ESPN FA Cup Build Up

Have been watching, and enjoying, the ESPN build up to the FA Cup for the last 3 hours. Think they have done a great job, but as we approach 3pm I am turning over to the BBC to watch …….. Snooker!

Seriously what is that about! There is something seriously wrong when the FA and TV are allowed to be so dismissive towards tradition and nostalgia!

FA Cup Final

Am struggling to remember ever having so much apathy towards the FA Cup Final. In previous years it has been easy to support my own team (Man Utd), the underdog or even a stylish way of playing.

This year I couldn’t care less! Chelsea represent to me pretty much everything that is wrong with the modern game, and while I can usually muster enthusiasm to at least watch in the hope that they get beaten, this year that would mean wanting Liverpool to win, and I am afraid that Dalglish’s arrogance and the clubs acceptance of racism earlier in the year means they are second only to Chelsea in teams I dislike!

Don’t blame Spain for the end of your expat dream

Many expats in Spain are claiming the country’s financial troubles are forcing them back to the UK. But their problems run deeper than that, says Chris Marshall. You can read my latest column for Telegraph Expat here

Happy Birthday Fleur

Our little girl is two today. She is a very small cat, and timid around people that she doesn’t know, but around Sands and I and the other cats she is lovely, sweet, and when required a right little madam!

Basically if she wants something she gets it. She may be the smallest of the gang, but she is as feisty as they come, and more than stands up to the three boys, and wins. At the same time she is unbelievably pretty and cute as the latest pictures below show.

LOL Funny Dog Video

Over the weekend Mick and I drove 45 cats and 2 dogs to their new homes in Germany for Sands and my ALStrays cat and dog re-homing and transport project.

One of the dogs was a sweet little chap called Zero. When we took the little chap for a walk and to go the toilet I have to say that he had both Mick and I in tears.

Happy Birthday Dusky

Another birthday celebration today, this time for the youngster in the family, Dusky. The little fella is one today, and it is amazing how well he has settled into our life.

You couldn’t wish for a happier more placid cat, that gets on with everyone, and seems incapable of walking and not purring at the same time!

Happy Birthday Moreno

Mori is 6 years old today! Amazing to look back over the last 5 and a half years that we have been privileged to have been owned by the handsome fella, at how quickly the time has gone and how much our lives have changed.

MacXDVD Easter Giveaway

To celebrate the upcoming Easter holiday, MacXVD are holding an unlimited licenses giveaway of their newly upgraded iPad 3 assistant software, plus a facebook contest by presenting their best selling software MacX Video Converter Pro for free. The offer is for both Windows and Mac users, lasts until April 18.

Spain, don’t let British expats change you

In my Telegraph Expat column this month I have taken a look at the relationship between Expats and Spain, and questioned if Spain should stand up for its culture more.

The Prisoner’s Dilemma is a piece of game theory that shows that while it would be in the best interests of two parties to co-operate, they don’t. I was reminded of this recently here in Spain when considering many expats’ reaction to the ongoing crisis facing the country.

When Bloggers Become Publishers

Suspect this will be on interest to many a blogger. A proposed new model of media regulation for Australia says that bloggers who posts receive just 41 page impressions a day could be forced to apologise to anyone they wrong on their blog and to issue corrections.

Football Madness

Watching Man Utd v Blackburn commentator just said that if Man Utd win the league Blackburn get an additional £2m for Phil Jones who they sold to Man Utd.

YouTube To Ban Kitten Videos

I just received this email from one.org.

Can you imagine a world without kitten videos on YouTube? I can’t.

But by 2015, that’s the world we will be forced to live in. YouTube has announced that it will be banning kitten videos by 2015.

Happy Birthday Orla (RIP)

This little girl would have been four today, but unfortunately she never lived to see her first birthday, as she died on 26th November 2008 after an incredibly short life, plagued by illness, but surrounded by love at the end.