The future's bright, the future's red I like others was heartened to read about last night's 5-1 win over Swindon in the FA Youth Cup. I'm sure a tougher test awaits next week in the quarter-finals but after a dearth of recent young talent coming through the academy it cheers every fan to see homegrown players set tongues wagging, even though statistically only a couple of those that played so well last night will make it, at the highest level. Hopefully each one of current exciting crop flourishes into a professional of some standing or another but the more that wear the famous red of Charlton the better.

Charlton's recent arrangement with clubs in the Ivory Coast and China plus the existing relationships with Germinal Beerschot, MyPa 47 and Herfolge Boldklub all gives us reason to be enthusiastic about our future.

I'm not home yet despite leaving the Bahamas yesterday morning. Work took me to Pontiac, Michigan last night, arriving at a hotel at 11.15pm, going straight to bed after a knackering day of travelling, and waking this morning to check out. All for $149 + taxes. Boys and girls, travelling is not always what it appears.

I was part of a client presentation this morning and now I'm at Detroit airport waiting for a flight home to Chicago. I can't sodding wait to see my own place, lie in my own bed, watch my own television and see our brand new bathroom, completed whilst I have been away from home all but 3 of the last 21 nights.

Tomorrow I hope to start to put some routine back into my life, although our too quick an excursion to Paradise Island in the Bahamas was a fantastic break and I hope to write more on that soon.  ¶ 16:39