Football is great and I love it. I am talking about real football, not the egg-shaped football that some claim to be the real football. I love NFL, but football edges it just. It has been an interesting week or so in football. Despite Everton’s poor result against West Ham taking the gloss off an otherwise fascinating week of football, there have been some great developments in football and the next week is another hugely anticipated week.
What am I talking about? The transfer window! This time of year, along with the summer, is when every football fan wakes up in the morning, and scours his newspaper and the internet to see which players are being linked with their team. First port of call – the BBC Gossip Column. I would love to know the number of hits they receive on this one page, and I’ll bet it is up there with their most popular pages at this time of year. Then I’ll put Sky Sports News on – if my boys have signed somebody, I will hear about it there first.
I am an Everton fan in case you were not aware. They are skint. They have less than zero money. That is not a good situation to be during the transfer window. There is a far greater chance of one of our players being signed by another team, than us signing somebody and that is not a nice situation to be in. Yet, I still for some unknown reason check the Gossip column and all the fan websites wanting to get a sniff of who we might be signing. We have lost Pienaar and Yakubu this transfer window, yet for some inexplicable reason, I hold out hope that we are going to make a signing of the century and it will propel us up the league.
There is no logic to that at all, but how many people do the same? My guess is a huge percentage of fans in England especially. The media sell transfer stories and speculation to us to sell their newspapers or boost their viewers. This was more common in Spain and Italy historically with teams like Real Madrid deliberately feeding information to Marca to keep their profile at the forefront, unsettle players they are interested in, and to claim an interest in another player when they are bargaining with one club for a different one and trying to force the asking price down.
England and the Premier League has gone one step ahead now. The transfer window was hardly greeted with delight when it first came into action as newspapers had months in which to make up ludicrous transfer stories when general news was quiet. That has all changed now and the media have clearly seen a niche and they put huge resources into promoting it now. Wait until transfer Deadline Day and see what I mean. It is actually pretty enticing stuff – watching SSN or surfing the internet to get all the latest rumours and gossip. Sadly for me, that is what they will likely remain, rumours and gossip. But I will hold out hope until the door shuts. Somehow, hopes and dreams across the world have been raised artificially, and then that big door just slams shut. For most fans, it will close with disappointment after a month of hope and optimism, all of which has magically been generated by the media.
I am not criticising it, I enjoy it as much as anybody. It is just an amazing phenomenon which has developed in the last few years. I shall be tuning in on Transfer Deadline Day waiting to see who my boys will be ‘close’ to signing, who they just missed out on, and who they wanted but could not agree a deal for.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Airplanes
I don’t often have time to sit and watch people. It is actually great fun to do when I do manage to forget everything else in the world and just sit, watch and observe other folks. Humans are random, very random, and if it is not something you do often, I would recommend trying it occasionally.
Today I am people watching. I am sat on a plane and watching people. Most folks don’t really realise I am watching them, but I am. Today, I am Big Brother. People act randomly all the time, but especially on aeroplanes and in airports and you can find all breeds. Today, I am watching the couple with four kids and how effortlessly they manage to deal with the kids and enjoy the journey. How many times have you been on a plane where there is just the one kid and parents and he is causing absolute havoc and upsetting everybody? I have seen plenty. These guys have four and they are all stars.
Airports and planes bring out a nervousness in people, and that is understandable I guess. We are thousands of feet in the air and as much as I learned about how aeroplanes fly and how boats float at school, I think I will always have a degree of awe about how they actually do what they do. You can scour the plane and look around and you will always find one or two people nervously watching out the window or clinging on to the arm rest or their partner when there is turbulence or when landing. I guess over a period of time it becomes normal. I have flown a ridiculous amount in the last four to five years and it is second nature to me now. If you fly once a year or less, it will surely be a bigger deal. I find take off incredibly relaxing and often drift off to sleep. Others are clinging on for dear life. I want to reassure them and tell them that I fly all the time, they have nothing to worry about, and the percentage of me one day meeting my end on a plane is far greater than theirs and I am not worried about it. I then hold myself back as I suspect they will wonder if today is the day.
Coming through security today, one chap realised he had left his passport at home. Quite how he got that far, I am not so sure, but he managed it as he had hand luggage only and went straight through. Luckily for him, he didn’t live far from the airport. The panic which ensued was spectacular. Rather than just bolting and getting it sorted, they preferred to hysterically scamper around and waste precious time. He is now sat next to me on the plane so it turned out well but only now after an hour have they visibly calmed down.
Some folks decide to get well and truly hammered to deal with their nerves or to have fun with their friends. I have been known to have a beer or two myself. In fact, every time I fly to Canada, it is my ritual to have a Molson Canadian on the way over without fail just to get in the mood. The worst situation I have encountered was on a flight with my parents to New York – the first trans-atlantic flight ever from Leeds & Bradford airport. One Canadian chap was with a few mates, and he was quite a big boy and quite a big drinker. The guy sat next to him was with the party but they obviously did not know each other that well. So, big boy ordered another wine to go with his food and he could not squeeze his table tray past his belly. The chap next time called him a name in jest, and the big boy responded by elbowing him in the face and getting him in a headlock and punching his head. Pretty horrific given this guy was some 25 stone, and was literally sat on the same row as me and my folks. To make it worse, he had a beast of a perm. The other issue was that we were about two hours from any land – if big boy went on the rampage, it would be tough to stop him. Thankfully the air hostess, who looked like she would bite, sorted him out swiftly and calmed things down. I would not like to have been him when I saw the armed police get on the plane in New York to escort him off. Brutal and it did not help any of the nervous folks on there.
Today we have no such shenanigans. Everybody is in pretty good spirits and everybody is looking forward to a great holiday. I’m going home, and I am just as excited to see my girl. I feel as if over the last five years I have had loads of places that I call home. I even called the hotel I used to stay in when I worked in London home. Mum didn’t like that. Those flights are always easier when you have something to look forward to at the other end and as long as there is no meathead causing troubling, they can be quite enjoyable. No need to stress over the kids, nor the lost passport, or the guy next to you cracking rude jokes, just sit back and enjoy the flight.
Today I am people watching. I am sat on a plane and watching people. Most folks don’t really realise I am watching them, but I am. Today, I am Big Brother. People act randomly all the time, but especially on aeroplanes and in airports and you can find all breeds. Today, I am watching the couple with four kids and how effortlessly they manage to deal with the kids and enjoy the journey. How many times have you been on a plane where there is just the one kid and parents and he is causing absolute havoc and upsetting everybody? I have seen plenty. These guys have four and they are all stars.
Airports and planes bring out a nervousness in people, and that is understandable I guess. We are thousands of feet in the air and as much as I learned about how aeroplanes fly and how boats float at school, I think I will always have a degree of awe about how they actually do what they do. You can scour the plane and look around and you will always find one or two people nervously watching out the window or clinging on to the arm rest or their partner when there is turbulence or when landing. I guess over a period of time it becomes normal. I have flown a ridiculous amount in the last four to five years and it is second nature to me now. If you fly once a year or less, it will surely be a bigger deal. I find take off incredibly relaxing and often drift off to sleep. Others are clinging on for dear life. I want to reassure them and tell them that I fly all the time, they have nothing to worry about, and the percentage of me one day meeting my end on a plane is far greater than theirs and I am not worried about it. I then hold myself back as I suspect they will wonder if today is the day.
Coming through security today, one chap realised he had left his passport at home. Quite how he got that far, I am not so sure, but he managed it as he had hand luggage only and went straight through. Luckily for him, he didn’t live far from the airport. The panic which ensued was spectacular. Rather than just bolting and getting it sorted, they preferred to hysterically scamper around and waste precious time. He is now sat next to me on the plane so it turned out well but only now after an hour have they visibly calmed down.
Some folks decide to get well and truly hammered to deal with their nerves or to have fun with their friends. I have been known to have a beer or two myself. In fact, every time I fly to Canada, it is my ritual to have a Molson Canadian on the way over without fail just to get in the mood. The worst situation I have encountered was on a flight with my parents to New York – the first trans-atlantic flight ever from Leeds & Bradford airport. One Canadian chap was with a few mates, and he was quite a big boy and quite a big drinker. The guy sat next to him was with the party but they obviously did not know each other that well. So, big boy ordered another wine to go with his food and he could not squeeze his table tray past his belly. The chap next time called him a name in jest, and the big boy responded by elbowing him in the face and getting him in a headlock and punching his head. Pretty horrific given this guy was some 25 stone, and was literally sat on the same row as me and my folks. To make it worse, he had a beast of a perm. The other issue was that we were about two hours from any land – if big boy went on the rampage, it would be tough to stop him. Thankfully the air hostess, who looked like she would bite, sorted him out swiftly and calmed things down. I would not like to have been him when I saw the armed police get on the plane in New York to escort him off. Brutal and it did not help any of the nervous folks on there.
Today we have no such shenanigans. Everybody is in pretty good spirits and everybody is looking forward to a great holiday. I’m going home, and I am just as excited to see my girl. I feel as if over the last five years I have had loads of places that I call home. I even called the hotel I used to stay in when I worked in London home. Mum didn’t like that. Those flights are always easier when you have something to look forward to at the other end and as long as there is no meathead causing troubling, they can be quite enjoyable. No need to stress over the kids, nor the lost passport, or the guy next to you cracking rude jokes, just sit back and enjoy the flight.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow....
You are sat at work. You are thinking about dinner tonight. You are thinking about your next holiday. You are thinking about the big game on Saturday. You are thinking about anything but what you are supposed to be doing which in most circles is called work. It may be work, it may be making a decision. I get the feeling that humans are amazing procrastinators and dawdlers when we want to be. I wonder if animals are – does the cat give serious thought to whether he is going to climb the curtains today, or does the bird analyse the scene ahead and deliberate which unsuspecting human he is going to swoop over and poop on? I am not so sure.
We either delay the inevitable, or often take the long route rather than just ploughing ahead and just doing something or making a decision. I remember writing about this subject when I first started my blog and it randomly came back into my head recently. Unquestionably, most folks are at work and spending time surfing facebook and spying on what Little Jimmy has been up to today. They actually have 27 emails sat in the inbox waiting to be dealt with, but learning about what Little Jimmy had for dinner seems far more appealing than replying to them. I suspect many folks are reading this rather than doing something they should be doing – you’ve made the right decision – those emails can wait. Promise!
I have gone down the route recently of setting up a company and working independently. The pitfalls of good old procrastination are more evident than ever when you work for yourself. There is nobody keeping track of what I am doing, there is nobody to report to, there is nobody dangling a bonus at the end of the year if I perform well, and there is nobody to sack my butt when they want to. There are positives and negatives. I can sleep in if I want to. If it is cold outside, I don’t have to go outside. If I am sulking one day, I don’t have to talk to anybody. All of which are positives and negatives – if you work in an office, you will think they are massive positives, but I can assure you it is not as glamorous as one may think. The overriding factor is that for all the time I spend on Facebook, wasting time on decisions I have already really made in my head but have not followed through on, I am not earning money. Effectively, if I don’t get busy, I am not going to eat.
Well that sounded dramatic and is obviously not the case, but the reality is that nobody is going to motivate me other than myself and I have to produce. Some folks would struggle with it. It is certainly not easy, I have to admit, but thankfully I am generally quite motivated to do well and succeed so I have never found it a major problem. Of course I have days where I waste too much time and productivity levels are lower than usual, but more often than not, I know I have to produce and I do. I do not have to worry about what anybody else is doing, Little Jimmy is whingeing about Big Bertha, Judy leaves early every day and I am left having to do her work. I do not have to deal with any of that. I just have to produce.
As I have said, there are good elements and not so good elements to it and so much depends on your personality. I think I was back in high school when one teacher threw out a saying which always stuck with me – ‘Don’t put off until tomorrow, what can be done today.’ It is so true and something that I have always found to be worth remembering. Easier said that done I know, but if you are reading this, and you have a few items on your things to do list that you have been putting off, get your teeth into one of them, and ban yourself from facebook until you do. Don’t be so hasty and stop reading my blog, but give it a try!
We either delay the inevitable, or often take the long route rather than just ploughing ahead and just doing something or making a decision. I remember writing about this subject when I first started my blog and it randomly came back into my head recently. Unquestionably, most folks are at work and spending time surfing facebook and spying on what Little Jimmy has been up to today. They actually have 27 emails sat in the inbox waiting to be dealt with, but learning about what Little Jimmy had for dinner seems far more appealing than replying to them. I suspect many folks are reading this rather than doing something they should be doing – you’ve made the right decision – those emails can wait. Promise!
I have gone down the route recently of setting up a company and working independently. The pitfalls of good old procrastination are more evident than ever when you work for yourself. There is nobody keeping track of what I am doing, there is nobody to report to, there is nobody dangling a bonus at the end of the year if I perform well, and there is nobody to sack my butt when they want to. There are positives and negatives. I can sleep in if I want to. If it is cold outside, I don’t have to go outside. If I am sulking one day, I don’t have to talk to anybody. All of which are positives and negatives – if you work in an office, you will think they are massive positives, but I can assure you it is not as glamorous as one may think. The overriding factor is that for all the time I spend on Facebook, wasting time on decisions I have already really made in my head but have not followed through on, I am not earning money. Effectively, if I don’t get busy, I am not going to eat.
Well that sounded dramatic and is obviously not the case, but the reality is that nobody is going to motivate me other than myself and I have to produce. Some folks would struggle with it. It is certainly not easy, I have to admit, but thankfully I am generally quite motivated to do well and succeed so I have never found it a major problem. Of course I have days where I waste too much time and productivity levels are lower than usual, but more often than not, I know I have to produce and I do. I do not have to worry about what anybody else is doing, Little Jimmy is whingeing about Big Bertha, Judy leaves early every day and I am left having to do her work. I do not have to deal with any of that. I just have to produce.
As I have said, there are good elements and not so good elements to it and so much depends on your personality. I think I was back in high school when one teacher threw out a saying which always stuck with me – ‘Don’t put off until tomorrow, what can be done today.’ It is so true and something that I have always found to be worth remembering. Easier said that done I know, but if you are reading this, and you have a few items on your things to do list that you have been putting off, get your teeth into one of them, and ban yourself from facebook until you do. Don’t be so hasty and stop reading my blog, but give it a try!
Monday, January 10, 2011
A Stick Of Gum
Well we are in the second week of January and it is fair to say that Christmas is well and truly over. That may not be quite the case for some folks I know who have a couple more days of celebrating on the beach to go, but for most normal people, it is a distant memory now.
Our Christmas was excellent once we eventually got to Canada. Good times, with good food, good drink, and good friends and family. You cannot really ask for much more. It was a little short after the cancellations and delays, but HJ and I were just happy to have gotten there. That said, waking up on Christmas Day in a hotel was slightly surreal, but the fantastic free cooked breakfast made up for it.
Our return back to Switzerland was less eventful though there was one moment that sticks in my mind. We had to take a shuttle from Freeport to Halifax – a small minibus if you will – that squeezes around eight people including a driver in. The journey was smooth and pleasant apart from an hour in when the chap behind me found a piece of chewing gum in his pocket. I have mentioned before that I consider myself to be a relatively easy going fella, but somebody chewing gum in my ear is one of those things that will bug me until the cows come home. It is irrational in some ways though I have yet to meet somebody who loves the sound of gum being chewed in their ear lug. I well and truly hate it. With a passion. It got me randomly thinking about what annoys other people. If I chew gum in your ear, will that annoy you as much as it does me? And if not, what things really really annoy you?
Living abroad has many advantages but Christmas time is always a tricky and difficult situation, filled with highs, and then ultimately the final low. Going home is great, and means the world to most folks. Leaving is tough. Apart from the odd whinge about some attitudes in Switzerland, we are pretty lucky to have the lifestyle that we have. I notoriously hate saying goodbyes however. The worst ever was when my mum and dad dropped me off at Liverpool University back in September 1998, the first time I had ever lived away. The car pulled away as I marched off to my Halls of Residence with my note book and pen and as I turned back, Mum mouthed ‘I love you’ through the window. An absolute killer for me. It certainly gets easier the more I come and go, and it definitely makes seeing my family much more enjoyable when I do get to spend time with them all. But it is never easy and I feel for everybody who goes through it.
I deal with it by thinking of the next time I will see them. It comes as no surprise to anybody to see me online searching for flights, planning my next trip. It is not always possible to do, but if I can have that next trip in mind or booked, it makes the world of difference to know when I will see them again. I would recommend that to anybody to solve the early new year blues. Alternatively, if you cannot afford the flight or have the time to take off work, buy a pack of gum and hand it to the guy sat behind you on the bus, and you will feel a different emotion.
Our Christmas was excellent once we eventually got to Canada. Good times, with good food, good drink, and good friends and family. You cannot really ask for much more. It was a little short after the cancellations and delays, but HJ and I were just happy to have gotten there. That said, waking up on Christmas Day in a hotel was slightly surreal, but the fantastic free cooked breakfast made up for it.
Our return back to Switzerland was less eventful though there was one moment that sticks in my mind. We had to take a shuttle from Freeport to Halifax – a small minibus if you will – that squeezes around eight people including a driver in. The journey was smooth and pleasant apart from an hour in when the chap behind me found a piece of chewing gum in his pocket. I have mentioned before that I consider myself to be a relatively easy going fella, but somebody chewing gum in my ear is one of those things that will bug me until the cows come home. It is irrational in some ways though I have yet to meet somebody who loves the sound of gum being chewed in their ear lug. I well and truly hate it. With a passion. It got me randomly thinking about what annoys other people. If I chew gum in your ear, will that annoy you as much as it does me? And if not, what things really really annoy you?
Living abroad has many advantages but Christmas time is always a tricky and difficult situation, filled with highs, and then ultimately the final low. Going home is great, and means the world to most folks. Leaving is tough. Apart from the odd whinge about some attitudes in Switzerland, we are pretty lucky to have the lifestyle that we have. I notoriously hate saying goodbyes however. The worst ever was when my mum and dad dropped me off at Liverpool University back in September 1998, the first time I had ever lived away. The car pulled away as I marched off to my Halls of Residence with my note book and pen and as I turned back, Mum mouthed ‘I love you’ through the window. An absolute killer for me. It certainly gets easier the more I come and go, and it definitely makes seeing my family much more enjoyable when I do get to spend time with them all. But it is never easy and I feel for everybody who goes through it.
I deal with it by thinking of the next time I will see them. It comes as no surprise to anybody to see me online searching for flights, planning my next trip. It is not always possible to do, but if I can have that next trip in mind or booked, it makes the world of difference to know when I will see them again. I would recommend that to anybody to solve the early new year blues. Alternatively, if you cannot afford the flight or have the time to take off work, buy a pack of gum and hand it to the guy sat behind you on the bus, and you will feel a different emotion.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
This One's For You
As years go for me, 2010 was a pretty good one. The last quarter was a rough one what with one thing or another, but overall, I cannot complain at all. I am not going to ramble on however about last year. 2010 is now placed in the archive and there is nothing anybody can do to change it. 2011 is another matter and another exciting year lies ahead.
This year is going to be a unique year. I am fortunate enough to be marrying my best friend and I cannot wait. I cannot deny it, it is going to be a little strange wearing a ring (I have never worn any form of jewellery ever) and it will be bizarre to be calling HJ my wife and being called a husband. But it fills me with excitement and I am looking forward to August 4th and beyond.
What else lies in store for me this year? A couple of exciting new projects and business ventures are on the horizon and the first quarter of 2011 will be focused on those and getting them off the ground. The website jumpinsport.com is trucking along nicely and that will be developed further and I have high hopes for that one. I will surely be pestering a number of you to help spread the word on that one. The other projects will be coming and you will hear about them in good time I promise!
Travel plans are pretty limited next year for that reason. There were vicious rumours of a canine arrival in 2011 which I would still not rule out, and along with the new projects, we have nothing much planned for travel at the moment barring a couple of trips to Canada. I am sure that may change here and there knowing HJ and me.
As for resolutions, I have the classic old one – lose weight. I have had a pretty extravagant last two months of 2010 in terms of eating and drinking, and I’m determined to get back on track and in shape. If I am going to fit into a decent suit or something for the wedding, these love handles will have to go. So, alcohol is cut. Not totally, but two days per month. Holy Cow burgers and all that stuff is gone too. And back to running and football.
Not sure I really have many other resolutions, though I always enjoy hearing about other people’s and some of the more original ones.
I will end by making some predictions. Nothing too controversial but just some random thoughts.
If Michael Vick and Asante Samuel stay fit, I can see the Eagles putting a crazy run together for the Superbowl.
I was surprised by Arsenal’s win over Chelsea and the manner of it, but I am still not convinced by them at all. They may win the League Cup but that is it.
This is going to be a huge year for British boxing. There are going to be some majorly exciting fights for David Haye, Amir Khan and Carl Froch this year, and I am particularly looking forward to a major heavyweight fight for the first time in years.
August 4th is going to be a beautiful sunny day!
The UFC is going to become more and more mainstream this year. Events in Toronto and Rio are just the start of a major year, and I will take a punt that I will convert more of the non-believers.
This one is a bit bold and one that comes from nothing but pure feeling…..I see the Washington Capitals winning the Stanley Cup this year.
I have a good feeling that is going to be a great year! Happy New Year folks!
This year is going to be a unique year. I am fortunate enough to be marrying my best friend and I cannot wait. I cannot deny it, it is going to be a little strange wearing a ring (I have never worn any form of jewellery ever) and it will be bizarre to be calling HJ my wife and being called a husband. But it fills me with excitement and I am looking forward to August 4th and beyond.
What else lies in store for me this year? A couple of exciting new projects and business ventures are on the horizon and the first quarter of 2011 will be focused on those and getting them off the ground. The website jumpinsport.com is trucking along nicely and that will be developed further and I have high hopes for that one. I will surely be pestering a number of you to help spread the word on that one. The other projects will be coming and you will hear about them in good time I promise!
Travel plans are pretty limited next year for that reason. There were vicious rumours of a canine arrival in 2011 which I would still not rule out, and along with the new projects, we have nothing much planned for travel at the moment barring a couple of trips to Canada. I am sure that may change here and there knowing HJ and me.
As for resolutions, I have the classic old one – lose weight. I have had a pretty extravagant last two months of 2010 in terms of eating and drinking, and I’m determined to get back on track and in shape. If I am going to fit into a decent suit or something for the wedding, these love handles will have to go. So, alcohol is cut. Not totally, but two days per month. Holy Cow burgers and all that stuff is gone too. And back to running and football.
Not sure I really have many other resolutions, though I always enjoy hearing about other people’s and some of the more original ones.
I will end by making some predictions. Nothing too controversial but just some random thoughts.
If Michael Vick and Asante Samuel stay fit, I can see the Eagles putting a crazy run together for the Superbowl.
I was surprised by Arsenal’s win over Chelsea and the manner of it, but I am still not convinced by them at all. They may win the League Cup but that is it.
This is going to be a huge year for British boxing. There are going to be some majorly exciting fights for David Haye, Amir Khan and Carl Froch this year, and I am particularly looking forward to a major heavyweight fight for the first time in years.
August 4th is going to be a beautiful sunny day!
The UFC is going to become more and more mainstream this year. Events in Toronto and Rio are just the start of a major year, and I will take a punt that I will convert more of the non-believers.
This one is a bit bold and one that comes from nothing but pure feeling…..I see the Washington Capitals winning the Stanley Cup this year.
I have a good feeling that is going to be a great year! Happy New Year folks!
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