Back to Reality

The trip is over and now it is time to knuckle down and earn some of the money, we so liberally spent in Italy, surcharges a shame as the Italians will not appreciate the hard work that was put into visiting their lovely country. Someone did remark

‘Those Italians will never appreciate what we have done for their economy.’

Looking at the towns we visited in Italy and all the old buildings, narrow streets and town squares, filled with restaurants and monuments. All the towns are mainly apartment blocks and then there is the cafes. They have preserved their town and heritage but even though they have embraced the modern way of life, I wonder, where do the children play?

Children are only young for a short time and then they grow up, their dreams will go and they may leave a little mark, which is their life, in this world, they need to play.

It has been a long week back at work and if the signs are correct, we have a few more of those to go before our next trip, to Ireland, it should be fun and we can go by car. The advantage of going by car is that Jenson can enjoy the Irish culture and cuisine.

Susan Payne, our friend and saviour, in looking after the boys when we first came to the UK, has just turned, ladies never tell their age, but she has just had a birthday. Yes I know, even those with a higher calling have birthdays. Susan picked a beautiful hanging basket, as her birthday gift and Ted immediately hung it up outside their kitchen window.

Victoria sponge with fresh strawberries and cream washed down with a mug of builders tea, life could not be finer. Great seeing the Payne’s again, they have from the outside, a lovely life and have worked hard for the privilege of retirement. Ted in retirement, has not got any time to mow the lawn and Sue is busy, being busy, what a life.

It is at times like these, that we reflect on our lives and what state of disrepair we find ourselves in. Sue has a dodgy knee, and Susan’s hips are at best, useable, but Ted is a bundle of good health, still running the Poole run every Saturday morning and seems to be enjoying the experience. We make time for the things that matter.

I am procrastinating, I have not published my blog, My Family in Puglia 2 yet. So much to do and I have not retired yet. I also have the excuse of a dodgy knee and a dodgy left ear. It is the slow downhill journey I am not looking forward to.

Well, it’s a lot better than David Lloyd, Susan goes there every day and seems to be enjoying herself. Hopefully, it is making a difference, time will tell. For the moment, I am just pleased to see her with a smile, grumpy does not suit her and in all fairness, she is not a grumpy person, she does so much for others and neglects herself a little, not a bad trait.

We have daylilies and pink roses, fighting for the limelight in our garden.

Gary is enjoying his cricket and I take my hat off to the man, he has Claudia and 4 children to look after, Mika is staying with us for a while, and he still has time to organise and play his weekly matches. They won last week, played Dorchester and from the sounds of it, Dorchester came second. Well done Gary, I feel an England call-up is just around the corner. Not to get your hopes up but they do need a steady batsman to partner Joe Root.

I was at one of his matches and was impressed with the level of competence, watching the bowlers come bounding in. Well not really bounding, more a leisurely walk and bowl that wicket-taking ball, well that was the intention, actually a bit of a slow full toss with the speed taken off so much the batsman was entirely through his shot and the ball was still hovering around mid-wicket. This is fascinating cricket, played at the best level and should attract more spectators. The Delph will become the new Oval, and we might even see Tammy Beaumont striding out to the wicket, one fine summer's day.

Talking of the Delph cricket pitch. It is in the middle of Delph Woods. Gary has on occasion been distracted by the call of the fish eagle and the song of the wood pigeon, white trying to concentrate on the next ball. Tricky that, bird-lover and cricket enthusiast, harmoniously uniting in this pursuit of the glorious game of chance on a Saturday afternoon.

Does remind me of a cricket match that Michael played some time ago. The village ground behind the wicket was level for a few yards and then sloped away rather sharply. As a result, the bowler could not be seen by any player on the field during his run-up. The opening bowler was a local school cricket coach and had played in a county team for more years than he can remember. Michael was batting down the order and was spared the ferocity of this man's bowling.

As I recall, the first ball was a bouncer and went to the boundary for four byes. The second ball missed everything except the wicketkeeper, hitting him in the stomach. A substitute was hastily arranged and the third ball came off a defensive prod and went for 4, passing the new wicketkeeper who wisely ducked. The fifth ball took the middle stump out, sending it tumbling towards the already traumatised substitute wicketkeeper. The next batsman stepped so far back that he stood on his wickets and the ball flew down the leg side for another boundary.

Well, that is all for now, keep well.