It's best to go away....

The Dog Days drag on. It's best that I go away so as not to be diverted by news stories, gossip & hysterical musings about what will, might or could be. To become exercised by the reports of who is having a trial for Cheltenham Town FC or is on the brink of signing a contract is wasted energy. It's best to start the worrying at around about 4.45 on Saturday 8th August. Then there will be something to digest. If by that time the 'Mad Dog' has signed a pub team player and a series of hopeless basket cases then there will be something solid to irritate the peptic ulcer. Until then the healthy thing is abstinence.

An obsession with a football team is an alternative to many less healthy preoccupations and probably a few which could have improving benefits. The problem is that the improving alternatives require more effort. Some people become preoccupied with soap operas. Supporting a lower league side is hardly any different only it’s happening in real time and the cheeky-cockneys aren't graduates of RADA (or was that where Martin Allen was when he was resting?)

At least with a football team you have something to talk about and other people have an instant topic of conversation. It provides social grease but it can get you wedged into a corner of your own making. You only discuss football with X and East Enders with Y and existentialism with Z. But can’t we also discuss existentialism? Within 30 seconds the conversation is certain to get around to Albert Camus’ goal keeping experiences and the isolation of the position and then to letting Shane Higgs go.

My Shane Higgs mug has been relegated to the allotment shed. I picture those heroic finger tip saves that kept us in League One as I admire the plot. I need a holiday.