Mutterings for the Minority

This was the only Swans home game over this year’s festive period and it was disappointingly ruined after only 17 minutes by referee Anthony Taylor.

Taylor took it upon himself to controversially send off  the Swan’s Albert Serran for an “alleged elbow” – which later TV footage showed clearly wasn’t the case.  This decision was just one amongst a raft of other bizarre and often dubious ones made throughout the game.

Consequently, the largest home gate of the season (to date) endured a frustrating afternoon at the official’s hands and spent most of the time jeering him as opposed to cheering the Jacks!

Full credit to the Swans though as they battled hard and earned a useful point considering all that had happened.  Dorus DeVries in particular made some great saves in the 2nd half and fully deserved his man of the match award.

I also hope that Tommy Butler either finds a new club or stops being so bloody lazy!  I thought wingers were meant to try and beat the man on the outside? As well as giving the full back the option of a pass when counter attacking?  Must you really cut back inside EVERY time Thomas? Rant over.

Whilst watching proceedings I also came to several other conclusions – based on ALL of the various home and away games I’ve witnessed this year and not just this game…

• Home crowds generally don’t appear to make much noise, unless (a) you’re playing local rivals and/or (b) there is a large away following present;
• MOST away fans make some noise for the majority of the game (likewise for the Swans away games I’ve attended);
• The standard of refereeing is definitely getting worse and there is NO consistency whatsoever from one week to the next, regardless of the standard being played;

Anyway, I think I’ll sign off by saying that the loudest chant of the afternoon pretty much summed up the game as a whole – “Your not fit,  Your not fit, Your not fit to referee”.

…well just about anyway!  Today marks 5 years exactly since I did my first EVER blog post (using Blogger) and I must confess I never ever thought that I’d still be at it – albeit not as frequently.

A heck of a lot has happened during the time – both good and bad – but at least I feel that it’s all been a worthwhile, especially as it only really started out as a means for letting people know what I was up too (as I was crap at keeping in touch – and still am!).

Personally I see a blog as creating a little piece of history about yourself online and is a source of great inspiration and motivation when looking back at what you’ve done with your life – be it now or in years to come.

I’d also like to think that in some way shape or form I’ve helped others along the way, whether it was giving them motivation to improve fitness (lose weight?) or merely to change a Vauxhall Meriva pollen filter!

So here’s to another 5 years of blogging

Today was the day that DDWT Junior tried a make a little bit of history for himself by taking part in the BBC’s Breathing Places Tree O’Clock event.

As part of National Tree Week, Breathing Places and its partners were encouraging people to plant trees in the Tree O’Clock hour – between 11am and 12 noon on Saturday 5 December 2009 – in an attempt to to create a Guinness World Record!

And here’s the evidence of him taking part…. before….

and after….

A big thank you must go to Mr. Scannel from Focus DIY in Swansea whom kindly supplied 60 trees to the school to enable the children to take part in the record breaking attempt.

So here’s hoping that enough trees have been planted to set a new Guinness World Record

But no matter if there aren’t, the long lasting benefits to nature and the environment will be enough of an achievement.