WOW! Long time!!!!

Hello!!!!!

Wow! It has been forever since I've added something and so much has happened! Let's see, I did a few Christmas, Boxing Day, ManU/Exeter posts, but that was it. The holidays were wondeful. It was so good to see Nathan and everything was great. I couldn't have asked for a better time with him. Unfortunately, Exeter lost to ManU in the rematch, but that was to be expected. It was, however, surprising that ManU played so poorly - Exeter did really really well. Final score: 2-0. Exeter played extremely well.

Before the big rematch, however, I spent my time writing and reading continuously. I wrote three essays in two weeks. Each over 3000 words. It might not seem too much now, but it took forever and was so stressful. I am really glad that is over for now. I didn't do anything - the library became my second home! I even spent my birthday in there! I did take the night off though.

But after all the work was done, I decided to take a break. I changed the date on my return flight from England and came home! I am now in Eugene - actually working on my dissertation. But it was extremely wonderful to see my family for the weekend - we had a birthday dinner! - and then I came down here to get working. So far it has been ok - the work that is. I have been really tired since coming back so actually sleeping way too much probably! Today, I started working on some outline stuff for my dissertation but that is all I have accomplished right now. But that is ok.

The flight here was eventful!! I took a coach to Heathrow airport, 3 and half hours from Exeter, which isn't too bad, but it left at 2:15 AM so I was completely tired for the rest of the journey and didn't sleep too much! The first flight, apart from being slightly delayed was fine. I had about half and hour to catch my next flight - which is nothing in Frankfurt because you have to run all over the place and take buses and trains galore! But fortunately, I made it just fine and everything went smoothly. The flight from Frankfurt to D.C was a whole other story! It was completely fine for me - besides missing my flight to Portland due to bad weather and other circumstance I will tell you about now! First, on my flight, there was a lady who was having heart troubles and then another passenger who need insulin - and she/he didn't speak English and there was no translator! It was a little stressful for the staff because you could see them running back and forth. But it seems they were all ok. But when we finally landed in D.C (over an hour late because of back up from the airport being shut for over an hour from snow) there were ambulances and fire engines lined up where we landed! They all rushed onto the plane and sorted things out. We all had to sit tight and enjoy the plane for another 45 minutes... by the time I got off the plane and rushed through customs and immigration it was way past the departure time for my Portland flight. Most other flights were delayed but of course mine wasn't! Fortunately, they had rerouted everyone already. I had to run to a gate about 10 minutes away to catch a flight to Denver. I just made it - fortunately with the help of a guy who saw on my bag that I was going to Portland, too. He carried one of my bags and we ran. In Denver, that was no different. We quickly ran off the plane (the Denver plan left late too) and didn't wait at the gate for the Portland flight either - just ran on. This last flight was the longest of my life. It just didn't seem to end. I was so hungry as well!!!!

I finally made it to Portland and only about two hours late I think! That wasn't too bad! My baggage wasn't there, but I didn't expect it to be after all the changed and rushed-ness! It was delieved the next day though so that is! It seems like my bags had a good trip as well - they went through San Francisco! :)

Currently, I am in the UO library while Nathan is working hard! At least I am catching up here and with some emails as well. I would love to hear from everyone - it is good to know what you have been up to, too! I should get back to my work though, I better have something to show for my three hours here!

Talk soon! x

Manchester United 0 Exeter City 0

Who would have thought - the poor tiny non-league football club of Exeter held the mighty Manu team in the third round of the FA Cup. What a day. 8 Jan 2005 will be a day Exeter never forgets. Read this article!

FA Cup: Manchester United 0 Exeter City 0

MIGHTY Manchester United face the humiliating prospect of an FA Cup visit to Exeter on January 18 after the plucky non-leaguers wrote themselves into the history books at Old Trafford.

This time last year, Alex Inglethorpe was a youth team coach at Orient, today the 32-year-old masterminded one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history as Exeter deservedly held the holders and 11-times winners to a deserved draw.

Not even the second half introduction of Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Smith could salvage United's pride on a thoroughly miserable afternoon which brought back memories of their similarly painful draw against Walthamstow Avenue on the same ground 51 years ago.

That result was long before United became the richest club in the world but not even their millions could have spared them from total embarrassment had former Red Devils junior Andrew Taylor converted one of the two chances that came his way in the first-half.

In all likelihood, Sir Alex Ferguson's side will still go through but 9,000 jubilant Exeter fans will always be able to say `they were there' the day United were humbled.

If there was one obvious conclusion to be gleaned from the opening 45 minutes it was that Ferguson's back-up side is not capable of sustaining any kind of Premiership title drive.

Against opponents nothing more than organised and determined, the hosts were virtually impotent in front of goal despite dominating possession.

On his senior debut, David Jones buzzed around midfield, trying hard to fire United, while Chris Eagles always looked a potential danger at set pieces. Elsewhere though, the impact was virtually non-existent.

Eric Djemba-Djemba arrived at Old Trafford 18 months ago touted as a successor to Roy Keane, yet the Cameroon international's stock has fallen so far he was not even capable of exerting his authority on Conference opposition today.

Similarly, Liam Miller is a shadow of the player who earned such rave reviews at Celtic and he too found himself outshone by a workmanlike Exeter engine room in which Marcus Martin, Dean Moxey and Taylor were outstanding.

Moxey and Taylor both have United connections, the former man through his lifelong support for Ferguson's men, the latter for his brief spell with the club that ended with an untimely knee injury that threatened his entire career.

Taylor credits Keane and Gary Neville with providing him with the desire to carry on but the veteran United duo might have had cause to regret their words of encouragement had the youngster converted either of the two excellent opportunities that fell his way before the break.

The 22-year-old initially profited when an increasingly nervous Gerard Pique nodded a weak clearance into his path as the Spaniard tried to fend off the attentions of Grecians skipper Sean Devine.

Pique's header bounced up perfectly for Taylor, who unleashed a first-time volley that Howard did well to beat away.

Given today's encounter and Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final at Chelsea to try and apply some pressure to under-fire Roy Carroll, the American was probably glad of the work.

Howard would have been less pleased to see Taylor's delicate free-kick heading so close to his goal five minutes before the break that the vast majority of Exeter's 9,000-strong travelling army actually thought it had gone it.

The effort actually missed by a fraction but it was closer than anything a United side, showing 10 changes from the team held by Tottenham on Tuesday, had managed.

Grecians keeper Paul Jones was called upon on barely half a dozen occasions, most of which were to complete routine saves. His best effort was not even to keep out a shot as an Eagles free-kick fizzed over Wes Brown's head and needed to be palmed away to safety.

Jones was finally beaten within five minutes of the re-start but full-back Scott Hiley came to his rescue, booting off the line when United's Jones fired a 20-yard effort at the visitors' goal.

But another quarter hour of huffing and puffing for no reward left Ferguson no alternative other than to call on Scholes and Ronaldo.

There was no instant reward though, only another scare for the hosts when Steve Flack took Taylor's cross down on his chest inside the box, only for Brown to appear from nowhere before the striker could test Howard's agility.

The arrival of Smith 15 minutes from time threatened to shake Exeter out of their stride and after the burly striker had flicked on a header to send Ronaldo scurrying clear, Jones produced his best save of the match to keep out the youngster's blistering drive.

In a frenzied finish, Scholes had two chances and Smith one. None of them went in though and when Phil Dowd's whistle sounded after three minutes of stoppage time, the roar from the visitors end rumbled all the way down the M5, which is exactly where United will be heading in 10 days' time.

Boxing Day Walk

This was my boxing day walk with Esme, Howard, Heather, and Ian and their friends as well. It was so freezing but gorgeous. The frost shimmered everywhere and the iced-over puddles were fun! It was nice day.

Heather.. before going inside actually 

After a walk a little way into the farm area by Swanbourne lake, we turned around and walked up to the Black Rabbit. It was a nice walk and nice to get inside for awhile and have a drink! 

Ian went exploring ... 

The tower Nathan, Ian, and I walked past is up the top of the hill! Look at al the frost! 

Its hard to see but its pretty! It was so frosty and cold but everything was beautiful. 

Boxing day walk in Arundel - back again! Looking at the castle 

Christmas day!

These are just a select few shots of the day. I've got more if you want to see some more haha! But it gives you a glance of what we do! :)

After tea game of Trivial Pursuit 

Hazel and Heather looking at the new Wolf calendar! 

Presents! (don't worry those on my lap aren't mine -they're Ian) 

Don't forget the rabbit 

A walk before presents! 

Washing up...it takes forever at Christmas 

Boys playing tanks... 

Dessert ... can't find dinner anywhere! This is some more of my family! Esme at the top, Heather, Howard, and George down the left and Alan on the right. 

Christmas day table.... before all the food! 

Christmas Eve Pictures

Enjoy! These are most of my friends from Worthing. I love 'em!

can't really see - but this is Haydon, Tracy's finance. We are all gathered for lunch at the Downlands (a nice restaurant/pub) for our Christmas Eve lunch. We had actually just finished putting together 120 Christingles for the Christmas Eve service that night. All the little kiddies walk around the church with these - its pretty cool. (by the way it is an orange, with a candle in the top, with sweets poked in the top with toothpicks, and a red ribbon (or electrical tape) around the middle!) 

Lauren and Paul - and a cracker again! 

Adam ... cheers! 

Owen? :) 

Lois! Surprise?! 

Tracy! I take no responsibility for these pictures by the way... 

Three.... 

Two... (sorry can't actually see the crackers - just Adam!) 

One... 

Most of these pictures are blurry - something kept changing on my camera. This is Toby and Kim. Toby is responsible for all the weird pictures of me when Lauren and Hayden were throwing crackers at me...