Perception - from the Latin perceptio, meaning gathering or receiving - is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information or environment.  Not my words, Carol, the words of Wikipedia.  Similarly, reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary.

If a hockey ball is yellow is it that everyone who sees the yellow ball perceives the same yellow?  Or is the perception I call yellow different to your yellow?  And, moreover, how could we ever possibly know that they are or are not the same?

Today's trip down the M11 and across the A120 - the 'L' of a knight of away travels if you will - saw a visit to our hockey friends in Braintree.

Perception: A great bunch of guys who were pleased to see us and gave a decent match played - to coin a popular phrase of the week - in good spirits.
Reality: A great bunch of guys who were pleased to see us and gave a decent match played - to coin a popular phrase of the week - in good spirits.

Both teams comprised mainly veteran-qualifying regulars boosted by a couple of younger "future masters".  Still the feel of the game was most definitely in line with masters hockey.  One notable absentee from South was skipper Nev who was on a mini-break in Warwickshire.

Perception: A mini-break in Warwickshire probably having a lovely time.
Reality: A mini-break in Warwickshire presumably missing hockey and probably having a lovely time.

Despite the lack of the usual skipper, stand-in vice - and no this isn't a reference to some medieval device - Jan was keen on a team photo.

Perception: If a team arranges itself in a goal does that mean a team photo is inevitable?
Reality: Not if nobody brings a camera/phone.  Thanks to super supporter Matilda for bailing us out then.

On to the match itself.  This report was inspired by the great number of examples of perception versus reality.  Let me elucidate...

Perception: Jimbo's perfect judgement to step over the ball at the last minute to befuddle their centre-forward right by our goal.
Reality: Jimbo wasn't aware there was a CF lurking but luckily there wasn't time for him to react.

Perception: Rob's first half strike from a short corner was inches/centimetres wide.  Ooh.
Reality: Rob's first half strike from a short corner was feet/metres wide.  Oh.

Perception: Garth fancied a game of ping pong mid fixture.
Reality: One of Garth's calves went ping.  Then the other went pong.  Hope they recover swiftly!

Perception: Ali's deft touch beat the keeper and headed into the roof of the net.
Reality: Ali deflected the ball over the crossbar from an impossibly close distance to an open goal.  He did well to get there though.

Perception: George stretched out a hand and launched himself to save a ball destined for the top corner.  All despite the sun in his eyes.
Reality: Jimbo and Matilda apparently both remembered this happening.  It might have been luck.  George had the sun in his eyes.

Perception: Jan blasted a shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
Reality: Jan did strike the ball well in the D before Jo was on hand to deflect unstoppably home. 

Perception: Rob beat the keeper and fired in the equaliser. 
Reality: From a first save Rob shifted the ball before firing it embarrassingly just wide but Jo was thankfully in the right place at the right time.  Again.

Perception: Andi intercepted wonderfully and took the ball off their star striker.
Reality: Andi intercepted wonderfully and took the ball off their star striker.  Yeah this was decent.

Perception: Jan rejected the half-time suggestion to swap George and Jo in a fit of foresight brilliance that ensured a draw.
Reality: We couldn't be bothered to kit Jo up.

Perception: The team could have done more on the pitch to force a win.
Reality: The team probably couldn't have done much more.  Especially non-stop James.

We had our fair share of luck but the final scoreline of 3-3 was just reward for a very decent effort against a sprightly and organised side.  Jo's double following Ali's straight strike down the middle from a PC in the first half ensured parity.

Perception: Another five minutes and we could have, should have, would have won it.
Reality: A neat comeback from a 1-2 half-time deficit and a draw was about right given equal scoring opportunities.

We would love to welcome Braintree back for a rematch or make this a regular fixture in the calendar.

Teas afterwards were delicious.  And the United versus Liverpool match on the radio on the way home was entertaining.

Perception: Man Utd are a force to be reckoned with.
Reality: Mo Salah is a force to be reckoned with.

And finally...  During my piano lesson tomorrow I'll reveal to my teacher that I've booked in for the exam on 30th November.

Perception: The programme will of course be ready.  All six pieces can be reliably performed with technical precision, tasteful interpretation and beautiful expression.
Reality: Ya ...