A West London man was recovering with a cup of tea at his desk this afternoon after being shocked by a Spoof-writing colleague's foresight.
EIF News & Features stringer, Harry St Bede, was carrying out his normal duties at his office in the Grove Park area of leafy London suburb Chiswick when a colleague attracted his attention.
The colleague suggested that Harry was no doubt happy at the way the cricket was going "Down Under."
"It was the kind of thing that goes on in any office at any time," Harry reports.
"Then this guy - Jake - joked that it was a pity that the weather here wasn't more like it was in Sidney. 'Have you seen outside? It's lobbing it down... stair-rods. You're going to get drenched when you go home mate,' he said.
"But I laughed it off: 'You know me Jake, old son - I've got me warm coat and me hat. I'll be fine.'
"Well he just went white. 'You've got a hat? Bloody hell! That's good thinking. Wow! Brilliant.'
"He seemed quite knocked sideways. So I made him a cup of tea and made sure he was feeling better before calling it a day at 2.30 and filing my report from the pub."
Harry has promised to keep an eye on Jake's condition tomorrow.
