Wednesday 18 March 2020 16:54, UK
Bumble is 'celebrating' a birthday in isolation, but backs the decision to halt the sporting schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic in his latest Sky Sports blog...
Sport is part of the fabric of society, but people's health comes first.
I'm not a doctor. But, what I can say is, there's far more important things at play at the minute than sport, whether that's football, cricket, rugby or golf.
I can't remember anything like this before. You had the two world wars that impacted the sporting schedule but, as much as it may surprise you, I wasn't involved in them.
The decision to call off England's tour of Sri Lanka - absolutely the right call. Cancel everything! No messing about.
People will be disappointed. 'Oh, the Grand National is cancelled', some will complain. But, okay, do you think then it shouldn't be? Of course it's cancelled.
I was staggered that Cheltenham went ahead. And Atletico Madrid playing Liverpool last week - bringing 3,000 spectators over. Spain was in lockdown!
It should all be on the back-burner until this is sorted. And, what we're hearing from the government, is this is going to be a long haul - maybe months.
If that is indeed the case, then you don't have to be Einstein to see that it will obviously impact on the cricket season.
The ECB will be looking at the situation; it's tough on everybody, all the counties.
There's no point in thinking about reducing the county calendar yet. They've just got to let this all pan out and not get involved until the country is sorted and everyone is good and ready to play.
That goes for all sport.
When will the football season get back underway? I haven't given it a thought.
I follow the lead of Accrington Stanley chairman, Andy Holt; there's far more important things right now.
I have far more interest in my family, my children and my grandchildren staying fit and well. And myself.
Alex Hales is currently in isolation with coronavirus symptoms. I've got family members who are in exactly the same position.
Four have symptoms, so we're waiting to see how that develops. One is a paramedic, who works at a hospital, so is right on the front line, and then his three little daughters.
This will affect everybody. It will impact on people's way of life.
It was St Patrick's Day yesterday. To all our Irish friends, I hope you were able to celebrate suitably with a pint of the black stuff.
And it's my birthday today, though I don't think I'll be able to get my hands on any. It's not the same when you can't get it on draft anyway.
I'm now moving even further into the 'over-70s' group. I can't go out, I'm not allowed, so I'm sort of in isolation, if that's the right term.
The only thing with me is, I don't feel 70. I'm quite a fit bloke; I can cycle, I can run, I can play golf. But, when the government are saying all over 70s must stay indoors, reality kicks in.
I'm being sensible; I've got a lovely garden out there that needs doing and I've just been told too that the house needs decorating!
I'm also keeping in regular contact with my family; if only I knew what FaceTime is! What is it? Also, someone has been asking me on Twitter to do a podcast. What is that?
I seem to keep talking to people for these podcasts. But where are they? Where do they go? Who is listening? Can I hear it?
In any crisis, through trials and tribulations, there's still always a little bit of fun. Mine comes through Twitter.
It can be awful, it can be a nasty place, but it can also throw up the odd gem.
The one recently that caught my eye during all this coronavirus news said: 'There's no football, there's no rugby, no golf, no cricket, so I'm going to have to talk to the wife - and I just found out she had been made redundant from Woolworths'.
That's a classic. Stay safe all.
