Merry Christmas, Andy!

Yes, Schlecklanders, it's that time of year - it's nearly Christmas, it's nearly the new season, and we haven't had any cycling to watch for weeks and weeks.

The transfer season has been the strangest ever, with no-one daring to leave a team which still has sponsors, meanwhile the remaining teams are hanging on and hanging on about making offers, in order to get the best possible bargain.

Even Sky "Huge Budget" Procycling have only announced a ream roster of 25: makes you wonder if they are waiting for a last-minute bargain somewhere.

We even have a rider who won a Grand Tour last year, without a contract for next year! (Mad Dog Horner, that is.)

Still, we can put all that behind us for now, and turn our thoughts away from racing, and towards the personal side of it all - with very best Schleckland wishes to Our Andy for a super, super Christmas.

Tinkerjil must be getting pretty "round" by now, with the new baby due about March/April time, we think - and the pair of them must be so excited. This time next year, they'll be having their first Christmas as a family - d'aaaw!

Hey Andy, if  you don't know what to get Jil for a gift - get her a wedding ring! Go on, do the right thing, do what Frankie and Martine did: nice quiet civil wedding now, then after the baby arrives, have a big summer outdoor "do" so that we can all come and throw gel wrappers confetti at you. (This is not an idle threat, I do have a passport now.) It's the right thing to do - avoids all that business with children not having the same surname as their parents, which is just confusing...

Christmas wishes also to Frankie and Martine:  he'll be off to the Tour Down Under in a few weeks (*waves to Leelu*) with Jensie,  can't wait to see the new kit - so go, Frankie, go! Stay, Jensie, stay!

And to all Schlecklanders past, present, and future, Have a Super Super Christmas!

Love to all of you,

Auntie Coug