Hello Saturday

And so Saturday begins, I am heading off to town to get some shopping and to post some 'stuff' to the dame, then I am back to do a spot of painting, possibly lawn mowing and definitely horse chestnut leaf gathering as the old tree on the front lawn is now shedding its summer coat.
Autumn is really here!



News in the cricket world is sparse today after yesterdays bombshell  from the ICC.

Notts have confirmed that Tom Moores will stay with them until end of 2019.

The earth shattering news is a cross of  cricket/football.

STEVE HARMISON  HAS QUIT AS JOINT ASHINGTON MANAGER!

Oh my dog!
This can mean only on thing

We will be getting him back on Sky next season!

oh the joy of 'yer nars' on the commentary.

I may run a book on how many he gets into one T20 match.

imagine the pod with him and the 'excitable puppy' Flintoff

I feel the need to cancel my Sky if that happens! (joking)

And talking Sky, I renegotiated my package with them yesterday and got a fab discount. I know they no longer have the Ashes, but there is still TMS.


Hopefully more interesting news tomorrow although I doubt it so prepare to be bored with gardening and painting tales.

Have a super Saturday y'all

Fabulous Friday

Hurrah!! It is half day Friday and time to look forward to the weekend.

I think that mine may involve a lot of sleeping which a certainty of washing, there may be a touch of lawn mowing at times followed by splashing of paint onto walls.
Before I know it, I'll be back in the office so best not to look too far ahead.

Well I have checked out the crickett news and it is not on the plentiful side.

Ireland will play their first ever test match on home soil against Pakistan next May.
Date and venue are still to be announced, and I am wondering if I fancy a trip to the Emerald Isle for this match?
Well as one of my old London work colleagues lives over there and is always asking me to visit I may just, especially as her son is a mad cricket fan.

 
It looks as if war is about to break out between Middlesex and Somerset, as the latter is preparing a legal case against the former if their appeal against the points deduction  is overturned.
Cricket bats at dawn?


HOLD ON!!!!

6.30AM!!!!

It has been  announced that the ICC are now going to push forward the Test Championship, One Day International league and trial of Four day tests ( which will not be a trial but will be forever!). Well there you go 'dumbed down cricket'.

I suggest that we have a 'Tip and Run' trophy, try out 'The beach cricket cup' so that every one can get a chance to lie on a lounger and not just Finny.

Well thats just ruined my morning.

And I hadn't even got to the latest Stokes saga, oh well you can read that on every cricket website and in every tabloid.

Off to finish off my week!

Have a good Friday.

so its the 12th October

Yes indeed, we are nearly halfway through October and have hit the date that I would like to forget but which is firmly etched in my memory.
However this year I am making today more memorable for me in other ways, cryptic?
well it will all become more clear in the next few months.
(even though we may only have another two months of blogs)

Right onto other things.

Class night out was a huge success and we all had a great time, Kelvin arrived full of smiles and tales of being 'retired' and we all realised how much we missed him.
The conversation turned to my excitement at discovering 'silkies'. I appeared to be the only person in the whole of the world who  had never heard of these.
One of my Project managers raised them as a child in South Africa and my Administrator's father bred them, whilst my Electrical Engineer had lots of them when he lived in Scotland.
Ahhh I wonder if I can get a couple?,  google to see these amazing creatures.

In cricket news the Ben Stokes waggon is on the roll again as he has lost one of his sponsors.
As if the arrest wasn't bad enough there was a video of him being unkind about the son of a celebrity,
He has also apologised for this.
The police investigation is still on going.

Middlesex are still pushing for an appeal over their two point deduction which inevitably got them relegated.
Are we going to see further shufflings up and down the tables?

Notts have had more players extending contract with them, and why not I ask myself, they have been out and out winners this season.

I am now off to get some petrol after my drive out into the wilderness of Co Durham last night,

I am now going to face the turmoil that is the by pass.

Lets start the day and a whole new chapter.

Half way through

So we are halfway through the working week and I am trying to get organised as tonight we are having a 'class outing' for dinner.
We are also meeting Kelvin who left us a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully it should be a good evening.

Yesterday at the office was full on busy  with the new archiving facility being emptied and prepared.
We all passed the time by having a jolly old sing a long to Radio2, even the 'old timers' joined in.

I got home to read the news on BBC Cricket that the Australian tour bus had a brick thrown at it which smashed a window, this is the second such incident in the tour, after the bus was hit by a rock in Chittagong.
A shame that this has happened in India, I appreciate that they are passionate about cricket, however so are most countries that take part.
Lets hope that this is not the start of horrible things in the Indian subcontinent.
Australia won the T20 match by 8 wickets.


Well now, its all going off in South Africa as their  all new T20 competition,which was to be in the same league as the IPL and Big Bash, has fallen by the wayside with less than a month before it was due to open.
The  T20 Global League has been postponed for 12 months.
Players such as Captain Morgan and HWMNBNITB, were signed up to play, of course HWMNBNITB has been having his say about the turn of events.
Funnily enough he uses the word 'retire' in his diatribe, my heart is bursting at the thought that he may be talking about himself in the third person, however you know has I am going to be bitterly disappointed.

I wonder how we are getting on with the plans for the franchise T20 in this country?
What are we going to call this grand circus cricket event?
I have  a few ideas but will hang onto them for a little while.

We are edging closer to the magic 2000 number and I am still thinking about finishing the blog on this number, I could have 2 minutes extra lie in bed on a morning!

Oh well off I go out into the cold and windy morning.

Happy Wednesday 

lets do Tuesday

Well here we are, its Tuesday, its dark and cold and I am feeling very loathe to head out the door.
 The toe is slightly less painful although it is the most fabulous array of colours! Walking is however, still not the easiest thing to do, and yesterdays over seeing of the conversion of the  new archiving facilities, was not one of my best days as getting up and down the stairs was a challenge to say the least.

Today is going to be much of the same in the office as I finally get some sort of order in place. Nearly 4 months in and I am getting things moving forward. I am not blowing my own trumpet here, this was part of the remit when I took the job.

Not much on the cricket front, however there is a lot of extracts from Jonny Bairstows book, which is due to tr published shortly.

I  have dipped in and out of the instalments but I am always  disappointed that anyone under 30 writes an Autobiography or is the subject of a biography.
Now if HRR wrote one I would be in for that, 20 seasons in cricket and all that entailed.

Will the next couple of months see a new side to HRR. Well we will have to wait and see.

I am pleased to see that the 'Stokes' thing has quietened down for the moment but will it all explode again this week?

An interesting read from Usman Khawaja, about the effects of racism on him.

Khawaja was the first Muslim to  play for Australia and talks openly about the effects of racist abuse on him as he played his way through the ranks.

Well worth a read and on most cricket news sites.

Australia start their second T20 against India today
Bangladesh will be getting practise in ahead of a match against SA invitation XI with the first ODI starting on the 15th.

Well as I said not much on the cricket front to report and not much here either,
so I will head off to work and get another day under my belt.

I am shuddering at the thought of heading out of the door,
Winter is coming!





 

another working week

Another working week begins and  I am hobbling badly this morning on my now blue/black toe, very painful to say the least.

I think this is now a lesson to me to always wear slippers around the house!

Right there is some cricket news today, after Scotland beat my Barramundis on Friday and went ahead of them in the league table, a cracking win by the home side yeaterday,saw them now ahead of the kilted ones and only 2 points below The Netherlands.
Well its all going off in the race to qualify for the World Cup qualifiers.

I have to say I do like the Scotland shirt, very fetching with the tartan sleeves!

South Africa were on fire yesterday as they walloped Bangladesh and won the series.
Kagiso Rabada took a 10 wicket haul and  there were no less than 4 South African centurions, it was some match.
I did catch some of it yesterday, before important jobs called.

Well the curtain track is down, the screw holes are filled and the undercoat is on, ready for glossing tonight and the new curtain pole going up tomorrow night.

Yes I have finally made a start in the dining room, and hope to have this sorted by the weekend.

Best laid plans and all that...


Nearly time to head off to the office, where this week I hope to have all the second floor cleared ready for new archiving facilities being installed. We are moving forward.

And finally, just to say many congratulations to our Chairman and the lovely Jemima who both ran the Chicago marathon.
You have my total admiration.

Ok I'm off to do my thing.

The day of rest.......

  

........... yeah right!, after a bit of a lie in yesterday I was awake at stupid o'clock this morning. and let me tell you something, it is now 6.50am and it is still dark outside!

I am no likey this turn of events.

I am not heading out for  a ramble yet as I had a little accident on the way to bed last night which involved my toe coming into contact with the skirting board,

This morning it is very sore and very red/purple/tinged with black,

Not sure how I will get my Jimmy Choos on for work tomorrow.

So as there is no cricket news you will have to have news from the Chateau.

Well the limo came back from the garage and it is now renamed 'Steve Austin'.

Nice to have him back and sounding and driving much  better.

I lost 2+ hours of my life that I will never get back, when I had to chat to Kiki even though I told her I was really busy and then an hour later she tipped  up on the door step!!!!!!!

By the time she left I was not in the best of tempers and headed to the town to waste another 5 minutes of my life looking around.

actually I fib as I was in Aldi for half an hour of which 15 minutes was queueing to be served.

I spent a good part of the early evening knitting and then got a call from 'BKOTF' to 'come out to play'.

I refused but ended up with him calling in and a funny old evening it was too.

I think I have guessed my birthday present.

Ihope for you all that we have some cricket news soon, as I have just realised what a boring life I lead!

I am typing this on the 'lapdog' again but it now seems to have developed a life of its own and is doing some very odd things like changing the font to bold and underlining!

oh well I soldier on!

Happy Sunday I am about to strip the beds and do washing!

See told you.......very very boring.

it's Saturday

I am up late and enjoying a quiet cup of coffee in the garden, whilst tapping out the blog on the 'lapdog'.
its chilly and windy but it is peaceful.

 However all is not peaceful in the England camp.

As Ben Stokes is on on a 'delay' for the Ashes, 'who they gonna call?'

well it sure ain't Ghostbusters!

its none other that the perpetual tourist.
he must be packing his suntan cream and his kindle now, ready for another jolly holiday, because sure as eggs is eggs he will be injured the moment that they touch down.

call me what ever you want about this comment, but I think we know that he will be.

As if Durham are not in enough poo, it was announced yesterday that Colleywobble  is signing until the end of the 2018 season, at least its not the 5 year contract that was being bandied around.

lose the young ones hang onto the old timers, he will be gearing himself up now for a coaching roll.

My Barramundis lost out to Scotland in their game yesterday, which means that Scotland over take them in the league.

sad for the little island but well done to them

I am now gearing myself up to get 'stuff done', and also a 2 mile hike to pick up my car hopefully later today.

Then try to get other things sorted, at least 2 loads of washing are already on the line!

well super short today, but I am sure that you have better things to do than sit around ready this garbage.

have a brilliant Saturday

Nearly the weekend

5.5 hours until we welcome the weekend and all that it will entail.

car to garage at 2.30pm, then walk home and get on with things here at the Chateau*

*lie on sofa and have a nap!

I haven't made any plans for the weekend, but hope to get lots done, including last batch of chutney and some jam making.

Will Usman Arshad be making jam and chutney next season?
well he is not renewing his contract with Durham, so who knows.

This week has not got any better for the club.

The Yorkshire boys had their end of season bash and great to see the TLJL got 'Fielder of the year', the outstanding catch against Lancashire in the T20 had to be the best ever.

Ben Coad swept the board, and rightly so, this young man is showing that our future is bright.

The future here in the North East of Blighty is looking decidedly cold and dark, and its a long wait for any chance of warmth, unless you are flying off to warmer climes!

I am flying off along the 167 now as I head off to finish the week, which has seen vast amounts of changes in the office, as I continue with my push to get us working more efficiently.

I know that todays 'bacon butty brekky' will go down well with the gang, it is now set up as a regular Friday event, although my 'veggie finger butties' are often mocked!

Well short one today as I head off to do my thing for the last time this week.

Good luck to the runners who are heading over to the Chicago marathon, after all that training we expect great things.

Until tomorrow when I think that I will treat myself to a lie in.

Morning again

well after two nights of the same dream, which has woken me up thinking that it is real, I am ready to head back to bed for a bit of shut eye!.

I had forgotten how disturbing dreams can be.

I am sure that it must mean something, however I am totally bewildered as to what that is.

Maybe I should stop having peanut butter before bedtime!

I bet that Durham are waking up wishing that the past two seasons were all a dream. To further add to their woes, one of their players has been banned for one year for the use of recreational drugs.

I am sure that Michael Vaughan will have something to say about this too.

It was wonderful to read the thoughts of retired skipper of Notts, Chris Read, he has been talking about his final season with the club.

After being relegated last season , they were on fire this year and won the One Day Cup, T20 Blast and got promoted.

he said that this season exceeded all his expectations, and believe me I think it did the same to all the Notts fans, who this time last season were in shock.


I see that Fred is 'bigging ' up this Ashes team, saying they are the best ever, and backing them to win the Ashes. Lets just hope that Sky do not put him anywhere near a mic for the tour, I don't think my ear drums could stand another onslaught. Although I have just  been reminded that The Ashes are on BT so that should be a huge relief!

 You have to wonder if you have been asleep and woken up on 1st April when you read that an American company has approached the MCC and ECB with the idea of a 'giant tent' to cover a ground when rain affected.

'A giant mesh tethered to floodlights and with a hot air balloon in the middle to keep it up' is the  pitch form the company.
Should be interesting at Headingley when the planes are coming in to Leeds/Bradford.

Well apparently the powers that be  are interested in looking into this 'technology'!

I suppose it is a way for more 'lunches' and 'meetings'.

What next I ask myself??

Slept in

Its Wednesday, its the middle of the week and I 'sort of' slept in!

I went to bed early enough but then woke up at 11.45pm after the most weird of dreams, I actually had to get up and go down stairs and check that a very old boyfriend was not watching TV or asleep on the sofa.
By the time I got back to 'mon lit' I was wide awake and spent a good hour mulling over what may have triggered the dream.

I then woke up at 5.40am which is very late for me!


Anyhoo lets see what is going on elsewhere.

Well Michael Vaughan is continuing to call for a change to 'the cricket culture of today'........................... hmmmm did his team  not drink all night before Heading to Downing Street ( and yes I know they had just won the Ashes), where someone relieved themselves in the garden?

Did some of this team ( and back room staff) not get involved in an incident with a pedalo when under the influence of drink?

I appreciate fully that there was no fighting/arrests etc, but the above incident could have been  far worse ( well one of the back room staff got sacked which was bad).

we all have to wait and see what the outcome of the Stokes enquiry is, and then look at the way to move forward without 'nannying' players.

My opinion only!

Loving that here on the 4th of October, the Aussies are in full on Ashes mode, as they are setting up what they want to do.

I cannot wait for the 23rd November, ( even though my birthday is before this!)

Over in PNG, Scotland continued to bat, slowly, for over 2 days to score 514.
The game is heading for a draw but Scotland will nudge ahead of PNG in the table due to first innings total.
PNG are currently  (6.19am UK time) 192-3.

And at 6.20am UK time, it is time for me to toddle off and start my work day.

Happy Hump Day


its all downhill to the weekend now.

It's a windy one

it's a windy one out there today and its is totally silent, no birds singing at all, they have either flown south or are having a long in, in their nests.Which is where I would like to be but I am running slightly late this morning and  need to get a wriggle on.


The cricketers are having a long lie in this morning although now is the time to start packing their bags, as movements begin.

last week we heard that Somerset had said goodbye to their Director of cricket,Matthew Maynard. Glamorgan are now speculating that he may go back to them.

Middlesex have said goodbye to Ryan Higgins who is trotting over to Gloucestershire.

its just the start of the migration.

England Lions team was announced and Mark Wood, makes the team along with former team mate 'Bambi Boy'.
It will be interesting to see how fit Wood stays as he has a bit of a history if injury once selected.

Their is international cricket on at the moment  but I am a little bit too tired to really concentrate on it.

In Port Moresby, Scotland  have been knocking up runs and are currently 416-7 in reply to 404. This is the third day of the four day match.



Well it is time to head off to the office again, we were due to say goodbye to Kelvin last Friday but due to an unexpected turn of events, he came in yesterday for his final day.

Its not going to be the same without him.

Onward and upward, and lots of O & M's ( 18 months worth apparently) to get out the door asap.

Wrap up warm if you are in the North of Blighty it is slightly chilly!

New week

So new week starts as we close the door on the domestic cricket season.

However lots still going on internationally,

starting with my 'other' besty bowler only going and getting injured. I am keeping a sharp eye on this news, I cannot have two of my South African bowlers crocked.


The Ashes tour is still the hot topic as to 'will he or won't play?'

I'm bored with it all, we need to wait and see what the outcome is.

Over in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea  are taking on Scotland.
On day 2 Scotland are 103-2 in reply to 404. Looks like the Barramundis are responding well to their interim coach.

Busy week ahead for me at work, and then busier when I get home.

I need to try to see a difference by the end of October, and the garage needs a good clear out too!


So as I put away the flasks and cricnic wear, washed blanky and stored away, stored the fold up chairs in the garage, I realised that I lug a boat load of 'stuff' with me for a day out!

Next year I think that I will try to take less.


Its cold and windy here in the North East of Blighty and I fair got blown about on my ramble this morning.

I now have to try to make a silk purse out of a sows ear before heading off down the 167.

Have a great Monday and enjoy the week, Its October and  only a matter of months until the cricket season starts again .

Review of the season 2017 (AKA 50 shades of Ginger)

End of an era

April

Well the season could not come quickly enough but it started with most Yorkshire supporters having a very heavy heart after the passing of our President John Hampshire prior to the season starting.

A truly wonderful man, with a wonderful twinkle in his eye and word for everyone.

A true cricket gentleman.

And then the season commenced.

Cold it was too!!! Flasks of coffee and homemade soup were the order of the day, just to help to keep body and soul together ( and stop teeth from chattering).

Towards the end of the month I headed off to Leeds/Bradford airport and hopped onto a plane for Southampton.

Ah my old stomping ground, so many happy memories.

And meeting up with one of my dearest friends from this time, Terry who over 20 years ago used to look after me at the other Hampshire home ground of Northlands Road.

I also met up with Mark and Cally and two great evenings were had by all.

The cricket could have been better though!

It was all over too quickly and I bade a tearful farewell to Terry and headed back to the North East.

Such a wonderful weekend, such wonderful friends and memories.

Great to see Michael Carberry back again doing what he does best ( and smiling too)

Yorkshire were not on a winning streak

We found out this was HRR's last season!

It was announced that our favourite ex coach would take a temporary role at Kent to help them out.

May

started with cricket at home and a members forum, where we were given more info about  the money needed to make Headingley even greater.
Caught up with the lovely  Mark who  flew in from Northern Ireland. 

Arthur had a rare day out

we saw off ' the dark side'in the one day match which put us all in good spirits 
we then lost to Worcestershire which was not so good .
Jonny Bairstow was omitted from the England team and was relegated to water boy for more matches than I care to remember

Brooksy scored a century against Lancs.!!!

Toddled off  to see Yorkshire take on south Africa A , Jim and Tom tipped up and we were having a merry old time and then it rained, so we went to the Long Room.
And then it was sunny, but they called all play off  so we decided to go into Headingley,

Early

 then it was discovered that I had lost Pink Hippo!!!

He was found face down soaked through in a puddle.

He was put into care at the Headingley Lodge whilst the three of us  headed into town!

later

All I can say is that it is the only time in history I have ever refused a taxi with two young men! I was slightly tipsy and wobbled home to the Lodge to try to dry out the hippo.

June

This month was a very up and down one for me as I was in the process of changing jobs and as such trying to sort out whether I would be at the fixtures that I had arranged to be at.

I managed a quick trip to The Riverside ground at Chester le Street to catch up with the lovely Jack Russell who gave me news of new commissions.

Always lovely to see him.

Amazing artist and one of the greats cricket wise too.

Then we had the new fangle thing of ‘Day/Night/ cricket. Yorkshire were taking on Surrey and Monday was the first day. I managed to keep awake until close of play, but it was strange to leave cricket and then head off to my room at the Lodge and go straight to bed.!

I was woken by rain, which did not let up at all on the Tuesday and meant that I left to go home just after lunchtime.

Rain was to be the nemesis of many cricket fans.

July

Ah haaaaaaa, July, that time of the year again. The Yorks v Notts T20 match and time for me to meet up with my great friend Fun Sophe.

This year we had set up pre-match cocktails at the Headingley Lodge and a good turnout there was too.

The match was great, well for me anyhow, as Yorkshire won.

I also managed somehow to have a very close encounter with Vinnie the Viking the mascot of my boys!!!

Sophie and I then wandered into Headingley with Jim. Tom and Steve and eventually staggered back to the Lodge much to the amusement of the lovely Helen on reception. I have to say Helen, the corkscrew you managed to find for us went unused.

The following Friday I was off on my travels again as I headed down to Fun Sophes house for the weekend and the Test Match.

Saturday morning,straight into Trent Bridge, first sight of Morne Morkle and first beers of the day before 11.30am, well it was obvious how this was going to go.

We were having a fab old day and with lots of food and drink and great cricket and company what more could you want?

The match ended and Sophie and I headed off to meet my journo mate Will, who had spotted us from the press box (with binoculars). El Tel, Sophies husband did think it was funny that we were arranging to meet a man  ‘In Fox Road, behind the Sky TV vans’!!!!!!!

Catch up natter,two bottles of Cricket Writers Ale and we were on the bus back to Chez Sophe.

Next day I was bidding a near tearful farewell to Sophie,Terry and Jess. Until next year ( if Terry can cope)

August

The beginning of August saw me once again on the road, Friday evening at Chester le Street for T20 which we lost………………..and I am still wondering how we did that!

Then, case in car and off to Scarbados for the Festival.

Hmmm, I was settled in my chair in the North Marine Road ground  by 10.00am and by 11.30am I was thinking that I may have booked one evening too many in the hotel as we slumped to (50-6) Essex were on fire.

Watching Yorkshire being beaten in 2 days is not something that I want to see again. EVER!!!!! ( although it was close to it end of season!)

However Sunday was another  ‘fun packed’ night out with Jim, maybe I would do that again ( well this was the 3rd one this season!). Its not every night that you see Harry Styles letting his hair down and winning on the ‘teddy grabber’, and sharing his spoils.

Please note we do not think that this was the real Harry Styles but after a few pints ( a lot of) he sure did look like him!!!

The following week I was very kindly asked to watch the Yorks v Lancs T20 ‘War of the Roses’ with the Chairman. I had a fabulous evening and got to chat to friends that I hadn't seen in while.

And Yorkshire had a resounding win against the foe. This included the most amazing catch by TLJL, although with his heritage I would say that was only to be expected!

The evening also celebrated 40 years since Geoff Boycotts 100th 100. The chairman presented him with a shirt and Sky 'presented' him with a microphone!

You can guess which one went down best!

August 26th saw me heading off to Headingley again, ( I seriously need to have a pied a terre there), this time to see England take on the West Indies in the 2nd test.
met up with chum Susan and as we had an empty seat near us Christine came over to join us too. Lovely day , and managed to have

a chat with Geoff Cope and a good old 'wash' from Lester the dog

What a day, weather behaved with the exception of a small shower early on, and we were all able to watch a massively improved  WI team with 2 centurions on the day.

Fabulous cricket, could not say anything other.

September

The final month of the cricket season and I was showing no signs of slowing down at all, the 5th saw me off down the A1 again as I headed off to the watch my boys in CC action against Middlesex.

Rain washed out the first day and resulted in me having an excursion to the French restaurant in Headingley to sample their hospitality, and as I had been  sampling hospitality in several places that afternoon , I was back in the hotel and snoring pretty early.

Next day saw Jim and I on the boundary having a natter with Middlesex bowler James Harris. What a lovely man he is and he chatted right through until lunch.

Then I had a visit from TLML and we had a fabulous catchup about the season and all things going on on the home and holiday front.  Lovely to see her. Catch up with you next season Karen.

Rain was the scourge again and Wednesday and Thursday involved lots of coming and going to the pavilion. The match was drawn.

Harry ( ex POM) was chatting to me at the end of the week about how it is not looking good for our boys unless we both manage to pull off some outstanding wins.

And their match against Hants at Uxbridge was off for rain more than it was on, hammering a further nail in the Middx Div 1 coffin.

Essex were romping to the championship winning line and  my boys were trying to keep their chins up ( and the club up too)

And then it was the final home match for my boys and the final  home match for HRR!,  or it should have been, however a quad injury put paid to that!

I caught up with Ray the 'gatekeeper' in his final match for the club. A lovely man and a credit to Yorkshire CCC

Mark had travelled over from Northern Ireland to see the last match of the season and we had a good old gossip.

What can I say, tears were flowing a plenty. I also had  no nails left after the tensest finish ever, I have never waited so long for one run to win a match!

There was a Ryan Sidebottom playing, but he was on the Warwickshire team !!!

What on earth will I do without my yearly posterior photograph. I think that it may be time to get my book finally published!

I've only been saying this for the last 6 seasons

Sadly 'my seat' was not available and will not be until 2019! we had to find a new home for the last match , funny how random people came up to me and said 'they've taken your seat away love, not right!'

Well we managed to stay in the top flight, please do not do that to me again! I have a dodgy ticker you know!

Sadly for Middlesex they did not survive and will be joining Warwickshire in Div 2.

Notts are up so much more time with Sophie and Terry !!

And that’s it for another domestic season, how slowly it arrived and how quickly it passed

Finally, I would like to thank the ladies at the Headingley Lodge, all cricket chums, but especially to  Sophie and Terry who put me up and put up with me, and to Jim, who saw me in some pretty states this season (he probably saw 2 of me!).

And a special word for Mark and Sharon who have been a constant for me over the last few seasons. Lovely, lovely people.

Special thanks though to HRR, Ryan Sidebottom for being my favourite bowler for the last 20 years and for just being brilliant.

 762 FC Wickets is not a bad haul for a career now is it?

Just over 6 months for it to all start again!

It won’t be the same though without my doppleganger!