Entry for November 23, 2006

I have foolishly booked badminton for an hour and a half tonight, so if you don't hear from me for a few days, you will know that I have been rushed to casualty. I'll be one of those radio reports that hear about - sad, competitive middle-aged man - winds up in casualty after engaging in sports that his weakening heart can no longer cope with.
That's if I ever get there. It's one of those wild nights outside. The sort of dark, wind-swept night, when pile ups happen on the motorway. The sort of night that you wouldn't venture out in, unless you'd booked a badminton court a week ago, and then e-mailed your friends, so that you are all bound into a pact of mutual loathing.
We will greet each other with fixed grins that say"We are soooo glad to be here. Yes. We are. We are not surrendering to middle-aged spread - we may be fighting a losing battle - but we are not surrendering. No sirree." Then we will laugh heartily, and try to hide our flabby nakedness in the changing room where twenty years ago we stood, proudly unclothed, hands on hips, lustily laughing, like young Greek Gods!
The only Greek God I bearany resemblance to nowadays is Dionysus.