The weeks leading up to xmas always ends up slightly quieter with the games and training sessions slowing down and the lads earning themselves a well earned rest.

On saturday , stourport swifts do not have a game till jan so jim was kicking his heals , i took Matt to birmingham city for his hour an half training session whilst Joe organised himself a lift to his training at redhill school and Karen took little Alec over the park to train with Hagley . They were short of coaches and much to her dismay she had to help coach one of the groups and hence couldnt watch Alec. I went straight from Matts training to pick Joe and his friend up to bring home at 12 o clock , by the time i got home with Matt and Joe , Karen was at home with Alec and Jim with the sausage sarnies well on their way ...... lovely.

Sunday was mad for the first 2 hours , due to a heavy frost , many phone calls and pitch inspections finally Jims and Joes games were called off and only Matts game was on , so we all travelled over to matts game at the albion to give him a lot of support. As we arrived there through icy roads the game was called off at the last minute , what a wasted morning !!!. We all went home to a big sunday lunch and then ,myself matt and joe decided to go and support the baggies whilst karen jim and alec finished decorating the house.

This weeks training sessions have gone ahead as usual in freezing conditions , the boys returning home starving and freezing, warming up by the fire with hot toast and tea before being snuggled up into their beds.

he final weekend beckons before the xmas break with vital cup and league games awaiting , and hopefully a few celebration sherbets.

Last weekend we had the inlaws up for the weekend from the thurs till the sun , the boys were looking forward to showing all their skills off to their grandparents !!!

Thurs started at the blues with matt training with his grandad watching , a number of games were played which were very physical and competitive which matt loved .At the end of the night we had to collect matts report which we were happy with. Joe had his training at the power league which we managed to organise lifts to and from luckily so karen could stop in with her mum , we cancelled alecs cubs night.Joe arrived back at 8 o clock to tell us all that he had been brilliant , yet again !!!!!!! in his mind he was

Friday night was the usual taking the grandads out to meet the football lads for a few hours of drinking, of course the 2 grandads got too drunk and ended up taking the planned chinese back to the mother in law 3 hours late. Myself and karen went onto a 50th booze up and eventually got home at 1pm .The night was eventful as myself and the father in law slept through karen being sick and the mother in law unable to sleep due to eating the planned 8 o clock chinese at 11 o clock . We were up early karen ill her mum hadnt slept a wink and i had to get jim onto junction 2 of the m42 for 8 o clock due to him playing for stourport swifts at leicester. Everyone was tired and irritable , i got back from dropping jim off and got joe to his training at 10 o clock and alec to his at the same time at 2 different venues (very difficult that was) . Karen and her mum went xmas shopping whilst her dad took the dog for a walk with matt , luckily he had a free weekend from the blues (phew) .We all arrived back at the house at about 1 o clock dirty and tired to lashings of sausage sarnies and mugs of tea listening to the boys telling us about their games and training.Saturday afternoon was spent on the sofa watching all the sport and a well earned rest.

A mad sunday with me off to stourport to support my team and jim and joe off to their football matches. The rest of the familly off to watch joe , because matt didnt have a game. 2 wins for me and joe and a loss for jim so celebrations for 2 of us .We waved the in laws off and then met jims manager and coach for a post match analysis over a few beers or more.

Monday again and joe off to the albion development centre , tues alec matt and jim off to training and wed all 4 of them training at different times and different venues , it just gets more and more hectic and the weather just gets colder !