However, a couple of weeks ago, mortgages were in the news for an entirely different reason. A very surreal reason.

Four people are facing jail because of an £8 million mortgage fraud, where the group seem to have “bombarded” a number of different companies with claim after claim after claim. It doesn’t seem real, somehow. It’s a little like something out of a James Bond film or something. Quite strange to think that, actually, it was happening just down the road in Essex.

And it got me wondering: just how easy is it to do something like that? To continually apply for mortgages or remortgages from Nationwide, or any of the other big establishments.

I suppose it’s fair to say that, with mortgage forums that are set up to discuss borrowing money, it has become easier to find markets.

The internet makes everything easier. You can do anything from broadcast your music, to selling your property or home quickly for cash on the internet. And in many ways, it’s a wonderful tool.

But, like many wonderful tools, it can be exploited. It amazes me that they were able to apply for 33 fraudulent mortgage applications. And it amazes me that, considering it looks like it was only two companies they pestered, they weren’t found out sooner.

I must admit, after the busy week I’ve had, it was nice to be able to sit back and relax. However, with drink and food and conversation sometimes come unexpected plans. And now, around October, I have planned to go for a little weekend road trip around America. The vague plan, as I recall, is to watch a university American football game, and watch an NFL game – watch a real, thriller of a game, if we can, and see some true great players.

The trouble arises when it comes to the financing. I’m not quite sure how to fund the trip. So I’ve been looking at everything from cash ISA savings accounts, to browsing through the vaults of finance and savings news to try and come up with some sort of genius plan.

I’ve even been looking over Nationwide’s savings and investment schemes, which reminded me of the premium bonds I have. A moment of wishful thinking, but realistically I need to plan the adventure on concrete things.

I suppose, at the very least, I have a graduate loan to fall back on, but that comes with the added worry of more debt.

He is a man who set college football on fire with his athleticism, his power, his jump-throws, his leadership, and his impressive dual-threat ability: the man who is widely considered to be the greatest collegiate football player ever, now, for perhaps the first time, is doubted.

But now, because he has a strange throwing motion, he’s doubted. Questioned, because he played in a shotgun, spread offense at university; he’s doubted because it’s not what they look for. They doubt whether he’ll be able to play the game at a professional level because … well, because of what? Because he throws the ball in a way that doesn’t follow the book?

Ok.

I find this to be the most interesting thing about the NFL. Every year, players are doubted. Some don’t make it, not like they’d like to. Others defy odds and critics, and go on to be incredibly successful. Jerry Rice was doubted because of his speed. Maurice Jones-Drew was doubted because of his stature. But why? Why would criticise someone for their height, when short players, slight players have had success before? Look at Barry Sanders. Look at DeSean Jackson.

I would not bet against Tim Tebow. He’s just too much of a fiery, determined monster on that field. And this video sums up precisely why I think he will make it, and enjoy a successful career in the league.

In my mind, it is ridiculous to say someone is not going to be a good NFL quarterback because of their technique. Everywhere, athletes excel with “bad” technique. Michael Johnson broke the mould, Usain Bolt is breaking the mold, Walter Payton held the ball in an unorthodox way, Chris Johnson runs upright.

Tim Tebow is arguably and very probably the best college football player ever. He dominated in high school, he dominated at university, and now he can’t make it as a pro? Seems like flawed logic to me. It will be interesting to see, if he does make it, how many of these naysayers will be all-too quick to say: I knew it! I knew he’d make it all along!

Something tells me that there will be many who do.

It is a film about professional American football, and there is a disagreement between the players and owners, causing the players to go on strike. The Washington Sentinels, a fictional team, recruit prisoners, bouncers and fishermen to form a team of replacement players, and hilarity ensues.

But it’s a tale of real life because, at present, the NFL is currently in a similar sort of shadow. There is a disagreement between the owners and the Players Association in real life, too. And while it is accepted now that an uncapped year is probably going to happen next year, the prospect of football after next season is filled with worry.

Things will get a bit crazy unless the owners and players come to an extension agreement. There will be no salary cap on player contracts, and after that, if an agreement is still not reached down the line, there could be strikes, or there could even be a lockout: no NFL season whatsoever.

The owners have somehow injected a rule in the current contract that they will get paid, even if there is a lockout. Which seems slightly unfair. And the players don’t want to take a 20% pay cut.

To me, it’s all a little bit ludicrous. When you’re earning tens of millions of dollars – and in some cases, hundreds of millions – what difference does 20% make? You’re still being paid to play the game you love for a living. And even the very worst salaries are the stuff of dreams to us mere mortals.

But then, I suppose, like one character says in The Replaements: do you know how much insurance costs on a Ferrari?

Even LT himself, when he spoke to the media, didn’t seem to have been informed why he had been released.

It was heartbreaking to see him break down up on that podium, and if you couldn’t hear it in his voice, you could see it in his eyes: he loved San Diego – still does, in fact – and he wanted, more than anything, to win a Super Bowl with his team; the team that picked him, the team that he helped transform into a perennial playoff contender.

It’s the horrible, haunting bump in the road for running backs: the 30-year mark. Some manage to overcome it; the few, rare players; and some haven’t taken too much of a beating in the early part of their careers, and can plough onwards. But Tomlinson’s stats had declined, and he was due to make a lot of money.

Tomlinson has been one of the finest running backs in the history of the NFL: he is the fastest player ever to reach 150 career touchdowns, and he has compiled them with brilliant and often dazzling runs. But he also catches the ball a lot. He’s has a better career as a receiver than some wide receivers themselves, racking up nearly 4,000 yards. That’s a lot of punishment, on top of carrying the load on the ground.

The curious thing is, he still has plenty left in the tank. Certainly, whenever I’ve seen him play this year, he’s seemed quick, more explosive than much of last season. But he has been slowed down by injury on occasions.

He’ll find a team, at some point or another. And he’ll contribute, and help them on their quest for the trophy. It will be interesting to see if this decision comes back to haunt San Diego.

The week has been busy, to say the least. Too hectic, in places, and it means I have found very little time for writing, or reading, or dabbling in graphic design. I’ve found very little time for anything, in fact: the days seemingly blurred into one, long grind. But it’s the weekend, and at the weekend I am automatically happy. And so is the dog. Somehow, she knows when I have time off, and it pleases her immensely that there is more time for long walks.

I have found time to catch up on the healthcare news in America, though, after a friend pointed it out to me earlier in the week. And it makes me very happy to know that we have a National Health Service, here in Britain. Almost as happy as my dog is at the prospect of Saturday.

But with the NHS comes a certain amount of problems, because people take advantage of it. The Times recently ran an article on this, which you can find here.

Even in this country, though, there are thriving private healthcare programs. There are websites that provide a formidable array of quotes on family health insurance, and it pays to have a quick browse every now and then, if you’re in the market. And there are other options, too: many banks provide life insurance protection schemes.

And let’s not forget Zurich health cover or the award-winning BUPA healthcare, but at least with BUPA it accommodates people from all over the world.

Now it’s approaching four o’clock, and I am being convinced to go for a walk. The dog’s timer is spot-on, as always.

In the past, for example, a player wouldn’t necessarily fly home from their tour of duty, or miss matches to spend time with their wife or their children. It seems to be happening everywhere now, though.

Manchester City have given Carlos Tevez permission to fly back to Argentina to be there for the birth of his child, and they are a team that is battling for a place in the top-four and in the Champions League. Now they’ll have to do without their prolific top scorer for a while.

John Terry, who has had a lot of marital trouble recently flew out of the country to find and talk to his woman, too.

I think that, increasingly, the father is being seen as a hugely important figure in society. The father is just as key as the mother: it is important to have him there, in the early stages of a child’s life. And it’s reflected in football; it’s reflected in all sport.

There might be a story in the news about it, briefly, when the player first goes away, but it is soon forgotten. It’s accepted, it seems, and an entirely natural thing. It’s certainly interesting to think about.

The film of choice was Solomon Kane, which I hadn’t even heard of before today. But apparently it’s based on some fantastic stories by Robert E. Howard. I don’t think things often work like this, but I’m certainly going to check out the fiction after having seen the movie. It was a brilliantly dark, gothic tale of retribution and love, with some really striking imagery.

Of course, I won’t spoil it for anyone who has yet to see it, but I will say that the scene with the Devils Reaper was particularly effective.

And yet, one of the best moments wasn’t even the film itself. It was before the film, while we were watching trailers. For the most part the adverts were dull, or gruesome. The films weren’t particularly appealing. But then came an advert for Clash of the Titans, and, instantly, I was hooked.

The music pounded out of the speakers, a booming, rock soundtrack that somehow seemed fitting.

A bearded Liam Neeson portrayed Zeus, and the actor who plays Lord Voldemort was Hades. That alone had me interested. The monsters, the action, the mythical tale and setting solidified it in my mind as something to watch out for.

It’s the sort of film that’s right up my street. I loved the original, and that only really got by on its special effects – in its time, probably revolutionary, and now almost a source of comedy. So I’m not overly concerned that this remake will be ruined by any lack of story that seems a common theme among modern cinema.

Last week, I had a week off for half-term, despite only having been at college for two weeks.

Of course it went by altogether too quickly. But it also gave me a taste of freedom that I haven’t really had since university. I went zorbing, which was insane. And it’s made me incredibly excited for the Easter holiday, and the Summer holiday especially. In fact, I’m determined to make this summer as adrenaline-filled as possible.

My friends recently went to Go Ape, which sounds good fun, and they are apparently already planning to go again. I might hop on the bandwagon.

But more so than that, I’m keen to go paintballing. Like monkeying around at Go Ape, I’ve never actually been paintballing before: but there is a certain something about running around with friends and toy guns that is more appealing.

I pitched the idea to my brother, who also threw in the go-karting notion. There is a track nearby that is offering half-price deals on races, so long as you bring enough people. I doubt whether that will still be going in a few months time, but racing itself is certainly brilliant fun.

It will be nice, I think, to celebrate in such a fashion once all the work is done.

At least they were complimentary about something. But it’s one of those things that just sort of caught me; made me smile. And so here I am, rambling about it.

I told them I was with BT. And that BT are pretty rubbish. But then I suppose when you live out in the middle of nowhere, most phone and broadband services will be pretty bad. Still, it was more the handsets that they liked; what, with their fancy (though unused) buttons, and a look about them that says: I do more than ring people. They are those fancy dect cordless phones.

They had never considered buying telephones online before, which is where I got my ones from. There is a phone shop in our local town, and it’s usually well-stocked, and pretty good for whatever you need. But the possibilities with online are limitless. You can browse tonnes of phones, and eventually find that extra special hub or handset.

Sometimes, they even throw in deals. Discounts on business and ADSL lease lines, and that sort of thing. And, of course, the big ones to look out for are internet deals, because there are so many bargains to be had that save you money. Certain UK ISP’s, like Zen, are often good for that.
But when I go into a shop… I don’t know. If there are no deals advertised, I don’t feel confident enough to ask for a discount or to haggle or barter. Which is why, often, online is the way forward – for me, at least.