August 2004 Blogs
Awkward Taxis - 23rd August 2004 - 23:29 BST
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I've just got a taxi back from town. Now, is it just me, or can the journey with the taxi driver be one of the most awkward things you have to deal with in life?
You sit there, not knowing what to do with your hands and in silence. You rack your brain for things to say. The obvious choice is "Have you been busy?" and "What time are you on till?" (as mentioned by Peter Kay - it's true!) But that just sounds sad and pathetic, besides which you don't really give a shit.
So there you are, stuck in a traffic jam. Sitting in silence. You think "Please… please… just say something!" Your willing to enter conversation, it's just that he needs to start it! If anyone knows 101 Things to Say To a Taxi Driver (or even just 1 thing!) then they could make a lot of money…
I Hate Spam - 23rd August 2004 - 10:39 BST
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It's a mystery to me how e-mail spammers think you'd be interested in their products. Normally my e-mail filter is very good and I never get any junk mail, although today I received an e-mail from a gardening company (I have ****ed out the name as I'm not giving them free advertising) selling books on how to make that area full of dirt at the back of hour house look nice.
Whether you're wondering what to do with the jungle out the back or have already achieved nirvana with nature these three strapping lads can still teach you a trick or two! From the soothing voice of Gardener's World, Monty Don, comes an all-encompassing guide to all things green… BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH -BOLLOCKS!
The only interesting thing I picked up from the e-mail was who it was from.
"Hi Sean, Clare here, your ********* **** Secretary,"
I never knew I had a secretary. I have e-mailed her back at the address providing telling her to make me a cup of coffee and ask if she has taken my answer phone messages.
3 Days In 1 Update - 23rd August 2004 - 00:07 BST
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Apologies for not posting on here for a few days. I'm updating a little later than I would normally, I'm off work until Tuesday 31st so don't have to worry about the time.
As mentioned earlier, I'm off to Leeds on Tuesday to watch them play Huddersfield in The Carling Cup. There's only one slight problem. I ordered tickets for the Hospitality Package where you get a pre-match meal, parking space and a seat for the match. The only problem is you're not allowed to wear Leeds shirts in the banqueting area and I'm unsure if you're even allowed in the 'executive area'. Dunno why they've stuck me there, I'd be happy enough in the KOP. Next time I'll just get the standard tickets and settle for pie and chips.
Leeds did alright at the weekend against Nottingham Forest, drawing 1-1. It was a shame though that they didn't win though. Forest were awarded a very dubious penalty late in the game. Unfortunately, the keeper didn't save it this week. I also placed another bet on a game. This time on the Charlton-Portsmouth game. I was pretty certain Charlton would win (even though they lost 4-0 the week before). They did and I collected another £15 from Ladbrokes.
Arsenal played today and managed to win 4-3 against Middlesbrough in a fabulous game. They are now 42 games unbeaten. Their win looked to be in doubt early into the second half when Boro put themselves 3-1 up, Arsenal amazed everyone by scoring 3 times in 10 minutes to take back the lead! I wish Leeds could score twice in 90min! Imagine if Arsenal scored 3 goals every 10 minutes for the whole game… they could score 27 goals. Maybe a new record for them to set. Most Premiership goals scored by 1 team in 1 game.
I went to see The Village at the cinema with a friend yesterday. From the reviews and what people I have spoken to say, it's a film you either love or hate. I didn't like it. I thought there was too much talking and sub-plots. The major plot twist at the end was interesting, but you couldn't help feeling cheated as the trailer made the film look brilliant.
Pissing Weather- 19th August 2004 - 23:50 BST
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Bloody weather. I got a real soaking this afternoon after work. It was dry all day until 3 minutes till 5pm. In the short 10 minute walk from work to my house I was drenched - and I was under an umbrella for a lot of that time. I will expect an improvement in the weather for next week, which I have off work. I'm not going away on holiday this summer, although I am going to Leeds for a few days and to watch Leeds United play Huddersfield in the Carling Cup on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to that!
I'm still getting paranoid about spiders at night. Last night I thought I saw a shadow of a massive spider on my wall while I was half asleep. I got up, turned the big light on and searched for it. Then, after not finding one and regaining my thoughts I realised "How could I of seen a shadow of a spider, there weren't any lights on!" I must have dreamt the whole thing!
Ladbrokes paid up for me again yesterday. I placed £10 on England to beat Ukraine in a friendly match. The England football team haven't done too well in friendlies, but I thought players like Beckham and Owen, along with Sven the manager would have points to prove. Ladbrokes paid out £15 for my correct bet!
Something about the game that annoyed me. Alan Smith in the starting line up. Why is it that through all his years at Leeds he was (nearly always) overlooked for England and as soon as he goes to Man Utd he is capped! He's only played 1 league game FFS, hardly enough to warrant a sudden change of heart by Sven. That's the way it goes though. It's not right.
I've Won!!!... £9.09 - 15th August 2004 - 22:11 BST
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Thank you Ladbrokes and Eidur Gudjohnsen of Chelsea! I put a bet on the Chelsea - Man United game (for Chelsea to win) and I won! I may have only placed a tenner, but winning over £9 is good.
The game was on TV and I was amused and pleased by the Chelsea supporters booing and shouting "Judus" at Alan Smith. Even they know what he did was unacceptable. I'm hoping he gets the same every week.
I was also pleased with Leeds United yesterday. The played Wolves and drew 0-0. A year or two ago, this would have been a bad thing, but on paper Wolves are like the Arsenal of the Championship Division (although haven't won a game so far this season!).
Towards the end of a lot of the Leeds games that I listen to on the radio, I get so tense I need to go for a walk, I just can't handle the last few minutes! It's a good thing I did this yesterday. Late into the game, Wolves were awarded a penalty and luckily it was saved by the Leeds keeper! I would have gone nuts if I had heard about the penalty as it happened!
Moving on from the topic of football, those spiders are still bothering me, even though they're not there. Maybe I'm going mad, but in the night I thought they were crawling on me! I have the fan on at night as the weather is still very warm so know it's that, but I always wonder…
It's also a good thing months don't really bother me. A strange looking one was on my wall this morning, looked like the one from the front of the Silence of The Lambs DVD/video cover.
Football-Football-Football... - 11th August 2004 - 22:27 BST
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I have now got over my annoyance and disappointment of Leeds losing yesterday. They're a brand new team and need time to gel. At least they kept on fighting after the second goal for Gillingham went in, which is more than be said for the squad last season!
Last year, the Leeds United players seemed to play all their games as if they were playing 'Golden Goal', if they scored 1st, they would think "Job done lads, lets kick the ball around for the remainder of the 90 minutes" in which time the other team would score. If the other team scored first they would react and think "Bollocks! Another 3 points dropped" even though there 88 minutes left on the clock!
I watched Man Utd (scum) play this evening in The Champions League. Unfortunately, they won 2-1 - there's always the 2nd leg for them to mess up though. One good thing that can be taken from the game, Alan "Scum" Smith didn't score and he got booked. Nothing new there then.
Nothing much else to mention here tonight. Sorry its been all Football-Football-Football lately, but the new season has just started and it's a common topic of conversation for the moment!
Damn... - 10th August 2004 - 21:41 BST
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Losing 2-0 - 10th August 2004 - 20:38 BST
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Bugger, Leeds losing 2-0 at half time against Gillingham, a team tipped for relegation! Leeds have had their chances but it's not a very good score. Still another 45 minutes to get back into it! Come on Leeds!
Quickier Every Year - 9th August 2004 - 22:12 BST
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Bloody Hell, Leeds United win at the weekend and I still get mocked by people at work for supporting them. I was asked why I support them because they play in a "Mickey Mouse League"! Well at least they'll only be there for one season. Leeds are playing Gillingham tomorrow night (midweek games - it's like being back in Europe again!) so I'll be hoping for another win - I predict 2-0 to Super Leeds!
I was looking at the calendar today at work and realised where we actually were in the year! It's gone so fast! It'll be December in 4 months! Mind you, people seem to say it goes fast every year! I'll be glad for a week off work though. I'm off in 2 weeks, hoping to go to see Leeds play Huddersfield in the Carling Cup - tickets on sale tomorrow so fingers crossed I can get some.
Scum Lose - 8th August 2004 - 17:12 BST
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Congrats to Arsenal for winning the Community Shield 3-1 against Man United. It's always good to see the scum loose.
The only downside from the match was that Alan Scum Smith scored. Still, when Van Horseface and Saha are better he'll be able to keep the bench warm.
Smith Scum's temperament hasn't changed much either and he still found time to shout some abuse at the referee. Shame he wasn't booked, you don't seem t get penalised that much if you play for Man Utd though.
Is There Anything They Can Do Right? - 11th July 2004 - 12:25 BST
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Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won!
Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won! Leeds won!
The MIGHTY Leeds United Football Club beat Derby County today 1-0. Fraser Richardson scoring a blinder of a goal and the first of the new football season!
Due to the early kick off, Leeds became top of the league for a few hours. They are now 5th (on Goal Difference).
I'm VERY PLEASED with the result. Bring on Gillingham on Tuesday!
On not such a good note, by Sky+ f**ked up yesterday and didn't record Bo Selecta. It then refused to record anything else, so I had to manually set the time on the DVD Recorder to record the Leeds game! Pft!
Anyway, I think its sorted now (fingers crossed). I did another full system reset, but not before transferring all my TV Shows I wanted to keep onto DVD which pissed me off a little. Still after the result today, nothing really got me mad.
It's a beautiful day!
Football Season Starts!- 7th August 2004 - 09:32 BST
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It's Match Day for Super Leeds United who take on Derby today at home.
Anyone who is not going to the game, it is on Sky Sports 1 today at 12.15pm (kick off time). As this is an early kick off, they could be top of the league come 2pm, on the other hand they could be bottom if they loose. The very best of luck to Super Leeds!
So, Nadia won Big Brother last night. I was pleased to see her win as she wanted to be accepted (after her having the chop) and I think the public voting her to win Big Brother 5 must have been amazing for her. Another good reason about Nadia winning is that people who placed bets on "A Male Winner for BB" will still get prizes from the bookies… maybe.
Good luck to Super Leeds United
Good News! - 4th August 2004 - 23:42 BST - too late to be updating site!
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Big Brother speaks to the partygoers
One's full of hot air, floats around and is pointless, the other is a balloon
Yessss!!! Stuart, the most boring and rubbish housemate ever to grace Big Brother has been evicted! He wasn't in fact the bookies favourite to go, Shell or Jason were, but the talentless student got the boot today after he received the least amount of votes to win the series.
It was suggested, girlfriend and fellow ex-housemate Michelle did try get Stuart to win Big Brother by texting her lovers name ten thousand times, unfortunately for her, "VOTE CHICKEN" was not accepted by Big Brother's computers.
Finally, all of you who laughed (if there were indeed any of you) at my worried rant yesterday about lightening hitting my roof, I saw on the local news today, a families home was destroyed after being hit by lightening. As I sleep in the loft, I would be D-E-D if that happened to my house. So there.
Spiders & Lightning - 3rd August 2004 - 22:14 BST
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Strange weather where I am at the moment. Hot and humid with a big thunder and lightening storm last night at 4am. Sleeping under a Velux window pointing directly at the sky, you do stupidly worry "What of lightening hit it?". Well maybe just me.
I had troubles the following night as well when I saw a spider on my wall! It wasn't a biggie (thank God) but it had to be disposed of. Standing well back, armed with a tin of hairspray before throwing a book at it (Terry Venables' Football Heroes) to finish it off. I'm not one for killing animals, but spiders are evil. A friend of mine made it worse by sending me a link to a page with lots of nasty 8 legged creatures.
I can't open the window for fear of spiders and its very warm, luckily I have a fan.
All these fears of being struck by lightening and attacked by spiders - I must be going mad.
Sorry the webcam has been down recently. No real excuse apart from the fact I have been disturbed by a friend of mine (the one who sent me the spider link) begging me to leave it on 24/7 so he can watch me sleep!
New Month, Fresh Page - 1st August 2004 - 13:05 BST
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1 Down, 3 To Go
Well it's a start of a new month and that means I have a fresh news page to play about with. I'm sure those of you using 'Ye Olde Technologie' (a 56k modem and any CPU less than 1GigHz with 512mb of RAM) must have been finding it very slow to access. I was finding it slow to edit, and that's with my AMD 2.2GHz Athlon with a Gig of RAM! You can still read all of July's updates through the News Archives.
Leeds beat Scottish side Hibernia 3-1 yesterday and were awarded their first cup of the season. The Whyte and Mackay cup! Sure, its not the FA Cup but its a start. Only 6 days till the start of the new season!
Got a nice surprise in the post yesterday. The Adam and Joe Show DVD that I pre-ordered (wasn't supposed to get it until next week). Its very funny and brings back memories from the 90s. Like many Channel 4 DVDs, it is packed full of extras. Definitely worth buying!
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