+++MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL LIFERS+++

Another year about to be etched on the wall and sadly another year that the Xmas party at CL Towers wasn’t up to its usual level of shenanigans. 

We decided to ‘do something’ and @Oggy Red kicked things off with his usual boyish enthusiasm, but no one’s heart was really in it. Oh how we missed @DaveMehmet fart machine over Zoom last year. Just like his previews, @ForeverAddickted turned up fashionably late. Things did pick up when @Stig brought out an incredibly creative and beautiful cake, but @aliwibble quickly Southall’d (pricked) the mood by demanding to know the source of the cake. Poor Stig never stood a chance. He mumbled the shop name with little confidence but could not produce a receipt. Music stopped and five minutes of trawling the shop’s website online led Ali to the conclusion that she could not rule out it may have been sourced from a different shop. Poor Stig was well and truly 'Wibbled' and the cake was promptly removed from the building. @lancashire lad ended up giving the event a 2.66 rating and no one could really complain.

Its been another crazy year in the following of Charlton Athletic. For many months none of us could attend and Curbs & Minto become regular features in our front rooms and grew into a tremendous double act. Then we could attend again and for part of this year we probably wished we couldn’t! Overall its felt a year of underperformance but fingers cross under Jacko we may have some positive upward movement ahead.

As always, a huge thanks to the enormous and (mostly) happy CL family, particularly those that help moderate, write previews, compile competitions and stats, collect for fundraising / sponsorships, start match threads etc. We celebrated our 15th birthday in the summer, this forum can no doubt be frustrating at times and I’m sure we all have individuals who drive us mad, but equally there is fun, laughter, support, encouragement, knowledge and togetherness. There is a lot of good things that emanate from this forum and it’s a pleasure sharing that journey with you all.

As we always remind, this time of year can be particularly difficult for some and we know a number of a CL family are having difficult times through physical & mental health, lost ones etc. Covid one way or another is proving a huge drain to all of us. Be kind to each other and our thoughts are with those who may be having a challenging time.

Merry Christmas everyone and up the Mighty Addicks! Let’s hope 2022 will be a year to enjoy. 

AFKA & Lookie