I have discovered Ebay......

Tuesday 10th Apr 2006

Currently listening to: The Best Album in the world ... Ever! - Vol 4

Oh dear.

I've signed up to eBay.

This could be a very bad thing.

Within a week of siging up I've already purchased 6 CD's in 5 days. [Gulp]. I could be hooked.

I've been looking for those "Best Of" compilations that were released in the mid '90s as they were a great collection of what I liked at the time. The first one has some absolute classics on it for me. Of course, you look at them at think that they are expensive at the time and that you have a lot of the tracks elsewhere. But hey - on eBay they are only £2.50 or so - Ace!

As you can see, they have started to arrive in the post and I'm listening through them before I leave any feedback on them. Two have arrived in 3/4 days but I'm still waiting on my first one from 5 days ago. I quite like the feedback aspect of eBay. I guess it's a great way of rating something that could easily be a rip-off. It has obviously gone through a lot of development, with the ability to mutually withdraw feedback etc, but it is a self regulating marketplace and is interesting from that point of view.

But the thing I like most is that there's always that element of uncertainty that you may not, in the end, get the goods you have bid for. It does make shopping a lot more interesting than just paying at a counter for it, although, at least in that scenario you can see the good's before it arrives. I quite like the items with an actual photo as they definitely give you more confidence about buying it.

Hmmm, what else has happened this week?.. PFCFC won again on Saturday. We were 1-0 down at half time, but some tough managerial decisions helped to send the team out to win the second half 2-0. Cup final in 4 weeks! Blimey - still excited about it. Had a great lunch at Mum and Dad's on Sunday with Alan and Bev, Emily and little Jonathon, then headed over to Jack's to watch the Arsenal vs Man Utd match which was well worth a look.

Went to the flicks to see Ice Age 2 on Saturday. Enjoyed it and it had me laughing out loud at points. Not the greatest film ever and not as good as no 1, but I didn't regret giving up 2 hours watching it.

We had 30 people at training on Monday. That's the most we've ever had. Mainly becuase we had the astro for 2 hours and people were looking to play in the friendly next saturday and people were back from university. Thought we coped quite well overall, but phew!

Only a 4 day week this week, so I guess I'm halfway through it already! Yea!

Recovery - Week 8

Tuesday 11th Apr 2006

Currently listening to: The best Album in the world ... Ever! - Volume 4

I've managed to make it to the gym 3 times since my last physio appointment. Which, for me, is pretty good. I've been pushing it on the bike and I have been feeling the familiar feeling of aching thighs again. It's also got me working cardiovascularly as well, which is really useful as it's been about 5 months (!!!!!!!) since I had done enough exercise to make me sweat.

I went to physio again tonight. The flexibility in the knee has got better; it's almost at full flexion but not quite. There is still scar tissue around the wound which will get worked out the more it is moved. So I got another session of having my ankle pushed up to my butt (owww that hurt - but not as much as last week), and also having the patella massged. It's still numb in that area, but it isn't as swollen.

The question is what to do next week as the physio gym is shut over Easter. I guess I'll have to do all the stretches etc at home and try to concentrate and not get distracted!

Steak Cheese Melt

Saturday 1st Apr 2006

Currently listening to: Parachutes by Coldplay

Had a busy day on Saturday; worship jam in the morning, and we had a pretty good stab at Deeper by Delirious? I then had a hench fry up at The Pride of Venice cafe at the top of Penge High Street, which was made better by the compnay of Aylers who has returned from uni for a few weeks. Then I pegged it over to Orpington with Adam to watch Laos play Orpington Eagles. Another good scouting opportunity and had a bit of friendly banter with their manager who is a decent guy. Mike came over in the evening having come back for the weekend from Sheffield where he's doing his master in Japanese. Had a pizza and then we journeyed to Crystal Palace to meet up with my sister Helen to celebrate the end of her NQT status. I got to share this event with Luke, Trev, Adam, Sarah, Jack, Tessa, Max, Aylers and Millhouse, someone else I haven't seen for ages. Thanks for coming and good to see you all.

Funny story to go with the pizza. I rang the pizza place, wanting a Steak Cheese Melt as advertised on their menu and that I'd seen on telly - this is the conversation:

"Good evening Sir, how can I help you?" (with an accent)

"I'd like to order a pizza for delivery"

"Can I take your phone number please"

(I confirm my number and address)

"What pizza would you like Sir"

"I'd like a large Steak Cheese Melt please"

"I'm sorry Sir a cheese feast?"

"No a Steak Cheese Melt"

"We don't do that Sir"

"Yes you do, it's on your menu, a Steak Cheese Melt"

"Maybe in the resteraunt, wait a minute please"....

(manager comes on the phone)

"Hello Sir how can I help you?" much clearer accent

"I'd like a Steak Cheese Melt please"

"I'm sorry sir we don't do a pizza by that name"

"Yes you do, it's on your menu, you are 150 the High Street, Penge?"

..... suddenly it dawned on me that there are two pizza takeaway places on Penge High Street. All I wanted was a Domino's Steak Cheese Melt pizza..... I had rung Pizza Hut.

I then hung up without really apologising properly and made some excuse about something - basically that I was a bumbling idiot!

Got the right pizza in the end, but it wasn't as nice as I thought it might be and it certainly didn't have as much steak on it as the adverts suggest. Did get a free coke and garlic bread though, so not too bad overall!

I took my Mum out for a late Mother's day lunch on Sunday to Cafe Rouge in Dulwich. We ended up sitting outside under a canopy while the rain came and went and came and went again. It felt a bit like being in the Med at times, and fortunately we didn't get wet!

Had another jam on Sunday evening with Max, Aylers and Jack. Much riffage was to be had. After which we retired to the Steele residence to battle at Simpson's Monopoly. Thanks to Laurie for an ace sarnie and well done to Ad for being the slum landlord that drove us all into the ground! Phew - busy weekend.

Recovery - Week 7

Wednesday 5th Apr 2006

Currently listening to: Parachutes by Coldplay

Had a physio appointment yesterday at 6pm. As I haven't really been keeping up with the exercises it was tough. But I've got all my exercises on one sheet now, and I was taken through a few stretches that should help. Mainly hamstring and thigh stretches as these are still tight and making the knee ache. The physio also really pushed the flexibility in the knee and this really did hurt, but it felt a lot better afterwards. This is done by putting a rolled up towel behind the knee (whilst lying on my stomach) and then pushing the ankle towards my butt. Then you are supposed to push against the physio to loosen it off after which it is moved even further downwards. My patella was massaged to try and get this looser and make movement better. There is obviously still some healing to occur here, after all they did take a third of it out!

I then did an hour in the gym and really pushed it on the bike. Probably the hardest workout I've done so far and my glut's and thighs can still feel it today. But it's good pain as you know it is making you stronger.

I need to book an appointment with the pediaterist as well, as my slightly fallen arches are causing my feet to turn in which is twisting the knee slightly and putting everything out of line! Another thing not quite working properly then!