Let the music play

Is a song for this type of activity. And making love of course.

My pal wants a list of music to play on an IPod. Me being a musical type of bear leaves a message to say this is a song that inspires me to get the most rock and roll out of Pip I possibly can.

this this and importantly, this are all in the mix.

Then learn about this. And download a couple of tunes.

then

this, this and this will have to be in there somewhere.

as do this this and this

That's a good start for any student of Rock and Roll.

Love to all the believers in me. And you Pip....your belief in me is wonderful right now.

You're a dream come true.

JVIP

cheerio cheerio cheerio

Is a song by this lot.

Of course the press is dominated by this story today. My own personal view is Jose is good for English football. And, I'm almost sure he will be back next season.

On hearing the news, Sir Alex Ferguson must have been ...er....reasonably happy? Probably more than that TBH.

Arsene Wenger, on the other hand (because Arsenal is up it's ass) may have said something more Gaelic. Please Ash..... Forgive me for saying such a thing but a man has to have his preferences. And "the arse" just....are.....up themselves.

Then there's Reading. A 2.1 cliff-hanger of a game we were very lucky and happy to win. We play this lot in the Carling Cup in the week. Maybe....just maybe......because Benitez is wobbling.

Pip's lot had a disaster at Charlton. Very sad. MM will be hot on the heels of Mr Megson. The man demands success.

Today I've been at home. It's been a challenging day. And I've kept smiling and kept being who I hope I am.

Saw a TV programme last night about this lot. In this Bear's view, one of the greatest bands the UK has ever produced. And it was in the 80's !.....or maybe because of the 80's for goodness sake.

I've been having a time so far let me tell you. My little words don't express very well the ups and downs of it. I do love the Pipster more and more and more I can report.

And what I'm trying to do in my life at the moment, therefore, is to make it possible for Thumper and I to say this to what we once had.

And both move forward in peace and happiness

JVIP

This Sporting Life is killing me

......is a song by this very very wonderful man. Gonna do this song.....it has to be.

Its been a beat up week. Thumper in collapse. Pip, wonderful as ever. Understanding and cool. Underneath...probably quite shaky for one reason and another.

The good news is that this happened. Pip follows this lot for some reason. They are now being held up as ethical champions. Shome mishtake here surely ?

I'm seeing Pip late tonight. Its been nearly a week of extreme stress for all concerned in this management of continuity and change

Work this afternoon and lots to think about there too.

Love to all the wonderful sporting people in my life. Keep the faith everyone.

JVIP

I'm back in town

Is a song by this lady.

The world is full of troubles as usual. Looking here and, at the paper, this morning, I shrink from the stuff I read. It's nearly all bad news.

However, searching for light and shade in a bears' life means I do look for joy in small things.

Thumper's back from Spain. I picked her up at the airport last night. We've been very kind to one another. She asked airily, "What are you doing this weekend ?"

I sent a text to Pip this morning and said "All OK here and have never been so sure about us. I love you"

Talking to Pip later it transpires she's had a bit of a morning. Lots in her mind. Many household jobs to complete, lots of people demanding her attention (including me), the prospect of a huge job interview on Tuesday in London and probably, she needs a break from the world.

As a gift from me to her I send her this, this, this this and this to bring some rock and roll, silliness and joy to an otherwise harassed complexion.

Soon Pip Soon Pip Soon Pip Soon.

JVIP

He's fitba crazy, he's fitba mad.....

are words from a song by these blokes. My pal Andy is subject of the song, found here. Andy is simply autistic about football.

Imagine the scene, both Pip and I at Pip's gaff last night. Already I've said to her, "do you know the result of the England Japan game ?" She Say's, "I haven't looked yet" I laugh and say "I thought you were supposed to be championing Women's' Football"

Cut to Andy, I'm phoning him to talk about the weekend. Phone on loudspeaker so Pip can hear. Long conversation about weekend arrangements ensues, Andy is by turn both helpful and gracious. Then I say "can we do football for a bit ?" He agrees.

I say, "How's Luton doing ?" He gives me a comprehensive response

I say, "How's Woking doing?" He gives me a comprehensive response.

I say, "What do you think of England at the moment?" He gives me a comprehensive response.

I say, "What about the World Cup?" He says, (of course) "20-20 or Women's football ?"

He then gives me a comprehensive update on both situations, gleaned from 5 live in the car on the way home. Pip cheers silently in background because he cant remember the scorers of the goals.

I chide him about 5 Live, or 5 "Dead" as Gaunt has it. Andy then says "I don't do talk sport like you Bear, it's too repetitive" Again, Pip cheers in the background. She so agrees. I think these two are going to get on famously and brand me a fool.

Anyway, the game against Japan can be seen here. Not sure about the goal keeping, but that Kelly Smith is really something. I love the way she stands up under challenge, executes the Cruyff turn and then kisses her boots.

Germany on Friday. Here we go, here we go, here we go.

JVIP

Than you or your finery....

Is a line from this song I heard play yesterday. The woman singer of the band was perfect in every detail. Pretty, charismatic; Her voice steeped in English tradition.

So....instead of indulging my passion for the beautiful game, missing England beat Israel 3-0, I spent some time here.

Pip by my side, the sheer joy of engaging in live music again, after so long, was just lovely.

I would say, quite openly, if I had to chose between watching this lot and this lot with Pip, I'd struggle to pick a winner. Truth is, my recent weekends with her, both of us watching football and live music, have been just something and a bit of an eye-opener.

Other highlights of this last couple of weeks (as I predicted) have been both of us again, doing this, this and this.

Work again tomorrow and Pip has a job interview in a week for something very important. We've spent some time in preparing a wonderful presentation. Interestingly, we worked on this exercise together, like it was a test of how we function as a couple ?

Mostly ( I think anyway) the presentation experience was amazing, we do actually create magic whilst coping with hill-climbing too. We collaborate and talk through difficulties. We will achieve proper things together. There seems to be a weird certainty the sum of our two heads, working together in some way, will be greater than both individuals toiling seperately. We seem to be creative, combative, challenging, respectful, leading, following, chopsy, funny, assertive and very loving. It's an exhausting combination.

If the girl has concerns about this relationship, she hasn't shown them, or I haven't noticed. She's been of good behaviour and character in her dealings with me. I hope (in my turn) to have lived up to her expectations of me. I'm feel I'm such an ordinary old bear in some ways.

Anyway.....the best thing of all is that, yesterday, when we were watching a band who sounded a lot like this, Pip leaned across to me and said "I've worked out reason you were put on this earth bear......it was to put Rock and Roll into people's lives"

Pretty good huh ?

JVIP