This is a dark day. Outside, grey Manchester skies loom over damp pavements.
Inside, my own mood is equally dark.
Yesterday evening, I was preparing to eat a meal whipped up from an ancient can of beans and a residual piece of gammon I discovered lurking at the back of the freezer.
A phone call from acting captain John, Reed, of East Cheshire chess Club. Are you playing tonight? he asked. I avoided a sarcastic answer such as ‘no I’m cooking my dinner’. My surprise was genuine. I don’t think so I said.
You should be, we are playing at Stockport. John sounded weary rather than head-banging angry.