Dampener

Later this year, I will reach the 30th anniversary of the first day that I stepped onto a field as a football referee.

Officially, the new season starts locally in September, but yesterday, I received a telephone call asking if I would step in and referee a friendly fixture this afternoon.

"Of course," I said.

With an hour to kick off, it's bucketing down and there's a gale raging.

Naturally.

Several soggy hours later: We had a great time in the rain. Everyone was soaked within seconds, after which it didn't really matter.

The rain stopped five minutes from the end of the match.

Naturally.