Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 - 21:18

I didn't leave the house today. It was fucking cold, and going out into the scary cold outside didn't appeal. Actually that makes it sound more agoraphobic and mental than it actually was. I didn't go out because I didn't need or want to, and the fact it was cold didn't really affect this choice.

Bit of a pasting in the ACN this evening, Botswana losing 6-1 to Guinea. Yes, The Zebras were ranked below Syli national, but not all that far below them. Capitulation at the back, whatsay? In the other Group D match it finished Ghana 2-0 Mali. The second goal (scored by Andre Ayew) may prove to be important, if we are to have a three-way tie between Ghana, Mali and Guinea.

Recent referrals to this site have included 'ankle restructure' and 'at night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet'. I wonder whether I am going to be involved in some kind of Stephen King's 'Misery' scenario? I hope I don't end up tied to my bed by an obsessed fan, ankles smashed, festering in my own urine.

Partly out of curiosity, and partly out of a potential desire to anticipate the tools that might be used in the interview process I may go through in a week or few, I did a couple of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator tests today, and came out as INTP. Admittedly, there is an extent to which because I maybe should seek to show the qualities that characterise this type of person, and I amk naturally a little cycnical about tests measured like that (requiring honesty and input from a person, maybe it says more about how someone percieves themself than it does about the person), I suppose I agree with much that's said about this personality type.

England bowled well this morning in the cricket (esp. Panesar) to restrict Pakistan to a modest second-innings total of 214, meaning the English faced a target of 145 to win. Rather pathetically, they lost wickets at regualr intervals, had no plan, played negatively and poorly, and were all out for a dismal 72. Pafuckingthetic.

I've actually booked to go speed dating in a couple of weeks. There was a bit of a screwup in that because I left it two or three days between my mate saying he'd take me up on my offer to come with me, there was only one 'male' place left. Additionally, I'm supposed to be at a meeting that day, and am worried about not getting out of it soon enough. It would have been nice to have a mate along with me to talk to during the breaks and before/after, but I suppose I've been to events on my own before and have coped. Perhaps it would force me to be more gregarious, get past the shyness etc.

I have joined the associated online dating site too, so I might get some lunatics contacting me from that too (once my profile is approved and online). I'll have a proper look online tomorrow, fire off some flirty messages if I find anyone I fancy talking to further.

Footballer in 1994 who I most resembled - Hairy Darren Peacock.
Footballer in 2012 who I most resemble - Fat Grant Holt.

Women will always have shaved legs and armpits, even in caveman movies.

FA CUP FOURTH ROUND:-

QPR 0-1 Chelsea. A heavy police presence following death threats on Anton Ferdinand. No handshakes at the start. Juan Mata slotted in a second-half penalty after a debatable call from the ref.

Liverpool 2-1 Man United. An early Agger header put 'pool ahead, Park equalised from a Raphael pull-back before half-time, and De Gea was looking somewhat uncertain from crosses. The game was a bit tense/scrappy but quite entertaining really - second half held but one goal, and that proved to be the winner from Kuyt after a 'route-one' attack, the Dutchman scoring at the near post after Carroll's flick on.

Blackpool 1-1 Sheffield Wed. It looked for a while like the League One team might upset the odds, but a late late equaliser by the old old Kevin Phillips (from the penalty spot, in stoppage time) cancelled out Clinton Morrisson's earlier goal for the Yorkshire side. They'll need a replay.

Bolton Wds 2-1 Swansea City. Some nice football on display at The Reebok Stadium, but it was won after Chris Eagles capitalised on an ugly bit of goalkeeping by second-choice stopper Gerhard Tremmel. This completed Bolton's fighback from behind, having been behind after Luke Moore's opener. Former Swansea player Darren Pratley got The Trotters first goal.

Derby County 0-2 Stoke City. Professional stuff from The Potters, taking the lead after just five minutes through Cameron Jerome, and putting gloss on it with ten minutes remaining, after Huth bundled in following a cross.

Hull City 0-1 Crawley Town. The biggest shock of the day, perchance, considering the two divisions between the sides, and the fact Crawley killed the giants away from home. Plenty of arguments on the sidelines, but only one winner on the pitch.

Leicester City 2-0 Swindon. Jermaine Beckford again proved that against opposition that isn't top drawer, he is a proper threat - a brace for the ex-Leeds and ex-Everton player deciding the match. Swindon's passionate manager will have to find something else to rant about, now they're out of the cup.

Millwall 1-1 Southampton. Though the away side went into the lead after half an hour through scoring machine Ricky Lambert, they were unable to hold on to the win, as an 86th minute equaliser through Darius Henderson earned a replay for the London side.

Sheff United 0-4 Birmingham. Four goals at nicely evenly spaced intervals (young Nathan Redmond after 18, Adam Rooney on 38, Wade Elliott in the 58th, and Adam Rooney again after 78 minutes) and a comfortable progression for the team from the Second City.

Stevenage 1-0 Notts County. In an 'all league One' tie, it was the home side who had enough to progress. County's Damion Stewart will be upset with the result, 'cause it was his own goal that settled the tie.

West Brom 1-2 Norwich City. The Canaries repeated their win in the league, and progressed to the fifth round of the cup this afternoon. The Baggies had started well but went behind through Grant Holt just before the break. I was going to comment that West Brom will be glad that Marc-Antoine Fortuné's national side didn't make it to the African Cup of Nations, but all that shows is my ignorance and incorrect assumption - he was born in French Guiana (as an overseas department of the French Republic, this territory is not a member of FIFA - so Guianese being French citizens are eligible to play for the French national football team). I digress - MAF equalised for WBA and Simeon Jackson won it for Norwich.

Brighton 1-0 Newcastle Utd. The evening game produced a surprise, Brighton being every bit Newcastle's equal, and winning from a deflected shot that's gone down in the book as a Williamson o.g. The Geordie fans will have a long and unhappy journey home from the south coast.