New Years Eve

Well its the last day of  the year and I am at my desk, listening to the T20 from the BBL.
As you can tell I am late posting this as I had quite a lot to do before work this morning, mainly getting out of bed!!


As I said yesterday, there are no resolutions in this house, I know what I want from 2019 and I am determined to get it.

Today ( or half day as I have decreed in the absence of the two Richard Tators) will be mainly about eating our body weight in left over cake and goodies we have all brought in, and playing pub quiz games.
There is very little to do, the phone doesn't ring ( sites are shut down) and we are just wasting electricity and gas being here.

I also decreed that those in today had to wear their xmas jumpys for the last time this year, and then I had to  get petrol on the way in...........yes I got some strange looks!

So come midday, I am going to head to the shops and have a mooch around the sales.

And then to tonight.

Well I imagine that I will be in bed long before the chime of midnight, and then be woken up by neighbours letting off fireworks!

So before I go I will pick out  my 3 of the best of 2018 

1.  Any time spent with Sophie and Jim over the season ( and the chance to catch up with Susan too)

2. Spending time with Miss Margot and then the arrival of Miss Babs who is an absolute whirlwind but the most gorgeous little thing.

3. The most fabulous chair which changed my whole summer, made for me and delivered by the lovely Philip and Carole. And a lovely day too.

There have been many more great things that happened this year, but also a year that has been tainted with extreme sadness.

So here is to 2019 and a happy and healthy year for us all.

Slumber Sunday

Good morning from my bed at the chateau, I am having a lie  in and typing this whilst also drinking coffee and watching a DVD, its looking like it is going to be a lazy day. And to be honest after the year I have had I think that I deserve it.

I am also tired after a night out with a great group of cricket folk, who were a joy to be around. Always the badger!

I normally put together a review of the year which I post on New Years Eve, I  am however this year not doing one as it has been a year which has been tinged with extreme sadness at both the beginning and the end.
There has been a lot of fun and happy times in between, but I am sure that after reading about camels in Todmordon once, you don't want to read it again (whoops).
There have been revelations, especially when you find out who your friends really are, and there have been great times with the friends who like to be with you, not for who you know, what you know and what they can get out of it, but just because they are friends.

Yes its been a rollercoaster year, the chateau is still not sold, but to be fair all the other houses in Ladylaineyville that went on the market before or at the same time are still for sale. I know that it will go next year and I can make a fresh start.

So as we prepare to put the old year to bed, I have as usual decided not to make any resolutions. I know where I am heading and don't need to voice it to make it happen. And that too is a lesson that I  have learnt. keep your trap shut!

So as I lie here mulling over the year that is only days from ending, I am looking forward to the new year.

I always do my own thing, I never follow the sheep and I have no need to try to live someone elses life.
I am my own individual person.

And that is a good way to be I think.

Have a peaceful Sunday.

I think that it is Friday

I think its Friday and I think that I should be considering getting out of bed, I've managed to resist the delights of chocolate, Camembert or brussel sprouts for breakfast and have had coffee and weetabix.
I have to get up soon as SA are on TV.

I had the radio on during the night and listened to Australia sort of fold, only for India to do the same in their 2nd innings,54-5 at stumps with Kohli out for a duck.

Making a match of it.


Yesterday was about work and the opticians, where as expected I needed new reading specs, I am now going to have to sell a kidney to pay for them.
I had a wander around the town, ( 5  mins) took a long way back home and racked up my 10000 steps for the day.
Then a nap, something that I used to love and of late have not been doing very much of.
Yes the Xmas break has reintroduced me to the art of napping and I like it,

As you can see, I am living it up!!!!

Now I really need to get up as there are lots to do and hopefully I will be able to convert it into compulsive reading tomorrow.

Have a great Friday,

Not really sure what day it is

well I am up and dressed although it took me a good half hour to pinpoint which day of the week it is, and its Thursday and I have an opticians appointment as well as some work to get sorted,

Yes the festive rest is well and truly over.

I also need to sort out to get the carpets cleaned here at the chateau, although it was pointed out to me best to wait until the weather gets a bit better ( or until we have had snow). Note to self when we move to 'Residence Robinson', hardwood floors and non cream carpets are the order of the day!

The whole 'sandpapergte' thing rumbles on with Ricky Ponting chirping in this time, saying he is shocked by the timing and the content of the interviews with Smith and Bancroft.
Ponting thought that Bancroft may have done more harm than good to his 'brand'. And there it is! Bancroft is not a brand, he is a stupid boy! as were the other two.
 Bancroft also being accused of 'thowing Warner  under a bus'.
Nope!
Sorry Warner did that himself when he master minded the whole thing.

I have to say that it is all tiresome and irks that these cheats think that they can tug on the cricket publics heart strings.
I obviously ( as has been commented on ) do not have a heart as I feel nothing at all for the idiots.

Oh dear, after I said that I would not talk about it anymore!

Well sprouts are not on the menu at the chateau today as I have managed in 4 meals ( since last Saturday) to eat 2.5 bags of the things.
Now I love sprouts but I think that I may have overdone it this time, I totally blame Aldi for selling them for 19p.

And with that I am out of the door and off to do stuff. (I'm sure that eating will be involved in there somewhere).
There is cricket on too as South Africa are in action.

Happy Thursday.

And that's it!

So here we are at Boxing Day, Christmas has been and gone, all the hype in the shops since July now makes way for sales and  getting the Valentines tat out on the shelves and the things for Easter.

I realise that we live in a merchandising bubble, and also that a lot of the true  meaning of most things ( especially Religious festivals) is lost in the scrum to make money.

So today  I will be putting away the Xmas decorations and tidying up the house, before settling down to a lovely lunch with a glass of champagne.

And then have a walk down to Tesco ( yes its open 9-6pm, in case you ran out of milk or turkey or wine). I need to get my steps in after getting in over 11000 yesterday.

there was some cricket on through the night as Australia take on India, the only real excitement was the revelation during lunch that David Warner was the one who urged Cameron Bancroft to use the sandpaper ( something we were all aware of) and he did so to 'fit in and be accepted'.
Well that worked out well for him, to me the whole thing smacks of a bullying culture in the dressing room and fear of older, more established players, even the Captain didn;t stop it!

Now that Cameron has got it all off his chest, I hope that it is the last that we hear of the who debacle.

Over in South Africa, Pakistan are at the crease and Dale Steyn has become SA leading wicket taker. Who would have thought after the run of injury that he would make it back to the team let alone anything else.
I really need to put the TV on and watch this.

I hope that you all had a good christmas and enjoyed your day.
 Christmas is a time for giving, not just presents,but time, sometimes there are people who may have been on thier own, a quick chat may be just what they need.
as we head towards a new year, I am making it my wish  to try to do more for others.

Happy Boxing Day.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all.
Yes it's the day that you can drink alcohol at 6am and eat chocolates for breakfast. ........or is that just me!?


I have been out for  a very early morning walk and racked up 6000 steps which is good.

I've no idea what is happening  in the cricket world but that's ok as today is really about celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Although I've received lots of lovely presents it's always good to think about the true meaning of today.
I always find that giving is much more important to me.

So I wish you all a very Happy Christmas.
May your day be full of love and laughter.
Thank you for  all for the lovely messages over the last few days.
Have a good one.
Xxx

Its Christmas Eve

Well it is Christmas Eve and I am up and ready to head off for half a day at the saltmines.

That's about all that I can say on that subject without breaking out into swear words, so least said and all that stuff.

The weekend has been very busy with visiting, housework, more washing than you can believe ( how one person generates so much is beyond me, and it is me!) and finally sorting out the Xmas decorations ( and there are not a lot this year).

I put a chilli in the slow cooker last night and woke up this morning absolutely starving, the smell drifting through the house. This will be my lunch and the rest will go into the freezer as I up my game on the food prep front and preparing for the great slim down starting on boxing day.

I doubt I will be breaking a sweat at work today and will be sharing my chilli with the rest of the inmates. Upside neither of the 'Richard Tators' are in ( obviously their holidays were authorised!) so we'll crank up the radio and eat all the goodies that we take in.

I might even wear my Christmas jumpy!

Quick scan of the cricket news is still about the cheats, this time Cameron Bancroft blathering on about how he nearly gave up cricket for yoga. This was all put in a letter to himself...............which was then published. Sort of defeats the  object.
But as we all know the three cheats are now trying to  curry favour with anyone who will listen to them.

They cheated, they were found out, they were given bans from cricket, I for one do not feel sorry for them.


Right best head off to the saltmines before I get mega ranty.

Have a great Christmas Eve.

Its the weekend before Christmas

So I'm back on the blog after a week of carols and poems.

its been a very long and difficult week, filled with sadness, however I need to buck my ideas up as there is not a thing done in the chateau for the Xmas period.

Time to get up and get on with things


So I finally managed to have a look through the cricket news and it is interesting to read that Tom Harrison the CEO of the ECB thinks that cricket is in good health, citing International matches and T20 ( note the lack of mention of CC) to bolster this statement.
He defended the 100 ball ( obviously) saying that it is needed to bring cricket to a wider audience.

As the cricket calender will be crammed full in 2020 we all know which format is going to suffer so the ECB can have their all singing all dancing gimmick laden abomination.

Mind you this is the Tom Harrison who used the words 'role model'in a sentance starting with 'Ben Stokes'!!!
I appreciate that it was meant in the form of cricket, but to be honest having seen his foul mouthed tirades at cricket when he is given out, I'm not sure that I would agree, and lets not even go to the 'Bristol incodent'.

Oh dear, I'm just back after a week off the cricket news and already on a rant!

Other news Steve (I'm a cheat)Smith has been talking, and talking, and talking about that incident.
He actually said that he could have stopped it and (obviously) didn't.
Well mate that in my eyes also makes you a gutless cheat,

and with that I am off out in the limo to try to hand deliver the last cards.
Apologies to any of my friends reading this who haven't received a card, I missed the posting days due to events last weekend.

Have a great weekend.

Thought for Friday

The days are short and dark and cold

The trees are skeletal and bare

 fog and frost  hang around each morning

With the smell of wintery air

Fires burn for warmth and comfort

Blankets swaddling our forms

Snow and sleet a fact of life

As we ‘batten down’ against the storms

Is there a  tiny chink of light?

In this tunnel of wintery doom

Is there a chance of sun and fun?

To chase away the gloom?

As I open the blinds this dark cold morn

And yawn and stretch and shiver

I see the dawn breaking through

A tiny pale silver sliver

A thought of Headingley comes to mind

Like an itch that needs a scratch,

I smile and look at the calendar

105 days to our 1^st  County Championship  match

Last cricmas song for the year

On the first day of Cricmas

my true love sent to me:
trust in our coach Galey
 
On the second day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:

2 Jonny Tatts gloves
And  trust in our coach Galey


On the third day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
3 Returns of Denison
2 Jonny Tatts gloves
and trust in our coach  Galey

On the fourth day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison 
2 Jonny Tatts gloves 
and trust in our  coach  Galey
 
On the fifth day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison
2 Jonny Tatts gloves 
and trust in out  coach  Galey

On the sixth day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
6 Matty Waites playing 
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison 
2 Jonny Tatts gloves 
and trust in our coach  Galey
 
On the seventh day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
7 Coads a  bowling
6 Matty Waites playing 
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison 
2 Jonny Tatts gloves 
and trust in our  coach  Galey

On the eighth day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
8 Captains thinking
7 Coads a bowling
6 Matty Waites playing
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison
2 Jonny Tatts gloves 
and trust in our coach  Galey

On the ninth day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
9 Lady Laineys glancing
8 Captains thinking
7 Coads a bowlong
6 Matty Waite  playing
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison
2 Jonny Tatts gloves 
and trust in our coach Galey
 
On the tenth day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
10 Tom K-C sweeping
9 Lady Laineys glancing
8 Captains thinking
7 Coads a bowling
6 Matty Waites playing
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison
2 Jonny Tatts gloves 
and trust in our coach  Galey


On the eleventh day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
11 overseas player hyping
10 Tom K-C sweeping
9 Lady Laineys glancing
8 Captains thinking
7 Coads a bowling
6 Matty Waite playing
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison
2 Jonny Tatts  gloves 
and trust in our coach  Galey

On the twelfth day of Cricmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Academy boys upcoming

11 Overseas player hyping
10 Tom K-C sweeping
9 Lady Laineys glancing
8 Captains thinking
7 Coads a bowling
6 Matty Waite playing
5 Jack Leanings
4 Jemima Birds
3 Returns of Denison
2 Jpnny Tatts gloves 
and trust in our coach  Galey

Midweek

Deck the halls with ball and wicket         fa la la la la la la la

Tis near the season full of cricket            fa la la la la la la la

Don we now our white apparel                fa la la la la la la la

Time to really roll out the barrel              fa la la la la la la la

See the batting and bowling before us     fa la la la la la la la

Fill the boot and rev the team bus           fa la la la la la la la

Follow Yorks where ever they travel      fa la la la la la la la

Over cobbles, grass and gravel               fa la la la la la la la

Fast away the old year passes                 fa la la la la la la la

Hail the new season lads and lasses       fa la la la la la la la

Sing we joyous  all together                  fa la la la la la la la

Ready for the summer weather              fa la la la la la la la

Sing-a-long a Tuesday

O Come Yorkshire Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Headingley.

Come, support Galey ,

through another season ;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

One and all

Sing Western Terrace

    But drink in moderation ,

Sing all you members of Headingley .
Sing To our captain, 

leading the team steadily;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

.One and all

All Hail! Boys we greet  you,

Ready for the season ,

Preparing  for the challenge

 that is lying ahead

hail to Martyn guiding from the sidelines;
O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

One and all

A cricmas carol

O little town of Headingley

How still you seem to lie

Off season lull, no longer full

The winter months go by

Yet in St Micheals Lane shineth

The everlasting rose

The emblem of our Yorkshire boys

That keeps them on their toes

with  Galey as our leader

and  hopes of silverware

While Surrey  sleep , Yorkshire  doth creep

To regain their crown with flair

O great  white rose of Yorkshire

Watch over all the team

Keep them faithful, fit and well

And focussed on the dream

How silently, how silently

The months are passing by

Winter is here with xmas cheer

 New year and spring is nigh.

No words can quell the feeling

Of joy as it does rise

No cold or snow or fog or sleet

Can dull the gleaming prize

 O Yorkshiremen of Headingley

Prepare to fight the foe

The season new is nearly due

All systems ready to go

We hear the western terrace singing

Songs both new and old

Lets win again, be champs again

Our team of boys so bold

A long lie in

I have had a long lie in after having a relatively  early night, it had been half day Friday, but it had been a full on day, including the gas problem which luckily was resolved before I headed to bed.

Its very dark still outside but I am preparing to head out to the post office ( my new place to go on a Saturday) and then get ready to head off to a party tonight.
 

Over n Australia the test is ongoing with the hosts all out for 326 and India 82-2.
Its interesting to read that CA have said that they are open to hosting 4 day tests. Not something that I  am keen to see, but wince it seems that every format of the game is being tampered with I guess it will happen sooner rather than not at all.

Here in Blighty  we got  the news that Ashley Giles has take the role vacated by Andrew Strauss. I wish him all the best.
I fear that this job is the poison chalice of cricket, and really hope that Giles can be the difference England cricket  needs.

Hampshire have a new first team coach as they have appointed former South African assistant coach Adrian Birrell. I'll be watching this closely.

And now its time to head off to the Post Office,and a wander around the town.

Have a great Saturday.

I've got that Friday feeling.....

my Friday feeling is nothing to do with partying but more for the fact that I can get a lie in tomorrow and possibly a nap this afternoon, I am shattered!!!
This  was not helped by a long old chat late last night with a friend who is in South Africa and had time to kill!!

However here we are at Friday and now only 6 working days to finishing for a break.(not counting today)

Hurrah!!! cricket news, Australia are batting in the second test and are currently 117-1,
I decided not to listen through the night, mainly because I was too tired to switch the radio on.

Not strictly cricket but good to see that there is going to be a ban on gambling ads before the watershed, I personally as glad not because I gamble but mainly because most of the ads annoy the hell out of me.

Sad news from Pakistan that Sharmeen Khan, who was part of the first ever Pakistan Womans international team,has passed away at the age of 47.
Sharmeen and her sister played a major role in establishing woman's cricket in the country.
She was educated at Shrewsbury School ( as was Commando Boy) and the University of Leeds.
A true ambassador for the Woman's game.
Thoughts with her family at this sad time.

Well now, didn't see this one coming, after the announcement last week(ish) that Jon Lewis was leaving Durham after 200 years in their wage book, (well it feels like it only overtaken by Alan Walker who has been there since Moses was a lad!).  He has now been named as the batting coach of Sri Lanka, taking up the roll after the ODI series against New Zealia and finishing after the World Cup.

Lets hope this helps him to finally crack a smile!

Right off to have words with the gas workers outside who are about to cut off my gas supply and its doubtful that it will be put back on over the weekend........the weekend that we are expecting snow!!

thatll be about right, and I doubt they will be working on the gas main if it snows!

bye!

And Thursday begins

I can only advise anyone in the North East of Blighty to stay in bed today, where it is nice and warm. I was up at the usual time (5.15am), put the kettle on and then decided to put the recycling out...............holy moly! it was freezing, I decided that the recycling can wait until tomorrow.

As I have probably said all this week, I cannot wait for my ( shorter than normal) Christmas break so that I can just stay in bed with my electric blanket!

And thoughts are turning to Christmas.

Thankfully Royal Mail managed to deliver the cards and presents that I had ready to go at the weekend. ( not so some of my ebay things which have gone AWOL).
I love the whole thing about preparing and giving at Christmas.
As most of my pressies are food related I tend to do a lot of the preparing during the year.
And Christmas is a time for giving, I have been putting together a 'reverse'advent box, where I put something INTO it everyday.
I have been putting tinned and dry goods into the box and on the 24th I will add the last things and then hand it over and it will be given to a family who are less fortunate than myself. Hopefully it will be useful to them over the Xmas period.

I have scanned just about every paper and cricket site for a sliver of news, and there is nothing that is really worth writing about.
It seems that today is a dead day on the news front.

I think then that it is time to head out of the door and make my way to the office.

The roadworks have eased off for the time being although I imagine that they will return in the New Year.


So I wish you all a Happy Thursday, and wrap up warm.

Midweek and struggling

Oh my dog!!!

I am totally and utterly worn out!

I really want to turn over and go back to sleep and for those of you that know me, you will know that this is not like me at all.

I am hoping that the new year will see me feeling more like myself and less like the bed monster I am slowly turning into.

I'm guessing that the lurgy and work events are not helping, I know that a lot of my gang at work are feeling the same.

I need lots of R & R.

And it seems that I am getting it in the cricket way as I cannot find any news which is of interest.
Australia and India do not take to the field until Friday.

It was interesting to see that after David 'smugmug' Warner was signed up for the BPL, it  seems that Steve Smiths place is in jeopardy.
He was selected as a replacement, but his inclusion came after the draft which is against BPL laws. The matter has been sent to the Bangladesh cricket board.

The lists are out for the IPL auction which takes place on the 18th. Interesting to see Steve Finn's name on the list. My guess is that he gets snapped up and then is crocked and spends the games on the bench. Just a hunch on his previous overseas tours.

Its super cold and frosty this morning and I am still in my bed typing this.
The mornings are pitch black and I for one cannot wait for the 21st, after that it is summer!!! well nearer to summer!!!

Oh well time to hoist the bulk into action.

I will be needing my thermals today I guess.

Have a great Wednesday, only 2 more getty ups until I can have a lie in.

Normal(ish) service is resumed

Well here we are at Tuesday and its a jolly cold one I can tell you.I'll be glad when the Christmas break arrives and I can have some extra long lie ins (  until about 6.45am).

However 9 more working days until that happens and today is as busy as yesterday, which started with a very early meeting, long drive  and finished with a trip to the docs ( about the sinusitis and extreme eye pain) and then turned into a bit of a mad dash over to the opticians for  lots of tests on my eyes.
Luckily when I got back to the docs, all was well with the important parts of my eye, and  it appears that the sinusitis ( which I have never had before and never want again) is the cause of the intense pain. So tablets ands a saline spray are now my best friends!


Time to see what is happening in the world of cricket.

Well just when you thought that the 100 ball is the most stupid idea ever............................the BBL have only scrapped the coin toss, in favour off............................................................the bat flip!!!!
seriously is there some competition between all cricket associations to come up with the most ludicrous idea.
 
Not only do we now have 'batters' as the name for a batsman,another Aussie idea, and lazy speak like a lot of their words, it is also to be PC!. I played cricket for a number  of seasons before it was really 'trendy' for woman to play and we were 'batsmen'. No one was upset or had their feelings hurt, no one demanded to be called 'batswoman'!

Cricket is seriously in danger of becoming a parody of the original game unless someone does something soon.

I'm waiting for 'timeouts' and 'sin bins' to be brought in once the Americans get to grips with the game ( and of course they will have invented the game)


Time to stop all of this now!

Oh dear off on a rant!

England  named an unchanged side to face the West Indies  on the upcoming tour, although they have changed the ODI side, David Willey is named. Much to most hacks surprise, Sam Curran is omitted.

England are also waiting to see when the rush through to get Jofi Archer qualified to play for England will be,

Ah yes because we have no talent already in this country.


Hmmmmmmm!

Well time to head out of the door now.

Have a great Tuesday and I promise not to get on a rant tomorrow!

late start

its a late start today and although I had a decent sleep ( with some cricket in the background) I am totally exhausted this morning.

however lots to do and best to get on with it.

In cricket Australia have a mountain to climb tomorrow, although I have to say that they ate showing some spirit.

Great to see that Joe Root has signed a 3 year contract with Yorkshire, we may not see much of him, but he is staying close to his roots ( excuse the pun).

With the start of the BBL imminent, it is interesting to read that the IPL is causing havoc with fixtures. Wonder what the franchise will do when it lands here.

I had a full on busy day which included bumping into a very old friend, although we have been in regular contact via facebook, I haven't seen him in over 30 years.As it should always be with true friends, it was if I had only seen him yesterday and we laughed so much.
Our paths have taken different routes, but he hasn't changed a bit, although he did say I was terribly posh!!! ( and still as mad as a box of frogs).

today is mainly about wrapping things up to get to the post office and start the final push for Xmas.

New Year is just around the corner and I know its going to be a good one.

happy Sunday

Its a windy one

I woke up at 2am ( the radio was broadcasting the cricket to itself prior to this ) and it was blowing a gale outside, I crawled out of bed eventually when the cricket finished and then remembered the death of the 'lapdog', attempted to get the tablet to work ( after a few years of none use ) and  am now in the study typing this up.

I have lot to do today with card dropping off, pressie giving and shopping for a new laptop.

And I can see that although the sun is shining, it is bitterly cold outside.

So in cricket as expected  Stokes and Hales were fined over the Bristol incident., not a lot else that they could do to them really.

Lancashire has signed Glenn Maxwell. He is expected to play a part in all three formats of the game. good luck with that one!

and I spoke last night to one of the coaches who had been in the frame for the batting coach job at Yorkshire. He's not taking it ( as we know  as they are still looking). shame really as he is a great person and would have been good for the role.

David Warner is named as captain for some team in the Bangladesh Premier league. Got to make some money somewhere!


And now I am off out into the wild and windy day  to do stuff.


Have a good one.

TGIF

I am currently lying in bed typing this, listening to the cricket and can hear the sound of rain falling outside................I just do not want to get up, its warm and cosy.

The dark mornings (and evenings) are not something that I like at all and I know that if I was an animal I would be a hedgehog, not because I am prickly ( although some would disagree) but because I could hibernate!

I have had the cricket on all night, Australia having a nightmare with the loss of Finch for a big fat 0.
Its now down to Head and Cummins to try to get the runs up to a respectable number as they chase 250.


AND THEN THE LAPTOP CRASHED!


PANIC!!!!

Quickly get in car and race to work with said device.

The news is, that it has not just crashed, it has died!

RIP little 'lapdog' you were a great help to me on my travels and  I will miss you so much.


And now I am on the net looking for a new one.


Happy Friday.

home stretch

So it Thursday and I am on the home stretch with the weekend ahead of me, the weather is not showing any signs of improving, which means that more cold, foggy, icy mornings are on the agenda. I no likey!!

I also no likey being tired due to having the radio on all night and listening to the cricket from down under, from down under my duvet!!!,my own fault I know, but any cricket is better than no cricket.

Australia had a great opening session with a flurry of wickets 'Steve'  Pujara is currently (5.42am) frustrating the Aussie bowlers.
Pat  Cummins dismissed Kohli in his first over!

Interesting to listen to the Aussie commentators taking about all the formats of cricket  that are shooting up at the moment.
It seems that they do not think  circus cricket is the saviour of cricket.

Liam Plunkett is off to the BBL to play for Melbourne Meringues ( or what ever they are called), he has been drafted in to replace an injured Lancashires Matt Parkinson.

IPL which is due to begin in mid March is still without venues. It was decided to wait until after the election in India to make the decision. When they changed venues in 2009 and 2014 it was all left to the last minute before the venue was known.

Interesting to see that Dimi Mascarenhas has left his role of  assistant head coach with Essex after one season.
Is he going to stay in the UK?
Is the all rounder up for a batting coach position?
And now that Essex are having to re jig their coaching side, who will they be looking to!

Good to see former Tyke Will Rhodes renewing his contract with  Warwickshire and also Ryan Sidebottom..........not the 'real' one of course but the Australian version.

I had a fabulous catch up with my old London work mate, Phil ,last night, we were an underwriting 'team' in the good old London days.
Hard to believe how long ago that was!
It was just what I needed and as expected I laughed a lot. An absolute tonic  is Phil.

Well one thing that I do know as I head to the weekend, is that I have been messed around royally this week by people who should know better. I assure you that today I come out fighting and  woe betide one of those people if they try to fob me off.

Right off to start the day.

Happy Thursday.

What a week!

Well its only Wednesday and I already have had a full week or so it feels. There have been so many  twists and turns over the last 2 days that I am totally exhausted.

Lets see how today pans out.
Upside one of my old London workmates is up here on business and we are meeting up after I finish in the salt mines for coffee and a chat before he heads off to Cheshire.
That really is something to look forward to.

Ahhh I see that the 'disciplonary' hearing for Stokes and Hales will be taking place this week, yes that will be interesting ....................not!

Slapped wrist, small fine and  then handshake and pat on back, I forsee.
They can hardly do anything , Stokes found not guilty, Hales not charged by police and the whole thing nearly 18 months ago.


As the build up to the Australia v India first test counts down, teams are being talked about, with Australia debuting Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb being brought back at the expense of Mitchell Marsh.
Interesting to see how the new line up stands up to India.

That all kicks off tomorrow ( or midnight on the radio here).

well today would have been my wonderful Daddy's birthday, he loved his birthday just like I do!
I hope that he is having a little party up there with Mum and the Gibo's and Granny Annie et al.

December and January are very tough months for me, and not just because they are cold and miserable!
the last and the first month of the year have become the months that I dislike the most due to the sadness that surrounds them within the family.
Christmas has only just reappeared in the Chateau in the last few years. 6 Christmas's being filled with extreme sadness and loss.
So I am giving it a real Christmassy try this year, and as such I raise my Christmas mug ( Wallace and Gromit 'Cool Yule' this morning), I have to say that I need a bit of merriment in my life at the moment!

Roll on Xmas Day and having my 5.15am Martini!

have a cracking day and wrap up warm. its flipping freezing out there! ( as noted at 5.30am when I out the recycling out!)

Best laid plans

Arrrggghhhhh just when you thought that things might just, possibly, hopefully, start moving in the right direction......they grind to a halt and stop completely in one area.

How to deal with it, well I'm talking the dog approach , if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away...................................well I will only be metaphysically 'peeing' on it but you get the idea.

Good news in the office that I became an  Office Aunt again over the weekend  and  this time after a hundred million hints, my office nephew ( I now have 3) has been named JACK!!!!!!
He is TTTJL ( the teeny tiny Jack Lupton) he was a little bit early and his mummy had  been a little bit poorly, hence his early arrival, but they are both doing really well and that's the main thing.

Over in the  land of cricket,news from the BBL is that Sydney Sixers have signed one third of the Curran kids, as Tom has signed a deal for the 2018-19 season. The Sixers will be looking for someone to replace John Hastings after his forced retirement.
Those are big shoes to fill.

And news that they other T20 circus, aka, The IPL will be holding their auction on Decmeber 18th. The day when  obscene amounts of money are bandied around and players dream of becoming millionaires.
My Mum and I used to love to watch the IPL and this was back in 2009 ( or may have been 2008) when it was shown on ITV4 and although bold and brash, it was nothing like the  HUGE circus that it has become.

I am on countdown to the shortest day, as in Lainey world after this it is summer!!!! well it is closer to the cricket season anyway.


In other news little Miss Babs went into the vets to get 'done' and apparently is feeling very sorry for herself, I think a world full of bouncy Barbara's is just what we need.........although on the other hand maybe not.

well its a cold dark Tuesday morning, but at least there is no 'Richard Tator' in the office, actually yesterday there was a lack of a lot of people in the office, I fear the recurring lurgy is taking its toll and am hoping that I actually get clear on of it.

Oh well, time roadworks and traffic jams wait for no Lady, so best to head off and start the day.
I may have been 'knocked down' yesterday but I am up and fighting again this morning.

Have a calm and peaceful day.

Another week begins

So  the first week of December begins and I am lying in bed listening to howling wind and rain lashing off the windows, seems to be a fair old storm going on out there and my desire to turn over, click on the electric blanket is such an appealing thought..........so best get this blog finished before I seriously consider doing just that.

I shouldn't really be tired, as I spent most of yesterday in my dressing gown, lying around watching rubbish TV, then got showered, put clean PJ's on and  watched more rubbish TV before heading off to bed.
Actually I did managed to pack up some of  my mini xmas hampers so that I can get them in the post this week, but that was the sum total of my Sunday.
It doesn't hurt once in a while to have a proper day off, and I am still trying to shake off the dreaded lurgy which refuses to disappear.

So lets see what has been happening in cricket land.

Northants have signed Temba Bavuma for 8 County championship games, which is a bit of a scoop.

Lancashire have been reshuffling their back room staff.

Yorkshire are still looking for a batting coach.

England have reduced the residency requirement to 3 years, because obviously we don't have enough home born talent.

Travis Head has said that they Australian bowlers who can 'do the job' against Kohli. Read into that what you will!!!
And the first test starts in Adelaide on 6th December.

So time to get out and start the week, and its a some week, firstly 'Richard Tator' is on holiday and  the office will be a much brighter place this week, we have a lot to get organised  and a couple of new projects to  get moving.
I also have a lot of personally this week and next, lets hope that some good comes out of it all.


Well time to head off, have a great Monday.

Damp grey Sunday

So its a damp grey day here in the North East of blighty and I am already wondering how I will get all the washing dry.
I am however well on with the icing of the Xmas cakes and getting myself sorted ready for 3 weeks time, where has the year gone?

My dislike of the 100 ball game is over shadowed by my immense dislike of T10, what is that all about?
What next T5?
Talk about dumbing down cricket, this is actually making a mockery of the cricket in general.Hence my call for a change of faces in the ECB. My call was for the love of the game and all that it represents.
Of course there are those who don't agree, but when you are criticised by someone who you wouldn't back in the call to have Andrew Gale removed as coach at Yorkshire it makes you think.
I do not have double standards.
my call for Graves & co to be ousted was for the love of the county championship game which is obviously on its way out if these lot have their way.

I do not make my calls based on personal reasons.

I love cricket, I love the county championship, I want to see it succeed.

I appreciate that the franchise will bring much needed money into the clubs nominated to have franchises, however, at what other cost?

I know that a lot of members at my beloved Yorkshire will not attend these games, so what will the turnstile revenue be?

well that is something that we will have to wait and see.

And as for the 'adult' who resorted to name calling...............well that speaks for itself really.

And now I am off to make a spot of breakfast and do some knitting.

Have a great Sunday.

Fools Friday

I am totally convinced that the above is the motto of the ECB as they set out their plan to make England the laughing stock of the cricket world.

It was announced that after a meeting on Wednesday ( a meeting in the Lords Tavern by the sounds of it) the 100 ball game was put down on paper ( back of a fag packet or more likely Cuban cigar box in their case).
And what a great big pile of s**t they have churned out, their 'revolutionary vision' to the franchise game.

This is the game that is to attract the people who do not usually go to cricket.
This is the game to attract woman and children to cricket ( because woman and children never go to cricket)
This is the game that they say will be popular with broadcasters ( and the ECB hierarchy back pockets)

So they are going to have it set out in 10 overs of 10 balls for each team and changing ends after 10 balls???!!!!
Bowlers can bowl 5 or 10 balls in one go.
The game will be 20 balls shorter than current short format game.
The tickets are bound to be ridiculously priced!

And the ECB think that this will save cricket????!!!!

Firstly if you have never been to cricket and see this you will never appreciate County championship cricket  ( or is this their cunning plan)
Yes, woman and children will be able to join in the 'excitement' of counting down the 10 ball over ( because woman obviously love this kind of thing all the time)

I am waiting for the addendum to this format, where if the bowler,bowls a wide he then has to bowl wearing a blindfold ( oh how the spectators will laugh!).
If the player is out for a duck he gets  custard pied on the way back to the dug out by his team mates.
Winners get to jump in a hot tub and drink loads of sponsored beer or wine

I am not a fan of T20 but at least it is mainly our county players, not to be  the case with the Franchise fiasco, which will be open to the T20 whores who roam the world in search of more money.

As you can tell I am right behind the whole thing!!!

I have already begun my strongly worded letter to 'Robbing' Graves. Not that it will do any good but at least it will mean the return letter will give their cleaner something to do apart from putting the port bottles out for recycling.

This does have to go before the counties in January, but with the lure of huge amounts of money for the 8 counties who will be part of the fiasco. I fear  it will be pushed though.

What I do wonder though is that (especially at Yorkshire) counties have been pushed by ECB to up grade their grounds ( flood lights. new stands etc) putting  most in debt, how can they refuse to accept this abomination, with the money that is being offered.

My only hope is that it falls flat on its face ( words I  never thought that I would ever write about any form of cricket) .

Oh dear Friday has started with one hell of a rant!

Think I need to go to see Big Al ,the hungry persons pal, and order the bacon butties.

Have a good Friday...........................I smell a glass of wine or two coming on this evening,

ready for the season

So the fixtures have been perused and the hotels booked, the dog sitting has been slotted into the diary and that's next season sorted out.

now all I have to do is wait. And that's something that I am not too good at.

Down under Earl Eddings has been passed the poison chalice that is the Chairmanship of cricket Australia whilst Justin Langer has said that there needs to be a careful re-integration when Smith and Warner are out of their ban........no mention of Bancroft who will probably go down in history as the patsy in the whole fiasco.

if its a re-integration like that of 'HWMNBNITB' Smith and Warner will wait for the Australian team to come and pay homage to them!

Meanwhile Simon Katich spoke truthfully about how the Australians have been viewed, he said they have been a disliked team for years.

I am looking at an offer made to me yesterday and looking at what next year may hold, its a tough time all round, will there be big changes.

And the rain continues as we are in at the tailend of another storm, or is it just normal wintery weather???

So I am bracing myself to head out into the rain and  wind and start another day.

Full office today as 'C bomb' Bill ( or 'Bill i am' to give him his hip name) is back from the wilds of Northumberland, 'Mickey dripping' is taking up his new office role as pack engineer and Jeff my pet draughtsman is on 5 day weeks from now until xmas to get us through the all the work.

Yes time to head off and do my thing.

have a good Thursday

So the new season is set out

 and like it or loathe it, we all  know how next season looks.
I've checked the dates and got my plan in order for the matches that I will be able to see.
 I am also putting  out my prediction for the winner of the CC 2019.
Either Yorkshire. Surrey or Nottinghamshire.

There I have put it in print.
Mark my words it will be one of those 3.

I so wanted to go to Hampshire but it is the week after the Notts away match and I am not sure if I can do both! I have though, had a quick check of the flights  and checked out a few hotels, I will probably go...................depending on other things which may be ongoing.


What is a dead cert is Scarbados, and this year Sophie and El Tel are coming too!!!
This should brighten up the summer!

The thing that  members of every club have voiced is the lack of weekend games, this means that those of us that are still working are not able to see as many matches.
I appreciate that the World cup has an impact on the fixtures but really it does seem that the ECB are slowly making sure that the County Championship dies.

What is interesting to hear is that those of us who still work are currently discussing if our membership is worth paying for!!!!

How will that impact on clubs??

Well there are a good few months until I am off to sunny Nottingham, so best do the other important thing and head off to work.

Happy Wednesday!