OK, so I’m slipping back into bad habits. It must be about 6 weeks since I last made an entry into my blog. I say 6 weeks because I’m not online as I write this.

There is a simple explanation for why I’m not. Basically I don’t have ‘Net access at home anymore. I sold my house at the start of May (May 5th to be exact). Technically I’m now homeless; at least that’s what George keeps telling me. Most of my worldly goods are packed in boxes and stuffed into one room at my parent’s house. Sarah has also sold here house and we have had an offer accepted on a house in Cottingham, just outside Hull, so with a little luck, we will be all together under one roof before the start of September.

The last couple of weeks haven’t been the best in my life, and I’m looking forward to a break at the end of July. I’m not going to dwell on that too much, suffice to say that I don’t want to be back here again in a hurry.

The band went over to Blackpool in the second week of May to compete in the Senior Cup. As I’ve said before, the test piece was Phillip Sparke’s “Harmony Music.” I’ve played it before and going into the contest, I felt that our performances promised something extra special on stage. We hadn’t had a perfect run-through but there were glimpses of something extra-special. However, one player in the band decided that contesting wasn’t really a team sport and made such a bollocks of the beginning of the piece that I was surprised when we managed 6th. To be honest, I’m not sure that I can ever forgive him for his attitude. He resigned after the contest but asked to be allowed back the next morning. Personally I wouldn’t have let him back in. Jim Davies is a far more forgiving person than I am. The band played a concert at the Plowright Theatre in Scunthorpe a couple of weeks later, which I missed (see above). We go back into the studio this weekend to record a CD of Christmas music. I find this a little ironic when our last CD hasn’t been released yet.

Anyway, moving on, it’s also one of my favourite days of the year on Friday, with the annual Whit Friday marches taking place in Tameside and Saddleworth. I’m playing for a scratch band this time, “Hawaiian Brass”, which is mostly players from Desford, GUS and the CBSO. As well as playing, I’ll be guiding the band around Tameside. I did it last year from Ransome and I’m looking forward to it again this year. Hopefully we can get around the circuit as quickly as Ransome did last year and then we’ll have some time to do some of the contests over in Saddleworth as well. That said, there are 11 contests in Tameside so maybe we won’t have anything left by the time we get to Delph.

The Whit Friday marches are the same day as the start of the World Cup. I can’t believe how quickly it has come around again. I met Sarah just after the end of the last World Cup, which reminds me that it will be our 4th anniversary on 2nd August. I do think England have got a better chance this time than at any point that I can remember (which is 1982). The defence is solid, but the midfield is truly world class. I’m backing them to reach the semi-finals at least, possibly even the final if results go their way. However, I think Argentina will win the World Cup. I know that’s not the most patriotic thing to write here, but since I don’t see myself as totally English, what does it matter. The truth is that my grandmother is a German Jew who immigrated to the UK in 1932. I also have a Welsh grandfather and an Irish grandmother, so apart from being the living embodiment of the United Nations, I always find myself with mixed emotions at the start of international tournaments.

I must confess to finding myself a little baffled by Erikkson’s selection. I would have selected his original 3 ‘keepers, although I would have picked Ben Foster over Scott Carson when Robert Green got injured. My real gripe is up-front. I don’t think Crouch is an international calibre striker. Sure, he can get a hat-trick against Jamaica and a goal against Hungary but I don’t think he has what it takes against the better sides. Personally, I would have selected Andy Johnson ahead of him. I also wouldn’t have taken Theo Walcott. In four years time, he will be a class act, but the fact of the matter is that he is only 17 years old and has not played one minute in the Premiership for Arsenal. Yes, Michael Owen played in France aged 17, but he had played for Liverpool in the 97/98 season. Wayne Rooney played in Japan aged 17, but he had played for Everton in the 01/02 season. Walcott is not ready to go.

Sticking with sport, I’m please that the John Obi Mikel saga has come to an end. Personally, I wouldn’t want a player playing for United who is so fickle as to swap clubs as soon as a bigger contract is on the table. Yes, he may be an exciting prospect but he is also greedy. That said, Chelsea are fast assembling the best squad on the planet. For me, Barcelona was the side of the 05/06 season. They have the best squad in Europe, but I think they will be pushed hard by Chelsea in the new season. A squad that can boast of Ballack, Lampard, Shevchenko, Cech, Terry, Essien, Drogba, Robben and the possibility of Roberto Carlos, will be hard to beat, and even if United can sign some world class players, I suspect they will still be playing for second place.

I hope Ferguson will sign a goalkeeper (I do think this lad at West Brom, Kusczak would be a good back-up for Van der Sar and will push Howard). I’d also like us to pick up a couple of midfielders. Diarra from Lyon would be a good one, as would Beckham or Joe Cole. I do hope we hang on to Van Nistelrooy. I know that he’s had issues with Ronaldo and vice-versa but he is also a proven goal-scorer and if one of them has to leave, why not Ronaldo who keeps talking about a move to Spain.

I’ve been watching a lot of Big Brother recently. I have to admit that I voted for the first time ever. I voted to evict Sezer. The guy is a complete arsehole. He has no redeeming features and I hope that the UK has seen him for what he is. The arrogant wanker should be left to rot now. There are a few others in the house that should go the same way. That little group of never-be celebs is irritating in the extreme. I’d love to evict Grace, Nikki, Imogen and Mikey before the programme goes any further. They don’t deserve the chance to inflict their self-centred, proctological rantings on the rest of the world. The sooner we get rid of them, the better.

Anyway, that’s my musings over for now.