I don't know what was more surprising to discover at the end of my honeymoon. That some light fingered scumbag (albeit with a good taste in clothing) had helped themselves to some of my luggage or that Newcastle United had drawn 1-1 at Manchester United!
Yep, that's right folks the married man is finally back at work after a thoroughly enjoyable wedding and honeymoon and, after three weeks away from work I'm feeling refreshed and recharged and ready to hit the ground running.
In fact, I'm actually excited about the prospect of covering my first game of the season when Bolton arrive at St James's Park on Saturday and let's hope the fresh optimism generated by a point at Newcastle's very own Theatre of Nightmares - Old Trafford - continues against one of English football's less glamorous sides.
That, of course, has been a persistent failing of Newcastle sides in the past, but at least the season has got off to an encouraging start and given the disastrous results against the Red Devils in recent years, the excitement a draw has generated on Tyneside is, for once, justified.
Obviously, I wasn't at the game last weekend and I didn't even watch it on television. I'd promised the wife I wouldn't watch or read anything about football for the whole time we were away and it's far too soon in our marriage to be breaking promises!
However, from what I've heard since we landed, Newcastle were good value for their point and even if it did come against a depleted Manchester side, who the hell cares? I was at Old Trafford last season when a manager-less Magpies side were humiliated 6-0 and it's about time they returned to the North East with something to show for their efforts.
Importantly, it's also an early confidence boost for the players who have not looked full of the stuff during pre-season. I maintain that at least another two signings are needed before the close of the transfer window if United are going to have any chance of pushing for a European place, but there are a couple of weeks left yet and I'm intrigued to discover who this "wow" signing Mike Ashley has promised is going to be!
Comments like that are music to supporters' ears at this time of the year, but Newcastle's owner should also realise he has to deliver it now if such a bold statement isn't going to come back to haunt him.
Another Danny Guthrie - as shrewd an acquisition as he may prove to be - certainly does not fall into the wow category and Newcastle fans will expect this new arrival to be an international name.
Nevertheless, if we're all honest, few of us had heard of Jonas Gutierrez or Fabricio Coloccini before they were signed by Newcastle this summer, but early impressions of the two Argentineans are good and credit has to go to whoever it was who spotted them.
If Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez (Newcastle's invisible but apparently very powerful men) can lure another couple of players like this to the club this month nobody will be complaining about their presence at St James's Park, least of all the manager!
Again, though, a note of caution. It's easy to raise your game when it's your debut and you're playing the biggest club in Europe. Let's hope they are turning in the same sort of performances at Wigan in December because that is where the success of Newcastle's season - and their new signings - will really be measured.
As for Sunderland, a home defeat to Liverpool is nothing to be ashamed of, but one defeat can quickly become two when Tottenham away is next up.
I see plenty of you were upset by my comments regarding Sunderland's more successful business in the transfer market, but you have to remember I was speaking relatively.
All five of Roy Keane's signings have improved his squad, which is what he intended to do and the arrival of French striker Djibril Cisse from Marseille on Wednesday was (relatively speaking again Mags) a wow signing!
At this stage, Kevin Keegan's two signings have also improved his squad, but it still looks light on numbers. Both managers, though, will hope that their wheeling and dealing isn't done just yet...
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