5 years sober today

I'm pretty good at self loathing, I made it an art form. I always thought to acknowledge good in yourself was to be arrogant and I was brought up not to be too 'showy'. That said...I feel proud as punch (non-alcoholic punch) that I have today reached 5 years without a drink. I never thought it possible when I sat in despair March 9th 2004 knowing alcohol was wrecking my life but feeling powerless over it. I still am powerless, but God isn't, and He's given me the grace to fight this addiction and so far it's worked. I'll never be complacent but I'll always be thankful.

2009 Predictions

Premiership - Liverpool
FA Cup - Aston Villa (naturally)
League Cup - Man United
Champions League - Chelsea
British Open - Padraig Harrington
Masters - Phil Mickelson
Ashes - Australia
Wimbledon - Buster Mottram
Formula One - who cares

Excess accessed

Another Christmas, another bellyful of food and a cupboard creaking with new possessions. I'm not sure Jesus Christ's birth is properly honoured by the exchange of FCUK deoderant and Ferrero Rocher chocolates but once again Christmas has been marked thus. My gradual accumulation of trinkets, stuff and guff moves on apace then, just at a time when I've decided to de-clutter my life. I'll keep the Amazon voucher and the Jonny Wilkinson biography, but the rest is getting chucked and 2009 is going to see the new minimalist me. Ho, ho, ho.

Opinion Central

Is it neccassary to have an opinion on everything? Reading the Sunday paper today, Rod Liddle appears in virtually every section pontificating zestfully on a myriad of issues, a right know-it-all. I haven't the energy to hold an opinion on so many subjects, nor the brass neck to assume I'm right on so many fronts. Is it not acceptable to abstain, surrender or concede ignorance on certain issues? Must we hold an opinion on all things great and small? If I'm to have a New Year's resolution it's to pick and choose subjects I want to hold an opinion on and be able to count them on the fingers of one hand.

Drink, specifically Stella & Kronenbourg

I was alone in Birmingham yesterday. I had no work appointments and none planned for the following day either. This used to be perfect heavy drinking territory, a lost afternoon in a solo pub crawl, collapse, then do it all over again the next day. No responsibilities to worry over, no deadlines, just an expanse of time filled with drink and abandon. Found myself dreaming about Stella and Kronenbourg, always hit the spot those did. Didn't act on it...this time...drove home and busied myself before the thought process turned into action. Coping by the skin of my teeth presently.

Freddie's baptism

His very Fredness was sprinkled liberally with water on Sunday, his official welcome into God's fold. Hattie asked why water, so we spoke about 'living water', a water provided by God through his Son that quenches our spiritual thirst. Not sure it hit home, but she is only 8! There wasn't enough nosebag to go around afterwards, I hang my head in shame for failing to accomodate my guests. Still, water and not food was the order of the day really, just ask Hattie, if she isn't still reeling from her father's hamfisted explanation.

Miss Of The Century

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WgKBHll8fUc
Click on the link and feast your eyes on the worst miss ever in domestic or international football. I would suggest that my Granny or yours could have converted this opportunity, it would have won Scotland the game (which finished 0-0). The wide open goal was surely too easy to stroke the ball into, he decided instead to show us how skilfull he was by putting it wide when it appeared impossible so to do. Bravo that man.