Ashes Eve

Well its Ashes eve and no doubt in some house holds there will be tremors of excitement, however its not really like that here at The Wickets. I love cricket, but I am truly a County Championship kind of girl ( although I will go and watch international cricket now and again  ).

I'm more excited about going to Scarbados for the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire, but each to their own.

The County championship is to me the most important cricket that we play here in the UK, even though we have 8 days less play than we did a few seasons ago, it is still my favourite format.

As we await The 100, with even its name a totally flagrant snub of the laws of cricket  ( 6 does not go into 100), I really wonder if I have become a cricket dinosaur? ( even if  a jolly fabulous one I hasten to add).

Am I really not seeing or thinking about the future of cricket?

Am I really living in the past?

Can I not see that cricket is dying and we need to bring in more new watchers?


Well........................................( deep breath)

Yes I see the future of cricket as an absolute caricature of the real game, and the new watchers thinking that this is how it is played.

I see The County Championship side lined into extinction for monitory gain.

I am sick of hearing about falling attendance.

Here is my solution to this.

Play County Championship matches over the weekend, when working members and supporters can actually get to watch.

Its that simple, numbers would go up and money would come in.

I know that some members and supporters probably play cricket for local clubs  at the weekend, but surely this should not be used to penalise non club players.

I actually am waiting with baited breath to see how The 100 pans out.
Judging by the new logo to promote it no expense has been made on design and it was obviously knocked up on the back of a fag packet in The Lords Tavern, or so it looks. When in reality some advertising agency are probably laughing all the way to the bank as the CEOs 6 year old knocked the 'design' up before bed.


Whilst I am on a rant, poor show from Yorkshire CCC as there is still haven't organised a Twitter  Q & A with the Committee as they suggested  to me at  the AGM.

I realise it was to placate me...................but seriously did you think that the ginger amazon would let that go??????

I will be writing to the CEO regarding this.

Proper ranty this Morning!

Countdown to chillout

Well it is now under three weeks until I meet up with Sophie and we have a jolly old time at the seaside.
El Tel has decided not to come so that leaves just the girlies. I had booked us all into a new hotel that had opened for the start of the season, however I came across an apartment on the sea front with everything that we needed, so after quick chat with Sophie, its all booked.

this is a few  weeks away and I have lots to do before then.....................like knitting.

I will be catching up with my Ben next week and hopefully my Tom too!

Ah back to cricket and I cannot wait. Its been a while.

On the house front,this is now on a back burner until I get all the cricket out of the way, I still have the bed to put up in Sophies room, but that's OK as she isn't coming to stay until Autumn, so I have time to get her room fully sorted.

I've been eyeing up wallpaper for the lounge and dining room, but nothing has really stood out, anything will be better than teal and brown stripes I can tell you.
There is no hurry as all of that is my 'winter project'

Nothing much to report on the cricket front and we are not in action for a few days.

Ive added a couple of extra days to my cricket watching in September and will be looking forward to this immensely.

And yesterdays expected fireworks in the office failed to materialise, like the person who was the touchpaper.
Maybe today????!!!!

Well off to get more blood taken out of me, the good news is that I have had 3 stable results although still not over the '3' mark.

have a great day 

wet Monday

Well here we are at Monday again, a new week, a clean slate and the blog celebrating over 2500 posts!

Seriously, 2500 blog, never thought it would be that many and to be honest not really sure how many more, probably not another 2500.

The weekend started well on Friday, with the 'girlies' popping round for a visit and a nosey around The Wickets. We had a massive thunderstorm whilst they were here which saved me going out to water the plants.
Friday night was about knitting and relaxing, the heat of the week had taken its toll, especially as the office doesn't have air con!

Saturday morning I headed off to Tesco to do the shopping, and have a bimble around town, I  got home to find eldest sister in the car waiting for me to get back.
Made her a cup of tea and had a chat..........and more chat. Made her some lunch and she chattered on and on and on.
Made her some dinner and she chattered on and on.
Now I had plans for Saturday evening and so in the end I had to give her a nudge to go home.
I got nothing done at all!!!!

Yesterday was another day alternating between rainy and hot, I had been invited to attend the Nothants v Yorks game by RBR Active ( full hospitality too) but had to decline as I couldnt get there and back in a day without some very early starts and late finishes. It was extremely kind and I was gutted not to be able to go, however weather took its toll on that game too.

And its all going on in cricket in the build up to the Ashes.
Cameron Bancroft has been called up by Australia for the team, Perter Hanscomb who was a temporary Tyke last season, is now going to Durham.
Jofra Archer has been called up for the Ashes.

And the Ashes is dominating the next few weeks.

I however am settling down to a quiet week, before the  my cricket tours begin again.
Its going to be a busy couple of months.
There is also lots of knitting going on, its even taking up my lunch break.

Well time to head to the saltmines now and start off the week.

I think this might be the week of fireworks in the office, not from me, but things are bulding up to exploding point in some camps.
I'll just pull up my chair and watch.

Happy Monday

Fry up day

Well here we are and its Fry Up day, I will be dropping  in on Big Al,the Hungry persons pal, on the way to the office to leave the order.
None for me as I try to deflate my spare tyre, so fruit and  greek yogurt with nuts are my treat!

Boo!!!

This afternoon besty old school chums Lorraine ( who helped me to move) and Debbie ( who didn't help me move as she was sunning it up at her holiday home!) are popping round to have a couple hours nattering and sitting in the not so extensive grounds of The Wickets.

Then I am back to knitting like a loony  for the Scarborough Festival. I may also partake in a snifter of wine. One thing for sure is that I will be in bed before it is dark, I cannot seem to keep my eyes open after 9pm!

So what happened at the test yesterday?

Well Jack Leach had Ireland quite frustrated as he was edging towards a Nightwatchmans century.
It wasn't to be, but a valiant effort.
Jonny Bairstow was out for a duck, making a pair for him!
England have one wicket remaining and lead by 181 runs.

Should be a good day.


And then there was the Roses clash.
Well firstly let me say we lost.................but not without some heroics from Jordan Thompson with the bat and Jack Shutt with the ball.
Fantastic knock again by Pooran.

Here come the influx of youth.

Very sad news that Josh Poysdens season is over after he suffered a fractured skull the other day.
Keep well Josh and we will see you back on the field in 2020.

Today is also the birthday of one of my oldest ( and I don't mean in age) friends Harry Latchman, he patiently coached me, got me to do washing for the U15 cricket team and introduced me to the sinus clearing properties of over proof rum.

Happy Birthday H.

Oh and Woodsa got top marks from Mrs Woodsa, for 'quick thinking'.
She loved the card too!!

'Quick thinking my elbow!!!!!

strange goings on

So yesterday turned out to be  a strange day in many ways.


Firstly , I had to go and get a wedding anniversary card!!!!   it was for one of my boys who is on site in Suffolk,he  had forgotten that today is his wedding anniversary and was panicking.

'Woodsa' was so upset that he had forgotten to get one/post it, I limped over to Card Factory, got a card with the sentiment requested, wrote it and then agreed to post it through the door  on the way home last night.
This was not in my job description...................but then nor was sharing an office with a couple of numpties, but every days a new experience!

I think I like Mrs 'Woodsa', she certainly has her man well trained!!!


And then there was a little matter of the 'Test' against Ireland.
Well obviously being champions of the world ( or at least some of the team are), they weren't too bothered about taking on a little country like Ireland.

Step up Tim Murtagh,  step up and take a bow !!!

England all out for 85

Not content with being in the action with the bowling, Tim also decided to have a bit of fun with the bat and with a quick fire 16 he rounded his day of nicely.

Of course Michael Vaughan had to be brutal, saying that England were an embarrassment.
Well Mikey, they were not an embarrassment they were just outplayed, an embarrassment is when your team turn up drunk for an official meeting with the Prime Minister and one of them pees in the garden!!!!!


I watched Sussex beat Hampshire last night and really hope that Reece Topley is back to full fitness. After taking early retirement he is back and with a brilliant display of bowling against his former side, I wish him well.

Tonight is the Roses match , and even though I can't be there in body I will be there in spirit. and will be watching on TV ( whilst knitting fast and furiously).

And with that I am out the door for another day in the wonderful land of waste water.

Midweek already

Its midweek already and  I am not sure where the week is going?

I am busy knitting  from nearly the minute that I walk in the door in the evening as I have lots of jumpys to get ready for August.

I've a new bed to be put together and to go in the second bedroom ( Sophies bedroom) and there are still some boxes to be emptied, those can however wait for the weekend. The weeks are flying by its nearly August, where has my cricket season gone?

Well most of it has gone into stress and tears and blood test and moving, however now I can take the time to see this season out with some serious cricket watching.

I am looking at wallpaper at the moment, and although I don't like the stripes that are in the house now ( and I love stripes!) I have yet to see something that grabs my attention, so I will continue to live with teal and brown and magnolia.

Now some fabulous cricket news,

Last night whilst I was clicking needles and watching Middlesex stuff  Surrey in their T20 derby, my boys were having the best evening at their game against Leicestershire Foxes.
They scored the second highest ever T20 total ( and they hold the highest ever T20 score 260-4) with Captain, Tom K-C hitting a fabulous 96 not out, Leicestershire struggled in reply and my boys went home winners.

Well done lads, onwards to Thursday!


There is more T20 on the googlebox  this week, which is a godsend as I continue knitting.

And with that  I am off to the Post office and then the saltmines.

Have a fabulous day, its the middle of the week and we are closer to the weekend.

A bientot

Another string

All this moving lark, has made me see things in a completely different way, Life is a lot less stressful and I am looking at a couple of things that could potentially be turned into home work options.
One I have been toying with for a few months and one just popped up a couple of days ago and after a bit of research, I think that I might just give it a try.

After all nothing ventured.


Work is just work,I try not to get too stressed about it and just go in, do my thing and come home.

Simples!

I put in my 'cricket' holiday request form yesterday and was waiting for it to be thrown out, surprisingly it wasn't, Christmas is to be sorted although I am booked for my little trip, not quite as far as I wanted to go, but cricket related none the less.

I will see the year out on a high and start the new year as I mean to go on.

Time to start living again.

I also think that the next few months will be busy as I will be doing some fundraising, more of that to come soon.
Quite exciting.

I couldn't find any further news on the Matty Fisher injury, and cricket news is a little short on the ground.......although we have the Roses Game looming, so I'll be watching that with great interest.

Interesting to read that Boyd Rankin has 'no regrets' over playing for England, ahead of the 4 day test against us at Lords.
He said that there was no real opportunity for him to play for his own side at that time!
I'm sure that there are a lot of people who do have regrets about him playing for us.
I wonder how long he will be in the Ireland side?

And with that I will have a bimble off to the doctors to have my blood taken and then head to the saltmines.

Have a good day.

here we are again

Well here we are again at Monday and another week in the saltmines.

The weekend at The Wickets has been busy in a calm and relaxed sort of way, there was lots of knitting going on and also some more unpacking and clearing, it is now possible to enter the dining room AND sit at the table to eat!,

The smallest shed in the garden now has its shelving installed and that makes for more storage space.
 
Saturday saw a visit to eldest sister Kiki and some decluttering at her house.

Yesterday saw the wicket for my little boys, finished and it looks marvellous. Many thanks to Carol and Philip for this. 
It has also brought about a  great feature to the garden, it is all 'stepped'. From the deck down to the lawn, down to the wicket , to the small gravelled area. not intentional but looks amazing.
  
It is surprising how big, my 'small' garden is, a bit like the house which is considerably bigger than I thought when I saw it empty.

Not only did Philip and Carol come over, but so did The Nannan!, and she brought me some jars for my chutney! now that is great thinking.
It was a fabulous day, lots of laughs  as always.

And crickety news.

Well Sophie and I made the right decision to not go on Friday, for the T20 game.
Rain just kept on falling and believe me when I say that we have sat in the Lodge watching the rain fall before.

Yorkshire headed on to Chesterfield  on Saturday and things just can't go right for Matty Fisher who dislocated his shoulder, a scan today is on the cards.

We march on though.

Well this is a short one due to the laptop taking forever to open up, minor technical glitch but it has knocked me way behind.

Have a great Monday where ever you are. 

I've got that Friday feeling

Well its Friday and  I am ready for the weekend.

Its been a strange old week at the saltmines.

However stranger still at The Wickets...........

.................its highly  unusual for me to have moved into a house and not bought  buckets of white paint to splash on every wall., I am living with my least favourite colour ( magnolia) and also some of the most garish wallpaper known to man ( green and brown horizontal stripes on one wall in lounge and green and teal vertical stripes on two wall in dining room).
These will eventually be removed and replaced, but hey, life is too short for stressing about wallpaper*

*words you never thought that you would hear me say.

All in all its not the end of the world ( in fact its the beginning of new phase ).

I haven't seen any wallpaper that I like so I will live with it until I do.

I am imaging that the transformation to white walls will take place in the next few weeks, with the dressing room being first in line.

My Tykey Vikings are in action tonight against Notts Outlaws, the annual clash.

Should be a good evening, weather permitting.

Time to raise a Martini or two!!!!

In other crickety news my Teeny Tykes declared against Warks, finishing their 2nd innings on 172.
I was pleased to see 'my' Ben and 'my' Tom both giving it a fair go in the middle order

TLJL took a wicket in Warks 2nd innings.
And whilst I was driving home to Ladylaineyville they got the final wicket for a great win.
Well done  lads.

I am back on bacon butty  duty this morning, as the orders for breakfast came flooding in before we left last night.
So it seems that after a couple of weeks of rest and removals, things are returning to normal for me, with a far  more chilled out outlook.
I likey this very much


And its nearly the weekend!

I can hardly contain myself!

Huge bonus. After an hour on the phone to Sky I now have broadband!!
Only 10 days late.

Happy Friday and I'll be back on Monday

Tired old Thursday

It  was a bit of a struggle to get out of bed this morning and having slept right through the night ( as I have done virtually since moving) I have to say that my sleep patterns seem to be returning to something like normality.
Is'nt it strange how  one change seems to have started a chain reaction.


I spent a good part of yesterday checking the cricket scores at York as my 2nds were in action.
Also great to see my 'other' boy Tom back in the team after his finger injury at Durham.

I can't wait for my next day out with the 2nds, not long now.
I will be having a lovely day by the seaside with them.


Part of my lunchtime was spent in conversation with another recruiter who is interested in me going in to oversee the start up of a new company and then take on the Office manager/ Doc controller roll.
I'm in two minds about this, as both of these jobs I have done and both are completely separate of each other, two birds with one stone came to mind.

I am keeping an open mind on this one.

Another evening at The Wickets, involved knitting and 'boot' up. Also I finished a birthday card for the end of the month, so now to get it posted off before I put it in a safe place and forget where it is!!

I could get very used to this doing  next to nothing lark.

However its nearly the weekend and I know it will be a good one, especially with visitors on Sunday.


Well off to the Post Office again, I seem to live there!

Have a great Thursday.

Welcome to Wednesday

Here we are at Wednesday and its turning into a bit of a freak week.

After aggravating an old foot injury I am now being made to wear a 'boot'  for the majority of the day, I can drive ( in a pair of supportive trainers) and go about my normal life, but I will be wearing the boot most of the time for some support and to avoid any further damage.......................well come on you wouldn't expect anything less from me, always a drama  queen.

Any thoughts of wearing a dress at the moment are out of the window.
Doc says a couple of weeks to be on the safe side.
Its not broken just minor soft tissue damage.
Luckily the potassium levels are heading in the right direction and stabilising!


Life at The Wickets, continues at its relaxed pace, I am settling in very well, all clothes unpacked ( except the cricket sweaters) and  the shoes are nearly there ( not that I will be  wearing any pairs at the moment).
Evenings at The Wickets involve eating dinner on the deck and waiting for the floodlights to come on, its a wonderful way to wind down after work, and who could ask for anything more.


Now lets get onto cricket news

OH MY DOG!!!!


My fabulous Yorkshire boys only went and knocked the stuffing out of Somerset by an innings and 73 runs.
Their one and only innings showed some outstanding batting from GB ( well he is on fire at the moment and long may it last) , Tom K-C who deserves to come to the fore, and with 102 to his name, he played a blinder. Harry Brook with his 101 was a star too and proof that the youth are coming through!

The bowling was outstanding and as a team they showed great determination.

We can do this, we are Yorkshire!

And then to my Teeny tykes!
My Ben only went and scored a half century.
The whole of #weareteamben are ecstatic

And TLJL hit over 70 on day one against the weeny Warks boys.
I'm so proud.
If I could run, I'd  be running round with my Yorkshire shirt over my head!


You may have wondered why ( apart from lack of internet)  I have not said more about the World Cup win.

Well I guess because it is everywhere and I am suffering from winners fatigue now, I don't mean this in a demeaning way, as the boys deserve all the praise and coverage, but for me the rest of the season is of vital importance, and I have to look toward to that.

I've let James Bond know about my future manoeuvres so hopefully we will be meeting up for a chat ( I was going to write 'debrief' but thought that sounded a tad risque!!!!!)

And with that I am heading out of the door and to the post office.

have a great day.

Tykes Tuesday

Well now, my boys are making me nothing less than super proud.

Not only did they post a massive score against Somerset, then they  only went and bowled them out and made them follow on!

They had Somerset   4 wickets down at stumps.

Come on lads,
We can do this.


I am back in the office full time , whilst still trying to get my levels back to normal, it will hopefully be sorted by next week ( fingers  crossed.)

Also hoping the broadband crisis will be over this week.
My phone is not an ideal implement for scribbling my blog on.

So keeping this super short I'll be back tomorrow.

Just popped back

Well it's been some weekend.
So here it is in a nutshell.

1.
Saturday went out for lunch with big sister  Kiki at the golf course across the road from The Wickets.

2.
Sunday new cricket wicket  laid.

3.
 New floodlights put up.

4.
 Spent whole day watching cricket with  Carole and Philip.

5.
 YORKSHIRE 520 AGAINST SOMERSET.

5.1
YORKSHIRE 520 AGAINST SOMERSET

5.2

YORKSHIRE 520 AGAINST SOMERSET

6
England won the World Cup in the most unbelievable final I've ever seen.

7.
I'm day 9 in The Wickets and  so happy I could burst.


Had to do this on my phone as still no internet. who cares!!!

Happy Monday

Lots to do

So here we are nearly a week at The Wickets and I am feeling considerably better ( the blood tests hopefully will reveal the same).

Last night my lovely friend Lorraine, popped round, she is involved with a local community charity, so I was able to give her a couple of boxes of things  for the next  community fair tombola and also things to be used to help people who are moving into the area for safety.

I have had visitors on a regular basis and long may it carry on, ( as long as on a 'school night' you are gone by 8.30pm).

I've boxed up some things which I intend to take to the local auction house and also will be back on eBay before they even realise I haven;t listed anything in a while.

I will be out and about this weekend exploring the local walks , which are along the local trickle of a stream and along the railway line, I need to check this out mainly for foraging. There is also the golf course to explore too.
However you can be sure that I will not be taking it up!



And that was some game yesterday New Zealand against India.
I even shut the office door so that I could hear  the last overs .

Today England are in action.
Office door may be closed again!

I'm also booked for my jollies in September to catch up with friends and also cheer on my big boys.


And lastly, I took a call from a recruitment agency yesterday.............................well now, it might be something interesting, I will have to wait and see.

So off to get Thursday rolling  now.

Midweek

Well here we are at Wednesday, I am still without broadband, despite being told it would be on Monday, I have gas but haven't figured the boiler, so the electric shower in the other bathroom is getting a hammering.

However I do not care, not a jot, I am settling into the new house and that is all that matters.

A huge difference from last week, when I may have blown a gasket just at the thought of this.

I went to have blood and tests done yesterday, blood pressure still on high side so we will see what Friday brings.
I have been doing as I've been told and  dealing with one ( or none last night) box per evening.
I will get there, I don't really care when.


So lets get back to crickety things.

After a spell of lovely weather, rain caused a bit of havoc in the World Cup game between India and New Zealia.

My big boys seem to have played themselves into a spot of bother at Essex and lost!
So back home and bit of tough love I think.


My Teeny Tykes are starting 3 days in Liverpool today and I will be keeping a close eye on that.

I'm hoping to catch up with Ben next week and really hoping that Tom is back soon with the team, after his finger injury.

With that I am off to the saltmines and all that this entails. Which at the moment is me listening to a lot of cricket and ignoring all the infighting up at the top.
If they were dogs they would be peeing all over the office to mark their territory!

Have a great day.

Hello from the other side.....

.........the other side of Ladylaineyville that is.

Well I am all moved into The Wickets and thanks to a huge amount of help from amazing friends, I have got so much unpacked, put up and in place.
I will always be very grateful for all the help, most especially as I am not  in the best of health at the moment.

That aside, the 'downsizing' actually only seems to have happened in the garden area( thank goodness).
I have a very spacious home and lots of storage ( not that I will be filling it up!).

All in all, I am feeling very relaxed, I am back to having my blood tests this week, so I am hoping that all will start to balance out, and I will be back to perfect health pretty soon.

I am today back in the office and feeling a lot more relaxed about all the goings on here, I actually feel ready to take it all in my stride.

And there is cricket to get ready for, I am planning a couple of jaunts to see the 2nds, and also off on a jolly to see the Big boys towards the end of the season.

Lots to look forward to and looking forward to them I certainly am.

I'm back to knitting, so there will be more teddies for sale at the Owzat cricket shop at Scarborough in time for the festival in August.

Oh and before I go, my Teeny Tykes, had a win in their T20 game yesterday against Worcestershire.
Good lads!!!


Have a fabulously Tuesday.

Off we go.

Hewwo ewery peeps, It is I, Pink Hippo, I is here today as de Momma is super busy and apawently we may not have wiffy until Monday! WDH!!!


You may have wondered where I has been for a good long while, well de twooff is dat I has been in de laundry bin hiding from all de goings on  wif packing and dat.
I has learned some new words, but it seems dat dey are no appwopwiate for saying in public!

De chateau is looking wery strange as we wait for de moving men.
I has not seen de new house but it better be up to my usual standards ( and I don't mean de laundwy bin wif her smelly socks).

De iccle men will be set up in de  new garden wif der new wicket which de lovely people at Flicx pitches made for dem.
However I wonders why I never gets anyfing!???

I not even get a new jumpy dis season as de Momma been knitting dem for some rudey teddies who have been running around in de nudey in Scarbados!!

De Momma is now much gweyer on de ginger noggin dan before and fink she could have packed more stuff in dem bags under her eyes.

Hopefully when we gets to de new house she can get pwoperly better, she got so many bwuises up  her arms fwom where de vampires suck de blood out of her at de doctoris.
She got wery low potato levels ( or sumfing like dat, I no know what it is, I is a stuffed aminal for dogs sake!)

It been a rough mumf for us all.

So on we go, new house, new start and new life.

Finally we can jus get on wif life at our own pace, me , de momma, Arfer and Rayzon.

Sees you all soon and de momma will be back when we gets de wiffy on ( not sure when dat be).

Happy Fwiday.

back but only briefly

Well its Tuesday and I am still preparing for the arrival of the removals men on Friday.
I can honestly say that I don't not want to move again in a hurry.

One thing that I do know is that once I am in and opening the packing boxes I will certainly be getting rid of more stuff, I do not know how I think that I need this much of anything!

I have been able to keep abreast of the cricket, especially at Scarborough, where Will Fraine continued to score lots of runs and is really looking to be a star of the future.
I am cheering from behind packing boxes.
I am a little sad not to have made it for one day, however there is always the Festival in August and as you know I am always up for that one.

Tiredness is my main foe at the moment , that and the bruises from the constant blood tests. I just keep thinking that this weekend is a fresh start for me.

I can get back to some sort of normality ( what that is like I hardly remember) and move forward with my other plans.

Today I have to go to the solicitors to have my new will sorted. A few changes to be made, ensuring that everything is in order, just in case.
Well you never know.

More about Scarborough though, at stumps last night Surrey were 362.
Its going to be a big couple of days.
The teddies that were on sale in the Owzat shop have gone, which means that I will be knitting like mad between now and August to get the others ready for the Yorkshire v Notts game.
At least they were popular.
I have to put in an order for one too!.


And with that I am off to give some blood  and do my thing for another day, which if it was anything like yesterday will be about attempting to stay awake at my desk.

I'll be back soon, not sure when at the moment.