review of the season

April

The season started with a very heavy heart. How can we have the season without ‘The voice of Yorkshire’.

The thought of no Cally was the cause at times over the season for tears to be shed, tears were not the only problems as rain came down and washed out the first match of the season.

I had two days let loose in Headingley and managed to cram in some reading time in my favourite French café there ( sadly now closed as they have gone to greater things in Paris).

Late April the sun shone and and Sophie and I met up with Jim and Rob at Headingley for an afternoon of cricket and friends.

I'm not sure the Skyrack was really ready for us at close of play.

Saturday was equally glorious as Sophie and I took to our seat and cheered our boys on, as the shandy flowed the lines blurred slightly with whose boys were who!

Sunday dawned wet and we hung on until lunch and then went off on our separate directions.

And that was April. We were not on a winning streak though.

May

Weather was a still playing havoc with the fixtures, but I set off at stupid o’ cock to head to London and 3 days at The Oval, it was great to meet up with London friends and also with Mark who had driven the boys down.

Not so nice, seeing HRR in Surrey garb!

Getting hit on by Surrey ‘gentlemen’ who would not take ‘go away’ for an answer.

We were beaten (again) and I left to head back north slightly despondent.

It had to get better, it just had to!

May was gone too quickly and not too much cricket for me!

June

 June saw the arrival of my new 'throne' in Yorkshire colours too, delivered

by the lovely Carole and Philip, what a lovely day although their drive home was less so as the heavens opened and monsoon like rain fell.

the weather turned much warmer and I headed off to Brandon to keep up with Yorkshire 2nd XI.

That was the amount of cricket this month as T20 and one day cricket were lining up.

I was hit with 2 bombshells, one that my beloved Hoddy would be retiring at the end of the season and also Commando Boy!

So not what I wanted to hear!

July

July saw Sophie and I watching cricket in a different league as we tipped up at Todmorden CC and pitched out tent.

It was some weekend, very hot, camels roaming round West Yorkshire town ( yes really, and not a martini induced mirage), midnight discos, and much more.  However as the  saying goes ‘What goes on tenting stays tenting’.

we are booking to go back in 2019!

 Our chairman Steve resigned and I for one  was very upset by this!

I spent many sunny weekends in my chair in the garden listening to any cricket that was on the radio and soaking up the rays.

Mr Funky and I headed to Chester le Street for the Durham v Notts T20, due to a doubtful weather forecast Sophie and El Tel didn't come

Sadly Notts lost as did my boys at Derbyshire

August

Early august saw Susan and I catch up at a T20 match, a lovely warm evening of cricket and friends, what's not to like?

Mid way through August the gang all met up for our annual Yorks v Notts night out, this time in the posh seats. I think we all had a good night!

Next day I headed off to Scarbados for the annual trip and catching up with chums. Ted and Norma were there as they have been for the last 52 years apparently.

Managed to see Rick and Andy as well as John from cricket Yorkshire.

The cricket could have been better we were beaten by Worcestershire.

They were the bottom team in the division………..

Lots of behind the scene work going on to try to organise another gang show at Notts next month , would it happen?

End of the month saw Mr Funky and I hop up to Chester le Street to see Durham v Sussex, it was mighty cold!!!

September

First Saturday of the month saw me at Headingley to cheer the boys on, quick catch up with TLML and much cheering for TLJL and Hoddy who had produced some excellent batting, he left the field giving a full 360 salute....................I cried, he knew and I knew that this was to be the last game he would play for Yorkshire!

Home the same day and an early night.

It was all go,  later that week I headed to Nottingham at stupid o' clock and was knocking on Sophies door at 8.30am.

Off to Trent Bridge to meet Jim and Jay.

Rained washed out first day just after lunch so there was only one thing to do.......go to the pub.

Back home in the blink of an eye.

And the last home game arrived,  as did the tail end of a hurricane which gave the groundsmen some exercise that they probably didn't want!

Some exceptional batting by Adam Lyth saw us getting points but rain was to be the nemesis of the boys and Thursday afternoon was rained off so I met up with Jim and much merriment ensued.

Friday was also washed out and a draw it was.

It was however great to catch up with Craig and Ray  and also  spend the Friday morning in the Long Room with those others who did not want to see the season end.

The last game of the season was at Worcestershire and we only flipping won and saved ourselves in the nick of time.

A season of troubles and losses, but we came good in the end.

We are Yorkshire.

And that was 2018 season.

Roll on 2019

And it's Friday!

and here it is, Friday!

The first Friday of a long few months before we have more cricket at home.

So yesterday Essex beat Surrey, although it was to no avail, they still lifted the championship trophy, good of them to keep it warm for us.

It was a thrilling match which I listened to through the mounds of paperwork on my desk.

Its going to be all work for the next few months.

Tonight sees the arrival of Miss Margot, as she comes to stay for the weekend.
I have lots of thrilling things lined up to do and I am sure she will be captivated by getting the car MOT'd and doing a 4 mile round trip walk. I foresee the rest of Saturday being a lazy one for the two of us.
Although Sunday weather permitting we are off to the beach.

This afternoon includes getting the barnet cut and doing the shopping, ah the absolute excitement, I am barely able to contain myself.


I'm busy working through the review of the season which I hope to post in the next couple of days.

That is always the saddest part of the year as I put the season to bed.

Well super short today as I have to go to see 'big Al, the hungry persons pal' and order the bacon butties................I'm sure that the new Director will put a stop to that shortly!!!

I'm sure if he could stop us breathing he would!

Yes all is not well in the land of waste water and I am expecting a flurry of resignations to be floating across the desk very soon!

too sad for words.

well time to go, have a great Friday

And that's it for this year!

Well our season is over as is the season for most of the clubs. Surrey and Essex are battling it out today  but that is just for points. we are currently sitting 4th in the table which is good considering the predicament 2 weeks ago!

The ups and downs have been decided and now time for  the winter of hard work.

In the 2nd division, Durham lost to Middx .

 Warwickshire won the title, giving Ryan Sidebottom another trophy.............this time the other Ryan Sidebottom., although in fairness there is only one!

We say goodbye to a lot of players this season, one being our very own Andrew Hodd,

If you ever tweet about him you usually get responses from far and wide saying what a lovely man he is.
And he is. He has been a valuable part of the Yorkshire squad.
He will be missed.


Work/home life balance is still not what I would like and although we are no nearer to D day, it is not looking too good at the moment.

What will the winter hold for us?

I've sorted out the things that are to be done on the dark evenings and now I just have to find some energy to do them, easier said than done.


Ah well time to head to the saltmines.

There has to be a better way to earn a crust!

Answers on a postcard to

Her ladyship
memory Lane
Land of Nod


until tomorrow!

A slightly bitter taste

I spent yesterday listening to the commentary on the Yorkshire match and getting 'Yupdates' from James Bond ( who had been out on surveillance in Worcester),
Gary Ballance and Jack Brooks being the 9th wicket heroes of the hour. We know the way this match is heading, but there are 2 more days.

We  had managed to save ourselves from the drop only to be stabbed in the heart by 'supporters' and I use that term loosely.
I still don't understand why you call yourself a supporter and then spend most of your time slating the coaching team, or the team, or the hierarchy or the cleaning ladies ( OK last bit not true but you get my drift).
What a group of moaning old miseries!
As I have said before when morale was really low, do they  think that the players don't read the tweets ( some people know Galey does, as he bocks them).

I'm proud to say that I don't need to be part of a fan page or Twitter group who make such comments and I prefer to support, in the true meaning of the word. yes there are times when I am not happy with what is going on, but I know that the club know what they are doing better than keyboard warriors. ( bring on the 'anonymous' comments).

The season is nearly over and we have a winter to rebuild. It will happen and we will come back stronger.


In other news Lancashire were relegated, I don't want to dwell on this as it has little  relevance to us next season.


 Thought for the day.

Even when the chips are down
Try not to wear a frown
Fill your heart and belly with fire
We are the one and only Yorkshire!

Phew what a relief!

well now, finally with only days to spare we know that we are staying in the First Division.
mind you, my boys love to take it to the wire and it took all day to secure the points needed to make it alright.

It was like the last match of last season all over again!

So we are staying up and I just know that next year will be our year.

we are ironing out the creases and moving forward in a positive way.
what more can we ask for, well I am sure the #galeout gang will start bleating again soon, but for the moment lets just be thankful that we are still up.

Adil Rashid signed a one year, all format contract, not that we will see much of him.

So all we need now is news on a new batting coach.

well I have one more white rose that came into bloom yesterday so I am taking that as sign that we may hear something soon.

The work/life balance that I had meticulously planned on Sunday went out of the door within 5 minutes of getting home, I really need to sort myself out, but after another disappointing day I just couldn't face the 'to do' list!

However onward and upward, I am sure that I will get myself into some sort of order this week.

So today will be about supporting the boys and luckily, my own personal 'James Bond' is at the ground, sending me updates of all that is happening.

Well time to hit the road and start the day.

happy Tuesday,

New week

Well a new week begins and its the last week of the domestic season.
That sort of takes the shine off everything, if there was any shine.


Yesterday as I set off to see besty chum Christine I walked out of the front door and saw straight away that my beautiful, much loved and overly cared for hydrangea had gone!
 Sometime between 6pm and 9am someone had very kindly decided to give it a new home.

Yes it was only a plant, but this was a gift from a friend, Miss Babs, when I was at my lowest ebb.
I may have had no furniture in my house, but I had a blue hydrangea in my 'yarden'.
I have a couple of cutting from this plant that I didn't give away this summer so I will nurture those and hope that they turn into the beautiful plant that I lost.

In cricket most teams are mobilising ready for their last game of the season.
My boys are off to Worcester.
Will I be heading there, well I will have to see what is going on at the office.

Middlesex are up at Chester le St so if all else fails I can go and cheer on Harrys boys.

I have a lot of work to catch up with so it may be a full week.

So I head off, another week in the slatmines, September is nearly over and we head into the latter part of the year.

Cricket is nearly finished.....................it all sounds a bit dull.

However I have plans made and intend to enjoy the  close season. No hibernation for me this year, a spot of sun and lots of fun. Just what the doctor ordered!

Until tomorrow

Sleepy Sunday

well its Sunday and the usual work is being done here at the Chateau.

The beds are stripped and the washing machine is on, the dishwasher is filling up and I am about to head off and see my besty chum Christine before she goes into hospital tomorrow.
There is lots to do today as I  get the house into order ready for a long winter.

There are things to list on ebay and things to take to the tip and the charity shop, the clear out continues.

I have plenty to keep me occupied in the coming months, which includes losing some weight, so there will be lots of walking and pilates being done.
The preparation for .......................dare I say it, Christmas is also under way.

Well I have to do something to while away the dark winter days, you'll be able to hear the sound of knitting needles very soon.

I've been checking around the cricket and see the Malahide are to host an Ireland v England ODI, since one of my old London colleagues lives there I may be begging a bed for a couple of nights and heading off to see that.

Interesting to see that Marcus North has been made Director of cricket at Durham, I wonder what changes he will make there.

I also see that the old would be eccentric Peter Trego has signed a white ball only deal with Somerset, this seems to be trendy at the moment.

So we are heading into the last week of the season, where did it go?

I am already preparing the cricket countdown calendar to start ticking away next weekend.


Happy Sunday

My season is over

And so my season has come to an end, and it was a rain soaked ending.
I decided to head over to the Long room at about 9.30am, I knew there would be no play but just couldn't bear the thought of going home.
What a morning it was, I was kept company by some lovely gentlemen and we put the world to rights.
I love a good bit of cricket banter.

People were just milling around and waiting for the inevitable, we knew that any announcements would not be heard in the Long Room as for some reason there are no PA announcements in there.

So when announcements came, the empty seating outside was the first to know what was going on.

One gentleman said that it would have been nice and a good PR exercise for the team to have headed over and had a chat with the members who had turned up.

This would have been a brilliant idea and would have given members a chance to say goodbye to those players who are leaving.

A missed opportunity there Yorkshire!

I came away at 1pm and set off home, I did shed a few tears, its a long winter.

what I did come away with though, is that although there have  been some calls for 'Gale out' on the whole there is much love and support for the whole team.
The batting coach position is still a huge topic of conversation.

we have one more match to play and 2 more points to get.

Next week is vital.

My day was made though, by a lovely tweet to me from Andrew Hodd, one great person and a great team player.

So today, I clean out the flasks for the last time this year and pack away the cricket things.

Its been a great season, we may not have won any silverware, but we are Yorkshire and we stand proud.



 

Another cricket day

Yesterday I met up with Craig, who had decided to stay another day, and we took our seats  with Ray and Mary.
All eyes were on Adam Lyth as he hit a century, and continued to motor on.
Craig managed to get some fabulous pictures.

Lunch arrived and so did the rain..........................and more rain.

Jim arrived at 2.30pm and after he recharged his phone and thirst at the hotel, we headed off to the Skyrack for  drinks.

it was still raining!

Well you can tell how that ended.

Jim was on the 6.37pm train and I was in bed and asleep before 8pm.

Today there is blue sky and the sun is attempting to shine,will we get any cricket, it will take a super human effort by the groundsmen.

Kent have managed to be promoted to Division One, which is great news for them,, sadly Warwickshire look have put paid to Sussex getting promoted.
There is always next year for them to join the top flight.

We stilll have to keep ouor place in the first division, and as the match is looking to draw that will be 11 points taken for us.

I'm going to head off for some breakfast and then walk into Headingley. I want to have a rummage in the Oxfam book shop.

I really hope we get some play today.

Have a great Friday

Game on

So after an early start, I met up with Craig, one year on, now a retired Firefighter, Craig is enjoying life as a photographer, and wow he takes some exceptional pictures.
After much catching up and chatter, I had a look through his 'holiday' pictures, a month in Canada, whale watching.

These pictures were absolutely stunning and made me reconsider some of my travel plans in the next few years.

We caught up with Ray and Mary who both look very well and have been enjoying a summer of cricket together.

And then there was the weather, which started with warmth and sunshine as I left home, and then got a little bit grey and blustery as I moved south.
We sat through  gale force winds, a very cold and clothes soaking rain storm and then sunshine, turning to bitter cold before we headed home.

It was a great day and great to catch up with Craig, who has now decided to stay for one more day so that we can have more chatter.

And then there was Yorkshire,

They were trying to bowl Hampshire out and I have to say that in those winds I would not have wanted to be running up. Bressy managed to take a 5fer though.

After rain stop play we managed to bowl out the Southern boys and then were back in batting, Lythy got a half century and we were 172-4 at stumps.

Come on lads do me proud.

And talking doing me proud, TLJL hit his second century in a week, getting 126 in the 2nds match.
You just know he will be in the first team next week! should I head off to Worcestershire??
Might be worth a trip!

Durham had a disastrous trip to Leicestershire where they were bowled out twice in two sessions, both scores in the 60's.
Highest scorer for the team was former Tyke Alex Lees with 16!!!

Right I am off to have some breakfast and then a brisk walk before meeting up with Craig for more laughter.

Happy Thursday where ever you are.

Midweek already! goodness me!

Well its been a couple of days I can tell you, firstly I heard of the passing of one of my Dads fire brigade colleagues, Bob .‘Pop’ as he was fondly known, he  was a larger than life character and also a great painter and decorator! ( our staircase and landing were testament to that)

Sadly there are not too many of the original  watch still around.

Such very sad news.

I then heard that one of my former colleagues at Merchant Taylors had passed away too. Very hard to believe. Geoffrey was a lovely man who I had a lot of time for.

Loss is also on the cards in cricket but only in the form of ‘retirement’ as Geoff Cook steps away from Durham CCC where he had been for 27 years, will there be more to follow?

There are some who have been there nearly as long as Geoff, in both a playing and coaching role, maybe change is the key.

I am still waiting to see if the rumoured choice of batting coach will be coming to Yorkshire, I am actually really excited at the thought of this man taking on the role ( if he does). Top bloke, someone that I have known for many years. Come on Yorkshire give him the job!

And talking Yorkshire lets have a look at yesterdays play.

Weather caused delays to the start and Hampshire were bowling...................and they were bowling, when we were 72-5 I decided to go into the meeting room and get on with some spreadsheets. Only way to try to distract me.
They ended their first innings  184 all out but our bowling attack went into action and had Hampshire 79-5 at stumps.



If I thought we were batting poorly though, Worcestershire, who started on time were 94 all out before the lunch potatoes were cooked!


Stokes and Hales are off to a disciplinary hearing in December. Yawn yawn yawn, like the ECB will do anything with the monster they created!


Before I forget HUGE shout out to TLJL who was in the runs again yesterday for Yorkshire 2nds!!!!!

And that's it, I'm meeting up with my old friend Craig  for a day out today, We need to have a  catch up we haven;t seen each other for about a year. Lots to chat about, most especially his new career post Fire Service.


Have a super dooper day.

Here we go day 1

So today we take on my former besty team in the south, Hampshire, ahhh the heady days of spending a lot of summers with that  team.

And what a team, at that time there was still Robin Smith, the last days of David Gower and Mark Nicholas  not forgetting Malcolm Marshall.

Malcolm always had to time to chat, a lovely man.

I'll never forget Malcolm’s last Sunday league match at Northlands Road when due to rain meaning no play,, he asked all those who had been sitting around in the ground to join him in the pavilion for a drink.

Drinking (obviously) played a big part  apre game and this would start in the bar over the squash courts at the Northlands Road Ground, now sadly a housing estate.

We usually ended the night in Zorbas Kebab House in Portswood!

I met one of my greatest friends Martin Jean-Jacques there, and was at the United Services Ground at Portsmouth for the match against Durham when he suffered his career ending knee injury.

There are many other names that I rubbed shoulders with on a regular basis, some of these are or have been in the England set up in coaching capacities. Wood and Garaway and Shine being some of the  names.

My most feared man though had to be Norman Cowans who absolutely terrified me!

However none of them were as special to me as Terry, who was( and still is) the attendant  to the team and always took very good care of me.

When drinks were delivered to the field, there was always a drink for me.

I was lucky enough to catch up with Terry last year at the Ageas bowl, it was over 20 years since I had last seen him.

That made no difference it was as if we had seen each other last week!

We had some great times and lots of laughs, how the team laughed when I turned up late at Portsmouth after begging the man at the gate to let me park my car and give me my ticket for  the match, it would have been fine had I not taken a wrong turn and been  at the P & O  ferry  port!!!!!!

And today they are at my beloved Headingley.

I would like to wish them all the best in this match, however  I my cheering will be for my boys,

Hampshire may have been my besty team in the South  ( it was easy for me to get to matches in Southampton and the surrounding areas), but there is only one Yorkshire.

Come on boys, do your stuff,

#getbehindtheboys

#comeonyorkshire

Big week 1

S its the start of a big week and although I will not have my perfect dream team on the field I am waiting for the team news to see if my 'little ' dream team are playing.
Its a big game and time to really get behind the boys.

Come on Yorkshire.

There is still much to play for and I know that we can get these two matches under our belt and  make good.

My white rose in the extensive grounds of the chateau is still blooming so I am taking this as a good sign.



yesterday was a busy day and I managed to get all the things done that I had planned with the exception of steam cleaning a rug, I have decided to save that excitement for one night this week!

The chutney shelf is overflowing and I am sorted with the needs for Xmas hampers, next stop christmas cakes.
Every year I make them , this year when I have priced up everything, I have been slightly shocked by how much the ingredients have gone up, would it be cheaper to buy from M & S?
Well probably but they won't be made to my secret recipe.

I have realised that sometimes homemade is not always the cheaper option.
I discussed this with my friend who has set up her own business recycling fabrics into more usable things.

She said that she doesn't even get the minimum wage per hour on the cost of her makes. If she added that onto the price no one would buy.


Ah well as there is very little crickety news I am heading off on the 167  to take on the week.


Have a good one.

Its very autumnal

Its a cold and Autumnal morning here in the North East of Blighty, the washing is on and the beds are stripped, one batch of 'hedgerow chutney' is made and I am about to make another batch of tomato and lime, using the tomatoes that I have grown.

All to be done in the next hour or so and then a trip to the 'dechetterie' and the charity shop, they will be getting a delivery of shoes and handbags!
Yes I have had a cull and I am letting go of some more things!

I have decided to pack up the cricket sweaters for safe keeping and will be doing that later.

Yesterday was a full day of cricket  and it turned into a bit of a party as I had surprise visitors, well they knew I would have the cricket on and there would be food! ( I'm useful for some things!)

As I had backed Worcestershire, I was really pleased to see them win the trophy on their first visit

However that feeling in the pit of my stomach about the whole commercial feel of the day didn't sit well, I have been , it was fun, and a full day out, but it is all a bit to razzmatazz for me.

It made me think about the '100' will it sell out at a final?


So very well done to Worcestershire and hard cheese to Sussex. that's the game, someone wins someone loses

Well a big two weeks loom for the White Rose and I am preparing myself now for it. We are up against  Hampshire who look to be without Dale Steyn who has been called up into the South African team.
Great news for South Africa not so for Hampshire.

I'm off now to do all my jobs.

happy Sunday,

It's Final's Day

Well its here the day that I love despite not being a fan of T20.

I do however love the mascot race which  is usually good fun.

My boys didn't get through but there is still plenty of cricket to watch, I'm backing Worcester this year ( so that's kiss of death for them).

Yesterday my 2nd XI boys were playing a friendly against Surrey day one  had been abandoned  leaving the boys to go wild in Guildford ( if you can do such a thing).

 I have been searching for the full match report but as yet it is not up on the Yorkshire CCC website, so here is the news.

TLJL, sorry, TALJL  scored 115 no!!!!


And that is the end of the report!!!

To say that I am over the moon for Jack is an understatement!

Underplayed and underrated this season, in my opinion!

I have some chores to do before the day is dedicated to cricket.

Im off to buy wool.................I wonder what that will turn into?

Happy Finals Day and good luck to all teams


And a special call out to Jemima and Steve off to Berlin for a little trot round the city!
I'm in total awe of them both, dedicated marathon runners.

TGIF

Ah its Friday and it seems to have been a long week!


However weekend is nearly here and that means finals day and also my favourite thing ever...................


................the mascot race!

That is tomorrow though and I have to get through bacon butty Friday first.

Yesterday my boys managed to bowl Lancashire out in less than an hour and showed that my continued praise and faith is them is just.

We move on to take on Hampshire and I know we can so this!


#getbehindtheboys

Surrey won the county championship as we all suspected, good for them. They can keep the trophy warm for us.

The ECB are looking to trademark the '100' to be fair I think that it may be an 'egg on face' moment  but they have to be able to show that the champagne and cavier meetings are worth it.

maybe, just maybe they should be throwing more money into the County game, what an archaic idea that is!

Lots been going on at the chateau, as I consulted a carpenter about a new project  ( should have chatted to Philip Bird I think), in theory it should work but the proof is in the pudding as they say..........and I like pudding.

Another working week nearly over and only 2 more weeks to the end of the cricket season here in Blighty, where did that go?

The memories of the season are being stored away in the cricket box and  it will be ready for more next year.

At least I have  a lot of things to look forward to in the close season. Including a trip to an old mining village here in the North East of Blighty, the home of some other Robinsons  I believe!

Well its that time again as I head off to see 'Big Al, the hungry persons pal' and put in the order for my boys,

Then back to the glamour that is sewage, biomass and turbidity.

Believe me, sludge cake is not something that you would want to see on a cricket tea table!

When a picture paints a thousand words

yesterday morning a picture popped up on my facebook memories and it stopped me in my tracks. It was a picture taken by Hoddy in the dressing room and balcony at Lords 3 years ago. It stopped me in my tracks and caused a few tears, there they were, the dream team, my boys. Winning the County Championship for the 2nd consecutive year,

Times have changed and we move on as have, or will be, some of the players in the picture. That's the nature of the game, however for a few moments I was back in 2015 reliving the absolute delight I felt as we were champions.

It will happen again and it won't be long either.

Today however the 2018 dream team need to go  out early and do their thing, we need 3 more wickets for 16 match winning points.

Come on lads I'm right there with you.

Funny thing, the #galeout gang and name callers of the team seem to be a bit quiet.
#onlysingwhenwe'rewinning


Over at Chester le Street, Durham pulled off a win which dented the hopes of Sussex that they would go up.
With Dizzys form, they will go up,  not win at finals day, skip a year and then win the county championship.
Not a prediction just what happened at Yorkshire.

Essex though are close to winning at Notts, Notts need 9 wickets in the first 9 balls to make me a happy bunny.
Come on Big Luke!!!

I popped in to see  my old school friend Debbie last night a she has set up her own business. Amazing things are being created out of charity shop buys, what a fabulous way to recycle.

Today however is full on busy so that I can get away next week to spend time with Jim.

So best get off to do my thing.

Happy Thursday


Come on Yorkshire

Wednesday

Well here we are at Wednesday and its been a cold and blowy night, autumn is in the air, and I am wrapping up for work. The nights are drawing in and the mornings are darker, I don't like this time of year at all.

we are now in the final throws of the County Championship and after Hampshire beating Somerset, Surrey are racing to be the champions.

Yorkshire rallied yesterday with great performances by Gazza and Tom K-C, we need to pull out all the stops today.

Notts also need to do us a favour and go big today with bat and ball.

Am I biting my nails?

Of course not, there are still 2 matches left.

To be fair if we had bought half the South African national team we would have been flying, but like it or not, its not the Yorkshire way. We are looking to play our homegrown talent ( in most cases).

My final match of the season is fast approaching and I am looking forward to seeing friends and also enjoying the game that I love and the county that I love and support through thick and thin.

The test series is over in the UK for another year, although next year sees the World Cup fly into town.
Ah how I remember 1999, me laid up in bed in London after a not so nice car accident, mum, having come down to look after me, doing all the housework and cooking before start of play so that we could lie on the bed and spend our days watching cricket.
Should make for some great days next year.

But lets not put the season to bed yet.

Its been up and down ( like my year I guess), its  been fact finding and wondering where mistakes were made(like my year). Some mistakes? maybe but we move on
its been cricket.

Sussex will be hoping  to get something going for themselves today after a day of wickets falling.

I will be hoping that I get some serious movement  of workload today as I have boys on site and on courses and have a mountain of things that I need done.
Best get to it,

happy Wednesday!

End of an era

So yesterday was busy busy busy, but also one full of surprises.

I popped off to the sorting office to collect a parcel and found that I had become the owner of the most wonderful 'Graham pooch' ornament, I absolutely love him and he has pride of place in 'Cow corner', ( you have to have visited the chateau to appreciate this one).


I nipped up the Chester le St to catch up with cricket/chutney official taster, Mick, so that I could drop off my latest makes. The weather was gloomy and overcast but when Sussex finally got out onto the field they made pretty short of work of Durham until the rain came.
I have to say that despite all the years Jon Lewis has been at Durham he is still the most miserable man and I guess would ignore his own granny if she was at the ground. He simply does not know how to interact with the supporters and cricket watchers.

Listening to the test and following on twitter, it was a glorious send off for Cooky as he got his final century for England. What a player. End of an exceptional era for England, time for new names to make their mark.

Else where wickets were tumbling in Division one, except at Yorkshire where Lancashire continued to frustrate my boys.

The news came out that Yorkshire are looking for a batting coach to strengthen their back room staff.
well if it is who I have heard whispered then we are very, very lucky.
The person in question has great form as a player and  a coach and I for one am backing him to the hilt.

Mysterious?
Yes!
His book is good reading though!

I'm off to the salt mines and hope that the day there is a good one, although at the moment it is not going to plan!
Frustration seems to be the name of the game.


Weather news in the North East of blighty, wet and cold at the moment, not looking to improve too much today!

New week. Endings and beginnings

New week and lots going on.

This week will see me saying goodbye to one part of my life and also making a new start in another.
A busy,interesting and full on week.

Busy day today for England as day 4 starts with Cooky still at the crease and on 46.
I'm sure we all hope he goes out with a century.

My boys are in action after a draw against Notts last week.
They are putting out a very young team, showing what we will be seeing next season.

As we also said goodbye to Rafiq at the weekend I do wonder if there will be one or two more leavers.

It's plain to see the off season is going to be a huge team building exercise.

Well I need to head off to see what my team have been up to whilst I was away.

It feels like I've never been away. Roll on next week 4 days cricket at Headingley. The last home game of the season.

Now where exactly did that time go?

Long walk

So I had a bit of  a lie in and then got up and stripped the beds and set the washing machine aay, how quickly I get back into my routine.
I then decided to head off for a walk up to the great North Road and see what I could find berry wise.

I manage to get some plump elderberries and also lots of sloes which by now were high up on the trees and very fat. I got a bag of them and carried on my walk chatting to various dogs and owners along the way.


I met a lady  with two cockerpoos and we were chatting about the various berries, she said that yesterday she had got over 3lb of blackberries. I said that I had not found too many this year.
She told me that she struggled with the sloes as they were all high up and as she was not very tall wasn't able to reach, so I gave her the bag of sloes that I had picked and went on my way.
I was really enjoying the peace and quiet of the walk and headed off down through the woods towards the local parade of shops.

As I headed to buy some milk I saw the lady with the cockerpoos, walking quickly towards me. As we drew level she handed me a bag of blackberries!!!
She had gone home to get me some of the ones that she had picked and set off to find me.
What a lovely gesture.

Back home as it started to rain, I had been out for nearly 2 hours and now I am about to sort out the foraging haul and get on with some housework.


Have a lovely Sunday.

I'm back!

Well we've jumped from midweek to the weekend, I've been off on my mini holibobs to Nottingham.
What a couple of days it has been.

Thursday say me heading off at 5.30am  to Nottingham and before I knew it I was parked up and knocking quietly on Sophies front door.

We headed off to Trent Bridge to meet the other third of the gang, Jim who had brought his friend Jay along moral support). These 3 were broken from a night out in Nottingham.
 we watched a great bit of cricket ( if you love Yorkshire) and at lunch headed to the Larwood for some refreshment.
back to the ground and rain started. And continued, meaning that we had to retire to the Larwood again!
By the time they called off play we were in great spirits.

We bumped into Jonny Tatts and had a chat, and then headed into town, meaning that when Dave Bracegirdle tipped up to see us we were wandering through the streets of Nottingham.

Jim and Jay went for their train and Sophie and  I went home for tea, all respectable like!
We thought!

However Sophies husband Terry put a different spin on it last night.

Terry.

'I knew it was bad when you rang the doorbell, I opened the door you both fell in and then started chattering 20 to the dozen.'

oh dear!!!

Friday dawned with me fully dressed having slept on the couch!

Shower, coffee, toast and we were ready for........................ sitting on the sofa and watching the test!

Terry came home from work and took us to the pub! ( this man never learns!)

midnight sees Sophie and I having a rare old time watching TOTP 2 The 80's. oh I bet the neighbours loved us!
Bed and up early.

I made it home in one piece and have now retired to bed!

Its been the best few days with my wonderful friends.
I miss them already.

Mid week

So after a day trying to catch every update on the Yorkshire score at Notts, the teams looked very odd.

No Hodd ( the hero of last week), no Willey and No TLJL

We also  got ourselves another captain in Adam Lyth , we took on a Notts team with no Big Lukey!

a flurry of wickets in the afternoon had the score at  332-7

I got home and started to get sorted for heading off to Nottingham on Thursday AM

So bag sorted, food in preparation, flasks ready and clothes for every eventuality. That’s me sorted until stupid o’clock on Thursday when I will unpack the bag, repack it and throw another 12 outfits in the car for good measure.

My work day was in and out of meetings which meant that by home time I really wanted the car fairy to come and drive me home!

Not to be though and I had to fight my way through the traffic which has doubled now that the schools have gone back.

Ah moan moan moan

So super short as another busy day at the saltmines

Have a great day, its the middle of the working week and is actually my 'Friday'
YEAY!!!

Tail End

The mornings are getting darker

Cooler winds are blowing through

The evenings start to draw in

The summer  days are few

The weeks until season end

Have come down to single figures

Not  wanting to go a division down

Lots of chatter and sniggers

Seemingly colder days

And an earlier cricket start

Trying to see the season out

Not always for the faint of heart

Soup and coffee in  flasks

The staples of the hardy

Stay inside  the Long Room

Fasten another button on your cardi

Time to make the best

Of  season 2018

How it will end for  most of us

Is still  to be seen.

A big week begins

Back at Monday again, and a big week begins in both work and cricket for me.

Two aspects of work should be resolved this week and my boys are off to Nottingham.

All of the above are very important.

England won the Test  and the series yesterday, I didn't watch, to be honest I am pretty bored of test cricket at the moment.

The hype of players, the slating of them when they don't win and the pundits pretty much pulling everyone apart, its bad enough listening to it at County championship level.

so the last part of my season will be about the CC with a little bit of T20 finals day thrown in for light relief.

Hampshire are losing two of their stalwarts as Sean Ervine and Jimmy Adams announce their retirement.
Time for young guns to come through.

Its a busy week ahead so I had best get on my way.

I know this is very very short, but blogs this week may be intermittent due to excessive work load for next 3 days.

 we are only weeks away from the end of cricket and the end of summer as I know it.

happy Monday

And so its Sunday

Well I set off from home at 7am and braved the road works on the A1 to go and cheer my boys on.
It was a gloriously sunny day and  although I knew that the chances of them scoring 400+ runs was not on the cards, one more pair of hands clapping was essential.

I popped in to see Helen at the Lodge and thank her for returning Pink hippo to me  after his adventure between the beds, resulting in his not getting a ride on the donkeys at Scarbados!

Great to catch up with Dave and Molly, lots of chatter, also excellent news Helen, wishing you all the best in your new endeavour.

wickets fell but not before teeny tiny Kiwi Kane  and night watchman  Josh Shaw managed to hit 51 & 42 respectively.

Hoddy came in  and hit 24 before saluting the crowd in what could be his last FC match for us, there were tears! I have a lot of time and respect for Andrew Hodd.

I was a tad cross about comments made regarding TLJL. He has had a poor season through not having a regular 1st team place. I know about batting order, but Lees was given a place and did absolutely nothing.
Jack has nothing to prove to keyboard warriors. He  will come good again of that I am sure.

I did also catch up with TLML, which was great, she was relieved to hear that the great niece was not named Jackalean!!!

The team got through to tea and I could see that they were really trying to bat out a draw, but not to be.

They didn't give up, they played the game properly and I have nothing but admiration for the boys.

I drove home and was in bed super early for a Saturday.

We move on to Trent Bridge and I will be there to cheer them on.



Today is already about washing and there will be some chutney making as I have a new recipe to try out.

Have a great day.

Quick roundup

So this morning we are having a very quick round up as I am up early and have lots to do.

Sadly yesterday Hoddy did not make his century but he had put on a  fabulous display of batting in what could be his last FC match EVER!.
Today they need 411 runs to win and were 2 wickets down at the close of play. we need Kane Williamson to show us what we are paying him for.


Hampshire are struggling as Essex made them follow on.

Over in the 2nd division, it seems that Middlesex may be changing their name to 'lazarus CCC' after an amazing turnaround in fortunes. they literally seem to be coming back from the dead after beating Sussex in 3 day.


Notts have signed Ben Duckett so that puts paid to the rumour that was circulating that he was coming to Yorkshire.
There does seem to be a lot of information leaked across the board in cricket and loose lips are not always correct.

after T20 finals day was decided it was seen that only 500 tickets per club were allocated to their fans, the other 2000,0000000000 tickets were obviously for hospitality and all the dosh that this brings in. However the ECB are now goign to review the allocation  of tickets. Probably an extra 10 per club!

Test match news, Moeen is the hero at the moment with his bowling.

And that's it, I'm off to do stuff .

happy Saturday