1st Day At School

Wednesday 2nd September 2009 - 1st Day At School

Nearly four and a half years - just where have they gone exactly? On the Tuesday before I took him to MagicLand so he could have some fun before all the seriousness of school began...

Daniel started his new school on Wednesday morning. We took him down and waited outside his new classroom where the school had a clever way of getting the children in quickly to avoid any major tears.



By lunchtime when I went to pick him he already had dirty shoes and trousers! That was within 3 hours! Having this deliberately booked 2 weeks has been great for me as I get to take him in and collect him too.

On Thursday his new school jumper arrived and it fitted perfectly.

Daniel @ Villa Park II

Daniel In His Second Match At Villa Park

Fair play to those concerned at Villa Park - they laid on plenty for the kids before the Fulham game, enough even that a 4yr old didn't get bored. Thanks to a mate who ended up with a spare adult&child ticket we ended up seeing the Fulham game which we weren't planning on doing 24 hours earlier!

He had his face painted, visited the three mascots, Hercules Bella & Chip and had some photos with them. He had his picture with the Peace Cup in the Villa Village and then we all headed off to the indoor area where he ran around and kicked a few footballs - he sweated like mad in there!







The game was OK - Fulham never managed a single shot. The early goal was important and almost missed by us as Daniel decided he needed the toilet right at kick-off time! Luckily we were virtually back at our seats when it went in. Daniel enjoyed the cheering and clapping but I reckon he thinks the PA system is too loud!

We were sat over in the Lower Witton where the away fans would normally be - of course this was Fulham though and they brought a couple of carloads with them. "We're all going on a European tour" all 8 of them sang - I'm sure Rome is quaking in it's boots at the thought of a handful of Fulham Fans coming over to follow their desperately ordinary team!

Gabby's second goal was a beauty. Young Ciaran Clark did really well and looked very composed for a 19yr old. Dare I say, a little like Gareth Barry did against Arsenal all those years back?

A welcome 3 points and then a drenching on the way back to the car! Daniel didn't mind though as he'd had a great day at the football with his Dad and his friends - 10 minutes into the journey back he was fast asleep!

England Win Ashes 2009

England Win Ashes Series 2-1 2009

A great effort to win any series against Australia, but especially when the best efforts with bat and ball belonged to the Aussies.

England won it during key periods when they really put Ponting and his boys to the sword or when they managed to hang on for the unlikely draw at Cardiff. While England did extremely well, I still believe they are a good side and nothing more - their rank of fifth best in the World is spot on in my view and replacing Andrew Flintoff will be very, very hard.



I have to say I actually like Ricky Ponting. A lot of soft footballers could take note - he was hit hard right in the face fielding close in and was spitting blood for ages with a swollen lip and face. Ponting just got on with it - no drama or rolling about - fair play to him.

Let's hope we don't get thrashed 5-0 again in 18 months time Down Under!!

Whaddon Road

Cheltenham Town - Four points from six

Good solid start from Martin Allen's boys.

Now for a rant - after seeing the match programme from the Grimsby game, all I can say to Paul Baker and co is you're a bunch of f*cking sell-outs.

Whaddon Road - That's the name of Cheltenham Town's ground - it has been for 117 years - IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE - yet you've all happily forgotten now that some tinpot company decides to sponsor it.

I hope new supporters as well as old retain the tradition and history, realising that every time they set foot inside that ground, they are at WHADDON ROAD - nowhere f*cking else.

New Villa Home

New Nike Aston Villa Home Shirt 2009/2010

I think Nike have gone for the "if it ain't broke" attitude with our home shirt.



The ONLY difference between this and last season's if the round collar and a small amount of blue piping on the shoulders. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the kit's colours or traditional appearance which is great. I hope it's just complete chance that Ashley Young is the only player not smiling for the photo.....

I do think that charging people £45 for what is almost a carbon copy of last season's is a bit rich though.

A few new players holding the f*cking thing up might be nice - last season we had a squad which was universally accepted as being too small for a league and cup challenge. We are three players DOWN on that number after losing Martin Laursen, Lard-Arse Barry and now Zat Knight.

Our lone summer signing can't walk properly and won't be playing until December so excuse me if I don't count him at the moment.

I'm assuming by this lack of activity that we won't be taking the Europa League/UEFA Cup too seriously again then?

Weston

I'm A Jinx! Maybe I Shouldn't Do Weston Again!

We had three fighters at Weston on Saturday night.

Nick won his first kick-boxing bout against a local Weston Warriors fighter who took time out in the first round to salute them before getting knocked flat on his arse! Like Nick, Shane also won a unanimous decision a reclaimed his belt with a great display.

The night was left incomplete for us though as Gemma beat Kate after a five-round battle. There seemed to be little of Gemma who at first glance looked like she'd blow away in a gust of wind - looks proved totally wrong - she could box with the best and matched Kate all the way for fight and heart.



It was just like last time when I was there - Kate had all the vocal support and the other girl had nothing. Everything was eerily similar - maybe I'll give the next one a miss so Kate can get that belt back!

Kate probably heard "you did us proud" enough to be sick, but she did and we were just gutted about the result. There's nothing you can say to console after that - maybe we should just be quiet!!

Another huge disappointment for me was that Mark Weir should have been fighting but ended up not being able to find an opponent to step in with him. Never mind, maybe next time....