http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/an occasional blog about football (Arsenal and Cambridge United), politics, academia and rats - and other stuff I expecten-EUMokoFeed10http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/26/da7511e30cf12518606821b3183df0_160x200.jpghttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/10/23/percy-childs-an-appreciation-7231027/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-10-23:/2009/10/23/percy-childs-an-appreciation-7231027/Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:03:22 +0200 <p>now i doubt any of you will have known percy, because he was my grandfather.. but you never know, he touched many lives in his 93 years. percy was a free spirit, he married twice and loved often and was always surrounded by friends. for much of my childhood he was a distant figure because my father disapproved of him. he liked the goons and marx brothers and was altogether too unconventional. </p> <p>percy told me recently that when he was a young man he went to paris to have a look and saw a communist party rally. he lived through the spanish civil war and was caught up in the excitement of the period. when he came to london to work he used to take the buses on his days off and travel the length of the route, just to see where they went - he was fascinated by trams and trains but was never a bore. he didn't fight in ww2 because he worked in a protected industry. after the war he set up a film club in north london and met arthur c clarke (who came to see a film). percy worked with the bfi and loved old films. he loved old big band music - the more quirky the better, cab calloway i enjoyed and a song called wheezanna about a big girl down with tattoos if i remember. </p> <p>he bought odd presents but was always pleased to see me - especially if i had news or a girlfriend in tow. if i did he'd chat to them. in his 70s he started traveling to eastern europe and made friends in poland, yugolsavia, the czech republic, moscow and minsk as well as in belgium, france and germany. he held bonfire parties every year and they were a wonderful mix of family (growing by the decades), film friends and guests from across europe. His 90th birthday party was a fantastic affair with multicultural music and dancing. two years ago he had a stroke - perhaps brought on by a prank call from some local asbo yoof. he spent nearly a year in hospital and recovery home before getting back to the tranquility of his chiltern retreat. i saw him two weeks ago and he was in fine form - slowed down but chipper. then on monday he died - from an aneurism that had been threatening him for a while.</p> <p>i will miss him and wish he could have met princess rupert before he died. his funeral is next week and i'm allowed to say a few words there so i will try and do him justice. in the meantime i just want to say, cheers percy - i hope you are up there chatting happily with the likes of groucho and spike and keeping an eye on all of us left behind </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/10/23/percy-childs-an-appreciation-7231027/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>percyhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/10/23/percy-childs-an-appreciation-7231027/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/09/23/baggies-bounced-by-mexican-guile-7021474/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-09-22:/2009/09/23/baggies-bounced-by-mexican-guile-7021474/Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:22:56 +0200 <p>my first visit to the grove this season, to see the kids beat the high flying baggies 2-0. Wenger picked a young side (well an even younger side should i say) with the polish keeper chesney hawks in goal (clever move) gilbert, swiss , sylvester the cat and gibbs SR across the back. They looked pretty good most of the game, especially senderos who showed no signs of annoyance at being forced into the carling cup team instead of the first team proper. In the middle ramsey looked solid and tinyweenyickle jack wilshere was the star of the show. coquelin did well in the denilson role and traore and sunu started on the flanks. They could have done more really. up front i thought sanchez watt (crazy name) struggled for most of the game. west brom did well, roared on by thousands of traveling brummies who easily outsang the rest of us (56,500 in tonight, not bad for a reserve game). they had several good chances and we looked a bit flat really. swiss tony had a good effort and watt hit the post; wilshere sparkled and made everything that was good. he also changed the game inadvertently at least: when jerome thomas (ex gunner) fouled him the wst brom player appeared to push him down as he was getting up and the ref saw it as a red card. </p> <p>in the second half west brom started by playing keep ball for what seemed like ages and arsenal had no ideas ...then arsene must have got bored with this and sent on carlos vela. now things changed. sunu off and we had a striker that wanted to score at last. he had a couple of chances then a great shot which dean keily could only push out into the path of watt who finished superbly,. 1 nil to the arsenal and massive relief all round. after that there was only one team in it. ascramble in the goal and a crazy chest back from a west brom defender and vela nipped in and made it 2: game over. the baggies had a good chance near the end but fluffed it. the emirates emptied of happy fans and i headed back up the motorway with the top down ... then it rained. no problem at 80 but when you run into traffic and lane closures.. never mind a little rain never hurt anyone...</p> <p>toodle pip </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/09/23/baggies-bounced-by-mexican-guile-7021474/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/09/23/baggies-bounced-by-mexican-guile-7021474/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/07/21/update-6561960/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-07-21:/2009/07/21/update-6561960/Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:12:26 +0200 <p>hello folks, its been a while. adebayor has gone, vermalen has arrived, nasri has got crocked - typical arsenal close season. what's happening in my world?</p> <p>well i'm writing.. 13,000 words in the last two weeks so i'm meeting my self-imposed target of 750 words a day. the ripper book is building in stages even if i'm not that happy with chunks of it.</p> <p>i've just shaved my beard and tache off. i do this every five years or so. it feels weird. i did it today because i dont really need to go back into work until september now, which gives me loads of time to grow it back.</p> <p>on the romance front things are still moving along. last week she graduated - she looked great in the mortar board! so that's a sort of ending. mr angry is still giving her a hard time and she's still giving it back in spades.</p> <p>we spent five days together last week, i left on monday morning becasue i needed space and we would have imploded otherwise. i'm much less out of control than i was and if i can keep this up i think i can get what i need from the relationship. i'm hoping to escae to paris at the end of august and she might join me for a few days</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/07/21/update-6561960/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/07/21/update-6561960/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/07/14/on-the-day-i-was-born-6513770/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-07-14:/2009/07/14/on-the-day-i-was-born-6513770/Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:28:14 +0200 <p>the rain fell down </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/07/14/on-the-day-i-was-born-6513770/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/07/14/on-the-day-i-was-born-6513770/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/30/silence-is-golden-6033660/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-04-30:/2009/04/30/silence-is-golden-6033660/Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:30:10 +0200 <p>not been on for a while because things have moved on and i've been very busy. I'm not sure i have the words today to describe my feelings - 'love' seems somehow inadequate. anyway i'm getting to know her more and she's letting me in deeper. hope you are all happy and well<br> i shall return when i can </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/30/silence-is-golden-6033660/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/30/silence-is-golden-6033660/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/16/the-dynamite-wars-5955986/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-04-16:/2009/04/16/the-dynamite-wars-5955986/Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:24:11 +0200 <p>in 1884-5 there were a series of bomb attacks on London.dynamite, packed in tubes and with a crude detonator made from a pistol firing mechanism and a clock, were left at Victoria and Paddington stations. two boys found an unattended package in trafalgar square before a policeman took them , and it, to scotland yard. in early january a bomb exploded on the underground, near gower street on the metropolitan line. no one was killed but sevral ladies fainted and the ticket collector was thrown off his chair.</p> <p>then, at 2pm on the 24th january - a saturday - the 'dynamitards' struck at the tower of london. a device in the white tower startled tourists but again, thankfully no one was seriously hurt. there were two injuries - if not fatal ones fortunately, at the houses of parliament. </p> <p>miss davies, visiting the crypt in westminster hall with her brother, noticed what seemed to be part of the carpet on fire. her brother realised it was a bomb and they alerted the policeman on duty, PC cole. he then 'pluckily' picked up the bomb and ran up the steps. it went off and he spent until the end of march in hospital. his colleague, PC cox, raced to his assistance from his station outside the entrance to the commons chamber. and this was the bombers' plan: the bomb in the crypt was a diversion (and this probably saved pc cole's life) while the commons was unguarded the second device was dropped in and it exploded doing a great deal of damage. luckily, no one else was injured - just frightened.</p> <p>the press went mad with calls for retribution; of clampdowns on sedition and warned the irish community that this did them no favours. the police were criticised, although the dynamitard at the tower was arrested at the scene and an accomplice soon after (the result of 'good detective work').other papers cautioned calm and reminded their readers (and the government) that less than £20,000 worth of damage had been caused, two pc's were injured, no one had died and that this was mere 'onepenny twopenny' mischief-making.</p> <p>the terrorists (for surely that is what they were?) were put on trial and in just a week found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. the secret servive continued the battle it had been having with fenian nationalists since the 1860s.</p> <p>i thought this was an interesting, and perhaps little known, tale of the late nineteenth century with poignant reflections for society 125 years later.</p> <p>p.s there's a fascinating book, 'the Dynamite Wars, by Short - probably out of print but i got a s/h copy online. i'm revisiting it with help from the 19th century newspaper collections of the british library and the old bailey online (which has the trial record). </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/16/the-dynamite-wars-5955986/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>fenian-terrorism-london-historyhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/16/the-dynamite-wars-5955986/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/07/villasurreal-1-1-arsene-wengers-magic-hats-5907696/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-04-07:/2009/04/07/villasurreal-1-1-arsene-wengers-magic-hats-5907696/Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:29:12 +0200 <p>what a game at the madrigal! villareal come out like a train and almunia gets run over in the first five minutes. midfield looks good but adebayor doesn't seem up for it on his own (even bendtner might have been better). then senna scores an awesome goal. chequebook out please mr gazidis BUY HIM! he is just what we need to get the best out of cesc. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/29_04_2008_senna_villareal/3389931" title="29.04.2008_senna_villareal"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/931/3389931_f719d9be99_s.jpeg" alt="29.04.2008_senna_villareal" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p>arsenal struggle after that. billy gallas gets his inevitable injury - song's poor tackle the cause. but despite 3 minutes of injury time they hold on. </p> <p>meanwhile at the so-called 'theatre of dreams' it is the portuguese that are dreaming of rome. 1-1..</p> <p>second half we are much brighter. walcott is brilliant at the moment. arsenal begin to dominate and the spaniards resort to trying to get our entire team booked and fabregas sent off. the ref doesn't fall for it but he didn't have to book the skipper for taking a free kick quickly - he learned from the master TH14. Then fab flicks a pass through to the togolese muppet who suddenly transforms himself into 'supersoccerhero' (c) and scores a blinder! 1-1.. that'll do nicely. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/arsenal_striker_emmanuel_adebayor/3389932" title="arsenal-striker-emmanuel-adebayor"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/932/3389932_841c107cae_s.jpeg" alt="arsenal-striker-emmanuel-adebayor" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>on comes bobby pires and how i have missed him! just a couple of corners and a few moves because he couldn't get into the game. but what a player! i thought fabregas looked tired with 10 minutes to go and eboue replaced walcott a little earlier. so, overall great result, good preformance and i hope almunia and gallas are not out for long. fabianski did very well but i'd rather not rely on him for the run in. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/07/villasurreal-1-1-arsene-wengers-magic-hats-5907696/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>arsenalhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/07/villasurreal-1-1-arsene-wengers-magic-hats-5907696/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/04/a-beer-with-the-travellers-5889910/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-04-04:/2009/04/04/a-beer-with-the-travellers-5889910/Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:08:13 +0200 <p>mac power cables are rubbish. i'm on the second one for my ibook, its such a poor design - for apple that's unforgivable!</p> <p>anyway its been a good day so far. i got up late, read a bit of the paper (just the sports bit) then went to get marvin some treats and stuff to clean him out. i haven't done yet - its on for later this evening or tomorrow. popped in on the travellers and they seem in good spirits: she's got on a really good horticultural course and it allows her to earn and get some benefits. he's talking positively about setting up in business on his own again. finally they might be able to move forward.</p> <p>it helps put all my recent troubles and desires into perspective. they have been coping with her cancer, and the emotional turmoil that brings, along with having to move, getting a puppy, him changing jobs and not being able to let their flat. its touching that they care about me so much. as i said, perspective.</p> <p>i spent the rest of day gardening and listening to the football (and that horse race). i dug over the veg plot and mixed in lots of good things before planting a few different things (peas, broad beans, cauliflower, potatoes and spinach). now i'm watching pool and fulham whilst relaxed after a bit of physical work. good to see fabregas back and sounds like he did well: adebayor's return to scoring is also most welcome, might enjoy MOTD tonight <img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/04/a-beer-with-the-travellers-5889910/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>football-gardeninghttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/04/04/a-beer-with-the-travellers-5889910/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/26/guess-who-i-saw-this-evening-5839001/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-03-26:/2009/03/26/guess-who-i-saw-this-evening-5839001/Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:29:57 +0100 <p>none other than lembit opic the cheeky girl-dating liberal democrat. oh yes. in a pub in norfamtpun. with a young woman (name undisclosed) that i once had a 'thing' with. she's a real gold digger. very attractive certainly but heart of stone and only interested in £££££££. trust me. so watch out mr quircky lib dem she will be one expensive shag.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/26/guess-who-i-saw-this-evening-5839001/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/26/guess-who-i-saw-this-evening-5839001/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/22/heaven-on-earth-5804461/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-03-21:/2009/03/22/heaven-on-earth-5804461/Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:10:15 +0100 <p>oh my goodness what an incredible day!</p> <p>because i had a very special visitor this afternoon i ignored the football (which in itself says how special this person is), only catching the second half of the gunners at newcastle</p> <p>united lose!...<img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>chelski lose!... <img src="/img/smilies/graysmilewinkgrin.gif" alt=";D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>we beat the barcodes 3-1! <img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"><img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"><img src="/img/smilies/grayrazz.gif" alt=":b" class="middle" border="0"><img src="/img/smilies/graysmilewinkgrin.gif" alt=";D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>i got a bit annoyed with rvp for not passing but otherwise it was a great 2nd half performance. i hope newcastle stay up, my towcestran friend deserves better</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/22/heaven-on-earth-5804461/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>arsenal-footballhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/22/heaven-on-earth-5804461/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/15/arsenal-are-back-5757305/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-03-14:/2009/03/15/arsenal-are-back-5757305/Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:08:02 +0100 <p>eboue's goal celebration was great - dancing at the emirates! its been far too long since the players really looked like they were enjoying themselves. from what i could see we should have had many more. poor bendtner, he just keeps missing sitters. at least he gets there and his link up play is often excellent. eboue plays well until he picks the wrong pass so perhaps his two goals (and one against burnley) will give him the confidence to stop acting like a tit so often <img src="/img/smilies/graysigh.gif" alt=":**:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>denilson is playing really well - almost (almost) making up for the loss of flamini and song looks much more like the very capable international he is rather than a pub team player. wednesday night must have done something for them. we were soooo lucky against roma and that can mean as much as thrashing someone. i even think we can win the CL now. i mean, how crazy is that?</p> <p>i've got another busy week but i'd like to go to the hull game. at least it will be on tv - i watched half of today's game on a very poor stream.</p> <p>so it was great to see arshavin's goal on MOTD. what a delight! i saw him play against burnely and i was very impressed. he puts himself about - just like a recent highbury favorite. its unfair to make comparisons but freddie ljungberg was one of my top gunners: always totally committed to the cause and a massive personality. have we finally found his replacement in andrey arshavin:arsenal's greatest goal machine?</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/38048227_freddie/3319236" title="_38048227_freddie"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/236/3319236_3254cd7053_s.jpeg" alt="_38048227_freddie" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/arshavin3/3319237" title="arshavin3"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/237/3319237_455267312d_s.jpeg" alt="arshavin3" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/15/arsenal-are-back-5757305/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>arsenal-arshavinhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/15/arsenal-are-back-5757305/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/14/do-they-have-cowboys-in-romania-5756076/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-03-14:/2009/03/14/do-they-have-cowboys-in-romania-5756076/Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:04:19 +0100 <p>what a difference a bit of sunshine does. bright and windy over here today and it brought people out into the garden and carpark to chat and potter about. i've been cleaning - spring cleaning - and everything feels nice at home. i bought some veggie plants but will wait for any late frosts before putting them in. </p> <p>arsenal won 4-0 against the horrible combination of blackburn and fat sam (if they had children..urghh its too dark to contemplate)</p> <p>my neighbour is bonkers or very very stupid. she has had a new bathroom installed but instead of getting a proper workman in she hired two romanians who speak little english and work cash in hand. they don't have a van, they have a dodgy estate car which looks like it would fail an MOT. they tried to dump all the rubbish in the black bin bay but i caught them. they shoved it in her garage instead. </p> <p>that was a week ago. since then the flat below her awoke to water pouring through his ceiling. she got the 'plumbers' back. now its leaked into the wall ruining the paintwork outside her flat. and one of them has done a runner owing her £200. the other one says he will fix the problems - for another £200.</p> <p>then she recommended i use them. because 'they're very cheap'</p> <p>unbelievable </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/14/do-they-have-cowboys-in-romania-5756076/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>plumbing-springhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/14/do-they-have-cowboys-in-romania-5756076/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/02/magic-risotto-moments-5680741/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-03-02:/2009/03/02/magic-risotto-moments-5680741/Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:03:48 +0100 <p>i am restricting myself to the few moments allowed to let a risotto (prawn and pea) do its stuff. crap day spent trying to write. nice chat with a former students about cars and redundancies. little bit of admin and postive marking of debates about prostitution and the wearing of the veil (no connection..) and finally a reply from the current object of my affections. she does make me smile and laugh out loud this woman. its undeer control though folks.. at least for the time being <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>that's enough - c'mon cambridge (on setanta vs histon) - food beckons</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/02/magic-risotto-moments-5680741/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>food-lovehttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/02/magic-risotto-moments-5680741/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/01/early-spring-photos-5673428/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-03-01:/2009/03/01/early-spring-photos-5673428/Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:34:12 +0100 <p>went out today to a nearby gardens with some friends. lots of pretty snowdrops but also some tame 'wildlife'</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/chick/3278297" title="chick"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/297/3278297_8ff4cb378c_s.jpeg" alt="chick" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/rodney/3278300" title="rodney"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/300/3278300_c4d5408b69_s.jpeg" alt="rodney" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/notitle/3278305" title=""><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/305/3278305_04b565abbc_s.jpeg" alt="" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/flamingos/3278312" title="flamingos"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/312/3278312_bcc3c18c91_s.jpeg" alt="flamingos" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/flamingo/3278314" title="flamingo"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/314/3278314_b697f7dde9_s.jpeg" alt="flamingo" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/01/early-spring-photos-5673428/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>flamingo-chaffinch-chickenshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/03/01/early-spring-photos-5673428/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/24/1-0-to-the-arsenal-rings-a-little-hollow-tonight-5644403/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-24:/2009/02/24/1-0-to-the-arsenal-rings-a-little-hollow-tonight-5644403/Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:51:30 +0100 <p>we should have battered 'em. in fact for 15 minutes in the second half arsenal were brilliant. but toothless. it was one of those games when the easiest chances fell to the wrong players. rvp was on his game and nasri excelled but the best opportunities landed in front of bendtner and eboue who showed why they are not good enough. </p> <p>by contrast van persie's penalty showed his coolness. eduardo would have scored tonight, so would arshavin. instead we got a one-nil which might be enough. we do look better defensively. I fancy us to score away in rome - the team seems to like those sort of games.</p> <p>word for diaby, he did well i hope his substitution was just precautionary 'cos he gets injured way too much.</p> <p>c'mon you gunners! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/24/1-0-to-the-arsenal-rings-a-little-hollow-tonight-5644403/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>arsenal-rvphttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/24/1-0-to-the-arsenal-rings-a-little-hollow-tonight-5644403/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/22/a-little-bit-funny-down-below-5623912/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-21:/2009/02/22/a-little-bit-funny-down-below-5623912/Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:04:58 +0100 <p>watching Vera Drake for the first time.. then found this</p> <p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2005/jan/06/health.healthandwellbeing">http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2005/jan/06/health.healthandwellbeing</a></p> <p>the article is interesting for its discussion of recreating 'false history' </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/22/a-little-bit-funny-down-below-5623912/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>vera-drakehttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/22/a-little-bit-funny-down-below-5623912/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/10/my-snow-photo-5548788/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-10:/2009/02/10/my-snow-photo-5548788/Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:10:34 +0100 <p>in the grounds of a local country house..</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/wintersign/3223166" title="wintersign"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/166/3223166_0ef7002b03_s.jpeg" alt="wintersign" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/10/my-snow-photo-5548788/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>traffic-conehttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/10/my-snow-photo-5548788/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/09/stamford-bridge-is-falling-down-5540103/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-09:/2009/02/09/stamford-bridge-is-falling-down-5540103/Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:09:21 +0100 <p>another nail in the coffin of football in this country as the premier league gets yet more ridiculous. chelski sack scolari - more to the point, abramovich sacks big phil. </p> <p>pompey lose redknapp and appoint tony adams who failed so badly at wycombe. adams may become a good manager, he doesn't give up after all, but what were portsmouth thinking? unproven manager inherits a dressing room of personalities held together by old 'arry's game; the board promptly sell two of their best players, and don't replace them; the league is a dangeous, slippery place this season. pompey slide - the board panics - adams is sacked. </p> <p>as the mancs get a grip on the title, and pool get lucky, chelski could see themseleves in the same boat as us: fighting villa for CL place. this shows that all abramovich interested in is the CL - and chelsea fans beware: if they do win it he (and his cash) will be off, swiftish.</p> <p>meanwhile down at the grove arsene wenger is argubly in a more precarious position (in regards to recent success) than scolari was. his dream is taking a long time to materialise and his young squad is less prepared to deal with adversity than previous ones. the team is multi talented and still might achieve greatness in a few seasons time. buying arshavin suggests he realises the team lacks experience; keeping kolo toure and eboue in the team supports this view. </p> <p>but at least he will get the rest of the season and probably longer to sort it out. arsenal don't tend to sack managers. neither do united, or liverpool, nor do other proper teams like everton and villa. </p> <p>cheeky thought: wouldn't it be fun if chelski poached redknapp from sperz? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/09/stamford-bridge-is-falling-down-5540103/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>arsenal-chelsea-scolari-wengerhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/09/stamford-bridge-is-falling-down-5540103/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/09/albert-rat-rip-5535289/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-09:/2009/02/09/albert-rat-rip-5535289/Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:04:05 +0100 <p>albert's been off colour for a few weeks and in the last few days he's lost serious weight and hasn't been able to climp up the ramp to get water. I tried feeding him and giving him water but he didn't seem interested. today he went to see the vet. it might have been kidney or liver failure, it might be a brain tumour: she wasn't sure but it was terminal - that much was easy to see. so albert had a bit of gas then an injection while he was asleep and now he'll rest for ever under one of the bushes in the garden.</p> <p>i started this blog when albert and marvin arrived eighteen months ago - i'm sad to see him go and i'll have to make sure i spend lots of time and affection on his brother.<br> farewell little rat, it was nice to know you<img src="/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif" alt=":'(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/ratlets1/3217498" title="ratlets1"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/498/3217498_03abb7ea20_s.jpeg" alt="ratlets1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/09/albert-rat-rip-5535289/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>ratshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/09/albert-rat-rip-5535289/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/08/derby-days-5530857/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-08:/2009/02/08/derby-days-5530857/Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:47:16 +0100 <p>i hate arsenal/spurs games. wehn i was teenager and stood on the north bank those games always had the nastiest atmosphere. west ham games were unpleasant and sometimes dangerous but the sheer tension of games against tottenham made them hard to enjoy. now i'm just the same even though i listened to the latest encounter on the radio. now its all over for another year.<br> hardly a satisfactory outcome to draw 0-0, we needed to win to keep up with the top four. now it looks like we are chasing chelski as villa are mounting a proper challenge. they might not falter but as they have to play all the others they are going to help and hinder us.<br> it has to be all hands to the pump at the grove if we are win the fa cup and finish above fifth. so gooners have to stop grumbling and get behind the team. there's no point moaning and getting on the manager or players' backs.<br> but in the summer - when all is settled, and wherever we finish - there has to be an accounting. we might lose people if we don't get CL football says the news of the world. ade, cesc and rvp are suggested targets for spain. well unless the togonator has a terrific last dozen or so games (unlikely given his latest injury) i think we should let him go regardless. and eboue should be on the same plane out.<br> we must do everything to keep robin and cesc - we will need them to get us into the CL again and they are both young enough to give us another few seasons before taking that 'final salary'.<br> there have to be arrivals as well. we have strikers - i'd give bendtner another season, and simpson looks good. we have eduardo, arshavin, rvp. wenger has to buy a 24-28 year-old for central midfield; someone who knows the premier league. gibbs and traore can cover for clichy, not sure about the right. we have merida, vela, ramsey and wilshere to come through in 2009/10 as well.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/08/derby-days-5530857/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>arsenal-spurs-ebouehttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/08/derby-days-5530857/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/do-you-really-want-a-general-election-tomorrow-5514691/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-05:/2009/02/05/do-you-really-want-a-general-election-tomorrow-5514691/Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:56:40 +0100 <p>got an email from an aquaintance with an invitation to sign an online petition calling for a general election<br> <a href="http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/GoToCountryNow/">http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/GoToCountryNow/</a> for those of you that might be interested.</p> <p>made me think of the Charter; that great 19th century surge of popular discontent and demand for change. it was famously full of spurious signatures.. rather too many 'Queen Victoria"s and "Prince Albert"s. this new one has some great names:<br> Gordan Brown knickers down who's been a naughty boy (fairly obvious)<br> Norma Boomandbust <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> Liesl Burt for gods sake get on with it (that's how i felt all day monday waiting for arshavin to sign)<br> disgruntled.. (yep that's representative of the country)<br> Britain First.. (at what exactly?)<br> Kermit T Frog (i think this is the REAL kermit)<br> Steve Hopnall (YOU HAVE STOLLEN OUR DEMOCRACY, GIVE US OUR REFERENDUM!!) - (this one i object to because of the spelling; unless of course steve is inferring GB has misbehaved with a form of xmas cake..)<br> and finally.. the wonderfully entitled<br> Dan Marixst Hater Thomas<br> what sort of britain does he want and what is a marixst? </p> <p>sign the pledge.. we want a month of politicans promising the earth before dashing all our dreams when the get elected! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/do-you-really-want-a-general-election-tomorrow-5514691/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>politicspetitionhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/do-you-really-want-a-general-election-tomorrow-5514691/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/02/snow-is-falling-all-around-5493490/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-02:/2009/02/02/snow-is-falling-all-around-5493490/Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:50:32 +0100 <p>and i've been stuck at home with the cat and a blanket. I've been trying to write a chapter (the very beginnings of a chapter at least) on the social problems of the East End in the 1880s. Its been hard but i've got 1,500 words out which is progress of sorts. I don't want to rehash what has gone before, or paint a romanticised or patronising picture of the 'poor'. Getting academic depth into this story without it becoming dull is crucial to what I'm trying to achieve: a readable but properly researched history. </p> <p>I've been distracted by a) the cat - coming and going in hopes of getting food from all his 'homes' and b) sky's coverage of the transfer window.<br> They have had a countdown clock on the screen all day and the transfer of arshavin seems to have been on and off and on again throughout. we now know that robbie keane is going back to the spuds after a disapointing time at liverpool. this means he'll be back in the squad to paly us on sunday - i bet he scores <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>as of now there are 10 minutes to go.. and Man City haven't bought anyone </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/02/snow-is-falling-all-around-5493490/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>arsenaltransfer-deadlinehttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/02/snow-is-falling-all-around-5493490/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/01/united-s-title-by-a-distance-5487566/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-02-01:/2009/02/01/united-s-title-by-a-distance-5487566/Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:50:53 +0100 <p>as liverpool beat chelski i thought i'd try and deal with my gloom at arsenal's inertia (on the pitch and in the transfer window). using the beeb's predictor i guessed the results of all the remaining games of the season. i think we will get better as our creative players come back and villa have some tricky games. i also think pool and chelski will stutter. looks bad for the north east though</p> <p><span><span>MANCS</span><br><span>CHAVS<br>GOONERS<br>SCOUSERS</span><br><span>VILLAINS</span><br><span>TOFFEES<br>IRONS<br>LATICS<br>ARAB MANCS<br>TROTTERS<br>COTTAGERS<br>SPUDS<br>FAT SAM<br>NORTHERN TIGERS<br>BAGGIES<br>BORO<br>POTTERS</span><br>POMPEY<br>BARCODES<br>BLACK CATS</p> <p></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/01/united-s-title-by-a-distance-5487566/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/02/01/united-s-title-by-a-distance-5487566/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/31/gardenwatch-5483541/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-01-31:/2009/01/31/gardenwatch-5483541/Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:44:17 +0100 <p>a few feathered visitors to the garden today and one I'm struggling to identify<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/blackbird/3192899" title="blackbird"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/899/3192899_2b2735143a_s.jpeg" alt="blackbird" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/robin/3192900" title="robin"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/900/3192900_5a73e4d9d1_s.jpeg" alt="robin" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>the blackbird looks like he's posing <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>i believe this is a dunnock - its quite small and hops around the undergrowth</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dunnock/3192907" title="dunnock"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/907/3192907_a743b179f6_s.jpeg" alt="dunnock" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>this bird is bigger than the dunnock - quite plump really! i wonder if he/she is a corn bunting - any ideas?</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dunnock_cbntg/3192921" title="dunnock:cbntg"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/921/3192921_c35bfba2fc_s.jpeg" alt="dunnock:cbntg" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>rat watch: marvin and albert seem to have had a power struggle from which marv has emerged the winner. albert has become very keen to have my attention nad asks to come out of his cage now. marv is also hogging the food (which his brother always did) and albert appears to have lost some weight (he needed to). he doesn't seem ill, or unhappy, just different. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/31/gardenwatch-5483541/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>corn-buntingratsbirdsdunnockhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/31/gardenwatch-5483541/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/28/the-problem-that-wenger-has-5460730/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-01-27:/2009/01/28/the-problem-that-wenger-has-5460730/Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:04:39 +0100 <p>lehmann.cole.senderos.campbell.lauren.reyes.viera.flamini.pires.bergkamp.henry was the team that beat everton 7-0 in may 2005</p> <p>almunia.clichy.djorouh.toure.sagna.nasri.denilson.diaby.eboue.van persie.adebayor was the team that scraped past 3-1 hull in january 2009</p> <p>nuff said </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/28/the-problem-that-wenger-has-5460730/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/28/the-problem-that-wenger-has-5460730/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/26/what-s-going-on-at-tottenham-5453031/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-01-26:/2009/01/26/what-s-going-on-at-tottenham-5453031/Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:05:32 +0100 <p>they seem to be buying back all the players they've sold<br> defoe and now chimbonda, with robbie keane another rumour. will they get big sol back? berbatov? martin peters? chivers? they had a great side in the early sixties - can harry houdini revive them and save this once average side from relegation?</p> <p>answers on a postcard... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/26/what-s-going-on-at-tottenham-5453031/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>sperzhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/26/what-s-going-on-at-tottenham-5453031/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/25/there-will-be-bluebirds-over-the-red-and-white-cliffs-of-ashburnham-grove-5444574/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-01-25:/2009/01/25/there-will-be-bluebirds-over-the-red-and-white-cliffs-of-ashburnham-grove-5444574/Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:32:31 +0100 <p>bobbly pitch, savage atmosphere, fa cup tie: this had all the ingredients for an upset but in the end no one on either side could put the ball in the net. adebayor missed a sitter and van persie was unlucky (especially with a free kick). he is playing well at the moment - really taking responsibility. i don't think he should be asking for 80k a week just at the moment though. footballers have to learn some sense of perspective in the current climate.</p> <p>cardiff were much better for large parts of the first half and should have scored several times. ramsey had a bit a mare - obviously nervous and affected by a bit of booing from some sections of the crowd. its not fair but he has to get used to it. he has to let his own game do the talking: when diaby came on he made an immediate error but he got better. we missed denilson and continue to miss cesc, rosicky and walcott for their creativity. </p> <p>i thought gibbs did well - after the first 20 minutes when the bluebirds were flying highest. song had one of best games in a while and bendtner tried hard (bless him, he's not good enough yet). sagna had a so-so game by his standards while kolo and d hjorou looked fairly comfortable.</p> <p>ninian park was quiet in the second half as arsenal looked the more likely to score after diaby replaced ramsey. adebayor made an immediate impact when he came on for eboue. </p> <p>eboue... what can i say that hasn't already been said about this player? he did ok but his passing judgement is very suspect: he gives the ball away too often and moves comes to an end when he picks the wrong ball. but today's pathetic exhibition - diving for a penalty and being booked. I was screaming for a card! i don't want cheats like eboue in the arsenal side. how many chances is this guy going to get?</p> <p>in the end a fair result and i'm going to try and go to the replay: london will be very welsh for an evening - should be a great atmosphere. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/25/there-will-be-bluebirds-over-the-red-and-white-cliffs-of-ashburnham-grove-5444574/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/25/there-will-be-bluebirds-over-the-red-and-white-cliffs-of-ashburnham-grove-5444574/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/20/a-man-of-destiny-talks-to-the-world-5413405/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-01-20:/2009/01/20/a-man-of-destiny-talks-to-the-world-5413405/Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:51:21 +0100 <p>didn't he do well?</p> <p>a speech filled with history - recent and distant, designed to appeal to a world as well as an american audience. statesmanlike. determined. obama exudes trust and confidence. he has a massive task but he sounds like he believes it is not an impossible one. i liked lots of things he said - especially a tacit commitment to reassess the usa's disproportionate levels of pollution. he asked other countries to work with him and not to allow prejudices and dogma to prevent attempts to find peace. he recognized that america cannot sit behind its border and ignore poverty and environmental disasters outside. </p> <p>so that suggests he won't be an isolationist and his america will listen a little more. bush looked like a very ordinary man by his side. its the first time i've heard him 'live' - i was very impressed. its not all down to him of course. obama told americans that they have to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get on with it. it reminded me of wilson's 'white heat' speech and of course jfk's 'ask not what your country..'</p> <p>it also highlighted just how bereft of leadership we are in britain (and europe for that matter). when brown gets up to talk about the economy he just doesn't convince; neither does cameron. our largest city is run by a posh oaf. we are deeply cynical - americans are much more biddable. </p> <p>an obama is unlikely to surface here anytime soon. but we do need somebody to instill some optimism, some hope, belief that we can get through this economic and social crisis (if that's what it is). because as obama noted we have been in worse situations and have come through them. human beings are incredibly creative and resourceful. sometimes it needs a spark - or a disaster, or war, or plague - to galvanize change; sometimes we need leadership to make things happen. but history tells us that we adapt - eventually</p> <p>let's hope president obama uses his time well and that if he leads, others follow; i hope he is as good as his word because it would be nice to like america at last</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/20/a-man-of-destiny-talks-to-the-world-5413405/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>obamahttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/20/a-man-of-destiny-talks-to-the-world-5413405/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/11/nay-5359106/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-01-11:/2009/01/11/nay-5359106/Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:35:30 +0100 <p>i went to MK today (to buy a bike pump and a new v-necked jumper..no connection in case you wondered) so i drove down the M1 one junction (and then back). in that time one car came out of service station on the A road leading to the motorway and sailed across two lane into the far lane forcing me to brake from 70 to 40. once on the M1 (which was quiet) i was frustrated by the number of middle lane hoggers which seems to be at a premium between Js 15 and 14. why is this? i was happily bombing along the inside lane while car after car just held the middle and got shocked when i appeared behind them all-of-a-sudden when i needed to get past the odd lorry or slow moving car. maybe i'm out of date but i thought the two outside lane were for overtaking (any traffic cops out there?) the effect of all these lane hogs was to create a queue in the right side lane, one in the middle and large spaces between vehicles on the inside (where i try to drive). are they all idiots? lazy? if you are a hogger can you please tell me why you do it? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/11/nay-5359106/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>motorwaysdrivinghttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/11/nay-5359106/#commentshttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/03/more-grumbles-and-up-for-the-cup-5316235/tag:theblacksheep.blog.co.uk,2009-01-03:/2009/01/03/more-grumbles-and-up-for-the-cup-5316235/Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:32:36 +0100 <p>student essays day two:<br> have they gotten any better? no, worse if anything. I went back to my question "Using one or more historical source investigate a crime )or type of crime) that occurred in Britain between 1875 and 1975. Compare and contrast the crime with the present day". Simple enough instruction you would have thought. So why is it that so few of them have actually used ANY historical sources at all? i could fail most of them on this basis - but i won't.</p> <p>arsenal play plymouth argyle this afternoon in the 3rd round of the FA cup. this represents our best hope of a trophy this season (unless you area very optimistic gooner that is) and so i really hope wenger takes it seriously. i'm happy fab is in goal, i just hope he gives vela a chance up front or on the left. i never really enjoy the early stages of the cup - too many chances to come a cropper, but i am going try and enjoy today. come on you gunners! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/03/more-grumbles-and-up-for-the-cup-5316235/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>university-student-essays-arsenalhttp://theblacksheep.blog.co.uk/2009/01/03/more-grumbles-and-up-for-the-cup-5316235/#comments