GeorgeVilla82

I'm in Hertfordshire and have a season ticket, but would definitely head into Islington if they're showing Villa away games. Thanks Islingtonclaret - good tip.

It's about a 30 minute walk back to Stratford International station (next to the Olympic Park, so nice and quiet now!), and from there you can jump on the Javelin train to St Pancras. They run every 8 minutes, and take 6 minutes - unbelievably quick. Euston is a 10 minute walk from St Pancras. Doesn't sound that convenient, but if the weather's nice, it's better than queuing for ages to get on the District line which takes forever, then changing in central London.

This, but add to it supermarkets and post offices, and extend the prohibited hours to the weekend and 12pm - 2pm weekdays.

I went two seasons ago. It's a complete dive, difficult to get to (even though I live down south) and in the middle of a really dodgy area. However, Gabby's last minute winner and the away end reaction will stay with me forever. So on that basis, my only experience of the Boleyn has been a good one, and I'll get tickets again this season.

Bose in ear ones are pretty good - about £99 I think, or £119 if you want want ones through which you can answer your iPhone.

My uncle used to take my Mom to stand on the Holte during the 60s and 70s (she was there when Rangers tried to take the Holte) so she got me into going down the Villa from the age of about 5. Had a season ticket since I was 13, with a few years out for Uni, and still have a season ticket with my Mom even though I now live in Hertfordshire. Even take her to a few away games which is always good fun - she's nearly 60 and only 5ft, but everyone looks out for her.

Whelan was on 5 Live about an hour ago, where they asked him to clarify if RM had actually had an offer from Liverpool. In his bullshitting way, he avoided the question (as he'd obviously jumped the gun earlier in saying that an offer had been made), and said that RM wouldn't work under a DOF. When pressed by the presenter, he admitted that he don't know if an offer had been made. In other words, he's a complete gobshite. Which we knew already.

If your scallops are fresh, cook for about 1 minute max on each side in a hot pan. You want them to be golden brown, but still have give when you touch them, so that they squish down a little when you press them lightly rather than bouncy. Also, if they come with the roe (the orange bit) attached, probably best to remove that as it's got quite a strong flavour and isn't everyone's cup of tea. Good luck, it will all be fine if you use your instinct. Don't religiously follow the recipe if something doesn't look or taste quite right. And fondant potatoes ALWAYS take longer to cook than you think. Make sure you check they're cooked by testing with a knife in the middle before serving.

Two season tickets just renewed. And I have a slight hangover this morning from celebrating yesterday's news.

I've not had any calls from the ticket office yet (feel like I'm missing out!). I won't be renewing whilst he's still here, and neither will the 3 people next to me in the Upper Trinity.

I'm undecided, but most likely no - because of McLeish (which is how I've voted). Been a season ticket holder for 15 years (with a 5 year break in the middle when I was at Uni, then broke), but it's just not enjoyable going to VP anymore. I used to love heading to the ground with the anticipation that, regardless of who we were playing, we would give it a go and might sneak a result. Remember the days not so long ago when we used to play better against the "big" teams? Now I'm filled with a feeling of the inevitable negativity in my head squashing any optimism that my be coming from my heart. I go to the games with my Mum who stood in the Holte all the way through the bad years of relegation down to the third division, and even she says that she's never been so pessimistic about the way the Villa are heading. I moved to Hertfordshire 2 years ago and still kept my ST, so it's not really the cost or time that it takes up. It's just not enjoyable anymore, and with no sign of improvement on the horizon, I can't justify the £2k+ to myself that it costs for my tickets, travel, food and drinks.

I've done the same this year for the first time ever (although Florida, not the Maldives - leaving 23 Dec, back 7 Jan). Getting away from family hassles (both our parents are divorced, so we get pulled in 4 directions and lots of politics over where we go on Christmas Day etc etc). Absolutely can't wait. I did the Florida/ NY holiday about 10 years ago (although in the summer, not over Christmas) and it was great - a good mix of relaxing, theme parks, warm weather and shopping, sightseeing, nights out. Hope you enjoy it!

Aside from the obvious, for me in the circumstances it was probably Habib Beye. I was on holiday in Cuba at the time, and as the transfer window was closing, I asked my family to text me if we signed anyone exciting. It cost an absolute fortune to make/ receive any calls or texts in Cuba, so I only switched my phone on once a day. Nothing for the first 11 days - then finally, my phone beeped. Habib sodding Beye. Never been so underwhelmed.

Just read the messages from teammates (current and past) on Twitter - Chris Herd, Barry Bannan calling him things like "my hero", Friedel especially eloquent "my friend, you are one the best I have ever played with in all aspects of life. Fight on as I know you will." Made me shed a little tear. I was worried about the Chelsea game before this - now I don't care. Makes you realise what's important in life. He's 32 with 2 young kids. Really really hoping he makes it through.

Price up slightly near me (St Albans) and massive queues, which was very frustrating as I was down to vapours so needed to fill up, having already driven past 3 stations with queues 12 - 15 cars deep. Particularly ridiculous as we're about 5 miles from Buncefield, one of the biggest fuel depots in the country. Wen I eventually filled up, most people in the queue in front of me were spending £10 - £20 (so a few drops of fuel at these prices). Crazy advice to give that people should top up when they can.

Just got home (I live in Hertfordshire, so not a long journey). Pathetic performance - the moment I knew that Heskey was playing, I knew that we would lose. It was so obvious that we should play Weimann, he was lively when he came on at what, 70 minutes? Too late. Same with Gardner. At least Alby looked like he was trying (although end product was bad) - Gabby didn't look that bothered (which pains me to say). As an aside, this was my first trip to the Emirates. I know we only took 2k but they had 1 (one!) bar open. The crush at half time was ridiculous. Anyway, one to forget, and not great timing when the season ticket packs for next year have just been sent out.

I read the interim Taylor report as part of my dissertation at Uni (quite a few years back now). But what I remembered from the report didn;t quite sit right with what is now being said in the media by the Liverpool supporters group about fans not being drunk and all fans having tickets, so I went back to check. Two quotes from the Taylor report (August 1989, so very soon after the event and based on numerous evidential accounts): "There were, I accept, small groups without tickets who were willing to exploit any adventitious chance of getting into the ground. They, together with the minority who had drunmk too much, certainly aggravated the problem faced by the police." "Because of police strategy in advance and on the day did not cater for [an uneven flow of fans into the turnstiles], the arrival of a large number of supporters between 2.30pm and 2.40pm created an unmanageable crush. The presence of a substantial minority of fans who had drunk too much aggravated that problem." So, whilst accepting that the underlying strategy employed by the police on that day was the main factor in not managing the fans, resulting in a crush, even the Taylor report (which most consider to be well thought out and impartial) acknowledges that drunk and ticketless fans had a part to play in the events that unfolded. It does seem that Liverpool, out of all the clubs (even Man Utd, which is saying something), refuse to take responsibility for absolutely anything which can be construed as negative against them.

I relocated from Brum to London for work about 18 months ago, which meant my boyfriend moving jobs as well (he's a teacher). Salary-wise, it was a great move - although things are more expensive down here, the salary increase more than makes up for it. We've now moved out to St Albans, so have the benefit of London being 20 mins on the train, but without feeling too claustrophobic. It also means I can get back up to Brum for the Villa every other week. We kept our house in Sutton and rent it out. It was quite a big decision to make as we didn't really know anyone here, but I'd say go for it. You can easily make friends through work, sports clubs etc (join the Villa Lions club if there's one near you), and if it doesn't work out, you've not really lost anything but at least given it a go.

Commercial and contract law, commercial litigation. Bit dull, sorry! And, probably less useful to most looking for advice on here, I seem to have far too much knowledge about Friends, the TV series. Too much time spent watching it at Uni instead of studying.

Hawksmoor Seven Dials is really good for steak, posh burgers etc and close to all the theatres. Slightly more informal but great atmosphere - Polpo, Da Polpo or Spuntino in Soho/ Covent Garden - no reservations but there's a bar area where you can wait. Les Duex Salons also does a great pre- or post-theatre menu.

It's his positioning that makes him so bad for me. So often he is nowhere near the winger he's supposed to be marking, and therefore the winger either (a) gets a cross in unchallenged or ( gets taken out by Hutton who's desperately stretching due to being out of position in the first place and trying to catch up. I've not seen that much of him yet as an attacking full back for which he had a decent reputation, but I suppose that could be down to McLeish's negative outlook. Either way, not a patch on Luke Young.

I kept my season ticket this year despite moving from Birmimgham to Hertfordshire, and even had a bit of a go at one of my mates who didn't renew ("you support the club, not the manager" etc). However, for the first time yesterday, I am questioning whether I will renew next year if the style of play doesn't change. It's a fair bit of cash with all the travelling, and will be very depressing if these negative performances continue for the rest of the season. So if nothing changes, then the likelihood is that no, I won't renew, and neither will the person I go with.

Central News in my fourth year at King Edwards Handsworth Girls. Our attention-seeking headmistress had invited local news as we'd had a charity leapfrog (seriously). For some reason, I was the one chosen for her to leapfrog. She was about 4'2" and 13 stone, so despite me crouching as low as possible, I made my TV debut being kicked in the head by my school headmistress.

Love cats - got 2 rescue ones, mother and kitten (although now grown up). One was shot twice with an air rifle before we had her, and despite having a tough life, she's so affectionate now. Although I do feel a bit guilty that even though her name is Cleo, she answers to "Fatty". Echo the above comments about birds/ frogs/ mice - always having to clear up either parts of dead things, or chase round the house like idiots after something that's still alive, whilst the cats sit there watching.

How about Cuba? We went 2 years ago, and had a great time. Amazing beaches, but lots of culture/ things to do/ cigars & rum in Havana (and you can travel pretty easily between Havana and the beaches).