Leaping around like an oik

So just as I'm kind of getting this thing into a semblance of shape, I'm leaving the country. Not for long, though. I'm off to Germany tomorrow to spend three days leaping around like an oik. Going to see Rammstein tomorrow night at the Frankfurt Festhalle, followed by Die Toten Hosen at the Festhalle on Saturday night and then the Hosen again at the Dortmund Westfalenhalle on Monday night. Which should be excellent. I saw Rammstein on the opening night of the current tour at the Mannheim Maimarkthalle on November 1 and they were stunning, as usual. I've never seen the Hosen before and am looking forward to it tremendously as they're one of my favourite bands.

I'm staying Sunday and Monday in Duisburg with my mate Kay (that's pronounced to rhyme with "eye", not as in the girl's name). I haven't seen him for three years since the last time I was in Duisburg for work, so that should be good. We've plenty of catching up to do.

I'm flying back on Tuesday afternoon but not returning to work until Thursday as Boro's last UEFA Cup group game at home to Partizan Belgrade is on Wednesday night. This decides who wins the group, whether we finish first, second or third and therefore what sort of team we play in the third round in February. Beat Partizan and we finish top and get a third-placed team and home advantage. Lose and we finish third. A draw would put us either first or second, depending upon Villarreal's result against Aigaleo, probably second. Then we'd play one of the Champions League dropouts, which would be much tougher, even with home advantage. So, Mr. McClaren, a full strength team would be appropriate this time!