Strike. More like a Spare.

When Britain's news sources focuses on hoards of people with placards and a variety of not-so-witty chants, it's time to whip out the footage of hooded men kicking in banks and shop windows. 


30th November saw the Public Sector Protests against proposed cuts to their pension plans. Unions oppose plans to make members pay more and work longer to earn pensions. 

The TUC called it "the biggest strike in a generation" whereas the Prime Minister David Cameron described it as "a damp squib".

About two-thirds of state schools shut, and thousands of hospital operations were postponed, as unions estimated up to two million people went on strike. 

These are the facts about the day but WHY ? Strike during the Summer holidays ? If you want to go and strike, go and strike on a day when you don't have to provide your service to the public. I'll be honest and say I have been earning a regular wage for 18 months now so cannot empathise with workers entirely. But it seems ridiculous to put most of the country at a disadvantage by taking a day off on the jolly. 

From evidence today walking around Cheltenham, it just seemed everyone took the day off. When Ambulance staff are having to call on the Police force to help deal with 999 Emergency calls, then my sympathy for those striking diminishes. By putting lives at risk by marching through London holding hands complaining about working an extra year of your life seems pretty daft. 

Schools closing for the day, children not in school and parents having to source childcare or alternatively take a day off themselves. With the economy at it is and people worrying about employment, if Unions insist on mass protests, it doesn't seem right that throwing toys out the pram will work. 

Society seems to be going mad

Tom

Youtube provides some serious procrastination

Sometimes I flick onto Youtube to listen to some new music or watch football highlights with Turkish commentary but in the last week or so the site has provided some gems and hard-hitting videos that you need to watch to know what people are talking about.

People who know me will know I'm a strong advocate of Twitter and the top trending topic this week has been #MyTramExperience and the 'lady' (in the physical sense) in focus is Emma Watson from Croydon. I will let you watch and make your own opinion on this

Really is disgusting that this is a member of the society I share, I hope she issues a public apology once she has been dealt with by the authorities or she and her son (who looked completely innocent to the vitriol her Mother was spouting) will be in for an uncomfortable reception from society, especially if she lives in multi-cultural Croydon. 

A second video is one that has had me in stitches is one involving a deer-herding labrador. Now, the jury is out on the true name of the dog. Is it Benton/Fenton but either way this video is a great bit of opportunist videoing. 

Bit of a feel good video next from America. Think the news report pretty much sums this up perfectly. Just puts a smile on your face and after Racist Tram Lady above and perhaps restores your faith in humanity.

Finally, one that really touched me and brought a tear to my eye. As a journalist, I have to respect the quality of reporting displayed here and the dignity and respect between the characters involved.
This is from Sky Sports News on Monday evening. Bryn Law, an experienced reporter for Sky is also a close friend of Gary Speed who was found to have taken his own life on Sunday morning. This was a huge shock and a news that really saddened me and thrust the topic of sports psychology and de-humanising sportspeople back in the media spotlight. 

Law, was sharing with the world his last memories of Gary Speed on a live broadcast from Leeds' Elland Road stadium. 

Here is what happened. 

Even still watching that final video - it puts a lump in the back of my throat. I was lost for words. 

Tom

I've started playing football again

When I talk about football with my peers I always find it hard to make them believe that I used to be pretty handy on a football pitch. Before I got fat and too tall to control my lanky limbs I was what Football Manager would call a 'Hot Prospect'. Aston Villa, Coventry, Swindon and Cheltenham Town all had me on trial then I packed it in in favour of whites and spikes on a cricket field.

Recent kickarounds on muddy Cheltenham parks have shown me up to a good shout for Sunday League average. But at least my passion and competitive edge is still there.

With my cupboards now stocked full of fresh (ish) fruit and granola bars substituting Mars bars, I decided to start playing seriously again. Just for the fitness and fun for now but after 3 sessions on the astro-turf I am beginning to itch to start playing 11-a-side again. When asked what position I fancy, it's always 'Wherever mate, I'll float'. But I seem to settle now just behind the attacker as if I commit to be always up top, I'll get bored and want to get stuck in and play.

One problem I have found with football, which is one of the exact reasons I packed it in in the first place is MOANERS. Even from Under 15 football, I hated MOANERS. What is the purpose of playing if someone is just going to moan they haven't got the ball, you give it to them to appease their whines and then they do something stupid and the ball is lost. I'd say that the training I'm partaking in at the moment is very competitive and contains some very handy players often on the opposing team to  mine. I like to think I thrive when I have players around me that are on my wavelength and read my game.

Even after a few sessions I can feel the touch and vision coming back and the fitness is slowly returning meaning I am blowing out of my behind 10 minutes later each week.

I have never been that good in the air, but being 6ft2 the request to mark the huge central defender who is about to no-doubt demolish everything in his path to get his swede on the ball - is often a request that is met reluctantly. I'll much rather go back to U12s and run rings round teams like Cashes Green and Churchdown Panthers.

All this fitness lark is so I can consistently bowl 12 over spells next cricket season but my appearance in the colours of Westbury Football Club may precede that of the Cricket Club.

Tom