Gordon's Blog

26 Oct, 2004

Nothing yesterday, mainly due to a total computer failure, but not before I had managed to get quite a few updates on the site.

Around 3pm I downloaded updated drivers for the ADSL modem in the office and installed them, only to find that it had totally disabled the bios on the motherboard.  Bugger.  No amount of tweaking and fiddling would get the bloody thing running again.

So at 4:40 I wrapped it up and disconnected everything, took it home and completely restored the dam thing.  There's three HDD's in the office system, two of them full of pictures from five years of being in the job.  There's no way I am losing them, most of them are Martin's. 

I stripped down the machine and placed all three hard drives in my machine at home, much to the annoyance of the wife who wanted to player on her Sims 2, copied all the documents and images to a spare hard drive (250gb) I had at home.  Put the master drive back in the office machine and attempted to re-install windows.  By now it's 7:45.  The install failed due to the bloody big scratch on the XP Disk.  It's ten to eight now, PC World closes in ten minutes but I still managed to get there and get a new copy of XP.

Safely back home and were up and running, wife still wants to get on her game but she can't cos I'm using the monitor, mouse etc etc.  Got windows on and started to transfer everything back, then suddenly had a brain wave.  I was tired and emotionally drained ok, I just shoved my spare hard drive into the machine, along with one of the others.  By the time I had all the software back on and running it was gone two in the morning.  Not to worry, I'll have a wee lie in!!!!!

NOT

Bloody sister in law arrives with her kid at 6:30.  Apparently we are looking after him while she goes to work.  So, with kids and everyone up and annoying the hell out of me watching cartoons at seven in the morning I give up and come into work.  Had to phone Peter Young though, needed a lift with the computer and kit I had to take back.  I do drive but I refuse to buy a car, far too expensive to run the dam thing.  If I need one, I borrow the old mans for a while.

Got in the office and get the broadband running again then network it and all is going fine.  Eventually start on the website and get the Terry Dunfield story on.  If there is one thing I detest is finding out a story via the Bury Times - doesn’t look very good on the club if a story is released elsewhere first.  It's another in the long line of getting stories out of the paper lark that has narked me since I started the job.

Got a few more things done on the site, and started the Notts County programme.  Eventually I get the rest of the software on and then install the TV card.  I need to start doing the video's for Shakers World again.  Get it in and software on, the bloody thing doesn’t work - that's that on hold for a month or two then.  No chance of getting anew one and I already know the answer to the question before I even ask, so I'm not going to ask.

Sent the pen pics of to Mansfield this morning as well as seven other images they want for a historical item in the programme.  I've also spoke to Rob at Mansfield regarding ISDN line for Saturday.  There won’t be any commentary at Cheltenham next week cos they don't have ISDN.  Unless I can get a phone line and do it over the phone, the sound quality is awful though, but it's better than nowt.

I've also had a good moan at PTV cos far too many people are failing to login to Shakers World.  Apparently after four weeks of digging, they have finally found the problem - it's something to do with NTL - That’s where the PTV servers sit.  The problem should be fixed for Saturday - I'll believe it when I see it.

I'm just about to leave, just got to get Greg Smith's pictures form the pre-season game onto a CD for his mum.  She asked weeks ago but I keep putting it off.  There done and I can go home.  Doing bugger all tonight.  Stargate Atlantis is on and it's quite good.  The lad has also got hold of a Alien v Predator DVD so I might watch that as well. 

Not had a fag in a month now - if somebody gave me one now, I'd take it.

Overall, a productive day, but I'm knackered.  Wife can’t understand why I a'nt finished early.  It's half term, bloody kids everywhere!!!!!

23 Oct, 2004

What a bloody nightmare.  I finished off yesterdays blog by updating it on the condition of the boy.  We took him to the bardoc last night cos he had stomach aches, he was sent to fairfield with suspected apendisitus.  Nightmare.  I got up there about 8pm last night to be told that he would be going to Pendlebury for the operation.  They also said he would be going within the hour.

So I gave him my best chin up speach, it's a doddle dont worry about it type thing.  I had to get home cos of the younger two who were by now starting to panic.  The eldest (18) couldnt control them so I came home.  The wife was going to Pendlebury with him.  I got home at tenish, to find a phone call waiting for me, it would be a while before he went to Pendlebury.  To cut a long story short, got another call at 4:27 in the monring from her indoors to tell me that they were just leaving Fairfield for Pendlebury- nightmare.

Once he had got there they decided that it wasnt his appendix at all, it was some sort of infection and he was sent home with an armful of drugs and god knows what.  he's been sleeping since four and is out for the count still.

Anyway, the game - arrived at twelve to get myself sorted.  I'd dropped the youngest off at the mother in laws, she needed cheering up after recent events so I threw three of her grandchildren at her - aint that noice of me!!!!!

First thing to do was my two inserts into Tower, one at 1:30, next at 2:30.  That was all done and then I loafed around waiting for the Rushden bus to come, I was looking forward to seeing Gaz Seddon.  Top lad in my book and he's having something of a nightmare at the moment.  The bus arrived late, just beofre 2pm so I never got the chance to see if he was on the bus or not.  I found out later that he wasnt and had gone down with the mumps - bugger.

The team sheet that is produced at the club us another of my productions.  I have to loiter around the dressing room, outside the referee's room, at five to 2.  Take the pink copy of the team sheets and produce the official team sheets that the press have.

Once that's done it's got to go on the site as well.  I usually throw the team news on the message board as well cos to be honest, I dont trust the ptv structure at the moment.  Once thats done it's up to the press box to cover the game.  Thats done, all gone well today.  Jimmy Mac was as is usual quite funny.

Once the interview with graham is done and fed back to Tower it's time to go home.  Ten past six before me and Jim leave. Jimmy Mac wants a pint but I've got to get home and see how the boy is.

Hannah wasnt at the game today so I had to do the report as well.  Martin's still off doing a show so there's no photo's again.  It's ha;lf nine now and I'm just about to knock it on the head for the night.  Rushden havent updated their site yet so the opposition view can wait till the morning

22 Oct, 2004

Is there such a thing as a busy/quiet day??

Thats what today was, busy, but quiet...

No kids today, some idiot has decided they deserve a week off, so whilst they all blissfully slept in, I was up and off to work, though I did get a lie in till just before eight.

First job was to get the tipster story updated with todays racing.  Fairly quick job and easy to do, but eleven tips on todays racing are quickly sorted.  Can't have been that bad as well as five of them won their race.  I'm gonna have to seriously start backing them sooner or later.

Next was a trip to the dressing room to speak to the lads.  I'm trying to get a signed shirt. The chap who won the Euro 2004 predictions game wants his shirt, and who can blame him.  Problem we have at the moment though is a distinct lack of shirts to use.  There's plenty in the club shop,  but we have no access to them.  I shudder to think what would happen should we ever sign another player.  basically I can't get a shirt at the moment and am gonna have to email the chap and let him know.

Had a quick chat with Newbs and Flicker.  Jon Newby is always the first in the dressing room, I sometimes wonder if he ever goes home.   The pre-match chat with the gaffer goes very smoothly.  Somebody once asked me if we ever rehearsed them?  No we dont, it's all off the cuff, though I do spend some time on the questions to ask him.  Usually one of Graham's answers will fueld another question and we go on from there.

We've been quite lucky so far because both Andy Preece and Graham Barrow like to talk.  I'd hate to have a manager who hardly said anything, though I know a few of the webmasters do struggle to get anything from their managers.  One clubs press officer has actually been banned from the managers office!!!!

Once the managers interview is done, sixteen minutes this week, it has to be recorded to the PC, topped and tailed (The beginning and end are taken off), saved, encoded, uploaded, linked, launched, typed and put onto the main site - there's another two hours, mainly cos I had to record it twice - I buggered the first one up.

Once that's done I have to feed it all back to TowerFM for the sports show tomorrow.  That takes sixteen minutes - well thats how long the interview is???

Next we have a couple of news items that take nanoseconds to get up, followed by the preview.  I've been trying to talk to Gaz Seddon all week, he's either totally ignoring me or hasnt been passed my messages.  I think it may be the first one, if he appears tomorrow, he's going to get a dam good ignoring too.

Left the club at around 4:00pm, just as tomorrow's programme arrives.  So I can sit here tonight reading the programme. 

Matthew, the boy, is ill and has just been been taken to the bardoc by the mrs.  He's had a bad stomach ache for most of the day and was on the verge of passing out when I got home.  I think he's constipated, the wife thinks something else - we'll see

Nothing happening tonight, just more bloody soap's on the telly, though I am still trying to tackle this game - Hidden and Dangerous 2.  It's a cracking game, if you've played Medal of Honor, this is better.  It's taking me bloody ages to crack.

Received a pm today from hannah, it's her fault I've been ill.  She's had the lurg, and passed it on....

Latest update - Matty is on his way to Pendlebury Childrens Hospital.  It's appendicitis

21 Oct, 2004

Three days and nothing!!!!!  Christ what happened....

Tuesday:  Nightmare of a day, feeling bloody awful for some reason, but there's a game and a programme to do.  Spent most of the morning on the programme and a very little time on the website.  Didnt feel too clever around lunchtime and went home, slept for most of the time but back at the club by five.

Everything went ok from my end, there was one glaring cock up with the Boston programme, and all was going well - until the match started.  When we do commentary it's done over an ISDN line.  I dial up to TowerFM in Bolton, who then send the feed down a normal phone line to PTV in Feltham.  If I had the kit I would send it direct to PTV and the commentary would be first class every time.

Tonight, the prat in the studio at Bolton decided that he wouldnt dial it in to PTV until around 8:15, meaning that world users had nothing until the first half had nearly finished.  I had a word with the chap concerned at half time and let him know what I thought.

Martin's away from the next three games so no match action to do tonight, by the time I got home and finished I was feeling dead rough and went straight to bed.

Wednesday:  Still feeling bloody rough, but there's a programme to do.  Got into the club, fed last nights audio back to tower, got GB's programme notes done, as well as Simon Whaley in the centre page of Saturdays programme.  Still nothing from Gareth Seddon so I have scrubbed the article all together.  Spent until twelve finishing the programme and getting it to the printer, got that done and updated the website whilst the file is uploading to the server.

Once that's done, and as I am still feeling crap, back home to bed.

Thursday:  Did some work on the website, also proof read the Rushden programme,  spent some time looking at the clubs network and how I can improve it.  Still feeling rough, there's no players in today and I've not got a lot to do, so I finished around 1:30, got home and slept.  I'm still not feeling 100%, but a bloody lot better.

Shed loads of work tomorrow with all the pre match stuff plus the pre-match chat with GB, also planning to do something with Terry Dunfield and Kelham. 

Just watched Alien v Predator on DVD - what a load of crap...

18 Oct, 2004

What a day, absolutely manic.

Where do I start, what about the beginning...

Got in this morning about 8:45 after dropping the youngest at school.  Busy week this week with a game tomorrow plus a programme to do.  First I needed to update Tuesday night's programme with the stats from Saturday, a quick email and it's gone.  Minutes later the pdf proof copies of the programme start coming through.  Once these are proof read then it's sent back and the programme went to print about 2pm this afternoon.  The programme is printed in Warrington and should be with us about 4pm on Tuesday.

Now I've got one programme out of the way, I can get some work on the website done.  Started with the tipster, followed by a call from the Football League telling me all about the new Wifi system that we can buy if we want it.  As soon as they said the word "Buy", I thought, forget it.

Once the tipster story is done, there's a few articles on the game tomorrow to be done.  Ticket news and the "Welcome to Bury" article, they are already on the system so it's just a case of a quick edit and get it saved.  Hannah sent in her diary late on Sunday night, another dam good read, though she's giving far too many secrets away - it's my 22nd Birthday, not my 21st!!!!!!

Got an email from PTV or FL Interactive as they like to be called now, the site is slipping on hits, though world subscribers are up, betting is up again to a new record of over £8,000 for the month of september.  Sounds good, but that was 8,000 spent on bets.  SMS is dying with only 60 users.  No matter what I do, I cannot get SMS to move.  There are one or two other stats on the site, but basically we have slipped by three places to 67th in the league table.

More articles on the site are finished around lunchtime and then it's time to start or to continue on the Rushden programme.  I've sent an email to R&D asking for Gareth Seddon to contact me. I'd like to interview him for the programme.  So far, not a word from him.  I've also sent the club chat article to them, and again that's not come back yet, but should be here tomorrow.

Whilst all this was going on, I;ve completely restored the laptop.  I downloaded a demo of a web authoring kit on Sunday and it completely buggered up the entire system.  So started froms cratch.  It's much better than doing a soft restore. 

Somebody has placed a thread on the MB about the new WiFi system, and it's lead to us being offered a WiFi router for nowt.  Exile comes up trumps again.  Once it quitens down a little I might get around to installing it, mind you, Barry will have to get it to us first.

I had two phone calls from blokes trying to find info on their grandfathers who had claimed to play for Bury at some point.  Both were around the first world war time and neither were in the bible.  Shame, as one of them sounded quite promising.

More copy is inserted into Saturdays programme.  BBM is on the front cover.  Kelham came in just after lunch looking for news on Boston.  There website isnt updated very often and we could find next to bugger all on Newnow.  He also took the video from last years game to watch over night..

At 2pm I had a photographer arrive at the club.  He took ten photo's of me around the ground with the UEFA Award.  It's for an article in a book that will be published next year called "Blokes and Balls".

Cracked on with the Rushden programme until five then went home.  Got some more software on the laptop then realised that I can't remember my email password, but that can wait until the morning.  A night without email might not be that bad.

The new series of battlestar Galactica is in later tonight so might be worth a watch.  Bring back Buck Rogers in the 25th century I say...

More tomorrow

17 Oct, 2004

Brillaint, got a lie in and got dragged out of my bed at 8:45.  If it wasnt for the kids, it would have been later.  Did not a lot today, lounged in front of the telly mostly, passing comment on the standards of the wife's ironing, just to keep her on her toes sort of thing.

Went down to Goshen this morning with the dog, had a chat with Neil Hanks and Bert (Top bloke, one of the coaches from the C of E).  Went home and got a few things on the site.  The oposition view article, two from the pink and a new feature - the fans view.  I always find it interesting what oposition fans think of the game, and our own fans - the differance in opinions can be amazing at times.

Apart from that, that's all I've done, loafed in front of the telly and drank copious amounts of coffee.

What a lazy day.  Oh, I also spent a little time on Saturdays programme.

16 Oct, 2004

A lie in, my kingdon for a lie in - not a bloody chance.  The postman comes at around five to eight, hammering on the door as though his life depended on it.  A parcel.  It's my latest off Ebay - four MP3 players for the kids.  Today is also my daughter Katie's 12th birthday.  The usual cards and presents are quickly handed out, just in time for SoccerAM to start.

I get an hour of SoccerAM in before it's time to sort my life out and head off to the ground.  A quick shave, wash, bags ready and I'm off.  A casual stroll to the ground via the papershop and it's a case of waiting for everyone to turn up.  The Team Bus is there and ready to go, the supporters bus is waiting for one person to turn up - they never did and left just after the team bus.

Finally our lift arrives, we are with Iain Mills again today.  As Iain turns around and I load my gear into the back, Martin and Hannah arrive.  Jimmy Mac got his license back last week and he is making the most of it by dribing him self upto Darlington.  We all jump in and off we go.  Sat Nav is flashed up and raring to go - Iain calls "The Voice" Jayne and we're off.

The only actual surprise of the trip up to Darlo is that I never fell asleep, god knows why cos I'm shattered.  We arrive at the superb Williamson Motors Stadium in plenty of time, so early in fact that I have arrived in time to get onto Tower from the ground for the 1:30 piece.  I've never made it before now and it's usually been done over the mobile.  Matt Hardman at TowerFM hq is suitably impressed.  Not for long though...

Jimmy Mac arrives as I am buying the coldest pie ever.  It was horrible, it was made even worse when one of the locals told me I could have had it for nothing with my ticket - bugger.  The coffee came out of a machine and taste's bloody awful.  Jim likes it though saying its the best coffee he's had in ages.

The usual sports show on Tower for a change and it all goes like clockwork.  I've had three messages back saying that Shakers World is loud and clear - thank god for that.  The usual pleasentries are exchanged between myself, Jim and Tower.  I've upset Matt Hardmann by launching into an attack on the previous Darlo chairman, but never mind.

The game kicks off, commentary goes ok.  Doesnt help that I cant see the numbers on the back of the Darlington players shirts, doesnt really matter as we win 2-1.  Half time was the strangest thing I've ever seen at a game - Zulu Dancers - Honestly, I kid you not

The game finishes and my final report is done to Tower.  Got to interview the gaffer now.  Graham is brilliant, he knows I need to get him and comes looking for me, just as I find him.  Interview done, and fed back to Tower.  GMR's kit fails and they need to use my Mini Disk.  Bargain, not only is my interview on Tower, but the BBC have used it as well - I should add again.  Be even better if they paid for it.

We eventually get finished at the ground at 6pm.  Martin's photo's have gone to the pink, I've finished, Hannah's finished, might as well go home.  Jimmy Mac's already left, he's off to Glasgow to watch the Rangers v Motherwell game - apparetnly he is on the pitch as a guest of theirs - will they remember him???

Just about to leave the ground when the mobile starts chirping.  It's another director on the team bus, they have not picked up the match video, can I get it.  It takes around half an hour to track the video down but I've got it.  Get on the road home and some bright spark decides to close the A1.  Stuck in traffic for bloody ages.  Hannah decide's that we should all tell her some dirty jokes - ok, we will.

We get back to the Social club just after 9pm, a quick pint and it's a stroll home.  Order my Curry, get a brew and start work.  The photo's are 90% done, I did them sat in the back of the car on the way back as usual.  I need to record, encode, upload, link, type and launch the managers interview on the flat site and World.

Once thats done, get the images online, then my curry arrives.  Go back online and the entire siyte is completely buggered up.  There is old articles at the top and new one's at the bottom.  That takes an hour to sort, before I start this at 1150.

Bugger it -bed time

15 Oct, 2004

What a hideous day!!  Got in nice and early, gasping for a fag.  I moved down to the weaker strength patches today, I'll be back on size two tomorrow I think.  They might as not well be there.

The morning got off to a strange start, Chris (he used to use the message board but not any more) brought his girlfriend/wife in.  She's a Danny Swailes freak and wanted a photo taken with the big man.  So with one central defender in tow, we headed into the car park to take a snap or three.  The rest of the lads had seen her and were learing out of the windows trying to see if her skirt was that short!!!!!.

With that out of the way it was time to interview the gaffer.  I chat to him before and after every game.  We just got sat down when BANG.  The bloody electrics went.  We have an electrician in looking at the boiler in the laundry - it's still knackerecd - he went and blew the main fuse panel up and we sat in total darkness.  I had no batteries for the mini disk and was running on the mains today.  So we called the interview off until later.

Graham meanwhile went to hold his usual friday meeting with the players.  Tactics and the scout report on Darlo were the order of the day.  He's promised to let me sit in one with the microphone soon, so that should be enlightening for the site and will make for a good article.

Once that was over, it was held in the main stand today as there was no power, Graham came back down just as power was restored.  We finally got the interview cracked.  Once that's done I feed the entire interview back to Tower FM from the press box.  Then it's all mine, I have to record it to the PC, take the beginning off and the end off - nobody wants to hear casual chit chat between me and Graham.  It's not that there's anything there to hear, it's normally just crap.

Once recorded it has to be converted to play within Shakers World, so it's encoded into a WMA file and uploaded to the server.  My server currently has over 5GB of audio and video sitting on it.  PTV want me to cut down on the amount I'm doing, not a bloody chance.

Once that's done, it has to be linked into the site itself.  Usually takes around a minute.  Todays minute took me over an hour - after the electrician blew everything up again....

Back inside again and the interview is now live on Shakers World.  I've used a new microphone this week and the quality of audio is slightly better.

Now the interview, or parts of it, have to be typed up for the flat site.  That takes about half an hour, inbetween the bloody fire alarm going - what next.

The proof copy of the programme is coming through page by page, Colourplan send it to me as a PDF, I have to proof read it as they come in and send any changes back.  I've had ten pages so far with no changes.  Must be getting good at it.

Next is the preview, again it helps having a surf around various message boards before a game, ou get the general feeling of both sets of supporters and todays is based pretty much on that.

I've also created and printed ten set plays for Kelham.  He gave me the initial drawings and he wanted them set out on paper so we could print them any time we wanted.  Whilst Kelham was here we sat and went through the various Darlington sites and message boards getting a feeling of how things were going there.  It's done for every game and Kelham seems to enjoy it.  We also have a trawl through our message boards.

Next is the betting article and the commentary article.  PTV's toolkit has gone down now and I cant get the bloody travel stuff online.  They say it wont be fixed until later tonight.  As long as it's done for tomorrow I'm not bothered.

We off with Iain Mills tomorrow so I've fired out an email to Martin, Jimmy & Hannah telling where to meet etc etc

Tomorrow is my daughter's 12th birthday, so to celebrate the fact, and because I wont be here on Saturday, were all off to the pub tonight!!!!!!.  Taking a 12 year old to a pub I hear you cry - we're going for a meal.  It's her choice and she gobsmacked us when she told us that was what she wanted.  So off to the pub we go - not that I'm complaining...

It's just gone half three and there's not a lot I can do at the moment.  I have my preview for Tower done and printed.  All mu kit for Saturday has been unpacked and repacked.  At least I know I have everything ready before I leave.  I've been aught out with that one before.

More tomorrow - after we beat Darlo

14 Oct, 2004

Had to be in early this morning.  There's a business breakfast on and I need to take a few photo's. SHould be more online later today hopefully.  Once thats done it's a quick coffee and finish the Boston programme.  Deadline is 10am today.  There are three articles outstanding and one's just arrived.  An hour to deadline.  I have loads of photo's standingby should any article not get to me.

I've also got the manager in the office this morning and done his programme notes.  GB like's his notes to be as fresh as possible in the programme, so he waitied until after last nights reserve game.  Once they have been typed out, it's five to ten, and still no sign of the two remaining articles.  Time to get these match action images sorted and ready to go.

Five minutes later and they've failed.  So two articles for the Boston programme will be missing.  They had enough warnings.  As I'm typing this I'm also uploading the programme from my laptop to the printers, and restoring Glyn garner's laptop at the same time.  I've also not put a thing on the website yet, mainly due to the programme deadline, but as that is finished and off to the printers now, I will have time to get something done on the site.

The bloody milkmans not been and I hate black coffee.  It's ok not having a fag (24 days now), I can just about handle that, but I refuse to miss my daily gallon of coffee.

A quick trip to the Co-op on Parkhills Road and live is sweet again, a jar of coffee and things are settling back down again.  The programme is gone, finished and the printer's are happy.  Should have a proof copy tomorrow and I can move onto the Rushden programme.

Got two articles done on the website this afternoon and then the PTV toolkit died on me.  It's gone half past five now and it's still not there.  I've got a few things to get on-line, but nothing that's going to break any records etc etc.  It's mostly the pre-match stuff that needs to get on, the directions to Darlo etc, a betting article.  They can wait until tomorrow so nobody is going to miss anything.

I've started work on some new wallpapers for the site, rather than launch three or four at a time, I'm going to get them all live at once.,  There should be about twelve of them.  I'm half way through now, and depending on what happens tonight, they may be there later.  Her indoors wants to go shopping though.  I'd rather cut my own hands off than go trawling through Asda.

Looks like we will be going with Iain Mills at the weekend, though that wont be sorted until tomorrow.  Jimmy Mac has got his license back this week and he wants to drive us all there.  Friday morning should sort than one out. 

Finally left for home at around 4:30, spent an hour our with the dog and it's been a fairly quiet day.  Just received Rushden's pen pics and I'm trying to get hold of a certain Mr Seddon tomorrow.

13 Oct, 2004

Will it ever be quiet!  Another day another dollar I suppose.  Left at the usual time this morning, though slightly late.  I was engrossed with something on the discovery channel, it was so good, I've totally forgotten what it was.  No young un today, she wasn't too good so left her in bed.

Got into the club around 8:50, turned on the computer and found that Windows had automatically downloaded two updates, so I ran them.  Then found to my horror thatfor some reason the clubs network wasnt working.  Nobody else could access the net.  After a lot of messing around I eventually did the soft restore within windows, restarted and lo and behold, the network worked again.  Reminder to self - check the bloody updates before you install them.

Two small items to get on the website, one tipster and the other team news for the reserves.  Two trialists playing.  Check with Burnley about their press box.  If I can get an ISDN line then me and Jimmy Mac are going over to do commentary.  They don't open the stand with the press box in, hence no commentary.  Suppose I'll end up watching the England game, but to be honest, I cant really be bothered with it.

The two updates to the site are done, there may be more later, just depends on anything happening.  The first team have a day off today, they usually do on Wednesday's, and there's hardly anyone around.  Just about to make a start on the programme again when Glyn Garner comes in with a poorly laptop.  Can you fix this he pleads!  No not really I say after ten minutes of messing around.  Bring it in tomorrow and I'll take a better look.  His battery was about to go flat and he hadnt brought in the mains lead.  Gonna need a total restore as it's crawling with spyware - don't have to look to hard to see it.

Forever Bury's programme notes arrived over night and that's quickly inserted into the programme.  Brian Mills sends through his fax with the quiz and crossword feature.  That takes about an hour to sort out and get into the programme.  An article for the Youth & Centres page is also quickly inserted.  I'm only waiting on five items now, and one of them is the manager.  I'll get Graham in the morning, it's usually the last one to be done.  That way his comments are fresh after the reserve game tonight.

I've finally got the Community lads on-line, there up and running.  All this messing about with cables and connectors and it was a bloody duplex setting that was wrong on the PC.  Not to worry, it's sorted.  Spent another ten to twenty minutes on the Boston Programme.  I have most of the people that send articles on email, sent a final reminder to them for their articles.  Deadline is Thursday at 10.  If it aint here, it dont go in - simple as that.

One or two more tweaks with the programme and it's now a case of waiting for the remaining three articles being sent in.  Also got the managers notes to get in the morning.  Finally received confirmation from Darlington this afternoon.  ISDN is available for Saturday, they also asked for penpics etc etc for the programme.  They wanted a match action image of Dave Nugent as 'One to watch'.

With not much else to do, I had a rare early finish and left the club three thirty ish.  Got home, the dog went stupid, wife went shopping - perfect chance for 40 winks on the couch.  Kids coming home from school to make sure it was only 20 winks.  Checked the email and got hannah's first diary entry - top stuff and it's online now.

Eng-er-land kick off in half an hour, so no soaps tonight - thank god