Shall we Sing a Song for you?

I know it’s nearly 2009, but I can’t be letting Don’t Make Friends with Rabbit Food have a monopoly on end of year round ups…

Highlights:

1. Airdrie

Well, I did spend a good part of the year here, not least as part of the greatest GO team of all time!

2. Ulsterville

Some banter. Mornin Jonny. Sugar. Post-everything discussions. ‘Why was Steve Irwin…’ All those Camp sketches we planned that only we would ever have found funny. Watch out for the Poles!

3. Riverside (Newry) GO Team

You can’t beat Newry with a big stick

4. Senior Camp (Part Two Part Three)

Early days yet for my world-record appearances bid. Gregg has 13!

5. Promotion (more pics)

Back where we belong. Plus my hattrick against Stute!

6. Northern Ireland 2 – 1 Sweden

It wouldn’t be an end of year round-up without a token NI match!

And here’s the quiz I’ve done the last two years:

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’ve never done before?

Lived in a foreign country.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not that they told me.

4. Did you lose anyone close to you?

Well, I did lose several GO team members…

5. What countries did you visit?

The Free State and Scotland.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, I’m hard as nails. Well, I wasn’t 100% the day we played Derry City Supporters!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

iPod Nano – well, got it for my birthday.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Diesel, Stenaline, P&O, Mr. Kebab.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The Airdrie GO Team. Stuart in NI!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Horse it into you Cynthia.
Runrig & The Tartan Army – Loch Lomond

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wrote memorising last year. Same probably applies.

21. Who deleted question 21?

At this rate of going, there’s hardly any questions left..

24. What was your favourite TV program?

Match of the Day. Dr Who. Poirot. Top Gear – Wednesday afternoons after football – g.

26. What was the best book you read?

Top 3:

The Christian Ministry – Charles Bridges
The Mission of God – Christopher J. H. Wright
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J. K. Rowling

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The Low Country Boys.

28. Best football chants?

“Are you watching Dennis Wise?” – v. Sweden
“[Insert score here] to the Champions” – Stute games in April!

29. What did you want and not get?

The Messenger on time

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Don’t think I seen a wile pile. Harry Potter 5 maybe.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

McDonald’s in Airdrie! And probably watched a film. 22.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

I wouldn’t.

34. What kept you sane?

N. Irish people in general. And for the purposes of this survey we can include Beth in that!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Parachurch-ness.

37. Who did you miss?

Wocca.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

The good people of Airdrie (although I had met most of them before I suppose…)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“We only used you once this year, forgive us, Ulsterbus”

Celebrities who met me:

Stuart Olyott, yet again.

Any excuse to use this photo again!

Previous years:
2005
2006

- Reports say he “feared he wouldn’t get a game”
- Discontented striker set to take players with him

It wouldn’t be January without some shocking twists and turns in the world of football, and the Belfast Mini League has had its fair share in the past twenty-four hours. Andy Johnston, the former Renwick striker, has left the team and notified the league co-ordinators that he can provide a squad to replace World Eleven United, who have been disqualified for, well, not playing.
There has been speculation all season as to whether or not Johnston, a former resident of Renwick House, would remain with the team after his long injury lay-off, which he sustained after falling over and breaking his leg, as we all do at some point in the day. Sources close to Sandy Row had suggested he would try to form his own team, but would remain with Renwick until next season when new teams could enter the Belfast Mini League. But the disqualification of United has provided Johnston with the opportunity to act now, and the request removes any worries the league organisers might have had about how to replace World Eleven United. Given that the team only played two games, won neither, and were second from bottom in the table, a lot of people were asking, “Who cares?”, but in an unprecedented move, the organisers have agreed to Johnston’s request.
The Evangelical Presby’s motives are debatable, but most pundits and commentators were in agreement that, with Renwick enjoying a season which so far has given them the best goal difference in the league and has seen them use four or five strikers with great success, Johnston was facing a long spell on the bench, and so decided it was time to move on. Whether Johnston’s weight problem was a factor has not been confirmed. It is expected that Simon Curry and Barry McAuley, the Renwick midfielders who are close friends with Johnston, will be moving on as well, to a team which as yet has no name. Worse than that for Renwick, the beloved “Outer Fenn” kit, formerly used by Irish nationalists in five aside tournaments, will be going with them. The kit was purchased for £99 on ebay by Johnston last year. Renwick manager Philip Dunwoody, when asked about the whole situation, said he was disappointed, but was confident that with a student loan due this month, the kit could be replaced.
Renwick’s midseason break may be coming to an end sooner than expected, with another friendly against the RP reverends pencilled in for 23rd January. They may also be facing some friendly opposition from an unknown group of Free Ps that Pete McConaghie met – watch this space! Manager Dunwoody is also thought to be keen to give Johnston’s team a warm-up match before they begin their belated league campaign. He assures readers that there will be no hard feelings, but, at the end of the day, Renwick would win.

Steelo: “Just houl off the minister’s match for another week..!!”

I was extremely jealous of the snow. If anyone tells you that there’s more snow in Scotland than there is in Northern Ireland – don’t believe them. The full-size presentation can be downloaded from here (34 MB). Billy Hamilton’s talk was recorded, I’ll put it up as soon as I get it.

So Stuart Olyott preached at Blair’s installation in Bready on Saturday, and then twice the following day. After the installation, he got his picture taken with the lads. And Helen:

Then Stuart mentioned that he was going to South Africa this week. I told him about Walker, Strob supplied vital information (such as where Walker lives!), Olyott mentioned the name of a church which sounded right, and…he’s only going and preaching there on Sunday!!! So he’s saying hello to Wocca for us.

TO THE COWSHED!!!

Stuarty also asked us if we were going to the Spirit of the Puritans, and we said about Camp Reunion, but he said to bring them with us! And then he said to me again about it on Sunday night (during our first conversation in which he didn’t slag off my accent…), so I’m afraid that not going is now not an option!!

All 3 sermons were recorded and videoed, so they should be available soon on Bready’s new site.