If you've had a good 2006, here's hoping you have an even better 2007.

If you've had a bad 2006, here's hoping you have all the good in 2007 to even out for two years.

Thanks to everyone who's read and commented these past 365 days, and to all the people who's blog posts I enjoyed reading so much, on and off my friends list.

...as I wait for my own commentator to dial in for this arvo's match.

1. Well, it's Liverpool two, Ipswich nil, and if the score stays this way, I've got to fancy Liverpool for the win.

2. He had an eternity to play that ball, but took too long.

3. And so they have not been able to improve on their 100% record.

4. With the last kick of the game, he scored with a header.

5. Well, it's a fabulous kaleidoscope of colour: almost all the Brazilians are wearing yellow shirts.

6. If that had gone in, it would definitely have been a goal.

7. Their manager, Howard Wilkinson, isn't here today, which strongly suggests that he may be elsewhere.

8. I am a firm believer that if one team scores a goal, the other need to score two to win.

9. If a team scores early on, it often takes an early lead.

10. You cannot possibly have counted the number of passes made, but there were eight.

...that may be relevant to many.

This is all thanks to a toon posted by the gorgeous Subs of Subville.

I'd seen the toon and thought of this song so decided now to share, aren't I lovely like that!?

PS, yes any of you out there who noticed, this was also a running theme song during an episode of one of my favourite shows, Scrubs.

Law of Cat Inertia - A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse.

Law of Cat Motion - A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction.

Law of Cat Magnetism - All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric.

Law of Cat Thermodynamics - Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat.

Law of Cat Stretching - A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken.

Law of Cat Sleeping - All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved, and as comfortable as possible for the cat.

Law of Refrigerator Observation - If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat.

Law of Electric Blanket Attraction - Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light.

Law of Random Comfort Seeking - A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room.

Law of Bag/Box Occupancy - All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond.

Law of Cat Embarrassment - A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter.

Law of Cat Disinterest - A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him.

Law of Pill Rejection - Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape velocity.

Law of Cat Composition - A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn't Matter.

Law of Cat Elongation - A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it.

Law of Cat Obstruction - A cat must lay on the floor in such a position to obstruct the maximum amount of human foot traffic.

Law of Cat Acceleration - A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop.

Law of Dinner Table Attendance - Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served.

Law of Rug Configuration - No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long.

Law of Obedience Resistance - A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to do something.

First Law of Energy Conservation - Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible.

Second Law of Energy Conservation - Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.

Law of Milk Consumption - A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can.

Law of Furniture Replacement - A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture.

Law of Cat Landing - A cat will always land in the softest place possible; often the mid-section of an unsuspecting, reclining human.

Law of Fluid Displacement - A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed.

...because this is, I must admit, seemingly a female orientated problem.

I was sitting in the waiting room at the train station and a girl of late teens to early twenties vintage sat opposite and took her shoes off, I was only alerted to this fact (being deep in my DS at this point playing Sims2) when she dropped them on the floor making a small bang.

I looked up, looked down and looked up again at the aforementioned shoes.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am by no means a foot fetishist and, despite being fairly pretty red with fancy trimmings slipper things (I;m a bloke, that's the best description you get) it was less than erotic thoughts the footwear was creating for me.

Thanks in part to my lack of love for feet, but largely because of the blood.

Lots of blood.

The cream interior of said footwear was soaked in red, this wasn't a dash of blood, a spot of blood, even a patch of blood.

These were shoes for a Quentin Tarantino movie.

There was so much blood had she left them in the station for somebody to find they'd be calling 999 fully expecting a telly slot on Crimewatch about the grisly murder of an unknown lady "they only ever found her blood soaked shoes..."

My gaze was then drawn to the owner of the shoes, and to my shock this was obviously not an uncommon occurence, with one hand she peeled the plasters from her feet, steeped in her own life-carrying fluid, with the other she extricated a Foreign Legion Regiment sized box of new plasters from her bag.

She then proceded to plaster up her feet, not one, not two, not even three but FOUR thick plasters were used to cover the wounds between the back of her heel and the sole.

This wasn't rubbing, this was downright torture, unless she enjoyed it (and trust me, we're talking studded underpants inside out kind of S&M here...) it must have been hellish!!!

Her feet were mere shadows of their former selves and you have to bet it will take months to heal, even if she does the intelligent thing and stop wearing the shoes!!!!!!

But no, copious plasters later... and the shoes were back on.

So ladies, my question... comfort? or appearance? Cause I'd choose the first any day.

I imagine a few people might say it's all down to us blokes, we force women to dress up etc.

But let's be honest here, a woman can look gorgeous if she's just sitting dishevilled in a thick dressing gown and a pair of jeans, I can't be the only bloke to think it... And all the male chauvenist pigs out there are happy with nothing...

So why? Is it the fashion mags, the old media thing of this is how you have to look/what you must wear?

Or is it just a few ladies who choose brand-names over not being branded.

They're back properly, The Bloscars so go and take a look, they are for EVERYONE... well, except Pads who's organising them and feeling public spiritied so dropped himself from the running (personally I'm barely reaching a gentle jog, let alone running, must spend more time on that exercise bike...)

And SO... everyone who's asked me for a bloscar plea banner, I'll be populating all the code today/tonight for your individual ones and some generics.

If you havent asked me for one yet... now is the time to do so, I'll see what I can make up!

Woke up a couple times in the night and have THOSE symptoms...

The slight blocked feeling at the back of the nose.
The grainy sensation in my throat when I swallow and the almost there tickle when I don't.

They're shouting at me now "This doesn't feel too bad... but wait till the rest of the viral boys get here..."

I hate colds...

BUT, every cold you have is one more bug you're immune to, so let's clutch that silver lining!

That was the holiday then...

...about my NFL fantasy league that's got random mentions over the last 16 weeks

Right, lets see...

A - Always Amazed that people read me.
J - Jokes - normally not my own...
N - Never any sport... the incongruity of my blog.
S - Substantially impressed with my lil glowing heart still.
P - PS2, gonna play my new Liberty City Stories.
E - English... but not the Daily Wail kind.
N - Narked at a few things in life.
C - Cynical, I've been told... I say you can't be cynical enough!
E - Eternally around... (how long since I missed a blogging day?!)
R - Reached the end!

"This week a top general at the Pentagon said the War on Terror could take a 100 years to fight. President Bush was furious about the 100-year prediction and said, 'Stop setting a fixed timetable'" --Conan O'Brien

"Here's an interesting lawsuit. A judge has ruled that because all paper money feels the same, the government discriminates against the blind. I think that's unfair. The government doesn't discriminate against the blind. Hey, isn't that who led us into Iraq?" --Jay Leno

"They had the Iraqi Commission report and President Bush says he will not make a decision about getting us out of Iraq until 2007. He says he wants to give it some careful thought ... unlike getting us into Iraq." --David Letterman

"President Bush today completed what he called 'a listening tour.' He met and pretended to be listening to various people from the State Department and the Pentagon -- all the people he should have met with before the war" --Jimmy Kimmel

"This is kind of scary. The new head of the House intelligence committee, Congressman Silvestre Reyes, failed a quiz on terrorist organizations. He didn't know the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite, didn't seem to know what Hezbollah was. So apparently, the term 'intelligence committee' is just a suggestion." --Jay Leno

...hope you all had a great day!

Comments roasting on an open post
Juzzzy nipping to the bar
Youtube carols being posted by most
And folks dressed up like avatars

Everybody knows some jpegs and some mp3s
Help to make the season bright
Mini-mothers with their big lit up trees (hi Subz)
Will still be posting through the night

They know that Santa's on his way
Thanks to the tracking
from Brown Eyed Girl
And every mother's child is gonna sigh
To see that festive blogging time go by

And so, I'm offering this simple phrase
To bloggers from Sminch to CJ592
Although its been typed
Many times, many ways
Mry xmas! mry xmas! mry xmas... 2... u!

XXX

That cop is psychic...

Be careful with that tow rope...

Click to enlarge...

A good friend sent me this, we'd said no pressies but she spotted it and liked it so I got it as an extra to my Xmas card.

Wasn't quite sure at her assertation she wasn't sure I'd like it what with my bitter, twisted and cynical self...

Despite those psychological disadvantages I do actually love it! It's not actually lit up, that's just the amazing effect it has with my halogen spots.

What To Say About A Christmas Gift You Don't Like

10. Hey! There's a gift!

9. Well, well, well ...

8. Boy, if I had not recently shot up 4 sizes that would've fit.

7. This is perfect for wearing around the basement.

6. Gosh. I hope this never catches fire! It is fire season though. There are lots of unexplained fires.

5. If the dog buries it, I'll be furious!

4. I love it -- but I fear the jealousy it will inspire.

3. Sadly, tomorrow I enter the Federal Witness Protection Program.

2. To think -- I got this the year I vowed to give all my gifts to charity.

And the Number One Thing to say about a Christmas gift you don't like:

1. "I really don't deserve this."

Dec 25
My dearest darling Edward,
What a wonderful surprise has just greeted me! That sweet partridge, in that lovely little pear-tree; what an enchanting, romantic, poetic present! Bless you, and thank you.
Your deeply loving,
Emily

Dec. 26
Beloved Edward,
The two turtle-doves arrived this morning, and are cooing away in the pear-tree as I write. I'm so touched and grateful! With undying love, as always,
Emily

Dec. 27
My darling Edward,
You do think of the most original presents! Who ever thought of sending anybody three French hens? Do they really come all the way from France? It's a pity we have no chicken coops, but I expect we'll find some. Anyway, thank-you so much; they're lovely.
Your devoted,
Emily

Dec. 28
Dearest Edward,
What a surprise! Four calling birds arrived this morning. They are very sweet, even if they do call rather loudly - they make telephoning almost impossible - but I expect they'll calm down when they get used to their new home. Anyway, I'm very grateful, of course I am.
Love from Emily

Dec. 29
Dearest Edward,
The mailman has just delivered five most beautiful gold rings, one for each finger, and all fitting perfectly! A really lovely present! Lovelier, in a way, than birds, which do take rather a lot of looking after. The four that arrived yesterday are still making a terrible row, and I'm afraid none of us got much sleep last night. Mother says she wants to use the rings to "wring" their necks. Mother has such a sense of humour. This time she's only joking, I think, but I do know what she means. Still, I love the rings.
Bless you,
Emily

Dec. 30
Dear Edward,
Whatever I expected to find when I opened the front door this morning, it certainly wasn't six socking great geese laying eggs all over the porch. Frankly, I rather hoped that you had stopped sending me birds. We have no room for them, and they've already ruined the croquet lawn. I know you meant well, but let's call a halt, shall we?
Love,
Emily

Dec. 31
Edward,
I thought I said NO MORE BIRDS. This morning I woke up to find no more than seven swans, all trying to get into our tiny goldfish pond. I'd rather not think what's happened to the goldfish. The whole house seems to be full of birds, to say nothing of what they leave behind them, so please, please, stop!
Your Emily

Jan 1
Frankly, I prefer the birds. What am I to do with eight milkmaids? And their cows! Is this some kind of a joke? If so, I'm afraid I don't find it very amusing.
Emily

Jan. 2
Look here, Edward,
This has gone far enough. You say you're sending me nine ladies dancing. All I can say is, judging from the way they dance, they're certainly not ladies. The village just isn't accustomed to seeing a regiment of shameless viragos, with nothing on but their lipstick, cavorting round the green, and it's mother and I who get the blame. If you value our friendship, which I do (less and less), kindly stop this ridiculous behaviour at once!
Emily

Jan 3
As I write this letter, 10 disgusting old men are prancing up and down all over what used to be the garden, before the geese and the swans and the cows got at it. And several of them, I have just noticed, are being a nuisance with the milkmaids. Meanwhile the neighbours are trying to have us evicted. I shall never speak to you again.
Emily

Jan 4
This is the last straw! You know I detest bagpipes! The place has now become something between a menagerie and a madhouse, and a man from the council has just declared it unfit for habitation. At least Mother has been spared this last outrage; they took her away yesterday afternoon in an ambulance to a home for the bewildered. I hope you're satisfied.

Jan 5
Sir,
Our client, Miss Emily Wilbraham, instructs me to inform you that with the arrival on her premises at 7:30 this morning of the entire percussion section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and several of their friends, she has no course left open to her but to seek an injunction to prevent you importuning her further. I am making arrangements for the return of much assorted livestock.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
G. Creep
Attorney at law

My GOD it's cold out there!

It's so cold the pavements of the concrete carbunkle were frozen at just after 7!

One more day... One more day...

Then, thanks to circumstances working for me it's an amazing four days off in a row! Can't remember the last time I had that.

Course, there's a good chance I'll be working at home... but it's a start!

It was quite funny seing THIS, a school round my way has had to apologise after kids were given a worksheet on how Royal Mail were so busy at Christmas sorting all the letters addressed to Santa

And finally... the name is released for the last Harry Potter Book... Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...

I was banking on "Harry Potter and the Last Moneyspinner"...

This is just...

Oops! I thought you had the baby honey (AP)

Tue Dec 19, 9:41 PM ET

MIDLAND, Texas - A 3-month-old baby was left unattended in a shopping cart for about an hour Sunday when her parents accidentally left her behind, police said. Shoppers noticed the abandoned baby at a Toys "R" Us store, Midland police Sgt. Alfredo Grimaldo said.

"It was a misunderstanding among family members," Grimaldo said in Monday editions of the Midland Reporter-Telegram. "One man took the kids home and left the ladies to shop. But when he took the kids, he didn't take the baby from the cart."

The family members, who were traveling in different cars, didn't realize what happened until they all got home and nobody had the baby, he said.

"We don't think it was really a child abandonment issue. It was just a misunderstanding," Grimaldo said.

Police spokeswoman Tina Jauz said Child Protective Services is looking into the case.

I'm in a state of extreme flux.

Yes, yes, another whiney bastard email, if anyone doesn;t feel like it skip down a post or two and flick through the lovely Miss Nixie's secret santa.

Thanks to one aspect of my life the rest is doolally, I'm certainly not feeling festive right now.

As far as I'm concerned right now is no different than any other month, could be December, March or August for all I really register.

I wish I COULD feel festive... I had a quick look at last year's blog and on Boxing Day found:

Wasn't exactly what I'd call a festive season this year so it feels even wierder than usual today, in a way I half want the stuff to get over with and the drudgery of work to return, wierd I know...

Great, so this year is worse, I DO want it all to be over (no half measures) and don't want work to return.

Don;t worry, I'm not depressed or anything like that, just a lil all over the place in the head department.

Could do with a few things fixed.

Including the raging fecking heartburn I have right now!

Hope you dont mind me borrowing the pics hon, I checked they were all public!

PS, this is originally an idea from LJ...

...and stressed.

That's all really.

So here, have some funny things from the United States.

Recent Quips From Late Night

The long anticipated Iraq Study Group report was delivered to President Bush this week. He promised to take it just as seriously as all the other Iraq reports stuffed down between his desk and the wall." --Amy Poehler

"You know the part of the Iraqi report that concerns President Bush the most? Having to read it." --Jay Leno

"Earlier today, the Christmas tree in front of the White House fell over. ... Even after the tree collapsed, President Bush insisted that the tree was doing a heckuva job." --Conan O'Brien

"Exciting news from the White House. Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter, Mary, who is a lesbian, is pregnant. I think President Bush is a little confused about the big news. He immediately called the Lebanese Ambassador to pass on his congratulations." --Jay Leno

"Today the House Ethics Committee ... released its report on Mark Foley. ... Well, they found willful ignorance, but no rules were broken. They said the whole thing was proper according to the law. Okay, Cardinal Bernard law. .. Hitting on kids is not a crime? Who was chairing this commission, Michael Jackson." --Jay Leno

"In an interview on the 'Today Show' Wednesday, Al Gore said the war in Iraq is the worst strategic mistake in the entire history of the United States. Disagreeing with that statement? Slaves." --Amy Poehler

"A new study has found that one in seven Mexican workers are employed in the United States. Apparently the other six just live here." --Conan O'Brien

See more HERE and HERE

How great are THESE...

I think Jack Nicholson and Jack Black vie for my top spot...

As everyone is doing them.

1) I'm allergic to chlorine.

2) I should have been called Charles but my sisters (God love em) intervened.

3) I have every single version of Mario Kart ever made. Scarily I have the hardware to play them on too... (Well, until the Wii version comes out)

4) I used to read news for 10 different radio stations at the same time.

5) I've only ever had one full time job.

Do not, I repeat DO NOT read THIS if you're eating or about to have salad.

You'll all be delighted to hear that you won't be having to listen to me bitch so much tonight, as the week slowly grinds to a close it wasn't too bad a day.

Still niggling over the problems of yesterday, well, one of them anyway, but that's just gonna have to sit back.

Did have a moment of wonder on the train down, largely at the lack of anyone to take blame for themselves. The girl sat in the seat in front of me was having a bit of a barney with the conductor lady, loud enough for the carriage to hear.

She'd ordered tickets online, then gone straight to the station... now, any sane person would ask why she didn't buy from the station itself as she was going... it's the railway, not a rock concert, the tickets don't sell out! But hey, I divulge from my main point.

As the net states when ordering it takes 2-4 hours for the thing to clear payment etc and get the ticket info into whichever machine she decided to pick it up from. This of course hadnt passed in the time it took her to get there from home.

So she just decided, after being told by the ticket staff she'd have to wait, to board the train and travel anyway...

This, as can be understood caused a little consternation to the conductor who told her in no uncertain terms, get a ticket at the next station and don't try going on because she'd be on the lookout.

So, conductor moves on, girl is instantly on her mobile phone to Daddy ex