Bad Heart

It was one of those simple comments that came up in last Tuesday's exercise class. Alan was relating a story of someone he had met in hospital who had claimed he was unable to do something because "he had a bad heart". I had to think about it for a moment but I don't consider I have a "bad heart". My heart is perfectly fine and strong. legally I had a heart attack back in January 2007 but not technically. My heart simply complained that it was not getting sufficient blood and oxygen to do its job properly. The triple bypass is just to replace clogged tubes with ones that will dilate sufficiently to allow an adequate supply of blood and oxygen through to the heart. Thanks to Debbie Hobbs and cardiac rehab phase 4, I feel fitter now than I have done for a few years. I thank God for a good heart although I am not always goodhearted. I upset my mother-in-law by questioning how a woman with a huge estimated personal fortune should spend Christmas Day afternoon lecturing me about looking out for the homeless. I am not totally happy about the money I have invested in Northern Rock apparently as it doesn't seem I am getting a great deal out of it. We watch the Queen's Speech out of respect for Old Gran and as part of our family traditions on the Day. Unfortunately it tends to counteract the good warm and humane feelings I have after the traditional Christmas morning church service Best Beloved and I attend.

For the first time, Natty Chap and the Firstborn stayed overnight at the end of the Christmas Day celebrations. This certainly extended the event into the early hours of the morning and was full of daft family games.

The Kitten has applied for a course run by the London Actors' Workshop. This covers 12 Sundays from January to April. She may have to make a weekend of it by going up on Saturday for a bit of theatre and stay with friends. However if she gets the afternoon sessions, she might even be able to make it in the one day. I spotted the course in "The Stage" last week and felt my regular subscription may be beginning to pay off. I was pleased that she thought it was a good idea immediately and got straight in touch with the course organiser and sent off her application form.

Pompey are playing Arsenal this evening. Pompey have lost their unbeaten record and now have to scrap a bit to recover their way. For what it is worth, 'Arry, here is my suggestion. At home keep the defence as it is but hope that Pamarot comes back as Hreidarrson isn't the same quality. at left back. In midfield keep the same players with Sean Davis protecting the defence (substitute with Hughes if and when needed), play Diop and Muntari as midfield enforcers but give former a kick up the arse, bring in Taylor as wide left midfield and find someone to replace Utaka as wide right midfielder (I don't know that we have anyone other than Mvuemba), play Nugent up front as lone striker (Benjani needs a rest when we are at home particularly) with Kranjcar as playmaking midfield in the hole behind him. This formation leaves Mendes as a substitute for role Kranjcar is playing. It also leaves Kanu and Utaka as tactical substitutes in attack. The suggestion is we are going to approach Arsenal for their younger players as loan signings. I have no objection to this plan and believe a lot of good could come out of it. However, I still believe we need a right winger and a proven goal scorer. Spiderman Guiterrez with Utaka in the middle would replicate a formation used elsewhere with reasonable success. Spiderman and a big forward might work. Johnson with a more traditional full back behind him might make something of that right midfield berth. We still need that big striker though! It would be a worthwhile investment.

To hear 'Arry complain about the African Cup is a bit rich as he signed these players but doesn't seem to have had a back up plan in mind. I thought our squad was supposed to be stronger in depth than in previous years. It should be able to cope with absentees as it would have to do in a European campaign. If it isn't strong enough then the Chairman is going to have to dip into his pocket again. The possible rewards are such that it would be a shame to spoil the ship for a pennyworth of tar.

Play up, Pompey!