3001 AKA new season 2024

 

And so after 18 months Her Ladyship returns ( briefly).

Yesterday was the start of the 2024 season, and true to form most of the games where affected by precipitation, and quite a lot in some areas. The groundsmen and women will have been kept on their toes.

This would, in years gone by, have been the time of year to have my hair 're oranged', clean out the flasks and wash the blanky ( essential for cricket any time of year). However in the past few years my hair has gone from 'Ronald McDonald orange to Nordic white, and the flask collection has dwindled, good news though, blanky is still full of life!!!!

I was at work yesterday, and was tuning in 'on't wireless'. As commentary turned to Trent Bridge, it was wonderful to hear Dave Bracegirdle, I remember fondly his days in the box with our Cally, always fun. However it was one of his guests  that really piqued my interest. Only the great Jack Russell.

Well I had to just down tools ( keyboard) and listen.

And for nearly an hour I was just enthralled by Jack and his love of the game. He really is a great ambassador for the sport.

In the blink of an eye it was over and he was on his way back to his easel to complete a painting of Trent Bridge.

What a fabulous way to break you into the new season.

Dave Bracegirdle also gave the great Harry Latchman a mention. I was lucky enough to spend a few days at Trent Bridge with Harry ( and Mike Harris) last season, and met up with Paul Johnson. I also sat next to Duncan Fearnley for lunch. My excitement at this, led Harry to comment, that Brad Pitt wouldn't have even come close. ( which is very true, but Duncan might  have come second to Lenny Kravitz).

Sadly the news that Duncan passed away just before the start of the season, makes this memory extra special.

And so  day 2 is here, its grey skies here in the North East of Blighty, but fingers crossed there is more cricket today.

Happy season one and all.

3000 blogs and finally its all about me!

 

Well here we are at the 3000th blog, sadly I have decided that this is the last one that I write for 'Tales from the boundary', partly  because in the last 12 or so months I have had my cricket heart ripped out bashed about and stamped on, and so have at this moment lost my cricket mojo, and partly because as I have been very unwell for a little while now, and  although its been diagnosed and being treated, I need to take time to get better,  and be much kinder to myself.

Before I sign off for good though I thought I would end with a blog all about me, Lainey.

 I am a couple of years away from a landmark birthday and looking back I realise how much I have crammed into my '21 years' I have had a fairly successful modelling career despite horrific injuries in a car accident when I was 17 which I nearly didn't come through.

I spent many years living in North West London and lived a very carefree life ( work aside), I went to  Glastonbury a couple of times in the 90's before it was really trendy to go and before all the current hipsters promoting it were born. (how we didn't get dysentery, trenchfoot and a million other things is beyond me)

I am a competent chef with a touch of Cordon Bleu thrown in for good measure.

I've interrailed around Europe a lot and travelled extensively (my love of Africa will never go away). I have been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights twice on visits to the beautiful country that is Iceland (fingers crossed for a hat trick next year)

I've lived in some beautiful places of which Marbella/Puerto Banus was not one ( and that was circa 1986 before anyone from TOWIE was born)!

I've met and mingled with the rich and famous, I turned down the role of PA/Housekeeper to Lance Percival (you have to be of an age to appreciate this) 

I lost the love of my life to cancer.

I've been a mentally and physically abused wife (some scars will never heal) and am now back to the carefree days  ( bills aside).

And as such, I am now devoting as much time  to just enjoying my life as best  I can, spending time with friends and traveling as much as work allows, and drinking champagne!  This has become more relevant  since the recent scary time.

I do hope that I will be in a better cricket place next season as I still enjoy the game so much. And yes I do  still love to watch South Africa play.

I sponsored 3 young Yorkshire cricketers which will for me, always be a highlight. I will always think of them with great pride. ( And refer to them often as  'my Ben, Tom  & Matty')

I am sad that I never got to publish my book  'Cricketers posteriors' sadly in this era it would probably not have sold!!, However as its said that everyone has a book in them, I may just write one!

I class myself very lucky to have some wonderful friends who have helped me along the way, over the years and very much so in recent times, and to whom I will always be eternally grateful. I hope that I have been as good a friend in return.

Despite and because of all above I am  determined to live my best life.

I thank  the loyal readers of this blog who may/may not have been with me since its start in  2012 ( yes 10 years of inane rambling).

I am sure that those who follow me on social media will see exactly what I am getting up to in the coming months, and who knows I may come back next season ( but I very much doubt it).

Finally ( not about me)

To Richard, I would have stopped writing this blog 5 years ago had you not spoken to me at the  Scarborough Festival and persuaded me not to.

And to Jack, the greatest wicket keeper (my opinion, other wicket keepers are available) and artist, I am always overawed by the fact that you read my ramblings, thank you, your paintings always make me smile.

To TLJL who scored a magnificent century this week in Kents last away match of the season, he goes from strength to strength, and this really does make my cricket heart beat faster. 

And now I am going to take a little break from some forms of social media.

I wish you all, the very best and once again thank you for reading

Bon chance

Lainey

Midweek in the blink of an eye

 

And its Wednesday before we knew it. Today is also the birthday of Micky Bell, yes, my little fuzzy chops is 9 today, I will be seeing him later to give him his birthday pressie , and another super border has his birthday today, Sir Spike of Marske. 

Lots of doggy birthday cake around I guess.

In crickety news, Yorkshire seem to be struggling to get Surrey out, although Patto in his last game for the White Rose has been having a good go. Taking 4 of the 6 wickets, it seems to be the final hurrah.

Lets see what today brings.

So much going on here at the moment and I fell into bed at midnight, totally exhausted ( and not what I am supposed to be doing). Hopefully things even out today.

The weather is taking a very autumnal turn and on my morning ( Mickyless) walk it really was a tad nippy.

Time to hunt out the jumpys I  think

And with that I am off to see what today holds.

we return to a new normal

And so we start anew today, The Queen has been laid to rest, with all the ceremony she deserved, I shed many tears and watched with a great pride at the amazing display of pomp. What we actually witnessed was a piece of history, a royal state funeral televised. 

Micky went home on Sunday and the house is a little bit empty. The stray dog hairs have been hoovered up and all the throws washed and put away.

Life is back to some sort of normality.

I am back to work and hoping that this week passes quickly. I really feel like I need a weekend away but will hang on for another couple of weeks.

The last week of cricket begins, Yorkshire are at Surrey and the triumphant one day champs (Kent if you didn't know) are down in Hampshire.

And with that I wish you a happy Tuesday.

The saddest day

 

 And so it begins, the day that many of us dreaded but know would come eventually.

A time to say goodbye to our Monarch  whether at home or in a packed capitol.

The last people have filed past and paid their respects and now the full pomp and ceremony begins.

I hope that after  today that all of the royals, young and old get a chance to sit back for a few days and grieve in private.

It is for me a very sad day, as a nation mourns.

Farewell your Majesty.

RIP

Thank goodness its Friday

 

So Micky Bell begins his last day in the land of performance chemicals and I have reached the end of another working week.

Its been some week, in fact its been some 8 days!

Tonight  due to the ongoing health issue, I will be having a mocktail, rather than a cocktail ( you know its fairly serious when alcohol is set aside). To be honest a few weeks without a cocktail is hardly the end of the world, champagne though is another matter!!

Micky and I will be having a fairly chilled out evening with me watching more episodes of 'The Good Wife' ( how had I come to this party so late???) and then an early night, ahhh rock n roll life !

Its been lovely to see so many people go to pay their respects to the Queen. I'm sad that I can't go, but I'm not up to queueing for hours.

I did go when Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother passed away. A very quiet  and sombre  occasion.

And so with that I will close.

Happy Friday one and all

So much pageantry

 

If  there is one that thing that is apparent  over the last 5 or so days, it is, that here in Blighty we do pageantry in a way that few others do.

Yesterday I cried as if my heart would break as I watched the Queens procession to Westminster Hall.

I cannot put into words (  I am sure most of you will be the same) my sorrow at the passing of  our Queen, however life goes on and by this time next week, its to be hoped that the Royal family can have time to catch their breath and grieve privately.

I find it very hard to comprehend that I will never see her again, I had this same feeling when I lost my Mum,

However day to day life goes on for us, and yesterday must have been another of those tail end of season  thrillers that Yorkshire often do, sadly they lost to Essex, who won by a wicket ( and a whisker). And the season concludes next week at The Oval ( I've never been back since being stalked there a few years ago by a Surrey supporter).

Micky Bell and I move into the tail end of our time together, I will be very sad when he goes home.

Have a peaceful Thursday.