Happy thoughts

I'm not a big lover of January, nothing to do with resolutions and dieting, more to do with the fact it is the month that I lost both my Mum and Dad and as such I am always glad when it is over.
Hence the need for happy thoughts.
Yesterday I booked a flight to Dublin to go and visit a friend and I am now having very happy thoughts about swanning off to Ireland for a couple of nights.

I also am going to  be dressing a few teddies ready for the season and the matches that are taking place in Scarbs. I know I said never again, but I have a fighting chance with these  and not quite as many, so win win.

And it will keep me out of mischief.................not that I get into any, wonky foot, knee and hips put paid to that.

Ah the joys of getting old.

all my happy thoughts are focussed on Wednesdays Pilates session with the amazing Ashleigh. I am looking at this as my long term help to being fully well.
Its not going to happen over night but I have gone from having serious troubles walking any distance to just walking without pain thanks to the physio ( and doing exercises twice daily).
Everything to look forward.

I see in cricket news that Mark Wood  is getting bigged up by the man who got an MBE for 17 runs.
It seems that Mark Wood can get the SA batsmen jumping around {according to Collingwood}. Well that would be interesting to see I think we would be lucky to see Wood bowling a full test match, maybe I am being unkind, but to be fair we constantly carry a lot of injured players on tour in the hope that they will get fit.

I'm definitely in the wrong job!

And finally, yesterday I was googling 'Wedding anniversary presents', for a notable wedding anniversary of some friends.
The idea that kept coming up was to buy 'an experience' voucher, so I decided to have a look at what was on offer.

First thing to come up was 'Jack the Ripper walking tour for two!!!!!

WTH!!!!!!

I scanned through the selection and decided that maybe this wasn't the right website.

As the couple in question read the blog, I'll just say that I didn't buy you a tandem bungee jump either!!!!!

Time to head out and face Tuesday.

Surely the weekend can't be over!

Just as I was rejoicing it being Friday, it suddenly is Monday and I am trying very hard to see where the  weekend went.
The really good news for me is that the 'top' pilates class, recommended by my physio and which  is renowned for its extra long waiting list { Greg the physio referred to it as the Birkin bag of classes in this area}, have a space on Wednesday evenings and I am going to be filling it!!!!
I cannot even begin to explain how happy I am about this.
In preparation I did spend some of the weekend organising the dressing room, so that it can double up as a room to do extra pilates.


In cricket news, Jos Buttler apologised for his outburst which was caught on the stump mic. Horse bolting and all that.
There is obviously something pretty nasty going around the England camp as Captain Root missed training due to a stomach upset.
Listening to the news it seems with the loss of Jimmy, they are even touting Mark Wood with a place on the team for the 3rd test, I'm sure that the wheels with fall off that wagon before the tanned one sets foot onto the ground at Port Elizabeth.

The team seem to be in a sorry state!

Rhys the joiner is heading out The Wickets tonight and things should start to get moving in the kitchen. I also need to get a wriggle on and get the airing cupboard painted, which I haven't done yet!
I can't wait for new shelving to go in there.
Simple things.

I also feel that there are some things that I need to get on Ebay  soon, as I was putting the Xmas things away, I found a large box that had come out of the garage at The Chateau, and now has spent 6 month unopened. Time to sort through and either sell or donate.

keep the clutter to the bare minimum.

Wish I could do the same about my desk!!!

So guess its time to head off and sort out another week in the land of waste water.

Happy Monday.

Finally Friday

And finally it is Friday and the last working day of the week, it is also the day that I would normally drop of the order with Big Al on the way to work, but as the majority of us are watching our waistlines, there surprisingly is no order to take in............I think that by 8.30am there may be a phone order put in, Mickey Dripping and Norty Morty are sure to cave.

I am looking forward to the weekend, there is some painting and some furniture moving to be done.
I am hoping that Rhys the joiner comes round next week to do some work in the kitchen and the airing cupboard.

All exciting for me, incredibly boring for you all to hear.
However this is all to get the house closer to how I want it.
I am still looking for a blind for the downstairs shower room { to replace the make shift one that I put up before Xmas}and I thought that looking in the sales was a brilliant idea...………………...wrong, I still cannot find one.
Methinks that I might be a tad too choosy!!!!

In crickety sort of news, Shane Warne, never a favourite in this house, auctioned off his 'Baggy Green cap' a most treasured item and raised over £500,000, which  is going towards  the bushfire relief fund.

Well played to Shane.

The hideous Hundred keeps popping up on my Twitter timeline, now telling me the prices...…………….no need I'm not going and if it £30 a game, I can think of a lot better uses for that money.


Josh Buttler was fined for his choice of words to Phillander in the last test and that got picked up by the stump mic.
It was amazing that some England cricket fans were retweeting the exchange with comments such as ' go on lad', 'hero' etc etc.
imagine the indignation had it been the other way round.
Sledging is never the answer.

Well as there is not a lot of news, I might as well go to work.

Have a great weekend.

Smiley Thursday

And its Thursday, I cannot believe how quickly this week has gone by.

Yesterday morning was spent chatting with Tom and Ben who had met up to celebrate Tom's 21st.
I cannot tell you how proud I am to sponsor these two.
I have everything crossed for them this season.
A credit to their family and to the club.

And talking The club, they were celebrating their 157th birthday yesterday too.

I went to pilates last night and I can feel it this morning, however it is vitally important that I get to these classes as they will help me to keep my hips etc in proper alignment, strengthen my core!!! and help me get fitter.
I can honestly say that I do not EVER want to go through November 2019 ever again.

In cricket news the chatter about 4/5 day tests rattles on .
And the news came through that Jimmy is out for the rest of the South Africa tour!
I think he is a top boy, great bowler and amazing ambassador for the game, however maybe he needs to think about his body breaking down after 2 tests

I was checking out the fixtures again and if things go as planned {and I haven't gone off on a jolly} it looks as if I might be able to get to the Kent match which will be brilliant as not only will I hopefully see TLJL, but hopefully catch up with TLML too.

I have singled out a couple of games that I should be able to go to , but I am waiting for the 2nd XI fixtures which are much more important { and some academy}.


Well its time to head out of the door and its a wet and windy one here, been a  bit of a grim night.


Lots going  on today and I think that due to the stubbornness of one colleague its going to be a tough morning , and its still only the first week.

Roll on 2pm tomorrow.

Midweek

Well here we are at midweek and England won  the test, so we go into the next test on level ground.


Ah Jimmy Jimmy! now suffering from a suspected side strain!
I'm not sure what to say old chap!

And  we move onto Port Elizabeth.

I was listening to the BBL coverage on 5 live yesterday morning, when Liam Livingstone sustained a very 'uncomfortable' injury, having been hit in the box


I have to say that the commentators were trying very hard not to laugh as Livingstone hit the ground like a bag of spuds.
the comment of ' he opened his legs straight to it' followed by chuckling set me off I m sorry to say
As they tried to relate what was going on, on the field they were finding it hard to contain their mirth.

Poor Liam*


* words I never thought that I would say in relation to the Lancastrian


In other news, I arrived at work yesterday to find a bag full of jars on my desk.
I have trained my boys well and I think that there might be some chutney  making going on .

Today is also the birthday of Tom, one of my sponsored players at Yorkshire CCC.
He is celebrating his 21st in Australia where he has been playing since October.
However it wont be long until he is back here in the cold !

Have a great day Tom.

And on the subject of my sponsorship, I have renewed as a sponsor for both Ben and Tom as well as taken Finlay Bean under my wing too.
I also managed to secure sponsorship for another young player who I can't name, {and who I wanted to back myself}.
Its all about supporting and giving the lads the encouragement that they deserve.


well this is my 2600th blog and with that I am out the door.

Its a windy Wednesday here.

Lets try another day

Well day one was OK, in a work kind of way, I had forgotten how much you do in a day. I tell you I am longing for an Xmas movie marathon ( although they have now finished).

Time to dip my toe in to day 2.

In cricket ( yes I am going to talk about that again) after another player was struck down by football and injured, I wonder if they will continue to use this as a form of warm up.

England have set South Africa a high run chase total and are probably already getting the beers in the dressing room. Lets not forget this is just to level the series.

Could the men in green and gold bat out for a draw?

I have been reading Jimmy Andersons take on age and cricket. He says its just a number, and yes I do appreciate that he is and has been a great bowler but he is also someone who gets crocked at the drop of a box.

He will have to hang up his boots at some time.

And before you think that I am slating the team, I'm not I'm stating the obvious.

As Mark Wood has still not been seen in the team, I can only assume that the newest ECB tourist is happily soaking up a few rays in South Africa.

Maybe I am wrong and I'm sure you will tell me if I am.

I have managed to book a summer holiday this year..... in the summer, there are few games going on at Headingley and as a paying member that's where I expect the cricket to take place. So I am heading out to watch cricket in Europe, something that I have wanted to do for a while.

I have my flight to Southampton booked and it does seem that this may be the only time I see the 1st team, ( unless Ben and Tom get a call up).

Talking about my 'boys' they are safe and well in Australia and have been enjoying their Christmas.

Ben and Ella went off to watch the Adelaide Strikers in Melbourne, and I am very grateful to coach for organising this for me.

Well time to head off.

I got a bit ranty, hopefully the last time that this happens this year, I have too many things to make me smile than make me frown.

Happy Tuesday 

first day back to work

Welcome to the first working week of the new year for me.

It really has been a good break and I am ready to get this new year off to a good start.

There is lots planned and lots to get sorted.

But I have got 51 weeks to do it in!

I bumped into Tristan my neighbour yesterday and he told me that the new baby is here, she is beautiful and her name is Nadia.
That is super news for the new year too.
And  I do love babies.

Amazing news is that I have had a lot of interest in my facial yoga, I am sending out some literature to those who have enquired and hope too be running my first class in February.
This is really exciting.

Also on the new front I finally have a new laptop after problems with the one I bought before Xmas.
A completely different make and model so fingers crossed that this doesn't let me down.

I am not going to make any mention of cricket today, I have been watching and listening through my holidays and have thoroughly enjoyed it. { and all the tweets regarding Faf}.

Normality will resume this week, as everything reverts back to normal  with work.

I take this time to wish you all a belated Happy New Year and hope that it is happy, healthy and prosperous for you all.

Happy New Year

well I am back after an extended and much needed Xmas break.

Its been a lovely break and one that has seen me lying around in bed most mornings instead of frantically typing.

So how do I start off the New Year of blogs?

Last week the picture of my 'cricmas tree' was deemed by TMS as probably the best tree that they had ever seen.
Very high praise, and one that has meant that the tree will have another outing this year.

My lovely friend Steve aked me how the tree came about.

A funny  story to tell?

Not quite and it has taken me a good few days to write this blog.

Way back in early December 2009, I went out for Sunday lunch wih a friend having brought the tree and decorations outof the garage to sort out when I got home.

I got home to the news that my Mum was in hospital and had suffered a massive stroke, having spent most of the that afternoon and evening at the hospital and being sent home and told to expect the worse, I put the tree  away.

Mum made it through the night and between then and Christmas she was transferred to a stroke rehabilitation unit.

Christmas came and went.

Mum was admitted to a home for 24 hour nursing.

Fast forward early December 2010, horrible snow which showed no chance of clearing.
Sunday shopping in Darlingon and got a call that Mum had been admitted to hospital, so walked up to  see what was going on.

I was called in to see a consultant who informed me that due to the terrible implications of her stroke a tumour that they had just found in Mums stomach was inoperable.

Well the tree never even got a look out of the garage that year.

Early 2011 Mum passed away , and I couldn't  be bothered to have a tree that year either.

I gave the tree to the Charity shop.

By 2012 I had moved house and my sister said I should try to have Christmas as it was a new home and a new start.

I half heartedly tried to ' do christmas'.
However we had more sadness on Christmas day  that year and same in  early December 2013.

I was beginning to dread  December and the C word.

2014 saw me celebrating a big birthday and having cricket themed cupcakes on a 3 tier stand topped off with a large polysteyrene ball painted to look like a cricket ball, the seed was sown.

 I bought a tree stuck it in the corner of the dining room and just looked at it.

Maybe the antidote to my  Christmas blues was the thing that had got me through the last few years.......cricket.


So I began  by knitting tiny sweaters ( Yorkshire of course), then found some small polystyrene balls which I sat and painted over more nights than I care to think about, to resemble cricket balls
I added some Yorkshire themed tassels and set it up.

I loved it and in place of a star I used the large 'cricket 'ball from my birthday.

Most years I try to add to it, a couple of wooly Yorkshire hats, more tassels. This year I added white roses and some tiny  round red lights.


My fun tree actually has a sad story in its making, but it has given me a lot of pleasure every year since.

It was going to be its lst Christmas as I decided to have a 'grown up' tree this year but I  think that it deserves one more outing....................at least.

Last day for 2 weeks

As regular readers may know, that last Christmas my company cancelled everyone's planned holidays and made us go into work.This year I had everything set in place for a week in the sun and then the doctors pulled the plug on it, and just to add insult to injury, the company decide that we can all have 2 weeks off, I could use a long list of profanitites, but I won't. Life is strange like that sometimes.

I haven't shelved the idea of flying away for a few days in the mid of the holidays.

However today is the last day and as I attempt to close off  the last of the years jobs ( yes on the last day, thanks to the 2 Richard Tators not doing what they are paid mega bucks to do ), as well as put  on a running buffet for all 'the lads', I will be willing it to be 2pm when they can all go on a pub crawl and I can go home and shut the door on it all.

My one wish is that I finally escape next year.

All the drama aside  I look back on my working year with a sense of pride. I can see what myself and my fabulous team have achieved. They are a brilliant  bunch and I cannot speak highly enough about them.

We laugh and cry and support each other.
I fear that we may not be all together next Christmas.

Well I'm off to pack the car with all the food and gifts.

I may be back intermittently over the next 2 weeks. I want and need this break very badly.
I have lots of physio to do which I hope will help me to start the New Year in good form.

Have a great Christmas  one and all.

Sing-a-long

O Come Yorkshire Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Headingley.

Come, support Galey ,

through another season ;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

One and all

Sing Western Terrace

    But drink in moderation ,

Sing all you members of Headingley .

Sing To our captain, 

leading the team steadily;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

.One and all

All Hail! Boys we greet  you,

Ready for the season ,

Preparing  for the challenge

 that is lying ahead

hail to Martyn guiding from the sidelines;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

One and all

The end is in sight

Well its midweek and the end of the working week is in sight, it is also the end of the working year.


In crickety news, I had to have a little chuckle to myself, reading about how Jofra Archer was in doubt for the warm up game of the winter tour, because he has a cold!
Oh my dog!

And then my favourite crock Mark Wood is not fit, still has side and knee problems. So this begs the question, why was he taken out to South Africa, he is obviously taking over from Finny as the best ECB tourist.
 Finny has gone one better now that he commentates on TMS...….that'll be until  he has a fractured tongue!

I was listening to the BBL at my desk yesterday morning which made for better listening than the whinging of boys at being into day 2 without  heating.
Norty Morty doesn't complain as his thermostat is obviously broken ( or as he say he's just got a lot of blubber) as he is hot all the time, it was mentioned that it might be the 'manopause' and  he might need HRT, I needed HEAT as I was flipping freezing in my corner!

I went upstairs and raided the workwear boxes, there were some of the old company fleeces in there ( brand new), so I decided that this was the way forward for me, however after about half an hour of smelling oil in my office, I was reliably informed  ( by Mickey Dripping) that the fleeces had never been worn due to an 'incident' in the workshop.

Even after removing it I smelt like I was wearing 'Castrol no5'!!!


We are all gearing ourselves up for the next two days, I just can't wait to be able to get in the car, go home and not think about work for a while, however still lots of work to do before that happens.


have a great Wednesday.

A cricmas carol

O little town of Headingley

How still you seem to lie

Off season lull, no longer full

The winter months go by

Yet in St Micheals Lane shineth

The everlasting rose

The emblem of our Yorkshire boys

That keeps them on their toes

with  Galey as our leader

and  hopes of silverware

While Essex  sleep , Yorkshire  doth creep

To regain their crown with flair

O great  white rose of Yorkshire

Watch over all the team

Keep them faithful, fit and well

And focussed on the dream

How silently, how silently

The months are passing by

Winter is here with xmas cheer

 New year and spring is nigh.

No words can quell the feeling

Of joy as it does rise

No cold or snow or fog or sleet

Can dull the gleaming prize

 O Yorkshiremen of Headingley

Prepare to fight the foe

The season new is nearly due

All systems ready to go

We hear the western terrace singing

Songs both new and old

Lets win again, be champs again

Our team of boys so bold

Lets get the weekend started

Although its not as if I am doing anything exciting, that's saved for next weekend ( fingers crossed)

Today is about getting through 5 hours and then heading home to do the washing and organise some card deliveries.

I posted 10 parcels last week and so far 4 are undelivered and uncounted for. I'm not happy as I am unable to replace the things inside

As we all know it was the Election day yesterday. Whether  your 'team' won or not we have to move on.

There will be much muttering for the weeks/months to come.

I woke up late and haven't scanned the cricket news or indeed listened to Aus v NZ.

I am however just about to leave to head to the sorting office.

Have a great weekend

Its Election day

Well its election day and to be honest I am going to put my cross in a box only because woman died allowing me to do this.

I never talk politics, as my opinions are my own.

Cricket

In South Africa, Graeme Smith has been appointed Director of Cricket until March 2020, which hopefully will calm the waters for a while.

I woke up in time to hear an hour of the Australia v New Zealand game.
Australia batting and no loss of wickets.
(5.47am).


I met up with old London work chum Phil last night. He'd been working in the area.
He mentioned The 100  (he's not a cricket fan). I don't think he'll bring it up again (ha ha).


I have not got much else to report, so I am cutting it short and heading out the door.

Happy election day, who ever you support.

Hurrah there is some crickety news.

Oh my days, Scotland have been in action in a Tri series in the UAE and got beaten by the USA.
Yes the USA.
We need to be careful because I'm sure that they will soon take ownership of the game, probably the pilgims started to play on Plymouth Rock when they landed.

As for Scotland, well hopefully they bounce back.


On the scan front, after being first having my poor arm twisted into some very uncomfortable positions for a sonogram  I then had the pleasure of the MRI, I now have to go to the Docs for the results....that should be interesting as I can't wait to see how long I have to wait for an appointment.

I also scored another 100% on my latest assignment in my quest to train to teach facial yoga.
I am now starting to put together a format for any classes I may hold.

Hopefully Once into  the new year I will be closer to doing this.

Well super short today as it's a filthy morning with lashing rain and very windy . I'm off for  hopefully my final trip to the Post Office for this year.

Have a fabulous day .

You must be totally bored

I am sure by now that you must be totally bored of stories about chutney and cake and my arm and leg.
I know I am, however the amount of cricket news is negligible, even the announcement of the Test team for South Africa, did little to spike my interest.

And talking South Africa, they are in the midst of ( to put it bluntly ) a s**t storm.
I'm not sure how this will all reflect on the team but I personally can't wait for the cricket to begin over Christmas period.

As I can't find any more news from cricet world I will bore you with news on my knee/ankle.

So new physio and boy was he brutal. He told  me straight out that at 21* I was overweight and had thrown my whole  body out of alignment.
This was due to foot injury 5 months ago which in turn slowed me down I gained weight putting more pressure on Achilles and knee.
This set up PFPS which I can improve dramatically by exercise  taking up (again) Pilates (to strengthen my core) and losing 'at least 3stone' (his words).

To be honest he didn't tell me anything I didnt already know.

And  so today  I have the big scan at11.30am and then will go back to the office for my chickpea Pattie and salad and glass of almond milk.

Fab!

Until tomorrow (when hopefully there will be cricket news a plenty).

* age was changed to protect her Ladyship

Well the weekend is over

Again!

I am hard pushed to see where it went to.
I was in a world of final chutney making and icing the  few cakes that I had managed to get made. As I normally make abut 20 cakes the paltry effort of 6 means that there are obviously less to go around.

Its been a lean homemade Christmas this year. However as I have finally come to realise, I and my health are more important ( and if that sounds selfish to some, then I hope you never have the last months that I have had).

That aside, it is the run up to the festive period and I intend to enjoy this one as much as possible.

There are many reason why Christmas does not fill me with giddy excitement.
I'm lucky if I manage to get the tree up.
I must try to do that next weekend

Other things to do is make the 3rd trip to the Post Office today hopefully after physio.
And  hopefully this is the last one.


And 'pooooof' just like that I'm lying in bed trying to summon the energy to get up.
Luckily only one more Monday after today, And then holibobs.


Have a great day

TGIF

Considering that every morning I have woken up since Tuesday I have thought that it was Friday I am nothing but relieved that it is finally here.
Two weeks today we will be finishing work for the Xmas hols, however I have a lot to get through before then.

After work today there will be a trip to the Post Office to get the first lot of parcels out of the house and then home to do absolutely bugger all ( except ice 6 cakes!)

I have some things to sort out for my trip to Southampton next May and also a couple of other trips that I am heading off on. Then I can concentrate on my summer hol out to North Africa ( hopefully).
To be honest the summer holiday can be anywhere  hot sunny and with a beach!

On the recovery front I start physio  on Monday, and just got my scan appointment for Tuesday. Next week is going to be busy as I  am also meeting up with old London work chum Phil on Wednesday.

Well that's it for today and this week.
Have a great  weekend.