Did you know it’s a Saturday. For some time yesterday felt like Saturday but at some point in the afternoon the realisation came that it wasn’t. Today doesn’t particularly feel Saturday like yet but there again I am still in bed listening to the wireless.
The name of the game today is rugby. Lincoln 1st XV v Hinkley 2nds. Whilst the game is I’m sure important, isn’t every rugby match, the main attraction is the lunch beforehand. Crowd of us meeting for beef stew and dumplings with a pint or two of Guinness.
There are two issues with that paragraph. One is whether the game goes ahead. The weather is v cold and it is touch and go as to whether the pitch will be frozen and consequently the match postponed. Happens a lot at this time of year. As a former player having the game called off used to be a bit of a result when it was v cold. Safety considerations are obvs the main reason but for players it is not nice running around with a ball in that weather.
The other issue is the countrywide shortage of Guinness. The rugby club will of course
have alternatives but on such occasions Guinness seems to fit the bill.
Will find out later this morning after a pitch (and barrel) inspection. Fingers crossed eh? My gut feel is we will be ok, touch wood, rabbits foot and any other good luck charm that may happen to be to hand.
Other parts of the country seem to have worse weather. Being in the flatlands of the east we tend to get less “weather” but it does get cold, especially when the wind blows across the North Sea from Siberia or down from the arctic circle. Wrap up warm folks or stay inside in front of the fire, or both.
I must now force meself out of bed to stick some bacon on. A hot breakfast is essential on a day like this.
THG is in London and must brave the train network to come home later this afternoon. Trains don’t like weather.
Ciao bebes
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In other news the continuation of my drop in status amongst the travelling elite continues, if that’s the right way of putting it. With BA I’ve gone from Gold – Silver – Bronze in three years and Hilton has just dropped me from Diamond to Silver in one go. I knew it was coming.
It doesn’t matter anymore. It may have mattered when I was doing a lot of business travel. Use of the lounge, priority boarding, upgrades, that sort of thing makes it easier to travel. I have very few trips planned for 2025.
When we went on Ajax & Coops’ 60th birthday weekend to Moscow I got us all checked in at the First wing in LHR T5. Coops and I went through the fast track security to the first class lounge and drank champagne. Then when we got to the hotel everyone got an upgrade to the exec floor with lounge access which saved a fortune on booze before going out for the evening. Happy hour (2 hours) free drinks versus ten quid a pint or similar in the hotel bar! Plus I got a load of points for booking all the rooms. Happy days. No going to Russia anymore so I don’t need the travel benefits.