I went to the Parker's Arms at Newton in Bowland with Mrs Sidders and Old Mother Sidders at lunchtime today. Starters, mains and drinks came to a very reasonable £57 but we could have eaten cheaper if we'd gone for the specials. Very good local produce (I had potted trout followed by rabbit pastie), friendly well-informed waitress and very welcoming host. Tasteful decor, open fire, great pint of locally brewed Sawley Tempted and no riff-raff. Absolutely lovely and recommended. About 40 minute drive from Blackburn largely through lovely scenery.

Brazil 82 had some amazing players - Zico, Junior, Eder, Falcao and Socrate. The latter's goal against USSR (that's Russia, Ukraine, etc to you young uns) was just sublime. They had grace and real power when attacking but defended with the mentality of "we'll score loads so why defend?". That gameplan worked brilliantly in the early games and they were the shining light in an otherwise moribund 1st and 2nd group stages. Yes kids, two group stages! Alas they got the Italians later on just as Paolo Rossi was getting into gear and their comedy goalkeeper did his worst. That 82 world cup classic was topped with murderous game between France and West Germany. Schumacher and Batiston! Ouch!

Great to watch on the field and clearly a character with a real heart off it. It shows you can be a sublinely gifted player and not be as thick as Gazza, Beckham, Best, etc. Incidentally, so impressed was the young Sidders by Socrates at the '82 world cup he named his cat after the Brazilian captain. Brazil 82 were easily the best footballing team I have ever seen - just a pity they had no interest in defending and a goalkeeper who was a poor second to Prof Stephen Hawking between the sticks.

There are plenty more "crikey" moments to come. I really enjoyed Storm Of Swords as aside from being a well written yarn there's just so much going on. I have finished Feast For Crows and to begin with the pace is far slower but then stuff starts to happen. Not started Dance With Dragons yet as I am taking a break and reading Vlad: the Last Confession by C.C.Humphreys. Very good and seemingly closely following real events. The impalement scenes really are as gruesome as you'd expect.

We went to the Oyster & Otter for the first time tonight and really liked it. Food was really good and good sized portions - no room for pudding! The waitress was a bit over familiar for my liking but was attentive enough. I'd recommend it.

We went to see Immortals recently. Absolute codswallop. Do not waste your time or money. Mrs Sidders loved it as she spent the whole time drooling and panting over that bloke who was in The Tudors so it might appeal to ladies.

Colin, I remember you were similarly startled with Ths Thing Of Darkness. Don't be put off by the numbers just get stuck in. Once you are past the prologue it flows beautifully. Absolute genius. Several of my family and friends are now engrossed by this saga and my 20 year old niece was genuinely upset today by developments in Book 3. Any book that gets anyone so involved has got to be worth reading. You will come to really care about some of the characters and will hate others... and then later on you'll question your judgement. It's a masterclass in point of view literature. By the way, two of the younger members of my clan have declared this series to be better than Harry Potter and those bloody awful Twilight books and one of them now realises the difference in page turners aimed at kids and the grown up stuff.

I've now finished A Storm Of Swords and I'm totally blown away. The saga just gets better, more absorbing and more labyrinthine. Absolute genius. I was going to wait a while before purchasing A Feast For Crows, but found myself unable to resist this morning.

Aldridge Prior is a good shout. Great coach and worked at a lot of big European clubs.

Couldn't agree more Colin. Alas, I have little to add but the risk of sounding repetitive, I can't recommend George R R Martin's A Song Of Fire And Ice series (Game Of Thrones, etc) enough. Absolutely absorbing and worryingly addictive. I'm halfway through volume 3 and the storylines remain compelling with plenty of surprises along the way. Great characterisation and with lush descriptions of the sigjts and smells of a superbly imagined alternative medieval world.

Just read The Profession by Steven Pressfield (Gates Of Fire) and it's good but not great. It's set 21 years from now in a world where oil is in greater demand and Uncle Sam and others employ huge mercenary armies to fight their dirty wars for them. The plot is well constructed and the set piece action sequences are superb but it feels rather contrived and a bit too convenient. By the way, Game Of Thrones was brilliant and the best novel I've read since This Thing Of Darkness.

I said it was too salty and that it wasn't as good as usual, but I'd been more specific the previous time and it was the same sort of mistake so they're not for learning. In fairness, if it had been pretty well anywhere else I probably wouldn't have been so bothered, it's just that I know how good it was not so long ago.

I went to the Butlers Arms at Pleasington on Thursday night and have to say I was massively disappointed again. I've been there many times and have always enjoyed it, apart from once a few months ago when Mrs Sidders had to send her fish back as it wasn't cooked. This time I went with four family members and the common feeling was way too much salt, bland food and somewhat stingy portions of veg. The batter on the onion rings my brother-in-law got with his steak wasn't cooked properly either. Very disappointing and feel that's another one to strike off the regulars list.

The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland - finished it and was generally pleased. First part was a bit heavy going until you work out who is who, then it's brilliant... but the ending is rubbish. I felt cheated. Now reading Games of Thrones by George R R Martin - I'll start by saying I haven't been watching the TV adaptation but this book is insanely addictive with well-structured characters, proper dialogue between them,a galloping plot, conflict, fighting, intrigue, betrayal, murder, wolves and a fair splash of ooh la la. Bloody marvellous. Only just over halfway through but I already know I will be reading the next volume.

Agree wholeheartedly although it I think it should have been wraped up a bit quicker after the Vanger mystery was resolved. I'll be picking up the next Blomqvist/Salander book over the summer but currently reading The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland. I read Company Of Liars by her a couple of years ago and thought it was great. So far so good with this one and even though less than 100 pages in there's been a man eaten alive by insects, a ritual sacrifice and a bit of ooh la la.

Sucker punch - absolutely mental from beginning to end and if you can look beyond the somewhat ropey acting and dubious plot it's fantastic. Semi-naked, machine-toting,sword-wielding female dancers in stockings and stilettos knocking the crap out of giant samurai, robots, fat blokes and steam-powered, clockwork German zombie soldiers! What's not to like? Funnily enough, Mrs Sidders not keen to see it and has treated me with undisguised contempt whenever I have enthused about it.

I've been telling people to read this for years and have bought it for many. Everyone I know who has read it has loved it and been similarly moved. Even Mrs Sidders (heart of stone) was left with a tear in her eye. I really do believe it should be a legal requirement for all Euopean citizens to read it.

Mrs Sidders bought me one of them there Kindles for my birthday so have been giving it a go. Bt sceptical at first but soon won over and wouldn't be without it now. Ideal for taking with you on trips and loads of books are cheap or even free! Recently I have read... The Basement by Stephen Leather - the story of a writer with definite autistic tendencies and who stalks celebrities who is also caught up in the hunt for a articularly nasty serial killer. Not bad with some clever dialogue and I missed the big twist. With hindsight, I can't believe I was so thick. Insurrection by Robyn Young - first part of a trilogy about Robert the Bruce by the ridiculously popular author of the Brethren trilogy. Not read her earlier stuff but this was just tedious. I won't be bothering with the next two volumes. The Man Who Would Be King - a re-read as I first read t a few years ago. Very differentto the marvellous film but still a cracking read, if somewhat short. Outlaw by Angus Donald - a very different tale of Robin Hood and a cracking read. Okay, it's not great literature but it's not low brow crap like a Conn Iggulden book. I'd say fans of Simon Scarrow and Bernard Cornwell would be well suited. Just started The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stig Larsson - so far so good and shaping up nicely.

I agree wholeheartedly about La Sasa. I went there just before Christmas with some of the lads I play footy with and the food was fantastic. Good service too and jaw dropping value for money. I'd also recommend Pond in Preston (Cannon St). It's a tapas type do but the portions are a bit more substantial and there is a vast variety to pick from. If you go and you like steak, I'd recommend the Argentine fillet. Last night I went to the Wellsprings on Pendle Hill with Mrs Sidders and her clan. Food was brilliant, portions were enormous (some starters would easily qualify as main courses) and service was very friendly. Mrs Sidders' mum went for some gargantuan seafood ensemble and it would have cost a bomb in London, but less than £15 there. We had starters and mains as well as drinks and including plonk off the wine list. Total bill for 8 of us was a very reasonable £183.

This is very sad news. He had a quiet dignity about him that today's players could learn a lot from. A genuine captain of men both on and off the field.

I have finished "Alone in Berlin" by Hans Fallada and would happily recommend it. It's based on real events in Berlin in the early 40s and sees one man decide to take a stand against Hitler and the Third Reich by spreading anti-Hitler propaganda. Throw in family members, an elderly judge, a postie, a brace of ne'er do wells, a family of Nazis and a Gestapo sleuth just for good measure and you have a fine, intelligent and absorbing read. The style reminded me of Gogol (so very easy to read) and the apparent futility of being good in the face of entrenched evil reminded me of To Kill A Mockingbird. One of the best books I've read in a long time and an unexpected pleasure. Thank you Mrs Sidders.

Recently read "Azincourt" by Bernard Cornwell - not as cheesey as some of his books, but all the usual character types are there. Bloody good battles in it though and gives a good taster of Henry V's campaign in Normandy that saw the capture (and near disaster) of Harfleur, followed by the ultimate away win of all time at Agincourt. Splendid holiday fodder, especially if you're going to France. Just read "Under Enemy Colours" by Sean Thomas Russell - set on Royal Navy vessels in the pre-Napoleonic era telling the tale of a young officer with mixed allegiances, a tyrannical captain and a great deal of derring-do. All the chapters with the female characters in them (thankfully few) are sh1te, quite frankly, but as soon as they are away at sea the action hots up and it's a good read. There's even a mutiny and a court martial so would appeal to court room drama fans too. I'd say the style of the author is something like Patrick O'Brien re-written by Bernard Cornwell. Currently reading "Alone in Berlin" by Hans Fallada. Only just got started but it's looking good. It's the tale of one man's defiance against the Third Reich. I'm not anticipating a happy ending. Style is very reminiscent of Gogol!

Aye, me too. Went to see Frank many, many times and a small piece of my artwork can be found in the gatefold of his first album. Also met him in regular guise as Chris Sievey a couple of times. First time was when I was 17 with one of my mates when he'd done a stand-up turn with Mark Radcliffe as Billy & Barry Belly and they bought me and my mate a pint. Really funny bloke and it's a sad day knowing he's no longer around.

Clash Of The Titans - shockingly bad. Massively disappointed. Centurion - first 20-30 minutes were awful and at times I was cringing, but then it got tolerably good in a no brainer way and was really enjoying it by the end. Extraordinarily gory though and it made me wonder what a film has to do to get an 18 certificate these days. Can't wait to see Iron Man 2, Robin Hood and Prince of Persia.

Just finished reading "The Pirate Devlin" by Mark Keating and found it to be bloody good fun. I got it as uncorrected proof from Amazon for free ahead of its hardback release and thoroughly enjoyed it. In short, it's set in the Golden Age of Piracy (early 18th century) and is about a lowly Irish servant who through a strange but plausible series of events becomes the somewhat unexpected captain of a pirate ship. Along the way he manages to fall foul of the Dutch, the Portuguese, the French, his former master, the Royal Navy, the East India Company and, just for good measure, old Blackbeard himself. It's a bit light on the yo ho ho and bottles of rum but heavy on the derring-do, fighting, extreme violence, sailing and cunning plans. Okay, it's not Umberto Eco or Cormac McCarthy, but it stands higher than Bernard Cornwell and Simon Scarrow in the literary stakes but is an uncomplicated read and pefect holiday reading, especially if you're off on a boat or going to the Caribbean. It's clearly the start of a series and it ends with a surprise that sets things up nicely for the next volume. I get the feeling that this is the start of something big - you heard it here first! As Long John Silver would say, "Smart as paint!"