So what do you do in Tel Aviv when its not just raining but when there’s a full-on, biblically proportioned storm of rain, wind, thunder and God seems somewhat displeased that we’ve left the prayerful environs of Jerusalem to enter the more Sodom and Gomorrah play-zone that is Tel Aviv? So what do you do? Build an ark? Naah, if it was Jerusalem you’d do that, not here in TA. Here you go out and brave it. Then, just as you decide to go and see the new Star Wars movie, the clouds part, the sun emerges and… and… and it ‘looks’ like a gorgeous day. Of course, when you step out the wind is beyond gale force and intense, so you might as well go walk along the beach road. Where the sand is whipping along, the waves are crashing and you’re in full ‘Marcel Marcel’ mode as you walk into the full force. But the cinema is now miles behind and the rains start once more. But not like, London type rain. This is… Israel type rain. And its big. And forceful. And comes in at around 45 degrees from the vertical, which makes umbrella deployment interesting.

So I have time to think about football. Having tried not to think about it since our defeat to Chelsea last weekend. Quite successfully too. But how excited can you be that IF your team beats Brighton today, they ‘leapfrog’ Sheffield United to go 5th!!! I mean, that’s just wrong. Morally, educationally, politically and emotionally. Wrong. And not only that, we only stay 5th (as we have indeed now won; YIPPEEEEE), until Sheffield United play a bit later. I mean; really? Like, REALLY??? But we’ll take it. And then hope that Arsenal and Chelsea fare really badly in their matches today. My main source of real footballing pleasure at the moment. Horrible person that I unquestionably am.

So if it rains tomorrow we’ll go see Star Wars, the FINAL… bit (unless George Lucas runs short of cash, of course). Where its indoors. Warm. Dry. Popcorn. No wind. No sand. Only on screen.

Happy Thursday

A xxxx