Cricket, colouring and Poetry

Got up nice and early to catch up on some paperwork and to watch some of the First Cricket Test between England and Pakistan and what a disaster that turned out to be. Pakistan brought the spinners on after just six overs and had England all over the place with wickets falling at regular intervals. Were we really watching the world's number one test team batting? What made it worse was England won the toss and both sides agreed that it was a good one to win and a good batting pitch.

Mind you there was a more interesting game to play - spot the spectator. I swear I saw one at one point. Playing cricket matches in Dubai to a virtually empty stadium seems a pretty pointless exercise. There was scarcely any atmosphere. Then we were subjected to the thoughts of Bob Willis on Sky TV. Now in his time Bob was a pretty fearsome test bowler. He was good to watch. Bob the pundit looks ill at ease, wears badly fitting suits in the trouser department and gives a good impression of a startled rabbit caught in the headlights. He almost makes Nick Hewer, the new host of Countdown on Channel Four, seem interesting. Please note I said "almost." At least Countdown has the delectable Rachel Riley to act as Hewer's sidekick. Bob Willis just had Marcus Trescothick!!!!!

Talking of empty cricket grounds reminds me of a visit to Napier in New Zealand a few years back when we walked into their test ground to watch a first class match and counted the number of spectators on one hand!

Went on a very pleasant five mile walk around the Thorpe area of Norwich with lunch at The Cottage Pub. Visited one of my favourite areas - Thorpe Green - which I used to know as Whitlingham. Took some photos and enjoyed the January sunshine despite the cold. On the way back to the car passed an interesting Middle Aged lady with long bright blue hair. Obvious comment was "That colours not natural" (I'm quick like that). Second thought was "why would anyone of her age want to colour their hair blue? Why would anyone of any age want to colour their hair blue?" Green and yellow for Norwich City supporters I can just about accept but not BLUE.

Thorpe Green is very picturesque with the river area, boats, a train line running alongside and a green for picnicking (but not when it's cold). I was reminded of my impressionable youth when I wrote a hideous poem entitled "A Poem Influenced By Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats". It was set in Thorpe Green and included the following: 

We came to that place where swans drink,
Their thirst an unquenchable feeling of desire.
The water lapping, quietly refreshing in its dignity.
Scenes of childhood in those swans
Solitude, love and emotions,
A craving to better myself.

Scenes of childhood when as a boy I watched,
Silently, gazing at the thrill of things unmeaningful.
The trains with steam hissing smoothly,
The quiet blue engulfing skyline
Encompassed by our complete world
A world within a world.

If you think that's bad you should read the rest of it which is actually worse. I'm glad you will never get to read the rest (whoops I forgot it's all on my family web site.

This evening I'm off to the Hethersett village pantomime which is always fun and goes back to the 1970s. Sitting in the front row I could easily be a target for the Dame or smart arse from on stage. If anyone has a go at me my retort will be sharp:

"I don't have to come here to be insulted."

To which the obvious reply from the stage will probably be "Where do you usually go?"

It will be quite late when I get back from panto so I will tell you what I thought of it tomorrow.