Death by Sri Lanka

Today I played my last league home game of the season, a Sunday fixture at Kelham Road where we played Notts Arnold Amateur 3s, a very jolly team of Sri Lankans some of whom seem to have played a high standard of grade cricket in Australia and are unbeaten in our division.

This was after progress to the ground was delayed by clog dancers and a man playing a hurdy gurdy.

However, the big guy  with dreads wasn't playing, replaced by a young boy with ginger hair so not exactly a straight swap.

We batted first, and we made decent progress at first against good bowling. My own intention of having a quiet sunbathe was thwarted when I got round to sorting out the sight screens for the left and right handed batsmen. Sometimes  this every bloody ball and was hot work on my own.

At least I got to watch a family of three buzzards find a thermal over the ground and start soaring, keening repeatedly and leading one of  our spectators to think they were  eagles. If only.

It is noticeable, now I've noticed out, that the call of lapwings around the ground is now silenced. There are other signs of a new season approaching; fruit forming, conkers spouting spikes. That sort of thing.

The opposition fielding was terrible, but their bowling was good. Too good. Apart from one player who hit 4 6s while I was putting my pads on and so didn't see them, we struggled to make  much headway. I managed to hit a boundary and score a not very incredible 7. Although how little decent practice I've had lately, that's a small miracle.

We were all out for 128, far too few against this team. The tea was great though. Pity that again I had to restrict myself due to bowling duties. I opened, as I often do on Sundays, and nearly had a wicket first ball again. It did not pitch outside leg stump, Mr Umpire!

Bowled well, but no joy and no luck. Oh well, I've had a hot streak and the standard of opponent was much higher. First team standard, in the case of a couple of batsman who flayed the ball everywhere as they won by 7 wickets.

The heat as well, sheesh by 5pm it was insanely hot. And it's only going to get hotter.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.07.19

Lightning Strikes Twice

Well, today we were facing a new opponent for us today, Kirby Portland 3s who have a home ground at Newstead Abbey which we will be visiting next week hopefully. The sun spent most of the day behind haze, but it was still bloody hot work.

It was noticeable that after our recent fielding successes, we spent a lot more time practicing our fielding before the start of the match, even myself. It helped me no end last week.

This was before we ended up batting first, and I operated a manual scoreboard for the next 35 overs. Instead of fielding, I messed around with numbers while dressed in a Star Wars T-Shirt. This was my way of being useful while we batted. It actually ended up being quite tiring and I had to have a rest.

While I was doing this, our opening bat was making his way to a chanceless and utterly composed century. He actually used to be our opening bowler, but a nasty tricep tear sidelined him from that. So instead of being a brilliant bowler, he's now a brilliant batsman.

Supported by all of our junior batsmen, while me and the rest of the seniors watched with admiration, he then took us to 253 for 5, scoring 149 not out in the process.

Batting I'm afraid I can't even dream of.

Our opponents, who were a lovely bunch of people, were warm in their appreciation as well.

Our regular tea suppliers were on holiday, so our juniors' parents rallied round and produced some excellent food. Which I only had two platefuls of because, you know, bowling. It's what I'm there to do.

Instead of keeping the openers quiet, my job has changed into taking wickets lower down, so I got down to some fielding while there Moriarty Saturday captain bowled 6 maidens to start, before finally taking a wicket. Another fell, then after about 17 overs, I was up.

Wicket first ball. Again. Third time this year. Clean bowled.

Wicket second ball. LBW. Made a very loud appeal like I've seen on television. Two in bloody two!

Missed the hat trick, and indeed nothing much happened for the next few overs. I was getting anxious about being taken off. I was hit for a couple of fours by their best bat. Then a new batsman came in, and after he received a 10 minute explanation on how to bat with a runner, I bowled him first ball with a big inswinger it turns out he was rather impressed with. He congratulated me on it in the dressing room at the end of the match.

Swing was what was doing the trick. Last week it did a little. Today it did a lot. Like round corners a  lot. Although my fourth wicket was a  bit  lucky, it was back again for my 5th.

Another five wicket haul. Second in two matches after never having done it in my life. Lightning strikes twice. Can't believe it.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.07.18

A Few Pretties from Today

Sadly, we have myxomatosis at work amongst our bunnies, I've seen two victims in the past two days, arranging for a mercy trip to vets for the first one. Odd day that. The rabbit was in a terrible state, what a horrible illness.

So, today I found some very vivid bees to brighten the mood, and managed to capture a grasshopper.

Hundreds of them around at the moment, every step you take on the wasteland flushes a cloud of hotsteppers.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.07.18

First Small Copper in Ages

Nice to come across a beautiful example of  a small copper today as I walked between our two buildings.

I haven't seen one in a couple of years! They seem to like perching on grasses, and this character was quite happy to sit here and bask for several minutes. Looks absolutely fresh out of the packet too, I wonder if this is a second  flight specimen?

I love keeping my eyes open and seeing these things!

Si

Sit and Drink Pennyroyal Tea

Been doing a spot of "Herballing"  today, in the manner of a Greek or Arabic physician of days gone by, or rather an overheated man with no idea what he's talking about.

We have a couple of plants well known for their medical qualities growing at work at the moment. There's plenty of feverfew around, a plant still used for treating migraine and headaches. But more dramatically, there's a lot of pennyroyal around at the moment too, with its distinctive circles of blue blowers impaled on a stem looking like the smoke rings roadrunner leaves when he shoots off.

It is growing in thickish patches on dry scrubland and mud at the moment, and the powerful peppermint smell its leaves give off when crushed is unmistakable when you walk amongst it. Red tailed bumbles love it.

It is a plant with a dark history. It's ability to induce abortions was known about  in Classical times - Aristophanes jokes about it in one of his plays. Cleopatra knew what it was for. Women have died taking it.

And Kurt Cobain of Nirvana famously sang about it.

Si

All text and  images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.07.18

Common Blues Mating

Was wandering around this evening when I spotted a few common blues  flying about in the long virtually dead grass. There were male and female specimens, there was flitty flirting and love in the air.

I tracked a male specimen, a noticeably brighter and less pastel colour than a holly blue, as it danced about the vegetation. It stopped occasionally,but never for very long. I followed it and followed...

...And then lost sight of the sodding thing.

But wait. Serendipity slammed down its 4 Aces on the card table, and I caught sight of a mating pair on a burnt out looking grass head, with a bonus voyeur in play as well.

Made my day, I thought I'd have nothing to show you today. Instead, there is love...

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 16.07.18

An Archaeological Revelation

I noticed during my trip through Sconce Park yesterday that in dip between Rumbles and the Earthwork itself, a serious of what looked like 10 metre long scorch marks had appeared on the grass.

Now I know that all manner of hidden archaeological treasures have turned up during this hot spell, but I assumed that these brown, burnt looking streaks were probably exactly that; the results of the local idiot vandals burning things. But no, the park sent a drone up yesterday to take photographs, and historical features is indeed what they are.

Sconce Park has had so many uses over the years - Civil War fort, industrial site complete with  mineral railway, prisoner of war camp - that these lines could be absolutely anything. Drainage related  the most obvious function, but who knows.

It is nice having our own version of the Nazca Lines in town. My pics don't show them as well as a drone shot, but I hope you can get an idea.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 16.07.18