Buono Estente Ashburton Willows,

I have a great way to kill 2 minutes of your work day. Read my diatribe of my conservative minded writings.

Recently, I went to the Republic of Ireland for a weekend of culture. Ryanair, which has fast become my least preferred airline, managed to delay the flight 50 minutes, due to a late arrival. I can usually handle this, however when your flight should be leaving at 9:55 pm on a Friday night, you can't help but feel angst towards the world. You then internally review the previous weeks events to work out where Karma tripped you up. Maybe it was the disparraging comments I made under my breath on the tube one morning.

Arrived at the backpackers, very late, and did the polite thing, crept in, located a bed in the 18 bed dorm, using the light of my £32 Nokia base model slide phone, didn't fit sheets, just chucked blanket over and slept. All good, 3 hours later however... (my general dislike for Italian tourists is well documented) these early 20's Italian clowns barged in full of ink, pushing each other around, flicking lights like strobe lights, screaming. I bit my tongue until the last one was lurking. Naturally, I politely asked him to **** off you ****** ***. Response "I can't speak English". Great. Angry texts proceeded to various people.

Anyways, moving along, strolled around Dublin, took my usual route of following the double decker tourist bus on foot. That is a good tip for the smart tourist. Get the double decker sight seeing bus map, and do it on foot. It covers the whole day.

Visited the Guinness Brewery, which was alright, couldn't fault it. Followed my pint of Guinness with a visit to Jameson Factory, another drink, then the long walk to Croke Park for a look. Managed a walk on the pitch, which was nice. For history buffs out there, who want more than a JT contrived story about the 17th century warring clans, Murphy, Foley, Farrell and Tuohy, follow this. Bloody Sunday took place at Croke Park. 16 dead including a gaelic footballer Hogan, main grandstand named Hogan Stand. The terrace you which see at one end of the ground, Hill 16, after the 16 dead. Hill 16, named after the hill developed out of rubble from the war, which was the orignal terracing there after the war.

All in all, Ireland, very expensive. However what it does have going for it is the friendly people. Another thing, which may not be of interest, it takes the award for the city which the most people get sick from alcohol in the street. It overtakes Edinburgh in this regard.

I am heading to Belfast in a fortnight for research purposes, to compare green with orange. It should be interesting I dare say. Naturally I will report back to anyone who is interested and is happy for me to talk at them for half an hour.

I recently went with Zengerink to watch my local boys, AFC Wimbledon play Forest Green Rovers at Kingston. Roadworks through Wimbledon crippled any meaningful movement, so the trip from Tooting to Kingston took over an hour. End result, I missed the start and the only two goals for the game.

History buffs, who know english soccer will realise AFC formed as a result of Wimbledon FC being bought and moving to Milton Keynes. AFC formed and is slowly pushing their way through lower leagues and hopefully playing League 2 next year. The crazy gang as they were known are on their way back, and you will see me in coming months roam Melbourne with AFC Wimbledon apparel.

AFC have a mascot Haydon, I dare say named after Haydons Road near Plough Lane. Haydon was relentless in his support for Womble. He roamed the path in front of the main stand with a garbage bin, the same wheely bin we have back in Australia. He paced the path, stopping only to slam the lid on the bin, in that well known beat (da, da, da-da-da, da-da-da-da, da-da), which was proceeded by the fans screaming 'WOMBLE!' As Haydon threw his fist in the air. A good local touch. Much more interesting than the mascots in the AFL.

The rewards of travelling across the city from Tooting to Watford for a cricket season paid off again last Sunday. I went to pre season training with West Herts, (Kie Farrell centre of excellence). Training was at Lords indoor nets. This was quite a thrill. Putting the full creams on for indoor training was a first. One thing I recommend is not to bowl full tilt for 100 minutes without warm up or stretching. It was a great day in there, trying to belt the life out of any delivery and hitting an excellent length with the ball (which is no good, as the next time I will bowl will be closer to October for LOC 5 at the Willows).

For those not familiar with Metropolitan London, around the corner from Lords is Abbey Road, home of the Beatles. That is a lie, they recorded there. The remark 'Go Ashburton Willows 7/2/10' is now permanently etched onto the wall of Abbey Road Studios. A permanent reminder until they paint over it later this year and start all again. I did think about a snide remark about Yoko Ono, however, Karma has a crippling effect, and I dare not challenge it to a duel.

I found a piece of Melbourne in Metropolitan London. For those who know me well enough, I used to be partial to the Carlton Hotel in Bourke Street Melbourne. It's brother establishment is the Tooting Tram and Social in Tooting. Tooting is a strange place, home of a lot of scenes from The Bill, home to Steven K Amos, and home to the 1970's television series, Citizen Smith, whereby a young revolutionary established the Tooting Popular Front. The Tram and Social is a converted tram depot, which has all sorts of odds and ends on the wall, some great music, including Joy Division, and a classic Melbourne Bar feel. I got so excited by this, and decided to go Friday and Saturday night. Result, 2 straight defeats in straight sets to alcohol. Alcohol d JT, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0.

Anyways, I shall keep you apprised of any other learnings, which I have blessed upon me.

Go Willows, Go AFC Wimbledon, and Go to the Richmond Club Hotel late May for the chance to hear my diatribes, as I embark on a live speaking tour.

MPG Funds Management - friends of the Willows