Meet the boss

Over the next two or three weeks I'm going to be meeting bosses of some of the bigger local employers. Anyone got any questions they'd like me to ask? I'm on martin.mcginley@derryjournal.com

Greetings from Japan (sorry, Nigeria)

You know, you can beaver away quite happily unnoticed, but it's still nice to get a bit of recognition from outside. And so this Saturday morning, quite out of the blue actually, a note comes in all the way from Japan -

Greetings,

I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner, I found your name listed in the Trade Centre Chambers of Commerce directory here in Japan. I find it pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business. I only pray at this time that your address is still valid. I want to solicit your attention to receive money on my behalf. The purpose of my contacting you is because my status would not permit me to do this alone. When you reply to this message, I will send you the full details and more information about myself and the funds. If interested, please reply through my alternate Email:

hirokojiro1020@yahoo.co.jp

Mr.Hiroko Jiro (Head of Finance Dept,Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank Tokyo, Japan)

More evidence, if more were needed, that the world is indeed a small place.

I decided to seek a photograph of my new friend on Google Images. Imagine my reaction on discovering an instant hit on 'Anti-Fraud International' associated with a scam in relation to a supposed 'inheritance' of one Charles Russel (dec.), and that the IP address being used actually terminates in Nigeria, rather than Japan.

It's hard to avoid the conclusion that, in the immortal words of Tom Jones, 'There's no place like home'.

Be careful out there!

Thought for the day

'Go placidly amidst the noise and haste . . .'

The setting - minimal furniture, white, clean lines, day light. The sound - a faint rustling of trees in the breeze along the airy corridor. It is comfortable. There is nothing to do. Just be. After sitting quietly in the peacefulness, it is time for tea

And that's where this morning's email comes in -

Dear Sir/Madam

Yes it’s true, something good and free that comes without obligation!
Simply log onto our website on http://shop.tea-charaku.com/index.php?main_page=login and join us as a member and we’ll happily send you samples of our Charaku Organic Sencha and Charaku Organic Gyokuro. Membership is free too without obligation; if you don’t want to receive our newsletters just let us know. On the other hand you may find our site informative and, sometimes, amusing.
Meanwhile we’re pleased to introduce our organic tea gift sets which may be a healthy, relaxing gift to your friends and relatives over the holiday season.
　　　
With kind regards

Derek & Ayano
Charaku Co.,Ltd8-17 Minamisawa 3-2, Minami-ku, Sapporo, 005-0823 Japan[Tel]+81 11 572 2411 [URL] http://www.tea-charaku.com/

"Ah ya will ya will . . ." - exclusive preview of 'Father Ted, the Re-make!'

A bunch of the boys were whooping it up in the Malamute saloon . . .

A great man for the tea when he was out there in the Yukon beside the old campfire . . .

One of your five a day

You never really know what to expect in your emails. This pic arrived this morning -









Yes, some nice swedes. Seems that turnips are white, but Swedes have a purple top. Another little nugget . . .
[Your blogger] - Got some interesting information on swedes in the email today!
[Everybody else] - What about Pat McDaid and Derry City at the weekend?!!! Wheew

Derry City - what a mess. And it's getting worse. First you have the financial meltdown at the club, with various reports about how much they owe (and the amounts don't seem to be getting any smaller). Now they've been thrown out of football by the FAI and a bad situation's been made worse because the FAI and Derry City are at loggerheads and the legal eagles are getting involved. Whatever way it goes, it's not good for Derry City.

It seems to hinge around what was said at that getting-famouser meeting between the club and the FAI last Wednesday. The FAI Director Fran Gavin claims he and three other FAI reps were told by Derry City that they had a load of players on second contracts - ie probably getting more money than they were supposed to officially under FAI rules. But Derry City chairman Pat McDaid has flatly denied this.

Which begs the question - why did the FAI go into crisis mode and then thrown Derry out?

It seems that one of the questions our sports editor Arthur Duffy at the Derry City news conference yesterday was along the lines of - "What did the FAI hear at their meeting with the club last Wednesday that caused John Delaney to say on Thursday that they were 'gravely concerned'?"

I haven't heard the reply to that one yet.

Looking in from the outside, it's hard to avoid the impression that Fran Gavin is right to say that Derry City should take their oil and go into re-build mode in the First Division. But then you remember the elephant in the corner - the massive debt - and the fact that City are also being denied their prizemoney for finishing fourth.

There have been warnings about the financing of football on these islands, and Derry City is far from the only club in Ireland in diffs. At the McCloskey fight in Magherafelt on Friday night, I was told of a rumour that some bookies were no longer taking bets on the Dundalk v Derry City match. I assumed this was because people felt that Derry's players would be dispirited - to say the least - because of what's been happening, and wouldn't be in the form. It was only the next day that I heard the money was going on Derry because of what's been happening at Dundalk!

Sean Connor stepped down as manager there after the Derry defeat on Friday night.

Strange times . . .

Leading a sheltered life in the north-west corner of Ireland, it's easy to entirely unaware of significant trends. For instance, after an invigorating walk on Sunday in the pouring rain, one might have had a bath with Radox and thought oneself experiencing the acme of modern living.

Of course, had one read today's email from Bathstore in London (rather difficult unless the bathroom came fitted with a Tardis, probably an option in some of our leading outlets), an inner voice might have remarked - "Sitting there soaking yourself - sure you're only in the ha'penny place!" -

Bathstore On Trend
New Trend Bath from Bathstore

Trend 1500 freestanding bath with surround panel £599

The new Trend bath from Bathstore is their most luxurious bath yet, boasting clean, contemporary lines, with simple tapered sides, this freestanding bath will complement any existing bathware. Available in two sizes the 1500 has ample space for one, while the 1800 is designed for two. The deep sided bath provides an idilic setting to relax and unwind, with its lavish wide flat top rim – an ideal place for a glass of wine!

- Darling I'm going for a 'bath'

- [away at work] Eh? Didn't you have a shower earlier on?

Christmas charity

A little mention of a favourite charity -

Breast Cancer Campaign Christmas gift guide
Whether you want to be the belle of the ball at your office Christmas party or you’re hunting down the perfect present for a loved one, Breast Cancer Campaign’s fantastic range of products has got all your festive needs covered.

Download Breast Cancer Campaign’s Christmas gift guide now

For more information please call Campaign’s Press Office on 020 7749 4115 or email press@breastcancercampaign.org