The weekend started to me singing along to the rock pop anthem, “Semi Charmed Life”, by Third Eye Blind (recently re-branded as 3eb) which I had downloaded this week and had placed on to the XBox. The track may be from 1997 but is has not aged in any respect (even the video) and this was the perfect opener to my first weekend at the age of 24. Ironically this would be the first weekend of the new licensing laws which actually came into affect on my birthday, so this year (24) will not be forgotten in a hurry. I remember speaking to a colleague a few years ago, while I worked at Jacksons who was from Sydney. He explained that in his local neighbourhood, there was a bar that opened 24 hours and only closed for an hour at the weekend to be cleaned. Even then, at the discretion of the landlord, you could remain at the bar during this time. Strange how it has taken us English so long to become accustomed to this continental style of social drinking. Well the jury is still out, whether this binge drinking phenomenon can be calmed. Last year, my sister Natalie, got me a framed Arsenal photograph, celebrating the teams record breaking unbeaten league campaign, 2003-4. Actually it was three photographs, Arsené and Henry lifting the Cup and the team celebrating their amazing feat! It has been sitting at the top of my desk cupboard for over a year. Until last weekend. The glass had cracked soon after receiving it, and I promised I would get around to changing it. Finally I got around to having a new, classy and appropriate frame fitted. Thanks to Sippy for editing this image for me.

Talking of football, I must mention the passing of a great, gifted man. Having only discovered Sky jumping on the blogging bandwagon, I thought it best they provide the facts while I can fill in my opinion. Although I agree with Arsenal, wtf? with his/her sentiments that a man should be measured by his best days, rather than his worst. I have two points to add that may have been missed already. Georgie Best appealed to everyone, and not just football fans. I can confirm this when my own father mentioned that Manchester United was the team he supported a young boy and his favourite player was the legendary number 7. My Dad is not a football fan, far from it, but the fact that the only player he could name instantly was Best, speaks volumes for how much one player became so popular outside of the game. Parkinson perhaps sums up the Irish international best. I remember watching him being interviewed on Parky’s show quite recently. Elton John was the other guest, who gave the following glowing tribute to George. ‘I have seen some of the world’s greatest players play, but none of them were as good as George Best!’. The audience gave a loud applause. Perhaps it is only the man himself who will know how great he could have been and how, perhaps he could have done more with his god given talent. We all have flaws, we are all human, but then there are flawed geniuses, who unlike the rest of us, can give pleasure to thousands of people, with the drop of the shoulder and a quick turn on a sixpence. I only have the videos to relive some of those magic moments. For those that were there, to see him in flesh have seen something special. To compare players from different eras is unfair. The game has moved along leaps and bounds in the subsequent decades. (Some would say in favour of the attacking side). When I eventually get around to picking my all time XI. The third name on the team sheet, after Pele and Maradona, will be Best.