I thought I would review my 8 'Topical Talk' pages and see what became of the issues.    Or if they proved to be non events and I got my proverbial knickers in a twist about nothing.

1. No title.  I started off on the subject of "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!" and ended up talking about the forthcoming book of the one time cabinet minister, Claire Short.
   
   Have I missed it?   I still think a good working title would be 'A Collection of Short Stories'.
    

2. Annika Sorenstam - female golfing superstar.
   
   I stand by every word I wrote.   Annika is a fantastic golfer and represents everything that is good about professional sport.   She climaxed the season by leading the Europeans to victory in the Solheim Cup.
   
   I spotted her on the pathetic BBC TV Sports Personality of the Year show, but the infantile programme chose some bloke I have never heard of to treat golf as a second class sport.  
   
   I ask a simple question about golf.   Who is probably the most recognisable face in world sport today and certainly the highest paid?   Would Tiger Woods do?  
   Now, who was the second rate actor who did the golf slot, and can he play golf?
    

3. No Title.   The title should have been 'Claire Voiyant'
   
   That one time cabinet minister again I'm afraid.   I ended my piece by quoting Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, which I will repeat for those of you who missed it first time around.
   
   "Put up or shut up", with reference to Ms Short and her short term memory.
    

4. Casual but Smart - All about the dress code at Tynemouth Golf Club, or the lack of it.   I would like to think that in a small way I had a hand in getting this ridiculous non dress code rescinded.   I gave a copy of my Topical Talk 4 to a committee man and he produced it at a meeting.   He obviously agreed with me, as did a majority on the committee.
   
   The new rule specifically prohibits the wearing of denim jeans / trainers or back to front caps anywhere in the club or on the golf course.
    

5. George Best (and the missing organisations) - As part of the GB transplant team we were about to leave for the World Transplant Games in Nancy - France.
   
   All I was reading about in the newspapers were the exploits of a drunken ex footballer, who I used to idolise.   I always thought, and still do, that George Best is the greatest footballer we have ever had in the UK.
   
   I did have a letter printed in the Daily Mail on the day that we left for France.   In my own small way I feel  some balance was restored to the debate.
   
   As for George Best?   No comment, I shall retain a dignified silence.
    

6. Bad Behaviour in Sport - I started this piece by referring to Sir Alex Ferguson and his behaviour at St James' Park in the match against Newcastle.   He was subsequently fined £10,000 and banned from the touchline for two games.
   
   It was also the World athletics 100m final and the refusal of the disqualified Jo Drummond to leave the track.
   
   What chance of youngsters showing any restraint on or off the playing field when they are constantly watching this sort of behaviour?   I would suggest, very little.
    

7. 'Professional Football' - This was at the time of the Rio Ferdinand 'Whoops I forgot to take a drugs test' incident, among other more unsavoury soccer stories.
   
   At the time of writing (28 Dec 2003) Man Utd have just beaten M'boro 1-0 at the Riverside to move into a 4 point lead in the Premiership.   Rio Ferdinand played in the game.
   
   He has been fined £50,000 and given an 8 month ban from the game starting on 12th January.   It seems likely that Man Utd are going to appeal against the sentence, believing it to be excessive and unjust.   There is always a possibility that the sentence may be increased if the appeal fails.  
   
   I think it fair to say that all eyes are on Manchester United.   Watch this space.
    

8. The Right to Write - The ex butler to Princess Diana, as she was then called, Mr Paul Burrell wrote a book.   The title of which is "A Royal Duty".
   
   I defend his right to write the book, but plenty of people object and think it an act of betrayal or even treachery.   The book, as of today's date has sold 261,450 copies at £17.99.
   
   I have no interest in the subject matter at all but it would appear lots of others do.   If the House of Windsor were to put their own house in order before trying to ruin former employees, whom they have tried to stitch up.   Then they might just have a case, until then?
   
   I hopes he writes a sequel !
   
   
                            I would like to wish all of my readers A happy New Year.
   
   
   
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