I woke up, coming to my senses, realising that it was Friday. My favourite day of the week. Yet, this morning instead of jumping out of bed with a spring in my step, I crawled to the edge, and squinted to make out the time on my stereo. then it finally it me, I had a painful headache, to the right and rear of my head. The pain was acute and I needed to take something for it. I got up and got some breakfast. My Dad and sister, observed I was in a either in a more thoughtful mood, or more likely grumpy than usual. I rushed my cereal and then started to get ready and took my first tablet as soon as I got out of the shower. Then I took a second after I was ready, dressed and heading for the car. I did not feel any better. As I drove into the office, I put my foot down on the bypass (when there was really no need, the traffic was light, as it is every Friday) and I blasted the CD playing on the stereo (which did not help my light head, whatsoever). As I walked into the office, I felt slightly better, but little did I know of the day that lay ahead.

Before I go, I need to dispel any myths that I am a lucky person. Far from it. Sometimes I am the very unlucky. I would even go to the extent of saying that when advertisers say that this will work in 99% of case, I am usually that 1% who has issues. So you can imagine my surprise and delight when I am lucky enough to win competitions and come out in front. This is perhaps the second time I have won something significant in my life. The last time around also being football related. Then, it was tickets for what would be my first match, The Netherlands against Switzerland in Euro 96. On Thursday I came home to see the usual envelopes left on my desk. Either bank statements or credit card bills, I rarely get anything else. I opened up a letter stamped from Newcastle. Opening it revealed a glossy envelope in the shape of an Arsenal shirt, in the new, one season farewell to Highbury colours. Looking at the bottom, I read, “O2 Members Day – 4th August 2005” on the reverse, in the place where you would have the players surname was VIP – 05/06 season (as the shirt number). I had won the competition I had entered a on Thursday 16th June. Randomly selected by a computer, I will be one of 8,000 lucky members of the Arsenal to watch the first team put through their paces in the final training session before the Community Shield.

That cleverly links us to my next subject. While at work, on an idle Thursday afternoon, one of the directors came up to the helpdesk to see me and report that Patrick had signed for Juventus (I was on the phone, so the Chelsea fan wrote me a note, while beaming with a smile!) Once I was off the phone with a customer, the conversation turned to the Community Shield, the annual curtain raiser to a new football campaign. To my surprise, I was suddenly offered tickets for the game! (How could I say no?) Within a few seconds, I was watching the purchase of two tickets for 7th August and was in a state of shock. Even now, it still has not realy sunk in. My tickets arrived the following Tuesday and I presented them to my Dad has part of his birthday present on 21st. My Dad, while not a big football fan, has longed to come to a football match with me and I’m trying to make up for lost time. Sure it would be good to go with a friend, but on this occasion, I think it is best that family come first. The Arsenal discussion could continue, as they take part in their final preseason machines in the Ajax Tournament. Yet, I do not want to bore you further. The match, shown live on Sky Sports on Friday, had slipped by mind, until I was channel surfing on Friday evening and noticed, “Live Football” appear on the screen when I flipped over to Sky Sports One. I sat down and watched most of the game, but it was not very entertaining, and usual, the goal was scored, while I flipped over to watch BBC News at 10pm. With hindsight, there was no point in missing Eastenders. Will catch the omnibus, later on this afternoon, I’m sure.

There have been many Beach Boys references in the past few weeks, which I thought I should mention. While surfing the movie channels the other night, I came across Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle, which I know has many critics. Yet, I have enjoyed both movies, the sequel slightly more than the first. It does not try to be too serious and the action scenes are quite imaginative and fresh. Plus, who can complain about starring at the three leading players? In a scene, which relates to my last comment, the Angels are on stakeout and the song that plays in the background, reflects what Cameron is doing. She is a Surfer Girl and the classic Beach Boys melody plays. Sometimes I do not truly appreciate the body of work this group have established. To remind myself, I listened to the Very Best album and all the tracks are there. I don’t think I have mentioned this before, but one day in August, I am going to listen to back to back Beach Boys on a hot sunny day to work. Let us hope that August has a least some hot weather to give us before summer is out. In the afternoon, KnightRider was being shown on Bravo and I had one eye and ear on it, while I worked on the family computer. I was in the process of using the redundant parts of my old Mesh PC into the family computer, to upgrade the CD burner and USB 2.0 card. After the fantastic opening credits, KITT is playing a song, which Michael has to guess. He doesn’t get it right (not sure why?) but it is California Girls and KITT complains that all his crime fighting partner listens to his music about surfing, the beach and bikinis. Maybe that car had a personality transplant in betweenshows. So what appeals to me about the Beach Boys and their sound? I suppose, they represent an image (if rather dated, now) of the American Dream. Clean cut college boys, singing great harmonies together about surfing, girls and the summer. Their sound and style is so unique and has been unmatched. Often imitated, no one can come close to recreating the feel good music they recorded at the peak of their powers. Even watching the great Brian Wilson at the Live8 concerts a month ago, you can see the same reaction to the music. It makes you want to move!

Now I am literally alive and kicking on my new PC, I can record live television, even pause and pick up from where I left off (but unlike Sky+, it can be paused indefinitely (the limit being only the space on my hard drive). On Wednesday evening, I attempted my first taping (I really should not used such an old fashioned adjective). The main reason for recording the show, was to have a record of a Gavin Esler happy ending, as refereed to by my friend Nav. Yet, the content of the show opened me up a new music artist from the Far East. A special report covered the growing ‘pop’ culture in Korea. Being exported to China, Japan and neighboring countries. The segment played a music video by a Korean pop artist, with the chorus line, “Your Still My Number One!”. I had to find out the name of the artist and listen to the song in full. I e-mailed Newsnight on Thursday morning from work and got an instant reply. The producer in Korea had yet to report back to headquarters, but as soon as they had the information they would contact me. Tonight at 10.30pm, I received an e-mail from Pat Smylie, Production Assistant giving me all the details I needed. The artist was BoA and this was one of her first big hits in her native Korea, “Number 1”. Apparently she is very big in Japan and the single was released in September 2002. You can guess what I did next, but I won’t go into details. I will reply to Pat’s e-mail with the gratitude it deserves.