New Year reading included autobiographies from Jimmy Anderson and Ozzy Osbourne - interesting reading for very different reading, although neither really did it for me.

I'd always thought of Jimmy as introverted, understated, even-tempered - a quiet, reluctant hero.
Turns out he could be a bit of a git; by the end of the book I felt I knew Jimmy a lot better, but didn't like him quite as much.

As for 'Last Rites', it read more like a five-year medical report of a dying man than the diary of a mad man.
Worth a read, a fair bit of detail in there, but no way is it an autobiography - I'd be surprised if Ozzy wrote a word of it - it's all far too polite, too polished, too eloquent - it could have been churned out by AI.

NEKTAR

The latest in Cherry Red's reissues of Nektar's back-catalogue, laced with extra tracks and live recordings.
'Down To Earth' was/is a particular favourite of mine - closer to 'Sounds Like This' than their earlier space-prog recordings, but with added Robert Calvert.
4CD set will be on sale very soon - and in the FdM collection soon after that.

A LONG TIME COMIN

Pullman III - on sale very soon, many years after the last album by this Tortoise offshoot band - and I am really looking forward to it.
More chilled and acoustic than Tortoise, the first two albums have been regulars on the FdM Towers deck - understated and underrated, do check it out.

WET JANUARY

...and windy - Fuerteventura in early Jan wasn't quite as warm and sunny as we'd expected so I had to find other ways to occupy my time (apologies, I forgot to photograph the last beer before drinking it)

APRES SKI

A slightly bizarre name for a new microbrewery that has opened up in Corraleyo. It's got a bit of a new spin on tap rooms by making the beer 'pour your own', all triggered by a credit card you buy when you go in.
The beers are a little on the safe side, but all easy drinking and the place is well-worth a visit (although less skis and more about the actual beers would work for me)

SPARING A THOUGHT FOR ANYONE ON THE WAGON

...either this month or permanently - good work!

HAPPY 2026!

Just in case I don't get to my PC again before the 1st - have a good one!

REMEMBER 2025 THIS WAY

Agonizing to watch in the first half, Villa somehow turned things round after the break at Stamford Bridge and we're still up there with City and Arsenal...

HAVE A REALLY GOOD ONE...

...AND AN EVEN BETTER 2026

INTO THE BLACK

Really enjoyed catching up with Nick Leese (our resident blogger) and his lad Jude in the Eight Bells in Putney for a pre-Christmas drink - helped along by the unexpected addition of keg Wimbledon black lager - I've had far worse.

IT WAS 111 YEARS AGO TODAY

The last time Villa won 10 games on the trot - I remember it well.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?

My lad Chris and I were in Hackney while the Villa/Arsenal game was on; we didn't dare watch the game in a local pub as we weren't sure we'd have been able to keep our emotions under control; as Villa won with the last kick of the match, we were right!