Lonely in Crowds

Tonight was my teams Christmas party.

In truth I have been feeling under the whether for a few days, however I still don’t understand why I am the way I am.

I feel lonely in crowds, I don’t know how to do small talk, and don’t like loud music. So I paid and left and when there were no taxis outside, I walked back to the hotel, 3 miles in the dark and the snow.

I hate feeling like this and at this moment all I want is to be hugged by Belle. I have had 3 glasses of wine, so I wont drive home, I will try and read then sleep.

The truth is put me in front of a customer and I can perform, but me in a social situation and I am inept!

Those who know, know its not them!

I am back, but not with a lot to say.

Work is good, the holiday was great, and my teams are going ok.

The thing that brought me back to the cathartic world of e-space was the question of family.

I am the last person to say that you should because of family. But there are some bonds you don’t break, some deals you don’t drop out of, some things you just don’t do you those of blood.

This week I have been shocked and disappointed at the actions of two members of my family. Maybe I should say ex members of my family as I will have nothing to do with one of them moving forward.

The trouble with families is you feel responsible for them, and at the moment I cant fix the problem. Will my life be worse, probably not, however that doesn’t stop the worrying.

So I will do the best I can for those I love, and anyone who crosses them can go to hell!

When your world turns on its head, make sure you time your jump right so you land on your feet.

When there are more questions than answers

There are just 7 sleeps til holiday, and there is so much to do.

Packing, printing (hotels, tickets, routes, stuff), work oh so much work, and its to hot to do anything. The last week has been a bit of a customer road trip. The good thing is I seem to be able to make the content, not happy, but accepting, and its great. I hate meeting people, being the person in the spot light, but it would appear I am quiet good at it. I can get people to buy into me, create a web of trust, that helps to lead them to the right place. It still means I need to get the team to deliver and that is easier said than done.

Today’s question is can you make people care? Not the superficial caring that everyone trots out, but the caring that means you ensure things are done. Where you understand the simple concept of customer service, and deliver it. Where managers can hold more than 2 thoughts in their heads, and there is not the need for a hub.

Answers on a postcard, with a free H20 experience for the best solution.

In other news, it is to hot, I am melting, just without the obvious weight benefits that that could have.

So the last 7 days have been ok, better than last Fridays outpourings would have suggested, and Somerset managed a record breaking win against Yorkshire, so to be down would just be churlish.

By this time next week, I will be in France, we will have a good idea if this really is the worst Aussie team in the last 20 years, playing the worst England team, since, the last worst England team, and it will have rained at least once.

Enjoy!

Downs & Ups

This blogging thing is a bit strange, I have not written anything for weeks, because I have not had the time, or the inclination.

That’s the problem with cathartic writing you only write when you need to, but as soon as you put a URL out, people expect……..

So whilst this entry will give you a catch-up on the last 6 weeks, it will start with how I am feeling right now.

The answer is flat.

The truth is I don’t know why, I am missing my Mum (who I saw 7 hours ago), my Dad who I never seem to see, and who feels so far away, and my baby sister who I don’t see often enough. I want to cry, or sleep, or scream, but want I really need is sleep. At least I am at home with Belle, that makes things better.

It is so nice to be home, I miss Belle when I am away, and I cant wait until our holiday. I know most people think the driving is excessive, but it is great to spend time with Belle and be able to have random chats.

So enough of this self indulgent crap, what has been going on in my world in the last few weeks.

I guess I should work out what was the last thing I wrote, but to tell the truth I cant be bothered.

So want has been happening.

It falls into 3 categories:

Work – Good
Cricket – Mixed
Stuff – Who knows

Work

So I am almost 2 months into the new job, and it feels like we are heading in the right direction. The new structure is bedding down, I have some strong people, and a clear idea of what must be done. The frustration is how long it takes to get things changed. But we hit month ones targets, I expect to hit month two, and that only leads month three to achieve Q1. I am enjoying the sales and product elements of the role, and it is nice to discover that all the things I thought should happen in my previous roles, do make the differences I expected. It will take some time, but we will get there.

The biggest change has been the amount of time I am having to spend with customers. For a shy yokel, that is a big challenge, especially when you have to sell the future, the vision, a bit of yourself and a large chunk of deliverable. By the end of August I will have spent more time with different customers in this role, than in all my non delivery roles put together.

Its tough when the success of your business relies on whether people buy you, not your team or your products. I can do ‘jazz hands’ in front of a crowd, but I am not the person for people to buy into.

That being said I appear to be able to fool most of the people most of the time, so maybe we will get away with it?

Cricket

Its 2020 time, or t20 as it appears to have been renames. In world cup games, I can say that my teams lost every game I saw live. In the domestic league the Sabers have qualified for the quarters with a game in hand, and have generally played well.

The weather has been an arse, especially the last two days, where the game I went to was rained off, and the game I decided not to go to due to weather was one of the best games of the season. Hay-ho!

Stuff

I have been trying to be sensible, that has involved missing two concerts that I had tickets for, being drive, rather than driving, and attending a family do.

The concerts are annoying, and feel like a waste of money, but I guess helped stop my cold becoming to bad, being driven meant I was able to see War of the Worlds live again, which was great and the family event was not as bad as I expected.

The truth is I went because it was for my Aunt, who I am very fond of and who I wanted to see, however I was very uncomfortable in this social setting, left feeling less of me. I cant do small talk, I cant do talking to people who I don’t really know. The reality is it was a nice meal, my aunt was great, and I think she had a great time, and I was able to hide and look after my granny. The frustration is looking after granny ended up with people thinking I was good, when really I am a fraud. I am glad no one noticed, and hope that people understand my failing. I love AL, UJ and Granny and would not want to disappoint them, but I am not what people think.

I have also met someone who seemed nice, proved to be false, hurt one I love, but might not be to different to me.

So isn’t life great!?

Moving forward

The next couple weeks is more customer visits, month end, and forecasting and then my holiday, and that is what I am looking forward to most. I cant wait to return to Venice, and Rome should be go too!

Surviving YE

Well its been a very hectic few weeks, April is the end of our financial year, and we needed to do in 4 weeks what we had not done in 5 months!

Today was WD5, actuals day, and after so worrying times we have come in on my prediction.

We had a worrying couple of hours were £200k had disappeared, but I found the accounting and processing errors, and we are almost over the line.

It is strange, but I seem to have become pragmatic. The number issues today were not my fault, but I could solve it, just relax and do what I am good at.

I am also 5 working days into the new job, to be fair I have not yet had the chance to make to many changes, but I have a meeting structure planed out, and some key sales and marcoms meetings next week.

I miss read the way in which people would react to their new roles, which is disappointing, but I am working and helping them to adjust, and am confident we can get there. They are a good group, and the new structure plays to their strengths.

So next week is 4 ½ days of meetings, so it will be full on, but we will be a step further on in fixing 4 years worth of mistakes and lost opportunities.

When Monday Comes

After a great weekend, it was the choice between SKY and live, I chose live, and the atmosphere was fantastic. When the winner went in I was even hugged by the stranger next to me!

Team Review:

Stockdale – 6 – A couple of doggy flaps, followed by a couple of great saves
Morrison – 6 – Played at right back for the first time, and was interested, generally a solid game
Hobbs – 7 – Clearly his best game for the Foxes since pre-season
Brown – 7 – A solid game from the old guy, although showed a lack of pace when left 1 on 1 on the half way line
Mattock – 6 – Another good performance, he is starting to position himself so his lack of pace does not expose him.
Gradel – 7 – Quick feet and good passion, if only he could take a corner
Oakley – 7 – Finally a good game from the captain
King – 7 – A solid performance, terrier like in chasing down the ball
Dyer – 8 – Quick, quick, quick where has this play been for the last 3 months
Fryatt – 5 – Very average, to be honest he has not played well since he signed his new contract, it will be interesting to see how he does next season
Howard – 8 – He plays like a lump, but a great header to win the match.

So we need 1 point from 9, if it was to survive relegation, I would have doubts, but I cant believe we wont make it (please?).

Back to work tomorrow, and whilst it will be interesting, it would be nice to have a longer break.

It has been great to spend quality time with Belle, roll on the next break!

What a Weekend

Looking back at my emails I saw that I booked this weekend on Christmas day (I know, but I was planning our weekends, and the plan worked).

I managed to leave the office by 17:30 on Thurday, which meant that we were on the road by 18:45 travelling down to Mum’s. The journey was a bit like travelling the evening before a bank holiday, and we were both very tired, so it was great to arrive at Mum’s and have chicken and chips waiting for us.

Friday dawned wet and yucky, so after breakfast we headed of to Montacute House near Yeovil. We got luck with the weather, it was dry whilst we looked at the first part of the garden, it rained whilst we were in the house, and then was dry when we came out and did the rest of the garden.

There were some interesting rooms, and some nice pictures (except the feet!), and the garden was simply but interesting.

We headed of to our B&B about 16:00, and arrived at 17:00. It was one of those moments when you look at the building in front of you cant be the right place, it looks as big as Montacute. But it was, well part of it was our B&B.

The rooms were fantastic, the Kitchen had great high ceilings, a centre island, and lovely comfortable chairs, it also feature a wonderful wooden stair case.

I knew we have a 4 poster bed in our room, but even knowing that I was surprised at how nice the room was.



It was trying the rain again as we waited for the taxi to go to River Cottage HQ, but in the 5 minute drive the sun came out.

It was a strange thing looking down on the house that we had seen on TV, as the sun started to set over the Dorset hills.

We had a lovely welcome drink, and a blue cheese and beetroot canapé.

I wont go into details of the night, suffice it to say the food and drink was fantastic.

Look at the menu and drool!

Cider brandy with apple juice

Roasted beetroot on blue cheese crostini
Chorizo on egg mayonnaise crostini
Pollock gratin on crostini

Nettle beer

Brawn, pork liver, sourdough, chutney and baby leaves
Crab bisque, dressed crab, herb yoghurt

Slow roast shoulder of mutton, seared loin and leg, little haggis, parsnip purée, green herb sauce

Streamed lemon sponge, orange curd and double cream

Plum wine
Pineau des charentes

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and unheard for us we were up for 9:00 for our cooked breakfast. It was lovely, and our hosts were very welcoming.

Our (my) plans had always centred around the River Cottage experiences so I had not put much thought into Saturdays activities, that however was fine as my wife had wanted to go fossil hunting in Lyme Regis for almost 30 years!

It was a great sunny day, lots of walking along the beach, which was not to busy. When it was time for lunch we found a restaurant / bar that did bar food, and had 3 fish based starters to share:

Whitebate in breadcrumbs
Tiger Prawns in filo pastry
Crab cakes.

It was a seaside tapas, and was so fresh, it was great!

Refreshed we walked further along the sea front, through the formal gardens and back to the car (via the Mary Anning Museum).

We the made a short trip to Axminster just in case the River Cottage Canteen did not sell stuff when we returned later for dinner. It wont have so we bought some wine, liquor, and chutney (yum).

Then back to the B&B and a lovely soak in the large bath.

So come 19:00 it was off for River Cottage Experience number 2 at the Canteen. A menu with a choice, but as we discovered a venue that turns tables, so the only blot on the River Cottage experience was the rather snooty way were we told ‘We should have been there for 19:00, and had to be out for 21:00, now they could serve us that quickly so it was up to us!’ not sure she really understands the Hue experience.

Again the food was 1st class, so the menu was:

Seared hand dive scallops, potato and garlic purée with canteen chorizo

Belle
Slow roast shoulder and seared loin of organic hoggit, potato gratin buttered greens and rosemary gravy

Lemon curd Eton mess

Me
Slow roast shoulder of organic pork, mash, buttered greens apple sauce and cider gravy

Vanilla yoghurt pannacotta with poach rubarb

As I was driving I was on the apple juice with Elderflower, and Belle was on the Camel Valley red (which I thought tasted young, but Belle enjoyed).

So back home on Sunday after another good breakfast, and in conclusion we had a stonking time, very relaxing, wonderful food, and only 50 miles to drive (other than getting there and back, which does not count).

We both cant wait to go back, and will be pitching to friends next weekend, one is a real foodie, and I am sure he will be up for it, cos he will love it!

We continue to stagger and ‘The Hat’ continues to work, its just weird.

I am not a superstitious person however I have a hat which whenever I have worn it at a game we have not lost. Yesterday it was 15 degrees, so not really woolly hat whether, so I had it in a bag with me. The first half we were rubbish, so I put it on in the second half, and our performance was greatly improved, we scored twice, and could have scored another 3, but for their keeper, who was man of the match by a mile. He pulled off 3 or 4 excellent full stretch saves, which on another day we have given us a comfortable victory.

So we are 2 points clear of Posh, and 7 points clear of MK, we have 5 games left and need 8 points to guarantee promotion on goal difference.

Player Review:

Warner – 6 – Could have done better for the first goal, but generally a solid game.
Gilbert – 6 – He had a good game until he was injured on the stock of half time.
Kisnorbo – 7 – A solid performance, that we needed from centre half
Hobbs – 3 - Out of position both goals, if we pay £400K for him, it will be £399k to much.
Mattock – 6 – Was skinned several times, but never really compromised
Gradel – 6 – Generally a good game was unfortunate to be taken off in stead of Dyer
Dyer – 6 – Still looks nervious in a challenge, great cross for the 2nd goal
Oakley – 6 – Again very poor crosses, but scored a great 1st goal
King – 6 – Solid again, but needs to impose himself more on tight games
Howard – 6 – A nothing game from Howard, he wins most of the knock down, but never finds a player
Fryatt – 7 – Good header for the 2nd, however should have scored at least one more!

One fly out of the Cuckoos nest, and lied!

Its been an interesting week, as with all first weeks of each month, we had an actuals nightmare. Yet again it appears impossible for people to track a small number of days and the numerical impact. We will need to change the process for April.

I also had my appraisal, which went ok. I hate talking about myself, but I am keen to learn and improve, so it is a contrary situation.

The issue however that has got my blood boiling this week, is the latest disingenuousness of Lewis Hamilton. For those of you who know me, you will be rolling your eyes and thinking only one race in and hear we go again, but if you follow the link below you will understand why I am so P****d off.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7980602.stm

Now that audio would be fine, if at the end of the race McLaren had done nothing, however what they did next was complain that Jarno had overtaken under the safety car. Oh but they forgot to say they let him through. It is like your bank sending you £10,000 in cash and then charging you for exceeding your overdraft. So Hamilton is disqualified, and the FIA are set to carry out further investigations, so I should be happy. But no, because what else have they done, they have suspended their race manager, a man who has been part of the team for over 30 years. Surely I am not the only one who is thinking scapegoat?!?

Tomorrow its off to the stadium of dreams, to see if we can get our push back on track. They also have a shirt sale, so I will have to have a look!

3 of a kind

Its a list, as tagged by ZOEV, and is about all I can write as I am so tired, weekend update later this week, promise.

I just hope this is not enough to create identity fraud!

THREE NAMES I GO BY
1. Matthew
2. MASA
3. Jester

THREE JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE
1. Client Services Director
2. Operations Director
3. Saturday boy

THREE PLACES I HAVE LIVED
1. Bedford
2. Leicester
3. WsM
THREE TV SHOWS I WATCH
1. The Apprentice
2. Spooks
3. BSG
THREE PLACES I HAVE BEEN
1. Cario
2. Sydney
3. Cambodia
THREE PLACES I WANT TO GO
1. Pompeii
2. Mexico
3. Cambodia (again)

THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS
1. Pork Pie
2. Songo’s Mexican
3. Chocolate

THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
1. River Cottage
2. Summer Holiday
3. The new structure being confirmed

THREE PETS THAT YOU HAVE OWNED
1. Part owned Smokey and Patch
2. None
3. None

THREE FAVORITE BANDS/ ARTISTS
1. Marillion
2. Moody Blues
3. Pink Floyd

THREE FAVORITE TEAMS TO WATCH
1. Leicester City
2. Somerset CC
3. Bath RFC

THREE FAVORITE DRINKS
1. Red Wine
2. Mistral
3. Water

When Saturday Comes

We are not so much storming to the title as staggering over the line, another draw means we are moving towards promotion, but not in a way that will give as a great start to next season.

Player Ratings

Warner – 8 – Keeper number 6 of the season played a fantastic game, including a full face save.
Gilbert – 7 – The best game of the season for the right back, charging down the flanks
Morrison – 4 – We need Kissie and Tunch back. Another inept performance
Hobbs – 5 – We are allegedly offering £400k for this make weight. He cant pass, tackle, or head.
Mattock – 5 – A poor game from the youngster, out of position and to slow, the new haircut has not helped
Cleverley – 5 – Not long enough on the pitch to do anything really. The dislocated shoulder looks worrying
Oakley – 3 – Everything he touched went wrong, a poor, poor performance from the captain
King – 6 – Average performance, better in the second half
Gradel – 6 – He needs to stop trying to beat every player before passing, however it was still a shock when he was subbed
Hayles – 6 – Tried hard, but is a bit to old to cut it for 90 mins
Fryatt – 5 – A very poor game from our leading scorer.
Subs:
Dyer – 5 – Still not as good as he was earlier in the season
Dickov – 6 – Scored with his first touch, then did not a lot other than run around a lot.

Saturday evening saw guests for dinner, and we had a great night. It was good to catch-up and I think the risotto worked ok, although the rabit was tasteless. It was good to catch and caught-up after a few months, and great news that JOSI has been granted early retirement.

A brief update escaping the grind stone

This week has flown by, it seems like only 24 hours since I was pitching in the west country, and its already nearly Friday.

At this rate in less than 20 weeks I will be 36, were is this year going?

Today was management team, with a guest appearance from HR. It was a good meeting, with some useful input, and some good banter.

We seem to be getting better at managing expectations and delivering our number, and I am optimistic that we could have the best month of the FY todate.

On the home front Belle and I went to see Wishing Tree on Monday night in a small theatre in Tring, it was a lovely night Bouncing Pete T and his mate Robin played a fantastic 40 minutes Guitar impro section, and then Steve and Hannah had a go at playing live, which in truth was not as good as the support act!

What made the evening fantastic however was having Belle there, her enjoying it and being able to chat on the journey both ways. We got home at 23:40 which was really to late, but sometimes fun is worth a late night.

This weekend we have friends for dinner, and I have football, come on the Hat!

No sleep, but nice all the same

After a long week, travelling over 700 miles, the weekend brought a further 400 miles as we went to see baby sister and mum for the weekend.

I must admit I could have done without the drive, however it was great to see them both.

We arrived in time for brunch, after the curse of matrix boards and the Stoke section of the M6. We have bacon and eggs then headed into the city for some shopping.

In most shops Drips and I went one way and Mum and Belle went another. The end result was I was a lot lighter in cash terms by 19:00, but I did get some very nice stuff.

We then headed for a meal in Café Rouge, which was one of the best meals ever. All four of us, liked all of our courses, and the service was great too.

We returned back to the newly decorated Castle LIRU, which looks so much bigger with the new paint and flat walls, and played a game of find the sister, due to her new slim line packaging.

Some wine, and chat, and holiday planning and it was time for bed, which was where the problems started. Belle and I managed to keep each other awake with snoring, moving and various other things that meant we shared about 5 hours sleep each.

Sunday saw a leisurely morning, roast chicken for lunch, and then the drive home (with more M6 C**P). We arrive home tired, but having had a nice weekend.

I am just please tomorrow is not Monday, Doh!

When Saturday Comes

So another long space of time since I last entered the world of cyberspace writing. In truth that is good, nothing stressy has really happened, so need to rant on ‘e’.

So what has happened, well we have been to Leeds to see friend, who have a lovely rented house with a fantastic view over a mix of the city and the countryside. It was great to see them, and then to get the all clear on MACO.

Last weekend was footie, but away and I have to say I was very nervious about being part of a different type of crowd. There is more hostility in those that travel away, there is also a lot more noise as they chant for 90 minutes (or 98 minutes in this case). The game was one of highs, lows, and a 95 minute head rush as Max scored a goal that Ronaldo would have been proud of. We then headed of to one of our favourite Hotels, Fawsley Hall. Its just an hour from home, is small enough to be boutique, has a great restaurant, real history, and a spa.

We have a great meal (and spent £110 on two bottles of wine!), a comfortable bed, and some relaxing treatments on the Sunday. It was a much needed re-charge and we both love to be able to just sit in a restaurant and enjoy good food and each others company.

The week that followed was one of up’s and down’s. Ultimately it finished on a low, and the reasons for that require serious thought as to how to fix the problem, because it will not fix itself, and I still have the wrong blend on managers. Before that however we finally, after 9 months hit our number! That feeling was like 100 ‘e’s and several bottle of expensive fizz (I imagine), and shows you don’t need external stimuli given the right challenges.

We also are making good steps in the drive towards a new structure that addresses the issues we have. I must admit to being frustrated at the amount of talking that seemed to be required, however we have a plan and a timeline, and you know how much I like that!

Saturday was football again, finally a home win, and a 4-0 thrashing of Cheltenham (the same result as the game I watched with STAI and TOAI in August. It was a good game, in which we were rarely troubled. So after a long absence a game review and player ratings.

The first goal was cleverly crafted, as Cleverly crossed onto the head of Howard, how rose like a block of granite to head home the first. A few minutes later Howard flicted on and Fryatt took the ball down, turned and fired a great 2nd. Goal three should have been an own goal, however despite not touching the ball Howard was given off side. As you can image the crowd were not that nice to the linesman (sorry Assistant Referee). Then after a jinking run, Cleverley missed when scoring was easier. A few minutes later he dropped his shoulder, cleverly twisted and turned pasted 3 defenders and scored with ease.

The forth was again forged by the youngster from the worlds greatest team. And Oakley walked through the defence and fired a great 4th. That you would have thought would be that, but you may have noticed we are into paragraph 3 without any mention to everyone’s favourite Maybury, Young Jack Hobbs. Well todays team was so poor that he looked more like Vidic than the ginger Scot. However when Oakley was subbed and he handed to captains armband to the young scouser I was worried. Could this be Jack’s toughest 24 minutes ever? (tick, tick, tick). The answer was no, no mistakes, nothing to drive his namesake to drink, just time played out when we could have scored more. So to the player ratings:

Stockdale – 5 – Nothing to do but the occasional kick
Gilbert – 6 – Finally he was beating his man
Hobbs – 7 – Yes a 7, if he could do this in harder games he could be a good player
Morrison – 5 – Still rubbish, we need Kissie and Tunch back
Mattock – 7 – Everything you expect from Joe, it will be interesting to see if he has really gained pace, or is just playing against slower players
Oakley – 7 – A great goal, but really needs to learn how to take a corner
Cleverley – 9 – A performance that could have graced Old Trafford, the first time I have seen him look good
King – 6 – Solid
Gradel – 8 – Against a poor team he looked great, and his quick feet are fun to watch
Fryatt – 7 – Ran well and took his goal like someone scoring for the 27th time this season
Howard – 7 – Finally a game were he tried, even when he did not have the ball. I actually stood up to clap him when he was subbed.

Tomorrow is going to be a rare weekend working day, not ideal, but something that needs to be done, as the rest of the month is weekends of fun.
Its likely to be more radio silence next week as I split my week between Worcester and Cornwall, with a trip to Liverpool thrown in for good measure. All in All a 1000 mile week, almost as much as my staff!

At the end of the day

It’s the end of one of the two non finance weeks each month, and it has been mainly spend doing, finance. In addition to the forecast, actuals we have the business plan, it is getting to the point were I would like a week without excel!

Today was presentation day, and I am told the fact that we didn’t finish, but were guillotined was a good sign. It does mean we have loads to do in the next four weeks, and I currently have just four clear days in the next month.

I have been feeling very tired today, so much so that I feel a sleep when Belle got home.

Tomorrow its of to the frozen North to see MACO and TACO in their new love pad! It will be good to see them both and have a relaxing weekend. Next week is going to be full on with client meetings, process reviews, structure reviews and sales tender planning, so a work free weekend is just what’s needed.

Monday, Bloody Monday

Its different when its your friends. Over the last 6 months I have had to make a number of people redundant, it’s the way of the market, however when you hear about others going through the same thing it feels different.

What makes it worse is when they use such a poor process. By miss using the same process as I have used 60 people are affected rather than just 10. Its madness. The only saving grace is that even this pitiful effort will not save the share price. As they approach the end of H1, I am sure the share price will continue to drop. The big cash payout that the bastards who run the business want will not happen, they had their chance and ditched the wrong people. Those people are now happy and have fulfilment, what do they have.

As for my day, I had my first meeting with my first sales direct report. Just a £600k target for the next 10 weeks, I like small challenges!

I was however home by 18:30, tea by 19:30, and another 3 episodes of Spooks, nice!

Hobbs Knob

It’s a Saturday, and sometimes that means sometimes I do a review of the game, and player ratings, however today, I will rate just one player, Jack Hobbs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Hobbs_(footballer)).

As anyone who ever listens to me will know I am not a great fan, of young Jack, however today he reached an all time low, hand has surplaced Alan Maybury as the worst LCFC regular I have ever had to endure watching.

Lets just look at todays performance, and be charitable and ignore his hand in the opposition goal. Lets just run through the key requirements of a defender.

1) Heading – To say that his headers are powder puff, who be unkind to powder puffs. No power, no sense of direction, no passing ability. That is of course when he doesn’t play his special trick, not quite getting to head the ball at all.
2) Passing – He has two skills here, he can either kick it out, or can pass it to the opposition. That’s not really fair, he can also pass sideways
3) Ball @ Feet – This is were he gets really good. He has one approach, he puts his head down and runs! Sooner or later he runs into someone, falls down, loses the ball then slowly walks back into position. Occasionally he gets back during the same game.
Now some would say that he is only 20 and we should give him a chance, and whilst in my own business I would give a kid a second chance, however he has a premier contract, many players are performing at the top level at his age, and he I am afraid is rubbish! I hope at the end of the season we send him back to Raffa, where I expect him never to be heard of again. To be honest, if I had the chance, I would drive him back to Liverpool tomorrow, and put PASH in his place. We would be better playing Gerry Taggart!

So, how would I rate young Jack, using the usual 10 point scale. If it was possible to give a negative score I would, however as that would be breaking new ground lets go with 1. Alan Maybury would have been better!

The game was poor, a 1-1 draw, and the journey rubbish, thank god for a valentines meal with Belle, and series two of Spooks.

Friday 13th

So, it was a fantastic day until about 19:20, when I ran out of fuel. Yes the car has a gauge that tells you, and it even has a how many miles until you need to re-fill. So will 200 meters until the Sainsbury’s petrol station, I stopped. To cut a very long and frustrating story short, someone came out of their house and offer me a fuel tank, I walked to the garage and was offered a tow, but a lady in a Citroen AX, on arriving back at my car, she discovered she had no tow rope, so she pushed the car to the garage with Belle.

God bless her, I hope she gets her reward, it makes you realise that not everyone is a waste of oxygen.

Lets hope the hat still works tomorrow.

£725k found, and still £400k short

Far to many of these entries revolve around numbers and the inability of colleagues to understand and deliver. This week I have been trying to find £1.1m over 10 weeks, easy stuff?!!?

Good news is I have got us to £720k, but I cant control the delivery of this, it is down to the sales team, so god help us.

Add this to the fact that its business plan time, so I am also looking for £40m over 12 weeks, I am sure there is a reason I do this job!

The good news is there is only 2 days left this week, then its football, FIFA 09 on the PS2, catch up on Sky+ and spend some more time with Belle.

Whilst the numbers pain is a never ending slog, I have only had to be away from home 4 nights on the last 3 months, which means sitting with Belle in the evenings, which is sooooo relaxing.

Tomorrow I need to present 3 BP presentations, and whilst I have done all the data gathering, I have not done the slides, not because I am winging it, but because I want to relax tonight, so it will wait until tomorrow morning even if I have to be up early (well early for me!).

Coming in from the cold.

The problem with cathartic blogs are when you don’t need cathar, you don’t write. I have a friend who has taken 6 months off, and travelling the world, he has created a blog, which is much more up beat, and relaxed than mine.

The last week has been rubbish due to snow, I hate snow, its so invasive, it stops everything you want to do, and has played havoc with my numbers. This coming week is more finance, fun, fun, fun!

This weekend I have been working on the summer trip to Italy, its been tricky finding twin rooms in hotels in Rome and Venice, Double and Singles, but Twins, are harder to find that a goal in a 10 v 11 football match. I finally found them, and also a nice place at Herculaneum, I cant wait to see it and Pompeii. As for Venice, it’s a nice 5 star hotel, and Rome is a 4 room boutique hotel near the Parthenon and Coliseum.

We have some fun coming up over the next few weeks, next week is football, then upto MacoTake Towers, that followed by the Kaiser Chiefs, then a Spa weekend, and my first league away game. Should be fun.

And on the 7th day, I did lots and lots.

Sunday, and although it started with a lye-in. It was one of those days, where there is lots that needs to be done, unless you want to do it when you get home from work.

So, it was putting presents away, tidying the library and making space for the new books, unfortunately with more to come, I will need to have a review of some of the reference books, and they might need to get moved.

Then there is the business plan slides for 2 business units, which I have to present tomorrow, it took 2 hours to get not very far, lets hope tomorrow morning brings some inspiration.

There was also lots of cooking, making Fish Pies for next Saturday, when we get to France, a cottage pie for Wednesday when PASH gets here, and the prep for Songo’s roast tea.

All in all from 12:00 til 19:30 seemed non stop, the good news is at least its done now. I only need to pack for France and I will be done.

I did manage to catch some of the football in the background, and what a strange afternoon it was. Chelsea look a shell of their former selves, they look a long way from title challengers. As for Spurs, I still don’t understand how a squad that good can be that bad, they are far better than the Forest team that was relegated from the top flight, but could be set for the same fate.

The weekends results have all played into Man U’s hands, worryingly for Liverpool no one has ever drawn both games with Stoke and then gone onto win the title, that I am afraid is a fact!

Another fact is a business that drops £2m in 4 weeks requires serious surgery, that I believe will be started tomorrow.

We won 3-0, thats a fact!

So back to work, and I have been quiet for another week. This week has been busy, frustrating, but has also seen some good steps forward.

It has been challenging getting back into it after 10 days off, but I am sure my brain will catch-up soon!

The good news is there is only another 5 days then another holiday, the annual trip to France, which will be great.

I am looking forwards to a semi relaxing Sunday, which whilst I need to produce the Elections and Geospatial Business Plan strategy slides and tidy the library, it is another day without an alarm!

So to the activity of the day, and the 130 mile round trip to the theatre of expectations, and we won 3-0 that is a fact!

It funny how you start expecting, when we were losing over the last 5 years, I would have taken a 3-0 home win, which continued a 9 game winning home league run. But you start to get used to winning, and you want even more, you and 90 minutes of quality, and 11 players with quality performances. Football fans, ever greedy!

So to the game review

David Martin – 6 – He sat happily with his pipe and sleepers for 90 minutes
Gilbert – 2 – A true shocking display, poor distribution, decision making and positioning
Tunchev – 7 – Another commanding performance from the centre back
Hobbs – 6 – Good in the air, put his distribution and positioning was very poor
Berner – 5 – Poor game, pulled out of position to often, and rightly sub’d
Mattock (60) – 6 – A good performance both going forward and at the back
Dyer – 6 – Seemed afraid to go past players, but showed his pace several times, his final ball however was poor
Gradel (80) – Average, not really enough time to show his class
Davies – 8 – You can guarantee that if his loan deal becomes permanent then we wont see displays of this quality, quick feet, good vision and very brave in scoring the second
King – 7 – I am starting to understand why he is it the team, he put in a go performance without ever sparkling
Oakley – 5 – The problem for Matt is he is not a right winger and when he drifts inside and Gilbert fails to overlap we look very one sided. He did however take his goal well, when he could have been suffering shock given that he was feed through by Fryatt.
Howard – 7 – Strong in the air, but Fryatt and Dickov failed to read his flick ons.
Fryatt – 5 – First game back after injury and looked like to old player, oh dear
Dickov (75) – 6 – Added a bit of passion, but he is not the player he was, took the pen well.

That’s it for footy now until the 27th and a mid week game against Brighton, and a return to the Walkers for Micky Adams, I am sure we will give him the welcome he deserves!

Back to work

Back to work, and it was a good day. I got through a reasonable amount of work, and using the bosses office was fun! Back to my office tomorrow, it’s a bit smaller, but its mine!

Tomorrow is another day without any meetings, so hopefully I can continue to stay ahead. Given how much work is needed for BP iteration 1, I will need more that the Wednesday I have set aside for it.

I was home by 19:00, tea by 19:30, a very relaxing evening.