Enjoyable day at the Test. Tomorrow we are aiming to arrive by rickshaw. You meet interesting people!

Now in Rajkot a chaotic ride from the airport! Ready for the Test Match.

My shirt for one game!

In action under lights!

 

A few pictures below of our Indian adventure. We have now played three games of cricket at three wonderful but contrasting venues.
Our first game at Shivaji Park was a mind blowing experience as at least 6 games of cricket were going on and we had fielders from two other games on our field! The day before when we arrived and had a net there must of been a 1000 people playing or having a net. Our second game was at the DY Patel Stadium a venue that hosts international cricket and IPL cricket. To say we were in awe was an understatement!

Last night we played under lights at Goregaon Sports Club – including a power play and use of DRS!!! I was captain so was interviewed at the toss, between innings and in the presentation ceremony! I have much sympathy for top sports people as a result of that experience.

Some pictures below.

More pictures to follow in future blogs

I am in that no mans land before I set off on my cricketing adventure to India. I’ve almost got everything ready just have to pack tomorrow. I will if possible blog while away but I won’t know till I get there. We have a box for the Test Match and we will be wearing distinctive polo shirts and we have a couple of Gloucestershire Seniors flags to drape from the box!

I have been tidying up my camera this afternoon and filing in photos. So a few old photos to enjoy (some have been in the blog before!). A couple from Namibia , one from Dorset and one from our garden a couple of years ago

I am still pinching myself after yesterday’s pulsating  match at St. James’ Park Newcastle. The brave attacking way the Mighty Hatters played reminded me of the entertaining Luton team of the eighties where we were praised by our style of football. I hope we don’t get caught out by being to open at the back. Many of the Newcastle fans were full of praise afterwards. I travelled up with a Newcastle season ticket holder who lives round the corner from me which is bizarre when you consider we live so close to each other. Picture below is the view from the gods where the away fans are situated – you can just see the players disappearing miles below!!!

Little Gull still on the Sailing Lake!

We have had a Little Gull in Frampton on the Sailing Lake. One turns up there every now and again. A distant shot below!

What a wonderful footballing night at Kenilworth Road last evening! Couldn’t believe how The Mighty Hatters swept aside a good Brighton side. In fact 4-0 flattered Brighton !

Visited my local primary school yesterday to tell stories to celebrate National Story Telling Week. I really enjoyed myself and I think my audience did as well!

A quiet day at Wick Court today bird watching with young people from Orpington. 

I thought I would witter away about India and of course the cricket and how set up it now is for our group going out next week. You will have read in a previous blog I am going out to play cricket in Mumbai and then going on to Rajkot for the Third Test. 

After two days of the First Test it looked like England were going to be well and truly beaten! However thanks to some brilliant performances by individuals that have been nurtured by empathetic leadership we turned the game on the head and won. It does mean  by the time I get to the Test we will at the worst be level! I can’t wait!

Popped into my local school this morning to tell a couple of stories for National Story Telling Week. Just like buses a load of bookings have just come in for early March.

Off to watch the Mighty Hatters later against a stylish Brighton team. My fingers will be firmly crossed!

Apologies about no blog for a couple of days. It has been action packed 72 hours! Thursday night was my regular story telling slot at Wick Court.  I followed this up with more story telling on Friday morning just outside of Tewkesbury. A lovely morning. The afternoon was a catch up with my old Headteacher friends that involved a good pedal into Dursley. After a convivial evening I flew home in double quick time!

Mixed fortunes on Saturday. What started as a great cycle ride round the lanes ended with a puncture about a mile or so from home (thank goodness it was close to home!) Great listening to the Mighty Hatters win yet again in the cup at Everton! If we are going to win the cup we know we will have to beat Manchester City! After the remarkable cricket result against India anything is possible!

Today it was very much a family day; looking after our youngest grandson Robin in the early morning then playing with Owen his brother when he returned from swimming. Later we drove Cardiff to see my brother Mike. Tired now!

An early start and we were out by the Severn for the monthly bird survey. It was wet and the visibility was poor. Water ran down through my wellies so feet got wet! Had to wade through quite a bit of standing water. Not the greatest conditions for bird watching. However we were treated later to great flocks of lapwings and the evocative sound of the curlew (saw 40 +). Had good views of a male reed bunting picture below of one not mine (I couldn’t get my camera out because of the rain!)