I was reading a blog today about Brazilian footballers not always meeting their potential because they get homesick. The piece uses the experience of the Tottenham player Sandro to highlight the different approaches to overcoming the homesickness. Apparantly hes seen a special Psychologist who told him the best approach is to cut off ties with his homeland until he has settled into his new environment.

Like, duh. These footballers really do have money to burn. When i went to university i could have found it a great wrench leaving North Devon. I love the place. Something told me though to get my head down and ‘get into’ my new environment rathet than pine for the old. I dont think i spoke to my mum and dad much during the first term and didn’t go home at all. Of course the best way to settle in a foreign environment  is to not be longing for your home comforts, no matter how delightful they may be.

On the other hand I’m guessing there is little comparison between Brazil and Tottenham, poor chap.

I read today with interest how one man is protesting against the media. More particularly he is making a statement about the media and its image consciousness. Paul Yarrow is a fat balding care worker from London and wants a greater voice for  ‘ugly’ people in the media. Go Paul Yarrow I say.

One thing i have a growing dislike for is commentators interviewing sports stars at the end of a race or game and saying “well done, you did us proud today”. No they did themselves proud - fool.

I am loving the single track close to me at the moment. The brambles, nettles and receding cow parsley are at such a height that the path remains obscured as you hurtle along it
You can tell anyone who rides single track at the moment as they will bear le rash de bramble. My fore arms and insides of my elbows are crazed with bramble cuts as you fly through them they tend to snag and scratch. I look like a feeble self abuser, or a drunk heroin adict unable to locate my arm. The worst was the long bramble which snagged around my forehaed as i passed … through it. I was unaware of the result at the time, as i was quite sweaty. I have two small cuts across my forehead. i dont actually mind bramble rash. At least with brambles you have some medals to display what you have been through (literally). with nettles they just irritate and annoy for a day or so. The other day one leg burned for a good 12 hours as i crashed through a nest of nettles. One lot even stung me through my riding gloves the other day as i careered into one dense patch.