Ups and Downs

Firstly the ups ... I got a call from Fat Lad telling me he's been appointed to the County's U14 Girls Cup Final which is due to be played in late April/early May. He has DCD on his line. DCD was on my line for my only Cup Final about 5 years ago. He did a good job for me that night helping me identify a player who had committed a DOGSO by hand. I'm sure he'll do the same for Fat Lad.

I next got a txt from Titfer who told me he had been appointed as Assistant Referee on the County's U16 Semi-Final. On the other line was Shak, in the middle was my old friend Big E and the 4th man was lovely Jay. What a night out that will be for the boys. I'm chuffed to bits for all the lads but especially Fat Lad as that moves him nearer a full set of appointments to Finals - Sunday League, District Sunday, Saturday League and now a County Final.

He just needs the District Saturday for the full set. Now maybe someone else can get a look in ... just kidding big fella, you have earned every one and it's been a pleasure to see you pick up all these pots, especially as I've been your 4th man on a couple!

Now for the downs, well it's a down really. I had a business meeting across the Pennines yesterday and my travelling partner isn't the most comfortable driving along the M62, so I drove. I also decided to take my wife's car as my "planet-killer" 4x4 (as my boss calls it, despite having ordered one just as big as his replacement company car) just burns too much fuel. Even after expenses I'm usually a few quid down on a trip like that one, instead of covering fuel costs and some wear and tear.

The only problem with driving an unfamiliar car is that it takes a little while to get used to it. Mrs Baldy's car, nice as it is, is no different, with it's looser clutch, lower body (a struggle to get out off when you're used to stepping down to the ground, not up) and souped up turbo can be challenge in heavy traffic, snow and black ice. So when I got to my destination I felt a little creaky and after negotiating the stop start, clutch on-clutch off driving on the way back through the rush hour, my left leg was stiff.

When I got out of bed this morning it was even worse and on trying to stretch it out, it definitely felt like a long hamstring strain. Having lost my Sunday game when the local council closed all their fields again (a District Semi-Final line no less), I really wanted the Saturday game to be on but now I had a potential backwording injury! So it was to training tonight to see if I could run and see if I could get the leg to loosen ...