After all I`ve just opened the third door on my Advent calendar!(:o)

Morning good people! I`m afraid I`m going to have to do a bit of a `cluster` posting so bear with me.

OK - football first! Don`t know about anyone else, but I am sort of filled with incredulity that we are so high up the table. Much as I would love to crow about it with the sad Southampton supporters down here, I kind of feel that would be really tempting fate. Rather than strutting around with my nose in the air, I`m more treading carefully and expecting to find a banana skin. Oh, and that sending off was utter tosh!

Well that`s the football covered.....now for Christmas! Doesn`t seem like five minutes ago that I was discussing this on here, but for once it can`t come soon enough for me. This year has been really grim, and I just can`t wait to see the back of it. I shall be making no plans whatsoever until after midnight on New Year`s Eve, as not a single planned event has gone as expect, or even happened this year!

Everyone I talk to seems to be totally organised for Christmas, while I am constantly playing `catch-up`. This week I will be trying to do all the jobs in the garden which I should have done in September! What are you good folk doing for Christmas? I`m guessing that Gav will be off to exotic climes again......where to this year? No doubt I shall be green with envy again! How about everyone else, anything exciting planned?

I`m reading an excellent book at the moment which, if you are really stuck on what to buy for someone, would make a brilliant present. It`s called `Passing Time in the Loo`. Now normally I hate abridged versions of anything, but this book is a gem! I shall tell you what it says on the back cover.

`Time profitably spent in loo of a classical eduction` - Dan Glaister, The Guardian.

This book offers two-page distillations of over 120 books ranging from `The Merchant of Venice` and `Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun` to `The City of Joy`. It includes biographies of Religious and Political leaders, Poets and Busines Geniuses, Scientitsts and Healers, Icons, Artists and Explorers. `Trivia to Learn By` covers Art and Architecture, Music, History, Sports, and more. There is a Health and Fitness section, a Personal Effectivenesss section, Quotes and Anecdotes - and even Foreign Words and Phrases.

I`ve seen it for sale in most bookshops, and I can highly recommend it.

Talking about books, I am slowing getting snowed under by the books we have read this year. This never used to be a problem as I would just pass them straight on to my Dad. However, most of them will have to go to charity shops now, but there are a couple which may be of interest to one or two of you on here. If anyone is interested, let me know and you are welcome to them.

Firstly, two WW1 books by Lyn Macdonald. `1914 - The Days of Hope` and `1915 - The Death of Innocence`. They are collections of original accounts, and very interesting.

Secondly - `Kitchen Confidential` by Anthony Bourdain (Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly). `More gripping than a Stephen King novel` - Sunday Times. `It`s not exactly Delia` - Guardian etc., etc.

Also a very interesting `road` book called `Uneasy Rider - The Interstate Way of Knowledge`. I didn`t read this one, Pete did, but he said it was a very good travel book.

Anyway, let me know if any of you would like these books.

Pilgrim - belated `happy silver wedding anniversay` wishes to you and your good lady! Hope your holiday was a great success! (:o)

Lynda - regarding you request for information on tracing family history -will send you an e mail with all the useful addresses I found. It may take me a day or two though. (:o)

Steph - I was really embarassed to find a set of photos I should have returned to you ages ago! Please e mail me you address again, and I will get them off to you this week. Sorry for the delay! (:o(

That`s all folks!! Speak to you later. (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Answers

Absent Poster! (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Hi Galaxy, great to hear from you. Just DON'T mention the 'C' word as I haven't done a thing! Will e-mail you my address.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Cheers Steph! (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Galaxy, don't panic about the league position - just take a look at our fixtures from Dec 18th onwards and you'll see which way we're likely to move in the table!! If we're still 4th in mid Jan we should be a cert for the champions league......

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

I ussually dont look forward to Kmas Bah Humbug , all that twoing and froing from relatives to relatives. But with the forthcoming birth of my 1st in Jan im really looking forward to the last Xmas alone with Mrs Kennyboy. Ive spent a fortune on decorating and sorting out the nursery (was my study).

All presents bought cept for the missus but were restricting eachother this yr cos of finances with the upcoming birth.

Im not looking forard to the tough games over the xmas period tho I mean Arse, Leeds, Chelsea x2, Man U , a resergent Boro and a well honed Blackburn.

Ill be happy with a nice novelty headcover for my driver 90 points and the nest round of the WC thanks santa....

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

That should read 9 points obviously...

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Al`s dodgy knee - It certainly will be a testing time!

Kennyboy - great news about the impending arrival - you do realise that, come the beginning of January, we will be expecting daily bulletins? Ask Softie - he knows! (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Due date 19th Jan ill certainly bore evryone to death with updates. Ive also made sure we go to the RVI instead of Noth Tyneside so im nearer St. James's. The bairn WILL be coming out of hossy in a NUFC babygrow and snowsuit (so there mrs kennyboy)...

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Welcome back Galaxy.

I'm starting to take the approach that since it's happened all too rarely in the past, why not make the most of it when the opportunity presents ?

From now on my attitude will be that we'll win everything in sight. This crap about jinxes and things will only do your heed in.

And the anti Shearer garbage is just the pathetic whingeing of no- hopers whistling in the dark. He'd still do as good a job for England as 99% of the current crop of pretenders. Besides, who really gives a sh1t what the rest of even just the football world thinks of him and us.

So just go for it and strut yer stuff. If nowt else, it's character building - triumph in adversity and all that psycho babble. :-))

As for Shearer elbowing the Argie goaly all those years ago costing us a seeding in the coming world cup, that's as likely as a butterfly flapping it's wings triggering an earthquake. I've read some journalistic clap trap but that's as pathetic as it could possibly get. And again, who cares ?

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Canny date that 19th Jan!

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Lovely to see back Gal - hope next year proves far less eventful and more pleasant for you and Pete.

If you're looking to get rid of those WW1 books I'd love 'em.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Great to see you back on here, Galaxy! You're not alone in not being ready for Christmas. As usual it's coming too quickly and I'm nowhere near ready.

Wish I'd known about that 'loo' book when I was at university! Would have saved me weeks of putting together my own 2 page synopsisisisisisissss for all the books I was grilled on for my final exam!

Know what you mean about being nervous celebrating our position too early. But it will make the celebrations all the sweeter come the end of the season if we're still up there. :-)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Hi Pit Bill! OK, I shall take your advice and start strutting my stuff (but if I get arrested you`ll have to put up bail!) You are right though, I am not a negative person by nature.....I just forgot that for a while this year. (:o))) Big smiles all round, and positive thoughts only!

Clarky, mate! Good to be back in the saddle (though I have never really been away, just haven`t been posting). I know I should have your address somewhere, but can you e mail me it anyway, and I`ll get those books off to you.(:o)

Halloooo Ciara old buddie! Actually, there are some books that are so good that they should always be read in their entirity, but who wants to wade through a two inch book on, say, `How to be an Effective Manager` when a two page summary gives the core of the theory without having to spend two weeks trying to coax the information off the page! BTW, I haven`t been reading it in the loo! It`s been my `book at bedtime` for the last week or so. (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Agree about some books needing to be read in their entirety, and most of the ones on the list were quite good. The summary I had to do was for personal reference during the 3hr oral exam we had to pass in order to graduate. You sat in front of the firing squad committee while they could fire questions at you regarding the 22 book reading list entirely at random. So there wasn't much time to be hemming and hawing while flipping through a stack of books. One of the most nerve-wracking experiences I've ever had!

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Galaxy - no hurry re the family history stuff. Just when you're ready. I will e mail you my proper address. Thanks.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001