Blimey, I'm feeling an old man this weekend. Indulge an old man for a bit, would you?

I've never counted Blood Bowl years in calendar years. Or FUMBBL birthdays. Or the anniversary of my joining, or by any obvious system; moreover the passing of BB time is clocked (by me, at least) in FUMBBL Cups.

At first glance; it's a crap system. It's not a system anyone else uses, it's not obvious or logical, but it's my system. I think it's because of the historical hold that the Tournament has over the site for a few weeks. Even the most cynical coach towards such high TR [R] events (/puts hand up) can't really argue with the buzz a 512 KO Tournament can create. It's a freaking monster this thing, and it's always felt like a fitting end to the year.

I suppose the size of the thing always leads me to reflective mode. What has the last 12 months held for me, and where am I going? No more so than this year, where for whatever reason, I seem to be treading water a bit in my FUMBBL existence. I've not lost any of the joy of the game, but growing up is painful. The means of earning food and a bed is chomping on me and my time, I've other commitments as I make nice with Mrs. Goo (by no means a chore, but certainly time consuming), weekends disappear in smoke whilst catching up with long lost Uni buddies, it's almost Christmas again already, dammit! BB slips down the list to play-when-I'm-knackered-and-my-heart-is-barely-in-it status. The passing of time and the time chomp come to all of us who are lucky enough to have progressed in life, and, what's more, it can only get worse. If you're a Uni student reading this now, or even earlier than that, beware, this will become you - if you're lucky!

The state of FUMBBL today is strong, yet uncertain. Cyanide is a nagging thorn in our side (currently, at least, I still maintain it'll be gone by the summer as the bugs and lack of support consume the product and destroy the fledgling support it's gathered to date), LRB5 seems close enough to touch, but far enough away not to be able to grasp, we've taken a summer knock in terms of games played. My time is slipping away, no longer can I pour over WIL replays or spec plenty of games in my free time; FUMBBL time is too precious to do much other then play at the moment. I think now for the first time, I just need to find something to play for. Afterall, who's to say there will be another year after this?

In previous years, even with an abundance of free time, I've had no goals. Not coveting CR, or not thinking Majors are worth winning, or whatever, makes it easy just to have fun with the game. Even so, even aimless, I can still remember with great clarity where my coaching career (so to speak) was at FC time; at year end. 2006, a n00b trying to be someone, learning. 2007, an [L] crusader, someone at least loud and known. 2008, someone that could just about compete with anyone in a fair game. What of 2009? Where's the forward movement?

I need some help coming up with some New Years' Resolutions. Aiming to 'win things' is strictly out for two reasons. 1. What it turns you into. I shall pimp and cheese for no man. 2. Frankly, I think I've won everything I've ever coveted. Leave that point there, through fear of Fun Police arguments. Grid filling or award chasing is also out, it's never filled me with joy...

So FUMBBL. The FC is drawn on Oct. 14. New Year's Day. Give an old man a hand with some goals? Some resolutions?

Inspire me! :D