h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Where do I start?

Walked into work a couple of Sundays ago, and was rapidly on my way to purchase waders. Central London on a Sunday and I had to settle for wellingtons - finally I can praise America wholeheartedly...

I really needed waders though. Spent the next eight hours trying to get to York by train - lucky old me on flood duty for the next five days. Really could have used those waders.

Still, got to get assaulted by a hovering chinook - and hit by a nice big thorny bush it uprooted. A female colleague remarked the sandblasting part of the experience was just like a really intense facial. Not quite sure what she meant, but I felt strangely cleansed. As if I'd shed a layer of skin or something. And the tropical air in the middle of November might have had something to do with it's exhaust.

I can't recommend the experience highly enough.

Standing in front of a flood defence until it burst and then racing out in convoy was a bit of a rush too.

Though the cold, wet, soggy, freezing bits were a bit of a drag.

In my last entry I remarked on the embarrassing home exit from the Worthington Cup to Birmingham City - well briefly. Interesting sensation to walk out of a usually very peaceful ground to hear the sound of fans protesting and see a platoon of riot police march past.

Thankfully, they were heading after the Birmingham fans to stop any trouble....

The four or five hundred protesting in Bill Nick Way were in good humour too - there was an ironic air of resignation, all knowing that nothing would happen overnight. One jovial wit even came up with a variation on the good old "Tottenham, we want our Tottenham back..." with "Sugar, we're gonna kidnap your wife...". The Sky News cameraman there refused to film that bit, but it raised one hell of a laugh - and a full chorus....

But of course, things have been rather better since. Good home win against a strong Sunderland side and then euphoria on Sunday after beating Liverpool. Outstanding team performance, a few youngsters really staking a claim, and a standing ovation well deserved. It was a strange day - bumped into a colleague with Charlie Whelan in one of the local pubs afterwards, huge Spurs fan as it turns out. Life is full of surprises.

But the best part of the day, and the loudest chorus of all (for much of the match) was the alternative version of a famous song that follows Liverpool around the nation's stadia....

"Sign on, sign on, with your pen in your hand, 'cause you'll never get a job, you'll ne-ver get a job......"

There's nothing like joining 34000 other people in perfect harmony. If you've never been to a big football match, it's worth it for the atmosphere even if you ignore the pitch. Honestly. Pick a BIG game though - some games are milestones in your life, others drag you closer to the grave.

Peter Taylor's Leicester at home on Saturday. They WON'T make it three in a row.