FAMOA

Despite the foul weather continuing I'm heading out this morning on a few errands.

First stop is the bank to pay in a couple of cheques, the first from the tough end of season game where I had to wait a week to get paid, the second is a payment from WRCFA for expenses incurred while coaching at Thorp Arch last season as well as a promotion assessment for JayC.

Second stop is a barber's shop, not for me but for my 4 year old son. He spends most of the year looking like a little hippy as his mum likes growing his hair long. With our holiday in Crete only a week away, it seems the right time for a good old fashioned short back'n'sides to make sure he doesn't spend the whole of the two weeks over heating.

Last stop is at the Post Office where I'm posting my FAMOA log book off to claim my points for last season. The collection and surrender of points has saved me a fortune over the last few seasons. The number of games I complete mean I usually have the maximum number of points collected. I use them to "purchase" refereeing supplies. In fact apart from my Umbro Wembley kit, purchased especially for my honour appointments at the end of the season, I haven't bought a kit for 3 years and have used my points instead.

A new innovation this season is to allow the submission of the log book, confirmation of receipt by e-mail and purchasing items online. From what other colleagues have said, the whole process is much faster and orders are being delivered within a couple of days of the order being placed.

So it may be throwing the rain down in buckets, but these things need to be done. This time tomorrow Fat Lad will be making his final preparations for his Fitness test. It will be wet and wild tomorrow, but that's miles better than the sub tropical temperatures we had earlier in the week.

Once he passes, he'll be as fully fledged Supply League referee and Contributory League Assistant. New opportunities beckon ... that's why I'm really giving it a go myself this season. I'd like to have those opportunities too and not feel left behind like I do just now. More training required!!!

I'm hoping there's some flat roads near our apartment in Crete as I'll need to keep things ticking over while I'm away.