Good Day Dear Sir

Today has been epic on all counts, apart from one big event and one small detail.

The day started, after a few uncomfortable hours sleep with an away trip to one of the best team's in the league. I'm not allowed to mention the team name due to legal reasons. Or the fact that that particular detail will mean nothing to you. It turned out to be one of the strangest matches I've ever played in. 10:30am kick off and by 10:35, we had 6 players. 4 of which were vastly hungover. 5 minutes later, we had another 5 making a round 11. I must point out at this stage that 4 were literally still drunk, 5 were very badly hungover and myself and a team-mate of mine were stone-cold sober ... and stone-cold.. I reckon the temperature was bordering
-23,309.

Besides, we had a match to play. I have never been involved in a more one-sided affair. Most of my team-mates didn't have the ability to kick a football and we got completely torn apart. Shots rained down on my goal like cereal hitting the bottom of your bowl in the morning and we were being dominated. My estimate, which is usually spot on, suggests that they had over 40 shots and we had about 5 or 6. Final score... we won 5-1. Don't ask. I have no idea what happened either.

So, drive home. I had been decorated with a large amount of mud and I was in shock as to how we had managed to win by such a huge scoreline despite most of the team playing in a similar manner to Croation new born babies. 45 minutes later, I was refereeing. I had one of my better games of the season, and although it was largely uneventful, (apart from a coach who's ability to shout matched that of my old I.T teacher), I enjoyed myself. First time in a long time.

The true epicness of the day though occurred during the hours of 6pm and 10pm. To describe the whole story would leave you stuck to your chair, probably with grey hair and the need for a walking stick as it would take decades to explain. However, a few long walks, shouting, desperation and "bridge-building" talks plus a few jokes to lighten the mood later, we were driving home. I was sitting next to someone who was about to be sick. Brings back memories of the week I've had! This week for the forseeable future, will officially be known as "Be Sick on Mitten" Week. I escaped without tasting sambuca vomit however, and we made it home. We went to Subway and laughed about events. All was well.

Now the bad news. A friend of mine, who I won't name, is struggling at the moment. To describe to you what has happened would be highly unfair on him so I don't intend to do so - but he is as down as I have been lately. And I know, that is a long way down.. I tried giving him words of encouragement and support and tried to cheer him up but he just shrugged them off - claiming he was stuffed. I can't see what else I can say.. He's helped me out so much these past year or so and has helped me see the real me in many respects. I don't think he sees me as a best friend, and likewise, but one thing we have in common, as he very rightly pointed out earlier, was our deep subconcsiousness. We both struggle. And we both get by. I'm properly worried about him though...

Overall though, it has been a largely successful day. A fortuitous victory plus a semi-final spot in the cup, (i'll explain in more detail in the the next blog entry) plus a highly comical trip to LGC and I'm now extremely tired. I hear you asking, "What was the small detail that was wrong with your day?" Answer: My mum put Raspberries on the New York Cheesecake! How dare she..

Cheerio x