Almost Christmas!

Lots of snow around, so feeling really festive but bitterly cold.

We have been so organised this year (well by our poor standards anyway)

Went shopping Oct/Nov time and did a huge lakeside shop for more than 8hrs, topped this up with a mid week visit to bluewater and managed to get the majority done. One trip to Ashford, picked up a few bits here and there, so not too tedious this time round.

Went to Smyths last Thursday, stocked up for the Harvla :-) I was threatening not to be wrapping presents until 3am xmas eve, which we won't be as even all that's been done, well almost all except this lot of course which won't be arriving on site until little ones in bed...

I wonder what he makes of it all this year? Not too keen on Father Christmas, happy to stand at a distance wave & receive pressies...but point blank refuses to que and visit him!

Loves all the christmas trees and lights though and understands that not all presents are his, so we're half way there.

We're excited for him anyway, I can't wait.

What’s been happening since I turned 30?

Nothing much, I'm only pregnant can you believe! There was me thinking it would take a while and how long did it take, a couple of months :-) shock.

I know this was never going to happen to me by accident and its down to planned military precision and all that, but it’s still a shock to my system to think there's actually something growing in there!

Well I’m officially 21wks and only now am I beginning to entertain the idea that this is actually happening to me. The midwife thinks I’m bonkers, I've seen the little thing FOUR times and heard its heartbeat at least SIX times...on the sound of the heartbeat at my last appointment she commented "well unless that's a puppy in there" but it just still doesn't seem real.

I hardly suffered with sickness/tiredness in the first 12wks (I know, don't wish it upon yourself) and now only slightly showing in the belly department, but have felt it kicking for the past two weeks which is a nice occasional reassuring comfort that all’s well.

Much debate over my due date between the clinic & the hospital. We went from the 2nd April to 26th March, but we're now sticking with the 29th March on the measurements of the baby. We'll see, at least we know roughly when to expect some action.

Half way and much to be excited about but I'm no natural and already saying never again...but as I'm reminded, I haven't done anything yet - oh dear. I'm really not sure I'm cut out for all this. No regrets and I am sure I'll be reflecting this time next year on the greatest achievement of my life so far.

I turn the BIG 3 ___ 0 tomorrow

I thought I would mark the occasion on here, since I started the blog a day before my 28th Birthday, 14th July 2008!

Is it wrong to feel totally not bothered?

Quite a few of my mates really freaked out, but it feels like any other birthday for me, except for more significant presents coming my way...

Wey Hey bring on the iPad.

Its all relative isn't it, all the ones who had a problem turning 30 are now well on their path to 40 and I've only just arrived, so I have every reason to feel upbeat.

You're as young as the woman you feel, MMmmm ;-(

Knocked out before the Quarter Finals

OK, so a guy who doesn't really give a dam about football and cares even less about the England team bet me that England do not reach the quarterfinal stage. Easy money (or so I thought) even if we didn't progress past that stage I thought we'd get there!!! I mean this would mean us losing out in the KO game after the group stage, surely we are better than that - NO.

So as payment I had to purchase the office krispy kreme doughnuts :-( I don't even eat bloody doughnuts. We have all sorts in the office, even supposed 'football fans' who hate the England team and think they are a bunch of useless w*****s. Well the team did themselves no favours did they. I have to listen to all the 'I told you so' now.

Well of all the emailed responses I got to alerting everyone of the bet I lost and the resulting treat for everyone else, this had to be the best "I wish we'd had those doughnuts in defence on Sunday! They would have done a better job!" this run a close second "all I can say is that if we defended like that in 1939-45 the whole country would be speaking German now!"

...a few of my friends are out in SA, it made me so angry when I see Rooney ranting down the TV at the booers after the Algeria game! How dare he. He's been the biggest let down all tournament. The most passion & performance shown from an Englishman on tour was our Mr Pavlos Joseph!

Anyway, until Germany all the defence looked solid, but the fact is we just hadn't been tested by a decent team!

I went bananas when Lampards 'goal' went in against the Germans :-( who knows, that was our best spell in the match and at 2-2 maybe things would of been different - I just hate it that the players have always got some excuse and we're left with the what ifs.

Boring rigid old school 442 tactics :-( Although Germany were amazing.

I mean they made us look like amateurs the way they attacked us then the clinical finishing when they got there!! My god, we couldn't compete. I heard the German coach say he did his homework, hit England on the break cause Lampard and Gerrard are always supporting the attack...the fullbacks are wide, Klose to pull Terry out of position and through they go. AND boy were they true to their word and it worked a treat...oh well only another boring qualification to look forward to now and then get our hopes up again in 2yrs time for the euros.

Phew, we did it!

Well my JT and 4-0 didn't come off but who cares, finally a good performance :-)

OK, we know it was against the smallest nation at this World Cup, but let us enjoy the moment.

The two big Capello changes, decisively combined to produce the only goal of the game that proved enough to secure our place in the last 16. DEFOE is a goalscorer (more than Heskey, bless) and well done Milner, put a number of great crosses in to the box.

Dare I say it, Rooney even looked slightly better! Fullbacks have been brilliant throughout, as well as Terry (and all his centre back pairings) Upson put in a match winning tackle in the dying seconds of this game. Gerrard & Barry both superb again, James looked solid, I guess the only one who didn't set the world alight was Lampard.

Most important thing was the performance had a lot more urgency, work rate and fighting spirit was excellent.

The U.S. got a last gasp entry to the last 16 & top the group. On paper they now get the easier route instead of ourselves but hey, as they say...if you want to win the World Cup you have to BEAT the best teams.

Bring on the Germans then the Argentines we will dispose of both (fingers crossed)

At least when you play better opposition you tend to up your game, rather than just thinking you have to turn up for the 'supposedly' easier games to win. If we play with this much tempo & determination and keep improving as the tournament goes on then we are in with a great chance.

COME ON ENGLAND

Slovenia v England 15:00 BST

I am so anxious, I know they can do it, £2 on JT 1st goal and £5 on 4-0 I'm optimistically behind them at least.

With Slovenia only needing a draw, obviously they will camp out in their half, I am concerned we have shown no creativity or imagination so far to break teams down. That could change if Rooney decides to have a good game, the midfield pass & move with a bit of pace! Lets just hope they don't catch our centre backs for pace on the break, as that would be a disaster.

So far they have shown a lack of desire and no fighting spirit, if that changes I'll be halfway happy.

It's in our hands so there will be no one else to blame, we need a win, with no win so far surely our luck must change.

Lets see, maybe a 0-0 or 4-0. I bet there will be no in between.

Leaving work at 2ish to collect the boy, don't want him to miss the big match, he'll just have to blow his nursery buddies out this afternoon I'm afraid!

Our captain has said "its a do-or-die situation. It would be an absolute disaster for this group of players to go home after the group stages - The key is to try and live without fear. There is pressure and fear. But the fear of not winning drives you on. We've come here to stay in this tournament to the end."

If we do end up going out today, it will be the first time since 1958 that England have failed to get out of the group stage at a World Cup. Surely we'll do it. We have to.

COME ON ENGLAND

Does anyone remember this headline

The day after the draw, last December...



Always so much expectation, yet they rarely deliver? Such a talented bunch of individuals, even Capello is bemused. Stunned as to why they can not translate qualifying & training ground form on to the big stage.

As a nation of course we are so fickle, especially the way we idolise then villainise our lions from one minute to the next! Of course they can still top the group and all will be forgotten.

BUT so far two draws (against the U.S. & Algeria) and only managing ONE goal (which was missed by me anyway thanks to ITV HD) come on guys, you're letting us down.

These players are not only world class in their own right they play in arguably the best league in the world and are not lacking in experience, we boast a few Champions League Winners for goodness sake.

With the best manager for a long time, a supposedly 'easy' group and a relatively pain free route to the final stages if we get our finger out I honestly see no reason why we can't win it.

AND so we win SOD ALL again!

Just looking back at my end of season premiership prediction posts. I guess I was relatively close (EXCEPT for my over the top points tally for ARSENAL) we tailed off at the end, not really a fair reflection on how much we 'were' actually in contention! We gave zero effort in final games once we had nothing to play for and god forbid 'nearly' got caught up by an impressive Spurs who I have to say thoroughly deserved their Champions League spot :-)

So it did finish with Chelsea as champions closely followed by Man U...but a lot closer than the 2pts I predicted, amazing run in, only a point in it! BUT 75pts is never going to win a Premier League Title :-(

1 Chelsea 86
2 Manchester United 85
3 Arsenal 75

As always, promises of spending big to bolster the squad. Who knows, this time maybe Mr Wenger will...starting with Joe Cole, I guess we can afford his ridiculous wages considering he will arrive on a 'free transfer' but will he tie up with Harry instead, we'll see.

4hrs, over & out...