4 JUNE 2010
Our nice district nurse, Ellen, came today, on my bidding, with a colleague (whose name, to my shame, I have forgotten) a general check-up on how things were going. No great alarms about any of my minor ailments but she is going to chase up the mobile NHS dentist for whom we have been waiting […]
17 January 2010
Last evening, we received the telephone call that we have dreaded for some time. My mother’s 90 year old husband, Richard, (is he my stepfather once removed!?) was taken to hospital with a minor stroke — the second in two days. Fortunately, we have some very good friends in the area, indeed, I have known […]
16 January 2010
The third day of the fourth test match against South Africa started with the home side being 215 for 2, against England’s abysmal 180 all out yesterday. Our captain, Strauss, was out first ball which  rather set the tone for the rest of the innings. Then, there was the added complication of the South African […]
6 January 2010
The Siberian weather continues, with overnight temperatures as low -16°C, with another snowfall overnight in some places in the UK as much as 35 centimetres but not so bad here at home. The test match is also Siberian from the English point of view. South Africa declared at 447 for 7 leaving it almost impossible […]
5 January 2010
The severe winter weather continues so the golf course is closed. In any event, I would not have been tempted to walk around the course in the freezing weather, instead I spent a little longer in bed listening to the first day of the second  test match, against South Africa, which started with the almost […]
4 January 2010
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 […]
30 December 2009
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.
29 December 2009
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 […]
Boxing Day 2009
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 […]
28 September 2009
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 […]