11 th May - cricket

Afew years ago I'd joined up with a bunch of BT friends to go to a day at the County Cricket matches whenever Kent played Essex. Today is the first of this season where we've planned to meet. However, the weather has been atrocious recently an potential attendees have been falling like apple leaves in autumn. We seem to b down to me and then at the last minute there seems to be a flurry of activity and a bunch of people take an interest. Even Ken, who doesn't seem to know anything of technology apart from excel spreadsheets, send an email to say he's going. I need his signature for our investment club so decide that I must go along if only to see him - not just for his signature but for his company. He's a fun, irrepressible bloke. And I mean bloke! Good man to know and good fun to be with. He could be West Indian. Geoff also turns up. He's one of these quiet people who is a real 'still waters run deep with a lot going for him under the surface.

Its just the three of us. Last time there were eight and the time before ten. Since then Martin hs died from cancer and John H jumped off Beachey Head. None of us have been able to figure that one. It still makes me sad when I think of him. Lovely man.

The weather is changeable: cloudy, sunshine, windy but no rain. I end up being more wind burnt than sun burnt. We sit in the open - this time last year it was so hot we retired to the stands to get some shade!

We've joined the 3rd day of the cricket. Kent are 27 for 5. Lots of time lost on the first 2 days for rain. They were 9 for 5 after the first day but their batsmen put on a 194 stand until about three o'clock but then they collapse and end up 223 all out. Essex come in to bat but do no better. Cook is out for 4 - the last time I saw him he got 1. This is the man who scores centuries against the Aussies gut struggles against Kent! They end up on 94. Inevitably the game is a draw although Kent wins on points the following day.

I walk over to Pascale and Alex where Marian joins us later. We had promised to take Pascale out for dinner to celebrate her birthday and this is the first chance we have had to do it. We have a couple of drinks and get a chance to see Colin. He's not completely healed but doesn't have to wear a funnel all the time. Good to see him nearly back to normal.

We get a taxi over to the gastro-pub. A big cavernous place where its lively and noisy and in the middle of nowhere but the food is good and value for money. We have the works - three courses, wine and amaretto for Alex. I'm tempted to join him but will end up down the slippery path of the whole bottle so I contain myself! Great evening.

Taxi home and fall into bed.