With the schools breaking up for the festive celebrations, the sight that greeted many a child last Friday brought alive a magical winter wonderland.

With the trees and fields dusted in white, hats, scarves and gloves were donned and a battalion of snowmen popped up all over our fair county.

With the breasts of the humble robin shining like a beacon in the hedgerows and icicles clinging to the boughs of trees, the Sussex countryside was quite simply breathtaking. What has this go to do with Eastbourne Borough? Absolutely nothing, but I felt poetic licence coming on.

OK, back to the task in hand and that is try and give a weekly view on life at The Boro. With the winter weather gripping the country by the throat, the possibility of matches taking place grew more remote as the flakes fell. With a trek North ahead of the players and committee, ones mind sprung back to the corresponding fixture last season and the memory of the team arriving at Alty to be told the games was off. Thankfully, with the conditions threatening, a decision was made well in advance and the pitch inspection at 12.30 condemned the game to the "postponed bin" It was nice that common sense prevailed and the gamble of a wasted journey was erased.

So with a free Saturday and no other local matches surviving the freeze, what was any self respecting football fan to? Well, there was the offer of Christmas shopping, but who in their right mind ventures to the shopping malls this close to the 25th? I decided to opt for a satellite rendition of "David and Goliath" from the South Coast of Hampshire. Little David of Pompey was to face the Goliath rorm the Mersey. Well, true to form, The little man did indeed slay the giant, although being quite honest, the Liver of Pool hardly offered a whimper in resistance. If that wasn't enough to quench the thirst for soccer then Harrods FC demolition of Mancunian Red Devils was the icing on the cake.

I am not, and probably never will be a fan of the upper most tier of English football, where one player's wage could save many a non-league club. So to see the likes of the so-called top clubs being humbled made a refreshing change. The sour side of the money men also reared its head with the sacking of Mark Hughes. When the light blue revolution explode at Eastlands, I for one was pleased that there may be a club to loosen the stranglehold of the "Big Four" at the pinnacle of the leagues. The under handed way Mr Hughes was treated makes me pleased it's non-league I love!

Whilst enjoying the afternoon fayre on the extra terrestrial channel,  I was also keeping up to date on the dwindling number of games surviving the ice and snow and one particular fixture really caught my eye. Grays v York City. Not one of the BSP glamour ties I admit, but it was the fashion it was postponed that made me chuckle!b At 1pm, it was game on, with the pitch declared fit, and by 1.15 game off. Had it suddenly snowed a blizzard and covered the pitch with a layer so deep? No....

Word has it that a linesman said to the referee, one Amy Rayner, that he was worried that snow and ice maybe kicked up in his face. I kid you not. The game was called off and then the following happened. The players form both Grays and York took to the pitch and engaged in a full training session in front of the fans that had stayed on. So, if the managers of the teams were happy to allow their stars to take to the stage, why on earth didn't the officials not give it a chance? With the finances of non-league clubs in a perilous state, the expenses incurred by York will have to met and clubs like Grays cannot afford it. As my title said this week, common sense and stupidity. Thankfully for Boro, Altrincham was the common sense.

There was also a happy announcement from the Crabb household this week when little Lexi made her debut in the world. A brief chat on facebook with the proud dad revealed that Lexi wasn't quite as tall as her dad just yet, but possibly weighed more. Many congratulations to Matt and Hannah on the latest addition to the dynasty.

So, our eyes now look ahead to the hectic end of 2009 and our seasonal local derbies. Sadly Lewes have been replaced by Crawley but that doesn't mean we won't enjoy the occasion any less. Luton Town also slip in to the equation prior to 2010 arriving and it is another fixture we at The Lane could only have dreamed about a few seasons ago. So, until we meet up again next week, I wish each and everyone of you a happy and peaceful Christmas. Join me again in a week's time....... hangovers permitting!