And so the recovery continues.....

Sometimes things happen to enable you to get life back into focus. I have had time to reflect over the last few days and I have realised that being alive is far more important than having a car. Due to the fact that I crashed my insurance company have refused to pay out so I will be car less for a while, but I have been encouraged by the fact that the road I live on is on a main bus route. At least I know I won't be stranded and that I can still get to work after all.

The media hoo-ha over Cardiff's signing of Craig Bellamy (pictured) has been crazy to say the least and has been conclusive proof that outside of Wales Cardiff City are despised by a lot of people. Millwall used to be tarred with the same brush but now that we are knocking on the door of the Premier League everyone seems to be having a pop. What people fail to realize is that the club is doing its utmost to fix the mess created by former chairmen Sam Hammam and Peter Ridsdale. It will take time to pay off debts and what Cardiff have done is no different to that of Portsmouth and Crystal Palace who are still signing players despite having greater debts than Cardiff. I think part of it is do with us being a Welsh club and we are seen as a threat to many. People talk about there being a siege mentality at Cardiff and there probably is as the team are determined to get promoted on merit. We are not media darlings, but hopefully this will be our year.

Got any change? I have experienced rather a lot.....

I have heard the Americans describe unexpected events as "curveballs". A week on from my car crash and following my move into a new house share I have experienced unexpected and planned changes in my life. I am now experiencing some of the physical pain from my accident but I am now comfortably settled into my new room. Special thanks must go to my lovely lady whose love, care, support and encouragement has really helped me over the last week and it was really hard to say goodbye to her earlier on today. I am thankful to be alive, blessed to be loved so much by my lady, family and friends and I am now beginning my road to recovery.

It has been an exciting and interesting couple of weeks for the City. Today possibly the biggest name to arrive at the club since John Charles in the early 1960's signed on a season long loan. That man is none other than Wales and Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy. Despair has changed to crazy optimism at Cardiff City Stadium despite the fact that Motherwell decided to go to Sky Sports to complain about money the club owes to them at the same time as the Press Conference unveiling him. It also sends out a message that Cardiff City are now serious contenders for promotion and not relegation which some doomsayers were saying was inevitable a few weeks ago. Change happens, but you've just got to move with it.

All change at the City......................

In case you hadn't noticed the new football season has started. In all honesty up to last week I hadn't been looking forward to it either. I suppose it has been because of the much publicised off the field problems that Cardiff City and Merthyr have suffered, but thankfully both clubs have survived. Whilst Merthyr are currently exiled and playing in Taffs Well, Cardiff City have overcome and paid historical HMRC debts, bills and other pressing debts. Whilst not being out of the woods yet the club does feel like it is stabilising at last. Pictured is Seyi Olifinjana who is one of the four new signings to join the club after the lifting of the transfer embargo. After all of the doom and gloom of recent weeks the return to the club of Jason Koumas has also given everyone a lift. It is possible another 3 new signings could be made and after a creditable 1-1 at home to Sheffield United on Sunday things are looking up.

I am blessed with very good friends and work colleagues and all of them have rallied round me today. I am now on the mend although the pain has started to kick in so I am armed with Ibuprofen to help ease this. I am thankful I have survived and that I have lived through this.

And can it be, that I should blog?.....

I know it's been a while, hasn't it? This is fast becoming an irregular blog but my life is still rolling on at a rapid rate. I will do my best to give you an overview of the last few weeks then, here goes!.....

First of all today is a day that I will remember for two reasons. First of all I am grateful to be alive. At 8.20am this morning as my car skidded off the road into a wall I really thought that was it, but thank God he protected me and I have escaped with bruising and a little bit of whiplash. Ethelred, my car, sadly is no more as her front end is smashed to pieces and she no longer has a roof after the fire brigade had to cut me out of her. I appreciate that it is a God given miracle that I am still here and it has made me value life even more than I did before.

The second reason why I will remember today is because of the sad news that former Cardiff City legend Brian Clark has passed away after a short illness. "Clarkie" will always be remembered for the goal pictured above, which enabled Cardiff City to beat Spanish giants Real Madrid 1-0 at Ninian Park in 1970. Whilst he was approaching retirement when I was born I have enjoyed watching the YouTube video clips of this goal and I am also proud that my Dad was on the Bob Bank that night watching the City too. By all accounts he was a true gentleman and a lovely man who was and will remain a City legend forever.