Andrew Rhodes

Blood donation #44 'in the bag'. Only around 3% of people who can donate do, so if you are able to, it's very easy to book an appointment online and is very efficient. I was only out for about an hour, and it was all done.

Thought Luke Williams looked broken in his post-match interview. Football managers get a rough ride - some deserved, some not. Felt very sorry for a man who seems a nice bloke in a horrible position with no choice but to speak about it and somehow try to make sense of it.

Not quite the Happy New Year I had in mind, but that is the life of a football supporter, I suppose. Sold out away end by the Swans away at Portsmouth. Bit of a shame the team didn't turn up.

Got this nice infographic from Welsh Blood. My pre-Christmas donation was cancelled due to a venue heating problem, but I was able to book a new appointment online really easily and will be donating a little bit later this month. If you can donate, please do.

www.welsh-blood.org.uk/infographic/...

The link is dead?

Busy day in London yesterday, including recording an interview with Sky News for a feature due to air next week.

Back in work today after a few days away at the Sarasota International Cricket Club tournament. I first went 5 years ago, and it was a pleasure to take a team out who returned with silverware (thankfully, no reliance on me to play). Lovely part of the world with some new and old friends.

The gulf between Championship and Prem is far greater than it was even a few years ago. I really liked Russell as a manager for the Swans, but there were shaky times there too. In the end, he was excellent, I thought but it's so hard for excellent Championship clubs to compete in thr Premier League

A cold but sunny London yesterday for various meetings through the day.

100% a double-yolker on the left 🐔

Five year ban for snooker player Snooker professional Mark King has been suspended from playing for five years for match-fixing.

I'm not sure how much I will end up posting work things here, but today the WPBSA announced a 5 year ban for a snooker player as a result of match fixing. The Commission's specialist Sports Betting Integrity Unit assisted the investigation.

www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article...

Busy day today in London hosting the annual CEO Briefing where we assemble around 90% of the industry, in terms of monetary value, and set out our plans ahead and what our specific areas of focus will be.

Closed my Twitter, though for the last 2 years I could only use it for reading content as anything else became disrupted by a relatively small group of people with such strong views they just attack anyone they feel doesn't agree. Just became unworkable as a platform, esp after paid verification.

Advantage in going to Blue Sky early is people are getting the names they want, rather than what was left. I'm hoping news outlets join soon as there would be little left on Twitter worth following that isn't on Blue Sky.

Now the German Christmas market has landed in Birmingham, we're treated to endless days of off-key singing from the bloke who does it every year. It can be surreal having a serious meeting while someone is absolutely belting out Last Christmas with a German accent.

Back to back wins for the Swans in the past week. An early start on Saturday for the supporters' bus to Oxford and a late finish on Tuesday vs Watford at home.

I really enjoyed this article. A different take from the normal view you get and it echoes really well with how Burton comes across in his diaries.

Blood donation #41 today. Still on course to donate 100+ times. Only 3% of people who could donate actually do (here, anyway) so if you can donate then please do.

The annual grind through the Swansea Bay 10K today. Managed to get round without stopping, despite the lack of training, though I can confirm slow and steady absolutely does not win the race.

Sven managed his last ever game at Anfield in the Legends game. It was really obvious how much it meant to him and he got a brilliant reception from the sell-out crowd. It was nice to be there for it.

BBC News - 'Engaging and courteous with a touch of steel'
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

Very much a game of two halves for the South Wales Derby today. Thought we gave a poor Cardiff side points by losing composure and shape in the second half. Great occasion and day out though. 🦢

Record labels forgot these songs existed. One man rescued them Thousands of songs are still unavailable on streaming services. Rob Johnson wants to change that.

This is such an interesting article. It frustrates me when I can't get a version of a song I know exists but never realised it worked quite like this:

BBC News - Record labels forgot these songs existed. One man rescued them
www.bbc.com/news/article...