Wednesday, 20 January 2021

Last day of work tomorrow

 It's my last day of my latest contract tomorrow.  And my boss has probably worked me harder this week that the entire last 3 months.  That said i've not been overly busy!

I've had 2 interviews for two new roles this week and they both went well.  Or at least I think they did... Watch this space.  Neither would be starting before February so looks like i'm going to get a little time off.  

Thursday, 14 January 2021

New look?

A bit short


April cut my hair yesterday and it's a bit short...  We got the number wrong on the clippers and it's a little shorter that i'd like.  Oh well, let's hope it grows back.


3 interviews

 My current contract may only have 5 days left but i've now got 3 interviews lined up.  One is this afternoon, another on Monday and the third has yet to be finalised will be next week too.

All are a little different but hopefully i'll get one of them.

I'm not a massive fan of interviews (I had one last week which i've not heard back from yet) but they are a necessary evil to get work.  Being a contractor I will have to get used to it as rather than every 4-5 years they're now every 6 months and more of them.  Urgh.

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Florence's latest art work

 Can you tell what they are?  Clue:  Animals you might find in a zoo, number 2 is tricky.







Answers: 1 Lama, 2 Giraffe, 3 Elephant, 4 Lion

Highlight the line black line above to reveal the answers. I think 1 and 4 are quite good and not sure if I could have bettered them.

Sleep over

 Flo and Arthur woke early the other day so Flo and Daddy had a sleep over in Arthur's room to give mum, a few more minutes rest.


Tuesday, 12 January 2021

It's official

 My contract is not getting renewed.  I'm not surprised really as there has been barely anything for me to do for at least 6 weeks.  With that said i'll be glad to leave, I have enjoyed parts of it and enjoy getting paid far too much for doing very little but I need a little more challenge.  

On a plus note the market has really picked up recently and I have two interviews this week for new roles.  Watch this space.

Bloody dog

With me working upstairs and April out today with various tasks meant Arwen got a little bored this morning.



She managed to pull down some kitchen roll and distribute it all over the kitchen.  Bloody dog!


Season 2: Klarpp's journey

After a successful first season at FC Nordsjælland what lay ahead in year two?

Two young stars with a view of playing at bigger clubs left for a combined £20m. Abu Francis o Borussia MG and Magnus Kofod Aston Villa.  The club didn't really need the money but didn't want fully committed players near the first team so with a reluctant heard Klopp let them go.

Although not at the same scale as the outgoings the new signings helped bulk out the squad for the long season ahead.  There was the potential for additional games (and revenue) if they passed the qualification stages of the Champions cup so they needed any additional support that was going.

3 new centre backs where brought in all for around the £1m mark, plus the renewed lown of Man City starlet Taylor-Harwood-Belis meant that there was plenty of protection at the back.

The season began with a 3-2 home win against OB, but quickly attentions were drawn to Champions League qualification.  They were drawn against Viktora Plzen of the Czech Republic, a win here would leave them a tie away from the Champions League proper.  A 2-1 loss in the first leg meant it was all to play for back at home and the home fans celebrated a resounding 4-0 win to pit the Danish second place side the dauting task of over turning the vastly superior Ajax.

Ajax were beaten 2-1 but with the away goal that Ajax scored in the last 5 minutes meant all was to play for in the return leg.  With the score at regulation full time equal at 3-3 the game entered extra time.  New signing Opoku was fouled in the box and young German midfielder Zaiser stepped up with the winning penalty.  Final score 4-3 to Nordsjælland.

The champions League draw saw Nordsjælland given the extremely difficult fixtures against Inter, Barcelona and toughest of all Bayern Munich.  It started poorly with a 1-0 loss to inter but was followed by a surprising 1-0 win at home against Barcelona.  That followed 2 heavy defeats by Bayern.

Odds were still against Nordsjælland but everything was to play for.  With Bayern seemily running away with the league a cheeky draw or two might be all that was needed.  Luck was with Nordsjælland who played an injury weakened Inter and came away with a well deserved 2-1 win at home.  Any result against Barcelona in the last game would see them through.  Nobody saw what came next.  Nordsjælland  won 4-1.  Finishing 2nd on 9 pts, 1 ahead of rivals Inter. The win gave Nordsjælland the joy of facing Italian Juventus in the first knock out round.

 And back to the league, with the new signings getting to grips with the style of the league quickly Nordsjælland got off to a blistering start and finished the preliminary phase with 52pts from 32 games, 2nd place was 8pts behind.  Key results were an extraordinary 6-4 win against OB and 5-1 with against Amager and Brondby.

Champions League progress was never likely to progress and the talented youthful side went out in the first round 5-1 against Ju ventus.

With no more Europe to play for Klarpp set his sights on the Danish cup and getting his hands on the coveted league trophy.  Despite a couple of bumps along the way Nordsjælland finished top with 77 pts from 32 games, and a total of only one loss.  GD of 38.  The team also beat Brondby 2-1 in the cup final.

Another successful season for Klarpp meant he managed to win both the German manager of the year the best manager of the year award in Denmark.  

Will Klarpp stay in Denmark to see his young stars flourish or will he set his sights higher and move abroad to a higher league???  Watch this space...




Thursday, 7 January 2021

I cooked a steak the other day

I think it turned out alright.



I'm very pleased with myself.
 

Monday, 4 January 2021

Back to work

 And it's as quiet as ever.  I have a team meeting at 11 so at least I can let people know i'm still alive.

I've been off since 18th and it feels like an age.