Anton’s Hat

I know I have a lot on my plate but something I say a lot (as a joke) is that I’ll make a comeback in football.

This year in May at the age of 31 I decided to do just that. I had a call form the Manager of Salthill Devon FC in Galways manager asking about young players I might know (I’ve coached Eircom U21 level for the last 3 years) and eventually the conversation turned to me coming along to help pass on some experience to younger players.  As this is a year for going for it I agreed. Why not?

They’ve entered the League of Ireland A Championship which is a new national senior league below the Eircom League First Division and has all the reserve teams from the Premier division clubs, as well as other clubs looking to make a step up. The winner can play off with the bottom club in the First division for promotion. So pretty decent.

I got off to a good start, had a stinker against Shamrock Rovers and since then have spent most of the time with a calf injury. I’m fully recovered now and ready for action in a friendly this weekend.

I’ll be bringing you more regular updates of “the comeback”, my training and trials and tribulations as the season progresses.

Stay tuned…

The Hat is back!

So it’s 4:04 am and I will be getting married to a wonderful woman in less than 11 hours. I’ve had a few beers and reminisced a bit about old times with my best man and groomsman and now I can’t sleep. I’m here talking to you guys on the computer instead. That’s ok though it’s quiet around here and I like the few people who swing by here anyway.

As an entrepreneur and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I approach everything in life with enthusiasm and vigour and passion and that goes double for this area of my life. Wish me luck in my latest endeavour and I’ll see you all on the other side.

Hi there folks! I don’t really know who or how many people read this blog. But for those who do and who don’t know me personally…

2008 is going to be a huge year for me as it’ll see the completion of the biggest deal of my life. I’m getting married. This has been viewed as a positive turn by those who know me in a business capacity as they feel that, if I have managed to convince a woman to put up with my countless faults, quite literally ad infinitum, then getting funding for any project I desire shouldn’t be a problem.

My hoards of screaming fans are of course disappointed, and to you I apologise…

Myself and the beautiful Jessica Roy will be married on Friday 13th of June 2008 in Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland. No one called Jason can come, especially if they own a hockey mask…

I will be elaborating on the interesting story of how we met and the triumphs and disasters of the wedding plans here as we go forward. Tips, tricks, money savers and suggestions for the event itself are all welcome as are large donations.

I found a great post with some wise words from Albert Einstein I’ve reposted them here without the interpretation as I think they stand on their own. I like 1, 3, 5 and 7 especially. 5 is my favourite as it’s something I particualrly believe in…

1. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.

2. Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.

3. I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

4. The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.

5. The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.

6. There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.

7. When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.

8. In order to be an immaculate member of a flock of sheep, one must above all be a sheep oneself.

9. You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

10. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

And a personal caveat to number 10.. When asking “Why?” don’t forget “Why not?”

Your thoughts…

Ok guys I have an unusual name. It doesn’t really sound like it ought to be, but I can assure you it is.

Let me be more specific, my first name “Anton” is not that unusual. It’s quite common across all of Europe especially eastern Europe. My Surname too “Mannering” while not that common in Ireland is not that unusual either, there are blooming thousands of them around the world. Well what the hell am I on about you say. Hold on, I’m gettin there…

This is where Dave Gorman comes in. For those who don’t know, he is most famous for 2 “projects” lets call them. These later became comic performances, usually using powerpoint, which later became books,dvds etc.. They are funny shit, the first was called “Are you Dave Gorman?” the second “Googlewhack!”. He’s done other stuff besides but those two were the best known.

Well in “Are you Dave Gorman?” he goes about finding all, or all the most interesting, Dave Gormans in the world and the sstory is all the coincidences and odd happenings along the way (if you want to check how many people in the UK have your name go to www.yournotme.com, I dunno if you can do this for Ireland). In his second “Googlewhack!” he goes on a trek to speak to all the people in the world who have googlewhacks on there websites, similar with the coincidences. (A Googlewhack is when 2 words are entered into google and it comes back with only one hit.)

“So bloody what Anton”, I hear you cry! LOUDLY! Well I reckon I am the human equivelant of a Googlewhack. That is to say that I may be the only person in the world where the forename “Anton” the surname “Mannering” come together on the same person. I’m unique!!  I am Anton Mannering the “personwhack”! Which gives me special powers…. no it doesn’t it’s completely bloody useless. But you’re already jealous…

Bollox you say? You’re not unique! Well to be honest I’m not 100% about it and there is a weird curious part of me that wants there to be someone else! So I’ll take any help you give to help check it out.

So Dave, I’m sure I’m not the only one like this so I’m off to form a group on Facebook. And I understand you’re struggle with the Dougie Hauser domain, I’d have been tempted myself…

So, in conclusion. Are YOU Anton Mannering?

No you’re bloody not!! (but if you are gimme a shout)