Billy Fairburn's memorial.

We went out this afternoon which is unusual for me these days - it's 'Cricket Week' at the village club. That means there's a game everyday.

On Thursday, the M.C.C. send a team and that's a big day. Unfortunately, I've got a hospital appointment that day which means a long wait for some meds and an infusion. So who knows what time I'll get back.

Today was different, we had an invite to the club for a social because our friend and neighbour, Shirley, was sponsoring the day in memory of her Husband Billy Fairburn who died of cancer last year. I knew him for many years so I had to go even though I didn't really feel like it.

It was very nice - a quiet memorial. Good food and some happy conversations. A bit of music,

Unfortunately for me I took one look at the stairs and knew I couldn't make it - so I sat on one of the benches outside. I got well and truly rained on and couldn't get inside to avoid it. It was, of course a Cricket match in the middle of an English summer, so I was always going to get rained on. After that Robyn left me an umbrella.

Eventually the clouds blew over and the game started. It was very close. We were stopping them from scoring, they were proving very hard to get out.

I had lots of memories of Billy Fairburn and was thinking about how (if I'd had a long and happy retirement) I would have done all kinds of things I never had time to do; go travelling, watch more Cricket, do a bit of fishing.

Lots of things.  

I basked in the sun - this summer I've been cold all the time, often sitting under a woollen blanket it was so bad.

I've turned into a cold blooded reptile.

It was really, really painful. I think sitting on benches is not really my thing any more.

But it was a nice afternoon.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

On the green.

Saturday afternoon and we're using our picnic set.

One of the sadder things about our wedding was being given a picnic set as a present, which was something Robyn had always wanted.

Unfortunately, I was never going to be able to use it.....or so I thought;

Well, I certainly wasn't going to be lying on any blanket - I'd need an ambulance crew to get me up again.

We walked down to the village green and spent an hour or so watching the cricket.

I even got an action shot - the ball about to be hit;

But it didn't go so well as all that. I'd overdone it a bit the day before and today was even worse. I had a lot of pain on the bench while we were watching the game and walking home was a real struggle - completed in extra slow motion.

No pain, no gain as they say.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Wraysbury Cricket Club and the M.C.C.

On Thursday I had a busy day - in the morning I was back up at Hospital for some more bad news - no surprise there because it's too early to get a result for the current chemo.

Then we went to Tesco's to do the shopping on the way back. So I was fairly tired by the end of it all.

But it's 'Cricket Week' - Wraysbury Cricket Clubs annual festival. They have four days of matches and today the mighty M.C.C. were playing.

If I'd had the long and happy retirement I deserved I would have done all the things I didn't have time to do. I would have travelled the world, taken up fishing again......and I would have watched lots of Cricket.

So today, I spent the afternoon watching the second half of the game....even if I did nod off a few times.

You can just about see the red and yellow of the M.C.C. flag on the left of the pavillion.

The M.C.C. (Marylebone Cricket Club) is the oldest club of all; they own Lord's, control the rules of the game, and they send out many teams to play games around the country like this one. Sending out quality players to local little clubs to raise the standards of the game.

It's all a bit feudal and it's not quite me but it made for a good match. They were always going to be good.

And as soon as I sat down my heart sank - the M.C.C. had finished their innings with 233 runs and although it was a limited over match that was a tough target to meet.

Then I saw the fielding; crisp and tight and not letting anything through.

Then I watched their bowling - two really fast ones and really up for it.

Gulp!

We didn't score more than about a run an over for the first 2 or 3 overs.

And it was quite cold and overcast, I took this when the clouds parted;

Then it started to turn into a perfect afternoon.

Nicely hit.

The openers got into their stride and hit a few before they were out.

Then the middle order started slogging it out;

The run rate was creeping up - to about 4 an over. And I'm starting to do those frantic calculations you have to do in a limited overs game - we needed at least 5 an over to be in with a chance.

Then there were a couple of LBW's and a run out and it was all going very wrong.

Then they tried their medium bowlers and a spinner and it wasn't working out for them for a change.

Our village slogging started to pay off - this batsman had a great time hitting a couple of 6's and a fair few 4's;

And then I'm stood on the boundary line waiting as the score got closer and closer until in the end we won with about an over and a half to spare.

Oh Wow!

The scorer had given up at this point;

It was a very exciting game indeed and well won against the odds.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Cricket on a sunny May day.

This morning we went to the 'Age Concern' sale and then walked back across the village green, taking a look at the last minute preparations for the cricket match.

So, after lunch I went back to spend an hour or two watching the cricket.

Here's the pavilion;

It made a nice change to take an hour or two out of life.

There was plenty of action although the air was still cold to me (it may be my illness, of course)

There was lots happening and even a few 'sixes';

It's just that the wrong side was scoring them!

There's nothing to beat village cricket on a sunny May day.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me; neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Cricket week.

You don't want to know what Friday was like and I'm not to going to tell you. In the afternoon I escaped from life for an hour to this;

The bails are off the stumps for 'tea' at the village green cricket pitch.

Cricket takes so long there was never time for it when I was working, it was something I was going to watch when I retired.

Ah well.

This is the last day of 'Cricket Week', Wraysbury Cricket Clubs annual week long festival. There's a match every day and teams visit from around the country. There's even a sponsor - flags and hoardings around the pitch.

Remember the spring floods?

This is the green on February 9th;

The stream has dried out a bit now;

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com