As we head into the quarter-finals of the World Cup, all eyes are on North America.
Now, I am acutely aware that a certain nation just celebrated its 250th birthday, but that doesn't mean I haven't got a bone to pick with them…
In fact, what I'm about to say is on behalf of all Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, Africans, and perhaps even South Americans.
In other words…
The whole blimmin’ world.
Of course, I can only be talking about one thing:
Hydration breaks.
Or should I say…
COMMERCIAL BREAKS!
Don't get me wrong — some matches absolutely warrant them. I watched the France and Paraguay game the other night, and I believe it was in Philadelphia.
The pundits said it was close to 39 degrees Celsius or something silly (102 degrees Fahrenheit in old money).
At that point, all bets are off.
Players absolutely should chug down their electrolytes and get sprayed by "water-ever" they can to keep cool.
But are hydration breaks really necessary in, say, Toronto, Canada?
I don't know, chuckles.
That smells fishy to me.
As does Donald Trump's recent success in overturning a USA player's red card, which, for those not too well-versed with the bureaucracy of FIFA…
IS NO SMALL FEAT.
98% of red card appeals are rarely successful, so one can only put it down to the "Donald Trump Effect."
In any case, this has been a memorable World Cup thus far. It's a quiet shame we're nearing the end and will begin the long four-year wait until the next one. On the plus side, what you won't have to wait an eon for is Book 6 of The Divided Region, which is due to be released this month.
It gets better:
While you're devouring that, I will be busy writing the finale and getting that into your precious hands well before the year ends.
Yes, no rest for the wicked here!
Now some of you might be wondering why in Mordor I keep calling the sequel "Book 6."
Like, have I not got a title for it yet?
Am I squirrelling it away for another day?
I'll explain more tomorrow.
Until then, if you have a friend or relative who you think would enjoy The Divided Region series, you can now purchase a gift card right here at my Storehouse:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/gift-card
DJJW