Manchester City wins Premier League

With the last day of Premier League matches gone and past, Manchester City has been declared Champions once again in the world's most watched league.

City hammered two past West Ham while Liverpool survived an early scare of having a Martin Skrtel own goal.

However, Liverpool pulled back within two minutes from two consecutive Steven Gerrard free kicks, with Daniel Agger scoring the first and Sturridge securing the second. Agger would later come close to heading in yet another goal to cap the season off on a high.

Newcastle crumbled into pieces with two men sent off, the first (Shola Amoebi) in the 66th minute for a heated argument with the referee and the second, substitute Dummett in the 86th minute, sent off for a rash two-footed lunge on Luis Suarez. Amoebi accepted the red card and disappeared down the tunnel back to changing rooms.

What was worrying at the end of the match, however, was the lapse of security in the stadium where elated City fans could not contain their excitement as they burst onto the field. The players had a tough time getting to safety as they were pulled out of the mob by worried bodyguards, security staff and City personnel.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart was seen to be especially uncomfortable though two of other City players kept their smiles on as City fans reached out energetically to touch their favoured footballers.

Chelsea and Arsenal also ended the season with respective victories Cardiff City (2-1) and Norwich City (2-0) and will be playing in the Champions League next season. Chelsea, trophy-less this season, will definitely be looking to boost their silverware next season.

Manchester United, on the other hand, only managed to end the season with a draw against Southampton under caretaker manager Ryan Giggs who looks set to retire soon. The draw marked a beleaguered season for the Red Devils after the retirement of veteran manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Author's Note: 
I will be publishing an e-book on Amazon about the Premier League so stay tuned to this blog for more updates. Meanwhile, do check out my e-books on sale at dirt-cheap prices on Amazon.

The Battle for the Title

With the season drawing to a close, the remaining games are proving to be increasingly important not just for the clubs at the top and bottom, but also for those lingering in the middle.

The tight congestion of points nearing the bottom of the league is bound to rear its ugly head as each club battle to stay on in the premier league, including beleaguered club Fulham. Darren Bent, once considered one of England's more promising strikers, has been firing blanks all season possibly due to his injuries.

Related: Liverpool's strike force continue to save defenders

Manchester United, the defending champions and whose iconic manager Sir Alex Ferguson has retired into the bleaches, have all but been virtually eliminated from a possible top four position, dismantling their dreams of even playing in the Champions League or Europa League.

Despite their diminished hopes and the inability to deliver results all season, Rooney and Van Persie have reinstated their commitment to the club for the upcoming season. Yet it remains to be seen whether David Moyes will still be up for the job once the season comes to a close.

Related: Joe Allen becoming one of Premier League's top talents, says Brendan Rodgers

One can possibly argue that with Jose Mourihno taking over the helm once again at Chelsea, there stands no other manager in his way in his quest for the Premier League trophy that has eluded Chelsea for many years.

The same goes for Liverpool, but the Anfield club is now said to be genuine contenders for the title after putting in formidable performances in recent games.

With Sturridge and Suarez along with young fledgings Coutinho and Sterling, skipper Steven Gerrard can now possibly smile again with another title added in his charge.

Chelsea leave it till late to beat Everton

February 21, 2014 

Barclays Premier League

Chelsea 1, Everton 0 

With the self-proclaimed "Chosen One", Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, insisting that his team is unlikely to be title contenders this season, his players seem to prove him otherwise.

Taking on Everton on home ground at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea had the advantage of having the home crowd behind them but left it till late, the 93rd minute, to finally secure the lead and sealed the victory for what had been a frustrating match for them.

Temper flared on the pitch as each side began to vent their frustration with missed passes and rash tackles. Mourinho made three substitutions, sending on Fernando Torres (in place of the diligent Willian) who was more concerned with complaining to the referee rather than attempting proper shots on target.

Andre Schurrle was also dispatched to beef up central midfield and aid in attacking efforts but the German national player missed vital opportunities to put his side ahead on the goal sheet. Oscar made way for Ramires who, as usual, worked incredibly hard in the match and had his chances at goal as well.

Lampard eventually allowed the tension to ease with a free kick though Terry claimed the goal, having stuck his foot dangerously with a slide. Perhaps Terry's actions placed some pressure on the keeper, Tim Howard, who made some crucial saves early in the afternoon to keep Everton in the game.

Related: Detailed match analysis by Telegraph.co.uk

Happy Valentine's Day!

To all my readers and fans out there, here's wishing all of you a Happy Valentine's Day! If you're single, fret not, you're not alone and you can always celebrate the occasion with your friends.

You're also not alone if you aren't looking forward to Valentine's Day. A US Sheriff has cancelled Valentine's Day, according to this article, to ensure that the county resident stay indoors from a coldstorm instead of heading outside to buy presents in accordance with the special day tradition.

Related: 50 Best Love Songs to make your Significant Other Swoon (Huffington Post)

The most common traditional gift that you can get for your beloved one, or even your crush, is flowers. If you're stumped at what to get, especially if your partner is a girl, flowers are unlikely to be a wrong choice, unless she said explicitly that she detests flowers. (She could be allergic to plants.)

Of course, some may lament that flowers and chocolates are too common for a girl's liking and you should turn to something else to display your individuality and uniqueness, thus enhancing your charm and attractiveness.

Related: Love is in the air: We break down which Valentine's Day movie you should see

Origins of Valentine's Day

According to Wikipedia, here's the interesting description: 

St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February 14, and added to later martyrologies. A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell. Today, Saint Valentine's Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Valentine's Day, albeit on July 6 and July 30, the former date in honor of the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and the latter date in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni). In Brazil, the Dia de São Valentim is recognized on June 12.

Related: Ok to e-mail a Valentine's card? 

Happy Lunar New Year!

To all my readers out there, here's wishing you an auspicious and prosperous Chinese New Year! I look forward to your continued support by buying my ebooks on Amazon! (More information about my books can be found throughout this blog.)

Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is a widely celebrated event and brings together families for reunion dinners. The entire festival lasts for 15 days and includes relatives visiting one another, food fairs at Chinatowns worldwide and the practice of Chinese traditions such as firecrackers to usher in the start of the Chinese year.

It is the Year of the Horse (Google marked the year with a new doodle as reported by the Telegraph) and to conclude this short blog post, I'm ending off with a popular song heard during Chinese New Year titled 贺新年. 

I also found it hilarious when I chanced upon this article published by the Financial Times - For rent: A boyfriend at Chinese New Year. Surely a good way to earn some money aside from the usual tradition of giving and receiving red packets (hongbaos) from relatives. (Only married couples can give red packets.)

Lyrics of the song are as follows: 

贺新年祝新年

新年啦年连年

爆竹声声催的响又远

贺新年祝新年

新年啦年连年

岁月悠悠光阴如箭

回首往事如烟痛苦辛酸

寄望从今万事如愿

贺新年祝新年

新年啦年连年

愿大家都过个太平年

贺新年祝新年

新年啦年连年

爆竹声声催的响又远

贺新年祝新年

新年啦年连年

岁月悠悠光阴如箭

回首往事如烟痛苦辛酸

寄望从今万事如愿

贺新年祝新年

新年啦年连年

愿大家都过个太平年

回首往事如烟痛苦辛酸

寄望从今万事如愿

贺新年祝新年

新年啦年连年

愿大家都过个太平年

愿大家都过个太平年

My New Book - A Good Morning in 6 Easy Steps released on Amazon!

New Book Release 
A Good Morning in 6 Easy Steps: How to Restructure your Habits in the Morning
An Ideal Formula to getting that day started!
Written by S C Miller

To all my readers out there,

Another piece of good news this month that I would like to share with you.

Following the success of my first novel Code Red: Asian Erotica earlier this month, I have published another book, albeit a shorter one and sort of adheres to the genre of being a guide for just about anyone on this planet.

The release of my latest e-book spells good news to Amazon Kindle users out there who are enrolled in the Kindle Direct Promotion (KDP Select) programme. Kindle users and readers can borrow my book from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library for FREE!

Here is a short description of my newly released book: 

Ever had trouble waking up to a good day ahead? Did you know that a fair part of your day is attributed to your mindset when you get off your bed in the morning? The e-book aims to teach you six simple steps that you can follow to restructure your life by giving you an easy-to-follow guideline on how to have a better morning.

The chapters are as follows: 

#1: Waking Up on the Right Side of Bed #2: Look into the mirror and say aloud repeatedly, “It’s going to be a good day today”. #3: Have a Good Wash-up #4: Why Breakfast Matters #5: Making Preparations Beforehand #6: The Final Checklist: A Summary

Do leave a book review on my Amazon page if you have read my book! Many thanks!

You can click on the following links which are categorised according to the different regions:

1. Amazon US
2. Amazon FR
3. Amazon BR
4. Amazon IN
5. Amazon ES
6. Amazon CA
7. Amazon UK
8. Amazon IT
9. Amazon MX
10. Amazon DE
11. Amazon JP
12. Amazon AU

Thank you to all who have supported me in my literary journey thus far! Do stay tuned to this blog for further updates as well as new upcoming novels, books and works!

Update: I have received a few sales within 24 hours of releasing my book on Amazon. That's simply amazing! 

Commentary: Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey, a book written by E.L James, is probably the front-runner novel of modern day erotica, having exploded in popularity in recent years. The surprising thing is, the novel was first released as an e-book before being taken up by a publisher.

However, not all readers agree that Fifty Shades of Grey is as appealing or fascinating as their fellow readers make it to be. Jyoti Roy from BitchMedia wrote a lengthy and interesting critique, with her article titled BiblioBitch: 50 Shades of "Meh." Here's Some Erotica to Read Instead!. A though-provoking read, though best taken with a pinch of salt.

Check out my new book - Code Red: Asian Erotica going for just $0.99 on Amazon

One can also find out what others are saying about the book at Goodreads.com which is the world's largest site for readers and book recommendations, and their mission is to "help people find and share books they love". Since 2007, they have garnered 20 million members, with 570 million books added to their treasure cove.

*Note from authors of this blog - A Happy New Year to everyone!