Fools Friday

I am totally convinced that the above is the motto of the ECB as they set out their plan to make England the laughing stock of the cricket world.

It was announced that after a meeting on Wednesday ( a meeting in the Lords Tavern by the sounds of it) the 100 ball game was put down on paper ( back of a fag packet or more likely Cuban cigar box in their case).
And what a great big pile of s**t they have churned out, their 'revolutionary vision' to the franchise game.

This is the game that is to attract the people who do not usually go to cricket.
This is the game to attract woman and children to cricket ( because woman and children never go to cricket)
This is the game that they say will be popular with broadcasters ( and the ECB hierarchy back pockets)

So they are going to have it set out in 10 overs of 10 balls for each team and changing ends after 10 balls???!!!!
Bowlers can bowl 5 or 10 balls in one go.
The game will be 20 balls shorter than current short format game.
The tickets are bound to be ridiculously priced!

And the ECB think that this will save cricket????!!!!

Firstly if you have never been to cricket and see this you will never appreciate County championship cricket  ( or is this their cunning plan)
Yes, woman and children will be able to join in the 'excitement' of counting down the 10 ball over ( because woman obviously love this kind of thing all the time)

I am waiting for the addendum to this format, where if the bowler,bowls a wide he then has to bowl wearing a blindfold ( oh how the spectators will laugh!).
If the player is out for a duck he gets  custard pied on the way back to the dug out by his team mates.
Winners get to jump in a hot tub and drink loads of sponsored beer or wine

I am not a fan of T20 but at least it is mainly our county players, not to be  the case with the Franchise fiasco, which will be open to the T20 whores who roam the world in search of more money.

As you can tell I am right behind the whole thing!!!

I have already begun my strongly worded letter to 'Robbing' Graves. Not that it will do any good but at least it will mean the return letter will give their cleaner something to do apart from putting the port bottles out for recycling.

This does have to go before the counties in January, but with the lure of huge amounts of money for the 8 counties who will be part of the fiasco. I fear  it will be pushed though.

What I do wonder though is that (especially at Yorkshire) counties have been pushed by ECB to up grade their grounds ( flood lights. new stands etc) putting  most in debt, how can they refuse to accept this abomination, with the money that is being offered.

My only hope is that it falls flat on its face ( words I  never thought that I would ever write about any form of cricket) .

Oh dear Friday has started with one hell of a rant!

Think I need to go to see Big Al ,the hungry persons pal, and order the bacon butties.

Have a good Friday...........................I smell a glass of wine or two coming on this evening,

ready for the season

So the fixtures have been perused and the hotels booked, the dog sitting has been slotted into the diary and that's next season sorted out.

now all I have to do is wait. And that's something that I am not too good at.

Down under Earl Eddings has been passed the poison chalice that is the Chairmanship of cricket Australia whilst Justin Langer has said that there needs to be a careful re-integration when Smith and Warner are out of their ban........no mention of Bancroft who will probably go down in history as the patsy in the whole fiasco.

if its a re-integration like that of 'HWMNBNITB' Smith and Warner will wait for the Australian team to come and pay homage to them!

Meanwhile Simon Katich spoke truthfully about how the Australians have been viewed, he said they have been a disliked team for years.

I am looking at an offer made to me yesterday and looking at what next year may hold, its a tough time all round, will there be big changes.

And the rain continues as we are in at the tailend of another storm, or is it just normal wintery weather???

So I am bracing myself to head out into the rain and  wind and start another day.

Full office today as 'C bomb' Bill ( or 'Bill i am' to give him his hip name) is back from the wilds of Northumberland, 'Mickey dripping' is taking up his new office role as pack engineer and Jeff my pet draughtsman is on 5 day weeks from now until xmas to get us through the all the work.

Yes time to head off and do my thing.

have a good Thursday

So the new season is set out

 and like it or loathe it, we all  know how next season looks.
I've checked the dates and got my plan in order for the matches that I will be able to see.
 I am also putting  out my prediction for the winner of the CC 2019.
Either Yorkshire. Surrey or Nottinghamshire.

There I have put it in print.
Mark my words it will be one of those 3.

I so wanted to go to Hampshire but it is the week after the Notts away match and I am not sure if I can do both! I have though, had a quick check of the flights  and checked out a few hotels, I will probably go...................depending on other things which may be ongoing.


What is a dead cert is Scarbados, and this year Sophie and El Tel are coming too!!!
This should brighten up the summer!

The thing that  members of every club have voiced is the lack of weekend games, this means that those of us that are still working are not able to see as many matches.
I appreciate that the World cup has an impact on the fixtures but really it does seem that the ECB are slowly making sure that the County Championship dies.

What is interesting to hear is that those of us who still work are currently discussing if our membership is worth paying for!!!!

How will that impact on clubs??

Well there are a good few months until I am off to sunny Nottingham, so best do the other important thing and head off to work.

Happy Wednesday!

Fixtures day

It;s Tuesday and its raining and windy, but on the  upside its FIXTURES  DAY!!!!!!.

My 2019 diary is already packed in my work bag and I have a list of hotels ready for the big booking event.

Main fixtures are
1, any at Headingley
2, dates against Nottinghamshire
3,Scarborough festival

then I will check out the Hampshire dates and decide if I am going to the Rose Bowl next season.

I love fixtures day, it breaks up the close season.

England , as expected, beat Sri Lanka and were in high spirits, even the hacks who wrote off England on a regular basis, were excited.
It seems that Joey Root is finding his feet as Captain.

The ICC are looking to try to get women's cricket included in the 2022 commonwealth games. It will be interesting to see if this is taken any further and will be a great show piece for the women's game.

It seems that we are not the only one with franchise T20 ( or 100 or whatever it chuffing well is now) woes. South Africa have hurriedly put together the Mzansi Super league,I dont have time this morning to read the whole piece about it, but with lots of millions of rands spent and some  very disgruntled owners from 'Ramslam' it could be something that the buffoons at the ECB should be watching.


And so with that, me and my hacking cough are off to wend our way through the miserable morning traffic and start the day.

Have a good fixtures day one and all.

New week more rain

And so a new week begins and now after the excitement of my birthday and then the visit from Sophie, I am on countdown to the  now pared down Christmas break.

In one months time it will be over! That's a little bit sobering especially as some people will be nearly bankrupt by then!


I'm still  undecided if I am putting the 'crcimas' tree up this year, I'm not going to be at home for the big day and so am tempted not to bother.I'll just see how the next couple of weeks pan out.

England are looking for a win in the third and final test in Sri Lanka for a series whitewash, something that has been a long time coming.
However Sri Lanka are putting up some resistance,  they are 5 wickets down but look to not be giving up yet.

England woman were losers against Australia in what seemed to be a very one sided game.

My thoughts though are all focused to tomorrow when the fixtures come out,

I will be hotel booking and sorting out holidays over the next few weeks, my favourite thing to do in the wait for the new season to start.
 This is always  something that makes me smile,as I am a little bit closer to the domestic season.

Well as another week begins, I wonder what this one will hold.
Will I finally get all the things in order for me to make the changes that I want to.
I'll have to wait and see, could be exciting times ahead, in the meantime , the excitement that is roadworks and irate drivers heading out to the 'back' of Darlington is the order of the morning for me.

Have a great day.

Sunday

Its Sunday and how quickly the weekend has gone,.

But lets rewind.
Friday evening Sophie arrived and after dinner we settled down to put the world to rights, catch up on gossip and drink copious amounts of wine!

Off to bed after midnight and then  up at 8.30am and attempting to feel slightly human.

So after a hearty breakfast of scrambled egg and smoked salmon, we packed the picnic ( homemade butternut squash and carrot soup, freshly baked bread) into the boot of the car and headed off into the wilds of the North east of England.

We headed out to Chester le Street and then passed by Beamish, before finally getting to Rowlands Gill ( after a detour up a single track road!).
Some of Sophies family were from here and so we set off to find the house.

On the way  we found the Methodist Church and saw Red Kites, as well as a fabulous little road of Pre Fabs, still going strong.

We found Alloy Terrace and had a good look around at the houses which were built in the lightest brick I've ever seen.

We headed back towards  the main part of  the village and were able to catch site of parts of Gibside, a National Trust property that is a must see if you are in the area.
After a walk down by the river, we headed home, via The Angel of the North.

By the time we got back to the Chateau we were so tired that thoughts of an evening in the cricket club with Mr Funky were replaced with drinking wine and watching Julia Roberts films.

And now we are up and watching England play.

Its been a great weekend

It's Friday

YEAY!!!! It really is Friday and the weekend is upon us.

And what a  weekend it is lined up to be......Fun Sophie is coming to stay!!!

But there is a half day at work, bacon butties to order and  some housework to do before that happens.

Over in Sri Lanka,, England  are 102-2 at lunch, Burns and Jennings have gone with Jonny B and Joey Root holding up the side.
I will be tuning in when I get to work.

It will be a cricket weekend too with my cricket sister.

Yesterday in an attempt to finally shake off the hacking cough I came home at lunchtime and took to my bed for a couple of  hour, in an attempt to catch up with lost sleep, not a chance, my phone was ringing every 5 minutes!!

Things may be looking up, just maybe.


I also re gingered my hair, which was looking duller than I was feeling.

Hopefully after a weekend with a vat of martinis, I will be well and truly on the mend.

I may even consider putting the 'cricmas' tree up...........................

I didn't say it was a definite.


Right super short, I am running late and have lots to so.

Happy Friday

Chilly start

its a chilly old Thursday morning although it did take me having a shower, making coffee, putting on the computer and checking my emails, to realise that it wasn't Friday!!
tres disappointed!

There is a sprinkling of white stuff on the ground I notice, I think this is more heavy frost than snow, but to be on the safe side I decided to leave the surprise of which is is until I go to get the car out of the garage.
Too cold to put the recycling out at the moment!

Jonny B has been given his chance to play in the last test in Sri Lanka, he appears to be fit after the football injury, its his chance to shine. And the press seem to be heaping the pressure on him.

So we are now just over a month from Christmas and I am looking to get my desk cleared completely in readiness of this. I have 6  O & M manuals to get out the door before then, so quite a lot to do in the lead up.
The few days that I am now getting off will be spent in a spa hotel where I can be spoilt and pampered, I am really looking forward to that.

I am also looking ahead to the New Year when hopefully things will start to settle down, when work life is in turmoil everything else seems to follow, and with the changes to our usual work situation, its been a tough few months.

so with the prospect of cricket on the radio tomorrow and  it actually being Friday tomorrow, I will head off to sort out Thursday.

have a good one.

Midweek and more rain

Yes it is still raining and yesterday it was mixed with sleet, which should have brought the temperature in the office to about -6, however I was prepared and fully set up in winter work wear............however the heating men arrived mid morning and set about putting on the the new central heating system.

By 3pm I had dispersed of jacket, feather and down lined gillet, scarf, one pair of socks and gloves.I was fearing that I was having hot flushes and so  went to look at the thermostat, it read 22!!!!

22!!!! normally anything above 0 is tropical in the office. I am guessing that shorts and t-shirts will soon be the office garb, we are so not used to heating!


Down under where the weather is considerably better than here, the decision about the 'sandpaper' three was made. And they will not be allowed to return early from their ban.
A ban is a ban, and good for CA for sticking to their decision.

England are currently in practise ahead of Fridays game.
Jonny B has been seen out on the field and not a football in sight.

Interesting to see the team line up.

Well lots to do and not a lot of time to do it in.

Me and my hacking cough are off to join the others in 'consumption alley'.
Have a good one.

It's raining it's pouring

and it has been since about 6pm last night................its also very very cold! Winter is coming and that means only one thing....thermals!

The central heating system that was installed in the office a couple of months ago is still to be fired up....having a gas supply may help with this!

Having extolled the virtues of my town last week, it only flipping hit the headlines yesterday, yes we will, on December the 11th have the full media circus in town as Paul Gascoigne appears at the magistrates court.

 Central Avenue will come to a standstill and anyone wanting to cross the pedestrian crossing to get to Aldi will have a right old job. lets hope there isn't a fire as the Fireman may have a problem getting out of the station in the media scrum!
It's all happening in the flagship New Town!


Strange dreams here at the chateau, I was in the pub and talking to Sean Bean (as you do), we were chatting about Sharpe and his fame, he said that he really wanted to buy a dairy farm and would change his name by deed poll.
'oh what to?' I asked

'Geoffrey Boycott' he replied.

My thoughts of being the 6th wife of Sean Bean went out the window very quickly!

I think I need to eat less chocolate before bed!

Well super short and not very little cricket to talk about so I am off to brave the rain and cold and will be back tomorrow.

New week

So new week begins and I am pleased to say that apart form the hacking cough I am feeling much better, its to be hoped the rest of the work gang are too.

Yesterday was a busy day, which included nipping out for lunch and catch up with BKOTF, the rental houses are progressing well and he is off to spend a a couple of months working on his projects in the UAE. I made him promise that he wouldn't get into the same bother that he did last time ( nearly getting married and ending up getting fleeced), but with his track record I am not so sure!
I in turn came home with my xmas pressie of a cricket ball!


Once back at the chateau, I got into full cleaning and sorting mode and managed to get more things lined up to go to the charity shop, on ebay and on Gumtree.
I shall have a minimalist home...........................
well maybe not.

This week looks to be full on down under as the much unravelling Cricket Australia, make their decision as to whether  the ball tampering cheats can make a comeback.

If it is agreed that they can we should see them available for selection  around the 21st of the month.

So I think they should be allowed back to play international cricket................well I think you know the camp I am in.

And now its time to head off, have a great day!

Sunny Sunday

So the beds are stripped and on the line, the sun is shining and making you think that it is warm.......believe me its not, prancing out into the extensive grounds of the chateau in my 'jim jams' was not one of my better ideas!

There is lots to do today, as I list more 'stuff' on ebay  in the grand clear out.And I am also off to the town, that will kill about 5 minutes of my time. well maybe 15 as I will be having a mooch around the charity shop, my all time favourite hobby.

I have the spare room to hoover and dust in preparation for the arrival of Fun Sophie, next weekend, when I will share the delights of my town, yes a trip to Greggs and the cricket club will be the highlight of her weekend me thinks!



It was good to see England on a winning streak and good for the morale of the team, lets see if they can maintain it this winter.
Good to see the lads smiling.

The 3rd test start on the 23rd.


South Africa saw another win over Australia who are still trying to find some form. Well down to the Proteas, cracking win.

and now time to go and do things.

have a great Sunday

Lazy daisy

Well I am up and about after a super long lie in, and this week it has not just been me that was celebrating a birthday, also the town that I live in has been celebrating its 70th birthday.

This was the first town to be built under the New Towns act of 1946, and was to be the flag ship design for the new towns that would be springing up in post war England.

 During the war  it has been the site of many munitions factories, due to the constant mist that hung over the area hence giving some natural camouflage for the factories, which in turn were built in grass covered mounds( proper green thinking too), some were still there when we moved here.

The ladies who worked these factories became known as the 'Aycliffe Angels' and I'm proud to say my Mum was one of them.
The commemorative garden at St Claires Church has a  seat dedicated to them.

The first houses that were put up were prefabs which are still there with some tenants currently having a stand off with the local council who are wanting to knock down approx 40 dwellings and put up 600 houses ( OK I have over egged that a little but you get the drift).
Lord Beveridge will be turning in his grave, especially as he even lived here, someone who really lived his dream.

The town may be a shadow of its original design, but it is at this moment my home. The original footprint can still be seen although it is probably now about 3 times larger than was planned.

and with that trip through the history of my town, I am off to walk around the concrete monstrosity that is the 70's rehash of the town centre.

happy Saturday and Happy Birthday Newton Aycliffe.

It's Fryday!

so it's 'Fryday' and I am preparing to head off to see 'big Al' and order the bacon butties for the gang, I'm not sure that they will manage them as we ate our body weight in scones with jam and cream yesterday in honour of my birthday.

And talking of the big day, what a day it was, with flowers galore, plants, choccies, lots of smellies ( are they trying to tell me something?), money, jewellery.......well you get the drift, I was totally spoilt and  it was all much appreciated.

Today will mainly be about getting through the morning and getting home to relax, I'm not doing anything tonight, just chilling out.

and chilling out is what Joey Root needs to do as he is handed a demerit point for dissent.

News also coming through that Faf du Plessis will  retire from international T20 after the ICC World cup in Australia, I'm crying already!

England are back to doing an England as they have lost wickets before lunch, they need to come out fighting.


News of IPL ( or 'I've pocketed loads' as it is known here at the Chateau)teams is starting to filter through..............oh joy!

And thats it for today as I head off to see what the highways gang have put in place over night, roadworks is becoming my favourite swear word!

Have a super Friday, its nearly the weekend!

It's here

So the best day of the year has arrived and I am already distraught as there was no Sean Bean at the door with a huge bouquet of white roses!, I am guessing that he is waiting for me in the car park at the salt mines!

So here it is, I am 21 (+ VAT, council tax and water rates) and I am heading off to spend the day in the land of waste water, what more could a birthday girl ask for..................a lot is the answer to that, but someone has to pay the mortgage!

England  have been celebrating my birthday too as they have the hosts at 139-4 at lunch this is in reply to England's 285 all out, not great but better than expected this time yesterday.

Interesting to see that Cricket Australia have laid down guidelines for players wanting to go to the IPL, this to protect their domestic and international teams, something that the ECB should be doing instead of letting players go at the last minute as they did last season.

We were due to go to the cinema last night but postponed it until I can sit for 30 seconds without coughing as if I have smoked 40 Woodbines!
I have to pop to my Auntie Normas's on the way home as it is her birthday today too, she is also 21 +.

I woke up to some fabulous messages from friends both here and across the world, how wonderful.

well time and cakes wait for no lady so I am off to try to tame the mane and head out of the door.

Have a wonderful day, I intend to.

Midweek

Yes I am off to work today as I have a big meeting with men from a water board.
I am sure that me coughing and sneezing through the whole thing will mean that it is shorter than normal, or at least that is the plan.

I am feeling better the temperature is still a bit out of sync, the cough is still rib bruisingly painful and I feel that I have swallowed a couple of razor blades, but this is a marked improvement on the weekend, so off I have to go.

I have a couple of bits of cricket news though before I hop away.

a couple of weeks ago you may remember that I mentioned John Hastings the Aussie man mountain, who had been struck down by some mystery lung problem. This meant that as he was running in to bowl he would cough up blood!
Doctors are unable to sort out the problem and the worry is that this could cause major problems, so sadly John has made the decision to retire.
I wish him well both in health and in what the future holds for him.

Other news, its lunch in Sri Lanka and after a terrible start losing 3 wickets we have rallied to 120-4

I think the meeting might be a god send for me.

I know this is short but I have lots to do, have a very Happy Wednesday.

Off we go

So, I am up and I am dressed and I will be preparing to head out out the door very shortly, after 2.5 days in bed I should be feeling much better, but in reality I am still struggling,It can only improve from here onwards.

I am totally dosed up with 'drugs' and have now also  turned to bone broth to try to get me through the rest of the week, although it looks as if this may become something that will get me through the winter.
It can't hurt and to be honest with the lack of appetite it means I am actually getting something down me.

Time to get this birthday week going properly.

Well now its all going off in Sri Lanka, as Captain Joe Root has finally made it clear who will be wearing the gloves for the remaining two tests.

Yes Ben Foakes has beaten Jonny B to the stumps, Foakes who is currently rated as the best keeper in the squad, as well as proving a great debutante with the bat, is about to make it a lot harder for Jonny to get his wicket keeping position back.

Root said that Jonny is a huge part of the future team, but I'm disappointed to say that Jonny has done a Finny and become the tourist.
Maybe he should be sent home now if he has no chance of playing, after all we appear to nearly have a full squad of wicket keepers out there.

We will see how it all pans out in the next few days, will Foakes stay the hero?

I'm a huge fan of instagram, and love the pics and videos of friends and the famous few that I follow, however I have had to unfollow one of the 'famous' few as it is so obvious that they their account is operated by another.
I have to say that most of those that I follow post fun and interesting things, I havent posted in the last few days as I guess pics of me in my PJ's is not too great and a video of me coughing my heart out not the best viewing.

Well I am off to the salt mines to see what mayhem and madness took place yesterday. There is bound to be alot to catch up on and I really am not in the mood to do any of this.

Have a great day.

Birthday week begins......

.........and  I'm still in bed, I have taken the decision not to go into work today as I still do not feel in full Lady Lainey mode, I have to go to the Docs too, so I thought why put myself through multiple drives through the roadworks.

Not like me at all!

In other news (and as you will probably know) South Africa won the one day series against Australia, yes that was something to make me smile. I had listened to it through the night ( it relieved the boredom in between trying to cough up a lung).

Over in Sri Lanka young Ollie Pope has been released from the test squad to join the Lions tour in the UAE.
Pope,who  was the new 'wunderkind' last summer when he was drafted into the test side, has this tour been ousted by his team make Ben Foakes, who was drafted in to replace Jonny B.
Its a fickle old world!

Pope is hoping to get some  play with the Lions  ahead of the West Indies tour early next year.

Down under the teams are lining up for the Big Bash, not much been said about any players from the UK ( although I may have missed this). I am going to be shouting (along with my family in Oz ) for  Perth. Well I would if I watched it and I doubt that I will.

So with that I am going to go back to bed and try to get another hours sleep. Or at least lie down without coughing.

Have a great Monday

Lest we forget

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning 

We will remember them

Well that wasn't how it was planned

So I am up, but that is about the best its going to get, I am supposed to be in the car on the way to a surprise birthday jaunt and instead I am waiting to go to the emergency clinic as my 'cold' has turned worse and I am now alternating between very high temperature and  freezing cold, the cough is now worse than ever, I have no voice and am struggling to breathe......................oh joy!


I hope that my overnight stay is not in Darlington Memorial hospital!


We are playing it by ear at the moment as to whether we get away, it will depend on what the doctor says.

As of yet I have not had any palpitations so that is a positive!



England won there test against Sri Lanka and broke a curse that seemed to be hanging over them.

Australia managed a win against South Africa, by the narrowest of margins, although listening to the commentary you would have though that they bowled SA out for 0.
It had to be the most biased commentary that I have heard in a long time.
Its all to play for.


Right thats me done as I am off to get looked at.

Have a great day