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Tis the season to be jolly

Christmas is just round the corner. It’s a time of celebration, to be with the family, to set aside your differences and love your fellow man (in a peace and happiness way, not the Adam and Eve physical kind of love he enjoys with men). So why are there so many miserable chuffers about? Blues are top, we rode our luck against Preston, we were given a penalty, we saw a hat-trick scored by a Blues player and we're privileged enough to watch one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe, yet we're still miserable.

Just the other week I was proud to announce that the Bluenoses of Small Heath Alliance had clubbed together to buy Ryan Hunt, his mate and an adult a season ticket for the rest of the season so they can watch Blues race to the Premier League. Just to recap, Ryan lost his mum (who was 8 months pregnant) and his 9 year old brother when a car driver lost control and crashed into the family. Ryan also suffered a broken leg and is in the process of recovering from both his physical and mental injuries. With kind thanks to BCFC, it was arranged for Cameron Jerome to hand the tickets over to the lads. The presentation on the pitch was a done a couple of hours before the Preston game. Ryan and his mate, Keighan, turned up along with some of Keighan's family. The two 7 year olds were just like any 7 year old lads. Both were chuffed to pieces to be at the football club they love, to walk onto the turf at St Andrews and to meet rising star Cameron Jerome. The photos in the Evening Mail show just how big those smiles were.

I asked Cindy, Keighan's mum, how Ryan was adjusting. She told me that Ryan has good days and bad days, but he's slowly coming to terms with the fact he's lost his mum and brother. His forthcoming birthday and then Christmas will be the big tests for the young lad. By all accounts and understandably his Dad Scott is struggling and now is the time he'll be calling on family and friends for support.

The photo session went well. Cameron was great with the lads and they enjoyed a kick about in the centre circle. I did get a bit worried when Keighan tried to take Jerome's legs. That might explain why he pulled up near the end of the game. Kids of today, no respect for their elders. Steve, sorry about the state of your pitch!

Unfortunately, both for me and the general public, my photo appeared in the papers. I hate having my photo taken. Not just because I'm Marty Feldman's uglier older brother but photos feel to me to be really unnatural when you have to pose for them, I just become awkward and ungainly. I should have taken a leaf out of the lads' book. They posed like film stars and the produced the biggest heart warming smiles you've ever seen.

Anyway, later on the week I received the following e-mail from Cindy:-

Richard

Just like to say a huge thank you to you and all that contributed for the tickets.

We had a great game and the seats are excellent, Ryan did manage to stay for half the game but his leg started to hurt so had to leave.

I would be very grateful if you could say thank you to all concerned

You have put faith back into Scott and myself- you hear all the time that people are just interested in themselves but you have proved that wrong

Once again Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

Cindy



This week sees Birmingham go to Hillsborough, scene of the one of the most horrific tragedies in British Football. On 15 April 1989, 96 football fans lost their lives when the ground became over crowded and people began to panic. Not only did thousands of people inside the ground witness the horror, but the whole nightmare was played out in front of countless television viewers. I won't go into the whys and whereabouts. At the end of the day, almost one hundred people died, affecting countless people and changing forever the face of English football.

Many people this Christmas will be alone, or at home, thinking about a loved one lost. Make the most of your family, give thanks for what you’ve got, celebrate Christmas like you mean it and raise a glass that you're fortunate enough to be here with your mates and your kin to see Blues playing with a spirit and passion they lacked in the last couple of years

Have a very happy Christmas and here's to a prosperous New Year.
posted by kwacky at 11:56 pm

 
Bring out your dead

After a promising start to the year with the loss of both Shelley Winters and Wilson Pickett, the celebrity death event has been a little bit of a let down this year. With Gene Pitney being the only known name bothering to make the effort throughout the whole of spring and summer, it was left to Steve Irwin to romp home with this year's 'Celebrity Death Of The Year' title with his uniquely magnificent creation whilst out filming in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.

Richard Hammmond's copycat attempt at getting himself mullered whilst filming was quite frankly, an embarrassment to the whole of England. Our latest offereing (some bloke off Talk Radio) has epitomised just how far down the celebrity death rankings we have slipped and following General Pinochet's demise we are even languishing behind such celebrity-less countries as Chile. Is it any wonder that the Aussies went on to wop us in the Ashes?

Organisers of 'Celebrity Death Of The Year' have expressed their disappointment at this year's turn-out and have blamed it on an attack of common sense breaking out but are confident that there will be a much stronger field next year. One high ranking official was quoted as saying 'it hasn't quite been the same since golfers stopped flying to tournaments'. Early favourites for this coming year include Baroness Thatcher, Pete Doherty and Richard Hammond (yeah right!). Betting is a little slow so far but officials are investigating a rather large wager placed in the Liverpool area on X Factor winner Leona Lewis by a punter known only as Ray.
posted by kwacky at 11:54 pm

 
Cardiff Revisited


















posted by kwacky at 1:38 pm

 
FANS DIG DEEP FOR RYAN


Big-hearted Blues fans have raised hundreds of pounds to fund a season ticket for a seven-year-old boy who saw his brother and pregnant mother killed on a Birmingham road, writes Emma Cullwick in today's Birmingham Mail.

Members of the Small Heath Alliance, a club for Birmingham City supporters, were so touched when they read an article in the Birmingham Mail about Ryan Hunt that they decided they wanted to provide some cheer for the youngster.

The Mail reported how the youngster's best friend, Keighan Bowles, also seven, had asked Blues bosses if they could do anything to help put a smile on Ryan's face.

His inquiry resulted in the club playing host to Ryan and Keighan - giving them their own box, making Ryan mascot and allowing him to meet the whole team.

In a bid to keep the young Blues fan smiling, the Small Heath Alliance have now rallied together to raise almost £1,000 to fund season tickets for Ryan, Keighan and one adult.

A member of the alliance, explained: "We couldn't believed what happened to Ryan when we read it in the Mail.

"We saw that he was a big fan of the Blues and we knew we had to do something for him. We put a note on our internet site asking members for donations and I was overwhelmed that in just nine hours we had raised more than enough money.

"We get abuse from posting things on our forums but this shows that it can do a lot of good and the fans look out for one another."

SHA surprised Ryan and Keighan with the tickets at the Blues ground on Saturday.

"It's just nice to be able to do something to help Ryan after he has suffered so much heartache,"

Ryan was also hit by the car but escaped with a broken leg in the horrific hit-and-run, which claimed the life of his mum Sarah-Jayne, 28, who was eight months pregnant, and his brother, nine-year-old Kieran.

Sarah-Jayne, of Speedwell Road, Hay Mills, was separated from Scott Hunt, of Yew Tree Lane, and also had two young daughters from a new relationship.

Disabled Mr Hunt, who is in his 30s, was about to collect Ryan and Kieran after school when the incident happened on Coventry Road in October.

Ibrer Faisel, aged 19, of Mansel Road, Small Heath, has been remanded in custody charged with manslaughter, causing death by dangerous driving and criminal damage.
posted by kwacky at 7:24 pm

 
Blue-Qaeda – A New Axis of Evil



Following the home defeat at the hands of Norwich, there were grumbles from the crowd. This appeared to take Bruce by surprise.

Ignoring the poor football of the last 2 years, the biggest home defeat since time started, relegation with the best ever squad of players (not my words) and certainly the most expensive team we’ve ever owned, ignoring even the poor start to the season with a fresh young team full of energy and promise, Bruce had a point. The fans had been incredibly patient up until that Norwich game.

So who was to blame for this unexpected display of disloyalty? According to Bruce, it was a mere 200 fans (and latterly 500) who wanted his head and all of those fans were internet users. Not real fans. Not the fans who go to away games, or the fans who have owned season tickets since they can remember, but internet fans. Like Al-Qaeda, these monsters of terror are never seen. They are shadows in the night. As Bush and Blair urge the western world to fight a war of terror against enemies who walk amongst us, Steve Bruce and Tom Ross have donned their tights and pants and now the caped crusaders will fight for justice, truth and the Bluenose way.

So who are these Blue-Qaeda, these now fabled warriors of the internet? These despicable creatures who dare point out our managers shortcomings?

I’ll tell you who they are.

A couple of months ago, a young lad, aged 7, was leaving school. With him was his mum, who was 8 months pregnant, and his 9 year old brother. Ryan had enjoyed a normal day at school. Now it was time to go home. Mum no doubt had her hands full with her 2 lads and the large bump, a bump soon to be Ryan’s latest sibling. A moment later Ryan was lying on the floor, in pain. His leg was broken. A car had ploughed into this young family. The broken leg was the least of the injuries. Ryan’s mum, Ryan’s brother and Ryan’s new brother or sister were gone. Cruelly and tragically taken away from him by a reckless car driver.

The driver has been remanded in custody charged with manslaughter, causing death by dangerous driving and criminal damage. But that’s of scant consolation to Ryan. His world had been torn apart by the actions of one reckless person. Take into account that Ryan’s dad is confined to a wheelchair and you can see that this lad hasn’t had the easiest start in life.

So where is the silver lining? Enter Keighan, Ryan’s best mate. Keighan was fortunate to have been given a tour of St Andrews. Whilst been shown around and having a good time, the boy could only think of his friend. He told Blues of the plight his friend found himself in. Blues arranged for the two boys to have a VIP day – meet the players, play on the pitch and be treated like royalty for the day.

When this story was linked onto Small Heath Alliance, it was agreed to raise some fund for the 2 lads and an adult, so they could see their beloved Blues on their way back into the Premier league.

Now with Small Heath Alliance being an internet site, it stands to reason that it’s populated by the modern day keyboard versions of Bin Laden, Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler and Maggie Thatcher. No doubt this internet Axis of Evil had already found a way to make the most out of this poor lad’s unfortunate circumstances. They dug deep and within 9 hours the funds needed for the tickets had been raised. With the kind help of Anji and Ryan from BCFC the season tickets have been bought and they’ve arranged for the tickets to be handed over to the lads by Cameron Jerome before the Preston game.

Any surplus cash will be donated to the Birmingham Disabled Supporters Club. At the time of writing that cheque will be in the region of £500.

So, Steve and Tom (can I call you by your first names?) just for the record, we of the internet aren’t as evil as you make out. We decided to help Ryan and Keighan for the same reasons we have a go at you. We are Bluenoses. We love Blues.. When a Bluenose falls, 10 will step forward to pick him up. When a Bluenose makes a mistake, 10 will step forward and tell him so. We’re a family, we’re regulars in the same pub, we’re not always the best of mates and like any family we’ll have our tiffs and squabbles, but to brand us as evil and to doubt our tenacity as fans is clearly wrong. These fans have been incredibly patient with you and to attack the fanbase, no matte where they air their views, is dangerous ground.

Steve, I don’t mind admitting I might have got you wrong, can you do the same?


posted by kwacky at 10:13 am

 
Blues v Wolves

Hard to pick one. Maik did well but was left exposed for the goal. Jaidi gets away with murder most games and today was no exception. Both Kelly and Sadler blew hot and cold. I thought Muamba and Clem did ok but lost the midfield battle in the second half. Tiny had another solid performance and it's good to see him finally learn how to win the ball in the air. I do wish he wouldn't have to do a showboat moment every match. McChef is looking worth £4m not £2.3 at the moment. Bender had an off game and I thought it looked like some of the team appeared to be pissed off with him at times. Some of Larsson's through balls in the second half showed the gulf in class between Arsenal reserves and first team Championship players. Of the subs, Nafti got stuck in and puts in a great forward ball. Danns is lively but failed to capitalise on some good positions.

So, you've gueseed it, my MOTM is the SHA biatch - Jerome. His positioning was excellent and he used his strength well. He was denied a goal by an exceptional piece of goalkeeping and does well to bring others into play. He should have played the full 90 minutes as he looked most likely to score.

It kicked off after the game. No surpised - Wolves scored after it appeared Breen decked Larsson and left lLarsson on the deck holding his head. My understanding of the rules is that the ref HAS TO stop the game when it's a head injury. If the ref thinks the player faked it then the player gets a card. In any event, it's common gamesmanship for the other team to kick the ball out to allow the player to get treatment. However, this is the Dingles and sport isn't in there limited brains. They went down the other end, got a corner and scored. We can't argue about the actual goal - we didn't defend the back post.

Anyway, after the goal we played as we should have - with passion and conviction. 1 goal classed offside and 2 good chances flashed acorss the goalmouth. Too little too late. We can't sit back on a 1-0 lead. I know we did for the last few goames but it's not good enough.

Outside the Wolves were full of themselves, so much so the head of their crew stood behind 2 coppers and egged us on. here were a few flashes outside teh ground but there's no point fighting in front of the cameras.

Outside the Clements the Blues faithful waited patiently for the vistors to come by, as did the Old Bill. Some of the youngsters got a bit over excited and started when a handful of Wolves came past - result - 1 car dented. I regret to inform you that several bottles and pints lost their lives in this foray.

Ah well, our good run came to an end. I'm pleased that I saw most of the games - rare for me as most of the results came away from home (Derby, Cov and Sheffield were all attended by yours truly). The less said about Coventry the better ;-)

Next week we've got 2 away games. I can't make midweek Southampton but I've got a ticket for Burnley. Never a nice place to visit inside or outside the ground but we've got to win it to keep pushing for promotion.

Up the Blues.
posted by kwacky at 7:44 pm

 
Andy at Mallory




posted by kwacky at 10:52 pm

 
GPR Damper fittings





posted by kwacky at 7:24 pm

 
Some photos of Alex at 8 and 9 weeks.



posted by kwacky at 9:12 am

 
Panic

Panic in the grounds of London
Panic in the home of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again ?
The Birmingham Shirt that you threw down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on your demise
But Stevie Bruce says you're safe here
So you run down
the players of Hull Town
But there's Panic on the streets of Norwich
Liverpool, Charlton and Austria
I wonder to myself

Bring down the striker
Sent off, Captain DJ
Because the football that you constantly play

Hang the blessed DJ
But the manager will let you constantly play
IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT THIS SIDE
Oh the Leeds side players that you hack down
Premiership players you've cut down
Captain DJ, captain DJ, Captain DJ
Captain DJ, captain DJ, Captain DJ
Captain DJ, captain DJ,
Captain DJ, captain DJ,
Captain DJ, captain DJ, Captain DJ
Captain DJ, captain DJ, Captain DJ
Captain DJ, captain DJ,
Captain DJ, captain DJ,
CAPTAIN DJ
posted by kwacky at 8:32 pm

 
Triumph Daytona 675 Test Ride
I had to go to Action Motorbikes to get my service book stamped and get them to look at a smoking radiator.

While they were looking at the bike, I asked if the keys to the Red 675 demonstrator were available? They were.

After being shown the flashy controls, including lap timer and top speed record (the last rider had clocked 139 mph!) I climbed aboard. Straight away you realise just how narrow the tank is; it feels as if your knees are touching. The seating position is a little strange. The pegs were further forward and not as high as my pegs, but I’ve got Gilles Rearsets on the D600. It’s a decent reach to the low handlebars but it’s not uncomfortable. The seat is reasonably wide and obviously tapers towards that tank.

The readout from the digital display is clear enough. The rev lights aren’t uncommon on bikes but the gear indicator is a nice and welcome touch. Although the display has a number of features, I found it difficult to change the settings whilst on the move as the there’s not much room due to the low screen.

The bike whilst idling doesn’t sound too special. This is a bike which needs an aftermarket can. The bike pulls away cleanly and the revs rise rapidly. The fuelling is spot on. I did a few roll on roll off tests with the throttle and the bike replied instantly and without hesitation. Once you’re on the go the carefully crafted noise from the induction makes you want to keep the bike at about 8,000 revs, which, by no mere coincidence I’m sure, if where the secondary power band seems to be.

Once you’ve appreciated just how user friendly the engine is, there’s a dawn of realisation that you’ve not had to think about steering the thing. The bike is more fire and forget than point and shoot. Once it’s rolling it goes where you want it to go without effort. Because I’ve altered the geometry on my bike and put on after market clip ons, I’m used to a large amount of feedback from the bars. To me the handling felt positive but there was a lack of feedback which made me feel removed from the riding experience. The bike does have a steering damper as standard so it might have been that. but I’ve got a damper on my bike and the same tyres and I know that the supercorsas keep you informed of events on the ground.

The riding position is reasonably comfortable. You are pitched forward but no so much as to put too much weight on your wrists or make you feel as if you’re on a magic carpet. It’s easy to move from side to side on the seat and getting your knee down on this bike is a piddle of pee, thanks to the seating position and the sure footing. However, and it might be down to my fat arse, I didn’t find too much room between the pillion seat and the tank.

So what else can I say about this bike? Triumph, as usual, have produced a real world bike which more than copes with every day road conditions. The light weight and superb triple engine make it easy to hustle about and I’m sure it’s a delight on the track. Looks are subjective. I loved the looks when I saw the photos but the more I see it in the flesh the less impressed I am. Off all the colours, red suits it best, but that’s just my opinion.

So would I have one? Yes, if I was looking to get into the middleweight sports biker market, or wanted something other than the usual offerings from Japan. But for me, the answer has to be “no”. The bike didn’t engage me. I was riding it but felt distanced, as if I wasn’t really riding the bike. Whether it’s the torque of the triple making it easy to ride, or the assured handling, I really don’t know, but I couldn’t find myself falling in love with the bike. In fact, I reminded me of so many Hondas I’ve ridden in the past. They do such a good job of making a bike that they lose the one thing I look for – character. I’ve been fortunate to ride a wide range of bikes, from big fat tourers to fresh out of the factory Ducatis or from retro replicas to run of the mill day to day commuters and I have to say I’ve had more fun on the bikes I’ve had to think about riding than those that seem to do it for you.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Triumph have hit the nail on the head with this bike, and I can see why it’s sold so well and is heaped with awards and praise, but it’s not the bike for me.
posted by kwacky at 1:50 pm

 
We had some kohl rabi in our delivery of organic veg. I've not tried it before and the lack of appearances in my various cookbooks suggests it's not the most popular of vegetables. I found the following recipe on the net. I'll let you know how it goes

1lg/500g kohl rabi
4oz/100g butter
1oz/25g flour
½ pint/300ml milk
4oz/100g. cheddar cheese - grated
salt & pepper
2 tbs double cream

Cooking: 30 mins

Peel, cut into slices or strips. Blanch for 5 minutes. Refresh in cold water. Steam in 3oz/75g butter plus 3 - 4 tbs water for 10 mins.

Sauce

Melt remaining 25g butter, stir in flour. Cook for a few minutes. Stir in milk until smooth and thick.

Add 2 tbs cooking liquid, fold in cheese and season to taste. Stir in cream, heat through without boiling. Drain kohl rabi.

Serving: arrange kohl rabi in dish and spoon mornay sauce over it.

Variation: Use only half the cheese in the sauce, sprinkling the remainder over the completed dish. Dot with extra butter and set under grill for few minutes until cheese has melted.

(for carnivores: goes well with roast or grilled meat)
posted by kwacky at 5:14 pm

 
Alex is doing well. He's growing at a steady rate. There is some concern about his jaundice so the midwife has taken some samples of blood. We're just waiting for the results. As I type this we've had a call to say everything is ok but the paediatrician still wants to see him to give him the once over.

He's feeding well, too well. He's not giving Sam time to build up milk so she can express. That means Sam has to do all of the feeding and feeding is usually every 2 hours. Lack of sleep has kicked in. We're both walking around in a daze; slurring words, muzzy heads, the sweats. I spend most nights on the sofa. Good job we bought something decent.






posted by kwacky at 8:31 pm

 
A glimpse of Berlin



Me improving Anglo-French relations


posted by kwacky at 10:10 pm

 
Sportsbiker Ride out

Well, it should have been a meeting of the Sportsbiker riders and the Daytona 675 riders.

All had agreed to meet in Stow on the Wold at noon, grab a bite to eat and then ride off at 1 p.m. I'm a little late (as usual) but I'm parked by 12.15. I have a look round but I can't see any other Triumphs. Then a I spot a gold 675. I indicate to the rider to park up next to me, but I must have scared her and she shot off. I look in the hotel we've agreed to meet up but I can't see any riders either inside or in the garden.

In her initial post about the meet, Scarlet had given 2 pubs by mistake, so I went to look for the others. En route I spotted Roadrace's beaten battleship and Gareth's R1. I bumped into said owners and we started to catch up on old times. Walking back to my bike, which was parked at the other end of the Square, we spot a 675, which (I now know) was being ridden by Gavin. Gavin joins us and we sit outside the meeting place to have tea and a snack. We stayed there until about quarter past 1. Still no sign of the others, so we agree as a group to go our own way.

We set off towards Stratford, taking turns up front. Gavin seemed somewhat afraid of RR's battered bruiser and had voiced his reservations about being able to keep up. He had no reaon to be worried, he was more than quick enough to stay on the pace, which was swift but sensible. At one point I was leading, and surprised that I was keeping a decent gap up front. However, true to form, RR got a bit bored and blatted past everyone, showing that you don't need the latest bike with the stickiest tyres to be quick. Having no sense of self preservation also helps.

We get a bit bored of finding nice roads, only to have to slow down for the 30 mph villages or the holiday traffic, so we agree to find somewhere else to go. We turned back from Stratford and headed out to Fish Hill, via the back roads.

After having a bit of fun, we park up in Moreton for tea and cake. It can't be easy waiting for a living. It must be even worse when you've got 4 bikers leching over a young waitress, blokes who really shouldn't be sniggering about sticky toffee pudding, or (as RR did) say what sauce you've got and where to put it. Ah well, I hope it was entertaining for Gavin, in between listening our boring tales of yesteryear.

It was good to catch up with some of the old road dogs, and to meet Gavin, who took the photo below.


posted by kwacky at 6:56 pm

 

posted by kwacky at 9:44 pm

 
3 Generations of Looker males




posted by kwacky at 8:47 pm

 
My son is born.

Alexander Henry Looker was born at 9.03 a.m. weighing in at a meaty 8 lbs 11 ozs after a very brief labour. Sam's waters broke at 6.30, first contraction at 7.00, in the labour suite at 8.00 and just over an hour later Alex was with us.

He's a quiet lad at the moment. I think he's a bit shocked to be honest. He's had no time to get ready as labour was so quick. He's feeding ok, which is good, but that's only when he can be bothered to keep his eyes open. The paediatrician was worried at his lack of responses, but a senior took a second look and decided that Alex wasn't interested in being poked and prodded and that his weight meant my little lad was going to struggle for a few days until he got used to himself.

Georgie has been an angel. I shed a tear or two when I called her this morning to say that her brother was here and she told me "I'm going to make a card for my brother, Alex". Later at hospital she gave Sam a hug and thanked her giving her a brother. Not a dry eye in the house.

I worry that Georgie will try to help too much, but I suppose that's the same fear all parents have when they bring in their second child.





posted by kwacky at 9:44 pm

 
Crisis Deepens


The Israeli army has begun expanding its ground offensive into Lebanon on the prime minister's orders, citing dissatisfaction with the direction of UN talks on a ceasefire resolution.

Avi Pazner, an Israeli government spokesman, said on Friday that the draft of a United Nations resolution on ending the Lebanon conflict is "unacceptable in its current state".

"The resolution draft was altered on the request of Lebanon, which is under pressure from Hezbollah. The discussions have now taken the appearance of haggling at a Lebanese carpet shop - we will not fall into this trap," Pazner said.

"The diplomatic option having failed for the moment, we did not have any other choice but to lean towards the military option," he said.

The orders to sweep to the Litani River, 20km from the border, had been approved by Ehud Olmert's security cabinet on Wednesday but put on hold.

Olmert's go-ahead on Friday came shortly after US and British ambassadors to the UN said the Security Council was on the verge of a deal aimed at halting the month-old war.

But Qatar's UN ambassador, Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, said changes were still being discussed with Lebanese and Israeli authorities.

Aljazeera's correspondent in New York said the amended resolution would include a call for the strengthening of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon instead of sending a new international force.


http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/54171/1629899/overview

http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2006/08/11/lebanon-fog-of-war/
posted by kwacky at 7:36 pm

 
Blues v Nancy Pre-season Friendly - 1-1

We started as I expect us to start against Colchester



Sadler ran his nads off. Him and Dunn look good on the left. Had to laugh at the idiot who told Dunn to "get stuck in". Ignore Dunn's injury history, the fact it's a friendly and that the ball was 8 yards from him and 1 from a Nancy player, and the bloke might have had a point.

Overall we looked a bit rusty but that's just a comment, not a concern. Nancy pass the ball well and have some good players. Number 26 on the left looked promising. blues played some good stuff with the ball but struggled to win it back. Both Dunn and Nafti made some poor passes to give away possesion in the wrong 1/3 rd of the park. Danns got forward a lot more and hinted at his ability to run with the ball and to chase down what appear to be lost causes. Forse looked very comfortable and it was a typical Mighty Finn goal when he appeared to have run into 5 defenders, only for the ball to pop out of the melee and end up in the back of the net.

They say white guys can't jump, but that doesn't mean black guys can, judging on Jerome's attempts today. He seems to jump way too early, making easy to defend against. On the plus side, Bruce might tell our players not to lump it to his head. Jerome is a good player but I can see him splitting Blues fans' opinions in the same way Heskey and Morrison did.

DJ and Nafti got on with things, as did Kelly who didn't see too much of the ball today.

Central Defense looked creaky. N'Gotty is a couple of weeks behind in fitness and Tebs has only just returned. I can't see too many CCC teams being level with Nancy so perhaps we've got some time to sort out the back line.

The second half was pedestrian so it's hard to judge the subs - DJC, Kilkenny, Gray and Bruce. Some twats decided to boo when Gray came on. Nice touch guys. DJC used his pace and was unlucky to have his best moment ruined by a shirt tug which went unnoticed by the ref.
posted by kwacky at 5:58 pm

 

Beirut stands on the site of a very ancient settlement going back at least 5,000 years. Its name appeared in cuneiform inscriptions as early as the 14th century B.C.
In the first century B.C., Berytus, as it was then called, became a Roman Colony and under Roman rule was the seat of a famous Law school which continued into the Byzantine era.
But the power and the glory of Berytus were destroyed by a triple catastrophe of earthquake, tidal wave and fire in 551 A.D. In the following century Arab Muslim forces took the city and in 1110 it fell into the Crusaders. Beirut remained in Crusader hands until 1291 when it was conquered by the Mamlukes. Ottoman rule began in 1516, continuing for 400 years later until the defeat of the Turks in World War I.
The French Mandate Period followed and in 1943 Lebanon gained its independence.

Reconstruction

The 1.8 million-square-meter reconstruction project for Beirut's Central District includes hotels, office space and residential areas. But not all the buildings will be new. Some 256 structures were restored by 1998, plus historic mosques
and churches. Beirut's souks or markets were reconstructed in the traditional
style by 1999. Solidere, the private company who took on the challenge of the 25-year project, planned a modern infrastructure of roads utilities, public areas and marine works. More than half a million square meters of landfill provide land for two marinas, a seaside promenade and a green park.






posted by kwacky at 8:18 am

 












Israel has, with the full backing of the US and the silent support of the UK, continued to carry out attacks across Lebanon, targetting civilians, civil infrastructure and the economy of the Lebanese people. This has nothing to do with Hezbollah and everything to do with Israel flexing it's muscles. Nothing has been said about the 2 missing soldiers who are supposed to have been kidnapped, the event which triggered this display of force. Even one of the soldier's father is amazed that his son's capture has been used as an excuse. Kidnappings happen all of the time.

The US drag their feet when it comes to diplomacy but expedite a delivery of bunker busting bombs. They hand out $2m in aid to the Lebanon but continue to sell arms and fund the Israeli offensive.

Thos bombs supplied by the US were no doubt used against UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon who contacted Israeli troops 10 times before an Israeli bomb killed four of them. The post was hit by a precision-guided missile after six hours of shelling. The silence from the West on the issue speaks volumes.

German newspapers on Wednesday aired a number of arguments for and against sending German soldiers to the Middle East, with the "burden of history" looming large.

"History is the past, but the history of the Holocaust belongs to the German present," said the Frankfurter Rundschau.

No German soldier should, even theoretically, "be brought into a situation where he has to aim his weapon at an Israeli", it added.

The Suddeutsche Zeitung said it was "astonishing" that politicians were discussing the idea, while Austria's Der Standard said it was "unthinkable" that the grandchildren of Holocaust perpetrators might find themselves shooting at the grandchildren of victims.

So Israelis are allowed to adopt the tactics of 1930 Nazi Germany but Germany has to be ashamed for wanting to restore some semblence of order in the region? We shouldn't forget the slaughter of countless innocents at the hands of the 3rd Reich's henchmen but let's not allow Israel to continue to use history as an excuse to slaughter civilians in their thousand and reduce a recently rebuilt country to rubble.



posted by kwacky at 6:45 pm

 

posted by kwacky at 6:05 pm

 

posted by kwacky at 10:57 pm

 
Pazzo Short Brake Lever




posted by kwacky at 7:32 pm

 
My day at Mallory

I spent most of the week watching the weather. Friday was a good day with one heavy shower in the afternoon. I could put up with that on the Saturday.

Saturday morning and I as I wearily munched through my weetabix, I browsed the web for weather reports. All said that Leicester would be dry.

I had already dusted down my old one piece leathers and putting them one highlighted just how much weight I had put on in the last 6 months. I will g on that diet, honest. I had my new summer gloves in the bag with associated snacks and gaffer tape. I was in two minds whether or not to throw in the wet one piece to go over the leathers. They take up a lot of room and it was going to be dry. Once I stepped outside I realised it was cold, so I put the foul weather suit on over my leathers and donned my winter gloves.

Off I pottled down the road and stopped to get some petrol. As I left the garage it began to piss it down. Not a shower or a drizzle, but full on cats and dogs. Good job I was kitted up.

The journey to Mallory was uneventful and I found Stevethorpe in the paddock thinking about putting his bike togther. I parked up next to Bones' CBR600 and waddled off to sign in where I found Sarah and Dave getting stuck into brekkie sarnies.

I had booked in Inters but found I was in Novice. No worries. A decent briefing and out we went for 3 sighting laps. It was dry but the circuit was damp, cold and greasy.

Once the first session got under way for real I ambled around the circuit trying to remember where I could put the hammer down and reminding myself that I tend to take about 27 different lines around the hairpin. Midway through the session I was building up some speed and the 14/47 gearing really suited the bike and the track.

I came out of Edwinas and through the Lake Esses, as I came close to the kerb on the left side the front slid but recovered. Time to back off.

The Inters went out next but a series of crashes seriously limited the amount of morning track time.

During the Interlude Martin from bikechatforums introdced himself and a while later Andy from Daytona600.org came to say hello. Nice of him to come down to the circuit to meet up. Us D600 riders are a rare breed

My session before lunch was a bit poor. The bike was giving off a lot of vibration which I put down to the BT014s which have been ridden through the winter - I think they're squaring off. Plus the back was sliding a bit out of the hairpin even though I was doing no more than 5 mph.

At lunch I finally remembered I had no money so off I went in search of cash and fuel. I got one, but not the other. So it was bananas and chocolate for me all day.

After lunch I had my best session. The brakes were once again outstanding and I'm sure much better riders were getting pissed off with their inability to outbreak me . I was getting great drive out of the Elbow and down the straight but I was going way too slow around Gerrards. I really do need to stop riding so far inside my comfort zone and push things a little. I know the bike is up to it but I need to tell my head that.

As Bones switched wheels more times than Joan Collins has had face lifts, I nicked his tools and put on the GPR Steering Damper. Final session with the damper gave me a more sure footed bike, although I almost forgot about it as I came out of Edwinas and wondered why the kerb came up so close.

I've got some race plastics on order and once they're painted I'll put them on the bike and start to push it. No excuses. The first thing I have to do is sort out my body postion and learn to hang off. I know I can do it, I've got the sliders from a Rockingham track day to prove it and the lack of chicken strips proves the bike is over far enough.

Anyway, it was great to see Bones, Sarah and Steve and good to meet Andy and Martin.

As a side note, Martin binned his R1 in a low side but luck was on his side as all he lost was a crash bung. Once dusted down both rider and bike were good to go.
posted by kwacky at 8:28 pm

 
Mallory



A mixed day of weather meant a mixed day on the track. Martin binned his nice R1 Track bike but fortunately he low sided it at Edwina's causing little damage to the bike. A crash bung was the only fatality.
posted by kwacky at 7:25 pm

 
Birmingham City Fan's Forum minutes

11th January 2006



The inaugural Supporter Forum was held for the Supporter Representatives to meet the panel and inform the club of their views and concerns, in line with Premier League rules.


1. Perry Deakin welcomed the group and began by introducing the panel of club
representatives. He then ran through a short presentation, informing the group of the club’s vision and desire as how the panel will work with Supporters for future meetings. It was confirmed that the representatives would be invited to attend quarterly meetings at St Andrews.

2. Superstore

The quality of the current 05/06 season kit was raised, with supporters feeling the shirts were of a poor standard. Jo Raynes and Perry both informed the panel that the club has received positive feedback in relation to the current kit, and that Jo had only had 20 shirts returned to the superstore, of which 18 of those, having been tested were confirmed to have been washed at an incorrect temperature.

It was confirmed that the 2006/07 was already in the early stages of production and would be available to purchase June 06.

Samples of shirt designs are to be sent to the club within a couple of weeks, supporter panel to be invited to view three styles.


E-mail confirmation of date of kit viewing to be sent to the panel.

3. Safety Issues

The panel felt that there should be representation at future meeting’s from West Midland’s Police, who would be able to answer questions in more detail.

The panel raised the question of 12 noon/ early kick off’s and why Birmingham City FC seem to have so many. Brian informed the group that this decision is made by WM Police.

The selling of bottled beer was raised; supporters felt that this would be more cost effective and beneficial for catering to provide this as opposed to pints. Both Nino and Brian confirmed that the club was not in a position to sell this due to safety issue’s however this matter would be raised at the next Safety Advisory Group meeting which consists of representation from WM Police, WM Fire Service and the Local Authority.

A discussion took place on the parking of cars on match day’s in St Andrews Street. Brian confirmed that the club has recently paid for double yellow lines to be put along this road; however Disabled supporters were now using this road to park. Brian also confirmed that the issue of the lack street lighting within St Andrew’s Street was currently being looked at.

West Midlands Police to be invited to attend future meetings


4. Stadium Management / Maintenance Matters

Why are there no TV’s in the concourse area’s of the Olympic Gallery? Matt confirmed that 14 TV’s had been stolen within this area on two occasions and therefore there were no plans to install further TV’s.

5. Commercial Matters

The panel felt that there was an apparent lack of atmosphere this season, and the new stadium announcer was not popular.
Perry confirmed that Darren Porter had recently taken over as the Stadium Announcer and informed the group that it does take time in order to learn a new job. Perry also confirmed that the matchday music has reverted as an attempt to assist with pre match atmosphere.

Why do the club charge supporters pay £52.50 for the Away Travel Club?
Perry confirmed that demand was extremely high when the scheme was first introduced and confirmed that this will be looked at for next season.
The £1 handling charged was raised and why this applies. The panel was informed that this applies as any booking fee does when tickets are purchased for all types of entertainment and will remain in place.

6. Ticketing

Clarification on the date in which tickets go on sale was requested as people were under the impression that tickets were to be sold some 6 weeks in advance, but that this had not happened at the Liverpool/West Ham games. Rachel confirmed that this was due to both Liverpool and West Ham has been slow in confirming their requirements with us.

Are there any plans to implement an electronic entrance system at turnstiles. It was confirmed that there is a huge expense for this scheme and until the decision on a new stadium has been made it would not be looked at.

The panel felt that the cost of season tickets for the current season was too high and that there were no real added benefits to becoming a season ticket holder?

Perry confirmed that the club was fully aware of supporter’s feelings in relation to this matter and that a package with added benefits was being looked at for the 06/07 season.

7. Catering

Nino confirmed that Lindley Catering had recently taken over the stadium catering and also confirmed that he was looking at recruiting new staff for the concourse areas.

Problems with the speed of service are currently being addressed.
posted by kwacky at 11:23 am

 

posted by kwacky at 5:36 pm