tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2009-11-10:/Life, Love and Lincoln City FC ... MokoFeed2009-11-10T20:01:56+01:00tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2008-10-07:/2008/10/07/nutritious-4833366/impette2008-10-07T11:53:28+02:002008-10-07T11:53:28+02:00 <p>I'm doing an OU course in Nutrition. It is driving me mad. I have found that I can only concentrate on the assignment if I am eating custard creams. Surely that defeats the object? I have taken today off to try and get it done, but it is not going well. I have overdosed on tea to try and justify the packet of biscuits I am devouring. Suppose I ought to get back to it...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2008/10/07/nutritious-4833366/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2008-09-19:/2008/09/19/just-popping-by-4750842/impette2008-09-19T17:22:31+02:002008-09-19T17:22:31+02:00 <p>I'm shocked to see it has been two years since I wrote my last blog. How quickly time passes. Unfortunately, my focus rapidly changed when my beloved Dad got cancer. He lost his very brave battle in June 2008 and I am so proud of his inspirational outlook on life. I miss him terribly.</p> <p>Having just turned 30, I am not sure whether the blog should have a name change, but I like it just the way it is.</p> <p>So a quick update: I now live with Burnley Boy - we're not married, but we do have a hamster! We've just moved Down South, but I still have a season ticket at Sincil Bank (Dad wouldn't want it any other way). City are still in the 4th Division Old Money. </p> <p>I hope you are all doing well and spending precious time with the people you love. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2008/09/19/just-popping-by-4750842/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-09-21:/2006/09/21/keeping_mum~1147674/impette2006-09-21T17:01:58+02:002006-09-21T17:01:58+02:00 <p>Oh Lord help me. This weekend I am meeting Burnley Boy's mother. I am totally petrified. I mean, she's probably a lovely lady, but I'm never going to be good enough for her baby am I?</p> <p>BB thinks that, considering we have been dating for 50 weeks (he's actually counting), I should meet her. He met my parents ages ago, but they're cool parents, so I don't think that counts. </p> <p>My biggest issue is what should I wear? I haven't had a great track record with mothers. Y's mother and I had an understanding (I hated her, I think she felt very much the same to the extent that I am still suspicious that she had something to do with our break-up, although frustratingly, I can't prove anything and nor do I really care anymore). For that meeting I went for Preppy (his Dad went to Cambridge and is some kind of Law Boffin. Equally annoyingly, I really liked him). </p> <p>I clearly failed on that front, although I don't think I was ever unfortunate enough to get one of their "family nicknames" for outsiders. His elder sister's boyfriend was often referred to as "Bongo Billy" which I was always tremendously uncomfortable with. Luckily the poor boy was pushed out of the family in a similar way to the way that I later was.</p> <p>So for meeting JJ's mother and father, I went for Sophisticated. This back fired as JJ's father seemed rather TOO impressed, if you catch my drift. His mother was lovely, although she did try to steal my full length Jasper Conran faux-fur winter coat.</p> <p>I am thinking "Floral"? Or maybe Jeans and a top? I don't know!!! Help Me!!!</p> <p>On top of all this, he has annouced that we should "do something" for our one year dating anniversary. I'm quite frankly amazed that he has even remembered. I wait with bated breath for his suggestion.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/09/21/keeping_mum~1147674/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-09-20:/2006/09/20/epiphany~1144422/impette2006-09-20T16:44:01+02:002006-09-20T16:44:01+02:00 <p>While watching another episode of Sex and The City last night (I still haven't scratched the surface of the box set yet!) I had my epiphany. I was actually taking a sip out of my tea and spluttered it back out when I heard Carrie Bradshaw tell me, quickly and simply, what was wrong with me, or rather, what was wrong with <em>them</em>.</p> <p>The men I have chosen to date (latest catch excepted) just don't "get me". </p> <p>It is not me that has had the problem, it is <em>them</em> ... Y and JJ. They haven't understood the complexities of <em>me</em>. Not only that, they haven't bothered to even try. When the time came to try and dig a little deeper and learn a little more, they didn't understand and so they walked away. At the time I felt distraught. In one Carrie Bradshaw sentence, I feel enlightened.</p> <p>Ironically, I very rarely argued with Y. I can think of twice (the second time being the Jilting). I had no reason to assume things weren't fabulous, but here comes the crunch. When the time came to dig a little deeper, Y stopped, couldn't be bothered and walked away. The same with JJ. Actually, I can't even think of a time when we actually argued, but then it all came crashing down and he was not willing to work at it.</p> <p>So the bottom line is this, I can try and be a little more "Simple" for a little longer (until I have the ring on my finger!) or I can wait until I find someone that gets me.</p> <p>With Burnley Boy there is something different. We argue all the time. I am forever expecting the worst, but it never comes. Quite frankly, despite the fact that he seems to adore me, he doesn't think twice of biting back in an argument. He challenges me. Often he drives me to the brink of madness. Does that mean that he gets me?</p> <p>To be honest, I think I can finally see through the smoke. Do I really want to spend a lifetime with someone like JJ or Y, who can't be bothered to learn about me and embrace what and who I am? Shouldn't I wait until I find someone who understands what makes me tick? I think so. </p> <p>So, I tried to imagine what life would have been like if I had married Y. I take the four years we were together and multiple them up, and I am horrified by what I see. I think about the person that I am now and the person that he is now and I can't imagine the two together. I think he would have suffocated me. I might be single, but at least I can breathe.</p> <p>Then I imagined what life would be like with someone who "Got Me", grew with me, challenged me and actually cared about my hopes and dreams and aspirations. Much better.</p> <p>I think Carrie Bradshaw has got something there....</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/09/20/epiphany~1144422/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-09-15:/2006/09/15/28~1128366/impette2006-09-15T12:52:51+02:002006-09-15T12:52:51+02:00 <p>Okay, so I am feeling slightly guilty about not having blogged all summer (there has been a very valid reason, I promise). So I am going to tell you about my birthday last Saturday.</p> <p>Although the idea of turning 28 could have been slightly depressing, BB ensured a good day all round by taking me to the seaside where we played crazy golf, visited a model village paddled in the North Sea and went on a roller coaster which didn't scare us despite looping the loop, and another roller coaster, which did scare us due to the fact that it could have done with half a bottle of WD40 tipped over every hinge and joint. </p> <p>My boyfriend is ace. I mean, most of the things listed above, most 30 year-old men would probably baulk at, but BB was happy to do whatever I wanted because it was my birthday. He even let me have American Dreamz out on DVD, and I believe he has a full blown allergy to Hugh Grant. BB even got me a birthday cake with those candles that don't go out on top in the shape of my initial (sometimes he's so sweet it's uncharacteristic).</p> <p>And I got some amazing presents to defy the fact I was 28. Mum and Dad (the coolest parents ever - they even got me my Imp Tattoo for my 26th birthday!) got me a Nintendo DS Lite, which I am treating like a life support machine and taking everywhere with me. BB bought me the ENTIRE sex and the city collection on DVD. I am 18 episodes into it and haven't even scratched the surface. It's ace. I have promised not to make him watch it.</p> <p>And of course Lincoln Won!!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/09/15/28~1128366/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-09-15:/2006/09/15/psych~1127890/impette2006-09-15T10:20:15+02:002006-09-15T10:20:15+02:00 <p>I started my AS Level in Psychology last night. Having got an A* in the GCSE, I thought it rude not to <img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0">. I find it fanscinating. Not only can I use it to understand people in general, I can try and use it to understand ME! </p> <p>At 28, I had fully expected to be happily married by now, but I although I would love to settle down with a certain someone with a penchant for claret and blue, there is always this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that makes me think - hold on. I know this is a problem. I mean, when I find myself thinking that he's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with(we won't even go into yesterday's issue of whether he even considers me to be in the running for the role of Wife), this horrible panic sweeps through me. I find myself listing in my head all the reasons why it wouldn't be a good idea (mainly practical and logistical reasons), all the things that could go wrong. At this point I know I take a step back from him and he probably thinks I'm wierd. </p> <p>But I have a theory about this. I think I have developed a self-defence mechanism following the disaster that I called a love life in my early twenties. I certainly wasn't prepared for all the things that went wrong with Y or J. This meant that it all fell on me like a concrete pillar and it hurt. I think the little pixie that appears on my shoulder saying "Ooo, I wouldn't go there if I was you. You KNOW what will happen if you let go, don't you?" is my way of putting a protective cage around my feelings. I hadn't managed it in the short time between finishing with Y and getting together with J. That was why I basically crumbled at the end of that disaster. </p> <p>All in all, I think I have tried, on the face of it, to become hard towards relationships. To protect myself from what happens at the end. Assuming that there will be an end. There might not be. I hope there isn't this time. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/09/15/psych~1127890/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-09-14:/2006/09/14/my_non_wedding_anniversary~1125938/impette2006-09-14T17:25:03+02:002006-09-14T17:25:03+02:00 <p>On Saturday 14th September 2002, I was supposing to be marrying my University Sweetheart, Y. It never happened. Yesterday, I found out through Friends Reunited of all places that he was getting married to Replacement Girlfriend on September the 1st. I am very happy for them. It means I can finally shake of the guilt of that awful text message conversation, where he announced he was having trouble getting over me (it had been seven months) and I had to tell him that no, we couldn’t talk it through because I had a new man. God I felt crap. </p> <p>Y is not one of the people in this world for whom the phrase opposites attracts rings true. At home I have a picture of the two of us one crazy night at University when I had got home from a club and Y was already in his Pyjamas and green towelling dressing gown. One of my friends felt it was important to capture this key event in our relationship. I never did managed to appreciate what they were trying to tell me until it was too late to save my feelings. Y and I were completely unsuitable for one another. </p> <p>However, what does annoy me is this: he never once mentioned to me that he was engaged to her, let alone getting married. Maybe I was supposed to guess this when he told me they were buying a house together, or when he refused to meet me at the university reunion because she was in tow, but I thought we still had the courtesy to mention such important life issues to each other when we chatted over email.</p> <p>What hurt me more though, even more than Y not mentioning it, is the action of our mutual friends. Surely some of then knew and I would guess that some of them even went to the wedding. What was I, the Evil One? What did they expect if they mentioned it to me? That I would turn up at the church at the point where the vicar says “If anyone knows of any just reason blah blah blah…” and billow in shouting “YES! YES! I DO!!! He used to be engaged to me and although, thankfully, he left me to save me from a life time of misery and a horrible mother-in-law, he has no right to be happy in his life when he hurt me as badly as he did …”.</p> <p>Okay, that may be what I think!! But I am not the villain in this piece. I did not walk out on him. And although I certainly don’t want him anymore, I feel like some people may have sided with him over me and that doesn’t feel very nice. It also doesn’t feel very nice that he was the one that hurt me and yet he is now happily married to his mirror image whilst I am here dating a man that I am not sure will ever want to marry me.</p> <p>Don’t get me wrong, I love Burnley Boy and I have no reason to doubt him when he says that he loves me. But when I met JJ within two weeks I was meeting the parents and he was announcing his plans to marry me. He said he knew straight away that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. It was the same with Y. I think you do “just know” when you meet someone like that and well, Burnley Boy has just never acted that way. Having said that, JJ dumped me in favour of Australia and Y jilted me… so it was all lies anyway. I don’t think I’ve ever managed to get it out of my head that Burnley Boy dumped me once (for a full 24 hours!), so I think it is unlikely that he has any kind of burning desire to marry me ever. That said, he does want me to meet his mother (or maybe his mother wants to analyse me, not too sure).</p> <p>Well, I’ll just wait for my piece of wedding cake to come through the post!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/09/14/my_non_wedding_anniversary~1125938/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-09-14:/2006/09/14/lincoln_are_second~1124886/impette2006-09-14T10:50:18+02:002006-09-14T10:50:18+02:00 <p>Okay, so I have been a bit slack writing about City this season - sorry readers! As you may be aware, we are the football league's leading scorers and unbeaten as yet this season. The football is much more of a pleasure to watch and I have found great delight in shouting "Hoof!" when our visitors punt it down the channels (now I see why everyone loved having a go about our style of play!).</p> <p>Anyway, we are playing Milton Keynes Dons (Franchise FC) at the Bank on Saturday. A nearly top of the table clash! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/09/14/lincoln_are_second~1124886/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-07-25:/2006/07/25/two_weeks_to_go~986701/impette2006-07-25T10:40:23+02:002006-07-25T10:40:23+02:00 <p>The new season starts on two weeks and then this blog will spring back into life after it's summer break.</p> <p>I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely John Deehan, our new Director of Football on Sunday afternoon and found him a very personable and interesting man. I am currently very happy that my beloved football club is in his hands.</p> <p>He was very enthusiastic about the possible signing of Ryan Semple from 'Boro and it was good to see Semple come on board last night!</p> <p>I also met our new signings, Mark Stallard and Adie Moses (as well as my usual swooning over Lee Beevers and Danny Bacon - I actually met Danny's dad and nephew this time!). Photos to follow when I get going again. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/07/25/two_weeks_to_go~986701/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-06-15:/2006/06/15/a_big_sincil_bank_welcome_to~882196/impette2006-06-15T09:15:53+02:002006-06-15T09:15:53+02:00 <p>Our new management team!!</p> <p>Anounced early this morning, City have a brand new structure to first team management - a Director of Football and a Head Coach.</p> <p>Another promotion for City Favourite John "Armholes - get after that Bugger!!" Schofield sees him take the reigns as Head Coach. Not so much of a Sincil Bank welcome as an "as you were" Schoey. John took more of a leading role in first team affairs after the "gardening leave debacle" at New Year which correspondened quite nicely with the Imps turn of form seeing us land the final play-off spot.</p> <p>Our new "Director of Football" - he's the Manager isn't he?! is John Deehan. He's had success as a player and manager - managing at Internation and Premiership level and was assistant to our own "Uncle" Graham Taylor as Aston Villa. I have a strong belief that we might start to play it on the ground.Exciting things ahead at Sincil Bank!!</p> <blockquote><p class="center">FOR SALE - NECK BRACE<br> Only 4 Years Old but Used Week In, Week Out<br> Only £10<br> Free delivery to Buyers in the Peterborough Area</p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/06/15/a_big_sincil_bank_welcome_to~882196/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-06-14:/2006/06/14/the_waiting_game~879271/impette2006-06-14T10:25:06+02:002006-06-14T10:25:06+02:00 <p>Still no news about who our new manager is. I am finding it very difficult to care much about the world cup when such important things still hang in the air at the club I love.</p> <p>Delighted to find that this year my season ticket is <strong>purple</strong>. This is my favourite colour, so I am taking this as a positive sign of things to come in 2006/07. Unfortunately, even the excitment of buying my new season ticket is now over. Only naming the new manager can feed my need for Impish things. God, I hate not knowing.</p> <p>Once the new manager is named, we can <em>hopefully</em> put our neck braces on Ebay. There should be plenty of bidders. Mostly in the Peterborough Area.</p> <p>Good news is Jamie Forrester has signed his contract with the Imps to keep him at Sincil Bank .... so he'll probably get the "Curse" of Lincoln and be rubbish now!!! (Hopefully not!!).</p> <p>Roll on August, I'm missing proper League Two passionate football.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/06/14/the_waiting_game~879271/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-05-17:/2006/05/17/always_the_bridesmaid~805909/impette2006-05-17T08:34:20+02:002006-05-17T08:34:20+02:00 <p>...Never the Bride.</p> <p>Lincoln City's FOURTH consecutive playoff experience saw them again on the losing side going out 3-1 to the Codheads on aggregate after drawing the game level during the first half of the second leg.</p> <p>At least we don't have to go to the Millenium Stadium again .... the traffic <em>is terrible</em>. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/05/17/always_the_bridesmaid~805909/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-05-16:/2006/05/16/home_sweet_home~804526/impette2006-05-16T17:33:12+02:002006-05-16T17:33:12+02:00 <p class="center">Could we be seeing League One Football here next Season?</p> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=549236"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/236/549236_eac4140751_s.jpg" align="" alt="LCFC Open Day 2005 007" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/05/16/home_sweet_home~804526/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-05-16:/2006/05/16/chewed_orange~804519/impette2006-05-16T17:29:58+02:002006-05-16T17:29:58+02:00 <p>That's what my stomach feels like. It is half time and the Imps are 1-0 down, but not disheartened. It's a couple of hours to kick off (Join us on Sky Sports!) and I am a wreck. I hate the play-offs. Apparently no side has been in the playoffs four times without making promotion. Hmmm.</p> <p>Reasons to be hopeful:<br> 1. We play better away from home<br> 2. Grimsby hadn't won at the Bank since the 50's before Saturday. We don't have a great record at Blundell Park either, if they can beat the odds why can't we?<br> 3. We WANT it!!!<br> 4. We managed to get the ball into the next twice as many times as the Codheads on Saturday. Unfortunately they were disallowed goals (the second one was offside, but the first one was fine - the referee was a disgrace generally though).<br> 5. Past experience in the other divisions - no team managed to win at home in the first leg, but the same has happened in the second leg too so far!!</p> <p>Reasons not to be:<br> 1. We are 1-0 down so have to get a goal to even draw it even<br> 2. This isn't a fairy story</p> <p>Wish us luck - 2 and a quarter hours and I might even be able to eat something without feeling ill if we pull it off! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/05/16/chewed_orange~804519/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-05-08:/2006/05/08/it_s_only_just_begun~783978/impette2006-05-08T13:03:35+02:002006-05-08T13:03:35+02:00 <p>So a draw against an impressive and now-promoted Leyton Orient (well done Buze!) and a victory against fellow-play-off hopefuls Shrewsbury Town last Saturday saw us going into the last day of the season needing a point and one of our season-famous draws to assure our place in the playoffs for the FOURTH consecutive season - and we did it!!</p> <p>We now face our local rivals, Grimsby "codhead" Town in a two-legged semi-final (tickets went on sale for the home leg at 9am this morning for season ticket holders. My mother was duly dispatched to the City on her day off - I am proud to say she was sixth in the queue and the tickets were purchased before quarter past nine!!). For those of you who I have convinced to follow the fortunes of the Imps this season, you can watch the final (hopefully three!!) games of our season - firstly by tuning into Sky Sports 2 on Saturday at 12pm (just before the FA cup final) and again Tuesday night for the second leg at Cleethorpes. Sunday 28th May sees the Millenium Stadium and Sky Sports hosting the play-off final - and hopefully we will be there!</p> <p>It's a bit difficult for me to be over-excitied about qualifying for the playoffs this year for two reasons. Firstly, it is the fourth season in a row that we have done it, but more importantly, secondly, we haven't managed to get promoted via the playoff route on any of these occasions. What one must remember is this - yes, we have made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, but in the SAME division. We just desperately need to make this the last attempt by suceeding. And so I don't want to get <em>TOO</em> excited, because I don't want to put the kiss of death on it all!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/05/08/it_s_only_just_begun~783978/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-04-18:/2006/04/18/back_at_the_bank_sincil_that_is~736179/impette2006-04-18T12:42:34+02:002006-04-18T12:42:34+02:00 <p>A-ha! Free from horrible year-end meaness for a while, I can start to blog again!! I hate year-end panic with a passion!!</p> <p>Since last blogging we have lost to Boston *hangs head in shame* but thumped the Grimsby Codheads 5-0; put on some terrible displays (case in point - Saturday against Bury, managed to grab an undeserved point against a side fighting for their survival) and some terrific ones, like yesterday's fantastic 3-0 away win over Wycombe Wanderers. Our unbeaten run in 2006 came to an end on March 18th. Not a bad little run there!</p> <p>So here we are, sitting two points clear in 7th place (61 points, goal difference of plus 11). My Bank Manager is quivering with fear at the prospect of payment for a fourth consecutive play-off adventure leaving my account in a hurry. With only four matches to go, the Imps really need to keep on top form if we want to have yet another bash at getting promotion "the hard way" (trust me, it is hard when you fail so many times in a row!!).</p> <p>Our run to the end of the season is as follows:</p> <p>Saturday April 22nd Leyton Orient (h)<br> Saturday April 29th Shrewsbury (a)<br> Saturday May 6th Rochdale (h)</p> <p>I am, as expected, totally traumatised. We are in pole position, our fate is in our own hands. If we keep winning, we <strong>will</strong> be in the playoffs. If we don't, we might not be, and that is what is most worrying!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/04/18/back_at_the_bank_sincil_that_is~736179/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-03-09:/2006/03/09/waterlogged~627640/impette2006-03-09T18:00:54+01:002006-03-09T18:00:54+01:00 <p>I hope you will forgive me for not posting until Thursday, but I wrote a huge blog on Monday and the computer lost it and I was soooo frustrated I couldn't be bothered to type it all out again.</p> <p>As you will by now have realised, Lincoln City have dropped out of the play off zone due to a postponement of our match last Saturday at Carlisle (snowy, icy and cold up there). However, we will (hopefully) have a chance at making a grab at some points on Saturday when Rushden and Diamonds come to Sincil Bank. I say hopefully, as we have already had our reserves match postponed this week due to a water logged pitch at Sincil Bank, so let's hope it dries up a bit before Saturday.</p> <p>Jeff Hughes and Gareth McAuley both got caps for Northern Ireland last week (Jeff at under 21 level and Gareth in the full squad), so at least some of the Imps saw some match football.</p> <p>In the absence of a trip to Carlisle with my Burnley Boy (not that that was ever really on the cards!) he took me away for the weekend to London and we had a really nice time. Things seem to be going well for us again after "the incident", which, now fully post-mortemised, we are no longer going to mention. Hotel, Dinner, trip to Theatre. All delightful. And he told me I looked Stunning. Unbeknown to him, this regained him most of the brownie points he lost by dumping me for 24 hours. But let's not tell him that shall we?!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/03/09/waterlogged~627640/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-03-03:/2006/03/03/the_biggest_curse_in_football~608831/impette2006-03-03T10:37:33+01:002006-03-03T10:37:33+01:00 <p>The Biggest Curse in Football has landed at Sincil Bank. Keith Alexander has been awarded the Manager of the Month award. Really, there was no way he wasn't going to get it, Four wins and a draw.</p> <p>And then tomorrow we have to travel to League Leaders Carlisle United (they are usually the whipping boys in this league - what's going on?!!). A guarenteed beating for the Imps is surely on the cards with Keefy grasping his award in his mitts. </p> <p>I am going to keep my head under a pillow while the game is in progress...</p> <p>In addition, you will recall that this weekend I am off on a date with Burnley Boy. You will also recall that the last time I saw him I was snivelling and sobbing and looking rather unattractive, having been unceremoniously dumped. However, one painful phone call later and we are "back on track" and hopefully this weekend will go well. Although I feel as nervous about seeing him as I did on my first date with him! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/03/03/the_biggest_curse_in_football~608831/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-03-01:/2006/03/01/it_s_ash_wednesday~604111/impette2006-03-01T18:26:40+01:002006-03-01T18:26:40+01:00 <p>Tonight I swear I am going to go to bed at 7pm!! I am so tired, I still haven't caught up my sleep after Sunday night's sob-fest. </p> <p>Last night I managed to trough my way through as many pancakes as possible. This morning, one of the girls on reception asked me what I had given up for lent.</p> <p>"Smoking" I replied confidently.<br> "I didn't think you smoked" said the reception manager<br> "I don't" said I "that way I won't fail at it!"</p> <p>Genius! I once tried to give up choccie for lent and ended up at the Doctors with terrible migraines. Had I changed anything recently about my life style. Oh yes, I had gone from eating twice my body weight in Dairy Milk every day to nothing. The prescription? Loadsa Choccie!!</p> <p>I didn't win on going to Carlisle with Burnley Boy (unsurprisingly), but I am sure that we will have a lovely weekend together all the same. He seems to have it all under control, I just have to turn up!! I like a powerful, organised man! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/03/01/it_s_ash_wednesday~604111/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-28:/2006/02/28/maybe_i_m_an_idiot_but~599779/impette2006-02-28T09:38:14+01:002006-02-28T09:38:14+01:00 <p>Okay, so remember how I said that the only reason I would be happy to speak to him was:</p> <blockquote><p>I only want to listen to you if you are apologising and by that I mean saying "Sorry, I was wrong, it all got out of hand, let's forget this stupidity and move on" and the likelihood of saying this is pretty low I would guess. And even if this IS what he wants to say, now is not the time to say it. I need space sweetheart. I need to grab back hold of my self respect and get it back in situ first.</p></blockquote> <p>Well, okay, that WAS why he was calling. It was a difficult call for us both, but we talked about a lot of stuff that needed to be out in the open and, rightly or wrongly (it remains to be seen), I took him back....</p> <p>I know some of you will think I am stupid, maybe I am, but this time I am taking it slowly and I am not going to be too eager. I can understand his feelings, they are a bit screwed up and this isn't the place to air them. I just know that right now I want to be with him.</p> <p>So I agreed to go on a date this wekend with him - on neutral territory. (I suggested Carlisle <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> nothing to do with City playing away there this weekend at all). We will see what happens. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/28/maybe_i_m_an_idiot_but~599779/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-27:/2006/02/27/a_rant_aimed_at_burnley_boy_but_feel_fre~598082/impette2006-02-27T18:20:43+01:002006-02-27T18:20:43+01:00 <p>So I managed to get through a day at work without smudging my bank reconciliation with my tears. All good. He wants to call me tonight. I said I didn't think I could speak to him. Hello? You've dumped me. I am unhappy. What makes you think that listening to you tell me how hard it has been for you will make me feel ANY better. I only want to listen to you if you are apologising and by that I mean saying "Sorry, I was wrong, it all got out of hand, let's forget this stupidity and move on" and the likelihood of saying this is pretty low I would guess. And even if this IS what he wants to say, now is not the time to say it. I need space sweetheart. I need to grab back hold of my self respect and get it back in situ first.</p> <p>One thing you have nicely cured though, if you thought I had any urge for comitment from you at this point, it has been quashed out of me quite nicely. I don't have any urges to settle down with you, I didn't 48 hours ago I certainly don't now. Okay so I may have had the "perhaps one day this could be something really solid" type thoughts, but Jeez. </p> <p>I'm ANGRY. That's what I am. Why do people have to start looking to the future, making plans. Why can't people just go with the flow? I love you, I told you that because that is how I feel now. Okay so maybe I won't love you in three months, a year, six years time, but that's then and this is now. Now I like being with you (correction, I liked being with you, yesterday was the worst).</p> <p>I want to rip grass out of the ground and scream at the top of my voice I am so mad. Okay .... that's wierd Mand, let's stop there shall we?</p> <p>I'm single. Again. Lucky me. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/27/a_rant_aimed_at_burnley_boy_but_feel_fre~598082/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-27:/2006/02/27/back_to_square_one~597501/impette2006-02-27T15:11:56+01:002006-02-27T15:11:56+01:00 <p>Girls Aloud! I am having a crap day. Despite telling myself that I am an idiot in doing so, I keep responding to his emails. I can't make sense of it. From what I gather, he's finishing with me <em>just in case</em> he hurts me some time in the future (which apparently is <em>bound</em> to happen because it <em>always</em> does for him - that's great comfort to me then - I have been crapped upon from a great height by my so called boyfriends over and over again for the last four relationships I have had, so clearly it is a <strong>certainty</strong> that this pattern will continue for the rest of my bloody life - pass me the bucket now, please).</p> <p>Han of course, has been trying to pair me up with best friend of new boyfriend for a while now, so will be delighted that Burnley Boy (who to be fair she didn't think much of as she thought he treated me badly and sometimes I could see that she had a point there - particularly right now) is out of the limelight.</p> <p>In order to try and avoid the old "oh no, the man I love has left me to go to Australia and never to return, I must remain in mourning for a good two years and not look at another man..." moment, I put my profile back up on match.com, just to make sure I wasn't fooling myself into thinking that I was slightly attractive in the right light. It took about 5 minutes to get my first wink. He didn't float my boat. It made me feel much worse. I took the profile back off, been there, done that, can't be bothered. No really, I can't.<br> Burnley Boy used to say that dating me was "punching above his weight" Hmmmm. Idiot. (Not sure if I mean me or him there).</p> <p>I feel totally sick. I can't breathe properly without my eyes filling with tears. I'm a 27 year old woman. This sort of thing happens to a ruddy 14 year old. I hate being me again right now. </p> <p>I forgot to say - seems pointless now, but I will anyway - on Valentine's Day he finally said I love you. Clearly a slip of the tongue. But for a while it made me feel special. I just thought you'd like to know. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/27/back_to_square_one~597501/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-27:/2006/02/27/back_on_the_shelf_then~596796/impette2006-02-27T10:44:53+01:002006-02-27T10:44:53+01:00 <p>So the weekend starting in a promising fashion. Friday night I slobbed out and did nothing. Always the best way when you have a big weekend planned.</p> <p>Saturday afternoon was also another good one. A victory for the Imps. 2-1 over local rivals Notts County, with goals from Franny Green and Jamie McCombe seeing us rise to seventh and the last playoff place in league 2.</p> <p>And then at 7:30 Burnley Boy called. I had been expecting him at 8 and was about to start cooking. He'd messed up his times with the rugby and was leaving now. Okay, but you knew that 80 minutes ago, so couldn't you have texted then? Slightly peeved, but forgivable.</p> <p>So now I can't really talk about Sunday right now. I don't think I understand what really happened. What seemed to start out as a worry he voiced about what would happen, with us living so far apart, in six months time, ended up with us both in tears and him walking out on me. Don't ask me to remember anything, I can't, I was in some kind of hysteria.</p> <p>And so the big romance with Burnley Boy, the one I really thought could be "the one" is over. </p> <p>I didn't sleep last night, I can't see things properly through the tears in my eyes this morning and so we are back to sqaure one blogging friends. </p> <p>I started this blog when I dipped my toe back into the water of dating after all the ways men had managed to destroy my faith in love over the last five years. I wanted to be reassured that it wasn't me, that I didn't have some sort of tattoo on my head saying hurt me. I didn't find that reassurance. I hurt so much again, like the last time and the time before that. I will not feel this hurt again. I've found the answer, I didn't like it, but I've found it.</p> <p>And I have learnt that when someone tells you they love you, it probably isn't true, but it is easier to lie than face facts. I have also learnt that I shouldn't let myself fall in love, I have proven now conclusively that it guarantees hurt. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/27/back_on_the_shelf_then~596796/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-23:/2006/02/23/lincoln_s_run_continues~585775/impette2006-02-23T10:23:55+01:002006-02-23T10:23:55+01:00 <p>So 2 matches to tell you about because I've been a bit slack of late!</p> <p>BARNET 2 - 3 LINCOLN CITY</p> <p>In a nutshell, pretty much like the home fixture, City let Barnet take the lead, only this time we gave them a 2 goal head start. Their 'keeper then pretty much gifted us our first two goals, the first of which came from the foot of McCombe after boucing off the goalie, just one minute after the Bee's second goal.</p> <p>The Imps second came a few moments later when, again, the keeper made a blunder, throwing the ball out straight to Gary Birch who slotted it back past him to bring the scores even.</p> <p>On 87 minutes, Nat Brown took a 25 yard free kck, from the sidelines the Gaffer was gesticulating wildly (apparently Brown's free kicks had been terrible in training and he was trying to encourage someone to take the ball off him!!). In it went - 3 for the Imps. We then had a painful 6 minutes to play out before taking the three points home.</p> <p>MACCLESFIELD TOWN 1 - 1 LINCOLN CITY</p> <p>Jeff Hughes equalised with his second goal for the Imps after Macc took the lead from a dubious penalty. Again, referee J Singh got centre stage after sending Keith Alexander to the stands early in the game for kicking the ball back onto the pitch when it rolled in front of him for a throw in. The FA are taking no further action, clearly seeing the reflexive response exhibited by the gaffer when seeing a ball roll in front of him.</p> <p>Winjhard's penalty was well taken and macc held the lead at half time. The tea was incredibly hot and wasn't cool enough to drink until twenty minutes into the second half, when it was stewed, but the people of Macc were welcoming and friendly and the programme even described us as old friends!!</p> <p>The ground is still mainly standing, although I chose to sit rather than stand as i think you get a better chance of getting your offside calls correct from the side of the pitch rather than behind the goal. This meant I was undercover, but luckily for the standing Imps, the weather remained bright and warm enough not to wear a coat in the first half.</p> <p>Both the Silkmen and the Imps had legitimate penalty calls turned down in the second half, before well worked moves down the left flank gave us the equaliser. A good final push from City could have seen us rob the points, but unfortunately it wasn't to be.</p> <p>As an aside, if you are a league 2 traveller visiting the Moss Rose, do think about making a weekend of it in Macclesfield. I travelled up on Friday night and stayed with an old school friend and fellow imp who now resides there. My trip to the Moss Rose was precede by a trip to the Silk museum and a guided tour around the paradise mill, which was pretty good. The only thing I would say about the trip is that I appeared to travel up and down a mountain. Burnley Boy tells me that it was the peak district, but it was dark, so I don't know!! It's all a bit of a shock for a lass from Lincolnshire. We only have one hill - and we built a cathedral on that!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/23/lincoln_s_run_continues~585775/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-13:/2006/02/13/lincoln_city_2_0_torquay_united~558932/impette2006-02-13T14:05:16+01:002006-02-13T14:05:16+01:00 <p>The Imps stormed into 10th on Saturday, one point behind that illustrious final play-off place. A first half goal from Scott Kerr gave the Imps the lead and the game was sealed with Jeff Hughes first goal for the Imps near the end of the second half.</p> <p>It has been a good week for Jeff. He travelled to Israel with the Northern Ireland Under 21 team and got his first 2 caps, both in 1-0 victories for the Irish. The first coming on a sub at half time, and the second in Nazareth, where he played the entire game. He then flew home, rejoined the Imps and had a great game on Saturday, culminating in that goal!!</p> <p>The game itself wasn't very good. Pretty much in the same vein as Stockport, Torquay are fighting back hard to keep away from the trap door. But for once, luck was on our side (we did have a goal disallowed, but unlike Stockport's it didn't have an effect on the end result). Having said all this, I still stand by the fact that the worst display I have seen from an opposing team all season is from Wycombe Wanderers!!</p> <p>Ah gentlemen, a word to the wise. I have heard that you can buy a valentine's card in ASDA for 8p. Do NOT buy this for a girlfriend, or potential love match. The fact it declares itself within it's festive decoration as an ASDA value card will not help your cause. Of course, it might be the easiest way to rid yourself of any unwanted attention.</p> <p>I finally purchased a card for the man in my life on Saturday en route to Sincil Bank (classy eh?). The poem I conconcted to go inside was a piece of artwork in itself...</p> <blockquote><p class="center">Lincoln play in Red and White<br> Burnley in Claret and Blue<br> You might support the wrong football team<br> But I still love you!</p></blockquote> <p>We swapped cards this morning... I was slightly worried when he said "I can't believe you even managed to give Lincoln a mention in a valentine's card..." but then he started to laugh, so all was well. Last night we shared a bottle of Champagne and he hyperventilated with excitment at the prospect of being able to watch the first two episodes of the new series of 24!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/13/lincoln_city_2_0_torquay_united~558932/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-10:/2006/02/10/lincoln_city_vs_torquay_united~552602/impette2006-02-10T18:50:27+01:002006-02-10T18:50:27+01:00 <p>Let's hope this match is a lot less eventful than the away fixture! City finished that one with 8 men and lost a 1-0 lead to finish 2-1 losers, with a very long trip home.</p> <p>I'm looking forward to seeing Martin Gritton play for us tomorrow as I haven't had a chance to see our new signing in action as yet, and Torquay is his old club. </p> <p>Simon Yeo is going for his 51st competitive goal for city. He has already experienced scoring against Torquay United - let's hope he can do it again!</p> <p>Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. As it is valentines day next week, but Burnley Boy and I only "do" weekends what with living apart, we are having our "celebrations" this weekend (after football naturally!) - I think he is cooking me dinner. This is great because that means I don't have to cook!!!</p> <p>I still need to buy said blokey a valentines card. I hate buying cards. I am therefore leaving it to the last minute in the hope that I will be so panicked, I will just grab the first card I can lay my hands on in the shop. What's the bet it will end up saying "Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Brother"?? I don't even have a brother....</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/10/lincoln_city_vs_torquay_united~552602/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-07:/2006/02/07/title~542598/impette2006-02-07T15:01:21+01:002006-02-08T17:54:36+01:00 <p>My mother has complained that there has been far too much football on this blog lately!!</p> <p>Anyway, I thought I would fill you in on the Burnley Boy thing. As you will recall, when I started this blog I had been single for a long time. Had I not found Burnley Boy, this week would have seen my singledom hitting the two year mark <img src="/img/smilies/graybigeek.gif" alt="88|" class="middle" border="0">.</p> <p>Well, all is still going well. This weekend he took me into London. He appeared to be rather alarmed at the cost of handbags in Libertys, but I assured him that not all handbags cost that much!! He allowed me to venture into practically every shop I wanted on Oxford Street and even let me wander into both Lush and B Never too busy to be Beautiful in Carnaby Street. Okay, so he did telephone his mate to discuss the rugby while I was rumaging along the rails in Dotty P's, but the thought was there.</p> <p>On Friday night, armed with a key to his house, supplied on previous visit, I ventured to the fens and was allowed to let myself in as he was on a business trip in Spain and wouldn't be back home until 1am. When he did wander in, he woke me up to give me a beautiful silver bracelet that he had bought me during his trip - for absolutely no reason at all!! He is certainly the most thoughtful and attentive boyfriend I have ever had, although he would be dismayed to hear that - I think he likes to think he treats me mean to keep me keen!!</p> <p>Sorry the posts have become a big sparse lately - I am trying to do my GCSE Psychology coursework - I feel like a fifteen year old again!! I will next write on Friday with a preview for the weekend's football.</p> <p>I will end with a couple of big shout outs to two of our players.</p> <p>JEFF HUGHES made his international debut at Under 21 level this week, coming on as a substitute for Northern Ireland. Well done Jeff!</p> <p>SIMON YEO's goal at Stockport County last Saturday was his 50th career goal for the Imps. Congratulations Simon - here's to the next fifty - you don't need to get them all by the end of the season Sloppo, but it would be very nice <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/07/title~542598/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-02-05:/2006/02/05/stockport_county_2_3_lincoln_city~536653/impette2006-02-05T16:48:41+01:002006-02-05T16:52:36+01:00 <p>Another three points for the Imps sees City sitting in 11th place and only three points off the playoffs. </p> <p>It was the cliched game of two halves at Edgely Park. I watched the drama unfold with the help of SkySports1 on a small TV screen at the back of the Sports Bar in Leicester Square, where all the other TV's in place had some rugby game on. Apparently England won and that made Burnley Boy very happy (especially since his beloved Claret and Blues managed a win at last).</p> <p>So we started things off with a debut goal for Martin Gritton. A Yeo free kicked was pushed out for the keeper and Gritton pounced to make it 1-0 to the Imps. As usual, the lead was short lived and Stockport had equalised a minute later.</p> <p>Only minutes later, Simon Yeo put his name on the score sheet next, with a typically well-taken Sloppo goal to give the Imps the lead. The last time I remember Gritton and Yeo scoring in the same match was the last day of the 2002-03 season. City were at home to Torquay and needed at least a draw to make the playoffs. Gritton had put the Gulls 1-0 up when a late goal by Sloppo Yeo pulled the Imps by the scruff of the neck into the playoffs for the first time in their history (not because we are rubbish in any way - because we had always managed to do it automatically before!!!).</p> <p>Substitute Lee Frecklington extended the Imps lead to 3-1 with his first senior goal of his career, before Stockport, desperately fighting for their lives at the foot of the football league, grabbed one back. But City held on and happily went home with the three points.</p> <p>May I remind you at this point that City are still unbeaten in 2006? And from the last available 12 points, City have banked 10 of them?</p> <p>City's next run of matches for your enjoyment(all FL2)....</p> <p>Saturday 11th February - Home to Torquay United.<br> The away fixture famously saw the Imps finish the game with 9 men and a 2-1 defeat after taking the lead.<br> Tuesday 14th February - Away at Barnet.<br> All the joy of the sloping pitch at Underhill on a cold old Tuesday night.<br> Saturday 18th February - Away at Macclesfield Town. MaccAttack are fighting to save their club and have recently lost the services of big Jonny Parkin.</p> <p>Hope you are all having a fine weekend.</p> <p>Impette x </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/02/05/stockport_county_2_3_lincoln_city~536653/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-01-30:/2006/01/30/exclusive_city_sign_codhead~520635/impette2006-01-30T20:58:23+01:002006-01-30T20:58:23+01:00 <p>Today Lincoln City signed Martin Gritton (no, he isn't a central defender - he's a striker, but you can be forgiven for assuming the former on recent experience) from Grimsby Codhead Town for a nominal fee.</p> <p>Gritton has signed for the Imps in time to go into the squad for Saturday's game at Stockport County. The deal will keep him at Sincil Bank until 2007.</p> <p>Gritton, 27, has a degree from Portsmouth University and started his professional footballing career at Plymouth Argyle, before signing for Torquay United and then Grim-sby.</p> <p>He has pretty good hair actually. Reminds me of Grant Brown's (now our youth team coach and defender for Grantham Town - up the Gingerbreads!) in the very early 1990's. </p> <p>For photos and further goss visit <a href="http://www.redimps.com">www.RedImps.com</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/01/30/exclusive_city_sign_codhead~520635/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk,2006-01-30:/2006/01/30/lincoln_city_1_0_bristol_rovers~518631/impette2006-01-30T10:55:45+01:002006-01-30T10:55:45+01:00 <p>Ha!!! Justice is done - Gary Birch headed us into the lead with his first touch of the ball. He'd been on the pitch a a substitute for less than 90 seconds. Genius.</p> <p><strong>Starting line up for the Imps was (4-4-3):</strong><br> Alan "Mazza" Marriott</p> <p>Jamie "Macca" McCombe<br> Gareth "Sprite" McAuley<br> Colin Cryan<br> Jeff Hughes</p> <p>Scott Kerr<br> Steve "Turbo" Robinson<br> Nat Brown</p> <p>Marvin Robinson<br> Ollie "I'm a Pilgrim and it shows" Ryan<br> Franny "110%" Green</p> <p><strong>In Summary:</strong></p> <p>We were terrible to be fair. Absolutely awful. Luckily, so were they. <em>I am going to take great delight in this next sentence - enjoy it with me!! </em>Rovers "football" consisted of unattractive hoofing of the ball, ugly long ball tactics that did them no favours. Look, Trollope bloke-in-charge-of-rovers, only try and play the long ball if your players are actually capable of it. Yours are not.</p> <p>City did perservere with their "Right ball" tactics and in the end (and some much needed substitutions to turn around the starting line up) 3 points came our way. </p> <p><strong>Here are some interesting facts about City:</strong></p> <p>Lincoln City are unbeaten in 2006<br> Lincoln City have gained 7 out of the last 9 available points<br> Lincoln City haven't lost since our local codhead rivals beat us on the 28th December (anbd that was only because it was snowing and we couldn't see the ball).</p> <p><strong>So let's talk about the much needed substitutions.</strong></p> <p>1. OFF Marvin Robinson<br> ON Lee Frecklington</p> <p>Starvin' Marvin was having another one of those days where it takes him a good two hours to get into the game. Unfortunately, a game of football only lasts an hour and a half. On came midfield little 'un Lee Frecklington and put on a great display. Keefy moved Nat Brown from midfield to up front at this point. Still in the 4-4-3 formation.</p> <p>2. OFF Nat Brown<br> ON Gary Birch</p> <p>Nat Brown is a central defender apparently. I say apparently becasuse I have never seen him play in that position yet! In midfield he is a weak link compared to the others and up front struggles to keep the pace. </p> <p>The fans are on his back because,quite frankly, they could do a better job in those positions (well, some of them could - others are too busy eating pie and drinking bovril to be bothered to get down on the pitch!). </p> <p>We all think Nat <em>might be </em>a bit rubbish, but that is because we have never seen him actually play in position, so the jury is still out on that one.</p> <p>Anyway, one-for-one up front. Within 90 seconds Birchy (despite getting chubbier by the minute - I think he is just wearing loads of clothes under his kit to keep him warm) heads us into the lead. Keefy - Inspired.</p> <p>3. OFF Ollie Ryan<br> ON Jude Stirling</p> <p>70 minutes it took Keefy to see that Ollie Ryan is a spy in the camp. There are only so many times that a striker can fall on his backside at a crucial moment without looking suspicious!! The effort that he kicked off the goalie's legs backfired on him (I think he has a little radio in his ear to see how the Pilgrims are getting on) when Birchy headed the rebound home. *LOL*</p> <p>Seriously though, Ollie looked a bit like a fish out of water at times, although when Lee Frecklington came on, he seemed more at ease. More practice in the reserves I think. We are still looking for that magic someone to team up with Green and Yeo up front and I don't think Marvin or Ollie is that man. Maybe when Danny Bacon gets back (about 3 weeks to go) we will have the solution? </p> <p>On came new-boy Jude. <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/index.php/confessionsofatwentysomething/2006/01/19/stirling_work_at_the_bank~486432">You remember</a>, the central defender we picked up last week. Well, naturally he came on up front and did okay, for a defender. But his throw!!! He can throw in the ball like a bullet and it is the logest throw I ever saw, over half the length of the pitch!!</p> <p>Our next three matches see us playing opposition much lower than us in the table (we are 12th - now bottom of the top rather than top of the bottom)Stockport County, Torquay United and Barnet. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://confessionsofatwentysomething.blog.co.uk/2006/01/30/lincoln_city_1_0_bristol_rovers~518631/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>