It has been a frustrating time for everyone over the past week with two of our fixtures being postponed only a short time before kick-off.

The New Year's Day game was called off after the morning pitch inspection and our FA Cup tie was unable to go ahead after a power failure meant no floodlights which, in turn, meant no game.

The Norwich clash was particularly frustrating, having prepared meticulously and even warmed up, to be told it wasn't to be.

Now I know it's even harder for fans as you get up early, pay your way there, make all sorts of arrangements at much cost, only to be told your journey is in vain. But I can tell you your efforts are appreciated by the team and it was great to see you all at the game.

The hard part for us is you get yourself physically and mentally ready for a massive battle, then you're told there will be a delay, so you calm yourself down and prepare all over again.

Then you're told it's off and it's hugely disappointing. Plus, we all have to make the journey again in midweek and the whole process is repeated. But one thing you can be sure of is we will be ready.

The other downside to the power cut meant that Delia's oven was also affected, which put the kybosh on us getting any hardy tucker. So we had to make do with nouveau cuisine of pot noodles and jaffas with the odd hobnob floating about.

This week the gaffer left his video collection behind (just as well as it wasn't a betamax bus) so our journey was lightened by David Brent and the cast of The Office which is always a winner.

The Cup draw was on Monday, going back to the old days, and I'm sure there were a few hunting for a television or radio at work. But I'm not going to comment on our draw as we have a massive game at Norwich before we can think of anything else.

There has, however, been one plus point with the postponements and that being it has given us a chance to get the injured players nearer recovery.

And hopefully by the FA Cup game, we should have a full squad to choose from, which I know you'll be pleased with.

The Brazilians were back in action on Monday in the Champions League in frosty, Spartak Moscow (East Preston) and the conditions certainly took their toll on the spectacle.

However, the Samba boys put in a hard fought performance and came away 2-1 winners to advance to the next stage.

The highlight of the night wasn't the goals from Paul Brooker and John Piercy but seeing the Canvey Cat (John Keeley) take a tumble with no-one around him while coming out for the ball. He blamed the pitch, but they're still scouring the grassy knoll for the mystery gunman.

Monday also saw the return from holiday of our assistant physio and Mal's lackey Louis, who has been to South Africa for three weeks and it must have been hot. Now, Louis looks like a Mexican on a normal day but after having three weeks of scorchio, he now looks like Dev from Coronation Street.

He was supposed to be combining the holiday with some altitude training but that went pearshaped as he didn't have a running partner, as Rik Waller couldn't get a flight and South Africans haven't heard of fun runs.

And finally, I have to mention the fight between Ricky Gervais and Grant Bovey as what a horrendous fight it was.

But the thing about it is that in ten years if I put on five stone and Bozzy married Anthea Turner, that's how a fight would be between him and me with the same outcome, Brooker on the canvas.