Hi Guys' - hope everyone is well.

I hadn't realised that I haven't been on the Internet for over 3 days, and I haven't placed a posting since Sunday - this week has just flown by.



--------------------------------------------------

Into the 2nd week of the War, and it would appear, to me at least, that the Iraqi's were very badly under-estimated. Although some of the things that they have supposedly done to keep their populations in place in Basra and the like are pretty unacceptable, I am not really surprised that the resistance is there. If someone was invading your homeland, irrespective of who was in charge, wouldn't you fight them - I know I would. I know the Allies see it as a war of Liberation, but, which ever way you look at it, an invasion is an invasion.

The losses on the Coalition side are still more Soldiers and Airmen killed by their own side than by the enemy - what is going on here?. I suppose that one death is one death to many, but,thankfully, the causalities so far have been light. Lets hope it stays that way. I cannot help wondering how many Iraqi innocents have been killed or injured?.

As one of the comments on my last Xanga posting says " the price of freedom is often high", or words to that effect. But what price is too high?

-------------------------------------------------------

Life at home, and work , have been pretty normal for us. Hassle at work and parents taxi whilst at home - .

Cathy has been off on leave this week, and , as far as I know, work has left her alone to have her holiday in peace. The result of the strike ballot I have talked about before has come through. Of the 15000 Engineers working within BT Retail at this point in time, 5500(approx) voted in favour of a ballot, whilst 3400 (approx) voted against. Now the Union has a mandate for strike action. This, to me, is not good news. Although we have enough money to pay the monthly bills, and have a reasonable standard of living, it will not take much for this happy state of being to be pushed over the edge. Now, we have to hope, that both sides (and I blame them both for causing this situation) get talking again and sort this out once and for all.

-----------------------------------------

When I went to pick up Liam for Football training on Wednesday, the usual last minute noise of screaming lads, and bouncing footballs where missing, something was amiss. There was but a single voice, and it wasn't very happy. The story, as it turned out was this. Training started in it's usual fashion. Warm up, instruction and then small 5-a-side games. This, according to Liam, is where it fell down. Some of the lads (and Liam insists he wasn't involved - and if I find out any different someone is in serious trouble) started to get very silly. Sadly for them, Chris who is normally the main man in charge was away for the evening, but Russ wasn't - and Russ doesn't like people messing about when there's not reason. You have to bare in mind that they were in-doors, on an indoor 5-a-side pitch - no room for messing about.

Lecture time. And Russ tells things as he sees them - straight from the hip, and it wasn't what some of the lads really wanted to hear. Mind you,I think something like this should have been said a while ago.

---------------------------------------------------------

As I sit here, I am unable to turn my head very far. I have had "a runny nose" for most of the week. However, yesterday, it became more and more difficult to turn my head. My neck is very painful and stiff. I shall have to get Cathy to have a look and see whether it is my glands that have got infected, or whether I have twisted my head to fast and pulled a muscle. It doesn't feel like the muscle option, most of us, at one time or another, have turned our heads to look at something to fast, and suffered that stabbing pain you get for your trouble.

Well just waiting for everyone else to wake up (that is Cathy and Liam - Laura's sleeping out at her friends) - then it's back to the decorating. The new wardrobes have been in for nearly two weeks, but having had to work last Saturday, and coming home late twice have having to be taxi's the other few nights, there is still another gloss coat to go on the paint work, and the paper to put on. But hopefully I should be able to finish this off this weekend.(and the its onto Laura and Liam's bedrooms - )

God Bless - and talk to you soon