This week, one of my childhood dreams was finally realised. I bought some Predators. As a kid I never came close to owning a pair, I pined after them but my folks were way too sensible but now, owning my first pair so late in my career i’m left feeling cheated.

I am a victim of relative maturity (compared to a 12 year old anyway!) and it appears that they’re not ACTUALLY magic. Infact they seem pretty ordinary. How could that have happened, I swear they used to be magic.

I sort of miss the naive cheap thrills of being a kid… when building my premier league sticker empire was my full time vocation, I remember dropping them in the middle of a busy-crossing and crying all the way home… and that new Gameboy… man, it ROCKED MY WORLD!

Back to the boots, its not that bad, i’m coping, magic or not magic, Stevie G still wears them which does mean i’ll be roughly as good as him ;) - his height advantage might give him the edge in the air, but I think most people would agree, theres not really much to choose between us.

Just a note for any puma king pansies out there, don’t kid yourself, they never came close!

Just back from a civilised stag weekend. We stayed in Rockliffe nearish Dumfries. Highlights included Holland destroying France (particularly the goals from Robben and Sneijder), a walk which included cheese sandwiches on the top of a very big hill, beautiful surroundings, silly cricket and a seriously awesome pub eating and drinking session by the sea as the sun disappeared on the Saturday night. The weather was gorgeous.

It was brilliant, there was no humiliation, just a uber relaxing but fun weekend in good company. Call me old and dull, but given the choice, were I ever have to my own such “celebration” i’d definitely go for something similar… it was just so good, but knowing my wonderful friends as I do, I think it unlikely that i’d get away with it. Silly traditions. Civilized, chilled, pleasant… underrated.

Here’s where we were (Rockliffe nearish Dumfries)

Grandpa has gone. On up ahead and claimed his crown of righteousness. The service at the crematorium was beautiful, grandma read Psalm 16 and I got through Psalm 23. There were tears as we remembered someone we were very fond of, but for me an overriding sense of joy, knowing grace had carried him home and the faithfulness of a God in whose arms he now rests, alive and at peace.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite passages, from Psalm 103 verses 13-18. I love being reminded of our being mortal, our finiteness, our being dust. It somehow just seems right and makes God all the greater.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children-

with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.