It is not enough for Arsenal to finish in seventh place. We have to be knocked out of the FA cup in the semifinals.
Leicester City won the league last season and not playing in Europe helped them (as well as us throwing away our best chance in ages to win the league). This season, Chelski are going to win the
league and they are not playing in Europe. It is very unlikely that we will be able to fight our way back into the top four. And fifth place results in a place in the Europa Cup, which is the best chance to win European silverware, but it is a competition that ruins the chance of a Premier League team winning the title. Sixth place will probably give a place as well, as the odds are that a top four club will win the FA cup. Which means, if we finish in seventh place, we will have a clear run at the league and assuming we can keep our players (and add more quality to the squad), it means we have a good shot at winning it.
So long as Claudio Ranieri is willing to join us as manager...
Good day to you all. Mothers day today went well, mostly. After a lie in, as the clocks had gone forwards by an hour, our son came in with the present he had made. My daughter though was not in as good a mood as we would have liked. She did improve, but rather than her making her mother one of her morning cups of tea, I did. Things did improve as they day went on with a trip to Manningtree to have lunch at a restaurant we had been to before. At present, it is one of the favourite restaurants of my wife, and it was worth booking it. I almost had not booked it in time, but it did work out well. A relaxed lunch was followed by a trip into town to shop and look at the new sculptures in Colchester and also, while my wife was enjoying the wares, the kids and I walked about town collecting Pokéballs and catching Pokémon. But, she did not have to make any food, other than preparing the burgers which I had cooked, and a bit of shopping, which I had said I would do (honest). I would love to post more, but it is late. I think it is important to say at the end, that the kids were great though my daughter hated her red dress!
A policeman pulls a car over on a lonely back road and approaches the blonde lady driver.
"Miss, is there a reason that you're weaving all over the road?"
The woman replied, "Oh, officer, thank goodness you're here! I almost had an accident! I looked up, and there was a tree right in front of me. I swerved to the left, and there was another tree in front of me. I swerved to the right, and there was another tree in front of me!"
Reaching through the side window to the rear view mirror, the officer replied, "Miss... that's your air freshener."
Since the last post, my son has been bought a bicycle, one which he should grow into. So last week, we rode it. He was a bit nervous as he has had issues when riding his bike before and I understand his concerns, but he was great. And he noted that there was a difference compared to his old bike, a big difference. He loved the speed that he could now reach. His previous bike was perfect for his needs, but sadly, he has grown out of it, and was nervous when using it as he was concerned that he would knee himself. This was in part, my fault, as I did not raise his seat as much as I could have, but he was never going to get to go as fast as he now can. In fact, he is now looking forwards to his next bike ride.
My daughter today rode her bike. She had ridden with me to my work before, and did so today while my son went to work with my wife. And she had improved compared to before and on the way back, thanks to her determination, rode up part of a hill she had failed to do so before. Needless to say, I was very proud. And instead of heading straight home, we took a little diversion, which I think that she liked. That involved some cycling down a dirt path, and when we came to a dip, and the climb afterwards she gave it all. And I think she loved the speed. While I took a picture of her first challenge, I should have taken one of the hill of fun.
It has been a while since the last post when we went out for a meal. Since then we have had a few things happen. Last weekend we travelled to London to see our (that is my and my wife's) parents though due to an accident on the A406, it was a very tiring day. In addition to this we have had a learning conference (or as I used to call it when I was younger, a parents evening) were my daughter was told that she is amazing, and my son was told that he needs to show everyone how amazing he is more often. And it was his birthday. That was great as we had a gaming party where my wife had arranged for someone (a very nice lady) to come round with two projection screens and she connected them up to some PlayStation's and also brought two virtual reality headsets. Being boys, the kids absolutely loved it, and being a boy, I did as well. It all went well for him and I have to compliment my wife once again on her amazing abilities at organisation and with the cake, cooking.
Today, while my son was at two birthdays I was in London for a course. When walking back to my car (which was parked where I did not have to pay), I got to eat at Maltby Street, indulging in a very nice (and posh) hot dog as well as some amazing dumplings. The picture does not do the flavour of the dumplings any justice as they were amazing. And unlike many other places to eat in Maltby Street market, there was no queue. After eating the dumplings, and then eating more, I felt sorry for those who walked past them. I know that when I have my next course in that area, I am going to try to find an excuse to travel to Maltby Street so that I can eat before I return home. The downside of driving home from there though is that I do not get to have any of the beer I saw being drunk there.
And on getting home, I got to listen to the Arsenal game. The midweek demolition was demoralising to say the least and a friend of mine commented that Lincoln would be looking forwards to this game. And considering that they nearly made it to half time with no goals being scored, you could not fault that statement. But we won and appeared to do so with ease as Lincoln tired in the second half. And it has taken away a little bit of the hurt that I have suffered as a fan, but I suspect it will return soon.
Anyway, my wife is in bed, unwell with a poorly knee which means that she was not able to go out tonight has planned, but instead has had to stay in bed watching Gilmore Girls while I watched the Voice with the kids (who vanished before the end) and a mug of wine (it saves on washing a glass later in the day when I am tipsy, an issue as my daughter broke our last habitat goblet).
After the disaster of the Copeland by-election, Labour have been looking at the causes for the defeat. From looking at Twitter, some blame the leader, others blame Tony Blair and those who support him. But, it is because of this, that Labour have to continue to back Corbyn. And that is even though the last time that a party in power gained a seat in a by-election was in 1982, this before the Conservative landslide of 1983. The May local elections are to come. They will provide an indication of how Labour will do in the next General Election, which may come sooner than 2020. And, those who fear Corbyn will bring about a Conservative victory in that election (me included) need to back him, so that those who back him can not blame any defeat in the local elections on them. And if the argument that a party united behind Corbn can win is right, then the party must unite behind him. Either way, Labour have to sink, or swim with Corbyn. Even if it means replicating the results of the elections in 1983.
I spent a few hours in work today before coming home. During the week, someone was talking about Il Padrino a restaurant in Colchester, so today, I booked it for lunch. My wife was not too keen on leaving to walk into town for lunch as we needed to do a lot at home, but agreed. It was nice walking into town today, no arguments, and overall, a great time for all the family. And when in the restaurant, both kids fell in love with the menu. The service was great, and the food matched. I even had two glasses of wine! Walking back was nice as well. While my wife went into a shop, I took my son on a walk to run up some miles for his Pokémon account. Once back at home, it was some time to relax before getting back to the work at home and then watching The Voice. My son had to go to sleep before then end, but hopefully he will get to watch some of the acts tomorrow morning. Some of the acts were truly amazing. I like this much more than the X factor, though I do miss it being on the BBC as they had no adverts.
On Thursday my son goes to Cubs. I leave work to collect him at the end of my day which can be rushed at times, but today he came home with some pancakes for us.
Really it was bits of pancakes, and on collecting him I was too tired to appreciate it. My wife and daughter loved eating it, and I did not get to eat it until after I had massaged his eczema with cream before he went to bed. But I really liked it. I am now looking forwards to him cooking more on Tuesday...
