Posted by DMC on Aug 23, 2009 in
Diary We did it, we won the Ashes.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to sit and watch a splendid day’s play on a friend’s television — we do not have Sky – and today we polished off the Aussies with a handsome win of 197 runs.
Mind you when Ponting and Hussy were batting and had put on over 120 partnership, I really began to doubt whether we would ever get either of them out and maybe the impossible would happened and the Aussies would actually get the 546 runs required to win and break a world record in doing it.
In the event Freddy Flintoff started the rot with a magnificent throw at the stumps from long on to run out Ponting. Although even then I entertained the occasional sneaking doubt that the Aussies might survive but in the end it was all over in four days. A great win.
Tags: cricket
Posted by DMC on Sep 6, 2009 in
Diary The second of the 7 one-day series against Australia at Lord’s today. I’m so disgusted with England’s performance that I will only say that we lost by a street and did not distinguish ourselves in any area of the game However, cricket aside, I had a lovely day and met many friends both in the ground and on the Harris Lawn.
Tags: cricket
Posted by DMC on Sep 9, 2009 in
Diary Arbitration Club lunches, yesterday it was the Mother Club and today the Oil and Gas branch, both mercifully within walking distance of Liverpool Street Station. I was also able to pick up my visa from the Chinese Embassy before the Tuesday lunch.
The third of the one day matches against Australia today, which again, resulted in an ignominious defeat for England. We have the agony of yet a further four matches -too many to my mind.
Tags: Arbitration Club, cricket, travel
Posted by DMC on Sep 12, 2009 in
Diary The last day for me of the cricket season at Lord’s today – the fourth, of what had turned out to be a disastrous - 7 one-day series against Australia. Sadly, the result for England was no better than the earlier three games…
However, it was the most beautiful summer’s day and I had a great time with my chums, both in the ground, watching the cricket or chatting and drinking with them on the various lawns.
Tags: cricket
Posted by DMC on Sep 20, 2009 in
Diary To East Dulwich for lunch with Chloe, Karl and the grandchildren. Managed to walk the mile or so from London Bridge to Liverpool Street station without too much effort.
England managed to scrape an unconvincing win in the seventh of the one-day series against Australia, mainly due to Swann’s 5 for 28 – one win out of seven does not auger well for the World Series in South Africa next year.
Tags: cricket, family, travel
Posted by DMC on Sep 28, 2009 in
Diary A repeat of the ‘Indian Summer’ days we have enjoyed over the weekend as I walked round the golf course at Worlington. My arms might be giving up but so far my legs are holding out.
It seems that I might have been too pessimistic about England’s prospects in the cricket world series in South Africa. Against all odds they won their first match against Sri Lanka and had a convincing win yesterday against South Africa.
Tags: cricket, golf
Posted by DMC on Dec 26, 2009 in
Diary An early-morning visitation to my bed by Lara and Seb. but thankfully not so early is Christmas morning. After they were bored with their grandfather’s chat, I was left in peace to have my breakfast and then I snuggled down for an hour or so and listened to the test match from South Africa. After a very promising start, of 2 wickets for 10 runs, England allowed the Springboks to build up quite an impressive score but not out of reach by any means.
We woke to a bright blue chilly day and mid-morning Smiler and I went to the local meet. There was an excellent turnout and no hunt saboteurs. I wonder how long it will take the Conservatives to repeal the current anti-hunt legislation, which is clearly not working, if they get in at the next election. The day passed happily enough, moving seemingly incessantly from meal to meal with all doing their own thing, some reading, some playing with their latest toys or gadgets and the young with the occasional visit to the TV.
Smiler and Kimberly set off home after lunch as Miles has to leave the day after tomorrow to go to Wales to shoot. Before he left Smiler kindly installed my new large number, hands-free telephone, which he and Kimberly are kindly given to me for a Christmas present, and which will be a lot easier to use than the old one.
Tags: Christmas, cricket
Posted by DMC on Dec 29, 2009 in
Diary Tuesday, geriatric golf day. Frankly too cold, with sleet and snow threatening, for me to spend three hours wandering round the golf course. History. The prospect was enough to keep me in bed listening to the test match in South Africa where England have acquitted themselves well, declaring with a lead of 232 and ending the day early, bad light having stopped play, having taken six South African wickets for 76, leaving South Africa trailing by 154.
Tags: cricket, golf
Posted by DMC on Dec 30, 2009 in
Diary A handsome win by England in the Test match against South Africa, by an innings and 98 runs, one of the best result since winning the Ashes.
The good Dr Michael arrived mid-morning from Ireland and joined me, Roger Goodwin and Paul Newman at the Axe & Compasses for a most enjoyable lunch.
Tags: cricket
Posted by DMC on Jan 4, 2010 in
Diary We are in the coldest winter spell for over a decade, possibly longer. Having said that the sparkling frosty landscape is set off by absolutely beautiful blue skies, more reminiscent of Switzerland than grey dreariness are a typical English winter’s day.
In the second test match against South Africa, England had a great start with two wickets for 12 runs but let South Africa off the hook by allowing them to finish last evening on 276 for 6. This morning saw a dramatic half-hour or so with the last four South African wickets falling for 12 runs. England then went in, with its tail up, but this immediately changed when we lost a wicket with the second ball. After that followed the inevitable English collapse, we then regrouped and managed to end the day only 55 behind with three wickets in hand.
I wrote to the MND Association, following up on earlier letter, concerning the provision of a leaflet to be given to newly diagnosed MND patients. What I said was that rather than individual patients collecting information piecemeal, as indeed I have done, could not the Association take the lead and design and provide a template, for such a leaflet, to be distributed to (hospital assessment) teams to be completed by the hospital OT.
What I have in mind is that this leaflet will not only include simple cheap practical DIY suggestions but will also list all the organisations that cover that particular patient’s needs. The name address and contact details, for example, of social services, the district nurse and so on. It should also include details of what the patient is entitled to such, as Attendants Allowance or perhaps a Blue Badge. Also, what, for example, AbilityNet can, or may, provide and how to start this process. What the NHS will provide free and what they might provide that will be means tested. A list of useful websites …….and so on.
I know that all of this information is available from other sources but to bring it together in one bespoke document for each patient would be an enormous help and indeed could make an early substantial improvement in that patient’s quality of life.
Perhaps the Association could run a one day training courses for specialist OT’s who form part of MND Assessment team’s. Not only could they be briefed on the problems that MND patients are likely to face, and suggest some practical solutions, but could also deal with this question of putting together a specialist leaflet that each patient.
Tags: cricket, information, MND Association, winter
