I think I can safely say that I've finally recovered from a 3 week old 'under-the-weather' ailment. I hope that I can carry this fresh bout of health for at least the next 49 weeks.
....
Sunday, 3 May 2026
Saturday, 2 May 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 122 of 2026
1841hrs:
Certainly the most important day of the (English 3rd tier football) season.
Luton Town's promotion push:
Most recent background context
2006hrs: Writing as Luton trail 2-1 away to Bolton on the final day, as we turn our attention to the 2nd half of this highly riveting match. Luton have hit the woodwork 3 times and will continue to have scoring opportunities in this final half of (their game), effectively to end the season, unless they beat Bolton and hope Stevenage remain 0-0 at home to Wigan.
They have manufactured great momentum over the past 9 games and can overturn the score, with their un-matched belief and fighting spirit.
I want history to record my ambitions for Luton Town Football Club at this critical juncture, as they have the potential to positively affect our economy in AJK, in the years to come.
..
Update: 2030hrs
With 71 minutes played Luton have pegged back a goal to make it 2-2 while Stevenage are still 0-0. Barnsley have also equalised at home to Stockport (If they win that will also open a door for Luton). All to play for. At this stage and as it stands Luton just need 1 goal for all scores to favour their play-off ambition.
..
Update: 2038hrs
At this stage Plymouth would go through at the cost of Stevenage and Luton, as they have overturned a 2-0 deficit to get to 3-2 against Northampton.
..
Update: 2052hrs
Into the dying moments and Luton still need a goal!
..
Update: 2054hrs
Stevenage have scored!
..
Update: 2056hrs
Luton have scored but Stevenage still go through at this rate!
..
Update: 2114hrs
So Stevenage confirm themselves as the 4th of 4 teams qualifying for a play-off position, along with Bolton, Bradford and Stockport.
The table doesn't lie:
Table source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/tables#LeagueOne
Luton Town were relegated last year (tier 2 to tier 3 of the English Football League) as they couldn't muster that single point needed on the last day of the season. This year, Luton have just missed the possibility of promotion back to the Championship (tier 2) by a single point, despite gaining 26 points from the final 30 available this season.
It is a role reversal though (from a negative to a positive mindset), even though this lesson will cost another year in League One (tier 3). Building a culture of winning consistently is what Jack Wilshere has achieved in his first season. This is the best form of preparation for next season.
Well done to Stevenage for fighting till the very end, so patiently and with so little apparent fuel or resources. Their struggle and the way they have approached it has possibly eclipsed Luton's turn-around. That itself is a great achievement for a smaller town in our midst.
....
Friday, 1 May 2026
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 120 of 2026
2239hrs:
To get to 120 not out (in the first 120 days of 2026) for the first time since daily weblogging began to be applied seriously, in 2018.
There is so much to write about on a daily basis, which I refrain from in the main, so that space is given to my co-citizens to evolve on their own terms in this society.
As for our diaspora - especially in the United Kingdom - we are heading your way via YouTube live, daily as of tomorrow at 6pm (1800hrs) AJK time, which corresponds to 2pm (1400hrs) in London. Further details will follow subsequently.
..
We witnessed another victory in public interest in Dadyaal today, a c. 100km round trip from my hamlet Kokoi in village Gurutta, Sehnsa. Will write more later.
....
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 119 of 2026
1950hrs:
Still fighting a 3-week-old illness while also contemplating fresh strategies to get that daily sleeping/resting routine right. Of course, time is ebbing away and it is not replace-able, which is the greatest lament of all.
....
Luton Town's promotion push:
Most recent background context
Following on from last Saturday's football (English League 1 - third tier) results and with respect to Luton Town's promotion prospects, they have suddenly received a boost as relegation-certified Port Vale beat promotion-seeking Stockport 2-1 away last night (Tuesday), in an absolutely unexpected result. This not only eat away Stockport's 1 (less played) game advantage, it also means that - just like - Bradford, they need to at least find a draw away: Stockport away to Barnsley and Bradford away to relegation haunted Exeter City, the latter who need to win to avoid relegation.
Table source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/tables#LeagueOne
Now, Luton still need to beat Bolton away but they have 3 clear sources of 'un-controllables' that could ease their path. Stevenage need a win at home against Wigan and the 2 teams cited above (viz. Stockport and Bradford) both need a draw.
See you all on Saturday for what is going to be an exciting finale.
....
Public Finance Update:
Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years):
16
Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:
215
Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:
86
Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):
735
Cash in Hand: -19,190
Cash Deposits: 270,243
Immediate Debts: 3,190
..
Social Welfare Budget (Zakat/Sadqa):
Current Deposits: 257,000
Arrears: 22,776 (pending from 17/03/2026 - money that has been spent elsewhere momentarily but needs to be rightfully returned to this fund)
Distributed (today): 0
Balance: 257,000
....
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 118 of 2026
1319hrs:
Even though I'm still 'under the weather', my determination ensures that I return to my ultra-active routine as soon as possible. I am trying to sleep as close to 2000hrs as possible and trying to wake as close to 0300hrs, despite being a good few hours short or long either side.
....
Public Finance Update:
Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years):
16
Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:
215
Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:
86
Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):
730
Cash in Hand: -18,160
Cash Deposits: 270,910
Immediate Debts: 3,190
..
Social Welfare Budget (Zakat/Sadqa):
Current Deposits: 257,000
Arrears: 22,776 (pending from 17/03/2026 - money that has been spent elsewhere momentarily but needs to be rightfully returned to this fund)
Distributed (today): 0
Balance: 257,000
....
Monday, 27 April 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 117 of 2026
1812hrs:
The 3 week old ailment continues, although its intensity mutates from time to time. I hope I have got through the worst of it and can look forward to resuming an active future. At this stage, the importance of what time I'm going to sleep and what time I am waking up, goes into the background as I pursue recovery. Today, I deliberately tried to sleep for as long as possible, to see whether that would make a difference.
....
Public Finance Update:
Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years):
16
Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:
215
Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:
86
Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):
725
Cash in Hand: -12,940
Cash Deposits: 271,796
Immediate Debts: 3,190
..
Social Welfare Budget (Zakat/Sadqa):
Current Deposits: 257,000
Arrears: 22,776 (pending from 17/03/2026 - money that has been spent elsewhere momentarily but needs to be rightfully returned to this fund)
Distributed (today): 0
Balance: 257,000
....
Sunday, 26 April 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 116 of 2026
1240hrs:
First of all, I must congratulate all my co-citizens of AJK in particular and JKA in general for helping me surpass 1 million views on this weblog, which even until 2023 looked impossible to achieve in this lifetime.
Consistency does ultimately generate milestone after milestone and let's help each other to achieve those collective milestones that we so aspire for.
I am getting to sleep at night, albeit closer to midnight than to the 2000hrs sleeping watershed and waking at about 0900hrs, six hours later than the waking watershed. Local solutions to my nagging health issue are also finally coming good, after a brief detour into 'Western' medicine which created temporary reprieve but not a genuine solution.
....
Public Finance Update:
Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years):
16
Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:
215
Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:
86
Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):
720
Cash in Hand: -7,540
Cash Deposits: 270,539
Immediate Debts: 3,000
..
Social Welfare Budget (Zakat/Sadqa):
Current Deposits: 257,000
Arrears: 22,776 (pending from 17/03/2026 - money that has been spent elsewhere momentarily but needs to be rightfully returned to this fund)
Distributed (today): 0
Balance: 257,000
....
Saturday, 25 April 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 115 of 2026
1119hrs:
Almost a repeat of yesterday's routine, whereby I tried to go to sleep by 2100hrs and despite struggling for a few hours I managed to get up at 0900hrs this morning.
The flu and temperature has now been nagging me for 3 weeks and I can't wait to be rid of it, so that my 'active' life resumes.
....
Luton Town's promotion push:
Luton Town have now won 7 of their last 9 games, with 1 game to go (earning 23 points from a possible 27). When there were 10 games to go I did feel that they needed to win them all to ensure they achieved a play-off position. They have only dropped 4 points (drawing 2 games) but such is the competitiveness of this league that they are still 1 point behind the final play-off position of 6th.
With 1 game to go the picture is much clearer now:
Table source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/tables#LeagueOne
Bolton's draw with Bradford ensured that they have secured a play-off place.
Stockport just need 1 point from their last 2 games to secure their position too.
Which realistically leaves Luton competing with both Bradford and Stevenage for that spot while Plymouth can only complete with Stevenage for that play-off position.
Out of control:
Stockport - 3 points (2 games left & they only need a point while they also have a +1 GD c.f. to Luton)
Bradford - 3 points (1 game left & 5 goals advantage to Luton in GD)
Stevenage - 1 point (1 game left & 9 goals advantage to Luton in GD)
There are now effectively 5 teams vying for 3 promotion play-off places.
Stockport have a game in hand which they play on Tuesday the 28th of April, against already relegated Port Vale. This will be our next update on Wednesday (given the time difference).
Our final update will be next Saturday and the following fixtures will be noted with interest:
(Barnsley vs Stockport)
- This may be irrelevant if Stockport obtain at least a point against Port Vale on Tuesday, which is very likely. If Stockport somehow lose, then this match away against Barnsley will be hugely significant. Meanwhile, Barnsley have only won 1 of their last 6 matches while Stockport have won 3 of their last 6.
Bolton vs Luton
- Bolton have qualified for the play-offs while only winning 2 of their last 6 games, whereas Luton have won 5 of their last 6. Luton need a win while hoping either Bradford lose to Exeter (who need at least a win while hoping Leyton do not beat Burton at home, to avoid relegation) or Stevenage do not muster more than a draw against Wigan. Or unrealistically expect Stockport to lose their last 2 games against Port Vale at home (on Tuesday) and against Barnsley away on the final day of the season.
Exeter vs Bradford
- Exeter have only won 1 of their last 6 while Bradford have only won 2 of their last 6. Bradford are uncomfortable away but need only a point to secure a play-off position while Exeter must win at all costs to even have a chance of avoiding relegation, subject to Leyton not winning at home against Burton.
Northampton vs Plymouth
- Northampton are rock bottom of the league having lost all 6 of their last 6 games, while Plymouth with an outside chance of entering the promotion arena having won 3 of their last 6 games. A Plymouth win plus a Luton draw or loss against Bolton, plus a Stevenage draw or loss against Wigan would provide Plymouth that gateway to the play-offs.
Stevenage vs Wigan
- Not many people would have considered Stevenage to have given themselves such an opportunity to make the play-offs but a win against Wigan would secure Stevenage's place, irrespective of whatever happens elsewhere. Stevenage have won 3 of their last 6 while Wigan have also won 3 of their last 6. This could make for an interesting match!
Overall, Luton are in the ascendancy (surpassing even 100 point Lincoln over the course of the last 10 league games) but their destiny isn't in their hands, unlike last year in the Championship (tier 2 of the English league) when they just needed a point away to West Brom to secure their place in that tier. They lost (even though West Brom had little but pride to play for) but this year's ascendancy at the right time by Luton is something else. The following is what I wrote on various Luton Town related YouTube channels post-match after beating Barnsley 2-1:
Jack Wilshere and his team approached the Luton malaise very patiently and methodically and it has shown just at the right time. Winning 7 of your last 9 league games is no mean feat, as it even eclipses Lincoln.
Hard work and perseverance is a universal recipe for success.
....
Public Finance Update:
Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years):
16
Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:
215
Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:
86
Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):
715
Cash in Hand: -6,870
Cash Deposits: 270,772
Immediate Debts: 3,000
..
Social Welfare Budget (Zakat/Sadqa):
Current Deposits: 257,000
Arrears: 22,776 (pending from 17/03/2026 - money that has been spent elsewhere momentarily but needs to be rightfully returned to this fund)
Distributed (today): 0
Balance: 257,000
....
Friday, 24 April 2026
Daily Diary (DD) - Day 114 of 2026
1127hrs:
Working hard to get back into an active fully-immersed-in-society routine, as has been the norm for over 80% of every 24 hour cycle, for the past 21 years. I took some 'Western' medicine yesterday having failed to normalise myself with purely 'Eastern' ways of repairing the body.
I got up at 0900hrs today but I did try and sleep from 2100hrs onwards last night.
....
Public Finance Update:
Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years):
16
Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:
215
Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:
86
Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):
710
Cash in Hand: -5,940
Cash Deposits: 270,862
Immediate Debts: 3,000
..
Social Welfare Budget (Zakat/Sadqa):
Current Deposits: 257,000
Arrears: 22,776 (pending from 17/03/2026 - money that has been spent elsewhere momentarily but needs to be rightfully returned to this fund)
Distributed (today): 0
Balance: 257,000
....
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