3000 blogs and finally its all about me!

 

Well here we are at the 3000th blog, sadly I have decided that this is the last one that I write for 'Tales from the boundary', partly  because in the last 12 or so months I have had my cricket heart ripped out bashed about and stamped on, and so have at this moment lost my cricket mojo, and partly because as I have been very unwell for a little while now, and  although its been diagnosed and being treated, I need to take time to get better,  and be much kinder to myself.

Before I sign off for good though I thought I would end with a blog all about me, Lainey.

 I am a couple of years away from a landmark birthday and looking back I realise how much I have crammed into my '21 years' I have had a fairly successful modelling career despite horrific injuries in a car accident when I was 17 which I nearly didn't come through.

I spent many years living in North West London and lived a very carefree life ( work aside), I went to  Glastonbury a couple of times in the 90's before it was really trendy to go and before all the current hipsters promoting it were born. (how we didn't get dysentery, trenchfoot and a million other things is beyond me)

I am a competent chef with a touch of Cordon Bleu thrown in for good measure.

I've interrailed around Europe a lot and travelled extensively (my love of Africa will never go away). I have been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights twice on visits to the beautiful country that is Iceland (fingers crossed for a hat trick next year)

I've lived in some beautiful places of which Marbella/Puerto Banus was not one ( and that was circa 1986 before anyone from TOWIE was born)!

I've met and mingled with the rich and famous, I turned down the role of PA/Housekeeper to Lance Percival (you have to be of an age to appreciate this) 

I lost the love of my life to cancer.

I've been a mentally and physically abused wife (some scars will never heal) and am now back to the carefree days  ( bills aside).

And as such, I am now devoting as much time  to just enjoying my life as best  I can, spending time with friends and traveling as much as work allows, and drinking champagne!  This has become more relevant  since the recent scary time.

I do hope that I will be in a better cricket place next season as I still enjoy the game so much. And yes I do  still love to watch South Africa play.

I sponsored 3 young Yorkshire cricketers which will for me, always be a highlight. I will always think of them with great pride. ( And refer to them often as  'my Ben, Tom  & Matty')

I am sad that I never got to publish my book  'Cricketers posteriors' sadly in this era it would probably not have sold!!, However as its said that everyone has a book in them, I may just write one!

I class myself very lucky to have some wonderful friends who have helped me along the way, over the years and very much so in recent times, and to whom I will always be eternally grateful. I hope that I have been as good a friend in return.

Despite and because of all above I am  determined to live my best life.

I thank  the loyal readers of this blog who may/may not have been with me since its start in  2012 ( yes 10 years of inane rambling).

I am sure that those who follow me on social media will see exactly what I am getting up to in the coming months, and who knows I may come back next season ( but I very much doubt it).

Finally ( not about me)

To Richard, I would have stopped writing this blog 5 years ago had you not spoken to me at the  Scarborough Festival and persuaded me not to.

And to Jack, the greatest wicket keeper (my opinion, other wicket keepers are available) and artist, I am always overawed by the fact that you read my ramblings, thank you, your paintings always make me smile.

To TLJL who scored a magnificent century this week in Kents last away match of the season, he goes from strength to strength, and this really does make my cricket heart beat faster. 

And now I am going to take a little break from some forms of social media.

I wish you all, the very best and once again thank you for reading

Bon chance

Lainey

Midweek in the blink of an eye

 

And its Wednesday before we knew it. Today is also the birthday of Micky Bell, yes, my little fuzzy chops is 9 today, I will be seeing him later to give him his birthday pressie , and another super border has his birthday today, Sir Spike of Marske. 

Lots of doggy birthday cake around I guess.

In crickety news, Yorkshire seem to be struggling to get Surrey out, although Patto in his last game for the White Rose has been having a good go. Taking 4 of the 6 wickets, it seems to be the final hurrah.

Lets see what today brings.

So much going on here at the moment and I fell into bed at midnight, totally exhausted ( and not what I am supposed to be doing). Hopefully things even out today.

The weather is taking a very autumnal turn and on my morning ( Mickyless) walk it really was a tad nippy.

Time to hunt out the jumpys I  think

And with that I am off to see what today holds.

we return to a new normal

And so we start anew today, The Queen has been laid to rest, with all the ceremony she deserved, I shed many tears and watched with a great pride at the amazing display of pomp. What we actually witnessed was a piece of history, a royal state funeral televised. 

Micky went home on Sunday and the house is a little bit empty. The stray dog hairs have been hoovered up and all the throws washed and put away.

Life is back to some sort of normality.

I am back to work and hoping that this week passes quickly. I really feel like I need a weekend away but will hang on for another couple of weeks.

The last week of cricket begins, Yorkshire are at Surrey and the triumphant one day champs (Kent if you didn't know) are down in Hampshire.

And with that I wish you a happy Tuesday.

The saddest day

 

 And so it begins, the day that many of us dreaded but know would come eventually.

A time to say goodbye to our Monarch  whether at home or in a packed capitol.

The last people have filed past and paid their respects and now the full pomp and ceremony begins.

I hope that after  today that all of the royals, young and old get a chance to sit back for a few days and grieve in private.

It is for me a very sad day, as a nation mourns.

Farewell your Majesty.

RIP

Thank goodness its Friday

 

So Micky Bell begins his last day in the land of performance chemicals and I have reached the end of another working week.

Its been some week, in fact its been some 8 days!

Tonight  due to the ongoing health issue, I will be having a mocktail, rather than a cocktail ( you know its fairly serious when alcohol is set aside). To be honest a few weeks without a cocktail is hardly the end of the world, champagne though is another matter!!

Micky and I will be having a fairly chilled out evening with me watching more episodes of 'The Good Wife' ( how had I come to this party so late???) and then an early night, ahhh rock n roll life !

Its been lovely to see so many people go to pay their respects to the Queen. I'm sad that I can't go, but I'm not up to queueing for hours.

I did go when Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother passed away. A very quiet  and sombre  occasion.

And so with that I will close.

Happy Friday one and all

So much pageantry

 

If  there is one that thing that is apparent  over the last 5 or so days, it is, that here in Blighty we do pageantry in a way that few others do.

Yesterday I cried as if my heart would break as I watched the Queens procession to Westminster Hall.

I cannot put into words (  I am sure most of you will be the same) my sorrow at the passing of  our Queen, however life goes on and by this time next week, its to be hoped that the Royal family can have time to catch their breath and grieve privately.

I find it very hard to comprehend that I will never see her again, I had this same feeling when I lost my Mum,

However day to day life goes on for us, and yesterday must have been another of those tail end of season  thrillers that Yorkshire often do, sadly they lost to Essex, who won by a wicket ( and a whisker). And the season concludes next week at The Oval ( I've never been back since being stalked there a few years ago by a Surrey supporter).

Micky Bell and I move into the tail end of our time together, I will be very sad when he goes home.

Have a peaceful Thursday.

Midweek

 Micky Bell is coming to the middle of his stay with me and not long until his Mum and Dad come back, he will be back home before he knows it, I am sure that once his sister Betty Bell returns he'll wish he was back in the peace and calm of my house! she runs him ragged.

Peace and  quiet are the order of everyday at my house at the moment as I continue to try to get back to full working order. The last few weeks have been very difficult and scary ,hopefully now we will start to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Last night I watched the Queen being brought home to Buckingham Palace, I have to admit that I cried  and found the whole thing very  sad. I know that journey that she took so  well.

The next few days are going to be so very sad in the run up to the funeral.

How do you  put into words how you feel for someone that you once waved to on a London sidestreet  as she drove by, someone you never really met but have known all your life,

My Mum had lovely pictures of the Queen taken when Mum lived in Eton, she loved to go to see big events at the castle.

In crickety things Yorkshire got Essex out for 225 but lost 2 wickets before close.

Finlay Bean  will start the day on 41.

Go well lads  and I wish you all a good day

A bit of cricket nostalgia

 

Well back to a bit of cricket nostalgia, it is now  7 years since Yorkshire last won the County Championship, and the good old days  for the county.

We still had Dizzy as Coach and Hoddy was still with us. ( Come on who didn't love Hoddy???) Ryan hadn't retired and TLJL hadn't moved south. 

These really were the most glorious of times.

I really hope that we come to it again and enjoy  great times.

Yesterday saw the start of the Yorkshire v Essex match at Headingley, sadly the lads were all out for 134! 

Essex start the day 24-1

And with that I am off to do stuff in the office with my trusty sidekick Micky Bell who is coming to work with me this week.

Have a great day

Another week

    

Another week, begins, and for most of us it is tinged with sadness.

However  reading through all the things that have been on social media and being  in the news about our Queen, I came across one particular memory which made me laugh out loud.

A very young Prince William had fallen and was  shouting for Gary. A lady looked around saying he wanted Gary, the Queen stepped forward and said  'I'm Gary, William hasn't yet mastered Granny'.

She was some lady and  although the vast majority of us never saw anything other than the 'on duty' side of the Queen, it is so obvious that she was a funny person.

This will be a strange week , a new King and  a period of  mourning. 

We enter a new age.

RIP

 

Yesterday evening the news came through that our beloved Queen Elizabeth had passed away.

The sadness that I felt and still feel is immense. In my lifetime I had the pleasure (thanks, to a kindly policeman) to see the Queen and Prince Philip and get a wave from them. I was very young but have remembered this with great pride.

I have so much admiration for the Queen who has steadfastly and tirelessly done her duty without any moaning, in fact she was working 2 days ago, and the photos that we saw ( and never thought would be the last we would ever see of her) showed her smiling.

I know that I am not alone in feeling a sense of loss for the person who has been a constant in  my life.

RIP Queen Elizabeth II.

Thank you.

TGIF

 

Woohoo its Friday and its my last day of work  as I am on holiday until the middle of next week. 
This time tomorrow I will be hurtling ( well OK driving like my Granny) down the A1 to my holiday cottage, I cannot wait.

I am really hoping to switch off from everything for a  few days. I need it. 

I will however have my DAB radio so that I can keep up with the cricket ( I chose a cottage without sky so that I am not glued to TV), I think it is going to be interesting today, SA are in a good position in their 1st innings despite losing wickets. 

Yorkshire are still 'darn sarf' today playing Kent in one day action, Ill be keeping an eye on this result.

Tonight I am out on a works do so any chance of Faf or David Wiese spotting is out of the window.

And now time to head off and finish the week,  do the final checks of  the local walks in the area of the cottage as well as the local shopping options.

Rumour has it I may  see the aurora borealis too

Holidays are coming

Have a great day 

Happy Thursday

 

 

After over bearing weather for the last week making sure that the made up cricket game was played it was obvious that the first day of the test ( like THE test, like ENG v SA test!) was rained off   after lunch.

It all to play for though in the next few days.

Listened to Andrew Strauss having a natter on TMS , not sure he has  real cricket interests at heart. Obviously  hearing that The  Hundred and test matches can survive side by side, makes me worry more as it is obvious that the fat pay cheques from this nonsensical game  have blinded the hierarchy to what the real cricket fans want.

I could write a thousand pages on what is going wrong here, and have been banging on about it for years but hell who am I! And what do I know1

To all the cricket [purists out there, we appear to be doomed!

In other news due to an oversite by the powers that be at work I am only flipping running the show for two days! That's brave of them to say the least. I hope I remember things from my chemistry O'level!!!!! 

The washing machine is on this morning as I do more washing ready for my hols. I need to get a wriggle on and get the housework done too.

Well time to head off to the office and get another day under my belt.

Weather here in the North East of Blighty is cool and overcast (6.55am)

Happy Thursday

Happy Birthday TLML

Happy Birthday to TLML ( and apologies to my lovely friends who have not had a birthday blog post ).

I 'met' this lovely lady at Finals Day may years ago, I say met, what I mean is I was screaming my undying love for her son when she was sitting, unknowingly  to me, in the seat in front.

The next week she introduced herself to me!

Shame of it!!!!

And so it began.

We spent many seasons chattering with each other when we caught up at cricket. 

If the pandemic did one thing for me it made me see who my  friends really were and I am so pleased to say that TLML and I kept in touch through it all and that as they say is that.

Fast forward to this year, we headed off to Iceland for adventures further afield than Northallerton.

I just want to wish you , Karen, the best day ( even though I know TLDL will be putting you through your paces).

Happy birthday and I cannot wait for March 2023.

look out Reykjavik, we are coming back.

 

 

 

and for now I am waiting for the next GDMA breakfast meeting.

Midweek musing

 

Well here we are at Wednesday and my first venture back for a while, I'm super busy with work and  at home, I have fitted a sliding door onto the downstairs shower room and have some painting to do there, I am planning to strip the striped wall paper off the walls in the dining room over the bank holiday  weekend, so more painting will be taking place.

I am also keeping everything crossed that I will have a new toilet and washbasin in the shower room before the end of September which will be really lovely and a huge improvement.

I am currently sitting in my office listening to South Africa ripping through the top order of the England team. Oh dear, lets hope that it gets better after lunch.

Yorkshire are 'darn sarf' today sunning it up in Essex. Fingers crossed for the lads.

I have been watching a bit of The Hundred mainly if I think that Faf or David Wiese are on ( yes I totally am that shallow) and have to say I am still not being won over. Its just too over the top for me or maybe it is the enthusiasm of  Nass who is cannot get through his stint commentating without extolling the virtue of the new format ( and obviously checking his bank balance on an equally regular basis).

And that's about it for today as I continue my work in performance chemicals.

Have a grand day one and all

wine, weekends away, and Wiese

 

Well its Friday and I am cramming so much into life at the moment, there is  not much time for blogging.

I've been busy working, fitting a new sliding door onto my shower room, and I went to York for the weekend to stay with TLML and TLDL. 

This was brilliant, lunch out with TLML'sM and shopping and then a night out watching The Mersey Beats which was great singalong entertainment. 

We also went to a car boot sale which I loved as there are not too many where I live, so a good rummage was in order.

Monday saw me back at work and the big bosses from Denmark were over which was interesting in many ways.

Interesting to see  how they responded to my take on how I saw my role working within the company, positive feedback and  a free hand to get it done.

As you all know I am a very vocal opposer of The Hundred, but will admit to watching the Northern Superchargers ( or whatever they are called I am not au fait with the teams), just to see Faf ( out for a duck ) and David Wiese who did not disappoint ( unlike yesterday).

And today I am going home early as my boss is going to help me fit 2 new worktops in my kitchen! 

Its all going on!

Sorry that there is so little crickety chat, but  life is very interesting for me at the moment so I am taking every opportunity.

Have a great weekend and I will be back soon.

Another day

 

So as you may remember a few weeks ago I had a very bad reaction to a horse fly bite, on scanning through my pics I found the bite that I got in May ( above) not quite as bad but causing a lot of pain, infection and bruising.

Fast forward a couple of months to the last one I got which really floored me and  which is still not fully healed up. The doctor has suggested some less strong antibiotics but as I am still trying to get myself pulled round after the last ones, I am hanging out for as long as possible.

I still use the 'silver' plasters which are antibacterial, I put on at night  about twice a week. 

I haven't mown my lawn in weeks for fear of getting bitten by anything living in there!

Anyone else react badly to these pesky things?

Reading through the BBC cricket blurb, I came across this headline

'One day cup 2022, all you need to know about the county cricket's  alternative to The Hundred'

WTFF!!!! who writes this !!! alternative to a made up game that has yet to start it 2nd season! what utter piffle! and one more nail in the BBC website coffin.

The one day cup is not an alternative it is far superior.

And talking one day cup, Yorkshire are in action at York cricket club against Northants.

Lets hope they win as I notice that the 'Gibson out' gang are starting to find there voice already. Sad that coach hasn't even  been in place for a season.

I will just keep an eye on the scores from work

and talking work I had best eat my breakfast and get ready to go.

have a great Tuesday.

Happy Yorkshire Day

 Happy Yorkshire Day to my fellow Yorkshiremen ( or is it Yorshirers to be PC?!!!).

Well talking Yorkshire  I see that after the shock step down and future leaving of club captain Steve Patterson, the baton has been passed to Jonny Tattersall!!  Is it a baton or poison chalice? 

I wish him all the best and I think that he will need it.

Interesting reading over the weekend, as Mike Atherton interviewed Kunwar Bansil, showing the flip side of what has been going on at the county that I love. 

I personally miss the great duo of Ian Dews and Richard Damms  who inspired many Yorkshire players. And both were highly respected by players over the years.

Sadly once Piers Morgan starts shouting his mouth off about it all, you know it will not end well.

It was good to see Gary Ballance back on the field, and wishing him all the best.

And South Africa sealed a T20 series win. Great to see the lads playing some great cricket, I miss Faf and Dale but have loved seeing the development of a great team.

I've had a very busy week, down to Marlow via outer Mongolia ( or so it seemed)  Lots to do at head office, then home again to a wet weekend, filled with painting and decorating.

This week will be equally busy  and I am away for the weekend with TLML and TLDL.

August is a very busy month for me as I have lots of things planned including a little mini break. lots to look forward to.

So if I don't make it back here this week, I hope its a good one for you all.

 

busy busy

 

Its been mega busy  weekend, after nearly melting in the heat last week, I had a lot of jobs to catch up on.

I managed to finish the painting of the newly panelled hallway, which will have another coat but that will be next weekend.

I watched a little bit of the cricket ( as did everyone thanks to rain) and I  made chutney, did washing and packed my bags.

I'm off  'darn  sarf' with work for the remainder of the week, time to do some extra training and make use of the hotel facilities, as well as catching up with friends, which will be wonderful.

The heat last week, made for hard  times at La Maison, as I had very little sleep for 3 nights and took to living downstairs, getting to the first landing was an achievement, before being hit by  oven type temperatures.

I do have a hot house, even in winter so I shouldn;t complain ( but I will). We do after all insulate our houses to keep the cold out, it also stops the heat escaping! no wonder they turn to furnaces in the summer.

I've no crickety news except that I have managed to sneak a day to watch Yorkshire before the end of the season .

Also I found out that TLJL scored his first century at Stokesley, place of my birth!, he was about 11 apparently ( I think that's right) and I would have been just  a tad older ( that is not right!)

Have a great week, 

New week,

 A new week begins and we are well into the middle of July and over half way through the year.

Who knew that I would pack so much into the first 7 months, not me that's for sure.

Life throws some curve balls sometimes, but I have been lucky to actually  throw it right back and move on.

Its nice to have some calmness in my  life at last. Walking away from situations and people that want much and give little turns out to be  the easiest decision to make.

So the weekend, I was up and out early on Saturday morning to do lots of little jobs before settling down for cricket. I came home with Micky Bell, he wasn't on my shopping list but I rarely say no to having some time with him.

Back home, fan set up for Micky, chicken cooking for his dinner, it was all settle down for the first semi final of Finals Day.

Yorkshire playing Lancashire. 

Some great batting from Tom K-C , but seriously Jordan Thompson, a cracking 50 after his death bowling in the quarter finals! Keep an eye on him!

Matty was in to bat on a hattrick ball, I have to say I felt sick, but cool as a cucumber he faced it well.

with 204 under their belt it looked a good score.

Into the field they went Matty taking Phil Salts wicket was great to see. however it was not to be our day and Lancashire won by 6 wickets.

The lads did well and I am so proud of them all.

I settled in to be team Hampshire ( my former besty team in the south).

And they beat Somerset.

So the final, well all I can say is ECB we never needed another format of cricket. T20 delivers surprises time after time.

With Hampshire thinking they had won and it turning out to be a no ball, it couldn't have been any more exciting. They won by one run and  that team deserved it with some amazing fielding and bowling.

I did see Dane Vilas looking very displeased and appearing to tell James Vince this, not that James cared he was going to lift the trophy.

I am not a fan of T20, however I will go and watch as it is what it is, quick fire, money spinner for the counties.

The Hundred, dreadful made up game, silly rules and a money spinner for the sponsors and the ECB.

Scrap it now!

Sunday, well I painted, which in this heat was not a great idea!

And with that I am off to the land of performance chemicals

Have a great day and week ( just in case I don't come back this week)

Another week nearly over

 

Another week nearly over and another weekend to try to get the hall painted after my DIY endeavours.

Being a 'girl' I know very little about paint except that it goes on the wall and you need to put covers on the floor, use a brush or roller and in my case hope for the best outcome. I have used most paints over the years and know that in my case 'one coat' does not mean what it says on the tin.

So yesterday I bought 'trade paint' as I was informed that it covered better  ( higher pigment or something) and that it 'goes further ' than other paint, I'm hoping this means that it transfers itself to the walls  without much work from me ( trust me to pick a heat wave to do decorating).

Only the weekend will tell if this is a success.

Horse fly  bite is still inflamed but in a smaller radius and looking less angry by the day, I am  still struggling with  tummy problems and a bit of potassium levels problem, but nothing that I cannot deal with. I hope to never have another bite EVER!!!

Yorkshire are playing at Scarborough, this year will be the first time in many many years that I haven't been to the ground for any game of the season ( except 2020 obviously). There has been some great batting form Adam Lyth and Jonny Tatts, there is something about Scarbs that brings out the best in players, who can forget Rashid and Maxwell back in 2015.

I am also gearing up for Finals day on Saturday, having been before I know what a very long day it is if you  stay to the end ( especially when your team are playing in the final). Its even worse when it rains!

And with that I am off to work, 

have a great day and a super weekend.

and 'bonne fete nationale ' to my lovely French friends.