Maths kit is needed for Citizens' trip to Rome

I've spent most of the day rummaging in the loft.

Mrs B was under the impression that I'd finally got my backside into gear so we could start decorating the house for Christmas.

She was surprised as usually hauling down boxes containing plastic pieces of tree and yards of tinsel falls under her remit.

It's enough for me to remember to put the bins out once a week, although I have proved a dab hand and testing fairy lights over the last few years.

However, she was disappointed when I told her I was looking for my old abacus.

She was just bemused but I went on to explain that it would be a vital tool for watching Roma's game against Manchester City tonight in their Champions League showdown.

There are so many connotations about who can qualify from Group E alongside Bayern Munich that it is going to be one helluva task to keep up with it all.

"But why don't you use a computer?" she said, before going on to say that surely a digital calculator, the like of which appeared in the shops more than 40 year ago, would be just the job.

"No, it won't do" I said. "When Martin Tyler tells me that it is time to get my abacus out, I need to know exactly where it is."

The frantic search continues. I just hope Tyler doesn't make any reference to a slide-rule pass because I haven't got a clue where that is.