Happy Birthday

[PeterWithesShin]

Yacouba Sylla. 23 today. I wonder if any of his presents were a surprise surprise. Sorry but thought i'd get that in first.

[Toronto Villa]

Also early birthday wishes to the big man up front (oh, and me...) for December 3rd. Let's hope CB can bag a hattrick this weekend which would be an ace present for him and me.

[supertom]

He's getting on a bit now.

[olaftab]

Also early birthday wishes to the big man up front (oh, and me...) for December 3rd. Let's hope CB can bag a hattrick this weekend which would be an ace present for him and me.

You are just greedy...tut tut kids of today!

[olaftab]

Oh yes happy birthday Yacouba... so  are a very lucky boy to be wearing that shirt every week.

[Toronto Villa]

Also early birthday wishes to the big man up front (oh, and me...) for December 3rd. Let's hope CB can bag a hattrick this weekend which would be an ace present for him and me.

You are just greedy...tut tut kids of today!

I know. I want a present in advance and also on the day. The Beast and I were chatting the other day and he wants the same thing.

[olaftab]

All I will say is it's time for him to deliver your present.

[Toronto Villa]

All I will say is it's time for him to deliver your present.

Yes, I agree. It would be well received if our improved defensive performances were rewarded with some goals from our top marksman. I think tomorrow we might see a return to the tried and trusted Gabby and Weimann either side of Benteke. We need him back in the goals.

[Legion]

4th anniversary of the McGregor statue aswell.

[dave shelley]

I didn't want to start a separate thread for this so I'll put it in here.  Mods, feel free to move it if you wish.

Yesterday was my sixty-fifth birthday, I'm officially an OAP!  Finally, after nearly five years of being unemployed I can feel the guilt of not working lifting from my shoulders, I can officially say I'm retired.  Up until losing my job; I'd worked since I left school at fifteen.  Now, after almost five years I no longer have to stand in what for me has been a line of shame at the post office waiting for the weekly hand out.  I'm old school you see; and believe that what my father told me was a truism.  I should work until I was sixty-five, earn my own living, be beholden to no one and pay my way, then I could pack it in.  I actually feel cheated if you can understand that, I never saw out my time.  Despite the futility of it all; I kept looking and applying for work but, given the times we are living in, it never happened.

Don't get me wrong, it could have been worse, my family are raised and we have no mortgage but my self-esteem has taken a battering.  Mrs S has been great support; giving me great encouragement throughout my time of unemployment and making sure that I had no need to worry and that things would be fine.  She's been a great friend.  My pensions have now kicked in so that there is light at the end of the tunnel for me insomuch as I feel masculine again.  As I say, I'm old school.

Those of us who have been in this position will have some understanding of how I have been feeling and that some of you will be thinking he's a being a big tart about this and feeling sorry for himself but, I've never felt sorry for myself.  I've kept going and have undertaken back to education courses to a level that has seen me achieve the equivalent of A levels and have the opportunity to enter University; something I am thinking about.

I know it sounds as though I have been whinging but, really I haven't, it's just that I wanted to put it down in words.  It's a major milestone in my life and I'm so happy to have reached it.  Thanks for reading.

[olaftab]

You bugger you made it before RA goes up!
Happy belated birthday Dave and above is a great read.

[Louzie0]

Very pleased for you!
Enjoyed the post, definitely not a whinge.
Enjoy yourself and the best of times for your retirement.

[eastie]

I didn't want to start a separate thread for this so I'll put it in here.  Mods, feel free to move it if you wish.

Yesterday was my sixty-fifth birthday, I'm officially an OAP!  Finally, after nearly five years of being unemployed I can feel the guilt of not working lifting from my shoulders, I can officially say I'm retired.  Up until losing my job; I'd worked since I left school at fifteen.  Now, after almost five years I no longer have to stand in what for me has been a line of shame at the post office waiting for the weekly hand out.  I'm old school you see; and believe that what my father told me was a truism.  I should work until I was sixty-five, earn my own living, be beholden to no one and pay my way, then I could pack it in.  I actually feel cheated if you can understand that, I never saw out my time.  Despite the futility of it all; I kept looking and applying for work but, given the times we are living in, it never happened.

Don't get me wrong, it could have been worse, my family are raised and we have no mortgage but my self-esteem has taken a battering.  Mrs S has been great support; giving me great encouragement throughout my time of unemployment and making sure that I had no need to worry and that things would be fine.  She's been a great friend.  My pensions have now kicked in so that there is light at the end of the tunnel for me insomuch as I feel masculine again.  As I say, I'm old school.

Those of us who have been in this position will have some understanding of how I have been feeling and that some of you will be thinking he's a being a big tart about this and feeling sorry for himself but, I've never felt sorry for myself.  I've kept going and have undertaken back to education courses to a level that has seen me achieve the equivalent of A levels and have the opportunity to enter University; something I am thinking about.

I know it sounds as though I have been whinging but, really I haven't, it's just that I wanted to put it down in words.  It's a major milestone in my life and I'm so happy to have reached it.  Thanks for reading.

Belated wishes dave , hope we win tomorrow to help celebrate your milestone .
A lovely post and sorry to hear about your recent troubles , you are a really decent bloke and  it's always nice reading your posts.

[Steve kirk]

I didn't want to start a separate thread for this so I'll put it in here.  Mods, feel free to move it if you wish.

Yesterday was my sixty-fifth birthday, I'm officially an OAP!  Finally, after nearly five years of being unemployed I can feel the guilt of not working lifting from my shoulders, I can officially say I'm retired.  Up until losing my job; I'd worked since I left school at fifteen.  Now, after almost five years I no longer have to stand in what for me has been a line of shame at the post office waiting for the weekly hand out.  I'm old school you see; and believe that what my father told me was a truism.  I should work until I was sixty-five, earn my own living, be beholden to no one and pay my way, then I could pack it in.  I actually feel cheated if you can understand that, I never saw out my time.  Despite the futility of it all; I kept looking and applying for work but, given the times we are living in, it never happened.

Don't get me wrong, it could have been worse, my family are raised and we have no mortgage but my self-esteem has taken a battering.  Mrs S has been great support; giving me great encouragement throughout my time of unemployment and making sure that I had no need to worry and that things would be fine.  She's been a great friend.  My pensions have now kicked in so that there is light at the end of the tunnel for me insomuch as I feel masculine again.  As I say, I'm old school.

Those of us who have been in this position will have some understanding of how I have been feeling and that some of you will be thinking he's a being a big tart about this and feeling sorry for himself but, I've never felt sorry for myself.  I've kept going and have undertaken back to education courses to a level that has seen me achieve the equivalent of A levels and have the opportunity to enter University; something I am thinking about.

I know it sounds as though I have been whinging but, really I haven't, it's just that I wanted to put it down in words.  It's a major milestone in my life and I'm so happy to have reached it.  Thanks for reading.

All the best in your retirement Dave

[Chipsticks]

Congrats on the retirement Dave, and happy birthday to the Yak.