An idiot's guide to 5th place

Supporting Tottenham Hotspur is an arduous process. You have to deal with constant disappointment, endlessly finishing below the enemy (Arsenal), and fall short of being considered a 'big' club.

In the 2009-2010 season, Spurs finished 4th. My proudest moment as a Spurs fan, to qualify for the Champions League (The major European competition). We haven't done so since, and have fallen agonizingly short on a number of occasions. Ridiculous occurrences like losing 0-1 at home to Wigan (a team now in the 2nd tier of English football) and conceding 11 goals to Manchester City (last season) destroying our morale and our chances of hitting the top 4.

Our north London rivals who always seem to finish above us. We have never been able to step out of their shadow (except for that glorious 09-10 season) and have to deal with their superiority. They have problems of their own but still find a way to beat Spurs.

So we deal with it. We take it in our stride and hope for something to change. Perhaps a Manchester City moment, where Arab billionaires take over the club, pouring investment in. But let's face it; No Arab billionaire's going to want a Jew's club

Funeral

Funerals are, in general, a solemn affair. An event designed to allow you to not move on, but to grieve. I have been told that you are supposed to feel closure at a funeral. But in my short life, I have yet to feel this. Most probably because I've never been to the funeral of someone I have a personal connection to. I have been to two, one of which was of a distant relative I had never met, and another of a schoolchild I had never spoken to. Both times there were somber atmospheres. Yet both times it was rather simple for me to stomach what had happened. Perhaps I am simply desensitized (as many claim my generation has become.) But it is often difficult to feel something when you haven't built anything with the person. The concept of the funeral is to be of a last remembrance, but for some it is their first of many to come (when there is no closure) and when there is no remembrance at all.

To the people going through a funeral or are dealing with the death of someone close to you. I hope you achieve the closure you are looking for, and I hope that you lead a long happy life.

Pacific Standard

Whoever invented instruments (I haven't taken the liberty to look it up) is an absolute mastermind, a revolutionary. To this day there are hundreds of percussive, wind, string and brass instruments which, when properly arranged, can often produce marvels of sound. I'm currently attempting to enter the world of instrumentation - hopefully to the point where I can produce my own music too. I'm learning the guitar and piano, and taking great delight in doing so, however I often struggle to progress. But overcoming this is a big part of mastering an instrument, so I've decided that I will try to take it in my stride, accepting it is simply part of the experience.

I encourage anyone and everyone to take up an instrument, and pursue the creation of music, you are never too old, or too young an never feel as if you have missed your opportunity.