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The UK’s Foreign Office has issued an update

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has changed its travel guidance for a destination popular with British travellers. People are being warned airports and other transport operators could be affected amid industrial action.

In a new alert on Wednesday, November 19, the FCDO said: “Strikes are planned for Monday 24, Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 November. This is expected to affect airports, public transport and some public services, including schools.

“Public transport will be affected from 10pm on Sunday 23 November. A demonstration is planned for central Brussels on Wednesday 26 November. Strike action is an ongoing issue that can cause travel disruption.

“General strikes took place on 31 March, 29 April and 14 October. Strike action may be announced at short notice. Monitor local news and check with your provider regarding potential delays and closures.”

Hundreds of thousands of people from the UK travel to Belgium each year. Further FCDO advice reads: “Strike action is an ongoing issue that can cause severe travel disruption across the country and affect international travel.

“For regular updates on any disruption, check local news and follow advice given by your travel provider.”

According to The Bulletin, this industrial action is “the latest and largest in a series of actions in response to the new federal government’s planned austerity measures, which unions say threaten Belgium’s social safety net”. Action will begin with a 72-hour rail transport strike, commencing at 11pm on November 23.

On 25 November, the movement “will spread to public administrations: municipalities, hospitals, administrative services, as well as the education sector, which has been invited to join the strike”.

With heavy rain expected this weekend, the chance for high school football players in Los Angeles to run, tackle and enjoy playing in the mud is more than possible. There’s eight City Section teams hosting playoff games Friday night with grass fields that have little grass left.

That means fun times ahead.

“It’s not going to be pretty,” Venice coach Angelo Gasca said of his field’s condition for a game against Franklin.

The coaches might not like mud, but Gasca said his players are excited.

“Everyone is looking forward to it,” Gasca said.

San Pedro, Venice, Eagle Rock, Cleveland, San Fernando, Santee, Jefferson and Wilson have either not changed their fields into all-weather turf or chose to keep grass. Eagle Rock next season is switching to all-weather, so coach Andy Moran might have a final home game in the mud against Dorsey.

San Pedro lost to Eagle Rock in the rain in 2022. Pirates coach Corey Walsh has not forgotten. He prepared with wet footballs in practice this week for Friday’s game against Crenshaw.

“We’re super excited,” he said.

The people who aren’t excited are the bus drivers who will have to clean their buses; fans who will break out umbrellas, plastic hats and boots; parents who will have to clean uniforms; sportswriters trying to keep stats with no covering.

Yes, Southern California is not used to playing high school football in the rain. One of the most famous games was Servite beating Edison 16-6 in the 2009 Pac-5 championship game at Angels Stadium. The lead sentence in the Los Angeles Times story was, “Playing in conditions more suitable for sea gulls and ducks.”

Look for ducks and mud on Friday night.