Boxes It has been an awfully long day starting this morning waking in a New York hotel with a hangover the size of the Empire State Building. It's now nearly bed time in Bermuda and the hangover remains. In fact I've just woken on the sofa after sending both myself and my daughter to sleep by singing the Red, Red Robin. I was doing the singing as she doesn't yet know past the first couple of lines.

24 hours in New York then, split in not equal measure between the office, the bar and hotel bed. My one night to slink away on my own and get 12 hours sleep and I blow it. I tell thee I ain't getting much sympathy here! That final Stella in the hotel bar early this morning was not one of my more prudent ideas. I then had to check in and when I got in my room I thought it was a stock room so full it was of boxes.

Because you can't buy jack in Bermuda except little bottles of pink sand, we bought a load of stuff on the internet (what a great little invention that is turning out to be) and had it all sent to the hotel. It was like Christmas morning when I got back to the room last night. I bet I had a whale of a time if only I could remember!

I did travel back today with Jet Blue and there is something very cool about watching the telly on the plane. I was also very impressed with their new terminal at JFK. It was very posh and even had free wi-fi. Fortunately in my condition it wasn't one of the days for a live concert.  ¶ 21:50 |

  Va-va-vroom I felt pretty sad for the Irish last night, I mean I'll get over it, I probably already have but it was disgraceful wasn't it? Le Hand of God eh? Just like Zinedine Zidane Le headbutt of God. What a lovely gracious nation those French are, if only those stupid Ancient Greeks could have had the balls to keep walking with those vines tucked down their tunics we could've just crossed the country of the map.

I am sure FIFA are very happy that they got the French and Portuguese teams to South Africa. The Argentinians, who were probably the worst of the qualified teams, also got there because FIFA make it almost impossible not to qualify from South America and in fact I don't now why Suriname don't switch from the CONCACAF to the South American qualifiers, get old Jimmy Floyd out of retirement and they'd have a great chance.

Anyway Thierry Henry, what a shame. One of a very small list of footballers never to grace an Addicks shirt that I'd pay very good money to watch. A sublime footballer, and a gentleman to boot. I bet Henry's name must have been mud around the Irish Pubs of Holloway and Islington last night, but I am guessing Arsene Wenger never saw it.

If Robbie Keane did it, if Wayne Rooney did it, if Clive Mendonca did it at Wembley in 1998, would the outcry be the same? Doesn't matter does it because it didn't happen. Time for FIFA to preach what that spout and bring some proper fair play to the beautiful game before it loses all credibility. Let's start with an official behind the goal like they ironically have in the Europa League, or whatever it's called. If an official can be paid to ask managers to keep in their technical box, check that substitutes studs are tight and hold a board up to announce injury time, then we at least deserve a sexually frustrated bloke in black behind the goal to mock.  ¶ 18:27 |

  Elbow Beach Hotel I spent a large amount of today and last night in the Elbow Beach Hotel. This grand and historic hotel will close on November 30th after owner Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and operator's Mandarin Oriental decided visitor numbers were too low for it to continue. This combined with the huge and I suspect unavailable amounts of money required to upgrade it's 235 rooms will result in Elbow Beach becoming for many years to come a sad ghost of a once very distinctive building.

The hotel opened as the South Shore Hotel in 1908 and is rare in that it is timber framed. After WWII it enjoyed socialite status and was a popular college break destination for rich kids in the 80's. It's last upgrade though was in 1991 although the 2003 Hurricane Fabian forced the cottages nearer to the beach to be refurbished and modernised and in fact they will remain open to tourists, albeit without the hotel's infrastructure until the hotel re-opens.

Despite somewhat surprisingly in my mind the hotel being named one of the world's top 500 properties this year by Travel + Leisure Magazine, actually for many years the Mandarin Hotel Group have been kind of stuck with Elbow Beach after they took it over in 2000, receiving no encouragement from the island to bring the resort standards up to their demands. They now plan to re-open the hotel on a much smaller boutique-scale in March 2010. The project has been given a $10m budget and will include a refurbished lobby and a new recreation room as well as the complete renovation of the free-standing Bermuda Room, which will be restored to its authentic 1908 design and used as a banqueting and meeting room.

Restaurant's Lido, Mickeys and Seabreezes will remain open on the beachfront as these are not owned by the hotel but sadly to go are the excellent Seahorse Grill and the lobby's Veranda bar, home of my favourite Friday curry night. I grabbed a massage in the spa today - the girl sounded and in fact looked like Tattoo from Fantasy Island - and this will close also and in total 160 jobs will be lost at the end of this month, half of which are held by Bermudians, spouses of Bermudians or those with Bermudian status. Tourist numbers are down close to 25% for the year. These numbers are complete tosh mind you as they count ex-pat workers coming back into the country.

When the closure was announced Premier Brown expressed optimism on the hotel's future saying when it re-opens "it will then be able to compete with brands like Park Hyatt, Four Seasons and St. Regis." You have to give it to him he does have a wonderful imagination!  ¶ 23:16 |

  It's raining, it's pouring Bloody threw it down all weekend it did apart from around 90 minutes on Saturday when the sun was smiling right over our house. Poured down all day Saturday and yesterday, finally easing up for us to get out of the house around 3pm when the three of us had a nice walk around the Botanical Gardens (left), the best open space on the island and it was great to see it so busy with families and kids exploring it's hidden charms.

I did actually get to play tennis early Sunday but we gave the Rugby Classic final a large swerve Saturday evening as it would've been a mud bath up there. I thought the rain might have suited the Lions but they were thrashed by New Zealand in the final 24-0. The Argentinian Pumas retained the Plate by beating Australia 11-7.

I spent most of the end of last week trying to get out of a work trip this week to Salt Lake City. In the end I managed to get one of my boys to go in my place over the weekend. I have a conference on the island that I am committed to starting tonight and have friend here I would really like to see on Wednesday before I spend 24 hours in New York on Thursday. More importantly I just don't want to be away from home much at the moment, although after 3 defeats I nearly evicted the poor love before kick off Saturday. But after a stern talking to, like those at The Valley she redeemed herself nicely.  ¶ 07:20 |

  Five stars Charlton Athletic 5 Franchise FC 1
Wow. What a way to answer the critics. What was becoming a nasty trend can now hopefully be consigned to the blip category after yesterday's terrific performance at home to Milton Keynes' imported football team. I was lucky to be able to watch most of the game on a very good internet feed, which wiped away the memory of last week's fuzzy one, representional of both the dismal performance and picture.

We have been poor recently as our early season stars' floundered and Parky searched for a Plan B. Parky with a small squad tried to tinker with it, he brought in three loan players and perservered with McLeod. None of these worked, but credit to the manager to change it again this week and rebuild belief and courage in our passing game which returned in sync with vastly improved performances from Nicky Bailey back in the middle, Semedo, Burton and Sam. When Lloyd Sam plays well, the team plays well such is his importance even if often he doesn't realise that himself.

Hopefully Richardson's injury will not prevent him from playing next week because his presence behind Sam I feel is vital. I do feel aggreived for Darren Randolph but the potential permanent signing of Akpo Sodje finally gives us a physical presence up front and I was never a lover of Kandol. Greenwich born like his brother, Akpo might turn out to be a smart move by Parkinson. Him and Mooney may well end up joining Burton, McKenzie and Tuna in a very different looking forward force in the new year as we say goodbye to Dickson, Fleetwood and McMuppet. Named due to his petulance rather than Gonzo the Showman.

My parents were at yesterday's game, up from Eastbourne for their first of the season and they witnessed a five goal display for the first time since August 1998. Like others I have highlighted our lack of goals from open play in recent league games but three of yesterday's five were very well constructed and both Mooney and Sodje finished with aplomb. I read that it is 46 years since 5 different Addick's scored in one game!

Despite yesterday's smile-inducing victory against our closest rivals for 2nd spot, I get the impression that faith amongst Addick's is still brittle but Parky and the boys get another opportunity next week at Yeovil to keep this red machine moving forward. Just like we brooded around in negativity last week, let us this enjoy a five-star week.

Reports: Stickleback; Charlton Casual; Charlton North Downs; The return of Addicks Diary; Drinking During the Game; And Nothing Else Matters; Charlton Athletic Online; Many Miles; Doctor Kish.  ¶ 14:40 |

  Lion hearts Rugby week in Bermuda ends tomorrow with a repeat of last year's final when the Classic Lions will play the Classic All Blacks. In the plate last year's winners the Classic Pumas face the Classic Wallabies. I have a ticket for tomorrow and depending on the weather might see if I can get the family along to watch also.

I went on Wednesday night and like I said last year I was surprised at how hard these blokes play. Some of them are approaching 50 and if anyone wanted to witness Gallic and British relations close up, then to see these two veteran teams going at each other for an hour wouldn't have left anyone in any doubt of the rivalry. It was a scrappy but thrilling encounter on a slippy surface after it rained like billy-o for the whole day. Punch-ups were interspersed between some not unexpected sloppy play but with Colin Charvis and Mark Regan's quality showing the Lions came out on top 12-7.

Last night in the other semi, the All Blacks beat South Africa 5-0 in a much duller game by all accounts and will Saturday try to wrestle the Classic trophy off the Lions for their first victory since 1996.  ¶ 08:46 |

  A very bad case of cup fever Southampton 2 Charlton Athletic 1
As performance's in the cup go, this season has taken the biscuit, and this from Charlton, who ruddy invented the Hob Nob. I used to bemoan the fact we couldn't get past the 4th Round of the FA Cup and occasionally actually believed Curbs when he annually rolled out the "a team like us can win the League Cup" line. This season's cup record for your enjoyment: Defeat at Hereford in front of just 2,000 people, Blue Square North Northwich bloody Victoria in front of a gleeful FA Cup television audience and poxy Alan Pardew in the Paint Pot, a competition we almost got a bye into the friggin final.

I know you worry about me, so you'll be pleased to know I had learnt my lesson from Sunday and spent yesterday afternoon at home (11/11 is a Bermudian public holiday) and avoided the pub, any internet feeds and the online commentary and watched a film called Chéri with my sleepy-other-half, whilst jiggling my daughter on my knee. Time well spent.

Whilst I watched Michelle Pfeiffer educate a young French dude in the lessons of love, previously super Alan Pardew was educating his ex-assistant in the lessons of playing progressive football with confidence.

It appears strange that in early November Parkinson no longer appears to know which formation or line up to play, whereas just two months ago it all seemed so easy. One bright spark apart from McMuppet being suspended for three games, was the late introduction of a Leon and Deon strike partnership resulting in a long awaited goal from open-play. It is said that Luke Holden also make a decent impression, but for me now it is all Parky earning his new contract.

One has always felt that the confidence around the club has been brittle, both on the field and on the terraces. Last night's result and the inexplicable dropping of Randolph hasn't helped the doomsayers, of which there are plenty but I hope the fans give the team a chance on Saturday because we have to stick together and it's not been very often we have started games in 2nd place this last decade. Come on you reds.  ¶ 10:36 |

  Good old moan When living abroad one misses conversation and debate about all walks of British life, whether it be the weather, politics, culture, the price of a pint of beer or football and as other ex-pats will no doubt tell you whenever one gets an opportunity for a 'good old moan' with another Brit then it makes for a refreshing and thought-provoking occasion. Trust me, it does.

However after results like Sunday it is with a happy acceptance that I do not have to go into work the next day to be ridiculed about my football team and can chose effectively to ignore the media gleefully rubbing their hands over a 24-hour newspaper story that will wrap fish and chips come midweek.

Since Sunday's final whistle I have only read fellow blogs. I forwent the comments and (with apologies to Danny and Adam) avoided Charlton Life like the plague, which I imagine has become an online institute for the mega-depressive.

Fortunately for me this blog has always been about other things in my life, and not solely about Charlton Athletic. It is about everything that my life brings and that I am passionate about including my 35-year love affair with Charlton. Nonetheless despite giving me a different perspective the fact I see so few games live Chicago Addick would never have lasted this long if it was solely about the rise and fall of Charlton Athletic, and although our dramatic demise has stimulated plenty of material, I would have probably chopped my fingers off by now.

On the back of heaps of negativity and pessimism Wyn Grant today decided to surprisingly suspend his Addick's Diary blog, the most judicious of us all. The erudite New York Addick has also announced the closure of his, although I hope that second thoughts prevail once he gets back to the UK. Frankie Valley disappeared and the provocative Inspector Sands, the inspiration for most of us Addick bloggers, long lost real interest in All Quiet, for many of the same reasons as Wyn describes today. The Inspector doesn't hide behind anonymity anymore and at 853 continues to chronicle his life, which now includes running as a Green Party candidate at the next Greenwich elections.

There are plenty of new Addick bloggers on t'interweb because for however despairing and cynical we all are, in true Charlton fashion we like to do something about it. If you haven't taken a look I would recommend And Nothing Else Matters and Charlton Casual for a different take on matters plus Big Dave Lockwood has also announced a comeback.

I find writing gives me a vocation I never had, it allows me to express myself, I have had someone to talk to, it opens my mind to stuff, it keeps a diary, it has allowed me to meet loads of great people and blimey, has it given me a chance to have a good old moan over the years.  ¶ 13:16 |

  Rugby week This week is commonly known as Rugby Week in Bermuda as the island gets invaded by big strapping blokes well past their prime, but not when it comes to drinking. Eight nations consisting of France, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, Argentina and a Lions squad showcase ex-international XV's in what was last year the best sporting week of the Bermudian calendar.

The Bermuda Rugby Classic started yesterday and continues until Saturday and not surprisingly involves a lot of drinking. I could if didn't value my manhood go every night but I have decided just to do Wednesday, which is the first night of the semi-finals.

A quick glance down the squad lists and 'a Google' tells me that Colin Charvis (Wales), Breyton Paulse (South Africa), Lisandro Arbizu (Argentina), Jeremy Paul (Australia), David Auradou (France) and Axel Foley (Ireland) are the most recognisable names but like last year JPR Williams and Willie John McBride are part of the Lions official party and will be cheering on from the beer tent/sidelines. All joking aside though I have to say that last year I was taken aback by how hard the players played, to be fair rugby players of any level don't know how to play any other way.

Yesterday the Lions dispatched a Classic USA team 29-5 and I am told that the French and the Wallabies drew 0-0, but then after two periods of extra time in what was an awful apology of a match, the bar was calling and they held a penalty shoot-out. Has this ever happened before? Stuart Pinkerton missed and the French won 3-2! The Lions won the title last year but a little birdie told me that a strong Argentinian outfit are the team to beat.  ¶ 16:09 |

  Little short of a disgrace Northwich Victoria 1 Charlton Athletic 0
To think I wasted 2 hours of my life to watch that load of bollocks. Fiddling around with internet feeds, listening to some bloke doing a thankless job in front of the television, and all the time I could have been enjoying my family, been outside in the sun or putting my odd socks into pairs. The couple of hundred who made the journey deserve an apology and I heard they didn't even get acknowledged by our lot at the end.

From start to finish we were second best in every way. I wasn't expecting a great performance but I was expecting some heart. Rapidly this season is quickly following the pattern of the last three and the low blows to Addick fans everywhere keep on coming.

Ultimately the FA Cup this season doesn't bother me, I suspect like most Charlton fans, but what does bother me is that losing was no suprise. Come on, who's surprised? The only surprise is that was only the first time we've lost to a non-league team in the club's history! Taking nothing away from Northwich though, they thoroughly deserved their win.

The manager will be getting it in the neck, at least until he has an opportunity to right today's humilation against a team 76 league places below us. Yes Parkinson select's the side (agreed McLeod as a lone striker appeared a rough choice even before kick off), sets the team up, prepares them and gives them the belief and encouragement to play but apart from Randolph, Dailly and Sodje the entire team should be lying in bed tonight embarrassed by their day's 'work'.

Doubt has taken root for a few weeks now and after 3 completely ineffective displays against inferior opposition it has well and truly starting to sprout. It is paramount that the next week brings positive results so we can erase today's nightmare otherwise the doubt flower will be in full bloom and it will be time for the shears.

Quote: "We lost 0-1 to that team so far below us!! Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr." - An email from my son after the game.
Reports: All Quiet; Out in the rain.
Media's glee: Telegraph; Guardian; Independent; Daily Mail; Times.
Photo: Courtesy of Big Dave Lockward.  ¶ 22:20 |

  A damp squib We tried our first road trip on Saturday with AC, 12-days old time to see the world we thought. It's not like you can go far. Shaped like a fish hook, at each end of Bermuda's 21 square miles is 20,000 leagues of the Atlantic Ocean, and in between only a couple of roads extend the whole length of the main island. So in the afternoon we headed west as we drove to Dockyard.

Once the principal Atlantic base for the Royal Navy now a tourist trap we drove the 20 minutes from our house and pushed the pram around closed or mostly empty shops, galleries and art studios. The drive back didn't go so well with 20 minutes of crying. Perhaps she didn't like my driving or the radio, the local stations make me weep.

Then in the early evening we planned to do the 2nd leg of our exploration by driving as far east as you can go to St Catherine's Fort in St George's to watch the annual firework display from the sanctuary of our car (we went last year). This is more like a 40-minute drive (remember the 35khm speed limit) but this time we got five minutes down the road and the car was reverberating to a pissed off 12-day old now fully aware of how to get her way. We turned round and went home. Hmm.  ¶ 07:24 |

  Away days Just 204 making the long and laborious Sunday trip to Northwich despite the fading attraction of the cup and a new ground to boot, but who can blame Addick's for choosing ITV and a roast dinner or pub food over travelling. It's just a shame for the famous Blue Square North club that they will lose out on the atmosphere but revenue-wise they should come out on top receiving £67,500 for the disruption, much needed as the Vics continue to battle to come out of administration.

With a run of five out of six games away from home including Carlisle, Yeovil, Southampton in the Paint Pot also on the box and Northwich, then it is asking a lot for people to dig deep in pockets and probably irritate partners and family. Nevertheless our away following, much derided in recent years has been I think superb this season, and up until Saturday was averaging 1,646, only bettered by Leeds in the division. The 646 at Carlisle on Saturday I actually thought was a splendid turnout considering most of the 30+ brigade had probably been there and done that.

Our start to the season, and a flurry of new or long since visited grounds plus I think a big dose of old boys coming out of the closet and feeling the urge to back the team has all helped the numbers but with just 600 sold for St Marys on Wednesday I think we all need a morale booster, especially in front of the cameras to keep us all on an upward curve.

The club announced late this week the ticket details for Brighton and I can only congratulate them on how they have planned the allocation, which rightly rewards loyalty. I have never been to the Withdean (although my son has) and initially the Tuesday night game might have coincided with a home visit. My chances, justly so, of getting an away ticket are non-existent but I do have a Brighton supporting mate that has offered me a ticket if I can be back in the UK for the end of the month. Unfortunately the babies passport will I suspect take a bit longer.

Throughout my years I used to be a regular away traveller and I'm determined to clock up a new ground this season, I did do Bournemouth, but I mean a proper away day if I can time the trip and assemble together some of the lads. You cannot beat a good day out following the Addicks and I hope the hardy couple of hundred who make it to Northwich's ground in the old salt mining district of Wincham are richly rewarded tomorrow. I meanwhile have pretty much resigned myself to an internet feed or the CAFCTV commentary live from someone's living room!  ¶ 07:07 |

  Bermuda's new political party Bermuda got it's third political party yesterday when the Bermuda Democratic Alliance (BDA) was launched by ex-United Bermuda Party (UBP) MP Shawn Crockwell. Bermudians have watched the UBP navel watch and splinter, then just 6 weeks ago key MP's Crockwell, Mark Pettingill and Donte Hunt walked out on the UBP and announced they were to begin a centralist party to compete against the governing Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and the stagnated UBP.

I missed it but yesterday at the House of Assembly Crockwell talked about a "better way," which judging by the amount of times he used it will become the BDA's tagline. Both the PLP and UBP are over 40 years old and have systematically used race and class as a battering ram and it was good to hear Crockwell say that the party, which includes former members from both of the extant parties plus the business and education sector, will "reject the use of race and class as a means of political success."

The BDA party had 622 Facebook members tonight, just 48 hours after it opened.  ¶ 19:23 |

  Red flag One thing I have noticed being back at work is the huge Union Jack flag (photo) that flew proudly over Hamilton on Front Street has gone and been replaced by a Bermudian flag instead. I suppose that is their right and I always thought it strange but it disappointed me because seeing it flutter in the breeze always made me feel proud and homesick in equal measures.

Upon research the Corporation of Hamilton have given the I think rather sappy reason that it is for simplicities sake. Apparently the Corporation are unable to fly the flag at half mast without consent from Buckingham Palace, but they can do what they like with their own standard, which for those unfamiliar with it is a red ensign with the Union Flag in the upper left corner, and the coat of arms of Bermuda to the right.

This story passed with little attention, and no one else is probably bothered but I'm just disgruntled by what apparently appears little thought into changing something that has been in place since 1815 when the flag was first raised over Hamilton when it took over as the island's capital from St George's.  ¶ 17:39 |

  Paternity Back to work today after a week's paternity leave and a little added holiday. I guess I have a job which never allows me to switch off, then again maybe that's my own fault but I reckon what with the office being 10 to 15 minutes away I could quite easily work from home. No need to buy work clothes because I am equally as efficient in front of my laptop with my jammies on, no need to buy lunch, drink shit coffee or actually have to see anyone I don't want to. Perfect. And they could save on all my intrinsic costs, and pay me more.

Just to think I used to stand on that platform and squeeze onto trains and spend half my life commuting and vowed never to work from home. Then in Chicago I used to walk the 2 miles in every day (unless it was freezing then jumped a cab for $7), now I am just a mile and half away by road or a ferry across the harbour, but I have decided I would rather work from home. Menopause or nappy brain or something.

Oh, and I can stay up later and have lie-in's, well at least I could've. I did stay up late last night to watch those damn New York Yankees win their 27th 'world' series by seeing of the Phillies in game six 7-3. Had to roll my eyes at those New Yorkers pumping their chests and screaming at reporters that it had been a whole nine years since their last title. Chicago Cubs fans have waited and continue to wait. 1908 being the Cubs last victory, and 1945 their last appearance.  ¶ 13:35 |

  No Parkinson signs So should Parky have been rewarded with a contract extension then? I personally think it was a well timed bonus for Parky despite the obvious drop in form. The board have always, since 2006, had faith in the man and I suspect they feel that he handled himself very well throughout a very difficult and uncertain summer. Add to this that the more veteran board members feel PP is 'more Charlton' then I think you have the answer.

I suspect Richard Murray, and maybe Derek Chappell had privately given Parkinson until this point of the season to weigh up their options and consider the manager's position. He passed and perhaps, a small perhaps the board wanted to avoid any 'Curbs coming back' or 'Parkinson for Reading' headlines causing an unwanted distraction to the season's goal, promotion. Money became available, a couple of younger players have been recognised with pay rises and so now has their boss.

A third of the season gone but the table hides some growing concerns doesn't it? Where has the spark gone, the domination of midfield, the exciting counter-attacking, the confidence? Questions Parkinson with his new contract needs to answer and soon otherwise we are going to undo all of the good work that started at Sparrows Lane on warmer days.

We are going to lose games. We lost 13 in 74/75 including a thrashing at lowly Aldershot and 12 in 80/81, which included a 4-0 stuffing at Chester and eventually relegated Colchester did the double over us. I looked at Parkinson's Colchester promotion camapaign and they only won one of the first eight games. He is proven at this level and despite the paucity of the squad, it contains some of the best in the division. However he will be looking for some of the characters to step out of the shadows. No time like Sunday eh?

Yes I am a little anxious but then again I know how fickle I am, a couple of wins and I will be back on the straight and narrow. Losing games inspires good teams, and Leeds' last two games have underlined that.

A very simplistic view and mine is to go back to what was working at the beginning of the season. 4-4-1-1. Bring Shelvey back, god he must be chomping at the bit. Play to Burton strengths (unless we allow him to sort his hernia out) by allowing him to hold play up with his back to goal and enable Racon, Sam and Bailey to flourish in a more flexible midfield five. Funny, well not funny at all, that it's the players who were, well excellent in the first nine games - Bailey, Sam, Racon, Burton - who are now the most off form. Plan A Parky, that is why it is called Plan A.

Finally before I change a nappy, great result for the youth's tonight at home to Gillingham in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. Good inspiration to the first teamers I hope.  ¶ 22:39 |