OK, some of you may like this - you'd be easily pleased if you did! - but I laughed at this online present.
A battery operated Cardiff City clock with the naffest of poems, last season's kit(!) but, thanks to printing and computers, your name can be added to the picture.
I'd rateher not know the time than have this.
However if you're interested, it's a "cool" £22.95 plus charges at www.theoriginalgift.co.uk.
If Cardiff City were a rollercoaster, Health and Safety would condemn it for being too dangerous and if they were a soap opera, the scripts would be rejected for being too outrageous and the writers would be taking drug tests. Nothing, however, is ever normal or straightforward at this club and they always leave us open-mouthed.
This time last week, after internet rumours with good reasoning, Peter Ridsdale denied that the club were on the verge of a major crisis although it had the usual cashflow problems, he was hopeful that Sam Hammam would agree and sign off a legal deal by the end of the week and then investement was just around the corner, we found out most of the answers today.
Out of the blue came an announcement that the club had fought off a HMRC tax office winding up order in the courts with a 70 day stay of execution to clear its debt of an undisclosed amount ... is it coincidence that ties in with the end of the January transfer window when City can sell its assets? I truly hope so.
Sam Hammam has been stalling, as usual, on the agreement but remains in consultation with the club.
Then, barely 1 hour after this, the club announced that Malaysian businessman Dato' Chan Tien Ghee (TG), after weeks (months even) of discussion as joined the Board of Directors of both Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Limited and also Cardiff City Football Club Limited as a Director. At this stage, it is unclear whether he has invested any funds at all but it would appear that he will attract further investment (oh we hope!) from the Far East.
(In fact, I have heard whispers of the name of a potential further Malaysian backer who has access to major resources - time will tell).
Is it only Cardiff City where one minute we hear they're close to collapse and then are being led to believe that the golden future is finally arriving? Incredible.
On the HRMC order, the club issued a statement: It has been inaccurately reported that Cardiff City Football Club face a winding-up order from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, following a court hearing today, Wednesday, November 25.
Today's court action had the affect of withdrawing the threat of a winding-up order rather than imposing it.
For the avoidance of doubt, Cardiff City Football Club have a payment schedule in place with HMRC, and there is no prospect of the club being wound up. This payment schedule was agreed with HMRC some time ahead of today's court hearing.
Cardiff City Football Club have every confidence in their future financial stability and fully expect to be in a position to make further investment in its playing squad in the January transfer window.
On the appointment of TG, the club announced:
Dato' Chan Tien Ghee is Managing Director of Central Malaysian Properties Sdn Bhd, a major Malaysian Property Company currently managing the renowned Lido Boulevard Waterfront Development in Johor, Southern Malaysia.
Dato' Chan's appointment reflects the continuing confidence that we have in the opportunity that exists for Cardiff City Football Club within Asia which will see us extend youth development, attract further sponsorship, broaden our supporter base and through Dato' Chan, his contacts and his partners, provide investment directly within the Group.
Commenting on Dato' Chan Tien Ghee's (TG's) appointment, Cardiff City Football Club Chairman and Chief Executive Peter Ridsdale said: 'The fact that TG has accepted this appointment demonstrates the confidence that exists that Cardiff City Football Club can, with the right level of additional investment, whether directly or through the broader global commercial opportunities, become an established top-flight football club."
Commenting on his appointment, Dato' Chan Tien Ghee said: "I am very proud and privileged to be joining the Board of Cardiff City at this time. Now that the infrastructure is in place, I believe that together with the existing Board I can help to provide Cardiff City with the additional resources it requires to achieve the ambition of attaining Premier League Football and of making Cardiff City a recognised household name across the Asian continent."
Talking on the Cardiff City phone-in tonight, Peter showed why he is regarded as a master politician by being bullish about the future whilst dismissing the day in court.
As much as he would wish to disguise it, today was a highly embarrassing episode which showed a complete lack of financial and corporate management. I can only hope, as Ridsdale claims, that the club have made a payment and agreed a solution with HRMC but when I questionned him why the courts issued a 70 day extension if, as he claims, it all all resolved, he answered, "I don't know".
Do I think it's as simple as Ridsdale has tried to make out? Not for a single minute.
However let's end on a positive note, the arrival of T.G. may be a positive sign. Some City fans are already getting intoxicated believing it is the making of our club and all our problems will be over. Personally, I'll believe it when I see it. After all, if I had a pound every time I heard the likes of Hammam and Ridsdale make a comment that didn't stand up to scutiny or subsequent events and actions, I could have cleared all the club's debts myself!
It is my annual appearence on the Cardiff City Phone-In tonight where I'll be passing my judgement on the club, the season to date and what next.
On air during 7 to 8pm and hosted by former Premiership ref Keith Cooper, it's on GTFM 107.9 FM (Pontypridd/valleys), Radio Cardiff 98.7FM or BroFM 98.1FM (Barry & The Vale).
You can also listen live online anywhere in the world via the station websites (Google them to find them).
Whether we like it or not, the label 'injury prone' is one that will be applied to Kevin McNaughton as Cardiff City's star defender has had continual problems in the past couple of seasons but nothing as bad as this term.
Having missed all the season to date after an ankle injury sustained after collision in a pre-season game with Celtic, his absence was softened by the emergence of Adam Matthews but Kev remains a vital player for City so fans were delighted to see his return at Barnsley last weekend.
However that lasted barely 20 minutes after he pulled up clutching his leg. Early reports from the club suggested he had a back spasm that was being checked out but it has now been confirmed as the more obvious hamstring pull.
City officials say it is a slight tear and that he will be absent for a fortnight. Fingers - and everything else! - crossed he then gets a sustained injury free period.
** On a sidenote, I can never believe how many Cardiff players have hamstring problems, it always seems far worse than any other club.
Speculation is rife that Cardiff City defender come makeshift midfielder Tony Capaldi will join Leeds United before the loan transfer closes this Thursday.
He is third choice left back at City behind Kevin McNaughton and Mark Kennedy and wants first team football while Bluebirds boss Dave Jones has been told he cannot bring any new players into the club until others are moved out.
Capaldi has featured in 9 City games so far this term playing his usual solid but unspectacular football although a gamble to deploy him in midfield due to an injury crisis at Swansea was a disaster but so was the whole team's display that day.
It looks like an ideal move for Capaldi and would certainly suit Cardiff too - can't imagine many fans are bothered if he departs ... but they'll all be praying it means Jones can get a loan man in.
It was only a couple of weeks ago thaty Cardiff City missed successive chances to go top of the league but the cost of the latest poor run is all too evident after Newcastle won at Preston in last night's game completing Championship weekend.
City now find themselves 9 and 7 points respectively behind Newcastle and West Brom and you have to wonder whether we have the ability to get back in touch, Cardiff certainly lack for resources.
Most City fans are wondering if it's also only a matter of time before we slip out of the play-offs with the club now down to 5th, sharing 27 points with teams down to 8th spot and only 3 points ahead of mid-table.
Cardiff's next game is home to Ipswich on Sunday, it's a fair bet they will start the day much further down the league as the Saturday matches are complete which will add pressure to the occasion ... as if they need it.
It's a big and telling period ahead for the club and may well shape the rest of this season.
Rumours are circulating and getting stronger that news of investment from the Far East may be expected in days, if not hours.
Cardiff City and its fans have been down this road many times before - and we will many times again - but this is a potentially exciting and significant development.
The investment is atrongly believed to be coming from Malaysia and maybe worth upto 25% of the shares and possibly with a change in directors of the club.
Announcements are believed to be on the way well before the end of this week ... we'll see.
Bluebirds Scottish international striker Ross McCormack was today banned from driving for 17 months and fined £2,600 after being convicted of driving at almost double the legal alcohol limit.
The incident occured at almost 4am after City's 4-3 win at Sheffield United last month with McCormack coming off the bench to set up the decisive goal.
Police were called to an incident after a luxury Range Rover crashed into fencing outside the Cardiff Bay Harvester restaurant. McCormack drove to his nearby home but was forced ijnto confession after police discovered that his distinctive personalised number plates came off with the impact of the bump ... doh, doh, doh!
Seriously, I hope Ross has learned his lesson. It could have been much worse.
When teams lose and play poorly, it's common place for manager and players to close ranks and claim they were unlucky, didn't get the rub of the green or how they win and lose as a team.
Not so Ross McCormack who told Wales Online exactly what he thought about Cardiff City's efforts in a dismal defeat at Barnsley on Saturday -is it a rare spell of refreshing honesty or is McCormack making waves again with the transfer window soon to re-open as some City fans will speculate?
Either way, I was at the game and can't argue with McCormack's thoughts which include; “I don’t think it was too tough a game to be honest, I just think we made hard work of it, and we got a real sucker punch at the end of it with the goal. It was a bit windy, but that can’t be used as an excuse for not passing the ball. If you play the long ball to two little guys then nothing is going to happen. I was disappointed at the service, disappointed to be taken off, just disappointed all round really."
The weekend proved conclusively that McCormack and Chopra can't play up front together and with Jay Bothroyd likely to return at home to Ipswich on Sunday, McCormack may well be returning to the bench and he's can't be happy about that. Is that what he had in mind when he added, "Personally I’ve had two starts now, but I’m not taking anything for granted. I’ve obviously signed a four-year deal here and like anyone I just want to be playing football".
McCormack said the Bluebirds need to bounce back against Ipswich on Sunday.
And he insisted after a summer in which he was linked with a move away from the club he was now looking to fight for his place in the Cardiff side.
“Two games now and two defeats, so the Ipswich game of course becomes important to us now,” added McCormack.
“We’ve just got to try and put this defeat behind us and move on to the next one.
“Jay had a slight tear to his hamstring, but he should be back for the Ipswich game.
“Personally I’ve had two starts now, but I’m not taking anything for granted.
“I’ve obviously signed a four-year deal here and like anyone I just want to be playing football.”
Now i'M NOT INTO EGG CHASING BUT THIS RUGBY ACTION MUST BE the HIGHLIGHT OF THE SPORTING WEEK.
Rugby fan Stuart Tinner is randomly pulled out of the crowd and wins £250,000 at the Saracens vs Springboks rugby match managing to hit the corssbar with a halway line kick from the side of the pitch too ... and in his socks as he removed his shoes! Then he's mobbed by cheerleaders, what a lucky ******* he is!
CardiffCity manager Dave Jones tells BBC Radio Wales football reporter Rob Phillips why he would have settled for a draw at Barnsley after their 1-0 defeat.
Barnsley manager Mark Robins reveals he did not want match-winner Mark Dickinson to take the last-minute free-kick which eventually beat CardiffCity 1-0 at Oakwell.
