637

Ok so I am posting the same old photo! but hey, my one regular reading apart from Dame Didi, is threatening to  unfollow me on Twitter and no longer reading my blog, and why? because sadly His Royal Ryanness took his 637th wicket, I tweeted the number and sadly it was the wicket of Chris Rushworth! 

Now you all know that I would not do this on purpose as Chris is a lovely young man and  doing a great thing for charity this year. It was not personal to Chris, it was just flipping brilliant for me that His Royal Ryanness is heading nearer to 700 wickets.

Sorry but a Lady's got to do what a Lady's got to do, which includes HUGE worries over Ryan's fitness. However my mind was put at rest when I was told he was suffering from cramp and was fine.

So back to the third days play then!

Well Durham were bowled out for 231, 'H R R' had bowling figures of  2-18 and Adil Rashid had figures of 4-73. Durham were made to follow on and at stumps they were 59-1.

I watched some of the match from my room, where the view is amazing. Mr (not so) Grumpy came up for a coffee, and then after lunch I went back to watch from the members lounge

And today? Yes I am still here, how could I have gone back to work and missed this? My last night in the Geoff Boycott suite last night, I can now take the towel off the picture of Geoff,  not what I wanted to wake up to!!!

And as I watch My Tykes and  the Durham boys fight it out and I can see me sitting on my own as I think that Mr (not so ) Grumpy is not my friend!

Then home, tonight and seeing My Tykes again tomorrow, this has to have been my besty cricket week this season!!!!

Well got to shower, twirl my curls, and get ready for the day.

#COYT

What a wash out!

So yesterday dawned bright and sunny and I headed off to have my brekkie......................with some very BIG rugby players, yes it could only happen to I,Lady lainey, I get to eat my fry up with Leeds Rhinos!!!

So after a quick trip into town, I came back and settled down to a day of cricket.

His Royal Ryanness came out to bat and hit a quick fire 25. before Yorkshire were all out for  426.

Durham went into bat and  were 50-1 when the heavens opened.  and boy did it rain!!! it was torrential.

I invited .Mr Grumpy ( who is not really grumpy even though he claims to be) to come for coffee in my room, well we could sit and watch the rain bouncing off the covers. Then I get told that the 'journos' have binoculars and that apparently you can see into my room.

Well as I am sitting in the window typing this I am guessing that any one watching will be very disappointed as I am fully clothed. which is more than a gentleman was yesterday. 

So rain caused the game to be called off and I went to have a little sleep. I woke up to brilliant sunshine streaming in. So I went out to eat and then came back and watched T20 blast action with Notts V Birmingham Bears.

Great match, Notts won and a great last over from Fletcher. 

Today sees test match action starting at Trent Bridge.

And I also got my 'Dizzy' autobiography  signed by the man himself, thanks to  Joe and Chris. that will be treasured by me.

I am watching the groundsmen preparing the wicket and should go and throw myself in the shower.

Which is what I am going to do right now...........and draw the curtains.

Day 2 of my cricket week

So yesterday was the official start of my cricket week and I arrived at the hallowed ground bright and early. I checked into my new hotel and then wandered up to the Long Room for coffee.

I had sent a text to 'Mr Grumpy' to see if he had arrived,answer was no.  I then just sat back and watched the 'boys' warming up. and as I am sitting on the fence this week I was keeping an eye on all the boys.

Just before start of play I went to deliver wine to David from 'Sheffield Cricket Society' and then settled down to cheer for my team (but which team).

Wow what a day. Durham were unable to crack the openers for the Tykes, Lyth and Lees both hit centuries and by late afternoon, it was looking as if the Tykes were on top, but a string of wickets left the close of play with 7 Tykes gone but over 350runs on the board.

I watched the end of the match from my bedroom, which is amazing facing out onto the ground, what more could a cricket mad Lady want........one extra night would be great.

Sadly not everyone has a great bedroom, or soft toilet roll or an enormous bed. Never mind you can come for coffee this morning if you like and relish the view. 

And which room did I get?

only flipping Geoff Boycott!!!!!

who cares though, I am here I am watcing cricket and I am having the time of my life. 

yes I think thatI need to get out more!

Monday Le Tour depart

Le Tour de france has now left Yorkshire, what a weekend it has been, I,Lady Lainey am now inLeeds and after having a bit of a knees up yesterday, I am ready for my big Ryan week.
OK,OK, I am supposed to be either neutral or supporting Durham but its going to be hard when my doppleganger is so close.

so yesterday I drove down to Leeds and headed off to my Hotel, where a fulll scale Le TourParty was going on. Well be a Robinson you have to party niw and again!!!

I watched Le tour and the british Gran Prix on big screens and nearly cried when Baron Button did not make the podium. However it was wonderful to see how many people had worn 'Pink for Papa' including me , and I am not a pink lady, at all

I am now about to head off for breakfast and then make my 'grand depart' to the cricket.

and I have had ny first bath since February!!!  actually by the time I arrive at the cricket I willhave had 4 baths, well you have to make the most of it don't you?

And what does today have in store, cricket, His Royal Ryaness, cricket, Dizzy, cricket and The headingley Lodge. I am a very lucky Lady.

Very short one this morning but I am starving ( what a surprise) so off to stuff as much food down my cakehole as I can and then another bath and then cricket, Top day for moi.

Until tomorrow

Abingdons terrible aircrash

6th July 1965

http://www.aaahs.org.uk/crash1965.html

Today is a tale from the boundary of my family, The Robinsons and the families of the 41 men killed in what was described as the worst RAF peacetime plane crash.

My uncle  M/AQM Joseph W Robinson was one of the men killed.

Every year on  the nearest Sunday to the date of the crash ( today being the actual anniversary), a service is held at the tiny church of St Lawrence  in Toot Baldon Oxfordshire. The church looks out over the field where the plane came down.

Last year, Dame Didi and I  along with our cousins Mel and Sandra Robinson attended the service. This year we sadly cannot be there. However out thoughts are with the other families who will be attending, especially our friends Simon Telfer and Ed Way.

At the rising of the sun and at its going down,

We remember them.

excitement is mounting

Woohoo I is super flipping bouncy excited today, it is only one day until I heads off to Leeds. Bag is not packed, washing is in the machine and with the rain, that has been coming down since last evening, it looks as if I will not be hanging it outside to dry. I however do not care!

So yesterday was another flipping fraught day in super swanky Lady Lainey office, but as soon as I was in the LL Limo heading back to Tykes Towers, I realised that I was now on holiday!

However the first evening didn't start well as Durham Jets match against Notts was a complete wash out. Not a ball was bowled. I had already taken the decision that I wouldn't get there in time for the start so was not going. Bad luck.

Sadly the same thing happened to my Tykes in Worcestershire. The match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Not a good evening all round.

Oh for the love of dogs!!!!! 'He who must not be named in the blog' is only spouting off again. He would love to play for England again ( take his mobile off him before hand!) and thinks that Matt Prior should replace Joss Butler ( Angus Fraser beware he is after your job!!). Blah blah blah blah blah........obviously he is not getting enough press coverage so had to make stupid statements. Couldn't even be bothered to read the rest..........................................BORING and would be very 'me, me, me'.

What is not boring is that eye candy for the ladies, Michael Carberry has signed up to stay with Hampshire until the end of 2017....................... oh be still my beating heart, we only need Hants to come back into Division One and all will be well.


What I do need is for Yorkshire to extend his Royal Ryanness contract indefinitely, so that I have more reasons to be Yorkshire through and through.


And talking about being Yorkshire, I had a stark reprimand from one of the Durham players yesterday morning, as I was told that this coming week I need to sit on the other side of the fence. This fence is now becoming very shaky with all the movement on it. I told him that I was going to remain neutral...................................................................how the flipping heck do I do that!

Well off to eat something and do some housework before mon grand depart.

It's F(ryan)day and nearly F(ryan) week!

Whoop de flipping dooooo!!! It is F(ryan)day and the best day of the week, not just because it is the end of the working week, but because for I, Lady Lainey it is nearly the start of F(ryan) week OMG it is now only a couple of days before I am off to Leeds and get to watch 3 days of cricket, sadly I do not get to see the last day as I have to go and do some flipping, boring, rubbish work on Thursday!!!


However tonight we have some T20 action with Durham Jets being home to Nottinghamshire and My Tykey Vikings being away to Worcestershire. I will be checking in on the Yorkshire match. I am hoping that His Royal Ryanness isn't playing so that he is fully rested for next week. because if I go to Leeds and he is not in the squad I will flipping well cry, and cry, and cry. But I will get to nearly sleep on the hallowed turf.

Work in super swanky Lady Lainey office has been fraught to say the least as flipping, big job in Londinium has 'turned to poo' ( technical construction term) and everyone is working flat out to get things right, INCLUDING I, Lady Lainey. Yes that's right I am actually doing some work. Well at least I know that I can multi task. I shout at boys, look pretty for 7 hours, drinking gallons of coffee and do a spot of work too! Today I have to get my desk well and truly sorted so that I can go away and relax.

Tzatina Katerina phoned me last night, this is a true transcript of the conversation.

Tzarina Katerina   Hello Lady Lainey how are you?

Lady Lainey   I am flipping knackered but super flipping ex       ( then she buts in)

Tzarina Katerina  OK, I am going now to watch the opening ceremony of The Tour de France, bye.

What the 'Donald Duck' was that all about, was it worth her dialling my number?

Oh well it's the thought that counts

And now I am heading off to Tesco to get some bacon to make the boys some sarnies for breakfast this morning. They are all working hard and are jolly flipping stressed and worn out..

So have a great F(ryan)day...................oh yes tonight I am packing my case for my jollies to Leeds wooohooo!!!!

It's grey and wet but it is Thursday!!

Well today has dawned grey and wet although I can see the sun trying to poke its way through the clouds. I have a full day today as yesterday in super swanky Lady Lainey office we did very little until about 3pm due to our super fast new broadband  not working after the engineer came, and then having to wait for a new router. Eventually it turned up and now I have two days to finish off every thing before I head off to LEEDS!!!!

Also off to get the eyebrows tamed, bushy ones might look good on Denis Healey , but never a good look for a Lady. OMG I have lists as long as my arms ( and they are long) of all the things that I have to do before my 'grand depart' on Sunday.I have had the curls tamed which is a start.

So last night saw Yotkshire host Durham in the T20 blast, I were listening on't wireless. Durham were not looking good until Chris Rushworth and Gareth Breese made a last wicket stand of 29. Durham closed on 123-9. Looking good for Yorkshire it seemed. but it was not to be and they were bowled out for 95 with 16 balls unused. Yorkshire remain in 4th place and are at New Road on Friday. Durham moved up to 5th place and are home on Friday to Nottinghamshire.

Not sure what went wrong there but something did!,


England team news came through and the selectors have give Ben Stokes his third bite of the England cherry, lets hope he doesn't mess this chance up too. Not to great to see him swearing on Sky on Sunday and you didn't have to be able to lip read to know what he said. ( 4 letters and it wasn't 'Flip').

All that aside I hope that he does well and makes good use of this opportunity. The three Tykes were named too, Ballance, Root and Plunkett. Of course it wouldn't be a team without Bell and Broad ( who surely must be crocked by now). First test is 9th July at Trent Bridge.

Ok, I have 10 minutes to spare so I am off to edge some more of the lawns in the extensive grounds of Tykes Towers, I did a little bit more after the cricket last night ( and broke a nail!) and unearthed more path between the East and West Gardens, who would have thought it?

Every day is a little adventure in Lady Lainey land!!!! So off to do a little bit of gardening before hitting the A1.

Mid week and nearer to My Tykes

Woohoo it be Wednesday and it means that it is closer to the weekend and I am closer to my Tykey boys. To say I am excited is an understatement, I can hardly sleep!!!!Which is not doing my temper any good in super swanky Lady Lainey office. Where I seem to be spending more and more time of late....................what the 'Donald Duck ' is going on. They pay me to shout at boys ( which I do), drink copious amounts of coffee ( and green tea and red bush tea and Yorkshire tea), and look pretty for 7 hours ( not 8 hours or 9 or 10!!!).  No wonder I am flipping tired.

Well The Tykey Vikings were in action last night against Leicestershire in T20 blast action. Do you want to know the score? Well............................they flipping well won by 14 tuns and Ryan took 2-32!!. And not forgetting that Andrew Gale hit a half century. They now move up to fourth in the Northern table with a game in hand. BUT, the catch of the night again was the Finch and Lyth show, as first debuted at Old Trafford. Lyth palming the ball away from the boundary and Finch going full length to catch it. They took Tom Smith out in the Lancashire match and then last night they did the same to Cobb.
Fantastic fielding!


Tonight at Headingley it is former besty home county of Durham up against my boys. Tough one this one as what ever I say I will be 'tweeted' as disloyal to Durham and biased towards Yorkshire. So lets hope it is a draw!( I typed that with my fingers crossed!)

It looks as it the match fixing scandal that has been bubbling away will finally be put to bed.Lou Vincent has been banned from all forms of cricket for life. Former club mates have come out in support of him saying that he was an easy target. However cheating is cheating and especially when it is noted that one of the matches was against Durham in 2008!!!!

Lets put this to bed now.

So apart from lots of  work to do ( sorry about using a four letter word!) today I am also having me barnet cut so that I do not resemble a walking bush. and tonight after working on my wine exams ( thats reading not drinking) I will be starting the arduous task of packing my bag!!!!!!

Wooohooo Headingley here I come! ( can you tell I am a little bit excited!!!)

Le Tour et arrive

Zut alors it is not only I Lady Lainey that am off to Leeds at the weekend, but the whole flipping  'Le Tour de France'. Mais oui! the Tour is coming to Yorkshire and  they started arriving at Leeds/ Bradford airport yesterday. It's going to be a super mad weekend in Le Belle Leeds.


Dame Didi will not be cycling up and down Saltburn bank this year wearing her 'King of the Mountains Jersey' due to being a bit too poorly to get the tricycle out, however no doubt she will be watching the whole thing and as she doesn't have to go to work she won't have to record it as she has done previously.

Yes there will be bunting and crowds out in force on Sunday when I am in Leeds. I am super flipping excited.


Tonight there will be crowds out in Leeds again but this time for the T20 Blast as my Tykes take on Leicestershire. The team remains the same from Saturday which means that his Royal Ryanness is out to take wickets again. Tomorrow they are taking on former besty home county of Durham, which is a bit of a bind as I want to be there! And have to be in Lady Lainey office!!!! and am not a happy lapin!!!!! and could moan about this for hours but won't.


News came through yesterday that Australia and New Zealand are planning to play the first day/night test in November 2015 ( around my birthday would be a good time). The venue in Australia is yet to be decided. The ICC has previously backed the idea of these test which makes it more accessible to fans. This will also give a pink ball an outing for a test. What ever next, cricketers in their pyjamas........................oh yes we had that issue a good few years ago!!!


Yesterday was a jolly fraught day in super swanky Lady lainey office as the the 'big problem' with super big build in Londinium  refused to go away or be sorted. Pony Paul was looking very pale and not happy. Lady Lainey tried to sleep through it all and Trill Boy was totally oblivious to anything as he was too busy on his phone!!!! And where was Job the Jolly???  recovering after a weekend in Mablethorpe!!!! Well he could have said he was going to Marbella!

Well its time to pull on my cycling shorts and get into the swing of all things 'Le Tour', OK OK!!!! I am not going to the office in cycling shorts, even I feel sick at the image that has conjured up in my head!!

Until tomorrow


Bon Journee

Fun day Sunday not so Monday!

So Sunday dawned cold and wet and then got hot and sunny as I was out edging the lawns in the Deer Park, Tzarina Katerina tipped up to drop off some 'stuff' for me and then went of for her boozy short break with her chums.

I got ready to go to cricket and picked up Pauly Paul and Dynamo Dom. It started to rain, then stopped. We got to the ground and it started to rain again the players went off, and came back on again and then went off again. We all ran for cover near the toilets. Dynamo and  I were having a little chat when I said to him about a man who kept staring at me.....................and I mean really staring!!!!
Pauly came back and suddenly the man was standing in front of me! He asked me if I had worked at a super swanky boys school in the south of blighty.
'Yes' I said

'I thought it was you Lady Lainey' the man said.

I was by this time racking my brains thinking he was too old to have been one of the boys and then realisation dawned on me, he was one of the 'Masters' who joined as I was leaving.

OMG!! How weird. He said he recognised me straight away ( understandable as there are not many wild orange curly haired Amazons  around). He was sure it was me and then I laughed and he knew it! ( can you believe being recognised by your laugh!).
It turns out he left super swanky boys school and moved to Richmond North ( gods own county of ) Yorkshire and has been camping out there ever since, It was the first time that he had brought his wife and son to the cricket.

Small world!!!

The cricket itself was jolly good, Durham cruised to an eight wicket win against Derbyshire, John Hastings had obviously had his weetabix yesterday morning as he took 4-24. Derbyshire were dismissed for 125.In reply Durham were looking in good form, Mustard was knocking balls all over the place and was finally out for 54. Durham finished the day 129-2 and looked flipping pleased with themselves.

We headed home and I was tucked up my bed even earlier than normal.

Sad news today as it was announced that Damien D'Oliveira passed away in the early hours of yesterday morning. Damien had been a player Worcestershire and also the Academy Manager.I know that my besty friend and former Hants bowler JJ has lost one of his greatest friends. Very sad news.

it's cold and wet!

Oh my I have woken up this morning to cold and wet weather.....................how can this be? It's a cricket day!!! Its a T20 cricket day too so hopefully by this afternoon the weather will have improved and we will get to see some cricket, albeit that I will be wrapped up in more layers than an Eskimo, but to be honest I am not too bothered about that as long as I get to see some play.

Yesterday my Tykes were in action against Nottinghamshire. In what was to be a low scoring game the result was sadly not what I was wanting. Notts went into bat and  with captain James Taylor hitting 52,  and finished their  20 overs on  143-9 with His Royal Ryanness  taking 3-24. Now that had me fair bouncing around in my seat.....................until My Tykes went into bat. It all seemed to happen very quickly, they lost wickets very quickly and were 69-5 in what seemed to be a blink of an eye.
Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid made a valiant stand but sadly my boys could only make 121-9 in their overs.

After a cracking bit of bowling from Ryan it was disappointing to see them lose..................However the County Championship is much more important and I for one am looking forward to next week when I will be motoring down the A1/M1 to tip up at Headingley. Wooohooo super flipping excited.

It was all go here at Tykes Towers yesterday as I was doing housework, shopping, circuits and gardening. Mr Funky the chauffeur came round and hacked through the West garden, I was raking up the large amounts of very lush vegetation and flipping snails!! although it looks as if the Frog family have 'hopped' to wetter climes. I then set to 'edging' the lawn and found that the path to the back of the extensive grounds is actually twice as wide as I thought it was!

This morning before the cricket I am thinking that I might tackle the front lawns................I only said might!

And so as the garden is starting to take shape and look considerably tidier I need to keep this going. 'Weed and feed' is on the shopping list for this week, as is 'weed killer'. After trying lots and lots I have found one at 'Wilko's  which does the trick brilliantly. ( OMG I was having a Percy Thrower moment there!)

So I am off to prepare for the arrival of  Tzarina Katerina who is popping in  ( and not 'pooping' as auto correct put, hahahah Dame Didi I bet you are laughing at that!!! for obvious reasons!). Katerina is off on a drinking weekend with her mates so hope that she has a good time.

I am off to make coffee and then get ready for cricket


Have a great Sunday where ever you are.

Lazy Daisy

Five minutes ago this was me! Well apart from straight hair and pink PJ's! I woke up and it was 7.45am!! Flipping heck what a lie in . I had actually fallen asleep on the sofa at about 11pm, woke up at 1am and then trotted up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire. I was a tired Lady Lainey.

I had hurried home in preparation of The War or the Roses, only to find that due to 'precipitation' which was actually a flipping monsoon, Headingley was underwater. Not a ball was bowled. Sorry state of affairs, It had rained slightly in Lady Lainey workville and there had been some at Tykes Towers but nothing like the amount they had in Leeds.

Durham also suffered at Northamptonshire as rain caused a delayed start. Durham went in to bat and were soon in trouble at 26-3 however more rain saved the day and the match was abandoned with Durham on 69-4.

So not a great evening for the cricket really.

However today Yorkshire are in Nottinghamshire having a bit of a bat in T20 action ,and tomorrow Durham are taking on Derbyshire.
I am off to that one with Pauly Paul and Dynomo Dom, as Mr Funky is off to Harrogate to play golf!!!! Yes GOLF!!!! How flipping boring is that!


Well the Lady Lainey limo is back and the windscreen wipers are fully working again. I did get 'loves and kisses' from Benjii the french kissing border collie when I went to collect the car. I also got two muddy paw prints strategically placed on my 'chest' and having been wearing a cream top they were very flipping noticeable!!! I got some strange looks in the local 'Co op' when I went to get some milk!!!!

However it was a top day for I Lady Lainey as my super signed Yorkshire shirt returned from the framers and is currently in a rubbish skip somewhere in Sunderland, where I am told it will be safe until Sunday, as the skip isn't emptied until Monday. 'WHAAATTTT?' I can hear you all screaming. I know that it was a joke, I expect that it has pride of place on the sitting room wall at said house.

I am super excited about bringing it home, I was considering putting it on the ceiling above my bed................................but I would have had to take the mirror down!

( some of the above is not true, I will leave it up to you to decide which is)

Ahh it's F(ryan )day

Yippeee  it is the end if the week and what a week ( ish) it has been, lots of work stress ( mainly having to do some), flipping windscreen wipers conking out again, two of the company cars conking out, a cancer scare. and some late nights too ( anything past 9pm is a late night in my house). But all is now right in Lady lainey Land although the work thing will be going on until I am 65 ( or there and there abouts), which is not a good thought considering that I am only 21!!

So today I am going to chill out and just take it easy ( 'you do that every day' Job the Jolly). I may even swap the copious amounts of coffee for Green tea! and maybe even meditate the day away ( read that as 'have a nap for 7 hours').
Until I get home and quickly change into 'Yorkshire lass' to support my Tykes in 'The War of the Roses'. Yes my boys are hosting their arch enemies Lancashire tonight. Latest team news is that they are resting Jack Brooks. Yes the headband warrior will be sitting with his feet up watching the boys whilst having a glass of Diet Vimto. Lots of mumblings on Twitter re this decision but to be honest The County Championship is way more important than T20, so its a no brainer. Will they rest His Royal Ryanness too????

Former besty home county of Durham are resting Chris Rushworth tonight in their clash against Northants. Good decision me thinks, as this leaves him fresh for Sunday against Derbyshire.

I have been thinking about getting the advice of a personal trainer in my quest to return to super slim Lainey, and am truly touched by the 'support' that I have received from friends. The comment of 'Eat less exercise more, £50 please' had to be the top retort!

In truth this is  is a good plan, only problem.................EAT LESS!!!

Dame Didi is feeling a bit better today after a bit of a 'do' at hospital on Wednesday, luckily carrots hadn't been on the menu! However hope that you are feeling better today, if I was you I would stay in bed on Tuesday as Tzarina Katerina is coming over to your 'village' to drop off the car for Lord Christophe. And by the sounds of it I have been roped into the whole event, so I will probably tip up some time after 10pm as we will be driving from her village to yours via John o'Groats!. ( for the love of dogs!!! what was the A66 built for if not a quick route to Chateau Saltburn).

The weekend is so close that I am now in a frenzy of washing and housework thoughts. And I have to do a spot of gardening too in preparation for big garden works which hopefully will start to take shape soon. I have been given a list of white flowering plants to put in to the newly planned large border in what is currently the 'West Wasteland'. More to come on this project.

So I am off to hop in the shower and to get ready to be picked up by Pony Paul who is kindly giving me a lift into work in  one of the new company cars, Yes we are now onto the second Hyundai i40, due to Pony 'breaking' the other one.


have a brilliant F(ryan)day, and


#COYT!!!!!!

Wow Wine ahoy.

So yesterday was a good day and I was able to combine looking pretty for 7 hours with doing some work and it all went well.

 I then dashed back to Tykes Towers and got changed and went off to super flash Bistro in the City of Durham to a 'networking' event (usually an evening of pompous 'old boys' boasting about their jobs) however this was a woman's only 'do' and after drinking goats blood, burning my bra and having several parts of my anatomy pierced in the initiation ceremony it was a cracking night ( none of this is actually true apart from having a cracking night). We had lots of chatting ( as woman  do ) and we also had a fantastic meal, and I got lots of leads as to whom to contact, which is brilliant. They are also going to host a tasting in October which seems a while away but hey its all in the diary.


And so as I drove home I was very chuffed with the whole day.

Former besty home county of Durham will also have been very chuffed with themselves as they won their match against Sussex by 309 runs, They needed one wicket and up stepped Chris Rushworth to do the honours. Understandably the boys were very pleased with themselves. However kiss of death moment, Captain Collywobble saying that he could see Durham doing a 2013! ( my words not his, but you get the drift). The win brought Dutham up to 4th in the table, but hey it is only June.

My Tykes would have been wending their way back home yesterday, top of the table and top boys.
Sitting on this fence is getting a little painful.


And so the witch hunt begins, yes the hacks are out to get Alistair Cook. Yes I am not a huge fan of the man, but the team are new, they are starting to bond well together and who else would be Captain......................oh yes the man with no lips!!!

Leave the team alone and let them do what they are getting paid to do OK they are getting paid to play match winning cricket ...........but Rome wasn't built in a day!.................

and nor was St Helens Place, Keynsham Town Hall, Oxford Street, Royal Collage of Art, Birmingham Dental Hospital and all the other flipping jobs I am trying to manage at the moment, so all thoughts of cricket and wine must be removed from my mind and I must wend my way to super swanky Lady Lainey office  and hope that we can 'magic' up a 'subby' draughtsman today to lighten the load, luckily for us Dan Dan Cowboy draughtsman is off to Guernsey, obviously to buy a house with all his wages from his last subby job with us!!!


So twirl my curls, put on the Jimmy Choos and off I jolly well go,

He's back!!!!

Well after being super excited on Monday  by his Royal Ryanness taking a wicket, me thinks he must have read my blog, because he only went and took 3 more yesterday !!! His First class wicket total now stands at 635! Too say I was excited was an understatement and by the time I had arrived back at Tykes Towers from super swanky Lady Lainey office, Yorkshire had trounced Warwickshire by an innings and eight runs.

Buzzing hardly described Lady Lainey, flipping bouncing was more apt.

It was a great game with Jack Brooks taking his wicket total to over 200 and Karl Carver making an impressive debut. I am sure that the boys celebrated with a couple of sherry shandies before heading off to bed for some well earned kip.

Headingley in just over a week is now getting me super excited.


Former besty home county of Durham were also having a right old game at The Riverside Ground against Sussex. Ben Stokes took more wickets yesterday taking his total to a career best of 10-121 and putting Durham on the brink of victory In their second innings they posted 359-6 and then declared. Sussex were 173-9 at close of play.

My thoughts. Don't take your sandwiches with you today, you will be home before lunch ( whoops famous last words).

Yesterday after saying how hard I was being on myself in light of all the recent upheavals that had been happening in the life of I Lady Lainey Robinson and the rest of the clan. I had a wonderful day, very little stress and what was better for the boys, very little shouting, although I did gulp down huge amounts of coffee and  green tea ( to try to counterbalance the caffeine). I even managed to do my 7 hours of looking pretty and do a teeny weeny bit of work. Today is another matter!! Lots of work from very early on!.

However this evening I am going  to further the wine business and get myself known ( better known?) in Durham. By the time I get home tonight I will be out for the count in the blink of an eye.

Yes Lady Lainey stayed up jolly late last night, and as it was a flipping hot night had a lot of trouble getting some shut eye. No problem though a ton of 'slap' on this morning will hide that!.

Well off to do what I do best ( nothing) and entertain architects with my wit, OK I will just look formidable and that keeps them quiet.

I also hope that all goes OK today Dame Didi, I will ring you tomorrow as you will probably have an early night tonight ( and so will I).

Until tomorrow,

It's a good day!

Of late I have been a little too hard on myself in lots of ways, even going as far as saying that at times I actually didn't like I; Lady Lainey. Which is a bit of a shame as I think that I can be a good friend, I am always nice to animals ( especially dogs and most men). I think that I am funny sometimes ( and not just when I have had a drink). I give to charity and just try to be nice to people. But the one person that I wasn't nice to was me. The past few years have been tough ones in Lady Lainey Land ( and also with the rest of the clan). So from today I am pulling my socks up, and not being half as hard on myself. Time for a complete shift of thinking in Lady Laineys head!


Time for shifting seems to be a topic Geoff Boycott got into yesterday, after England were left facing the first home rest defeat by Sri Lanka. Boycott described Alistair Cooks form as 'a recipe for resignation'. Well, in my untrained eyes the team seem to be looking better as a 'team', but not on results. If Cook steps down my only horror would be if the man with no lips took over....................however he thinks he is already the Captain so what the heck.


Day two in the Big Birmingham House, Aaron Finch  hit his first century for Yorkshire. My Tykes had been 82-2 overnight and then batted all day to get 422, a lead of  194 runs. 8 of those were from His Royal Ryanness! Woohoo flipping brilliant from all the Tykes!!


At The Riverside Ground Durham finally seem to have found some form. And Ben Stokes got out of his strop long enough to take a career best 7-67 as he tore through the Sussex batting order. At close of play Sussex were all out for  205 and Durham were  105-1 in their second innings.
The Hacks are all now backing  Stokes to be back in the England team. My view? Bowling great, temper appalling. Learn to curb one of these and be professional and then he will be an asset.

The past two tours with England in any form have ended badly for Stokes. England Lions tour, sent home in disgrace after persistently ignoring orders from superiors. England World T20 tour, home due to broken hand ( temper tantrum). Will he get a third chance?

And now as I face the day at Super Swanky Lady Lainey office, I am hoping that MY Tykes play brilliantly ( i.e Ryan takes some more wickets) and that Durham can win two matches in a row.

32 & 632

So it was a top cricket day yesterday, we set off to The Riverside Ground in brilliant sunshine and were looking forward to a great day.I was busy trying to find out the squad for my Tykes to see if His Royal Ryanness had finally made it back.......................and yes he had! much to my relief.

Durham went into bat and  were 5 down in what seemed like the blink of an eye, not looking like a good day. Mark Stoneman stood his ground and hit 113 which brought the team back from 30-3. Ben Stokes put on a good display of petulant behaviour when he was out.........I would have thought he had learnt his lesson by now, but at least he didn't slam the dressing room door like last week, however lots of grass kicking and verbal as he walked off. The team closed on 337 with Chris Rushworth coming in at 11 and hitting 32 off 18. balls. That woke the crowd up!!!! apart from Pauly Paul and Mr Funky who were taking it in turns to catch a few Z's. All that button pushing at work is jolly flipping hard work.

Sussex went in to bat and were 20 with out loss at stumps.

Over in Birmingham, Yorkshire had given 18 year old Karl Carver his first class debut and in return he took a wicket..................as did His Royal Ryanness much to my relief ( 632 FC wicket total). Pyrah and Brooks took the bulk of the wickets to bowl Warwickshire out for  228.

Yorkshire went into bat and lost Lyth and Leaning quickly. however Lees and Gale set in and the day closed with My Tykes being 82-2. All to play for this week and at least I am happy that the 'big man' is back.


By the time I got home I was jolly exhausted, its flipping hard work sitting in the sun all day.

I quickly checked what had been going on at Headingley and to be honest I wished that I hadn't bothered. Sri Lanka built up a commanding lead although England rallied towards the end taking two wickets. The match hangs in the balance.

Finally cousin Rt Hon Hooligan Robbo last week did a 125 bike ride for charity, he dragged his wife along too and they completed their task, raising a lot of money along the way, well done Hooligan and Mrs Hooligan,a great childrens charity has benefited.

And so the new working week is ahead of us, so without further ado, time to get a wriggle on and get organised.

Until tomorrow

cricket sunday

Hurrah!!!!!! Its a cricket day and I have been up all of 5 minutes and am now about to get the rest of the lunch done and then get showered and curls washed. I am feeling a bit rough this morning, due to 'tennis elbow' I have taken painkillers which only work for a short time. I am thinking that I need to empty out my handbag, I think that is the culprit.

So food nearly done and then off to 'The Riverside' ( yes I know it is known by another name but it will always be The Riverside Ground to me). To see former besty home county of Durham take on Sussex. Durham will be looking for another win. Sussex are just above them in the table, so this will be a good old match, shame I only get to see one day of it.

Besty home county of Yorkshire are away to Warwickshire, I am awaiting team news, I need to see if  His Royal Ryanness is fit to play. I have been having a lot of worry of late ( and not just about moi et mon famille). I am really hoping that Ryan is on the mend, if not perfectly fit. he had better be playing when I go to Headingley!!!!!

Yesterday at Headingley the test match saw Sam Robson hit a century, he was understandably overjoyed, however 'Bell' got in on the action by telling Sam to 'enjoy the moment'........................... because he wasn't going to? The more I read about Ian Bell the more he makes me a tad cross!!!

England closed the day on 320-6, 63 runs ahead.

Yesterday I was very busy, what with washing being done, and then visiting.By the time I got home it was nearly nap time, however I decided to forgo a snooze and do some 'wine work' ( no not drinking it!!!!).

The rest of the day was spent reading and swotting up for my upcoming wine exam, and then listening to Tzarina Katerina burbling about the price of cruises. Hey the thought of going on a cruise makes me feel that poking sticks in my eyes might be more exciting. However it floats her boat ( flipping good floatation I say) and she likes to be pampered ( had a lifetime of it!). So hopefully she will go off on one over Xmas and have a good time.


And now I am off to finish up all the stuff for 'boys' and then get ready for the off!

Have a good day and I will be back tomorrow.

Sun is shining already!!

Wooohooo it Saturday and it's 5.50am and the sun is shining, I have got the washing machine on ( of course),. the dishwasher is doing its stuff, and I have already chased the local cat out of the lavender where is was about to do something pretty horrible!!!

I also had a flipping brilliant nights sleep although I still feel like I have been 'steam rollered'.
However this morning I am off to former Lady laineyville to have coffee with ex neighbours Kevin and Hazel, do a spot of shopping and then come home to put together the food for cricket tomorrow. Also on my 'to do ' list is put more junk treasures on eBay. I need to make more room in my house!

Last evening after work I came straight home, there was a T20 match at The Riverside, but Mr Funky and Pauly Paul were at work, and I didn't fancy going on my own. I asked Job the Jolly if he wanted to go, but he was in the same mind as me, home, relax, sleep. Its been a long old week.
However at The Riverside Durham Jets  were not having a happy night of it as they were beaten by Leicestershire Foxes. Calum MacLeod,  once again had a good knock. Usman Arshad was banned from bowling during the match, for bowling two successive beamers in his second over.

Down in 'South Durham' aka Hampshire they had a bit of an exciting T20 match going on. They beat Gloucestershire by 2 runs and Will Smiths three wicket haul was a clincher. Michael ( eye candy for the ladies) Carberry didn't have a great knock, but away from T20 Hampshire are hanging onto the top of the Division Two table.Top Southern boys!!!


There was a bit of test match stuff going on at Headingley, and Liam Plunkett only went and bowled super brilliantly AND before I start getting 'tweets' from Pauly Paul, I know that I have been scathing about Liam in the past BUT he was on the path to self destruct at Durham and the change to Yorkshire has done him good.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 257 and England were 36-0 at stumps.

Hark I hear the sound of the spin cycle coming to an end............so time to hang my smalls on the line and get a wriggle on.

And the flipping sun has gone in, would you 'Adam and Eve' it!!!