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Given the rubbish games I have been given this season in the capital city I am considering retirement. I am as good as ever according to captain's reports and my standard testing that I do in conjunction with my corporate trainers.

There are anumber of options. I will continue my free umpiring. Perhaps I will go to Wrehouse and travel overseas to take up commitments.

In the lower grades I have umpired with some very good umpires who could umpire anywhere. And I have also had games where my umpire partner was grossly incompetent and should never have walked on the field. I have also umpired with a number of higher grade umpires in various competitions and many of them have left me astonished at their lack of competence. So at a time when I am at the top level of corporate and can umpire as often as I like I have been cast aside by a group of people who seemed to have revelled in putting out derrogatory memos about how inexpert umpires are and also memos that make snide comments about umpires who have been upgraded only because others were unavailable at the time. Hmmm I thought you were either in the job or you weren't. Perhaps modern feelings are that you look after your mates first and forget everyone else.

But I am not the worst effected. A full flegded ICC umpire with test and limited overs international experience from Zimbabwe could not make it any higher than I could, fourth grade, and he decided he had better things to do.

I have umpired without exception a wonderful group of players. All games, no matter how tough and how tight, were played in great spirit and heart with many great moments and banter that will be long remembered. However I have been chastised by some for enjoying my umpiring too much. Perhaps these folks should get a life and understand what a relaxation and joy umpiring is.

So I contemplate retirement in my home city but the rest of world perhaps beckons again. Then again after being so poorly treated this season in my home city who would want me in higher levels anymore?