Supporting Leeds Utd.

Is a bloody hard job I can tell you! It was a bit of an embarrassment I must admit to get knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Histon. I'm sure it gave countless others a right laff though. I've just read a post on the WACCOE forum and it sort of covered what has happened to the club in the last four years:
" 2 relegations
2 play off final defeats
administration
receivership
near bankruptcy
-10 points
-15points
defeats in the cup to teams below us like Bury, Hereford, Rotherham...
And now we get beat by a pub team in a village I have never heard of by the fu*king postman...
you could not make it up..."

You could not make it up indeed, but although I was really pissed off after the game, and quite frankly turned the air blue, I have one thing to say...

MARCHING ON TOGETHER!!!!

Unbelievable.

Just lately there has been stories in the news that are beyond belief, you sit and think about them and just cannot comprehend how a human being can do such things. First there was the Baby P case, then this week the horrendous story of the Father that had 9 children by his daughters, now there is the terrorists in Mumbai, India.
The pictures that have been released of them show they all look so young. Barely in their 20's. how do you get into the mind set to walk into a train station and just kill innocent people?
It seems as I get older I understand myself better but the rest of the world less.

Nurses told not to call patients 'love'

I don't have to add much to the title of this post do I? Is it nuts or is it nuts? Apparently the Nursing and Midwifery Council have advised this. I heard a spokesperson for the said Council on the radio, saying that they had taken surveys and advice on this, and a lot of people don't like to be called things like 'love', 'dearie', 'sweetheart' etc. What a load of old rubbish that is. I wonder how much money was spent on coming to this conclusion?
When I first started work, I worked for a local supermarket. The boss was this little bloke and I must admit most of us thought he was a bit of a busybody at the time, but looking back he was an old fashioned 'hands on' businessman. Anyway one thing he said to me I have always remembered. He told me to always to be polite and pleasant to the customers, especially older people, because you might be the only human contact they have all the day. I always get annoyed when you see check out people that do not acknowledge you, and barely speak.
My real point being political correctness is erasing many forms of 'Human' contact.
Just as an aside about terms you should call people, I do love the way Americans call ladies Ma'am. That's lovely :)
Read about the above mentioned report HERE

Friday Rugby

The Fixture lists for the new RL season where released today. Nothing unusual in that, but there is a bee in many a Hull FC fans bonnet because of the announcement that all our home games will be played on a Friday night.
The thing is passes have been on sale for about 3 weeks and 3000 have been sold. But they have only told people about this today. Now because some people who have purchased passes did so on the basis of Sunday afternoon games, the club have had to offer refunds. Whatever day we play games some people are going to be at a disadvantage. But the way the club has announced this is a bit shabby to say the least. Apparently the reason they gave is that because of all the consultations they took about the decision, it took them until now to decide. Thing is, they've been taking opinions for about 2 years!
I suppose we'll soon find out how the move will effect crowds.

Poor Chibi!

I've been looking after one of my cats this week, as he hasn't been very well. Last Monday evening 2 dogs set about him in our front garden. Both where big dogs too, one looked like an Alsation and the other like a Japanese Akita dog. The Hubster luckilly was there and pulled them both off. Both wore collars so it looked like they had escaped from someones garden. It's pretty rare to see strays in this part of the city now.
Luckily I think his long fur saved him as he has some completely bald patches and only had his skin broken in a couple of places. He's had a pretty bad limp, but that is getting better now and he has even ventured outside a couple of times.
I just wish people who want to keep big dogs, would make sure they are secure and do not get out unsupervised. I know dogs don't like cats of course, but I can't help thinking that could have been a child.
I did call the police about the incident, thinking that the dogs could be looked out for, but was just given the number for Hull City Council, of course no one was there, unless you wanted to pay a bill that is...

Unfathomable!

I wont go into the details of what happened to little 'Baby P' (as he was called in court) But he was beaten to death, no other words for it. Now something like this upsets me greatly, as I'm sure it does everybody. What I cant fathom is how bad do things have to get before a child is taken into care?? This little mites home was visited 60 times! I tell you what I think, its bloody political correctness, the social services are frightened to death to impinge on peoples 'rights', and as a result don't bloody do their jobs properly!
The three 'people' who lived in the house with this poor child have all been convicted, but none of murder, there's something amazing about that too. I hope quite frankly hope they rot in hell, but will most probably be protected in prison, and be out in a few years.

Now I'll tell you something about being a Mother . You get some powerful feelings when you have a child, an overwhelming sense of love and protectiveness. Some can be a bit scary quite frankly, as with no qualms whatsoever I would do anything to protect my children. When I read about women who stand by, and let someone hurt their child in this way, well, they are just worse than the dirt on the ground. I know one thing, if it was me and I'm sure most women, they would do it only once.

My Daughter has just started a Masters Degree in Social Work. She said it's very hard work. I'm sure most Social Workers work very hard, and it must be a tough slog to be confronted with sad stories everyday. But when you hear stories like this, it has to be said that heads have to roll.

But then in this day and age, when do we see anyone in charge take responsibility when things go wrong? Unless you work for the BBC, or your name is Russell Brand!

Absolutely Dire!

England lost against New Zealand this morning (yet another lie in bed down the swanny) After going into a 24-8 lead in the 1st half, we preceded to not score another point and went down 36-24. My thoughts on this debacle are in a previous post. I'm even beginning to hope Papua New Guinea miraculously beat the Aussies to stop this shower from getting into the semi finals. (I know, one win and were in the semi's, the tournament has been all but rigged to be honest)
I'll leave this video to illustrate the point I posted about last week. It is Great Britain, (as they was then) and the last time we beat the Aussies, with toughness and a bit of guile.

Never mind all this 'history in the making' stuff.....

.... with the new US President etc.

The lads are back in training!!! :) (Doesn't Richard Horne look just Fab!)

US Elections.

After what has seemed like an eternity, the US elections are here. US politics has always fascinated me, and I'll be up until the early hours, watching the results come in.
It is looking very likely indeed that Barack Obama will be the next President, and although I have misgivings about him (mainly because he reminds me so much of Tony Blair, who I couldn't stand) if I was American, I would most probably vote for him.
He does seem to be pretty left wing, and that is the way I lean. But will he be too far to the left for a lot of Americans? I seem to get the impression that a lot don't have the same concept of the left as we do in this country. We'll just have to wait and see what Obama is able to do change wise, of course that will depend how well the Democrats do in the Senate and House of Representatives.
What Obama does have in spades is an fantastic image, and what the US needs now most of all is an image makeover. Mr Obama will provide this without a doubt. I hope he uses all the goodwill wisely if he is eventually elected.
As for his opponent John McCain, I think his chance to run came too late. He seems a decent man, with lots of integrity. But it has to be said that his age is the one elephant in the room that no one can ignore. Being US President is a terribly demanding job, and a man in his 70's, no matter how fit mentally and physically cannot guarantee how long he will continue to be so. This is where his choice of running mate has been fundamental. Sarah Palin obviously isn't the idiot she is painted to be, or she wouldn't have gotten to where she is today. But she just as obviously isn't ready to step in as President of the USA. Simple as.
As I have posted before, in the primary process to elect the candidate, I was rooting for Hillary Clinton.
In my view neither of the men on today's ballot has the experience, intelligence and class of this lady.
But then she is just that, a lady. I hope I live to see a woman in worlds top job some day.

Rugby Rant

Now forgive me if this reads a bit like a stream of conscience here but I'm a bit pissed off!
I've just watched the Aussies beat England 50-4 in the RL World Cup.
We where tonked it has to be said. The Aussies are excellent at what they do, they are well drilled in defence, accurate when they pass and always have players in the right place at the right time. What they do not do in my opinion is CREATE anything. I fell in love with the game in the late 70's, when attacks had finesse and a bit of the unexpected. This is where our game has changed. All the players are far fitter than of old of course, they're professional full time players, but it seems that any sort of off the cuff play anything unexpected has been all but erased from our game. The only team who play the game I love are St Helens, even my beloved Hull FC have succumbed in some ways to playing the 'Aussie way'
Just to try and illustrate my point, lets look at the Loose Forward position. I was raised on the genius of Steve 'Knocker' Norton, and Mick Crane. They created and acted like an extra half back, nowadays they just make up the numbers in the scrum.
People say that the amount of foreign players should be cut, but I think the real damage to the English game has been a succession of Aussie coaches.
We must go back to our roots, by all means take heed of the Aussie's fitness and defensive qualities, and how they prepare for games. But for God sake lets get the English style of rugby back!

Lady of Leisure.

Yesterday I finished work. I'll miss it because it was more of the social aspect for me rather than the money, but I had to face reality unfortunately. About a fortnight ago I saw my Consultant, and he told me he can do nothing for the arthritis in my knees (ie knee replacements) for at least 5 years, and maybe even 10. So a job standing up all the time had to go.
Fortunately we have just finished paying the mortgage, so have some extra money every month. I'm lucky that way, there must be a lot of people in my position who wont have that luxury.
I'm going to take some time off and have a full Christmas/New Year at home. All my working life I have worked in shops and of course the last few years in a pub. So I've always had to work Xmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Years Eve or Day. Then in the New Year see if I can get something where I'm not on my feet all the time.
We'll see what happens.
I got some lovely flowers a card and balloon from the guys at work, I was very touched, many thanks to them all.