Tapped up, again

Another cold night left beautifully abstract frost patterns on the roof of the Orangery. Jasper was not interested in venturing out - clearly he's smarter than he appears.

The Gorse Fox had football scheduled, and the Silver Vixen was meeting up with her Pilates crowd to say goodbye to a long term member who is moving away. She dropped Cousteau-Cub off to spend the day with Urban-Cub on the way through.

The Gorse Fox was approached by a chap at the Sport Centre. He's putting together an 11-a-side veteran's football team to play in a big charity match next Spring. He said he was trying to get a really strong team so was approaching the best local players as early as possible. Would the Gorse Fox play? The Gorse Fox was flattered. Where? When? he asked. Late April or early May were the possible dates, and the location was Storrington. "Is it a 3G pitch?" asked the Gorse Fox. "No, just ordinary grass" came the reply. That was the decider. The Gorse Fox declined the offer, explaining that the slight bounce you get from a good 3G surface is much kinder on the joints and he wouldn't play on real grass. If they move to one of the newly laid 3G pitches, like at Sussex FA HQ or Worthing United, then he'd change his mind... but for now, no.

The football today was hard work. The teams seemed very lopsided - and not in favour of the yellows, for whom the Gorse Fox was playing. We were 2-0 down within a few minutes, but then managed to gain some control and stop the leaks. By half time we had clawed it back to 2-2 (one assist and one goal from the Gorse Fox). The second half saw the Orange bibs gain an extra player and then it became really hard. Eventually we lost 6-3, but the game had been really quite enjoyable.

This afternoon the Gorse Fox has been doing a bit of admin and both he and the Silver Vixen headed in to Sainsbury's... the car needed diesel and the Silver Vixen needed to get some id photos taken. It didn't take too long, which is just as well because the temperature seems to be dropping quite rapidly now the sun is setting.