IF WE are honest with ourselves, the opening weekend of the season was very disappointing.

We did show character to win against Milton Keynes Thunder, but I thought that we were quite flat.

But then on the Sunday, without wishing to disrespect Invicta, if we are going to do anything this season then we have to go to places like that and win.

I think in both matches we were outworked by both teams and that is not good enough. We can have no excuses for that.

Maybe we underestimated Invicta a little, we didn’t think that we would go there and blow them away, but we know we should have beaten them.

After the game on Sunday, Aaron (Nell) left us all in no uncertain terms that it was not good enough.

Swindon is a club that is looking to win things and if we were going to play like that he would look at making changes.

Obviously there are teams in this division that were in the EPL last season while the rest of division do have good players in their sides.

We have got a break from the league this weekend playing Basingstoke and then Telford, in the cup. They are both tough matches and ones that we have to look at putting in two 60-minute shifts.

Since arriving at the club, the way that they have treated me is fantastic. Living up in the north east they have been so accommodating in helping me settle in.

I already knew Max Birbraer and Phil Hill and played against a few of the guys before, but it has been so easy to settle in.

I’m here half the week so what they do to help is really appreciated and thankfully it is only a 45 minute flight down here.

But what I do have is time hanging around waiting at airports to catch my flights.

I have just started study with the Open University. I’m doing a course in Geography and Environmental Studies.

I have only been at it a couple of weeks, but I am enjoying and I’m making sure I'm using the time that I have to get on with my studies.

I have never really thought about a career outside of hockey before, so these are just baby steps to looking after my future.