More Snap More Pop More Crackle

I wasn't supposed to be playing today, on a much nicer day than yesterday, but we had a very late drop out and the Chairman out the call out after the match has started.

Typically, selflessly, I answered the call. Even though I was only just awake at 2pm.

It was a 15 minute job to get ready then cycle down to the ground to find us batting at 63 for 2 with the aforementioned chairman out second ball. Thus I was just in time to witness a pretty awful collapse down to 79-9 against a good young Balderton side. To be fair, we had a very young and inexperienced side today.

This meant, at the dizzy heights of number 11, I had to bat for the first time all year.

I thought I'd have no chance, but managed to hit the 4 deliveries I faced no problem. But before I could get a run, my partner missed a straight one and that was that. If only he hadn't got out, I might have scored a century.

Onto fielding, and we started ok, taking an early wicket, but we weren't getting them quickly enough. I stodd at mid on, hoping I wouldn't have one smashed at me after getting a whack on the ankle yesterday.

I am still nervous about various bits of my body when bowling, but although sore, I was able to charge in a bit harder and bowl with a lot more purpose today. First ball I was edged between keeper and slip, something that would happen to me again.

It was exciting to be bowling with a bit more snap, and I must to admit when I castled their opener, who was batting in a sort of tweed floppy hat for some reason, I gave a bit of an overenthusiastic salute and was accused of giving the batsman "a send-off".

As if I would do that! I am a perfect sports and gentleman. Lol.

Anyway, despite feeling like I was bowling well, I'd drift one ball per over onto leg stump and get whacked. And that helped us lose, alas.

But it still feels good to be playing again.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.07.20

Umpiring my way to Victory

After a disappointing result yesterday, I had to gear myself up for today's match against our promotion rivals from Balderton.

Ever the clubman (LOLOLOL) with rain forecast, I thought I'd be good chap and go down and see if the covers needed sorting because of the threat of rain. As it happened, rain stayed away until after the match, bloody muggy day though.

Before going to the ground, I had a decent walk around town, took some photographs of a beautiful peacock butterfly, and observed the preparations of the International Festival of Juggling that visited the town and had a parade today. Indeed, as I rode to the ground, a pair of double decker buses and a train were busy disgorging hordes of brightly coloured folk with many dreadlocks and tie dye baggy trousers, most of them carrying rucksacks with juggling clubs sticking out all over the place, or wandering around with rainbow coloured hoops.

I felt like asking a few of them if they wanted to field for us after yesterday's performance, but didn't. We didn't have enough spare white clothing for them.

So, we bowled first, and I opened feeling very stiff and creaky after yesterday's efforts. Luckily the younger fitter lads weren't as decrepit, and it was them, not me, who did the job as we bowled out the opposition for 50 odd again! I took no wickets, had no luck, but we had some very good bowlers today.

our skipper was particularly quick and nasty, hoicking the stumps out of the ground with sheer pace, and my opening partner was also sharp and accurate.

I felt terribly old and slow by comparison, but I do enjoy my Sunday cricket.

When we batted, I had no doubt my minimal ability with the willow would be required, so I threw myself into umpiring while we knocked off the runs for only 1 down. As I always say, it's a chance to do some legit arm waving and making funny gestures, and also being slightly bossy by giving wides and no balls - of which there were plenty.

A good win, and we are still in with a shout of getting promoted. 3 games to go.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.08.19

Cricket from the Sidelines

So this morning, I found a few bees and a bee fly mimic in the park, much attracted to the dandelions, and then in the morning, I went to Balderton to watch my Sunday XI play, you know, being supportive, a good clubman and all that.

Much gentle joshing followed by the travelling support we had, which increased as the afternoon went on. Anyone would have thought that news had got out that we were playing an action packed thriller, as opposed to what appeared from the sidelines to be a rather turgid affair on a very slow pitch with an outfield like a grand national fence.

Our bowling looked steady and accurate however, and we restricted the opposition to 106-4 off 30 overs - it was a shortened game due to a few showers happening. I say we, I should say they, as my contribution was restricted to cheering our bowlers.

I felt very left out I must say.

So, when Newark batted, the pitch looked even harder to time the ball on and the scoring rate was glacial, and with our opening bats attempting every now and then to run themselves out, I did wonder how we would go. But then a higher gear was found and some boundaries were hit, although not before the captain was finally run out by his partner.

We were on about 60-1 when I had to leave.

Every so often I experimented with fielding and bowling, to puzzled looks. I'm still struggling to pick the ball up.

Worse was to follow though, as I picked up a back spam later on, although hopefully that will ease in a day or two. Just from taking my shoes off. Jeez.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 17.06.19

The Mud of Barnby, Claypole and Balderton

I've done a ten mile walk today, as if to reinforce the point I made yesterday about the countryside around here just being a barren wasteland.

Today, it was muddy as well.

The first part of my walk was on tarmac however, and there was plenty to see in the fields next to the road. There were goldfinches aplenty, two or three flocks of redwing, and a big buzzard being harassed by a crow. A very noisy cockerel brought his hens over for a look at me. But after Barnby church, there was nothing apart from either empty pasture fields - no problem apart from the cowpats - or empty ploughed fields. I came across several of these today, and after the recent rain within 10 metres my shoes had grown to the size of canoes and weighed 5 kilos each. .

Bloody paths! They didn't exist. Rather irrationally, I began to curse all farmers for, I don't know, not putting paved paths everywhere. The only difference was the subtly difference colours of mud I found.

It all ended up being a rather grim slog through very unscenic land, the only highlights being the occasional footbridge traverse over water before taking on another hell hole of heavy soil. Every time I came across another such field I just wanted to scream.

Well, you can see a path on the OS map, but until you walk it, you have no real idea about the nature of the route.

Eventually I found my way back to civilization and the purchase of a very large bottle of rum!

Happy New Year everyone.

Si

Out to Barnby and Back

Well folks, I've had a long old walk today, out along the road to Barnby in the Willows, then back in along the River Witham and then along a weed choked Shire Dyke.

It was cold, but I made sure I walked strongly enough to burn a few calories off my slightly corpulent frame at the moment, and it meant I could brave the chill of the Northerly wind in a T-Shirt and even work a bit of a sweat up.

Swallows obviously think it's still just about to be here, as I saw plenty along the way - a lot of juveniles judging by the shallow streamers. Every ivy plant was colonised by insects, honey bees are still filling their little saddlebags and red admirals seem to love them.

You may remember I ran this route last year, when the house martins had covered a house in nests, but I'm just not in a fit state at the moment and the martins have cleared off. It's still a good walk, past the atmispheric grounds of Barnby church, and along a river in which huge pike can be seen all a-lurk when the water is clear.

I listened to the radio all along, a lovely three hours of learning via radio 4, where I learned first of Uganda, then of the death mask making antics of a Great Train Robber's son. Then I zoned out to 6 Music.

One step after the other, as the music played.

It was great.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.09.17