I recorded five episodes of Countdown this week - and I still haven't got over sitting next to the fabulous Susie Dent.

It's a lovely programme and it's great to work with Susie, Rachel Riley and Jeff Stelling. I think my stories went down well, though I've started to exhaust my catalogue of anecdotes.

I've got loads, but not many that are suitable for early evening viewing! In the end I had to make a few up...

Irealand: should they get full-member status?

We got one nine-letter word, though for the life of me I can't remember what it was.

All will be revealed on the show, so tune in from November 23.

Karaoke kings

Much of last week was spent in the lovely Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds.

We stayed in the Lygon Arms, a great place full of character. The owner Ivor has been there for about 240 years. He's just got a new bull and has shifted it into another field with 50 cows; it's certainly well occupied now.

I also attended a karaoke weekend, organised by Andy Lloyd who once played for England.

There were one or two notables taking to the mic. Bob Willis became Bob Dylan for the evening and was singing all night long.

As for me? Tonight Matthew I'm Johnny Cash. I do a mean 'Folsom Prison Blues' - and I also like to throw in a bit of Buddy Holly.

I do James too. Sit Down. Please everybody sit down...

Golden tie - part deux

Due to a timewaster (who was, incidentally, the final bid in the last auction), the golden tie is back on eBay!

This is a very rare golden tie from the Champions League that has been signed by the winning captain, Ricky Ponting.

Every tie needs a shirt, so this time it comes with an Indian Board of Control commentators' shirt - signed by Sachin Tendulkar.

So you can buy a shirt and tie with signatures from two of the world's greatest cricketers. It's a real good prize and the auction is motoring along, so everybody's happy.

All proceeds will go to Accrington Cricket Club so get bidding here!

On my bike

I head out to South Africa next week for the start of the one-dayers, but before I go I'll be taking my Module 1 motorbike test.

I'll be tested on turns, swerving, emergency stops... I can't say I'm all that confident.

I've already passed my CBT, my theory and my awareness - so it's just Module 1 and Module 2 then I'm qualified.

Once I've passed I'm going to go riding with Freddie Flintoff. We'll be the Lancashire Chapter!

Accrington alive

Good news. Accrington Stanley still seem to be afloat.

Speaking of football, I've received a lovely invite to go along to Manchester City v Burnley on Saturday, which will be nice because I've never been to Eastlands before.

I don't get to many Premier League matches with watching Stanley so I'm really looking forward to that one. Hopefully a few old friends will be there

And while I'm there I'll be looking for that very rich fellow from the Middle East to see if he wants to buy the Stanley...

Sad news

I was very upset to hear of the sad passing of Wasim Akram's lovely wife, Huma.

It's really devastating news and I'd like to pass on my condolences to Wasim and the family at this difficult time.

I'm sure all of his friends and colleagues at Lancashire are thinking of him too.

Bumble answers your questions...

Send your questions to Bumble by filling in the feedback form below. Or you can mail them in by e-mailing skysportsclub@bskyb.com

IRISH EYES
What do you make of Ireland's bid to get full-member status? Do you think it's realistic? Kevin Hawksworth.

BUMBLE SAYS: I'm not sure that full-member status is the way to go and I think Ireland should think very carefully about what they want to achieve. Do they want to play against better sides for revenue or do they genuinely think they can challenge to become a premier Test match nation? Is it not better to remain a giantkiller? Would there be enough cricket for them to sustain themselves at the highest level? Is the infrastructure there? Do they have the stadia? All credit to them for their ambition, but there's a lot of questions to be answered first.

However, I think it's worth having a debate about the idea of promotion and relegation. Rather than going straight in, maybe these ambitious nations should have to work their way in. We could have Ireland, Scotland, Bangladesh and the rest fighting it out - and we might even see one of the big boys scrapping to avoid going down. Teams like West Indies and maybe even England would have to be right on the mettle at all times. I'm not saying that's the way to go but it's an interesting topic and worth a discussion.

TWEET ME IN SOHO
Why were you not involved in the recent Tweet Off between Swann and Anderson where they had to get as many followers as they could to Covent Garden? Alistair.

BUMBLE SAYS: I wasn't involved because those very nice people at Vodafone didn't ask me. A refusal often offends and I'm now seriously considering switching my custom to O2 or Orange! Swann won the challenge by getting 90 people to turn up. Well let's shift it to a pub in Soho and I'd definitely get more than that! I'll lay down a challenge right now; let's have a Tweet-Off. I could beat any of 'em!

Bumble's jukebox

Last week's jukebox was 'Spanish Caravan' by The Doors. I've got a tough one this week, especially for our regular contributors The Brigadier and The Dazzler. We're looking for the original artist by they way...

"I did most of the talking, but you were the one who lied..."

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