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A bit shocked, a bit down. Went to the cemetery on a bit of a reconnaissance mission to find inspiration for my Dad and sister's epitaphs. Only taken me a year to get organised enough to buy the stone. Anyway, bumped into an old mate whose mother had passed away in November unbeknownst to me, he was doing the same as it happened. That was sad enough as I have fond memories of her as a kid, we were best mates and grew up together before drifting apart. Anyway, worse, this friend is pretty seriously fucked due to alcohol issues and, well, it doesn't look good for him in all honesty. He also told me how many people he had lost during the pandemic, he's the oldest surviving family member. He's exactly the type of person this government is fucking over too. I dunno. I felt okay before I turned 50, then this happened during the covid pandemic and my realisation of my own mortality has hit me like a sledge hammer. Mainly because suddenly I had family and friends dying right, left and centre, many of whom were of the same generation. So many people also seem to have serious illnesses to deal with. It's difficult for me to seperate the machinations inside my head with reality at the minute. Am I percieiving the world in a certain way because I am depressed, or is it really as bleak as I sometimes feel? At the same time, I do feel genuinely more accepting of things and appreciative that in fact I am personally blessed. Could really do with a holiday like, or at least spring properly arriving.

Mate, there were literally hundreds of Napoli and Frankfurt fans rioting on the streets of Naples last night, both demanding that their respective clubs appoint Tony Mowbray as manager immediately.

FMOP 😉

Teachers are on stike so have the joys of trying to home educate two kids today, as well as keep on top of work (monitor e-mails today only I think) and keep up my toontastic duties. Such is life.

Eeeeh, you and your wars Isegrim, what are you like?

I had some serious depression during the pandemic mate, for a number of reasons. I’m much better now, but still have off days, the difference now being that I don’t beat myself up about it if and when I have one. Also, let’s be honest, a graveyard isn’t exactly a cheery place to have the conversation you had with old pal, so take it a bad day and you’ll be back to your usual cheery self tomorrow

Well it’s not moving I suppose

So, having said to Mrs. Fist the other day, “ Why don’t we invite our mothers round for lunch on Mother’s Day?”, which would’ve been an increase of two to our usual Sunday dinner, I’ve now just been told that it’s 15 people, 3 of whom are vegan. Fuck my easy Sunday

Zis. I zank you very much.

Both reported.

Got to keep the critters in snacks I guess.

aye, if a bigger club such as rotherham came in for him mowbray would be off like a shot. much like neil did with stoke.

That Atheltic article said we are tied into Castore on a multi year deal and the club is doing the sums as to whether it's worth paying a big sum to end the deal early and get a higher fee from Adidas, or whether it's cheaper to see the deal out

Bernabewwww!

If anything it might be a glimpse into what might have happened had you not addressed your problem with alcohol. You seem to have a much improved relationship with it for which you deserve incredible credit. But you may still be depressed and it’s important to recognise that depression completely fucks with your feelings and experiences. It’s been a while since I suffered from ‘moderate’ depression but it does distort everything. Compared to where you were a number of months ago you seem to be doing really well. I’m not sure how it applies to you but you may not yet be able to trust your emotions. It can be hard to differentiate between what you should be feeling and what the depression is making you feel but with the knowledge of what is going on in your brain it becomes easier over time. I hope you’re getting professional help to get you through this.

Joe Willock can feel very hard done by with the way he’s played since the World Cup IMO. Especially with Phillips being picked And the FA are wondering why dual-nationals have been going elsewhere. It’s in danger of becoming a very closed shop. I can understand the argument that Italy are a difficult team so he’s picking who he can trust but is he really trying to say that Maguire, Dier and Henderson are still going to be considered by the time 2024 rolls around?!

This motherfucker called it.

I don't get it.

Labour’s financial crash obvs.

Tramp Nou or possibly the Marracana. Or in their case the Marracannat.

Mackem manager interview questions; Do you know the over riding importance of Sixinaroah? Is job security something you care about? Catts for you, like? When polishing a turd, where in the South Stand would you sit? Welcome to the Tramp Nou. * * with thanks to Toonpack.

Waikiki is in Hawaii, Wykiki is in Leeds

Tremendous by the way

Needs work on his finishing big time as much as we all like him and also can big a thin line between aggressive play and daft bookings. If we seriously kick on in the next couple of years it's something he'll need to get right to be a part of it. Be good if he can as he's a likeable kid and a monster on his day. (coming into the PL as a foreign lad and playing under Bruce wasn't exactly doing him any favours).

Just a thought but apart from Sheff Wed in the cup, we haven't actually been shit (I mean shit like we've been used to, shit) in any game I can recall this season, yeah we've drawn a few we should have won, but as far as I recall we bossed them but just couldn't hit a barn door. Even our recent "blip" we weren't particularly bad in any game (overall as a team) and I don't remember being comprehensively outplayed anywhere, maybe we are just fucking good. Am I making that up ??

How....Tory boy. Got some questions for yaz....

And meanwhile, Hunt is extolling "Work is a virtue" which yeah, is something I can well imagine from Germany circa 1930, I can see it in front of the poor houses soon. He's telling us that at 50 years of age, we have to graft for at least another 20 years. The state pension age going up to reflect this of course. But latest data out today confirms our life expectancy is now going down, mirroring what is happening in the US. Where we were once 7th in the league table of life expectancy, we are now 29th. So not only do we have to work harder, we will die sooner. Less money for the state to spend on pensions I guess. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/16/life-expectancy-in-uk-growing-at-slower-rate-to-comparable-g7-countries

I've hardly heard it mentioned on the MSM or BBC, but the tax thresholds are being frozen until 2028!!! That's an effewctive 4% increase on your income tax, which is quite mind blowing if you think about it. Still, at least massively rich earners will get some much needed tax relief on their pensions.

RMT also re entering the fray today…..and I think we all know what that means 👊🏻

shame, he hasn't really got going yet

Liverpool are in dire need of an overhaul. Midfield especially and while there are plenty of pundits saying they should go out and sign Bellingham I don't think one hugely expensive addition sorts them out. They need multiple top quality central midfielders, they need a top quality centreback, and I personally think they need better at fullback. They've done very well to compete with Man City, but their ages, the way Klopp has them playing and the resurgence of Arsenal, Man Utd and to a lesser degree, ourselves, means that I'd not be surprised to see them miss out on Champions League football again at the end of next season. Which means it's even harder for them to convince the very best players, like Bellingham, to join them.

Yes? How can I help?

Does anyone know what happened in 2010 to cause this?!

Must admit I read Trump Slap first - which is fine by me

Beeewww! Beeewww! Sack * insert current manager’s name here *

Absolutely. And fuck every lazy Tory MP, every right-wing rag and every social media bore who singles out footballers for daring to be young high-earners, when they typically also do huge amounts of community outreach work like this too that makes a massive difference to people, a lot of it without fanfare. Yes, they've got the luxury of having the time and the means to do it, but show me any hedge fund manager who does equivalent good.

Good crack from the Everton lads. 👌

I wonder where she gets that from?

Even I wouldn’t have destroyed Dave like that… he needs to accept xG is bollocks though, his life would be fundamentally better if he did

Ben Davies is a footballer for Spuds. Ben Dover is a film maker of fine repute.