Every now and then I have found myself thinking of Nan and Grandad. It makes me feel bad that these thoughts haven't been as often as maybe they should have been but they have certainly been more frequent recently.
Nan died in 1997 and I can remember the day vividly. She had been in a coma for quite a while and Mum was going to travel up to the hospital to see her. "Don't go to school today Nick, come up to see Nan with me" she said to me that morning. I always believed that Mum had a sense of foreboding that day, it was so unlike Mum to let any of us have time off school, I guess she just needed someone to be there with her. I'm glad to this day that it was me, not only for Mum's sake but for mine. I was able to see Nan that day, albeit in bad way and that is a comfort.
I was closer to Nan than I was to Grandad in the sense that I could have a laugh with her and idle chat came easy. Grandad was a very reserved man who held his emotions in check. I always had a respect for him though and loved them both in their own way. I will always remember a day when I had a really good chat with Grandad about his time working on the Mullbery Harbours when I was studying the Home Front in history at school. Our conversation went on for hours and morphed from the original attempt to get some material for my project to finding out about Grandad's life from his childhood to the different jobs he had done. When I look back on that day now I wish that I had been a little bit older so that more of what he was telling me would have sunk in, like any kid I guess a lot of what he told me went misunderstood but I didn't want to stop him and ask "why?" I just wanted to hear him. It definitely made it's mark though.
He really opened up to me for the first time in years and we even talked of his wedding day which is what today was all about. It was Nan and Grandad's wedding anniversary today and I took Mum up to the cemetary where their ashes were interred so that we could tend to the headstone and place some flowers. I trimmed back the grass around the stone and Mum washed it clean with a cloth, after I had placed the pots of azaleas either side the sun broke through the clouds just for a moment and framed Mum with her head bowed in prayer over her parent's ashes.
Mum kept thanking me all the way home but this little trip was just as much for me as it was for her. We said to each other that we would make this an annual trip together, which for me is a wonderful way to approach it, celebrating a day that was special to Nan and Grandad rather than marking the days that they passed away. Happy Anniversary Nan and Grandad!
Saturday, 31 March 2007
Friday, 30 March 2007
Unsure of England
It seems I am at risk of turning this into a cricket-blog but as it is a huge part of my life and I am English I guess it would seem strange not to write about England's antics in the Caribbean.
Today Ireland were the opposition and an English win simply a formality. Somehow though our boys managed to let this game be taken somewhat closer than it should have been on paper. Our lacklustre displays from 1 to 3 were a disappointment and have been throughout the tournament so far. I listened to a debate between David Lloyd (or Bumble as his colleagues affectionately refer to him) and Nick Knight on the merits of the current top order and the team strategy and must admit that I agree with Bumble. Whilst the 3 players selected are indeed the right choices for me I think that they are underperforming and this is down to confidence. The great players are able to play their way out of bad form, take Matthew Hayden for example. His form slumped but he grafted and so far has scored 2 centuries on this tour, a trip that many suggested he shouldn't be making! Here's hoping that one of are top 3 can take force the issue in the coming games and start producing like we all know they can.
Meanwhile my favourite English player, Paul Collingwood, has produced yet another stellar performance. He is such an underrated player and deserves more plaudits. It was recently suggested that the England side rely on Kevin Pietersen for their batting. I would argue that whilst Pietersen is indeed an awesome player it is Collingwood that we seem to rely upon most for our successes. His worth to the team is enormous, his batting displays have often outshone the big names like KP and Freddie both in terms of runs and style. He can build an innings and then step on the accelerator when the time is right. He can hit big when he needs to but has the patience to turn over the strike when they aren't there to be played. His 90 today turned an average card into a strong total no matter who we were playing against and the fact that he is one of world's best fielders just adds to his value. His takes a useful turn as a bowler too, doing a job for the side in both the 1 day and Test arenas.
With a strong total posted against a side of Ireland's calibre I was hoping to see England pick up regular wickets and win the game by a large number of runs. We shouldn't be letting sides like Ireland and Canada score in excess of 200 runs against us but winning ugly is better than not winning. It was encouraging though to see Flintoff take 4 wickets and score some runs, a performance that will hopefully give him some confidence ahead of the tougher fixtures in this stage of the competition.
Today Ireland were the opposition and an English win simply a formality. Somehow though our boys managed to let this game be taken somewhat closer than it should have been on paper. Our lacklustre displays from 1 to 3 were a disappointment and have been throughout the tournament so far. I listened to a debate between David Lloyd (or Bumble as his colleagues affectionately refer to him) and Nick Knight on the merits of the current top order and the team strategy and must admit that I agree with Bumble. Whilst the 3 players selected are indeed the right choices for me I think that they are underperforming and this is down to confidence. The great players are able to play their way out of bad form, take Matthew Hayden for example. His form slumped but he grafted and so far has scored 2 centuries on this tour, a trip that many suggested he shouldn't be making! Here's hoping that one of are top 3 can take force the issue in the coming games and start producing like we all know they can.
Meanwhile my favourite English player, Paul Collingwood, has produced yet another stellar performance. He is such an underrated player and deserves more plaudits. It was recently suggested that the England side rely on Kevin Pietersen for their batting. I would argue that whilst Pietersen is indeed an awesome player it is Collingwood that we seem to rely upon most for our successes. His worth to the team is enormous, his batting displays have often outshone the big names like KP and Freddie both in terms of runs and style. He can build an innings and then step on the accelerator when the time is right. He can hit big when he needs to but has the patience to turn over the strike when they aren't there to be played. His 90 today turned an average card into a strong total no matter who we were playing against and the fact that he is one of world's best fielders just adds to his value. His takes a useful turn as a bowler too, doing a job for the side in both the 1 day and Test arenas.
With a strong total posted against a side of Ireland's calibre I was hoping to see England pick up regular wickets and win the game by a large number of runs. We shouldn't be letting sides like Ireland and Canada score in excess of 200 runs against us but winning ugly is better than not winning. It was encouraging though to see Flintoff take 4 wickets and score some runs, a performance that will hopefully give him some confidence ahead of the tougher fixtures in this stage of the competition.
Thursday, 29 March 2007
Kiwis crush hosts
In less than 40 overs New Zealand cantered past a dismal West Indies total to register their second win in the Super Eights stage and join Australia on 4 points.
Chris Gayle had done his best to give his side a good start but even Brian Lara couldn't manage 40. As Charles Colville (bless him he finally has said something that makes sense) noted on Sky's coverage;
It certainly didn't for the West Indies. Scott Styris made 80 not out in a century partnership with Craig McMillan to ensure a comfortable 7 wicket win for the Black Caps.
Lara had apparently commented on the lack of support that the hosts were getting at the grounds. The debate about ticket pricing for this World Cup has been ongoing for some time. The general gist is that entrance to the ground is $16US which is supposed to be far too expensive for the average West Indian supporter to afford. Depending upon who you speak to prices allegedly vary from $40US to $100US but I cannot find any official information to support those claims.
During the coverage I heard that not only were ticket prices a problem for the locals but car parking too was an issue. For some time now West Indian cricket has been in crisis; be it politics amongst the team and those that run it or just the fact that the youth of that part of the world are paying more attention to games like basketball.
This competition was a chance to rejuvenate the game in the Caribbean yet with so many empty seats in what are clearly big cricket matches it seems that the ICC have missed a great opportunity. Shame on them.
Chris Gayle had done his best to give his side a good start but even Brian Lara couldn't manage 40. As Charles Colville (bless him he finally has said something that makes sense) noted on Sky's coverage;
1 partnership of 50 isn't going to win you matches.
It certainly didn't for the West Indies. Scott Styris made 80 not out in a century partnership with Craig McMillan to ensure a comfortable 7 wicket win for the Black Caps.
Lara had apparently commented on the lack of support that the hosts were getting at the grounds. The debate about ticket pricing for this World Cup has been ongoing for some time. The general gist is that entrance to the ground is $16US which is supposed to be far too expensive for the average West Indian supporter to afford. Depending upon who you speak to prices allegedly vary from $40US to $100US but I cannot find any official information to support those claims.
During the coverage I heard that not only were ticket prices a problem for the locals but car parking too was an issue. For some time now West Indian cricket has been in crisis; be it politics amongst the team and those that run it or just the fact that the youth of that part of the world are paying more attention to games like basketball.
This competition was a chance to rejuvenate the game in the Caribbean yet with so many empty seats in what are clearly big cricket matches it seems that the ICC have missed a great opportunity. Shame on them.
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Alone
All throughout today I have felt so alone.
Even when surrounded by friends and others I have felt dislocated from them in some way. It's an odd situation to find yourself in, a strange feeling that you shouldn't be there made worse by the fact that you can't stop thinking about it.
Was there something I could have done or said to stop this sensation of limbo? I drew a blank when I tried to answer that but I know for sure that I don't want to have another day like today.
Even when surrounded by friends and others I have felt dislocated from them in some way. It's an odd situation to find yourself in, a strange feeling that you shouldn't be there made worse by the fact that you can't stop thinking about it.
Was there something I could have done or said to stop this sensation of limbo? I drew a blank when I tried to answer that but I know for sure that I don't want to have another day like today.
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
12 Years!
Here's wishing my Niece a very happy birthday! I cannot believe that it has been 12 years since she was born. I can remember the day as clearly as if it was yesterday.
I was woken early by Mum with the news that I had become an Uncle. T's daughter was born early in the morning after a labour that had started at midnight. In what has become the norm in recent years, she was leaving hospital to be taken home at 10:30.
A few days earlier I had been watching a video of Jack Dee where a particular gag centred around the birth of his first child. At it's funniest point Jack is perplexed to find that his firstborn emerges into the world looking blue! This had stuck in my mind and I spent the whole day at school wondering whether I would discover a blue niece when I finally got to meet her.
Obviously she was a beautiful pink bundle lost in her father's arms as I walked into the flat. I remember being stunned by her paper thin fingers and in awe of how small yet perfect she was. Distance prevents me from sharing today with her but when she comes over we will get together and head for the shops.
I was woken early by Mum with the news that I had become an Uncle. T's daughter was born early in the morning after a labour that had started at midnight. In what has become the norm in recent years, she was leaving hospital to be taken home at 10:30.
A few days earlier I had been watching a video of Jack Dee where a particular gag centred around the birth of his first child. At it's funniest point Jack is perplexed to find that his firstborn emerges into the world looking blue! This had stuck in my mind and I spent the whole day at school wondering whether I would discover a blue niece when I finally got to meet her.
Obviously she was a beautiful pink bundle lost in her father's arms as I walked into the flat. I remember being stunned by her paper thin fingers and in awe of how small yet perfect she was. Distance prevents me from sharing today with her but when she comes over we will get together and head for the shops.
Monday, 26 March 2007
Loose ends
I struggled for something to post today. It was pretty uneventful. So I decided to look back over the last 2 weeks of posts to see if there was anything to inspire me. What I found was a list of unfinished stories and unfulfilled promises. So here is my attempt to rectify that:
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/what-are-tuesdays-for.html
The West Indies won and yes I did have a beer or four ;)
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/curry.html
Chelsea did hold onto their lead to beat Manchester City by 1 goal to nil.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/am-i-insane.html
I did donate once Barclaycard fixed their problems. Elaine is now £1455 short of her target. Please help her reach it if you can.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/birthdays-cricket-and-sobriety.html
I scored 1 in a 2 - 1 defeat.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-dont-like-mondays.html
The book was the Ruby in the Smoke, the author Philip Pullman.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/back-from-brink.html
I got the curry out of my jeans at the second attempt with a little help from the Shout spray.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/happy-birthday-d.html
The article was about the lack of dead bodies being donated to medical science. The headline is what tickled Mum so.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/what-are-tuesdays-for.html
The West Indies won and yes I did have a beer or four ;)
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/curry.html
Chelsea did hold onto their lead to beat Manchester City by 1 goal to nil.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/am-i-insane.html
I did donate once Barclaycard fixed their problems. Elaine is now £1455 short of her target. Please help her reach it if you can.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/birthdays-cricket-and-sobriety.html
I scored 1 in a 2 - 1 defeat.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-dont-like-mondays.html
The book was the Ruby in the Smoke, the author Philip Pullman.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/back-from-brink.html
I got the curry out of my jeans at the second attempt with a little help from the Shout spray.
http://caspers-musings.blogspot.com/2007/03/happy-birthday-d.html
The article was about the lack of dead bodies being donated to medical science. The headline is what tickled Mum so.
Cadaver crisis sparked by public's stiff opposition to donating
Max Pemberton - The Daily Telegraph
Sunday, 25 March 2007
Changes
It wasn't until I looked back on what had happened today that I realised how things have changed, albeit in a small way. I had made plans to cook another roast, after my innocuous midweek effort; roast rib of beef, potatoes, parsnips, carrots, broccoli and Yorkshire puddings the order of the day. I've attempted roast dinners before but always with a helping hand in some way or another. This time I dealt with the lot from buying the fresh ingredients to cooking and serving the meal. As with all things in life there was room for improvement, unless you like your roast beef medium-rare that is. It may seem like small beer in the grand scheme of things but this was a point made to myself and a very tasty one at that :)
Changes were rife in the team today too. With injuries and missing players we were forced to field a rather different line-up to most weeks. I reverted to my old stomping ground at centre-back while my brother T vacated the penalty area for a stint in the centre of the park thanks to damaged tendons in his wrist (we won't ask what caused it)! With a team sheet of crocks and ill-positioned players, no changing room, no qualified ref and a road to cross to get to the pitch one would have been forgiven for packing their bags and heading for the hills. We didn't though and I'm much the better for it. The game was well matched and the 1 - 1 draw on reflection was probably the fairest result. We took the lead through T when he headed home a superb cross from the right but the opposition capitalised on a lapse at the back to equalise at the near post. A missed penalty soon after and a disallowed goal against saw the luck level itself too. This was the first game in months that I have genuinely enjoyed and my hearty thanks go to the stand-in ref from the opposition. Without his perfect application of the rules this game could have been a nightmare but to his credit, I believe that was the best refereeing performance I have seen all year!
The final change to note was cheese on toast which Mum made me for lunch. She coated the cheddar in dried Parmesan before putting it under the grill. It really was good, not one for always but certainly one for a change.
Changes were rife in the team today too. With injuries and missing players we were forced to field a rather different line-up to most weeks. I reverted to my old stomping ground at centre-back while my brother T vacated the penalty area for a stint in the centre of the park thanks to damaged tendons in his wrist (we won't ask what caused it)! With a team sheet of crocks and ill-positioned players, no changing room, no qualified ref and a road to cross to get to the pitch one would have been forgiven for packing their bags and heading for the hills. We didn't though and I'm much the better for it. The game was well matched and the 1 - 1 draw on reflection was probably the fairest result. We took the lead through T when he headed home a superb cross from the right but the opposition capitalised on a lapse at the back to equalise at the near post. A missed penalty soon after and a disallowed goal against saw the luck level itself too. This was the first game in months that I have genuinely enjoyed and my hearty thanks go to the stand-in ref from the opposition. Without his perfect application of the rules this game could have been a nightmare but to his credit, I believe that was the best refereeing performance I have seen all year!
The final change to note was cheese on toast which Mum made me for lunch. She coated the cheddar in dried Parmesan before putting it under the grill. It really was good, not one for always but certainly one for a change.
Saturday, 24 March 2007
Organisation
There were 3 elements to my day. Coaching, Training and Drinking. Each believe it or not required a huge amount of organisation with only one of them working out positively for me.
The coaching session that we ran today went like a dream. We had 18 players turn up this week which shows that it was worth persevering back in the weeks where we were only getting 6. There is nothing better than seeing the kids improving week on week. We are getting such a great group of players and I can honestly say that it is a privilege to be able to work with them. It's a credit to their parents and schools that these children are keen to make friends with every newcomer and are just as quick to offer some advice of their own when their peers are struggling or when the younger ones don't understand. The group already have a team spirit about them and are clearly enjoying the game. I cannot wait for the season to start and to see them out on the pitch in their first few matches.
Training on the other hand was a palaver. I was bowling pretty well for me but when it came to be my turn to bat all hell broke loose. One player in particular was arguing the case that he wanted to bat in the net which admittedly would have suited his ability better. The issue though was never there to start with. He had expressed his wish to bat in the net to another player who had stated quite clearly that he was not in a position to make a decision, no one person was in charge. Each week any player who wants to bat in either net need just say that they are padding up to bat in whichever net they choose. Normally this works itself out based loosely on a mix of who turns up first and ability. Granted this can often leave one net sparse on potential batsmen and the other denying players more time but this is a sacrifice that I think most batsmen are prepared to take on the basis that a short period of time facing good bowling is better than only being able to play 1 in 3 balls. This time though the argument raged on until I lost my temper and said that I would bat in the weaker net just to shut people up and make sure that the aggrieved party didn't leave the nets as he was threatening. This just caused more mayhem when someone started complaining that I was taking too long to pad up for a net session that was as good as a waste of my time anyway! I wish I could have bitten my tongue but I didn't. I let him have it with both barrels and surprisingly it had the right effect. Everyone I think was a little surprised at my outburst as I am not normally the sort of person to air my feeling so openly, but they all seemed to end the disputes and get back on with training without too much trouble. My thanks to brother's PL and AL for moving nets for a while to offer me a more challenging session, something that I wouldn't have expected from them.
My day was topped off by a well planned evening falling into ruin before we even got there. The plan had been to get some of the old school gang out for a few quiet beers and a good catch up. Some of the guys couldn't make the initial start time and with the Israel vs England game being televised so early we decided it best to move the meet to 20:30. The next one was my fault, timings went out the window as I was trying to get the coaching kit tidied away and a quick call to Kryten saw the meet at the pub moved to 21:00. Sinbad, who couldn't make it originally, called me and asked to poach a lift. This set things back somewhat as directing him and then giving up and heading out to find him turned into a nightmare. We eventually caught up and made it to the pub by about 21:45. I got a round in and then tried to settle down for a quiet drink and a good chat with friends but Sinbad's mood was odd and he seemed to get louder and louder in what was clearly a quiet pub. I got more uneasy as the time passed, having that feeling that people kept looking over to find out what the upset was. I eventually gave up and made arrangements to get him home. He was clearly upset by something and the only way he could cope with it was to act up in this way. This was really out of character for him, I just hope that he is OK and will get in touch with him tomorrow to make sure.
The coaching session that we ran today went like a dream. We had 18 players turn up this week which shows that it was worth persevering back in the weeks where we were only getting 6. There is nothing better than seeing the kids improving week on week. We are getting such a great group of players and I can honestly say that it is a privilege to be able to work with them. It's a credit to their parents and schools that these children are keen to make friends with every newcomer and are just as quick to offer some advice of their own when their peers are struggling or when the younger ones don't understand. The group already have a team spirit about them and are clearly enjoying the game. I cannot wait for the season to start and to see them out on the pitch in their first few matches.
Training on the other hand was a palaver. I was bowling pretty well for me but when it came to be my turn to bat all hell broke loose. One player in particular was arguing the case that he wanted to bat in the net which admittedly would have suited his ability better. The issue though was never there to start with. He had expressed his wish to bat in the net to another player who had stated quite clearly that he was not in a position to make a decision, no one person was in charge. Each week any player who wants to bat in either net need just say that they are padding up to bat in whichever net they choose. Normally this works itself out based loosely on a mix of who turns up first and ability. Granted this can often leave one net sparse on potential batsmen and the other denying players more time but this is a sacrifice that I think most batsmen are prepared to take on the basis that a short period of time facing good bowling is better than only being able to play 1 in 3 balls. This time though the argument raged on until I lost my temper and said that I would bat in the weaker net just to shut people up and make sure that the aggrieved party didn't leave the nets as he was threatening. This just caused more mayhem when someone started complaining that I was taking too long to pad up for a net session that was as good as a waste of my time anyway! I wish I could have bitten my tongue but I didn't. I let him have it with both barrels and surprisingly it had the right effect. Everyone I think was a little surprised at my outburst as I am not normally the sort of person to air my feeling so openly, but they all seemed to end the disputes and get back on with training without too much trouble. My thanks to brother's PL and AL for moving nets for a while to offer me a more challenging session, something that I wouldn't have expected from them.
My day was topped off by a well planned evening falling into ruin before we even got there. The plan had been to get some of the old school gang out for a few quiet beers and a good catch up. Some of the guys couldn't make the initial start time and with the Israel vs England game being televised so early we decided it best to move the meet to 20:30. The next one was my fault, timings went out the window as I was trying to get the coaching kit tidied away and a quick call to Kryten saw the meet at the pub moved to 21:00. Sinbad, who couldn't make it originally, called me and asked to poach a lift. This set things back somewhat as directing him and then giving up and heading out to find him turned into a nightmare. We eventually caught up and made it to the pub by about 21:45. I got a round in and then tried to settle down for a quiet drink and a good chat with friends but Sinbad's mood was odd and he seemed to get louder and louder in what was clearly a quiet pub. I got more uneasy as the time passed, having that feeling that people kept looking over to find out what the upset was. I eventually gave up and made arrangements to get him home. He was clearly upset by something and the only way he could cope with it was to act up in this way. This was really out of character for him, I just hope that he is OK and will get in touch with him tomorrow to make sure.
Friday, 23 March 2007
Happy birthday D!
Many happy returns D.
Tonight we got together and had a few drinks amongst friends to celebrate. The evening ended with a marathon poker match which I was happy just to watch. I'm not a big fan of poker as a game, I find it unsociable and I don't really enjoy playing it. I guess I don't like losing money or maybe I just lose money because I don't like playing the game. With everyone else taking part I sat and watched N's hand and each round I listened as reasoning was given for each play he made. I enjoyed this more than I think I ever would playing.
I popped in to see Mum and Dad earlier. We enjoyed a cup of tea together and chatted away. Mum produced a newspaper article which had tickled her during the week, I laughed heartily and almost instantly thought of it as material. Unfortunately it will have to wait for tomorrow's post as I left it behind. It was nice to spend some more quality time with my parents, especially after last weekend. As I was heading off I gave Mum the ritual hug and kiss, the embrace lasted that little bit longer, conveying everything I needed to know.
Tonight we got together and had a few drinks amongst friends to celebrate. The evening ended with a marathon poker match which I was happy just to watch. I'm not a big fan of poker as a game, I find it unsociable and I don't really enjoy playing it. I guess I don't like losing money or maybe I just lose money because I don't like playing the game. With everyone else taking part I sat and watched N's hand and each round I listened as reasoning was given for each play he made. I enjoyed this more than I think I ever would playing.
I popped in to see Mum and Dad earlier. We enjoyed a cup of tea together and chatted away. Mum produced a newspaper article which had tickled her during the week, I laughed heartily and almost instantly thought of it as material. Unfortunately it will have to wait for tomorrow's post as I left it behind. It was nice to spend some more quality time with my parents, especially after last weekend. As I was heading off I gave Mum the ritual hug and kiss, the embrace lasted that little bit longer, conveying everything I needed to know.
Thursday, 22 March 2007
Back from the brink
There is a well known saying, "Fortune favours the brave." Well I guess I must be pretty courageous because luck certainly was on my side toady. The plan identified the cause and the cause was more than manageable. "Phew."
My culinary skills were put to the test this evening with a midweek roast. That in itself is a rarity for me. It wasn't a disaster, I cleaned my own plate, though I'm generally not fussy. The carrots and parsnips were a little under cooked but the chicken brought the meal back from the brink. It's normally that part of a roast dinner that I mess up, timing is not my forte.
Take my advice, don't train on a full stomach. I did and I wont be doing it again in a hurry. The turnout was poor which is especially galling given the current form of the side. Those that did attend played well though. We'll be missing our centre-backs on Sunday as another injury hit Kryten and Pottsy remains unavailable.
The curry didn't completely wash out of my jeans. Take two tomorrow morning I think :(
My culinary skills were put to the test this evening with a midweek roast. That in itself is a rarity for me. It wasn't a disaster, I cleaned my own plate, though I'm generally not fussy. The carrots and parsnips were a little under cooked but the chicken brought the meal back from the brink. It's normally that part of a roast dinner that I mess up, timing is not my forte.
Take my advice, don't train on a full stomach. I did and I wont be doing it again in a hurry. The turnout was poor which is especially galling given the current form of the side. Those that did attend played well though. We'll be missing our centre-backs on Sunday as another injury hit Kryten and Pottsy remains unavailable.
The curry didn't completely wash out of my jeans. Take two tomorrow morning I think :(
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Dropping a clanger
I felt like I let myself down today. We all make mistakes I know but this one just seemed so stupid and it certainly came at the wrong time. An earlier oversight came and bit me hard and I was lost in a panic trying to salvage something from what looked like a bloody disaster. Once I had calmed down and started to think rationally again things started to piece together. I received an enormous amount of help for which I am extremely grateful, a rare example of teamwork. A plan was devised to be executed tomorrow. I headed for my brother's place keeping my fingers crossed.
T was as cool as ever and we chilled for a while and supped some beer. Off to his local for a quiet drink which resulted in a skin-full; we chatted and laughed for most of the night. It wasn't much longer before our thoughts turned to sustenance. We were definitely well placed as this pub had recently let their kitchen out to an Indian restaurant which ran a takeaway from behind the bar. It's one of the strangest things you'll come across in an old style country pub in the sticks. I gleefully placed my order and had another pint whilst waiting for it to be prepared. The meal, or at least the parts of it that I didn't spill on my jeans, was delicious. T helped me forget my problems and as I started to doze on the couch the only thing playing on my mind was whether the curry would wash out.
T was as cool as ever and we chilled for a while and supped some beer. Off to his local for a quiet drink which resulted in a skin-full; we chatted and laughed for most of the night. It wasn't much longer before our thoughts turned to sustenance. We were definitely well placed as this pub had recently let their kitchen out to an Indian restaurant which ran a takeaway from behind the bar. It's one of the strangest things you'll come across in an old style country pub in the sticks. I gleefully placed my order and had another pint whilst waiting for it to be prepared. The meal, or at least the parts of it that I didn't spill on my jeans, was delicious. T helped me forget my problems and as I started to doze on the couch the only thing playing on my mind was whether the curry would wash out.
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
The Committee
"What time does it start?" I ask the manager. He stifles a giggle and says, "Eight you plonker, didn't you read the e-mail?"
In all honesty I didn't read the entire e-mail. I got to the part where it said there was an agenda attached so I printed that off and put it away to be perused later, thinking that an agenda would have a start time on it. When I finally got round to reading it and the associated minutes from the previous meeting I made a mental note to bring this up during Any Other Business. The point never got raised because for the first time since I joined the club we had a fairly well structured meeting with a number of less insignificant matters to address. There was real feeling about the important issues and fortunately those that attended are probably some of the most committed members. Each matter was addressed at length but the atmosphere was kept light and we had a laugh together as we put the club and the world to rights. The time flew by and we all departed.
"See you on Thursday Casp", "Yeah" I replied "See you later."
In all honesty I didn't read the entire e-mail. I got to the part where it said there was an agenda attached so I printed that off and put it away to be perused later, thinking that an agenda would have a start time on it. When I finally got round to reading it and the associated minutes from the previous meeting I made a mental note to bring this up during Any Other Business. The point never got raised because for the first time since I joined the club we had a fairly well structured meeting with a number of less insignificant matters to address. There was real feeling about the important issues and fortunately those that attended are probably some of the most committed members. Each matter was addressed at length but the atmosphere was kept light and we had a laugh together as we put the club and the world to rights. The time flew by and we all departed.
"See you on Thursday Casp", "Yeah" I replied "See you later."
Monday, 19 March 2007
"I don't like Mondays"
Not just a classic song by the Boomtown Rats but also a valid description of how I generally feel about the beginning of the week. Today marks the end of my first week of blogging. I've enjoyed being able to put my thoughts down and hope that it has so far been worth a read. I'm slowly starting to grow the list of blogs that I am reading, although I seem to have an eclectic mix at the moment. My favourite so far is the one that got me started though and Mark seems to sum up this particular Monday well. On a day that couldn't decide which season it was falling in (no pun intended) I struggled to achieve some simple goals.
In stark contrast, over the weekend I found in my parents two fantastic individuals and friends that I had hitherto often taken for granted. Their experience of life is enormous and invaluable yet their gentle, modest ways belie their true worth. I'm a little ashamed that it has taken me so long to see it but I hope never to underestimate my mother and father again. I'm blessed to have them with me and hope that they understand how much I love them.
I still don't like Mondays but mum bought me a book from a favourite author today to cheer me up. What a star! :D
In stark contrast, over the weekend I found in my parents two fantastic individuals and friends that I had hitherto often taken for granted. Their experience of life is enormous and invaluable yet their gentle, modest ways belie their true worth. I'm a little ashamed that it has taken me so long to see it but I hope never to underestimate my mother and father again. I'm blessed to have them with me and hope that they understand how much I love them.
I still don't like Mondays but mum bought me a book from a favourite author today to cheer me up. What a star! :D
Sunday, 18 March 2007
Bob Woolmer - RIP
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Bob Woolmer's passing today. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/6465063.stm
Bob Woolmer - May he rest in peace.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/6465063.stm
Bob Woolmer - May he rest in peace.
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Birthdays, Cricket and Sobriety
Happy birthday firstly to T. I'm so sorry that we didn't catch up today but there is a hangover in the making, it's just a matter of timing :) Happy birthday also to R. I had a wonderful time celebrating your big day and can't wait to see you in our present. May the luck of the Irish be with you both throughout your lives!
Talking of the Irish I cannot post an entry on St. Patrick's day without extolling their cricket team's performance out in the Caribbean. Today a team whom most regard as minnows overcame a strong Pakistan side (currently rated fourth in world cricket) to place themselves as strong contenders for progression to the next round. Pakistan, with one game left to play against Zimbabwe, are booking their tickets home.
I must put my hand up as a critic of the ICC for allowing the smaller cricketing nations to play in the world cup. I shared the view of Michael Atherton (which he aired on Sky Sports during England's tour of Australia), that their involvement would lower the quality of the competition and have an adverse affect on the popularity of the game. How wrong can I be? Ireland have produced one of the most thrilling one day matches I have seen with their pulsating tie against Zimbabwe (another minnow) and have now caused the biggest upset of the tournament. Bangladesh also caused an upset today by defeating India, their win spearheaded by a stunning innings from 17 year old Tamim Iqbal. Congratulations to these two teams. I hope that I am proved wrong about this world cup again for I predicted that England wouldn't win it ;)
It's football for me tomorrow morning and I'm going to approach it in a better frame of mind than most weeks. Who knows I might even add to my scoring tally? It helps when you spend Saturday night driving and sober.
Talking of the Irish I cannot post an entry on St. Patrick's day without extolling their cricket team's performance out in the Caribbean. Today a team whom most regard as minnows overcame a strong Pakistan side (currently rated fourth in world cricket) to place themselves as strong contenders for progression to the next round. Pakistan, with one game left to play against Zimbabwe, are booking their tickets home.
I must put my hand up as a critic of the ICC for allowing the smaller cricketing nations to play in the world cup. I shared the view of Michael Atherton (which he aired on Sky Sports during England's tour of Australia), that their involvement would lower the quality of the competition and have an adverse affect on the popularity of the game. How wrong can I be? Ireland have produced one of the most thrilling one day matches I have seen with their pulsating tie against Zimbabwe (another minnow) and have now caused the biggest upset of the tournament. Bangladesh also caused an upset today by defeating India, their win spearheaded by a stunning innings from 17 year old Tamim Iqbal. Congratulations to these two teams. I hope that I am proved wrong about this world cup again for I predicted that England wouldn't win it ;)
It's football for me tomorrow morning and I'm going to approach it in a better frame of mind than most weeks. Who knows I might even add to my scoring tally? It helps when you spend Saturday night driving and sober.
Friday, 16 March 2007
Quintessentially English
I read today that HP Sauce is no longer going to be manufactured in Birmingham. Heinz are moving production over to the Netherlands.
It is such a shame that something synonymous with England (HP stands for Houses of Parliament of course) is to have it's roots removed and be produced in another country, let alone the impact that this move will have on the lives of the workers at the Aston site and their families.
On a note of less impact it bugs me that in the movie version of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Ford Prefect is played by someone that it is not the slightest bit English. I am a fan of the world(s) that Douglas Adams invented and so wonderfully portrayed in the radio shows, novels and indeed the BBC television series. When I saw the recently made film though I was bitterly disappointed. It seemed so far removed from what I knew and loved of the original formats and this is typified by the change in the character of Ford.
My father and I agree that Ford's pretence on Earth works only because he makes himself "Quintessentially English" in order to blend in. He is of course supposed to come from Guildford. I believe that Douglas Adams died before the making of the film and so thought that the 'mistake' with Ford's character was not sanctioned by him. However I recently found this on the official Douglas Adams website.
I have seen the movie once and trust me once was enough. I will stick to the mediums that work for me. In my eyes and mind Ford will always be a blazer wearing, satchel toting alien with a plummy English accent.
The final bottle of HP sauce coming off the production line at Birmingham
marks an end of more than 100 years of manufacturing at the
site.
Workers, who held protests in a bid to stop production moving to
The Netherlands, said they felt like the bottom had fallen out of their
world.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6455815.stm
It is such a shame that something synonymous with England (HP stands for Houses of Parliament of course) is to have it's roots removed and be produced in another country, let alone the impact that this move will have on the lives of the workers at the Aston site and their families.
On a note of less impact it bugs me that in the movie version of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Ford Prefect is played by someone that it is not the slightest bit English. I am a fan of the world(s) that Douglas Adams invented and so wonderfully portrayed in the radio shows, novels and indeed the BBC television series. When I saw the recently made film though I was bitterly disappointed. It seemed so far removed from what I knew and loved of the original formats and this is typified by the change in the character of Ford.
My father and I agree that Ford's pretence on Earth works only because he makes himself "Quintessentially English" in order to blend in. He is of course supposed to come from Guildford. I believe that Douglas Adams died before the making of the film and so thought that the 'mistake' with Ford's character was not sanctioned by him. However I recently found this on the official Douglas Adams website.
'When it comes down to it, my principle is this - Arthur should be British.
The rest of the cast should be decided purely on merit and not on nationality.'
-- DNA
http://www.douglasadams.com/movie/
I have seen the movie once and trust me once was enough. I will stick to the mediums that work for me. In my eyes and mind Ford will always be a blazer wearing, satchel toting alien with a plummy English accent.
Thursday, 15 March 2007
Am I insane?!
"Yes Elaine I think you are!"
A good friend is raising sponsorship money for MacMillan Cancer Support by taking part in this year's London Marathon. If you feel generous then please head on over to Elaine's Just Giving web page and donate what you're comfortable with.
I am in awe of people that can approach a task like this and see it through. I am a keen sportsman and like to think of myself as being fairly fit but I would be unbelievably daunted by attempting a marathon. Hence to this day it has never crossed my mind. I have to admit that I am the sort of person that is happy to donate what I can to this special event and be proud of a girl that has the drive to make a difference in this world.
Cancer has affected people that I love dearly and one in particular has benefited in the past from the great work of groups like MacMillan Cancer Support. The disease has I'm sure touched most people's lives in some way.
At the time of writing Elaine is £1685 short of her target with just over a month to go before the big day. When the donation page reopens (unfortunately they are having problems - fingers crossed it's due to a large amount of donors) I'll be helping to lower the shortfall. Hurry up Barclaycard time is running out!
"No Elaine, you most definitely are not!"
A good friend is raising sponsorship money for MacMillan Cancer Support by taking part in this year's London Marathon. If you feel generous then please head on over to Elaine's Just Giving web page and donate what you're comfortable with.
I am in awe of people that can approach a task like this and see it through. I am a keen sportsman and like to think of myself as being fairly fit but I would be unbelievably daunted by attempting a marathon. Hence to this day it has never crossed my mind. I have to admit that I am the sort of person that is happy to donate what I can to this special event and be proud of a girl that has the drive to make a difference in this world.
Cancer has affected people that I love dearly and one in particular has benefited in the past from the great work of groups like MacMillan Cancer Support. The disease has I'm sure touched most people's lives in some way.
There are three times as many people in Britain living with cancer than there were 30 years ago. In fact over a million people have had a cancer diagnosis, and one in three of us will be diagnosed at some point in our lives.
At the time of writing Elaine is £1685 short of her target with just over a month to go before the big day. When the donation page reopens (unfortunately they are having problems - fingers crossed it's due to a large amount of donors) I'll be helping to lower the shortfall. Hurry up Barclaycard time is running out!
"No Elaine, you most definitely are not!"
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
Curry
Tonight I have had one of the most delicious meals that I have eaten in a long time. We had take-away curry and I was thoroughly selfish :)
- Oinion Bhajee
- Lamb Balti
- Aloo Gobi
- Plain Naan
- Boiled Rice
- Poppadoms
All washed down with 'probably the best lager in the world'. The meal was fantastic so hats off to Vindaloo! It's the first time that I have ordered from them but can safely say that it will not be the last.
Work today was productive in my mind at least. There were the usual lower points but loose ends were tied and the journey home was filled with a sense of satisfaction. To coin a phrase; "...we're getting there".
Scotland have just put up a brave performance against Australia with Smith making 51. I'm sure that this maiden half century against the current world champions will live long in his memory.
If Chelsea can hold on to their lead against Manchester City then I'll be a slightly happier man.
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
"What are Tuesday's for?"
I've heard it asked; "what are Tuesday's for?" My brother, who I often have strange but highly amusing conversations with, explains the reason for the question thus: "Monday's are the beginning of the working week and rightly loathed, Wednesday's are the middle of the week. When you reach Thursday you know that tomorrow will at some point be the beginning of the weekend. Friday is the last working day of the week and finally Saturday and Sunday are an amalgam of cricket, football, beer and hangovers. (Not necessarily in that order). Tuesday's just have no purpose."
We both agree that the world would be a far more sensible place with a 3 day weekend and therefore a tidy resolution to the problem of Tuesday. Until such an era begins, I'm stuck with a day in the week that doesn't fit.
Up until now today was one of those days. Work drifted by as is it's wont. However this particular Tuesday, right this minute, became the day and time that I began this blog. I'm about to go and watch the second innings of the West Indies vs Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup. Who knows I might have beer?
This Tuesday is rapidly sounding like a weekend. The beginning of a new era perhaps?
We both agree that the world would be a far more sensible place with a 3 day weekend and therefore a tidy resolution to the problem of Tuesday. Until such an era begins, I'm stuck with a day in the week that doesn't fit.
Up until now today was one of those days. Work drifted by as is it's wont. However this particular Tuesday, right this minute, became the day and time that I began this blog. I'm about to go and watch the second innings of the West Indies vs Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup. Who knows I might have beer?
This Tuesday is rapidly sounding like a weekend. The beginning of a new era perhaps?
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