I never thought strength training could be so difficult. Three whole months of going at it like the clappers and nothing, nada. Not one sniff of an extra ounce of muscle, or a two minute blitz of press up army style. How do those guys do it?

Still, it's a challenge, and I'm not about to shrink away from it.

Got a really nice surprise lined up for you all on sunday, and if it doesn't drum up a bit of interest, I don't know what will!

I don't know about anyone else, but the football season really has thrown up a few shocks this year in my humble opinion. Wigan Athletic beat the superstars of Manchester City to win the FA cup, an event that meant the fall of a certain fella named Mancini.

The real events, however, were down amongst the minnows in the Conference South. Welling United have finally been promoted, followed by a very solid Salisbury City side that thoroughly deserved to beat Dover Athletic in the Play Off Final.

The mighty Hawks, my pride and joy, and hometown club have also come on leaps and bounds under Lee Bradbury and Shaun Gale - and to think this time last year we'd been relegated to the mire of the Ryman League and then promoted back into the Conference South in the space of 30 seconds!

Lee has revolutionised the team since he took over in the wake of the nuclear bombsite left by Stuart Ritchie and another bloke who shall remain nameless. (hawks fans, you know who I mean...)

The team has become very, very difficult to beat of late, and we've finally turned Westleigh Park into the fortress it used to be, not to mention what it SHOULD be. Finishing 10th this season has put us back into a position where we can quite easilly have a strong say in who makes the grade and who won't.

There's even been some talk amongst the youngsters of a promotion push...

Perry Ryan is a cracking example of the effect Lee has had. He's been immense this season, and I can see him being a big part of the side for next season. I'm gutted that Clark Masters has left. He was one of the best players we've ever had in my opinion, and I rate him highly. Tonbridge really have scored with him.

In other news, the website will be changing again, this time to a completely new server, and to a new name. It's all change in 2013. Big things are on the horizon!

Nathan.

I often find that life is something to really love, and cherish. No matter what the problem is, if you endure, you survive.

Been away from the computer for a while. Fixing things, amongst other stuff. Hopefully today is the start of something rather special.

See you all very, very soon!

Christmas is over once more, and looky here it's 2013. How time flies?

It would be nice to say that things have gone well so far, but in reality, it kinda hasn't...

I was intending to re-launch Fire and Ice into the open market over the festive period but it would seem that the gods really did conspire against me on that particular occasion. Attempt number two is up next!

Onwards to The Field of Honour then, and I can announce that it will be split into two parts. The novel will be divided into two distinctively different stories, but with the same connection running throughout. Part two features a HUGE twist that nobody will see coming. Prepare for the worst, because nothing will ever be the same again...

Is it just me or does it feel like the year has simply whizzed by like superman running from an abnormally powerfull batch of Kryptonite?

Anyone else have that feeling?

It seems like it was only yesterday that 2012 arrived under something of a black cloud - what with the constant paranoia over the impending "apocalypse" forecast by some. Erm, newsflash people, the Mayans never predicted doom for 21/12/2012...

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, 
England mourns for her dead across the sea. 
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, 
Fallen in the cause of the free. 

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal.
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, 
There is music in the midst of desolation 
And a glory that shines upon our tears. 

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, 
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. 
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; 
They fell with their faces to the foe. 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 
At the going down of the sun and in the morning 
We will remember them. 

They mingle not with their laughing  comrades again; 
They sit no more at familiar tables of home; 
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; 
They sleep beyond England's foam. 

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, 
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, 
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known 
As the stars are known to the Night; 

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, 
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; 
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, 
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon

11-1. Really?

This scoreline may seem like a cricket score to those who don't follow non-league football on a regular basis but in the grand scale of things they're a lot more common than previously thought. Now, this particular score was the result that met my shocked (and slightly gutted) eyes when I accessed the forum of my beloved Havant & Waterlooville on tuesday evening. 11-1 is a new record score for us, having replaced the previous 9-0 battering we dished out to Moneyfields several years ago. I think it was pretty safe to say that I was gutted not to have been there. Work prevails however, and that sacrifice has ensured that I'm now in a much better position with The Field of Honour. So far so good - I can see the finishing line at last!

My thoughts now turn to preparing the relaunch of Fire and Ice: The Fall Begins and I expect to try
and have it prepped and ready to roll before the new year. Who knows, there
might even be a back-to-back release...

Stay safe,

Nathan