Sunday 06 September
Today felt like a Sunday that we might have had before the pandemic took hold. It felt largely normal.
The rest of the family went to the car boot sale in Ardleigh whilst I went to referee a couple of football matches.
I love reffing but I also love walking and my Gents Film and Leisure Club did the next stage of the Norfolk Coastal Path today. I think we all have a little obsessive side of us that prefers things to be complete and just so. I am sure I will join them again on further stages. But, I know I have missed this one. I’ll just have to complete it alone when we next go up there to the caravan.
This is the problem with only having two days in a weekend. There’s just not enough time to do all of things that I want to do. I should be grateful that that’s the situation I guess. I really want to do the footy and the walk. I am sure I will find a way.
Still, I ran for two games back to back and didn’t collapse! And, today I grasped how refereeing exercises my brain as much, if not more, than my body. I have to not only keep an eye on what is taking place at the ball, but I also have to check if there is anything occurring where the ball was and pre-empt any issues ahead where the ball might go next. As I say in my pre-match chat with the teams, “I have two eyes, two ears and 17 laws of the game. Certainly no VAR.”
Then, after dropping in to see my Dad on the way home, I sat down with a bottle of beer for a Sunday roast dinner. Finally, taking Mabel out for her walk and some litter picking.
It all sounds very twee and suburban. But a day like today? After the months of chaos we have all had? It is beautifully ordinary. I just wish we had one more day every weekend.
The Bald Birder 