Summer Knocking At The Door

But fortunately not the irritating brat from Neighbour's. Which I am glad to say that I haven't watched for many weeks.

It is a lovely bright sunny day and the weather forecast has suggested that temperatures will soon be on the rise again. Fortunately, this almost managed to coincide perfectly with the start of the domestic cricket season. The usual university warm-up matches have started with no apparent surprises. Ian Blackwell gave Somerset a good start clubbing 191 from 138 against Durham UCCE.

There is no match for Hampshire though. Hopefully, this season should be quite good for Hampshire with a strong squad, international matches coming to the Rose Bowl and a place in First Division of the County Championship. Honours may be wishful thinking, but I think we will do well. I was surprised to see that we have six players from Zimbabwe and South Africa though, presumably under Kolpak or, like Kev Pietersen, naturalised. We have Kev and Shane, wahoo.

Dublin was a great weekend and much fun. The squad did really well in the competition and I was proud of all of them with one exception. That exception clearly being me. My set routine was not as good as it could have been by a long way, although I was happy to have competed my first proper tuck back. My vol went horribly wrong. I was too stiff out of the back drop and flew backwards into the tuck. Well, onto the end deck rather than into the tuck. Oh well, it has driven me to bigger and better things.

I am determined to compete Advanced in Cambridge, and my first session doing straight backs hasn't dimmed either my enthusiasm or confidence in my ability to do so. Straight backs are so much fun. They are physically much more demanding than anything I have done before and I appreciate some of the difficulties felt by people learning them. So much fun though.

Talking of fun, I bought new boots in Dublin, Purple Dr. Martens. They are great. Clearly I had to buy new trousers and a shirt to go with them as nothing I had matched, but you can't complain. Until the credit card bill arrives.

I am off to enjoy the day (and Broadcasting House).