Grande Randonnee

Over on my Facebook page, I decided that I would revise my ambition to walk one of France's Grande Randonnees. These are state maintained long distance footpaths, which can run most of the length of France in any direction, north/ south/east/west. They are all clearly signposted and marked by a dedicated ministry.
When asked in the days prior to my retirement what I intended doing with my time, I would repeat the idea of walking one of these long distance paths which stretch for hundreds of miles across la belle France. I have done several sections of several GRs when camping in the vicinity and over the years we have been going to France. The events of 2007 rather muddied the picture for a while but I feel as fit as I have ever done and am stubbornly planning to undertake this marathon walk. Half the pleasure is in the planning and preparation of such a project and so I will be spending some time just doing that - probably via these pages. The GR5, I think, runs from the Channel coast to the Mediterranean cote and would be a marvellous one to tackle. I think it is possible to do the whole think in 32 days if you were able to tackle it continuously. However the logistics and physical wear and tear probably make that impracticable in my case. If it was broken down into sections of 8, each section taking 4 days with rest days interspersed then the feat becomes much more accessible. I wouldn't walk in the summer months as being too hot but could either walk in the spring and/or autumn, thereby completing in either 8 years or 4 years! You can see that this would be a long term project! (Also want to fit in a Great Rail Journey of the USA coast to coast - not walking but going by train!)

"She had lost the art of conversation, but, unfortunately, not the power of speech" (George Bernard Shaw).

My 200th Blog Posting

I am just congratulating myself on reaching the 200 milestone in egocentric blog writing.

Strangely enough I came across a quote in Russell Brand's column at the back of the Saturday Sports Guardian. I have never got on with Russell Brand, not through any moral outrage at his Andrew Sachs stunt on radio with Jonathan Ross, but rather I don't find his brand of humour tickles my funny bone. It could be an age or generation gap thing but I find him too fey for my liking. However I did find this excellent quote and it did remind me that my own personal mindset that the world revolves around me is a fairly general one and not just reserved for my own private psychosis.

Brand is talking about ex-players and ex-girlfriends and says: "Only saints can continue to adore once spurned: when I hear of former girlfriends marrying or having children I am confronted with a world beyond my control - life goes on without me." He suggests they should not be allowed to impinge on the consciousness so that we "can remain blithely fixated on the illusion of self". ([C] Russell Brand, Saturday Guardian, 10/01/2009).

At the moment I am preparing the annual accounts for the Havant Literary Festival Society AGM and reading playscripts for the Bench Theatre Play writing Competition 2009. Neither task is arduous but we are still thinking of taking three days in Boulogne-sur-Mer next week. I had hoped for winter sun but will settle for moules frites and good company.

As I seem to be in the quotation frame of mind, I'll use the following from Oscar Wilde:" To recapture my youth I'd do anything except take exercise or get up early or be respectable."

I do cheat on the exercise as I work out twice weekly with the gorgeous Debbie Hobbs but the last two are beyond the pale. I love lying in with a book and a cup of tea. I am not sure what you have to do to be respectable but if by chance I am it is purely accidental.

I read this morning that Defoe is virtually on his way to Spurs for "£15 million". He should be there by tomorrow (Tuesday). This sorts out the discussion in yesterday's blog, and, though not as good as £20 million, or the £15 million exchange with Jenas, or the exchange with Manchester city and Benjani, it is good business for Pompey as it almost doubles the amount paid for him last January. I think Adams is hoping to complete the contract details with Glen Johnson to keep him at Pompey, rather than be tempted away by Liverpool. After that, he should be turning his attention away to a new striker for Pompey: Aruna Dindane (note correct spelling this time) of Lens or Sidney Govou of Lyons. It looks like Jermaine Pennant is Italy bound as AC Milan have shown an interest in him as have several other Italian clubs. Hopefully Adams has enough money in his war chest to get three midfielders, which his squad needs to carry the fight to the opposition. I think if Pompey adopt the Liverpool approach of two defending midfielders in front of the back four making the main defensive unit 6 players, he will achieve his aim of a solid base but also freeing an attacking unit of 4 players. It seems to me that Hughes and Davis, who have just signed new contracts, are ideal players for these two defending midfield roles, with Diop and Wilson their instant shoo-ins if injured or banned. The back four still needs sorting and especially at left back as Belhadj can be too attack minded. I would also replace Campbell with Kaboul, using the former as the ready-made substitute for the latter, and especially when the defence needs stiffening. The attacking unit could be (a) two attacking midfielders and two strikers, (b) or three attacking midfielders and one striker, or (c) two attacking midfielders, a striker and a second striker/winger. Other than Kranjcar I don't think any other player qualifies as an attacking midfielder and obviously these are the gaps that Adams must fill. I would prefer to see two aggressive attacking midfielders. who win the ball, attack the opposition, can play those devastating passes, which split defences, and can get in the box to score goals. For me, Kranjcar would be the third attacking midfielder or second striker when Adams feels option (c) is best suited to the opposition. Crouch would always be my first choice striker, either in a solo role or with a support striker alongside him. Kanu, for as long as he lasts, would be my substitute if Crouch can't play for any reason. I would use Nugent as my second striker in option (a) but not in option (c). I think he is a direct player who could learn to feed off Crouch either alongside him or slightly ahead in the box, but he shouldn't be played wide. I would still like to see an attacking wide midfielder especially on the right, for the moment Traore on the left and Little on the right could be used for that purpose. I am not sure how these ideas fit into the usual formations but option (a) is 4-4-2, option (b) is 4-5-1 and option (c) is 4 - 4/5 - 2/1, and therefore very flexible.

There was a quote on page 131 of Kathy Reich's book, "Break No Bones": "Indecision is the key to flexibility". I would like to enter this quote into the ongoing tussle between the Best Beloved and I over my desire for system and hers for flexibility. We have had a wonderful Christmas and New year, thanks mainly to the sterling efforts of the Best Beloved, helped by the two girls and hindered by yours truly. We have one or two very small tasks to complete and then the new extension itself will be complete. I have been impressed as always by the ability of the Best Beloved to turn a house into a home. I have literally hugged myself on a couple of occasions when we have been preparing to welcome guests in our large new kitchen/dining room and staying overnight in our freed up spare bedroom and bathroom. I think Best Beloved's home making ability is also one of the reasons we both enjoy camping so much. For her it is the opportunity to make a temporary new home wherever we travel and for me to enjoy those comforts wherever we travel.

"The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo.

This week I am meeting with the auditor to discuss the Havant Literary Festival Society books. I am sorting out what to do with my Ford Focus. I have also been cast in a Murder Mystery dinner at the end of February with a local professional company. I only need my agent to phone with some bookings and I would be very happy as I approach my 62nd birthday at the end of this month.

Pompey Midfield (and strikers?)

This is a continuation of my previous blog re. the January transfer window and, as previously, is based entirely on gossip, idle speculation and probably not the slightest grain of truth or fact.
In this blog I attempt to express an interest in possible midfield players to stiffen the Pompey team and go some way to replace the 2008 FA Cup winning trio of Mendes, Muntari and Diarra.
If I hit by chance upon any of the players that Pompey do end up buying, no-one will be more surprised than me!
I believe from elements of the press that Gary O'Neil is already on the way back to us from Middlesbrough. Everybody wants Jimmy Bullard of Fulham and probably his contractual and salary demands will make it hard to fit him into the Pompey structure but I think the cost and expense would be worth it. Marvin Elliott of Bristol City, aged 24, would be a good addition to the squad. We are always connected with Stephen Appiah, but as a central midfielder and a free agent, he must be worth another look.
We now have two loan positions left, having bought Belhadj (hoorah!) and sent Sahar back. What about two more teenagers in midfield from Arsenal in Randall and Gibbs to work with Traore? There is also a 20-year-old playmaker from Standard Liege in Steven Defour.
Pompey also need strikers and especially a right winger. Szaboics Huszti (25) is a left winger from Hannover 96 and a Hungarian international. Laryea Kingston (28) is a winger from Hearts tipped by Sulley Muntari. Benni McCarthy (31) from Blackburn could still guarantee goals and represent a shrewd purchase. I like Valencia from Wigan, Daniel Sturridge (19) from Manchester City and Jermaine Pennant from Liverpool.
Just in case there is anyone from Pompey reading this blog and impressed by my insightful analysis of the transfer scene, can you tell me when we will get a new stadium? We may end up in a relegation battle this season but only if everyone keeps expecting one. I am still an optimist and believe Pompey are now a settled Premier team and we need a new stadium.

January Window

One of my passions as regular readers will know is Pompey football club. I love the gossip of the January transfer window. I love gossip per se, which is probably why I enjoy reading and writing blogs.
The January transfer window is when there is rife speculation as to who may be leaving or coming to a football club. The sums of money talked about are scandalous, if not criminal, in a time of recession. This must be the reason why there is always more speculation than actual hard bargains struck. It is part of the devoted fan's dreamworld to fantasise who may be added to the team supported. It is also a measure of the health of that team - if star players are being brought in - the club must be OK, surely? There is a good case for arguing that the January transfer window is a waste of money as the players bought have rarely the time or luxury to be properly assimilated in the second half of the season. However in January 2008 Pompey bought Jermaine Defoe at the very last gasp for a reputed "£7 million". The amounts mentioned are always in quotation marks because clubs don't like their financial details too closely inspected by the public and one suspects that money on purchases made in January 2008 are still outstanding in part or in whole. This is sometimes a reason strange deals are made that don't make sense to the casual onlooker but are more to do with the financial complexities than a player's talent or how much he is revered (or otherwise) by the fans of the club.
I realise most of my readers are now probably back at work after the Christmas and New Year break and I would like to reassure them I am thinking of them, as I lounge in my dressing gown, writing my blog, as it approaches elevenses!
I am now going to indulge myself further by speculating on players Pompey could be thinking about this January - so that if they do buy any of the players mentioned I can say told you so. All my information is based on media gossip rather than any hard facts or insights (But as I always say, why spoil a good story for the sake of truth!)
Jermaine Defoe wants to leave Pompey. He has publicly stated so and boy does his demeanour on the football pitch reveal a great deal about his mental state. Why do players never think if I am smacking in van loads of goals for my present club that will bring scouts and other clubs buzzing around me like flies around a big pile of s***e. Defoe at the moment looks unhappy to be with us, he isn't scoring the goals we need and even missed a penalty at a recent game. I would be tempted to let him go but agree with Pompey preferably at a profit! £7 million last January could be £15 million or £20 million this January. We would recoup money spent (if we did actually hand over that amount) and gain enough to buy a couple more players in his stead. I would settle for the £15 million, and Jermain Jenas in part exchange, to sell Defoe back to Spurs, now managed by he who shall not be named by me. I like Natty Chap's idea of selling Defoe to Manchester City and getting beloved Benjani back in part exchange. I also approve of the rumoured pursuit of Aruna Dinane and Sidney Govou, both of whom could work as a short-term fix for the rest of the season as powerful replacements for the despondent Defoe. Govou recently scored two goals for France in a match against Sweden, whereas Defoe is still only a squad player for England. The latter has complained that some Pompey fans have sent him death threats - what idiots! - selling him at a profit gives someone else the problem of motivating him (although why these players need motivating is beyond me?) and we get one or more players who want to play for us!
I have some suggestions for the midfield and other strikers but will leave them for my next blog.
I will finish with a quote from Marina Hyde in Saturday's Guardian (page 32). She is berating the idea of rating GP's. She makes a comment about the NHS, which completely meets with my agreement and which I endorse wholeheartedly: "And, it's always worth pointing out, people don't want "power" in the NHS. They want a uniformly decent NHS. They don't want choice, they want provision." As a retired teacher, can I also suggest that if you exchange NHS for education system, you might get another true statement. Apparently Gordon Brown has expressed a desire for "an X Factor Britain" - Gawd help us!