Captain Bailey

I was very sad to hear that Captain Bailey, a PE teacher at my school, died this week. He was a fantastic leader of the CCF Army section while I was there, and even when I decided to leave the cadets he was still supportive. I will never forget his advice to us on camp one year: "If you find a live round on the floor, don't pick it up, bring it to me!" this cryptic message and his insistence that our creases should be "as sharp as a carrot" and that we must stand up straight "like a penguin" will stay with all of us who were in the CCF at the time. His 'banana custard', his unmatched ability on the school rock wall, and the mystery surrounding his missing finger will also live long in the memory.

Captain Bailey was an inspirational, flamboyant character and his death is a tragic loss.

Mourhino

So Mourinho has gone, provoking mass hysteria and wild speculation. My personal favourite was a caller complaining about Mourhino's severance pay on Radio One: "I wonder if I'd get £25m if I left my job? Probably not. As usual, it's one rule for successful football managers and another for bin men."

Personally I'm not that upset. Mourhino was a fantastic manager for us, but if there really were problems between him and Ambromovich then maybe it is time for a change. I'm not sure Avram Grant is the man for the job, and I think this should have been done in the summer, but I certainly wasn't reduced to tears like one woman on the same radio show, who was so upset by Mourhino's departure that she couldn't go in to work on Thursday!

I'm far more concerned that I won't get internet in the flat for another three weeks because Sky take ages to install it. Also concerning is the number of lawyers who failed to successfully enter the courts this week when the revolving doors broke. Despite a great big sign put on the one working door by the security guards, scores of highly intelligent legal representatives tried and failed to use the broken ones and several small children became trapped as the doors failed to revolve. Watching your parents' divorce is probably traumatic enough without being stuck in a revolving door on the way home. The security guards gave a sarcastic running commentary throughout, and I left the building to the sound of "He's got it, he's away, that's it, go on son, Yes!" which made me feel better about us not having a manager.

Linesmen and washing machines

I can't help noticing there hasn't been an apology from that linesman at the weekend for his atrocious decision to rule out the only goal of the game. Chelsea's goal was clearly a yard onside and even Mark Hughes admits that Blackburn "would have found it difficult to get back into the game" if the goal had stood, but no apology has been forthcoming. Seems only Liverpool get those. Anyway I can't complain too much because we were due a terrible decision after that penalty two weeks ago. I can only hope our Karma is balanced out and now we can batter Rosenborg this evening without incurring the wrath of the Gods.

An even worse decision, the consequences of which only came to light after the game finished, was that taken by the plumber who installed the washing machine in the new flat. He had opted to leave the 'blank cap' on the pipe which normally allows the water to drain away. I filled the mop bucket twice as I fought back a torrent of soapy flood water, but was unable to save my amazing cashmere jumper. It was shrunk beyond recognition.

Happily the flooding wasn't restricted to the flat, but somehow spread to Chester County Court. All the hearings on Monday were cancelled because the building flooded, so I didn't have to work but I still get paid. So it hasn't been all bad :-)

Early in the morning

Today my first case is at 3pm an it's in Liverpool so I don't have far to go. But I have been deprived of my lie-in because I have to make an appointment to see the Doctor. This can only be done by calling them at 8:20 on the day that you want an appointment. So far they have been solidly engaged for 10 minutes and I get the impression that when I finally get through they will tell me that they don't have any appointments left, just like yesterday.

But there is another reason for being awake so early, apart from the amazing new blender that makes me smoothies for breakfast. Yesterday I got a call to say our new flat is ready for us to move in to and that I can collect the keys today. Finally I'll be moving into my own place, paid for with money I have earned, and that feels great. I'll just have to overlook the irony of the fact that I'll be paying for my home by repossessing other people's.

Another reason for this early rising is that the local Citizens' Advice Bureau shuts at 1pm. I'm hoping to balance out my karma by volunteering.

Anyway, the Doctors' surgery just answered the phone and gave me an appointment for 9:10...