As a seasoned (well at least salty) local sports reporter, I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing the cold white stuff would just disappear.

The fact that I have had the last three weekends off pales into insignificance with the amount of extra hours I've spent digging my car out, unfreezing said car, unfreezing said car two hundred yards later and so on.

Every time I listen to the radio there's a friendly wee chappie telling me not to travel unless it is absolutely neccessary. Well, for me, going to work is absolutely neccessary. It not only provides me with income so I can do things such as eat, live and do exceptionally silly things with bows and arrows on my time off, it also keeps my brain ticking over healthily.

I can't work very well from home for various reasons I won't go into here, so it's either trudge in, or simply stay in the house and watch daytime TV, and I've never been a big fan of shows like Jeremy Kyle. (That took all my self control to type his name without adding any extra expletives).

Now my car is kinda stuck (rear wheels refuse to budge) I need to rely on the boss to get me in (which she has done today, so the day-to-day work of the weekday is assured.

However, when it comes to the weekend, when can I expect to stand on a sideline again? Won't be this weekend, unless there is a thaw and blowdry of biblical proportions. Even if someone invents a way to get rid of the snow without leaving all the sludge and water in its wake, pitches are bound to be frozen, even under their blankets of white.

I'd hazard a guess that there will not be any football at a local level until 2011. Rugby-wise, Melrose hope to get their cup match underway against Munster on Saturday, but they are asking for volunteers to help clear the pitch. It may just be that there will be enough people just like me, sick and tired of Christmas Shopping, except with time on their hands, to do it. Let's hope so.

Well, here it is, the Southern's new website is here.

I think once people get used to the new format, they'll find it easier to navigate and find the story they are looking for. But then, I may be just a little teensy bit biased!

I'm sure if people have any issues with it, they will get in touch - let me know by commenting on this blog.

The football and rugby season is well under way and as the weather begins to turn, there's no more standing on sidelines wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

That may well be a good thing, because that sort of behaviour is often frowned upon, especially when you have a bod like mine. It is the body of a god, it's just a pity that god is Buddha.

Besides, it's just wrong. It doesn't feel right standing on a sideline in anything other than full cold weather gear. It adds to the general feeling that you are there to work, not just top up your tan.

I had a bit of a break last weekend, due to the fact that A) I had already worked 50 hours, and B) My car was in the garage suffering from an exhaust problem. When you only have 800ccs you know the very instant something goes wrong because a little lack of power is more noticeable. It's back up and running now, though.

I decided to spend a lot of last weekend making up arrows, which I find to be a remarkably life-affirming thing to do. It's quite calming, making sure that everything is fitting together properly, even if you're watching the X Factor at the same time, shouting at the ones who can't sing.

This Saturday, I'll be watching Gala Fairydean try to gain a bit of revenge over Coldstream and on Sunday, I'll be shooting sticks at a target 20 yards away. The good thing about this is that you rarely miss. The bad thing is that your arrows penetrate the boss so far it's tough to get the beggars out without breaking them.

I see another weekend of making new arrows on the horizon ...

 

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I thought I had better update this – even if only to let you know I'm still alive. However, I've kind of gone to the dogs, so to speak.

This weekend, I took in the Border Union Agricultural Society's Annual Championship Dog Show, held in Kelso's Springwood Park.

If I'm absolutely honest, it's not really my thing, but I couldn't help be stunned at the sheer amount of hard work it takes to organise such a huge event and the intricacies of logistics required to keep it all ticking over to a fairly tight schedule, so well done to show manager Marjory Macgregor.

No less than 6,000 canines in one park together sounds like a recipe for complete and utter failure, but it all runs perfectly well.

Over the two days, I discovered several things I previously did not know, which is always a good thing.

They were as follows:

1. Pink-skinned ferret-like animals, with white Tina Turner hair and ugg boots are actually dogs. They go under the name of Chinese Crested and one actually took reserve best in show. Silly me.

2. Terriers that look like they have recently suffered an accident which resulted in their nose exploding are not to be rushed to the vets. They are actually supposed to be that way and they go under the name of Kerry Blue. One won the best in show – congratulations to Phil Davies of Swansea.

3. Little creatures that look like the old kung fu guru in Kill Bill 2 are actually dogs. I'm afraid I didn't catch it's name, I was so transfixed by its stare.

4. Dogs do not like people that walk about with a humongous tripod. I was growled at a couple of times, but the ones that really freaked me out were the Great Danes that simply stared at me with bloodshot eyes and an open mouth. It was like Scooby Doo, but certificate 18.

5. Once upon a time, I thought a Samoyed would be a great dog to own. I imagined, I believe, that it would attract the ladies, who would run up and gush over how lovely my dog was. On the Saturday, I saw a fella ready his Samoyed for showing. The only person who came up to him was a 25-stone bloke and he only asked him what doggy shampoo he used. Also, he spent 20 whole minutes brushing his pride and joy before lifting it off the table and brushing it again for 20 minutes because there were a few hairs out of place. Not my idea of fun.

6. It is possible to judge what's best between breeds that are as different as the Chinese Crested and a Whippet. How it's done is still beyond me.

I have always liked dogs, but I'm not too sure about the ones that have been clipped, silk-ribboned or inbred into a genetic bottleneck. It's a bit like playing god with dogs just so you can get a ribbon that says it conforms to the breed's genetic ideal. Most of those who choose to do this are incredibly nice people, as I found out. However, like I said before, it's not my thing. Maybe they think the idea of shooting arrows for a hobby is rather silly and outdated.

Maybe I'll get myself a cat ...