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Thursday, March 08, 2007

I'm not sulking - it's tax time ...

I've received email asking why I'm not writing so much this week - is it because Arsenal have been eliminated from their 3rd knockout competition?

ARSENAL'S SEASON ALMOST OVER
Well - yes a bit - it's always hard to wind up the enthusiasm when you're watching your club struggling to live up to their potential - and that's certainly been Arsenal's fate over the last 3 weeks.

On Wednesday night Arsenal huffed and puffed and "almost" blew PSV Eindhoven's house down but when they conceded yet another soft headered goal from a 83rd minute free-kick the jig was up.

Well done to PSV - the Dutch side battled well over both games - and scored two good goals which was one more than Arsenal managed to convert - and they deservedly go into the Quarter-Finals.

For Arsenal the follow-up news is that Theirry Henry suffered ripped groin and stomach muscles - almost certainly season ending for him - and they'll now have to concentrate on achieving a top 4 league finish and a tilt at the Champions League again next season ... as we're out of everything else.

All season Arsenal have looked to be short of a couple of experienced players whenever the injuries and/or suspensions have hit - no matter what Mr Wenger says - and it's not good complaining about fixture congestion as it should not be a surprise anymore - it happens every season.

PROVISIONAL TAX TIME
However ... the main reason that I've been a bit quiet is simply that it's provisional tax time in my part of the world.

March 7th, July 7th, November 7th. These are all days which fill the self-employeed and small company owners full of dread - as we struggle to calculate earnings and liabilities, estimate the profits and then stump up huge portions of tax payments - finding the cash somewhere.

Pay too little and you'll be whacked with huge penalty taxes when the end of year accounts come through - so you end up pouring almost all your savings into the state tax coffers - keeping just enough for a few beers and a tin of baked beans.

Working for yourself has plenty of benefits - but financial security and certainty at tax time isn't one of them. Still at least I can afford a beer.

Catch ya soon.

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