to myself and my son, and a couple of the lads down at Ninian Park) before the Christmas that I'd be satisfied with a return of 7 points out of the possible 12 on offer over the Christmas and New Year period.
Well, after today's great win away at Preston we've got those 7 with a game in hand - Plymouth at home on New Years Day, and we must be favourites to get all three there.
As usual, City didn't make it easy for themselves. Conceding inside the first 5 minutes, it took another Roger Johnson goal (how good is he!) to draw us level early in the second half, before Joe Ledley, one of City's most prized assets scored the winner. Those three points plus other results mean we're now 12th on goal difference, and only 5 points off Plymouth (who we play on Tuesday) in sixth spot. Looking better. Much better.
C'mon you Blooobirds!

Post Christmas anti-climax

I've hit that lull which comes after the hype, excitement and chaos that is a family Christmas but before the New Year celebration - although to be fair, our New Year is likley to be a quiet night in front of the telly watching Jools Holland's "Hootnanny".
So much for the 12 days of Christmas. Round these parts it generally appears to be business as usual apart from not being back in work yet. What we really need is about 4 foot of snow. That would make it seem more "Christmassy" for a bit longer - out sledging with the kids and building snowmen. Instead, the sky's blue, the sun's out and it's quite mild out.

Benazir Bhutto

I'm not by nature a political person, although I keep a weather eye on things naturally. I'm just so glad that I live in a country where (by and large) politics are settled in a democratic way, and not by the gun and bomb.
The assasination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan yesterday is a stark reminder that we are in reality a long way from the notion of (what at least I think of as) a civilised world. Sad though it is, I think it was only a matter of time before someone tried again to assasinate her, and probably the odds were that eventually someone would succeed.
I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a society like that, and for that I thank my lucky stars.
I just wish the people of the world, especially in places where there is so much turmoil could recognise that and settle politics, disputes or whatever else needs settling in a more considered way.

So close: Watford 2 - 2 City

Well City travelled to Watford for their Boxing Day clash, and I have to admit I wasn't expecting them to get anything out of it. My first text told me that City had scored first through the superb (my view) Roger Johnson, a lead they held until after the break when the Hornets equalised. A third text tone suggested to me that Watford had taken the lead but no! Peter Whittingham had put us ahead again! I waited and waited for the final result text, and when it came it wasn't....ex City boy Jobi McAnuff had equalised with what must have been the last kick of the game. So a point, but it was more than I'd been expecting, and would have taken it before the start. But to only draw when you've been ahead goining into time added on is gutting.
Preston now on Staurday, and more points I hope. Again I'd take a draw with Plymouth visiting City on New Year's Day, but 3 points at Preston would be superb.
C'mon City!

Was that it?

Well I hope you all had a good one. We certainly did. Father Christmas was very kind to us all here. I got a shiny new 'puter with more RAM and GB than you can shake a fist at - well more than my "old" one anyway!
It's got Windows Vista on it, so a bit of a learning curve although first impressions are good, though loads of "security" type messages which are probably great for a novice but irritating for me - I'll no doubt find out how to turn them off later!
It came with a 20 inch widescreen monitor as well - that's nearly as big as my telly downstairs! I'm trying out now how to configure my home network (actually this one and my old one) together using wires rather than wireless as they're both in the same room and only about 6 feet apart, and I want them both to be able to access the internet independently via the Netgear router. Hmm...more googling methinks.

Parenting

We reached a watershed moment with our son today when he went off "into town" with his mates on their own for the first time.
Three of them, aged 12/13 were dropped off in Cardiff for a couple of hours, armed with a few quid and their mobiles to give us the call when they were ready to be picked up.

I'm sure there are some people out there whose kids have been going out and about on their own for a long time at a much earlier age than ours, but I don't hold with that. We don't mollycoddle him, (wrap him up in cotton wool, but neither do we let him do whatever he wants to. And nipping round the corner to see his mates isn't the same as spending several hours in a big (and today, very busy) city centre. Despite the fact a couple of them are actually quite big (my son now takes the same size shoes as me!) they're still children. there's no getting away from the fact that times have changed. When I was his age I used to disappear for the day to go fishing - quite often on my own, but that was 30+ years ago in a quiet and rural part of Lincolnshire, not in urban South Wales.

It was therefore a slightly nervous couple of hours, but of course they were fine, had a great time and now will probably do this regularly. More taxi servicing!

Festive Cheer: City 1 - 0 Sheffield Utd

The Christmas footy programme is often said to define a teams season. Well, we've started this one well. I've just got back from seeing the Bluebirds hammer the Blades 1-0. And it was a hammering, even though the 1-0 scoreline wouldn't suggest it. City could have been a goal down inside the first minute as the Blades missed a sitter, and could arguable have had a penalty later on the half, but City were looking as good as they've done for a long, long time. They passed the ball on the ground with pace, and Paul Parry in particular caused havoc down the right side.

Peter Whittingham who I think should have been starting long ago, oozes the class the McPhail should, and brings some composure, vision and occasional touches of brilliance to the side. It was one of those touches whilst running at the defence that slipped a pass through to the irresistible Parry who slid the ball under the keeper to make it 1-0. JFH then flashed one just wide about a minute later.

1-0 at half time, and thoughts were turning to dour defence for the next 45 minutes dropping deeper and deeper as usual.

But no - we kept pushing and as they tried harder for the equaliser, the left space at the back forCity to exploit, and how they never got a second I'll never know. Schmeicel didn't really have a save to make, although one last free kick flashed only just wide. Special mention too to Kevin "Naughts" McNaughton who had a great game, and Glen "The Loovenator" Loovens who's looking back to his best in central defence.

That's the first 3 points out of the 12 on offer over the holiday period. Next up, Watford away on Boxing Day. That'll be tough, but City can take the confidence from an excellent performance into that game.

Come on you Blooobirds.....!

It's a mad mad world...

Nearly there. It's been a looong slooow day at work as the great wind down (or is that wind up) comes ever closer. Frankly no-one wanted to be in work today, but if we'd have finished yesterady, or last week no-one would have wanted to be here either.

I'm just about to embark on my journey home, and have heard that the roads in and around Cardiff on which I need to drive home are gridlocked because the whole of South Wales apparently has a sudden urge to go to Asda / Marks & Spencer / Tesco Extra (delete as applicable).

Why though? It's not as if they didn't know Christmas was coming. In fact they've had 52 weeks to think about it, and now everyone needs to go shopping at 4pm on a Friday?

And it's even worse, because it'll be like this for the next 3 days, and we'll have the big day, and then all the shops will be open again and the sales start.

People are mad.

Me, I'm going to go home, do what my wife tells me to do, when she tells me (it's safer that way), enjoy Christmas Day & Boxing Day with the family and then put my feet up. Sales? I think not.

5 more sleeps to Santa

OK I'm getting excited now. It's taken me a while to get the festive cheer going, but with just one more day in work to come, I'm getting in the spirit and looking forward to the big day.
Ho, ho, ho!

Flaws in the OS - Who's worse? Mac or Windows

Here's an interesting post over at the Daily Gadget, which is a very neat blog in it's own right. It looks at an article about serious flaws in the Mac and Windows OS's (Operating systems), comparing the two.
A real chance for the Mac v Windows debate to get heated (wot - it isn't already?).
You might be surprised at the results though.....Murray, you read this?
Thanks to sixpacktec for the image.

Memories of Mum

It's a poignant day today. It's 5 years to the day since Mum died. The picture of her here is her relaxing on one of our many holidays to Pembrokeshire in West Wales in the early 90's (that's the year not her age!).
We all miss her desperately of course, but she'd give us a good ear wigging if she thought we were moping around about it. I rang my Dad tonight, as I always do on this day, and vowed to raise a glass to her memory.
Here's to you Mum.

Darfur Crisis Appeal

I'm doing something a bit different this year regarding Christmas cards for work colleagues. Usually I send one to everyone - or at least every department in the building where I work. There's actually quite a lot of people, so that's a lot of cards - not that I mind, and I hope they've been appreciated in the past, but this year I decided I'm going to take a different tack and give a donation to charity in lieu of writing all the cards. I will wish everyone a happy Christmas anyway - probably via the dreaded email, and let them know what I've done.
There's hundreds of worthy causes, and choosing which one is difficult - I have given to several charities over the years and don't have any preferred one.
However, this time, my money is going to the Red Cross Darfur Crisis Appeal. This crisis has been well documented, but it's still unbelievable that such things should go on. I think we in what we like to think of as "first world countries" can often easily put the shutters up or ignore what's going on elsewhere, and very few of us ever really understand what it must be like to live in regions such as these.
I hope my donation makes a difference, however small. And getting back to Christmas cards, I hope those that get my email rather than a card this year, will understand that I think that this action is done in the spirit of traditional Christmas values.

Nice lunch!

We had an enjoyable day today. My wife's side of the family have a tradition of going out to lunch a weekend or two before Christmas. Today 16 of us went to the Manor Parc, a rather nice hotel on the outskirts of Cardiff
This is the second time we've been there in a couple of months, having recently attended a lunch for my in-laws 60th wedding anniversary. We liked it so much, we came back today. No "traditional" or should that be "typical" turkey dinners on offer here, but a really nice 3 course meal for about £19 a head, and I have to say the food was brilliant. Service is also top class.
(Proprietor's - if you read this, I'd happily accept a free lunch for two for the plug!).

Smartphone update

I know I have a couple of regulars who like me are gadget minded, so I thought I'd provide an update on where I'm at with my smartphones. Dad, if your'e reading this you can skip this post (he's a luddite!).
Basically, I've been torn between my Palm Treo 680 and my most recent acquisition, the HTC S710 or "Vox" (pictured) ever since I got the Vox back in the late summer. I couldn't quite bring myself to ditch the Treo altogether in favour of the Windows Mobile device, and found myslef swapping between them on an almost daily basis. However, a couple of months ago I decided I had to make a choice once and for all, and decided to stick with the Vox. There are a few reasons for this, not all of which are necessarily good or rational ones!

• It's smaller than the Treo
• It holds a signal better than the Treo
• It's battery is awesome compared to the Treo (2-3 days at least even with heavy use)
• It can do most of the things I want, albeit often in a more convoluted way than the Treo
• Palm support is waning, and Palm itself may disappear if it doesn't remove it's head from it's jacksy and start delivering
  

There are a couple of things that I frequently miss though

• The touchscreen - a year or so ago, many WinMob sites were saying the touchscreen is dead, long live "true" smartphone devices with non-touchscreens. Now, what devices do people rave about? Iphone (touchscreen), HTC TyTyn II (touchscreen), HTC Touch/Dual (touchcsreen). Hmmm.. seems a bit two faced to me...
• The hard keyboard. The Treo's keyboard is better than the Vox by a country mile
• Palm OS - quicker than WM6 (on the Vox at least) and far more intuitive, although I agree it does look well past it's sell by date and in major need of a facelift.
  

I still haven't got rid of the Treo. It's sitting on my desk, charged up and ready as my backup. I have to say I'm getting used to the Vox, but it's been sheer perseverance rather than the joyous union I felt when I got my Treo. When I use it, it's atool and it feels like a tool. I don't experience the same sense of - fun - I guess, that I do whenever I pick up the Treo.
I think if I won the lottery I'd switch from the Vox, but what to? Do you know what? I think it might be an iphone. Or I might buy Palm out and get them to produce an updated smartphone worthy of the Palm name.

Derby woe: Bristol City 1 - 0 City

Just as we thought City had turned the corner, they go and lose, and to Bristol City, who after Swansea are probably the side we would hate losing to most.
I don't know many details yet, but clearly Steve Thompson's early sending off in the 15th minute (noted as "controversial" on the BBC web site), was a factor.
Luckily apart from Crystal Palace, sides around us also lost, so no terminal damage done, but to lose to the wurzels.......

Big matches over the Festive period then starting next Saturday with Sheffield United at home, then Watford away on Boxing Day (can't see us getting anything out of that one), Preston away on 29th (maybe a draw) and then Plymouth on New Years Day. I reckon if we get 7 points out of the 12 on offer we'll have done OK.
After that, it's the big one. Chasetown away in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. I have to admit, before the draw was made, I'd never heard of Chasetown. we haven't struggled against no-league opposition in the cup for a few years, so let's keep it that way please.

The NHS: aka Nasty Horrid Stuff

The NHS is a funny organisation. I should know. I worked for it for 19 years.
As regular readers may know, I'm on the waiting list for an op on my knee - well actually it's not my knee, but it's the knee problem that the operation will cure (allegedly) - strange I know.
I received a letter this week asking me if I still wanted the operation. What a daft question. "Actually no I don't want it thanks. Since I last saw you everything's miraculously cleared up and I can run up and down without any problems thank you very much!".
This is done under the guise of "waiting list validation", and I suppose it's to check you haven't run off and got the job done on private care (if you could afford it) and forgotten to tell them.
Still, I suppose it lets me know they haven't forgotten about me.

Lovely drive

My new (old) car hereafter known as the "Mondy" had it's first serious outing today as I had a meeting in Birmingham. I wasn't in a rush, and knew exactly where I was going, so didn't even need to break out my Treo's sat nav.
I pootled the 220 mile or so round trip so at legal speed, and I have to say I was very impressed. The car was quiet and smooth (bearing in mind it's a diesel which is a bit clunky until it warms up) and it was very comfortable, with more than enough oomph when it was needed (to avoid the inevitable idiots on the road - mostly a combination of men in hats, blondes and VW Polo/Volvo drivers - have you noticed?).
The Mondy is a whole step up from my previous trusty 1.6 Scenic in terms of power, comfort, and bells and whistles. I loved the Scenic, but was always aware of the noise levels when I was "cruising" at 70mph or thereabouts, whereas in the Mondeo thrumming along in 6th (yes 6th) gear at 70, you hardly feel like you're moving.
It was also great to see the mpg creeping up on a longish motorway journey - in my first week, having done about 350 miles, just about par, I'd averaged 21 mph and about 44.5 mpg. By the end of today that was up to an average mpg of over 48 - would have been much higher if I'd reset the counter just for today's trip. Working it out, at current mpg's I'd be able to squeeze well over 600 miles out of the 15.4 gallon tank.
Oh, and that front heated screen - what a boon - no more ice scraping for me!
Well pleased.

How many?

I've had a few people comment on posts (only a few!), and sometimes I think my sagely thoughts/views are disappearing unread into the ether. Frankly I don't care whether they're read or not, as it's actually quite therapeutic just waffling even if no-one's listening.

OK, actually I do care, and to that end I've signed up to Google Analytics, one of Google's many and increasing services (did you know they plan to take over the world by the way? That's for another post though).

So now I'll actually find out if anyone's reading this drivel. Hmm....

Life's a beach: Blackpool 0 - 1 City

Yahoo!
Another 3 points for the Bluebirds as they win at Blackpool for the first time in years (39 to be precise). Big Stevie Thompson was the scorer, and we managed another clean sheet, although the brief report on the BBC suggests it wasn't all plain sailing with Blackpool hitting the bar late in the second half. Still, that should lift us to the heady heights of 15th. Not spectacular, but given how we were playing (and not winning) just over a week ago, I'd have bitten your hand off for 15th spot.
Just over halfway to 50 points and safety now - let's not get too carried away by thoughts of play off spots just yet.
C'mon you Bloooobirds!

And, just as good, Liverpool beat Marseille 4-0 away from home to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League. A good night.

Kit's Well

Those of you that might have read this blog from it's early days will know that after our Mum died late in 2002, rather than erecting a bench or similar in her memory, we donated money to a project in Nepal that enables, amongst other things, wells to be dug in remote villages, allowing fresh water thereby dramatically improving sanitation and consequently health of the villagers.
My previous post on this explained more about this, but now we also have the GPS co-ordinates available and a photo - albeit at the moment a photo of a photo, and one taken on a mobile phone at that, so it's not the best picture.
The GPS coordinates are:
North: 27.33.825, East: 084.10.171 (I think)!
The well is in a village called Loukhari in Nepal, and if I can find it on Google Earth I'll let you know.

City 4 - Colchester 1: Turned the corner?

We couldn't go to the match yesterday, as we were visiting my sister. With our recent form, to be honest we weren't too bothered at missing this one, especially as it was absolutely heaving down and blowing a gale to boot. I received City's team sheets by text, and was encouraged to see McNuaghton in for Capaldi and Whittingham for Rae - presumably allowing Ledley to come into the centre of midfield - a more balanced team in my view. Checked my mobile at half time, and lo and behold City were 0-1 down, conceding a goal in the 45th minute despite what the stats suggested was a dominant performance in the first period. Looked like Jonesy might be on his way.
But then, a second half turn around that we could only have dreamt about as City stormed to a 4-1 victory with goals from Steve Thompson, Peter Whittingham, Jimmy Floyd and an o.g. from one of their lot.
Maybe it's us. Maybe we should stay away more often.
One game does not a season make, but it's a long time since we've won a game that emphatically - at least on paper. I wasn't there of course so can't be certain that it was emphatic, but early reports suggest so.
So, we're up to the heady heights of 17th in the table with a big 6 pointer coming up on Tuesday away to Blackpool who are one below us, but on goal difference only. Blackpool is always a tough place to go, and City traditionally haven't done well there, but let's hope yesterday's match gives them the confidence to go and play the way we know they can.

Skittles: DPAB march on

Our good form in Division 2 of the Penarth & District Skittles League continued last night as we put the Dinas Powys Legion side to the sword. In typically rumbustuos style, with Stockings leading the singing (or rather shouting), we ran out winners by 16 pins on a tough alley. Top scorer was Nightmare with 27 with Gilo on 26, whilst others including some of the big guns didn't overly trouble the scorers.
Champagne moment of the evening, Stockings' little canter in the near altogether aside, was Stabber leading the three cheers for the opposition and calling them the "Swanderers" instead of the DP Legion. For those of you that don't know, the Swanderers are the OTHER team from the pub we played last night, and his good intentions were met with a stony silence by the opposition (who are actually all great lads!)
As I'm sending this report by email from a train somewhere in Gloucestershire at 7.15 in the morning, there are no pics to accompany or links. Once I'm back from my trip to London though, I'll update our website (www.DPAB.co.uk) with a full report.

Christmas? We've only just had Easter!

I don't know where this year's gone. It's flown by. Doesn't seem that long since we were takingthe decorations down, and now it's nearly time to put them up again!
Are you one of those that just can't wait? The first "residential" Christmas lights I saw were on 26th November in a house not far from ours. Then on 1st December lights and trees started to spring up in houses all over the place. Now don't get me wrong, I like Christmas - I can even remember what it's all about - and despite what the marketeers would have us believe it's not about eating and drinking to excess and spending more than we can afford - but I baulk at putting up the decorations too early. However, neither am I one of those leave it to the last moment fellows, buying a knock down spindly tree on Christmas Eve (my kids would kill me!).
So, the exterior lights will probably be going up this weekend, and the tree the following weekend. But climate change has a lot to answer for. I was out in a t-shirt earlier on. Much as we know the season f goodwill is upon us (almost) it just doesn't feel like it. We need a good dose of cold, frosts, and dare I say it snow before it's really going to feel like Chrimbo. And no, my lights aren't like the picture....

Got a new motor!

Got my new car. Well, my "nearly new" car. As previously posted, I'm not into buying brand new motors.
This lovely shiny vehicle, is a late '06 model Ford Mondeo "Edge" 2.0 TDCi, in a very nice blue colour and I'm very pleased with it It's a step up from my previous, trusty Renault Scenic, giving me more comfort, power and a much better mpg return being a diesel.
I don't know if it's just the 4-5 years that's elapsed since I bought the Renault, or just that this version of the Mondeo is well equipped, but it has some great touches which I love. These include:

• rain sensing wipers - yes, you switch them on to intermittent wipe and the car works out how much water is going on to the screen and adjusts the wipe speed accordingly - clever or what? No, I don't know how it works either.
  
• auto headlights - set to auto, the lights come on automatically when the ambient light drops below a certain level. Handly for those who can't tell if it's dark - but then they shouldn't be behind the wheel anyway
  
• heated front windscreen - Ford have been doing this for years granted, and I think most of their models and ranges now come with this as standard. I don't know why other manufacturers don't do this (maybe they do?)

Early days yet obviously, but I'm looking forward to driving this car. I've always liked Fords - had a few before, and it's nice to be back.

Rubbish! City 0 - 2 Charlton

Timmy Mallet, erstwhile children's entertainer of some time ago, and this season's panto star at Porthcawl(?) was the half time entertainment at tonight's match. Need I say more? I shouldn't, the mood I'm in, but I will.
City were rubbish. No, utter rubbish. Not even that good.
I fear relegation.
If Dave Jones is still in a job by the weekend, I'll be surprised.
Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.

This is the age - of the train. Not

I'm off to the Smoke on Thursday for an overnighter, on a course. The course should be ok. Good chance to meet up with some colleagues, maybe learn a bit and who knows, even get an hour or two of shopping in on Oxford Street?
The problem is though, I'm going (as usual) by train. I hate trains. They're normally, late, overcrowded, and are definitely overpriced. A standard class ticket from Cardiff comes to about £150. I'm going to be traveling back on Friday evening, some time between 5pm and 6pm which must be just about the worst time to travel from London. If I'm lucky I'll get a seat. If I'm not, chances are it's a stand from Paddington until at least Swindon or Bristol. That's what your £150 gets you. And they're putting the prices up!

A Tigerish Point: Hull 2 - 2 City

After their charter flight to Hull was diverted to Manchester and an emergency landing, City finally came away from the KC stadium with what seems to be a well earned point. Hull have been in good form lately, and were 1 up in 3 minutes, but Steve "The Tomahawk" Thompson equalised after 6 minutes. Kasper Schmeicel saved a penalty before Hull went ahead again just before the break. I was accepting defeat, when I got a late, late text which I thought was going to tell m that Hull had won, but which in fact said Roger Johnson had equalised for City in injury time. We don't get many late goals, so this one was very welcome indeed. I haven't seen a report, but seeing as how recent matches have gone, I'm guessing Jones threw Johnson on as an extra striker. I still reckon that he's one of the most consistent and committed players in the team. I'm certainly glad he was there today. The result still leaves us in 20th spot, but a win at home on Tuesday against Charlton could lift us to 15th, and we have a game in hand on most teams above us - that's the Blackpool game this month, and the seasiders are on place below us, so that'll be a big one..

Matthew Moment

Everyone I know that's important to me knows about this I think, including the person in question, so I'm happy to share this with you.

One night, late into my wife's first pregnancy with our first child, and some time after we'd agreed that if it was boy we'd call him Matthew, and if a girl we'd call her Bethan, I woke up, jabbed my wife from her sleep and said "I don't want to call him Matthew if he's a boy". I know not why to this day, I just had that "moment" when it just didn't seem right (apologies to anyone called Matthew who's reading this - no offence intended). Luckily, we had a close second choice, and when the little lad duly appeared, he was monickered "James" - and he's seemed quite happy with it through his 13 years to date.

Fortunately I didn't have that moment with our second, who was always Bethan, although ironically we had decided if it had been a boy it would have been Matthew but I didn't have any iffy moments the second time around.

Every now and again I get what I call my "Matthew moments" when an agreed and firm decision suddenly seems completely wrong. It's a funny feeling, and the challenge is deciding whether you stick to your guns, or go with the flow...

Mondeo Man

I've been toying with the idea of replacing my Renault Scenic for while (since it's all been paid off!), and much as I like the versatility the Scenic brings, I'm finding it's proving thirstier than I'd like for the miles I do - I feel like I'm constantly filling up, and with a 1.6 engine, though willing, doesn't quite give the "oomph" and cruise comfort I'd like, especially on long journeys. I was looking for a diesel that would give me close to 50mpg (average), plenty of comfort, and a few bells and whistles.
I'm not worried by style particularly (too old to worry about that), and What Car recommend the Mondeo as the best used family car choice (I'm not buying new - depreciation on any new car is a killer, and frankly it amazes me that anyone can afford a family size new car if they're paying for it themselves anyway). Checked out plenty of reviews of the Mondeo, and it's close competitors (Vauxhall Vectra - too many duff reviews, Honda Accord - too pricey) and they were generally very positive. Good drive, good level of kit, cheap to run and service etc...
So a Mondeo it is. Looked around - plenty available of course given their fleet history, and I've found one. It's a 2.0 TDCi "Edge" in a lovely blue colour (so not standard repmobile silver - have you noticed how many silver cars there are on the road these days?). Just about a year old. Hope to pick it up next week.
This is it.