Sunday 4th January 2026

I had been home alone for 23 hours.

My alarm went off at half five, and Mulder came to see if I was awake.

He jumped up onto the bed, onto my feet, then walked up my body to sit on my chest, and in the dark look me in the eye, and:

Meow.

After a few more meows, he got off and sat beside me, gently pawing my arm to encourage me to get up. Before licking me.

Morning, Mulder. I says.

I get up.

The routine is simple: go downstairs, check Scully's blood sugar. Give her insulin. Feed Mulder. Feed Scully. Feed Cleo and Poppy.

Wait.

Then go round gathering the bowls so that Scully doesn't grave them, including the forbidden crucnchies.

Once all that is done, I can make coffee then relax a little. Turn on the computer and check the world, and the local weather.

I had an hour before I wanted to be out, at the gym for more phys.

I left at ten to seven, getting to the sports centre in about five minutes.

The dashboard said it was minus two point five degrees, though didn't feel too cold as there was no breeze.

I sat for a minute or two then walked to the entrance and waited with the other gymrats for the door to be opened, then up to the gym and to the bike.

I rode around Paris again, I think it's my favourite ride featured on the bike, so enjoyed a sunset peddle down the southbank into the setting sun in summer.

Its good to be leaving the gym when most are still arriving, a few pass the time of day, and I respond.

I get a message from Jools to say they had left Bury, due to poor weather coming in, they had to be over Saddleworth Moor by midday, before the snow arrived.

That achieved, I shadowed their progress along the M62 to the A1, then south towards Newark.

Meanwhile I had breakfast, cleared up and so all was ready for Jools's return.

Outside it didn't get above freezing, but did look glorious in the bright sunshine, even if the low sun did cause Jen trouble as they turned south, and right into the sun.

I did go out for another plant hunt, but it was so cold, I turned round at the junction with the path over the fields, went up to Collingwood, and then back home. No new plants seen.

Sunday was a day full of football, rather than Saturday, so with games starting at midday, I was ready.

Birmingham were hosting local rival Coventry, who were still top of the league. A great game, that had produced three goals in the first fifteen minutes, Birmingham 2-1.

It ended 3-2 to Brum, but by then Jen and Jools were back, so I went to Whitfield to drop off a pint of milk, and to bring Jools home.

Between all the football, we had pizza for supper, while it grew dark and bitterly cold outside.

Mulder was overjoyed that his favourite person was now back, but would mean I would sleep uninterrupted.

Swings and roundabouts.

Constitutionalism

The United States has a written and codified constitution.

The President swears and oath to uphold it.

The 45th President attempted to thwart the peaceful handover or power in 2021, on January 6th.

He was impeached.

The Republican Party refused to confirm this.

The 45th President of the US was inpeached. Twice.

The fourteenth amendment bars a convicted felon from becoming President.

And here we are.

Congress has the power over trade policy.

Trump took this over and Congress nodded along. They could stop him at any point.

But don't.

Congress has to approve offensive actions against another country.

The US military bombed and had feet in Venezuela, kidnapping its President and his wife.

Congress did not approve this.

For a constitution to work, to be effective, the checks and balances on power of the Executive and Administitive Branches have to work to define and limit power.

The US had a written and codified constitution that the President swore to uphold, and a Supreme Court in which to litigate against abuses of executive power. Yet the SCOTUS meely nodded along.

Like Congress. Congress could stop Trump now, if it wanted. It is its Constutional duty to do so. But doesn't.

Running a football club into the ground

Ten minutes ago, as I write this on Monday morning, 5th Janauary, Manchester United have sacked another manager.

This comes just five days after Chelsea also sacked another manager.

These are two of the most welll funded football clubs in the world, and two of the largest. That they are both run to something akin to Trotter's Independant Traders is a sad reflection of money men getting involved in the game.

A football club should be a simple business to run: scout players, recruit players, tran and develop players, bring into the first team. Rinse and repeat.

Both clubs, and with those we should also include Tottenham Hotspur, all have the funding to appoint the best on sporting management as chief executives, sporting directors and all the other things that a football club needs, or thinks it needs, to function.

That all three of them, three of the biggest clubs in the country, and the world, do not have the knowledge to be able to recruit and let a manager or head coach be successful is, quite frankly, astonishing.

The three are the gifts that keep on giving, providing an endless source of material which to talk and laugh about. How can such institutions be so bad at the one thing they are supposed to do?

Failure to plan equals planning to fail.

Nearly fourteen years after Sir Alex retired, and Manchester United are still going backwards, letting a stream of talented players leave because they can be made to fit in, then to see them flourish elsewhere.

After their takeover in 2021, Todd Boehly promised things would be different.

Readers, things were not different.

Managers appointed, then sacked. Rinse and repeat.

All three clubs are bin fires of different proportions, as to which is the biggest, I'd say United as this has been going on for fourteen years, and the club is now back to square one, and which top ranked manager or head coach would sign up to have their career destroyed at Old Trafford, or Stamford Bridge?

At Utd, two of Europe's best young coaches were appointed, apparently because they were young and had been successful at their respective clubs, Ajax and Sporting, and thought that such coaches wedded to a particular formation would repeat that formular at Old Trafford. Tomake that mistake once is bad enough, but to do it again right after is beyond careless, but shows a clear lack of strategic management and thinking.

Still, it is bloody funny.

Saturday 3rd January 2026

Three days ago, Jen called to say she'd like to come home Sunday, will one of us come up to share the driving back?

Jools said yes.

Tickets were bought on the trains, made harder by the WCML being closed north of Milton Keynes, so travel would be through Derby and Sheffield.

Jools would travel up Saturday, and the cheapest way was to get the first high speed surface out of Dover at quarter to seven, perfect then for me to head to the gym afterwards.

Come Saturday morning, up at five to get ready, pack bag for Jools, all so we could be on the road at twenty past six.

There was quite the frost this morning, but roads had been gritted, I just took things carefully into town past the castle and down the hill.

Jools was dropped off fifteen minutes before the train left, she waved as I drove off. Question was what to do with te twenty minutes before going to the sports centre?

Well, head to the White Cliffs to snap the docks and views over the town. Only thing was I had my gym kit, so wasn't going to stray far from the car.

Back up Castle Hill, then out along Reach Road to the NT place, before turning in at the hairpin bin.

I took a few shots from the mall car park overlooking the harbour, then drove to the exit for shots down East Cliff for views over Jubilee Way to the prom and the town beyond.

On the horizon, the bright lights of the French coast were bright, from Bleriot Plage to Calais, which looked very welcoming.

Away to the north west, the Wolf Moon was setting, still casting enough light to be able to take a shot with my mobile, and so fooled its sensors into making it look like a daytime shot.

I was frozen. My hands blocks of ice, so got back in the car to drive back to Castle Hill, then turn up to the Duke of Yorks, and then to Whitfield to the sports centre.

I had ten minutes, so sat in the car trying to get warm, before I got out and got cold again as I walked to the entrance.

About twenty of us were waiting to go in, and at seven on the dot the doors were opened.

So, up to the gym, and set up the machine, where I have increased the level once more.

Let's rock!

So, I do my session, and so after cool down, go back down and then to the car, getting back at eight.

It was still cold.

I sit and cool down some more, then make a brew and breakfast whilst listening to the radio.

I have a shower, and after, should have gone for a walk to check on more flowers, but decide I was so nice and toasty warm I stay inside and listen to more radio.

Come lunchtime, there is football, Celtic v Rangers, which was an entertaining game, though Celtic failed to show up in the second half, so went from being 1-0 up at half time, to losing 3-1 at the end.

No Football League games today, and just two Premier League games kicked off at three, with Wolves winning their first game of the season, beating West Ham 3-0, plunging The Hammers deep into the relegation battle.

Then it was Bournemouth v Arsenal, which was a pretty good game, Arse ran out 3-2 winners but were hanging on at the end.

So it goes.

Outside, it was bitterly cold. The Wolf Moon rose again, and cast ice cold light onto the Kent tundra. I turned the heating down and so went to bed, soon to be joined by two cats, as Jools was away.

Friday 2nd January 2026

It is the second day of the year, and was a Friday, so was a rest day. So, after four sessions in five days up to NYE, I thought a second day of rest before two sessions at the weekend would be good.

So, I would lay in.

Jools, however, went to the pool at six. I woke hearing the car going up the drive.

I assumed be hadn't been robbed.

So, got my self up, manoeuvring my body around the sleeping lump that is Cleo without waking her, got dressed and went down for coffee.

It was going to be a glorious bright and sunny day, but bitterly cold, and with each day now it will get ever colder before snow is due to flutter by on Tuesday.

I could have gone on a second plant hunt, but put that off to the weekend.

Jools came back at half seven.

What's the plan, she asked.

There is no plan, I replied.

OK.

So, we had a brew and breakfast, and the morning slipped past.

There was to be a craft morning at the library, but the cold weather and a bereavement meant it got cancelled, as did a trip to Faversham to meet a friend, as a family emergency had cropped up.

I think we were rather glad not to be driving there, or rather back in the dark on a clear frosty night.

So, we had nothing planned, and nowhere really to go.

I did go to Tesco for a few things. Jools said she'd stay home, so I ventured out at eight, before any traffic really built, and rushed round the store, now with a few empty shelves where Christmas used to be.

Back home, the shopping was put away and the bird feeders topped up. They squawked their pleasure at this, or anger as my slow work as they were hungry.

Who knows.

We had a pack and a bit of bacon, so I cooked it all in our super-wide grill, and made stuffed bacon rolls for lunch.

Which were nice.

And for the afternoon, we watched two documentaries: one on UFOs and the other on Coelacanths.

There were so Senate hearings a few years back about UFO sightings, and this looked at several famous cases, and was interesting.

Coelacanths had interested me since one was featured in the first series of Life on Earth, when the 400 million year old "living fossil" was first filmed alive.

Two ultra-modern submersibles dived off the coast of Sulawesi (where I have worked in my deep seas survey days), and they found a colony of at least eight of the ancient fish, and filmed them in super high definition.

Then eyes down for the quiz, which, for the first time, all sixty of us got the title of the LP with the first clue. I came 10th, due to my slow typing.

Finally, I made a batch of sausage rolls to use up the pastry, then made plum sauce spiced beef stir fry and noodles, which was very good indeed.

Outside, the Wolf Moon rose, and sone down ice cold light on the east Kent tundra.

Thursday 1st January 2026

Welcome to 2026.

As we went to bed well before Piano Blokey started up, and we were well asleep an hour late when the bells tolled to see out the Old and ring in the New.

Neither neighbours had a party, which sometimes happens, so our little corner of Kent was dead quiet all night.

By half six, dawn was beginning to show, and Jools said she wanted to go to the cliffs to watch the dawn. Did I want to come.

She had been up an hour longer than me, and I had barely had coffee, so I declined, so she went alone.

The New Year is going to be cold and frosty for the first few days, and maybe even snow at the end of the weekend. Jools didn't get out of the car, and was cold as she didn't take a coat, so was back ten minutes before sunrise at 07:59.

So, I made her a brew and we had breakfast. Outside the sun rose in a clear sky, but was bitterly cold, though no breeze as yet.

Which is why at ten, I went out for a New Year Plant Hunt.

I had intended to go further than the bus shelter at the top of Station Road, but the north-westerly blew down into my face, and even with a coat on, it was bracing.

So, having seen about ten species, I decided to turn for home, back down Station Road, looking sadly at the verges which a month ago were full of deadnettles and Shepherd's Purse, but one of the houses had mown the lot.

I can't see why people want to do that, even in the depths of winter.

But they do.

I call in at Bev and Steve's to wish them Happy New Year, I was greeted by Steve in his dressing gown trying to keep their new puppy, Murphy, under control.

Over Christmas we had heard Murphy's whimpering, so had guessed.

Then back home where Jools made me a brew to warm up.

And then to the New year's Concert from Vienna, and what better way to spend New Year than waltzing round that fine city?

The Blue Danube brought tears of joy, what a wonderful piece of music it is.

And so, then, to the footballs.

After no football on New Year's Eve, there was a LOT of football on New Year's Day.

A lot.

Blackburn lost to Wrexham in the lunchtime game, which we watched as we ate breaded chicken, stir fry, sprouts with bacon and grains.

It was OK.

Then Norwich were at QPR. Never a happy hunting ground, and live on TV to boot.

The closeness of the double decked stands to the pitch made some of the angles really poor, but Norwich hung in.

In fact both teams were poor. Giving the ball away and misplaced passes.

Norwich took the lead one minute into the second half, and scored a second in the last minute.

But that was too easy. Conceding a thunderbastard strike a couple of minutes later.

But City hung on.

Then came Liverpool v Leeds, which ended 0-0, followed by a choice of Sunderland v Citeh and Brentford v Spurs.

Both of which also ended 0-0.

Happy New Year.

Mystic Jelltex rides again

Back in the days when we used to work, there was an almighty rush to get work done before Christmas. And when I was a Project Quality Manager, most years I would have to travel right up to the 22nd or 23rd of the month. Meaning that by the time we stopped working for the festive period, we were shattered.

And by the time New Year’s Day came round, we would be dreading the 2nd when we would return to work, and the madness would begin again.

But not this year.

We still were not ready. Better than in previous years, but Christmas still crept up on us, and it was a rush to get stuff done.

Today is January 1st, and tomorrow we do not return to work. There is no more returning to work, we just do what we want to. And with the meeting with the financial advisor before Christmas, we don’t really worry about money any more.

The plan is, that when the last one of us dies, there is no money, so no regrets, left.

I like a challenge.

We accept this, and will go forward accordingly.

So, what is planned for the New Year?

On the 28th February, we fly out with Jen for ten days on Cyprus, with seven of those days being an orchid tour. Some late winter sunshine is going to be very welcome. I will go out during the day with the group, orchiding, while Jools and Jen will go out in the hire car.

In July we will travel to the foothills of the Alps, driving down through France taking two or three days to meet up with another group for more orchiding. And seven days later, we will drive down through southern France, across the Pyrenees into Spain to witness the total solar eclipse, before driving back up through France.

At the end of the year, maybe go to Mexico for two weeks of culture and beaches. That is not yet booked, so we shall see.

As for 2026, for Norwich City.

The club has made a series of poor decisions on coaches and players, Johannes Hoff Thorup was sacked towards the end of last season, and then the club appointed Liam Manning, who was a very similar coach in terms of tactics, for the start of this season.

He was dismissed with the club next to bottom, and seven points from safety a couple of months back, and former Rangers manager, Philippe Clement, was appointed.

It might be the best appointment in two decades.

Or not.

The only issue is whether City will survive the relegation battle or not. We hope they will. One defeat in seven suggests some kind of recovery is under way. But these are very early days.

In the Premier League, it seems this might be Arsenal’s season. But we’re only at the halfway point, more than enough time to do a Devon Loch and fail on the home straight. They also head the league phase of The Champions League, but again, all bets are off once it gets to the knockout phase.

At the bottom, Wolves are doomed.

Doomed.

Burnley are also in deep trouble. And West Ham are too. I said at the start of the season, that the seventeen teams that survived last season, had at least three years of stability and Premier League prize money, and only gross incompetence would change the idea that all three promoted teams would go down. Sunderland have 28 points, and seem safe, meaning at least one established club will go down.

Come in Wolves, your time is up.

In the Championship, anything could happen. Coventry are top, but in a slump, and no team is promoted in January. If they start winning again, they should go up, as champions. But all to play for.

Are Norwich too good to go down?

Probably, yes. But that hasn’t stopped other teams from being relegated after being declared too good to go down. More wins, by any means, so we reach the 60 point safety line. Fifty might be enough, or might not. Ipswich are currently second, but lack consistency to made the second automatic play off spot theirs.

Other than that, who knows?

It is a World Cup year, but with tickets for the later games in the competition starting at three grand a pop, you’d have to be made to go.

As for Brexit: I won’t comment unless there is a move to more sensible policy, which is likely, but in small increments. Meanwhile, Farage stands on the sidelines, yelling comments that its all a betrayal, and only offering untested harder line policies. The press still laud him, and he is backed by the same billionaires who backed and profited from Trump.

The COVID inquiry continues, reveally what already knew, but with documented evidence, and yet those who caused tens of thousands of additional deaths or saw that Tory party friends benefited from the VIP lanes are unpresecuted, and the money that Michelle Mone, £144 million, was to pay back, has not, and her company has been liquidated. She is still a member of the House of Lords.

Not much will change in 2026. Sadly.