A note to those who are out of the World Cup

It's gotten very quiet out there.  We started with 32 and now we're down to 8 but now that USA and England are out it feels like no-one is interested anymore.  I find this sad.


Now for the USA, football (yes I said football as you play with your feet and not your hands) is a relatively new sport to your country.  It is the fastest growing sport and if you could just sort out the MLS you really will be a contender.  You did exceptionally well in this tournament.  You did well in 2006 as well.  I am Scottish - we have a rich heritage of football, it is our national sport, it is all we know, yet we can't qualify.  We used to, we always used to be at the World Cup but even then, we have never made it passed the first round.  Seriously, have a look Scotland National Football Team.  But that doesn't stop me watching it the tournament when we're not there.  The support the USA had is this tournament was great to see, you took the largest support to South Africa and from what I saw, it seemed to actually capture some imaginations and get a fair bit of coverage.   Keep watching and just see how good this sport can be.  Who knows you might enjoy it.  You have been stuck watching sports that you play against yourselves for too long.


As for you England, you have stopped watching since you went out, why?  You know better - you were dire in this tournament and you know it.  I said in a previous post why you were not going to do well and I stand by it but at least watch the teams that are doing it right and learn from them (team unity).


On Friday Holland play Brazil and even better on Saturday Argentina play Germany - How can you not be excited by that?  These are exciting games.  This is when the best of the best come up against each other and show the rest of the world how it is done.


Just because your team is no longer there does not mean it's no longer worth watching.  Trust me.

The level of punditry is patronising and insulting

I can't take credit for this article - I wish I could, but it sums up my sentiment entirely on the level of punditry.  This was written by Tom English and appeared in the The Scotsman on 16th June 2010.

IT'S FAIR to say that it's not just ITV that has taken some stick for some of their coverage at this World Cup, particularly the coverage of the tournament's lesser lights. The BBC have been getting it in the neck as well. To give you an example, what I'm talking about here is things like Alan Shearer's self-proclaimed "expert analysis" that amounts to a conveyor belt of cliches and the kind of insight that even a child of six would describe as laughable.

• Alan Shearer deserves criticism for lack of research and overall enthusiasm as a BBC pundit.


Before the Algeria versus Slovenia game in Group C on Sunday, Shearer seemed to be speaking for the entire BBC panel when he said, "Our knowledge of these two teams is limited." Limited! What the former England striker was saying was that he hadn't done his homework, that he hadn't spoken to any of his vast array of contacts in the game, hadn't tapped into the BBC's huge research machinery, hadn't even bothered, seemingly, to peruse the internet for some background on Algeria and Slovenia or even flick through a newspaper or a magazine. Shearer was content to sit in front of the cameras and tell the viewers that, really, he didn't know much. Hardly a revelation to those of us who have groaned our way through his anodyne commentaries in the past, but embarrassing all the same.

Why do the BBC deem that acceptable? Why is Shearer not taken aside and told, 'Listen, if you can't be bothered doing some research on this game then get lost'. It's a different, and entirely more professional story, on radio where the wonderful 5 Live and, closer to home, the award-winning Radio Scotland present their football coverage in a proper fashion. How does Shearer (but not just Shearer) get away with opting out like that?

And here's another one. The Beeb got carpeted by some viewers for their treatment of that Algeria game. So what happened before the kick-off in yesterday's lunch-time match between New Zealand and Slovakia? In a six-and-a-half minute introduction just one player out of the 22 on show was given a name-check, and here is how it happened.

Lee Dixon: "Slovakia have got some decent players, Hamsik, the pick of them. Young player, plays on the left side."

Gary Lineker: "He's at Napoli."

Lee Dixon: "That's right."

Alan Hansen (chuckling): "Somebody gave you him, by the way."

What Hansen meant, I think, was that his colleagues must have been fed the Hamsik reference by another party, that they couldn't have come up with his name all by themselves. It's not like Dixon or Lineker produced a dossier of facts about Hamsik, a file of information on who he is and where he has been. All they did was mention his name and the fact that he was rather good. That was it. Hansen seemed to think this was worthy of a gently-mocking put-down, as if the other two were some kind of class swots. As such, he was almost revelling in his own ignorance.

There's a lot of this going about, on BBC and ITV. The level of punditry is cringe-making. It's lowest common denominator stuff. Patronising and insulting, much of it. Emmanuel Adebayor's mobile phone started ringing in his pocket live on air the other day. His respect for the viewers didn't even amount to him making sure the thing was switched off. Edgar Davids has been unintelligible, Gareth Southgate hasn't said one interesting thing, Kevin Keegan has been nothing more than a cheerleader for England and Andy Townsend has been his usual bland self, trotting out statements of the obvious with a rapid-fire gusto. "I tell you what, for me, he's gotta hit the target from there!"

And you are paid how much, Andy?

Clarence Seedorf was in the BBC studio the other night for the Italy versus Paraguay match and he was making a point about the positive impact an Italian substitute had made on the game. He was referring to Antonio Di Natale, winner of more than 30 caps for the Azzurri and the leading goalscorer in Serie A in the season just gone, but Seedorf couldn't remember his name. Hadn't a clue. Neither did the blokes alongside him, Hansen among them. "He was the No 10," said a smiling Seedorf, who then reached for a team-sheet on the desk for help before realising that it was the Dutch team-sheet. "That's no use," he laughed. Indeed, Clarence.

Hansen thought this was priceless. "That might be highlight of the World Cup so far," he trumpeted. The programme ended and still nobody had figured out that the No 10 was Di Natale. You would hope that behind the scenes the BBC producers were holding their heads in their hands with embarrassment, but you wouldn't bank on it. Of course, in the squirm factor stakes there are many challengers. Mick McCarthy claimed just before kick-off in the Argentina versus Nigeria game that he'd only just realised that the Juan Sebastian Veron that appeared on his team-sheet was the same Veron who'd played for Manchester United and Chelsea. Quite a statement of ignorance, that.

In fairness to McCarthy, he does have something to offer in his reading of the game. It's just that there is so much that makes you wince in between. What we're getting a lot of from both sides is glib nonsense, crap jokes and crass stereotyping. Adrian Chiles is flavour of the month on ITV, but his popularity is not what it was. It wasn't his fault that ITV HD pressed the wrong button at the wrong time during England's opening game and missed Steven Gerrard's goal, but Chiles has been distinctly unconvincing in the anchor role. He wants to be the funny man when the job demands gravitas. He wants to throw in one-liners when he should be attempting to spearhead a proper discussion about a match.

His introduction to England's game against the Americans was mortifying. Wielding a baseball bat and sending a message to America, he said, "Just stick to your sports, why don't you?" Chiles was also seen patting a burger, adding: "We really love Americans, just wouldn't eat a whole one." He made himself look like a clown.

Keegan's summing-up: "It was a very, very good performance, good enough to win any game." This classic piece of Keegan claptrap should have been jumped upon and ripped apart for the nonsensical garbage that it was, but it sailed through pretty much. Chiles doesn't do confrontation – neither does the BBC – and it's a terrible weakness. There is no edge, no passion. It's all so bloody harmless and dull.

ITV needed somebody with a backbone to turn around to Keegan and say to him, 'Okay Kevin, what you're saying there is a load of junk. Explain how getting a draw against a team of journeymen like America is very good, explain the selection of James Milner out of position, explain why the rank ordinary Shaun Wright-Phillips was brought on instead of the classy Joe Cole, explain the failure of Gerrard and Frank Lampard to function together yet again, explain why this negated Wayne Rooney's impact'. Kev didn't do any of that, though.

There are many days ahead when our intelligence will be insulted by "expert analysts" who speak to us like simpletons who've just staggered home from the pub. We could do a lot worse than hitting the mute button from here on in. Or getting the commentary off the radio. 

World Cup 2010 - Boring?

I am getting increasingly despondent by the reports that this is the most boring World Cup in living memory and how is isn't living up to expectations.  


Firstly we are 5 days into the tournament how can we possibly judge that.  And secondly I am thoroughly enjoying it, I think it has had it's share of excitement so far.  That is, as much excitement as you can expect from the first game of the first round.


Everyone is cagey in their first game.  There is so much talk about 'not losing your first game' that everyone plays a bit safe, a bit defensively.  This happens every single tournament.  It happens in the Champions League it happens in the European Championships, I'm sure it happens in Copa Libertadores.  Things don't entirely heat up until the final game of the group and then the knock out games when we know that there is a finale,  that there can be only one winner.   The blood really gets pumping then.  At the moment, nothing is at stake so we haven't experienced the racing pulse, the fear, the dreaded penalties,  that heartbreaking moment, that unbridled joy.


Once we get to the knockout phase any tournament steps up a gear and I truly believe, no-one will be calling it boring then.


But for those who do still think this tournament is dull so far here are my first 5 day highlights:

1. Winston Reid equalised for New Zealand against Slovakia in the final minute - Reid is Danish and even previously played for Denmark Under 21s.  He was contacted through Facebook by a New Zealand TV station asking him whether he wanted to play in the World Cup for New Zealand because he was half Kiwi.  He didn't even know he was!
2. North Korea who trained in a public gym in South Africa scored a goal in the 80th minute against Brazil making the last 10 minutes of that game very interesting
3. Germany's clinical destruction of Australia which already, everyone has forgotten about
4. And let's not forget goalkeeping errors (sorry Rob Green, but it makes me laugh)

At the end of the 2006 World Cup the BBC wrote this report about how disappointing that tournament was, so lets not forget how the media tend to be disappointed with every tournament, not just the current one.

Now stop complaining and and just enjoy what has to come.

Scotland in South Africa

Scottish football fans start every qualifying campaign the same way, full of hope, desire and thoughts that maybe, just maybe we might just do it.  But  deep down, we know that this probably won't happen (as Scots, we all live with the eternal phrase built in 'the Hope that Kills Us'). We need other things to make us feel good about ourselves.  So in 2006 and bunch of caring, travelling Scotland fans started the Tartan Army Childrens Charity (it's gone through a few names since then but that's what they are known as now)


The TACC's aim is to help disadvantaged children in Scotland and in countries that they visit whilst supporting Scotland's national football team.


Scotland did not qualify for World Cup 2010 but that did not stop the fundraising that TACC embarked on over the last two years to raise money for disadvantaged children in South Africa and ensuring that Scotland was represented. The Tartan Army Children's Charity donated £30,000 each to two deserving causes:

• Umthombo Street Children, Durban
• Let us Grow, Orange Farm, near Johannesburg

Even though Scotland didn't qualify, Scotland fans will leave their mark with a gesture that shows the world what Scotland and in particular the Tartan Army is all about.  Over the course of the last campaign they helped to raise an incredible £60,000 to support disadvantaged children in South Africa.

They did this through a variety of means, one of which being the hugely successful Kiltwalk which even I joined in.  Around 500 people got dressed in their 500 people got dressed up pin the finest Tartan Army attire (yes kilts) and walked from 26 miles from Hampden Park in Glasgow to Loch Lomond.  

For more information on TACC and for details of a visit to the Let us Grow project go to http://www.tartanarmychildrenscharity.org.uk/cms/static.php?page=sa-blog

World Cup 2010 - Never Write off the Germans

Today I can't talk about the BBC TV coverage of Algeria v Slovenia game without choking on my rage so all I will say is this: Gary Lineker, if you do not want to be there go home. Do not belittle any team, any player or any game in this tournament. Every team who qualified got there on merit and to say the words "Not all games in the world cup can be big ones, and this one certainly falls into that the not category" and to go on to say "we have to watch these type of games too" These teams are in England's group! You should be riveted to this game. As I said if you don't want to be there, I'm sure there are many better and more qualified presenters that would like to take your place.

Anyway, last night we saw our first sign of Germany and as the old saying goes, we should never write of the Germans. They looked sharp, clinical and united. No-one has mentioned Germany in the run up to this tournament but Germany are always there or there abouts, but before we all jump on the bandwagon, I will admit they were very impressive last night. Lets remember they were playing a decidedly poor Australian side, who also had their best player sent off.

Germany should get out the group pretty easily, although Ghana will give them a run for their money. The English pundits last night got excited about the winner of this group meeting the runner up from England's group in the next round which could mean and England v Germany game. (Because lets not forget, everything as far as the TV coverage I have to endure, revolves around England)

There has also been talk over the weekend regarding the vuvuzelas being banned. They have described as sounding like a 'swarm of bees' or my personal favourite 'a goat being dragged to slaughter'. Some players are blaming the vuvuzelas for poor performances, saying they are distracting and they can't concentrate on the pitch. Some fans are saying they can't hear the commentary. My personal opinion, is that once the game has started, I barely notice them after a while. I like the colour and the noise. It gives the tournament a unique soundtrack. Every tournament has something that you remember about it.

Italia '90, everyone was humming Nessun Dorma

France '98 it was Carnival De Paris that everyone remembers

Japan/South Korea '02 all you heard was Girls screaming from the crowds

Every tournament has a soundtrack, whether it's a song, a sound, a colour. It's something memorable and unique from that tournament so keep the vuvuzela!

World Cup 2010 - England 1 - 1 USA

England were 100% sure this was going to be an easy game for them, the pundits were sure, the team was sure, the fans were sure. After all, it's only America, they don't know how to play 'soccer' anyway.

England get off to a resounding start with Stevie G scoring in the 6th minute, well at least I think so because all I saw was an advert because I was watching on ITV HD and that's what they cut to. England played OK, but as usual they never look like a unit. I have watched every game in the World Cup so far and one thing I will say is all the teams look united on and off the pitch. When you see them in the tunnel, they may look nervous but they encourage each other. I did not see any two England players talk to each other in the tunnel. They do not look as if they are in it together. You do not see them talk to each other on the pitch you only see them shout and shrug at each other. When Steven Gerrard scored, he went over to the fans to celebrate, his first reaction was not to go to his team mates. When Robert Green made his mistake for the USA goal, not one England player went over and gave him a pat on the back. As I write this I have just watched the Algerian goalkeeper make a howler to let in a goal against Slovenia and two of his team mates went straight over to him.

The English media and fans have done nothing but vilify Rob Green today and blame him for the fact that England did not win last night but I think they need to take a long hard look at themselves. England need to be united if they want to progress in this tournament. They have some of the best players in the World Cup but they by no means have the best team.

Steven Gerrard would never be my choice for captain. Yes he is inspirational and can drive forward, but he is greedy, he does not lead the team. The man for that is, of course, John Terry. The other problem is I believe there is still two sides to the camp that even the great Fabio Capello has not managed to root out.

If England want to progress they need to stop playing like individuals and start playing and acting like a team. And maybe, just maybe that when you you pull on the shirt of your nation you carry your nations hopes and dreams that wearing that shirt is a privilege, not a right.

And I say all of this as a Scot who really would rather England didn't do very well.

World Cup 2010 - Day 1

The World Cup began today. Now to explain, I love the world cup, I get quite obsessed. I have taken a week's annual leave from work to ensure I can watch all the games, I have built up my flexi time so that I can watch all the games after I go back.

However, the downside to watching the world cup is I have to endure the UK TV coverage. In the UK there is a law that states major tournaments such as the European championships and the World Cup are on free to air, terrestrial TV channels.

So today the opening ceremony was on ITV, this started with the fact that there is ITV HD although you have to hunt for it on the SKY. We were greeted by Adrian Chiles, who recently defected from the BBC, who seemed as excited as Droopy needing a nap. He was joined by Andy Townsend and Gareth Southgate who spent most of there time complaining about the vuvuzelas keeping them awake at 1am. They are clearly getting into the atmosphere of the tournament there.

The opening ceremony began and ITV in their wisdom cut to adverts during it, meaning we were missing parts of it. Then every time we cut back to the studio, Adrian Chiles continued to look bored. He then goes on just before the beginning of the first match "sorry Mexico fans, but there is no-one supporting you, we are South Africa fans today". Truly, a massive W**ker.

Then we'll move onto BBC Coverage for the evening match. Uruguay v France

I won't go into to much detail here but: Due to the unique way in which the BBC is funded, they have a rotating studio. Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen, Alan Shearer and Adebayor at least had some excitement showing which contrasted the earlier ITV coverage, however in the build up to the match all the BBC did was tell us about England's preparations, the England squad, the England manager, England's injuries etc. At half time - instead of analysis we got more about England - oh and more moaning about the vuvuzelas.

Here is a tip for both broadcasters: I would like to hear about players from all 32 teams, not just the ones from England who I already know about. I would particularly like to hear the line up and preparations of the teams that are about to play in the game that I am about to watch. At half time analysis about the game that's going on would be awesome (although to be honest, I'm getting the drinks in and using the facilities so it's not that important)

We're only at day 1 so you have time to get your acts together.

By the way - the best world cup calendar: http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html

A day at the park

My dog is stuck in the house all day when I'm at work, don't get me wrong I don't really think he minds. If I come home early, he meets me at the door yawning.

Anyway, although he enjoys his sleep he needs a lot of exercise. So every night when I get home from work, I take him to my local park. It is a good sized park, its about a mile around and loads of space to kick a ball around which is his want.

Anyway, come rain, sleet or snow my dog gets his walk of around mile round this park or something equivalent. In the summer I meet and chat to around 5-6 other dog owners and see maybe another 5 or 6 yet in the winter, I'm lucky to see 1 other person down there. Where are they the rest of the time?

Let the animal out

I have a dog and class myself as a pretty good dog owner. Don't get me wrong, my dog is not perfect and I have had many many moments where my I've been in the owner with 'that dog'. For example when when he jumps out the car runs straight down to the beach into the water and squares up to a swan while everyone else watches, like when everyone else avoids the gigantic muddy puddle but he runs through splashing then encourages other dogs to follow, like when he loses his ball in the river and has 4 different people doing the 'dawwww' face and climbing in to get it out for him.

However, I am firm believer that if you own a dog you should learn how to train it. You know, do a bit of research, read up, watch some of the many shows on TV on the matter. My personal saviour is the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. My dog was wild when I got him at the age of four. He wandered off, he charged, he escaped, he barked, he jumped up to name but a few, but now he's....no bad.

In the UK we are lucky as you don't have to keep your dog on the lead. We have the pleasure of being able to let our dogs run free (which is great if you take the time to train your dog) I regularly take my dog long walks, I like to vary the venue but one of my favourite things is the social aspect of a park for the dogs and for me. The majority of dog owners at parks are great. However, there are the few who go to this wide open space, don't let their dogs off the lead and even worse freak out when another dog goes over to theirs. They panic when my dog sniffs their dog's behind. This is what dogs do to greet each other, it is normal. But no the panicky owner is shouting at this stage to get my dog under control.

I tend to make a point around these people to NOT put my dog on the lead. To NOT call him off and to let him basically do what he wants. The more the other person wants me to shackle my dog, the less likely I am to do it. You also notice that these people's dogs generally have a jealousy in their eyes that they want to play.

If you are going to take your dog to the park, let them play, let them get dirty, let them have fun. You might just find it brings a smile to your crackling old face too.

A damn fine cup of coffee

Everyone needs caffeine to survive right?

Well a few years ago my main source of caffeine was Diet Coke. I drank gallons of it. I probably went through 4 -5 cans during a working day and then probably more when I got home. Then I decided that was probably bad so I stopped and started drinking orange squash.

However bizarrely since I stopped doing shift work and moved onto the 9-5 life late last year, caffeine has become a staple diet in my life again. Although this time in coffee form. Although I have become fussy about my coffee. My place of work has a Costa Coffee on the premises which I vow not to use due to financial implications but the jar of instant I keep in my drawer (even if it is premium instant) just doesn't cut it when you know Costa is just downstairs.

Work is covered but I don't tend to drink coffee in the house. Firstly because it doesn't occur to me to boil the kettle, secondly it takes so long to boil the kettle and thirdly, it instant - see previous comment. I have never bought a coffee maker because I live alone, and as I say don't drink enough coffee alone to warrant it. But today that all changed I bought a pod system coffee maker. A Tassimo to be precise. It makes one cup at a time which is perfect for me, makes it instantly, and you can buy lots of different varieties.

I have had it for a grand total of 7 hours and am already in love with it.

It's a whole new world

I've said it before but this time I mean it. I am determined to make some changes in life. I'm gradually getting fitter, losing weight but the best bit is I'm actually enjoying doing it. I recently found a social tennis group to join. Tennis is a sport that I have never played, never. I love watching tennis, love it. I become obsessed with Grand Slams and always want to give it a go but can't think of a way to start playing. The group I'm playing with seems to be a solution. I am really enjoying it and finding that I am also not terrible at it. I'm not great, but not terrible either. But most importantly it's got me looking into trying to find lessons...at my age!

Also, last month I completed a 26 mile marathon walk (Kiltwalk) for charity in 8.5hrs, something I am very proud of completing. Something that a some people who know me and should support me, didn't think I could do. It wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done, but it certainly wasn't as hard as I expected meaning that the training had helped. Since then I've done a 10K walk and am slowly attempting to start running, but to be honest, I hate running. I'm getting better at it and I'm certainly feeling fitter and better than I have in years but running is not something I enjoy. Walking yes, running no.

I have also found social groups to go out with which is great which means I have some semblance of a social life. I have also found new interests. I joined a debating group. Again it's a fun and social group (we meet in a pub) I signed up while on a pub crawl with the group's organiser but decided to go anyway and actually really enjoyed it.

My new philosophy of trying new things seems to be going well. I guess it's a little bit about getting out of my comfort zone.

I think once you pass the age of 30 trying new things is definitely not as easy as it once was but I am slowly and surely finding that you can get a hell of a lot of out of just biting the bullet and trying.

So, I'm feeling pretty good, I'm trying new things - let's hope it continues.

Libel Reform: My MP's response

I have been following Simon Singh's libel case which has spawned the libel reform campaign.

The short version of his case is that Simon published an article in the Guardian in which he discussed chiropractic treatment with reference to the British Chiropractic Association.

In a passage describing the BCA’s claims about the treatment of a number of childhood ailments, Singh wrote that ‘even though there is not a jot of evidence’ the BCA ‘happily promotes bogus treatments’.

Despite the article being published in the Guardian, Singh was sued personally.

This case prompted the charity Sense about Science to start the libel reform to try and get the libel laws changed.

As part of the website you can sign the petition and you can also send a letter or email to your MP. I have done both of these things and this is the disappointing response I received from my MP the Rt Hon Adam Ingram.

Early Day Motion 423: libel law reform

Thank you for your letter of 31 March 2010 on the above subject.

I read your comments with interest, however, I do not support the underlying principle of EDM 423. I believe fundamentally in the right to free speech, however, those who exercise it must do so responsibly and with regard to the rights of others. Sadly, we have a media in this country which operates in a largely, unconstrained way, with only the libel laws available for redresss. There are now too many so-called journalists and commentators who operate on the basis of character assassination, never allowing the facts to get in the way. In short, we now have an imperfect situation brought about by media excess.

I fully support the need for freedom of expression in relation to genuine scientific debate, although we have to accept that there are all too many examples of flawed scientific research and opinion which can have hugely damaging consequences. The most recent example of this related to the MMR vaccine. That did not result in libel action, but I could have, so the law of unintended consequences could have resulted from unfettered comment, as you and the campaign propose.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Adam Ingram

I'm at a loss. The Winter Olympics are over - what on earth am I going to do to take up my time. I can't afford to go out, but I didn't notice that during the Olympics.

People don't get excited about the winter Olympics, not in Scotland anyway. I was in Calgary over Christmas and there was definitely a buzz there about it, but no-one really cares here. That was until it started.

We were all getting excited about the curling. It's like chess on ice, while making coffee in the morning in the office we were discussing the intricacies of the shot that Eve Muirhead made that went round three stones to get a 3. Then came the snowboard cross, it's like BMX on a snowboard. The most insane sport that became my new favourite almost instantly. Well that was until I saw Ski Cross. Ski Cross has to be THE most insane, violent, bloody, ridiculous, fun, made up Olympic sport I have ever seen.

It all ended with something USA v Canada ice hockey final which was tense and exciting with USA equalising with 20 seconds to go taking it into sudden death overtime (a stupid idea that football tried for about 10 minutes until everyone agreed it was a ridiculous idea) where Canada came out victors, closing the Olympics in style.

Everybody I know seemed to get caught up in the Olympics in some way or other and now I have giant gap in my schedule. I guess I'll have to wait for the next big sporting event which is probably the French Tennis Open. But really, it's just a countdown now to the FIFA World Cup.

98 days to go!!

New Ethos

So I started this blog ages ago but rarely update it. I think part of my theory is that since I'm rarely interested in what I have to say other folks definately won't be. Regardless of that, I'm going to endeavour to update more regularly and make more of an effort.

The past year or so have been strange for me. I feel like someone has hit a pause button on my life. I've spent the last few weeks feeling pretty sorry for myself, mainly because of financial constraints meaning that I couldn't really do anything at all. But I've been thinking about the past year.

The life and people I knew from the age of 17 changed overnight and then over the past year I've slowly changed. My tastes have changed, my taste in clothes and accessories have changed a lot. For a long time I kept feeling that my friends had changed and that annoyed me, until I realised that it wasn't them, it was me. They still wanted to do the same things we always did, and the other things they suggest doing, I never have the finances to join in so I feel like the pauper, can't join in and I blame everyone but myself for that.

The problem is, I I'm waiting for something to happen. My flat has been on the market for 14 months with no end in sight. Until it sells, I don't have a lot of money. I have no social life to speak of so I have resorted to never ending watching of DVDs and sporting events - Loving the olympics by the way! I got a new job late last year which is going spectacularly well at the moment so I'm not a total loss. I have my job, my friends are still awesome, I have my crazy dog, I am doing a marathon walk in 6 weeks. I'm looking forward to the World Cup.

So in short, all my introspection has made realise that I have to make more of an effort. Make more of an effort with my friends, who despite myself, are always there when I need them. I need to remember who lucky I am to have them in my life. And in the meantime, I shall amuse myself by talking to relative strangers on twitter.

Oh, and if you do know anyone who wants to buy my flat, that would be great!