All Hallows Eve

On the whole I'm fairly relaxed about Halloween. If people want to dress up as witches, skeletons or zombies then OK - I don't think it's going to lead down some slippery slope to worshipping Satan.

Similarly I don't think Harry Potter will lead to devil worship. I've never understood the inconsistency that Lord of Rings was 'OK' yet Harry Potter was 'evil' - this largely seemed to rely on the fact that Tolkien was a Catholic and ignored that sorcery and spells run deep through book series of books. However, 'Trick or Treat' really annoys me.

Two reasons - firstly, it's a dreadful import from the USA. Had any of us ever come across it until we watched ET? Let's stand against this cultural imperialism.

Secondly, it sends really confusing messages to children. On one extreme this week we have had the bizarre playground story in Watford - on the other, for one night a year we dress children up and send them off to ask strangers for sweets.

For either reason let's not encourage 'Trick or Treat'.

And the grumpy old man rant ends...

Lets play ball

Sunday I headed off to Wembley to the NFL game. Can't say it was as close as the two previous regular season games played in London - New England Patriots did a workmanlike job of defeating Tampa 35 -7. It's not that Tampa's defence were that bad - but their offense was very poor. They have yet to win this season, and if they carry on playing like they did on Sunday it'll be a long and win less regular season.

I've now been to Wembley 3 times to see football - once association and twice American - over the past few years. It really does disappoint as venue.

Sight lines and seats are great - I've sat in very different places and each has been fine. The problem is not really the arena, it's the whole experience. It's simply in the wrong place. Getting there is not simple and getting back is worse - despite improvements the transport links are still poor for such a venue. The location is wrong - there is nothing else to there apart from go to the stadium, unless you want to shop at nearby IKEA. The lack of bars, restaurants and just general space around the stadium adds to the chaos on leaving events; as there is no reason to stay there everyone heads to the tube.

Once inside it's not much better - you queue for everything for far too long. Food is expensive, poor and takes far too long to serve, and queuing for a programme takes too long - even when they are priced at £10 so the seller rarely has to make change. Wembley likes to boast it has loads of toilets - it may well do but you still have to queue too long. This Sunday it was the longest I've ever queued at an event for the loo - which suggests whilst they have a lot of loos, the loos to people ratio is inadequate.

Wembley cost a ridiculous amount of money and hosts numerous events each year - by now any teething troubles should have been sorted. I just expect better from our 'national stadium'.

Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium is just so much better - I fear for the 2012 Olympics.

Website of the week

Been a busy week so far and it's only Tuesday.

Still - this website might make you feel better...

Blogging will be back

To say that blogging in 2009 has been 'irregular' is an understatement. 'Twas never intended to be thus.

The past five or so months have been pretty 'full on' and various things have had to be put on hold - the blog was one.

Readers may not miss it - but I do!

Hopefully it'll be back soon.