Cricket Stuff

I am home off work until friday, so I am doing a little stat building.
Here's a message - Matty, I was nearly right on saturday in the Cricketers. I am nearly up to 600 runs for NCI in my short stint as an NCI player. This post is for sad stattos only (ie - me).

35 innings played
3 not outs
574 runs scored
Highest Score 98
average 17.94
2 50's
3 ducks - no golden ducks though.

I contrast my cricket with NCI with a team i used to play for. They made me play for the first team and bat at 11, no bowling allowed. If the 1st XI had a couple of extra players available I would play for the 2nd XI and bat higher up, and then not score many runs due to not getting any time out in the middle the previous weeks. bah.

The fact is that I just enjoy playing cricket. I am no Jack Hobbs (see picture). He did play on Parker's Piece as well, but there any similarities end. I do enjoy my cricket, and although I do get ultra competitive at times, I still like to think that I make a difference to my team. I shouldn't like cricket due to coming from a North-Eastern working class background where football is king. I learned to play in my back yard and my love of the game has just stuck. What makes cricket the game of choice for me is that you do meet a diverse set of people, whilst also you get to play in some stunning scenery (pics to follow).

The reason for this blurb is that although my knee is screwed, I have played a couple of games this season and have enjoyed it while playing for the 4th XI; I should be playing for the 3rd XI but due to my injury I can't really be counted on the play at top intensity in the field. For me there's been no pressure to score runs, no pressure to take wickets and I have enjoyed the company of the 4th XI. Our 4ths are a development eleven whose purpose is to play a mixed team in the bottom division and get the standard of our juniors and ladies up to league ability. Anybody who wants to play cricket for a laid-back team in Cambridge go to the NCI weblink.
http://ncissc.play-cricket.com/home/aboutUs.asp

I've really enjoyed my cricket this year so far. Love it.

Holiday Photos

Have some more photos of Valencia

Work of Genius

There's a fella, known to me as Dr D. from Big'nJuicy http://bignjuicy.co.uk/?
whose blog I have been reading for a while.
This .............. is a work of genius.

Thanks DrD.

love it.

Holiday Photos

some holiday photos
the walkway in the City of arts and sciences. and me in the dolphinarium

Cricket!

I am offically injured and have only been playing cricket for my team as they need a batsman who can guide the ladies in our development eleven through a game. Still, two games played - batted for 19 then 51; bowled 15 overs and taken 2 wickets (I am a batsman who bowls occasionally). Not bad for a cripple.

anyway - saturday is NCI vs Whittlesford CC. Whittlesford are my old team and I really want to score some runs and take some wickets. Here's hoping my knee holds up.

Taking it on the chin - literally

Got back from Valencia on Friday, felt a it drained after travelling.
picture the scene - Aeroplane journey out - what do we hear all the way? waaaaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaaaah! - woman with too many kids letting her little angel scream it's heart out for two hours. Same on the way back. It does occur to me that with the advent of low cost air travel, that people who wouldn't have gone out of the country a few years ago are now besmirching the name of the UK abroad. Fucking chavs. grr.

anyway, got back and played a bit of cricket on saturday due to my team being a bit short. This is what happened......................
bowled for ten overs and took two wickets for 60, then batted and scored 51. good day but the best is yet to come. This happened just before my fifty. Top edge off my bat and smack in the chin. it still hurts today.

Away

I'm off somewhere hot for a week.

This is very near my hotel. Enjoy the view.

Haditha

The last few days have been hectic, but I am going to just say a few words. I realise that they are a bit much, but i've had enough.

The USA - Nation of Cowards. FACT.

"hi, my names Chuck from god's country - just stand there while I murder some innocent children in cold blood, because I and my colleagues in the US Army are too scared to actually fight aginst the people with weapons". "It's easier if we shoot at our allies in the back, or just against innocent people because we're scared of anybody who is willing to stand up against us".

Cowards, scum and more besides.

What was more chilling for me was that some tossers who lived near the marines home base were on newsnight last night saying how they didn't believe it. Ignorance of crimes against humanity was not allowed to be used by the Germans at the end of the second world war. Why so different now?
Dear Yanks living in the UK. Go home, we don't want cowards living in our green and pleasant land.

rant over........I'm off to Spain.