And so to Big Als

Ah it was a short lived break from the ordering of the breakfast and so this morning I am off to Big Al's to make sure that 'my little soldiers' all get their breakfast.
It is thankfully the last day of the week so that is a relief .
I am looking forward to another weekend of not doing very much, ( although as those of you who know me, will know that my doing nothing is not quite the same as anyone else's).

I have also been looking at the requirements food wise over the festive period and I will be having a very festive Chestnut and mushroom wellington  with an abundance of seasonal vegetables.
There will be champagne and martinis of course.
Its not that far away!


I had a flood in the upstairs bathroom on Wednesday evening, which ended up making a massive mess of the hall ceiling and walls, this did not make for a very happy Lainey, to be honest yesterday, I was trying to be compassionate, but was a sobbing wreck in the corner.
However I have to say that through the kindness of a local friend, I took delivery of a dehumidifier last night which will help a lot with the clean up operation.
It was a wonderful gesture.

Despite the above,I have not made an Xmas list as frankly I think that I am a very lucky person and have plenty to be going on with.
So with good friends and  my health ( getting there) what more could I ask for .............. OK Sean Bean obviously, but as that isn't on the cards yet, I'm happy with my lot.

And so to cricket 2nd test.
Rain was a problem and saw play end with NZ 3 wickets down.
Which meant that just after 3am I was listening to 'coach' and the Australia game.
I say listening, I heard him say about 4 words before I was asleep again.

Well time to head off to end the week.


Justice for the 96

Be Compassionate and kind

Today is World Compassion Day, whether you subscribe to 'International/World' days, I think that showing compassion is not to be sniffed at.

There are many people in the world who  are currently suffering great misfortunes, especially in the Caribbean ( to name one place) where they are trying to get back on their feet after the devastation of a hurricane.

Also in Australia, people and wildlife have lost their homes and lives due to bush fires.

However it doesn't have to be a major catastrophe to encourage you to be compassionate.

For one day, to try to do one act of compassion might make all the difference to one person.

Its not about getting 'Brownie points' or being a 'hero'.

This morning I  have put together a plan to try to help one disadvantaged family this Christmas, by doing an 'Advent ' box. Every day from 1st December until 24th December  I will put an item of food/staples into a box that will help the family over Xmas.

I am giving this to a local charity to give to a family that they think will benefit from it.

Its a small thing to do, but one that I hope will help someone less fortunate than myself to have a slightly happier festive period.

Kindness and compassion are not always about material things, the power of a hug is better than medicine when you feel that the weight of the world is  on your shoulders. ( I know this personally)

A kind word to someone can completely change their day. ( I know this so well, Scarborough 2019)

A smile costs nothing but can make a difference to the recipients.



Have a happy World Compassion Day

Mid week!

Well the fixtures came out yesterday and I am pleased to see that I will be flying down to Southampton at the beginning of May for fun with my besties Mark and Terry.
There was a lot of 'ohs & ahs'  on Twitter over a 4 day roses game at Scarborough.
I wont be going ( you'll all be glad to hear), as I have taken Scarbs out of my travel list for next season.
Hampshire is really the only CC match that I will be attending and I am really looking forward to it.

I may tip up at Durham for the T20.

To be honest, after the scare I had a few weeks ago and the fact that I (obviously) didn't initially  listen to advice, this has all made me rethink things.
 I have decided that I take preference over any cricket next year and as I am looking to qualify as a facial yoga teacher and to try to relax more, I will be doing  less jumping into the car and racing around the country.
Next year is for me, and I don't mind being that selfish, plus I am going to have a summer holiday which I may well book at the weekend.

I have many other things planned ( plus I received a few invitations to other grounds and games yesterday, which I am going to take up if convenient).


Yesterday was a busy one in the office as I tried to get things into some sort of order for the remaining 3 weeks. Its good to think that in 3 weeks time I will be having 2 weeks full R & R ( bloody typical that I am not able to travel far) however I am not stressing on that.

I am trying to get as much done in the morning so that I can go home in the afternoon and sleep, I was going to try to do a full day/full week at work, but its not to be, I admit that I struggle by lunchtime and go home.

Well time to roll out of bed and get to work.

Take a deep breath and face the day.



'Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.'
 Helen Keller


have a good one.

Busy day

Well yesterday was full on even though I actually only worked a half day.

I came home at lunchtime and popped in to see Micky the BT at the bike shop before popping in to see my friend Chris.......who still had 2 boxes of my stuff in her spare room.

Well I brought one home, will get the other at the weekend before she charges me rent!.

And then Rhys arrived.

Oh the joy of having new,low maintenance  window cills. And he put up the mirror the blind, measured for new kitchen and shower room door.
It's great to be getting things moving and putting my stamp on the house.


My plan in my head for this year's Christmas card topper went from head to needles and it worked.
That was lucky.

And in about 15 mins Yorkshire will be releasing the fixtures. I'll be on the way go work but will catch up at  lunchtime .

Have a great day.

Monday again

Well now what a weekend it has been I have not done very much and am not at all perturbed.

I did 'fake' putting up the roman blind in the bathroom until Rhys the joiner puts it up properly.

I used up some odd bits of fruit that were hanging around in the kitchen, making a few jars of chutney.

And that was about it.

I had a lot of pain in my right arm, which is moving better but still can be painful, especially at night, however taking things easy has helped.

Help is what the England team needed after being well and truly thrashed by New Zealand.
When the highest score in their second innings is in the 30's it a poor show.....or some great team work from the hosts!

Australia maintained their unbeaten in Brisbane record after they thrashed Pakistan.

Well this time tomorrow Yorkshire will be getting ready to announce the fixtures.
I just want to know dates of the Hampshire game and 2nd XI fixtures.

And now time to head to the office as I attempt to do a full week of  proper hours.
Let's see how that pans out.

Oh and forgot that I am getting the new  window cills installed today (if he's over his stomach bug).

Have a great Monday .

Last day of the semi working week

Well its Friday and I am not ordering the breakfast from Big AL today I have delegated as I wont be in the office until 10am.

This gives me time to catch a movie before work! Yes really, I might be on repeat with these but I am addicted. I need to go back to work full time to enable me to go cold turkey ( excuse the Xmas pun).

This weekend I  have things to do at The Wickets which will include fitting ( or trying to fit ) the roman blind for the upstairs bathroom. I also need to get a mirror put up on the staircase and I found a bag of ribbons so I have some ideas of things that I can make with these.

Its going to be a bit of a DIY/ crafty weekend. The sort of weekend that I like.


Overnight in the cricket New Zealamd took to the crease. All to play for.
I did not see or hear any of it. Codeine is still my best friend at bed time.
However  not for much longer.
Time to try to sleep unaided.


And that's about it for this week. Short one, but there are painkillers to take and films to watch.

Have a great weekend, I hopefully will return on Monday.

getting there slowly

Here we are at Thursday and its been a slow week, the good news in the office is that next year I will be a work Auntie again, I love babies!
I'm so excited now that Noah, Annkooabel and Jack ( my other work nephews and niece) are over the year mark.

So that was some good news to start my morning yesterday.

The day went a bit down hill after that, I left early after clearing my emails and sorting O & M's. I will be back full time next week ( they hope), so I need to try and cram in as many Xmas films as I can this week ( even though they are repeats).

In all seriousness, I am trying to slow things down a lot and will continue to do this next year ( yes I am looking that far ahead). I seem to have constantly been racing around for so many years that I think I need to step back and take time for me.
After all I am the most important person in my life.

The sofa hunt is on in earnest ( and Co Durham,  hahaha I'm here all week chums). I want a 2 & 3 seater, I am not sure what kind I want ( which would help to narrow things down) and feel that at this rate I will be still looking this time next year!

England were in action over night in the first test against New Zealia, I wasn't too bothered about watching, mainly because after my nightly codeine tablet I was fast asleep ( now that I have dismantled the beeping smoke alarm!). They were 241-4  after day 1.

Australia are in action against Pakistan. There are in Brisbane were they haven't lost since 1988.
Let's see how that goes.

Right I'm off to battle with the traffic,
Eat my bran flakes, take my painkillers and start the working day.

 I'm getting there slowly.

Things to do

Well I have been busy doing things, not just a bit of work.

As you may know I bought myself a brick for my birthday, probably not everyone's idea of a birthday present, but this is a very special brick as it will form a silhouette of Basil D'Oliveira, at St Augustine Cricket Club Cape Town, Basil is their most famous son.
This is such a wonderful memorial that I had to be part of it.

Through this I have also been in contact with some wonderful and very like minded people.

I'm looking forward to getting out to Cape Town to see this venture.

I also have sponsored a horse race................yes really, even though horse racing is something that I dislike. This is actually a race at a Race Night at Chorley Football club.
Always good to get involved and help out in any way possible. ( please don't tell Rob at Farsley!)

I had another part day at work, its tiring but it has to be done, and I have missed the characters I work with.

I am still badly bruised from various needle punctures, which will continue for  a few weeks yet,  and I am waiting for news on when I can restart physio.

I still have pain in my right arm, but my knee is getting closer to normal now and that in itself is a relief. I still can't really bend or twist on either side of my body, but as its not yet Christmas Party season I have time to get back to full fitness.

When I got home yesterday I set about and used up the last apples and green tomatoes and various other bits and pieces in the house and threw together some chutney.
This will be the last made this year, although I guess that it means that I will come back bigger and better next year.


Well as I have another few hours at work today I guess that I had best get up and see at least one Xmas movie before I head out the door.

I'm nearly half way through my first week back!!!

I'm also absolutely worn out as at 3.30am one of my smoke detectors decided to go off intermittently.
Why couldn't this have been last week when I was off?
Happy Wednesday

Here we go again

Well now, you  might be wondering where all the cricket stuff is in the blog. well there is not a lot of info around of any interest to me.

Although the whole Pooran banning has been something read on all fronts.
 Is his ban sufficient?
Is it too much?
Will he get booed when he steps out for Yorkshire?

Well everyone has an opinion on it, interesting to see some who ranted about the 'cheating Aussies' 'being very quiet though.

I personally think that there should be some serious discussion about the banning process across the board.
There is no rhyme or reason in a year for one and a month for another ( or game/s) ball tampering is ball tampering.

Somerset go into the start of the County Championship race next season -12 points due to their pitch.
Another nail in the CC coffin.


In other news, I am busy scribbling scripts for 2020 Xmas films, I so far have 10 done.
All on the back of a postage stamp, and of course including the miraculous suitcases.

If you have never seen these films on Movies 24 (+1)...........don't bother.


I've managed to complete another assessment for my facial yoga teaching qualification and submitted that last night, I will be waiting a couple of weeks for my result and move onto the next assessment.

I am loving this, it is not something that I have done before and I am currently working on my own personal plan. Well, as I was reminded last week, I'm no spring chicken!!
Not that I really care, I'm me like it or lump it!
Again everyone has an opinion!


I had a few hours in the office yesterday just to test the water and after seeing my emails I decided that I would go home and watch Xmas movies which even though they were repeats were more interesting than the land of wast water.

And with that I am off to watch the early morning films whilst my painkillers go down.

Have a great day.

Another week begins

Here we are at another new week and nearly 2 weeks since I 'broke down' physically.

Well it's been tough I can tell you.
Firstly the sheer terror of being told your worst nightmare was recurring and then going through every test to find out it actually wasn't  but still no idea on the fact that I couldn't move my right arm and walking was more of a non rhythmic shuffle.

2 weeks of Xmas movies, of which I have done the loop and am now on repeat
As far as these go it's the same plot as a Mills and Boon but based around Xmas.
Plus the heroine always has to  go home from her high flying job in the big city, and she goes for a long weekend with a piece of walk on hand luggage or  occasionally a suitcase.
She then has to stay for anything from 2-4 weeks (always conditions of  will) and here's the thing.
She goes with one smallish piece of luggage stays  month and has a different coat/boots/bag/glove/hat on everyday.
Seriously I needs me one of those suitcases that gets all that in and can still be carried!.

As you can tell my brain is turning to mush and I'm crawling the walls.
I'm thinking of submitting some scripts for next year's films. I think I've got the basics.

News from down under.
Ben hit 33 in his game
Tom hit 38 and took 2 wickets
They are both loving it.

Plus on  Friday, my birthday I had a complete surprise when Carole, Philip and Sam Dog came to visit.
It was such a surprise visit I was still in my dressing gown!!!!
I cannot tell you what an absolute tonic this was.

And after Terrys visit on Thursday complete with 'care bag ' from Sophie, I'm very thankful for wonderful friends.

Can I also at thank you to my other equally  wonderful  friends (you all know who you are) for messages in Friday and through the last couple of weeks.



Well best sign off.
Things to do films to see.

Happy Monday

Last sick day

Well it's Friday, no running to order breakfast this morning.
It is however my last sick day as I prepare to go back to work next week



Give me in until Monday afternoon  before I am wanting to be on the sick again.

So what to do today.

Well probably sleeping a lot as I take the last of the codeine tablets

I'm also taking myself out for lunch and then tonight will settle down with a bottle of diet  coke.
No alcohol allowed still so this will be the first birthday in a while that I haven't had at least a glass of wine.

Might be the start of something new....
.maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!.
Have a great weekend.

Thursday already

Goodness it's Thursday already, I seem to have slept the week away.
Today will have the excitement of going to the doctors for blood and D Dimer  test.
I know how to live it up.

Strangely 2 months ago I went to get the mop  chopped and Jackie my hair doer commented on my lack of curls and how my hair felt 'off'
This happened a few years ago and it turned out I had mumps.
My hair is now more straight than curly and has no body or uumph.
I should take notice of the mop as it obviously tries to tell me something.

Well I've no idea what's happening in the cricket world except that Notts have taken on Kevin Shine as Assistant coach.
He  started his life at Hants before travelling around the counties, left for England set up was scape goat in pedalogate and then headed off to Loughborough.
Now on his way to Notts it will be interesting to see how he gets on.


Well time to take some painkillers and then head off to the docs.

Happy Thursday.

Hello from recovery road

Well it's Monday and I'm still in bed.
No work until next week and  lots of rest for me.
So last Wednesday,after struggling to get up it went from bad to worse until I was eventually hospitalised with suspected DVT  or worse.
D Dimer levels very high so I spent Thursday might in terrified tears ( I've been here before and it's not nice) and taking  anti coagulants

Lots of blood tests, xrays, scans, and finally a CT scan.


Very luckily for me no DVT but unluckily a series of quite painful other probs.


I'm a bit of a wreck really.

So now I'm actually taking advice and finally getting myself fit again. It will be a long  road but I'm on it.

I've not seen anything cricket.

I've realised that I'm actually more important to me than cricket at the moment (words I never thought I'd say).


No cakes or chutney made.
No knitting done.
But thanks to codeine I have 3 naps a day and sleep through the night.

I'll be back at some point this week.

Midweek and moving on?

Well over the last few weeks we have had Bella the bin inspector in the office, she was in for a brief spell yesterday and managed her inspections which came up with a couple of yogurt pots ( quickly  removed) and a bit of cake ( that was gone in one gulp).

She is an absolute joy to have in the office and makes everyone smile.
Its surprising the effect of a dog in the workplace.
It should be compulsory.


What is compulsory is my 2,15 minute walks a day and my exercises, which were really paying off.

And then there was.....

...Physio  dear God!   Less than 3 hours sleep the feeling of red hot poker's in my knees and shoulder and exhausted.
If I can get out of bed I will attempt to get to the office but at this moment it's debatable.


There is not much in cricket but I am sure that Yorkshire will be dropping a couple more bombshells in the near future.


However in football Farsley were on West Riding Cup action.
They scored 7 goals, 2 of which were put in the net by my very own Akeen Francis the young player I have sponsored.
Well that's fabulous news.

And now I'm about to  try  to get up showered and dressed.

Good start to the week

Well here we are at Tuesday and, my week started off really well, yesterday was the first day since 12th July that  I haven't been in pain, and most especially the pain that took over 3 weeks ago. I am hoping that I have now turned a corner and may get a full nights sleep as well as being able to walk  for longer than 15 minute stretches.
Its been a long and painful few months, which was mainly my own making due to always thinking that it would be better tomorrow ( which it never was)

Time to take more care of me, and not before time.


I am at physio this evening so we will see how I am getting on.

I'm still only managing to drive for about 30 minutes at a time but that will change soon I'm sure.


In other news the worst kept  secret was finally  out of the bag, as Yorkshire announced that they have signed Dawid Malan on a four year deal.
Malan had 2 years left on his Middlesex contract but asked to be released from it.
Hopefully he will be an asset to Yorkshire.
He has already been earmarked for the other format of the game over the summer.


Had a quick chat with Tom in Australia and his matches were rained off at the weekend, this aside he is having a great time, which is the main thing.

I'm waiting for the fixtures to come out so that I can factor in a trip to Holland for a spot of cricket watching. I am also, for the first time in many years, booking a holiday during the cricket season and have a couple of places in mind. I see my season next year being a busy ones for reason not cricket related.

This is all down to taking more care of me.


Overnight news England got thrashed by New Zealand. That's 2 out of 3.
Oh dear.

My birthday celebrations are taking shape although I have decided not to head to Barca. Won't really be up to much walking, so will save that little jaunt for another time.


Well time to head off and do some work,It's cold dark and wet , three things I don't like.

have a super Tuesday

Thank goodness its Friday

Well its Friday and I am preparing for a visit to Big Al to put in the breakfast order, and then half a day to the weekend.
I will be going home to a freshly cleaned house as it is the first day that the cleaner will be coming, this in itself fills me with joy, at the moment walking upstairs is a major effort let alone lugging the hoover up and down.

So lots to look forward to, I will also be making more green tomato chutney as I have been given another bag full of the things!!!

The weekend will be made up of some studying, some DIY ( if I can get  up a step ladder) and some sewing.
I am fully taking time to get the little jobs that I have put on a back burner, finally finished.
I hope to get the roman blind up in the bathroom, this will make a massive difference to the room.
This blind was a fabulous charity shop find and has saved me a fortune!


 I will also be having lots of  me time, something that I am badly in need of.

In the world of cricket,

Oman and Scotland were in action yesterday in the playoffs of the T20 World Cup qualifiers.

Scotland won with 6 balls remaining, kind of a close one that!


Whilst today sees my boys in Orange take on the boys in green.
I'm totally backing Orange.


I was saddened to see that Glenn Maxwell is taking a short break from cricket to deal with some mental health issues,  however,its good that he is getting himself sorted out, because better to deal with it  head on than leave  it to get worse.

Come back soon Maxi.

And that's about it for the Friday round up.

So if you have tracked down the blog then I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

See you next week.