Is Christmas Really Worth The Bother

I pondered this intriguing question when last week my sister asked me what were my plans for Christmas 2010. My initial reaction is why the hell are you asking me in the middle of May. However, my second response was more diplomatic. I gave her a non-committal answer that I would inform her nearer the time - like 24 hours before Xmas day. Naturally, being young, free and single I like to leave my options open. You never know my numbers may come up on the Euro lottery between now and then or Beyonce Knowles may see the error of her ways and divorce the ghastly Jay Z and whisk me away to a tropical paradise.

Notwithstanding, those two unlikely outcomes, I gave serious thought, on a warm May Bank Holiday weekend, about Christmas and the notion that why do people really bother about this commercially and is the seasonal festivities over-hyped and worth the paper its written on.

I considered first the absurdity of lavishing expensive presents on relatives who you don't see from one year to the next. As soon as you are in their presence it becomes all too apparent that the reason you don't seem them is that you dislike them intensely. These relatives would buy you gifts which not only lacked imagination but you were darn sure the presents were purchased at the closing down sale of their local Woolworth's, from the shelves marked 99 pence or under - several dozen for the price of one. My collection of Mickey Mouse socks, Brute aftershave (who wears brute!!) and Imperial Leather talcum powder (again who uses talcum powder -surely it's only used on babys' bums).

This is compounded by the awful prospect of spending the Christmas holidays with these people. The idea of sharing the same continent let alone the same house is truly terrifying.

I still cringe from last year at the obscene spectacle of Uncles' George and Frank swirling their dentures in their Guinness and 90 year-old Great Auntie Norma confusing me with Jasper, my sister's Labrador.

The only positive, is the joy I get seeing my nieces and nephews over the Christmas vacation. The pleasure watching them as they unwrap their presents outweighs all the negatives.

I can tolerate the eccentricities of my uncles and aunts, and the persistent rantings of my sister and her husband haranguing me over my unmarried status. All this is bearable as long as my sister's children still possess that innocence about Christmas and don't become a cantankerous old cynic like their uncle. As long that thankfully continues Christmas is worth bothering, just about!

Rising Tide of Violence Against Referees

With the 2010 World Cup just around the corner and England one of the favourites to win the Jules Rimet Trophy, everything appears to be buoyant within the English professional game. However, this cannot be said of the amateur game. Indeed the future of amateur football is in crisis after a report reveals that over 1 in 3 referees are leaving the game because of the fear of violence from players and supporters.

The study by the Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research at Leicester University suggest that with so many referees leaving the game and fewer people willing to replace them, that within a decade some amateur leagues may well fold because of the shortage of qualified referees.

The problem is particularly acute in London, where according to the London Football Association (LFA) some league matches were cancelled last season because of the absence of trained match officials.

Regarding assaults on referees LFA statistics show that there were 41 recorded assaults for the 2009/2010 season. These do not take into account the assaults, which were not reported.

Many of the reported attacks on referees normally land at the desk of Stephen Perrins, the general secretary to the London Society of Referees. An organisation that looks after the welfare of referees in the capital. He shares the concerns of the report.

Perrins said: "I have known of referees being head-butted and punched by players when a decision has gone against their team. There was even one incident where a wife of a player got so irate that she ran on to the pitch and starting hitting the referee with her umbrella."

Perrins feels that players discipline has gradually worsened over the years.

He said: "There has always been verbal abuse directed towards referees. Normally this can be dealt with within the laws of the game. But what you see now is that players and even supporters go beyond verbal abuse and feel it's their right to man-handled referees as well."

Perrins, 49, said that more needed to be done by clubs and leagues to severely reprimand players if they have been found guilty of serious assault against referees.

Chris Tanning, a referee for nearly 3 decades echoes this view. He has become one of many officials who has fallen victim to the violence spreading in amateur football.

"18 months ago I took charge of a game where I sent of a player for abusive behaviour. He was so incensed with my decision that he head-butted me smashing my jaw," Tanning said.

The father of two, had to undergo two major operations to repair three fractures in his jaw. He now wears a steel plate in his head.

Despite his horrific ordeal Tanning still officiates today even though his family have urged him to pack it in.

"I still get spat at and called every name under the sun," said the 59-year-old. "There's quite a lot of that going on at the moment, and it has definitely got worse over the past few years. That's why we are losing so many referees in London and elsewhere."

At the other end of the age spectrum is John Good who qualified as a referee just six months ago. But already he has to run the gauntlet of hate every week from players and supporters at the tender age of 19.

Good said: "In six months, I've been physically attacked and have received verbal threats in almost every game. On one occasion, I sent a player off and, as he was leaving the pitch, he said he would burn my house down with my family inside."

Good warned that violence was destroying the game at grass-roots level and fewer younger referees like himself were coming through because of it.

He said: "We need unified and stringent action not only from clubs and leagues but also from the governing body the LFA to stamp out verbal and physical intimidation from the game before it's too late."

David Fowkes, the chief executive of LFA is all too well aware of the crisis facing non-league football in London. He believes that the newly introduced National Participants Database (NPD), would be one measure to solve this problem.

He said: "Everybody involved in football, be it clubs, players, coaches or referees would need to register on the new database and be given an unique number."

This initiative Fowkes said would identify players who have been previously banned for violent conduct not being able to play for another club using a different name.

"The database will weed out violent offenders and reduce the intimidation that referees have to endure," he explained.

Fowkes also said that the LFA would be announcing a crackdown on violence and abusive behaviour towards referees both on and off the pitch.

He said: "Referees at this level need our full protection because without them amateur football will slowly die."

Torremolinos Beach Hotel - Value for Money Vacation

My two friends and I holidayed at the Torremolinos Beach Club Hotel for 7 nights. Our first impressions of the All-Inclusive establishment were pleasing. The service at reception on our arrival was quick, efficient and pleasant. The reception staff spoke excellent English and directed to our rooms within minutes of arriving. The rooms were clean, spacious and had splendid uninhibited views of the beach from the balcony. The bathroom had all the mod-cons (even a bi-day) and the shower was first class. The rooms were cleaned daily and the towels were replaced just as frequently.


The location of the hotel from clubs and bars was a 10-15 minutes taxi-drive away (at a cost of 15 Euros). For frequent night owls like my friends and I, it was disappointing not having the nightlife within walking distance. The evening entertainment held at the hotel in general was pretty non-eventful. Having bingo most nights was not a particular highlight of the vacation. However, it did appear to go down well with the other holiday-makers who mostly seem to be well beyond retirement age.


The food was good and plentiful. It catered for the British palate, so there was hardly any Spanish offerings, which personally was a pity. I think the hotel missed a trick there not offering, only if occasionally, paella and other local dishes. One or two people did complain about food poisoning. But as the manager explained to me, when the British come they eat their weight in food and consume enough alcohol to sink a battleship. From what I witness, I would tend to concur with him.


The hotel swimming pool was huge and looked fantastic. Unfortunately, as the weather was somewhat chilly, nobody dared to have a dip out of fear of catching pneumonia. But I guess when the weather gets warmer the pool is definitely a plus point for the hotel. Within the confines of the hotel there were plenty of pool tables, access to the Internet and other recreational activities to keep you occupied.


The most pleasing aspect of the holiday and why I would recommend it to anybody searching for an excellent value for money All-Inclusive deal was the hotel staff, from the manager downwards. All were extremely polite and did everything they could to help even under the most trying of circumstances. Special thanks goes to Jacky Lopez the Duty Manager at the Beach Club Hotel, who set an exemplary standard in customer service to which all his staff followed.


I wish I could say the same for the company we booked this trip with. Thomson were simply awful. They forgot to pick us up from the hotel on departure and we had to pay 30 Euros to get to the airport. We nearly missed our return flight to Gatwick. If you have any sense please book this first-rate hotel via another company because Thomson are completely pants.