2092 An intense and successful game of Cricket

It is 7.10 an on 30th June 2011 and I am home, having decided when the match ended yesterday afternoon wanted to return rather than spend the night at Widnes and returning in the morning spending the day reacquainting myself with Liverpool before doing so.

On Tuesday morning the expectation among another full house of perhaps 1500 plus packing in the Liverpool ground was that the game would be over by tea time. In the event it lasted until 3 pm the following afternoon. Lancashire had been invited to bat after Durham won the important toss of the coin and Callum Thorp was primarily responsible for sending the majority of the Lancashire batsmen back to the pavilion for 8 or less runs with figures of 12.2 overs, 5 maidens 6 wickets for 20 runs, with Brown going at 7 for 5, Chilton at 11 for 3, Croft for 2 when the total was 37, Cross for 8 with the total 76, Hogg for 1, clean bowled when the total was 84 with Khan who had come in before hand for 0 when the total was 83. For the whole of his bowling performance he threatened a wicket. His quoted best championship performance is 7 for 88 so this should replace that in terms of ratio and for the match the figure is 8 for 73 again his best match figures todate with his first innings tally proving match winning in the event. In my judgement he has been Durham’s most consistent bowler this season whose performance must surely bring him to the attention of the selectors. He has bowled more overs than anyone else in the championship

I also thought Graham Onions commenced to demonstrate something of his former threat with prolonged bowing wicket to wicket with swing in hot humid conditions. The level of greenness of the wicket providing for a fiery bounce which he like Thorpe was able to exploit. His first innings tally 2 for 10 runs was from 10 overs with four maidens which added to his second innings 4 for 74 from 15.2 gives him a match analysis of 6 for 6 for 93 for his 25.2 overs. It was the bowlers who did the damage with Benkenstein 1 for 6 and Steve H taking the other wicket in the more expensive more expensive 7 for 37. Lancashire. Steve continues to attract attention more for his tendency to bowl wides which the keeper cannot save thus giving away 5 runs a time, something he accomplished twice in his first over and once further so that all in all he saved Lancashire from what would have been one of their lowest ever totals.

Lancashire are known for their excellent bowling and variable batting so having been dismissed for 84 we all awaited to see what the best batting side this season could make of the conditions and in truth the response was no much better with Smith going when the total was 1, Di Venutu at 8, Collingwood at 38, Muchall who had looked the most secure at 52, Blackwell soon after at 53 and Captain Mustard at 61 and we appeared to be in the same mire as Lancashire. It was the championship winning and now one day Captain Benkenstein who has already scored more first class runs that anyone else at the club who showed the way and his two batting performance also made him a contender for man of the match, notably his first innings of 83 not out made all the difference to the result of the match. Durham had been bowled out for 186, 102 runs more than their opponents. Young Proctor 3 for 29 and stalwart Hog 2 for 34 impressed. They gained no batting points hence the way the wicket had been prepared.

With bad light resulting in only one over on Monday evening I speculated how the wicket would play on the second day when the weather changed with a chilling wind to mellow the constant sunshine. Lancashire appeared confident at the increase and with openers being able to put on 58 runs for the first wicket and 112 for the second. However after that wickets fell consistently every 20 runs or so with only 62 from Horton and Proctor 52 achieving a total to pose a challenge to Durham winning the game.

I had prepared better for the second day stopping at the corner shop for a can of Pepsi which I drank early and a bottle of water which I poured immediately into a flask to keep it cold which it did. As with the first day I had added olives to the prepared salami sandwiches plus a Danish type pastry. I brought the binoculars to have a look at what the ball was doing, or was not. I also got the same seat overlooking the bowlers to the right of wicket at the other end. The ground appeared to fill sooner than on the first day although as with the previous day I did have a free seat to one side for the morning

As with the previous day I was able to engage in conversations with my neighbours and had prepared well with my knowledge of the Durham players and backgrounds and that the side contained four captains including two who had won championships and a third who had won the 20 20 World Cup.

I had mixed feelings about the sudden departure of the last three Lancashire batsmen and this meant Durham would have to play the last overs of the day after having spent a tiring day in the field. My concern was well justified as first Di Venuto who is having a lean time of late was out for 7 with the total 11 and Gordon Muchall having his best season with the club was out for 8 with the total 23. Graham Onions who had looked safe at one end for hour while Benkenstein amassed his first innings runs was out in quick time and result of the match was suddenly in doubt with Durham 28 for 3 at the close of play.

The Lancashire Club announced that entry for the third and final day, unless the weather intervened, would be free. The club was hoping for a dramatic day given they had already won the first three of the five championship games being played at the Liverpool ground. Because the weather forecast suggested showers I had packed a small brolly and decided to sit at the side rather than the previous position. Smith and Collingwood were put under great pressure which they weathered with Collingwood going for the runs, The two men run quickly between the wickets and were taking two where others would normally take the one and in a couple of instances three when the most likely addition would be two. The outcome could have been different if Collingwood had not been dropped by Paul Horton when he was 21 as he went on to make 45 and was dismissed by an excellent catch to a fierce stroke shortly after returning to the crease after a delay for rain. Smith who had looked less confident went for 30 legs before wicket looking most unhappy with the decision of the umpire and Durham were 101 for 5 with 80 runs still to get. Benkenstein who had look comfortable from his arrival at the crease went onto make 60 again not out with Blackwell 26 to see the match won by 5 wickets.

The Lancashire spectators remained until the end hoping for a miracle although most appreciated they would lose and in doing so the chance of their first championship for 70 years has taken a blow. However the championship is still being contested by six of the 9 clubs with Hampshire looking doomed not having won any of their 7 games and who along with Sussex have played three less than Durham and therefore have potentially 72 points to add to their present totals to provide a better picture of the present position.. The most vulnerable is Yorkshire who have played 9 and with only one win look set for relegation than Worcestershire with two wins and game to play to potentially add o the gap of 5 points above Yorks. Although Durham look good with 169 points in total with Lancashire 145 an Warwickshire 115 Sussex having played three games less for their 72 points could add another 72 and then beat Durham on their visit to Hove to overtake in the table. Durham entertain Warwickshire and Worcestershire along with the championship winners of last season Nottingham. They visit Somerset with their placid pitch and an in form Trescothick as well a making a visit to Nottingham which I am attending in later August. The outcome this season is far from beings settled, and it will be exceptional if the batsmen and bowlers can sustain their first half season form continuously. I have been looking bat the players averages and the Most valuable player statistics provided by the professional cricketers association and which still shows Ben Stokes as an outstanding all round performance prior to his major injury which is keeping him out of the action for at last six weeks. The issue is then who will he keep out if he is to return, given that Collingwood is Collingwood and returning form in the county championships. In the one day games especially the 20 20 I can see Breese making way for Stokes. Perhaps Borthwick will be the one to make way.

On Monday and Tuesday I decided to make do with the food brought with me so had a starter with soup, a can of beans, some grapes and a Danish pastry. The mistake on Tuesday was not to get some cold water from the store and I was too tired when I realised it was getting human once more even with the window open.

Yesterday I remained unsure of what I would do until the game ended with victory at 3pm. I was tempted to go onto Widnes and watch the Tennis with Andy Murray playing his last 8 game later afternoon but equally the thought of being home early evening became too tempting. In the event it was just before 8 pm I returned. There were two three reasons why the journey took so long. I missed the correct turn from the Aigburth Road to get on to A3080 and reach the M62 from its commencement. Instead I went along a road though industrial Merseyside before joining the M62 as in fact it becomes the M60 Manchester ring motorway rather like the M25 in London. It took the best part of an hour to travel the same distance it had taken 30 minutes on the day of arrival. Secondly there was a patch of slow to stopping traffic over the Pennines which was caused by traffic volume. The third reason was that I became tired and decided to stop and try and sleep on reaching Wetherby. I did sleep a little with a stop over half an hour having stopped earlier at Hartshead for a comfort break and an ice cream sitting in glorious evening sunshine. I could have listened to Murray’s game but instead having got the CD player to work I enjoyed 90 minutes of Operatic Arias from the 3 CD collection.

When I arrived back I could not find the key to the connecting door between the Kitchen/Day room and the rest of the property. I did not panic this time confident that it was somewhere in the luggage and after having a cooling Pepsi systematically emptied the luggage. In case the key had been lost I gathered in one bag all that would be required. This took the greater part of an hour leaving the case last. The over should rucksack was given special attention as the summer jacket. I then replaced unused food tins and put the remaining packets of Danish pastries in the bread bin. The two cool bags were cleared and cleaned as was the Leisure club bad which I had used to take to the match.

I slowly unpacked the case fearing the worst so there was great relief when the key was found in the pair of trousers and thus it was not necessary to prepare and eat the evening meal before going round the lane and entering the front of the house to try and find the spare key which had been cut when the key was previously lost!. I enjoyed half a dozen spice chicken wings with some prawns in various kinds of coatings together with coated mushrooms. As anticipated the second part of the IJT order had arrived and will be collected in the morning. The camera did not work so I will have to get my expensive one repaired but it is not a priority. I will decide about second part Olympic tickets after getting myself organised again over the next few days. Viva Lancashire and Liverpool.

2091 Lancashire cricket at Liverpool Day one

It is 21 44 Monday 27th June and I have been in the city of Liverpool for 24 hours. It has been a weird period of time.

I am going to work backwards.

18.25 The cricket game ends early because of bad light. I make my way from the entrance of the ground along the road for some fifty yards to the crossing over the dual carriage to the Travel Lodge where I am staying. Before doing so I visit the all day small we sell everything store for a can of cold Pepsi and a bottle of cold Volvic still water for £1.20. This is price paid for just one item in Bar of Toby Carvery or within the ground of Liverpool cricket club.

The crossing is pedestrian controlled in that the more regular pressings of the button the quicker the crossing light changes from red to green. I go first to the car and collect the packet soups, a tin of baked beans, pain au chocolate for the morning, indigestion tablets and liquorice sticks.

In the room I enjoy the can of Pepsi after changing from trousers to track suit bottoms and removing the sandals. I also drink about a third of the water. I prepare the soup using both cups and the have the beans and a pastry followed by some of the black grapes already in the cool bag.

I watch the local news which confirms that although the wicket has a green surface, and which someone sitting next to me, an umpire said is worse that the usual club pitch, it has been passed fit for play despite 20 wickets falling in in the day. The argument being the conditions were special which made the ball swing fiercely. More on the cricket later.

I turn on the computer after leaving it with the plus switched off at the socket so the battery ran out while I was away. I am tempted to watch Spartacus on the ITV player but I have indulged watching the first episode of Mildred Pierce with Kate Winslett. The book was published in 1941 and made into a success film in 1945 with six academy nominations with one win for the leading actress Joan Crawford and Mildred. This film which I remember but cannot recall had a changed story from the book. The present five part mini series is said to be more faithful to the book. I will write about the mini series another time.

9.30 am I leave the Travel Lodge having prepared three salami with olive rolls. These I eat at 11. Noon and 3pm. I do not eat the pastry. I buy a can of Pepsi soon after arriving at the ground for 75 pence and then a bottle of Pepsi for £1.20. Other expenditure is a score Card for 70 pence.

The ground reminds me of that at Hartlepool except the facilities for members are worse. There is an ancient pavilion on three floors with the players on the top floor When I asked if there was anywhere where I could get a drink I was told to go up the stairs by an steward and confronted a sign which just said players and officials. There appear to be an area with drinks in pouring jugs but no one serving. Others that had followed worked out that the bar was across from where we were. It was closed and the stairs to this also appeared closed. Because of the location of the wicket only half the outside seating was available and have been taken up by Lancs regulars who had got there where the ground opened borne of experience earlier in the season.

In front of the Pavilion at pitch side there was a media tent and then a sponsors tented pavilion. Most of the seating was in hard seats and benches located around the boundary fencing. There were three small erected stands. One side on to the wicket and the other two either side of the site screen. I elected to sit on the top row aisle seat of the second. To reach this one had to go through the tennis court behind the site screen. The ground has a pleasant aspect and there are plenty of trees with car parking. In one corner adjacent to the main pavilion there is a similar designed building but smaller which looks like a former players pavilion but the building is now a day nursery with a separate on street entrance. The ground filled as the morning progressed with no spare seats visible by the end of the day. There were good side temporary toilets. There was only one refreshment tent selling beer but with a small area of sandwiches, tea coffee and a chill drinks cabinet. In this respect facilities at grounds such as Stockton, Darlington, Gateshead Fell, Chester Le Street Cricket Club and Hartlepool were better. Only that at the University ground Durham City were as limited. The facilities are inadequate for playing all county games for one season.

I made two outings during the day. Immediately across from the Travel Lodge there is a vehicle MOT centre. There are four eating place . The first is a Chinese take away which offer fish and chips. This was doing a great trade at lunch time and was busy the night before when I arrived. The are two restaurants serving Indian/Asian food. The first is described as basic similar to those in Ocean Road but not offering any special deals. The second is a large up market building and up market prices. However in the midst there is a small British Restaurant with perhaps a dozen simple plain wooded tables and chairs. The starters are around £5 as I assume the puddings with the main courses from around £12 to £25. With drinks I would expect two people to pay £75 to eat a three course meal here. There is also a betting shop, pharmacy and female hairdressing.

At 9.30 as it had been earlier it was scorching hot so after putting on plenty of sun protection I wore just a short sleeved shirt and trousers taking the light summer jacket my had a small carry bag with the food and little else. At 2 the sea fret had arrived with a cold wind and I put on the jacket. At 4.15 during the yea interval I returned my room at the Travel Lodge and made a cup of tea to warm myself. I then replaced the summer jacket with my green lined coat. It remained in the 80’s everywhere else. To morrow it should be cooler and less humid everywhere but sunny after some over night showers.

I had left the Emirates Durham International around 17.30 on Sunday afternoon when the weather continued to scorching hot and sunny. I had travelled no more than a couple of miles when the skies darkened and on coming vehicle showed lights and traces of a rain storm. There was then heavy rain over the next 20 miles during which time I stopped to eat my sandwiches in the car at the Durham service area without going into the facilities. It then brightened up to the same weather conditions of the day. I stopped again for a comfort break at Wet herby and because I was feeling tired. I was not at best alertness for the rest of the journey but OK. The weather over the Pennines was glorious although the incoming low sun was blinding at times and added to driving difficulties. I was OK until reaching the service area above Manchester where I have stayed on previous visits to the city.

I was aware from previous experience that after this service area one has to concentrate even more than usual because of the filers and junctions off the motorway on either side of the carriage way. These go south to Chester and North Wales, to Warrington and Widnes or north to the Lancashire mill towns, to the county town of Preston or to the sandy beaches of Southport. I was OK until seeing signs for the 5080 to places which were not on my list so I kept going to the end of the motorway and sure enough the sign to 5080 was the first on list of three junctions. All was OK until I saw but did not register sufficiently the turning I had to take off the third and final roundabout and end along a road which appeared to be taking into central Liverpool and not the more countrified residential housing I had expected from the guide map. I should have stopped at a service area for a local map book.

I retraced by steps and took what I thought was the correct turning but the road was Aigburth Drive not Road and took along an area of Parkland which I assume borders the river. It seemed to go on for ages and eventually I found someone who correctly guided to Aigburth road from its end in the other direction which I had first intended. This was fine because it meant that the Travel Lodge was on my side of the dual carriage way. The accommodation is basic with not even a cold drinks machine. There is however plenty of free parking and I had passed the entrance to the cricket ground less that 50 yards on the other side of the road. There were some restaurants and a few other outlets across the road. After unpacking I went to the Toby for a cold Pepsi around 22.30. The TV has most of the free digital channels and I commenced to watch Beyonce before going for the drink who put on an hour and three quarters top pf the bill set from 22.00. She is the first female to head the bill on the Pyramid set for a quarter of a decade. I was impressed with her energy and clearly she regarded the event as one of the most important in her life, never having appeared to so many people in one go. I liked the message of her music.

Now to the main event and purpose of the visit, The cricket. On the Sunday afternoon Durham played second in the 20 20 League table Leicestershire. Durham battered first and made 187 runs which was 10-20 short of what I thought would be needed and should have been achieved given the great stated. Gordon Muchall made a solid 65 to anchor the innings. Leicestershire set a cracking pace and appeared to be cruising at 12 an over adding 95 runs for the third wicket after a shaky start. Then as three wickets fell at 113 and two at 125 they batting became more cautious and bowling and fielding tighter and it was evident we were heading for a photo finish with 22 runs required for the last two overs. With 3 runs required off the last ball I thought the radio commentator said that the Durham bowler had caught and bowled the player however this as not borne out by the scorecard.. However Durham bowled well enough to win the game in that last over just. An important result because this puts Durham firmly in the top four although it is still anyone one result except perhaps for Notts at the top with four points clear and 3 wins more than anyone else with 6 games left to play and for Northants at the bottom with only 4 points but with two games in hand and 16 points to play for even they cannot be ruled out from a place.

There were rumblings of discontent about the state of the proposed wicket before the game against Lancashire commenced yesterday morning. There was also surprise when Durham invited Lancashire to bass first after winning the toss. I explained that Durham had been successful by allowing opponents to bat first score up to 250 runs and then batting for the greater part of two days with totals in excess of 400 to gain maximum batting points and then either wining by an innings or having a good draw with having achieved more bonus points which all added up to the end of the season.

However while in fact the scenario worked no one anticipated that 20 wickets would fall during the day and the wicket would be declared a good one which a combination of heat and cloud causing the ball to swing violently on the green pitch. For a time it looked as the conditions would cancel out the dramatic closing of the Lancashire first innings for 84 with 20 of these runs from Harmison who had three of his wides go to the boundary. Thorp 6 for 20 and Onions 2 for 19 did the damage. However at one point Durham were also 60 for 6 and it was former championship winning Benkenstein who was 80 odd not out with support from Onions who took the visitors into a lead of 100 runs. Lancs were into bat again with 9 overs to play and in the day and 20 minutes but bad light led to only one over of more play. Lancashire need a total of 350 plus to give Durham a challenge and void the visitors taking a 25 point lead but with Lancs having a game in hand to play. It still would mean Durham had the championship to lose. Benkenstein with over 1000 runs this season is now the player who has scored the most runs for Durham in the history of first class cricket. The match was nicely poised despite the Durham lead of 100 runs

2090 Preparations for trip to Liverpool

6.20 am Sunday 26th June 2011. It has taken me 45 minutes from the alarm to this point following a disturbed and at times uncomfortable night, an upset tum and usually time for the computer to warm up. I will first check and correct the writing of yesterday and then publish.

7.05 Completed check on writing 2089 and published on Google and MySpace. Checked email for lottery win and no again. Checked East Coast Trains for cheap ticket on September homeward journey and no change. Prepare edition of writing for albums and print. Tum feels better so will finish off open bacon packet into rolls and coffee break.

7.10 Enjoying bacon roll with coffee to follow and decide next task will be to prepare rolls for after match and trip. Weather forecasts good, sunny and warm. Think about Durham cricket and trip.

7.25 Enjoying coffee and will write about the Merlin episode last night in which Merlin goes off to get a sword for the King after being recommended the best sword maker in the land who lives with his daughter in the forest on their own. Because Merlin has a vision of the man using the sword to kill the king he incinerates the maker. The daughter then takes the sword to throw in lake which Merlin freezes over trapping the girl who hands the sword but then dies under the ice despite Merlin’s efforts to rescue her. Thus confirming that he is a nasty piece of work.

Meanwhile the King has become obsessed and coverts Guinevere who has married his champion and who tells him she proposes to be faithful regardless of what has passed between them and their respective feelings. Arthur is obsessed despite warnings from Merlin and his mother. But he is shown to be no King, or great fighter, or honourable man. Just another young man caught up in the dealings and ambitions of the older generation and his half sister.

His half sister decides to pay a visit to Camelot to greet Guinevere, the new wife, for some reason not explained and takes ill which gets worse when she returns. The nun who raised her after her father sent her away to the convent arrives saying that the nunnery was attacked and she is the only survivor. She says she has to help the girl to learn to die and appears to use a black magic circle. We also learn that the nun was behind the drive of Morgan to become Queen. Morgan survives a transformation and transfiguration of some kind which I did not understand. This is decidedly a Channel four slant on the legend and part of the new wave 21st century approach to adulthood orientated TV programming.

7.30 off to sort out rolls. 8.10 12 salami rolls have been prepared in two containers plus pink salmon ready for three rolls for today and one spare buttered roll. Forgot to put buttered and as yet unfilled rolls in bead tin until later. Last night I enjoyed some spicy sticky chicken pieces with the remainder of the Rosé, cherries, and pastry followed by Pepsi and coffee. I also had the third sickly chocolate cup cake for tea. For lunch today a piece of steak with roast potatoes and some veg with the rest of cherries. I will take a Danish to the game to have with a purchased cup of tea. The salmon rolls and some grapes with a drink will be for en route perhaps on the M62 at Hartshead or somewhere similar. I must get some AAA batteries for the camera on the way to the game which means leaving here at 12.45 to get to Riverside for 1.30 and a place on the balcony.

8.15 I have 40 minutes or so to write about SALT. This Salt is the name of a thirty something young woman and not talks to prevent nuclear proliferation! The concept is well trodden. The Russians took selected babies to a secret academy where the children were brought up to become sleeper killer operatives to bring down the USA. The parents are told the children have died when in hospital. After indoctrination type training in which they learn to kiss the ring of the academy master- Pope Bishop fascination (?) the children are placed or replaced in American families in such a way, it is presumed that relatives do not realise the children have been switched, and are brought up in such a way that they become great operatives holding great positions such as chief security adviser to the President, a senior General NATO attaché and in the case of Angelina Jolie, a super CIA spy.

When the film opens Jolie is in North Korea denying she is a spy and being tortured. She is then exchanged for a North Korean in USA hands after pressure was exerted her husband. We later learn she married him because he was an expert in spiders and as such had entry into North Korea so she could accompany him on a trip and spy. Years later she is living contentedly in the USA with her husband who she has come to love dearly when she and her boss are about to leave for the weekend they are called back because a mysterious Russian has arrived wanting to talk saying he has got mind blowing info. He tells of the academy and a plan to launch an inside assault on the USA through operatives placed over the years. The day of reckoning is to commence with the killing of the Russian President who is to attend the funeral of the USA American Vice President because of a special relationship the two had together. The name of the person who will carry out the mission is SALT.

This sets the cat among the pigeons and while Angelina is held when they find that her parents were killed in a car crash in Paris when she was preteen child, the Russian kills the two agents in the lift taking him somewhere and escapes the building. We later learn he is based on barge in the river accompanied by a number other previously secret placements who have been assembled for the day of reckoning when they will take over their homeland and also bring down to the USA.

Jolie also escapes from the building because she is concerned about the position of her husband. The film enters into action mode with spectacular chases in which Jolie jumps off motorway bridges onto and between lorries and other fast moving vehicles and eventual gets away from the police while in a moving vehicle and handcuffed. Leading the chase is her big cheese boss and another CIA man who appears to be internal security chief. He is convinced Jolie is a wrong un while her immediate boss is not. She manages to escapes them from her home when we see evidence that her husband has been taken and that she equips herself with the tricks of the trade and also taken venom from a spider which she inserts into a tranquilliser type of gun.

9 am Have taken car out and found that the temperature is going to reach 90 degree to day and tomorrow before cooler weather comes in from the west so looks as if we could get at least a couple of days rain free cricket from Monday as well as ideal condition today. Will finish the writing while starting the recording of BBC 2 HD Glastonbury which started with only one number of he bluest Glaswegian Paulo Nutrini. Someone called Black does in garden number. Janelle Monáe USA all black group in Black and white. Described as amazing (rubbish).
Friendly Fires from St Albans on the Other stage. Back to the film

Of course everything Jolie does is incredulous but it is great fun as she evades a no stop underground train stop and armed with maps of the tunnels under the church where the funeral is taking place and of course the security forces are all above ground and no one thought of patrolling the tunnels etc.. She manages to create mayhem and appears to have killed the Russian President. She is captured but misses out on the opportunity to kill the CIA internal security man. She escapes from the police cars while handcuffed.

She makes her way to a prearranged meet with the Russians although it is not explained how she knew this. He takes her to the barge where he executes her husband to gauge her reactions. She executes him and all the others present after learning of her next assignment and the plan

The plan is to meet a General with access to the White House National Security briefing and to create a situation which will result in he President going to control centre below the White House and gain control of nuclear rocket launching. Hmmn. To do this she uses a false face Mask, teeth, eyes etc and identify to get in as a male assistant to the General. What happens is that the General with Jolie help creates a situation within the White House which results in the President making for the secure control centre followed by Jolie after the General blows himself rather than be captured after Jolie drops in it as they say. Down below the President agrees to go the pre Nuclear attack mode because the Russians have been getting ready although why they should is not explained as the President is back home having recovered from the temporary paralysis and the Russians would have been told about the background to what was a one person assault on behalf of a rogue Russian.

It is at this point we have what is supposed to be the surprising twist as it emerges that Jolie’s boss is the prime Russian former child secret placement agent who now kills everyone in the bunker except the President who he uses to set in motion a nuclear attack on two middle Muslim East Countries thus create warfare between the Muslim World and the USA. It was intended that Jolie, given her special skills would also get to the scene where after the attack is launched her boss would kill her and be the hero thus being in a position of power with the New USA president who in one version of the film was also a Russian secret placement. Why Jolie did not know in advance he was another placement is because he was in a more senior group to her and for some reason although they were in the same academy they were never introduced although she did recognise others from her class. Although she manages to stop the nuclear strike she is captured and blamed by her boss for the deaths including that of the President. However when taken away she manages to break free to kill her boss and then persuades the CIA security man she saved the world after her fingerprints were found at the barge along with the Russian academy organiser and other dead operatives. She is then allowed to break free and jump into the Potomac River after explaining that there are more people like her still in the USA and that she intends to kill them all with his help. Great rubbish as they say.

09.43 Iron and packing time while listening to more Glastonbury.

10.30 Progress. Watching Cold Play as Headline band on Saturday night with their third top line appearances. They headlined after helping out the Worthy farm people attending a local fete many years ago. They originate from the West country Devon. They are over rated by the way but need a lift after dropping from the public eye and having a new album due for release. They are produced by Brian Eno who also does U2.

11.30 Packed and ready to go apart from washing shaving and eating. Decided that I fancy just a steak sandwich and the rest of the cherries. Around 12. Torn between finishing the Cold Play set and England V India women international cricket to see if they can make it three out of three.

11.45 Settle for England as they are batting with mixed fortunes as they have lost three wickets for 50 runs but with a good run rate of 7.32. Now star player out first ball and they are 50 for 4. Decide to make lunch. By mistake have defrosted pork not the beef. No matter Now to water the plants.

12.05 3000 people in the ground at Taunton as England is 89.5 with a run rate still over 7 and 7,22 but they have lost another wicket and into the 13 over. Completed watering and remember to get some CD’s for the journey.

12.15 England reached 100 for 4 with Clare Taylor 57 not out and going well. Well done the ladies putting the men
to shame, England have collapsed while I did the washing to 124 for 9 at the end of the 18 and are all out at 136. Enjoyed cherries and cup cake and now time to wrap up this writing and transfer memory stick. Will write up what happens next if I have the time

2089 Women beat the Men at National cricket, Warrington stay at top, Glastonbury in Mud Again and great Durham win

16.00 24th June set off for Emirates Durham and the crucial game between the county and Lancashire in the 20 20 competition. As you will note this is not an instant note but was written when I returned home from the

16.45 After having a chat with a Member returning from a fortnight in the USA (American wife) I went to the Receptions and wondrously the garage remote looked as if it could be mime.

20.00 Durham smashed Lancashire through a great team effort but the night’s honours went to Liam Plunket who with Will Smith hit the visitors for over 30 runs in the last two overs, humiliating England bowler Jimmy Anderson for 54 in his 4 overs. Contrast this with Liam Plunket’s 5 for 32 and Breese 3 for 23. Claydon had 1 for 14 from his 2 and Blackwell 1 for 13 from his 3. Durham had hit 200 for 6 with Captain Benkenstein 60 with 6 fours and 2 6’s Plunket hit 2 6’s and Mustard and Blackwell the other 2. Lancs faced with the mammoth total started well but with wickets tumbling they were quickly trying to save their run rate. Wickets went at 35, 38, 38 and 40 and 48, then 68 100, 107, 110 and 117 all out in 17 over. As consequence of all the other matches in the division ending in 1 point no results Durham have leapt back to third with 9 points one behind Leicestershire who have 10 points with a game in hand. Durham can go above on Sunday when they meet Leicestershire at the riverside; Notts still look safe at the top with 14 points but with 7 games left for them to play. Only Northants look out of the having any chance of finishing in the top 4 at this stage. It omens well for the championship game next week.

20.30 Great it is my remote. It raises the garage door.

21.00 Watch the greater part of episode 3 of the Kennedy’s. He was bullied by the Generals and the Intelligence services into the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Fortunately he does not use USA forces to make the situation worse. The FBI monitor the President’s private life after Bobby is appointed Attorney General and exerts his authority. The President is then caught smuggling in a woman into the White House and his bed known to have mobster connections. J Edgar Hoover was incensed by the approach of Bobby Kennedy to him and ordered the FBI to keep watch on the President in order to find a means of exercise a hold over the family because he already knew that the President and his father had an urge to bed women bordering on an addiction.

22.00 U.2 the greatest Rock band in the World is appearing at Glastonbury and the BBC is broadcasting on three channels simultaneously BBC 2 HD, BBC2 and BBC 4. My ears are still hurting from the night I met the U2 tribute band looking for the digs part way along the hill and after directing them to their lodgings I attended their gig at South Shields Custom House. They were so loud that several in the audience could not cope and left during the two sets which went through all their Anthems.

I have recorded sets of BB King and Morrissey. 23.10 U2 set ends and I am for bed. Wrong just a change of channels as there is still a third of set to go opening with Sunday Bloody Sunday. We have had Streets with no name, With or Without You, I still have no found what I am looking for. The Game of Love 23.30. Will switch off the alarm for the morning as I decide to stay up. They are going to do an encore. Yes it is With or Without you followed by Moment of Surrender. One more then- Out of Control. 11.45 set finally ends . I check out recordings and accidentally erase Morrissey Ouch must find a way to resurrect set. Long past my usual bed time. Goodnight.

10am 25th June. Having stayed up it was 9 am before waking for the last time during the night achieving 9 hours of sleep and some interesting dreams already diminishing in memory. No lottery win after checking on Internet and starting the washing up. It has rained overnight but dry now. Feel inactive. Enjoy bacon roll and decide to have a second. Catch up Warrington versus another table topping club St Helens, Warrington go into 3 converted tries to 0 and should have had a fourth. But it is St Helens to do the great comeback scoring four tries, three converted in succession and silencing the home crowd. Wow.

10.20 Warrington win 35- 28 as they go ahead in the second half at the commencement but then St Helens also fight back but this time they are held and Warrington take a one point extra kick to force St Helens to score twice to win. This is the first in many years Warrington have done the double and open a 5 point lead between themselves and St Helens who for the moment are outside the league top runners. Later today Huddersfield must win against third place Wigan to continue to go head to head with Warrington. A Wigan win will see them go second. Later I check that Wigan trounce Huddersfield 46-12 and indeed go second on the table with 27 points to Warrington’s 28. The match points differences remain significant with Warrington 714 to 289 Huddersfield 518 to 285 Huddersfield 507 to 336 and St Helens 516 to 399

10.30 Watching recording of Wombats at Glastonbury. Not in mood to do iron yet or any other preparation for tomorrow or house cleaning. Getting brighter outside.

10.35 Complete washing up but forget the oven tray and the decision to make a Butterscotch whip for puddings today and tomorrow. I have been travelling light to the cricket for 20 20 games to avoid the baggage checks at the gate, putting the prepared rolls and pastry in the voluminous pockets of my outer coat and having the ticket ready in hand. The only accoutrement has been an umbrella.

10.40 Wood Gravel at Glastonbury among the mud. And a new commentator does the Glastonbury crawl going to the Circus area and the laughter tent, the Cabaret area where someone does a good impersonation of Frank and lots of thingies including electronic tree post, women on electric shopping trolleys formation dancing team or are they men? And lots of figurines voodoo like.

10.50 Enjoyed coffee. Also enjoying Two Door Cinema Club (mispronunciation of Tudor) from Ireland who are making it big this year at the festivals for the first time. Sound similar to others but original music and pleasant enough. Fleetfoxes on Pyramid stage rumours of a big band to appear as the secret gif at the Park Stage (Radiohead?) Must check out programme for rest of the day.

11.00 Find England already playing Australia 20 20 series and are 83.3 having just lost wicket in 13th over with run rate just over 6. Needs to be better. 12.30 England went to 136 for 6 Australia has played at the require rate but has lost wickets 86 for 4 and 12.2 over and are looking for the win. They need only 49 from 45. Another wicket goes with a great running catch in the deep. This could change things. It is 95 for 6 and the game has changed. Another wicket a run out and 100 for 7 and 37 from 28. They hit four and then hit a juicy full toss into the goods hands of a fielder 113 for 8, A great stumping and 113 for 9, Aussies need 23 from 12 with only last wicket. LBW appeal and decide to try quick run and are run out so England win by 22 runs and as a consequence gain place in Final with one game still to play against India. Australia should have won hee hee.

(The game continues until lunch at 1 and then England play India men’s 20 20 at 2 and continues until 5. There is also rest of Glastonbury catch up and also ongoing Glastonbury not enough time so must begin some of final preparation for trip).

11.10 Bring down big case and do some packing as match continues after watching rest of England Innings and reading some more of Game of Thrones where I want to complete the write up of first series and book. Is here

11.15 Is there a Marriott close to where I am staying? It is in Town centre so only if the weather is a washout day, so will take stuff.

12.30 Completed the reading of the Game of Thrones. A magnificent tale but I will resist commencing to read the second volume in the series until the new season is broadcast which could be some nine months, decide to have prawn salad which means defrosting he prawn so lunch will be late, Collect post and ticket arrives for the outward journey to London in September so will try for the return in a moment. Still no cheap fares as yet, Try again this afternoon and if not try again on Sunday morning.

12.35 In the post invitation to Seaham Hall for a seminar on financial management by St James’s Place Wealth Management, Would love to go and see Seaham Hall. Alas I have no wealth to manage, Must try and change that. Now if the invitations was for debt management!

13.00 Work on Game of Thrones while watching BB King set who is now aged 85 years he has to sit to play and sing. Every day I have the Blues. Tempted to go for salad and have the prawns later when fully thawed. Rock me Baby. Three O’clock in the morning.

13.30 I enjoy the prawn salad and a glass of the Rosé.

14.30 I have enjoyed my lunch completed with pain au raisin, Butterscotch whip and can of Pepsi.

14.30 I have completed work on Game of Thrones writing, and uploaded to Google and My Space, printed out copies and then an album edition.

14.30 I watched the end of BB King session and the part of the U2 session again.

14.30 Switch quickly to Bristol and England V India 20 20 new era team. Sri Lanka. New Captain Broad leave out current best player Bell and Lumb and Kieswetter open batting as Sri Lanka wins toss and puts England to bat. Michael Lumb disaster and is out with a slot to sky and is caught. Bad show drop him. How dare they drop Bell and Collingwood and the others. England 3 for one wicket after first 9 balls, hopeless. Sack the selectors I say. Kieswetter fails, see what I mean. Sack the selectors with England 12 for 2. On boundary from Pietersen. And Owen Morgan arrives. Run rate is only 4.24.

2.55 That is better with a six and several fours. Now 30.2 from 4.4. Enter 21 more home delivery leaflets for meals but no new outlets to the 81 listed. Number of leaflets now 194. Run rate 6.5

3.20 Morgan hits two sixes in succession 87 for 2 and run rate up to 7.81. Then after more good hits both men are out under 50 and Patel is run out after a sloppy piece of work. Run rate went over 8 is now 7.5. New boys are all hopeless so far. Sack em I say and the selectors. 6.30 am Sunday morning. What happens is that the England failed miserably after the departure of Pietersen and Morgan, failing to score boundaries and the innings ends at 136 for 9 Pathetic. Broad is run out for 0. Pathetic. He has no captaining experience. What were the selector’s thinking? Sri Lanka look comfortable against uninspiring bowling and gently make the runs with the loss of only one wicket when the total was 40. Jayewardene not out 72 and Sangakkara not out 43 get the runs in 17,2 overs. What a hopeless performance by the national side. Sack the selectors I say.

21.00 I have watched SALT and Angela Jolie Super spy woman jolly of utter rubbish but popular with those like lots of action and leave their common sense outside the cinema. I watch Merlin now. I may be able to write more if I am not too tired when it ends. (I will write about both tomorrow which is already today).

2088 The Game of Thrones ends, brilliantly

I have finished reading the first book of series and watched the final episodes of the first season of the TV series and reflected on the whole that I have experienced. That the TV series raised the ages of some of principal characters to make their involvement possible in the blood shedding and the sex was the right decision as has been the portrayal of these aspects in a frank and open way rather than in a self indulgent voyeurism with which Spartacus is associated. The overall story as yet to be revealed and the inherent themes are all such as make the series a memorable one and the book a worthwhile read. Having purchased the books that have been published to date I well be able to read them if for any reason the work does not continue with further Televisions productions. I am most impressed so far,

I have decided to write this final piece on the work with the notes made after the first episode of the last part of the Game of Thrones pages 531 to 616 which lived up to my anticipation and opened the news that Lord Eddard Stark keeper of the Kings Hand had not been assassinated but was incarcerated in a dungeon. His fate which I know is not a good one is yet to be determined. I will then cover the rest as has now unfolded and revealed to me as it has been to other watchers and readers.

The TV episode 8 The Pointy End concentrated on the roles of Robb the eldest legitimate child aged only fourteen years in the book but looking early to middle 20’s in the TV production as he calls those who have sworn loyalty to his father to assemble and march with him upon the forces of the Lannisters. Understandably there is concern and questioning of his abilities and leadership qualities and during an assembly at table one draws a knife and Robb’s direwolf charges and removes two of the man’s fingers. Robb comments that it was unfortunately that the dog had misunderstood the gesture as offensive when all the man intended to do with to cut his meat to which the man replied with humour that the meat was tough. This appeared to have quietened the leaders of the men, an assembly of 20000 with those of the senior Lannister alone amounting to over 20000 plus those of Jamie, not stated, those back at the capital and the motley outlaw leaders who have taken the Imp Tyrion prisoner and with whom he has cut a deal. Thus the combined forces of the Lannisters exceed those from the North.

The deal is that the men are provided with the latest weaponry and given the lands outside the castle of Lord Arryn making the wife of the former King’s Hand a prisoner in her isolated and impregnable stronghold. His father greets him with mixed feelings, surprised that he is still alive and disappointed that he was taken prisoner, so easily! Tyrion makes light of the situation but the outlaw leaders makes the point that he remains their prisoner until his father has delivered the promises that have been made by the son.

Back at the Capital the two daughters of Lord Stark go their separate ways. Sansa is delighted that Joffrey is now King and sees herself as Queen, with the Queen mother, questioning the loyalty of the girl to her future husband and regime because of the concern expressed about her father. She is asked to prove her commitment by writing letters to her mother and brothers requesting that they also commit themselves loyally to her future husband and the rule of the Lannisters.

When the Queen’s men comes for Arya she is practising with the swordsman both using wooden practice weapons and therefore no match for the men who have come for her, claiming they are send by her father. While the sword master fights she is able to escape and using all her skills decides to make her way out of the castle through the secret passageway which led her previously to outside the walls of the city. Her first idea was to go to the stables and take a horse but there a stable boy recognised her and tried to take her prisoner to gain favour with the Queen. Armed with the blade given to her by the half brother she kills the boy and finding the exits guarded on the look out for her she finds the courage to take the route which frightened her so much before and make her way to the family home. There is an excellent section when child puts to use all the teachings of the swordsman battling with her natural fears about her own and her family’s future. It is noted that when confronted by the queen Sansa makes no reference to the plight of her sister, something which is of concern to the rest of the family.

On receiving the letter from her eldest daughter Catelyn decides to go immediately the encampment of her son to try and persuade him not to be involved in the forthcoming battles, but she is proud of his determination to do so, Back at their home Bran tries to comfort his four year old younger brother that his parents and older brother will return but the child comments, that everyone including his sisters leaves and do not return, Bran goes to his mother’s favourite place by the water to reflect on the old Gods and there encounters the wilding girl who warns that his bother is marching in the wrong direction and should be moving north where the threat comes from ancient ones as Winter begins to approach.

There is also concern at the wall where Jon and Sam encounter a body whose death suggests a force other than wildings and both are congratulated for their behaviour and begin to feel like true men of the Watch. Jon is called to the attention of the Commander who asks him to pour wine for himself as well as for him and then reveals the news of the death of the King and the imprisonment for treason of his father. He cautions Jon about doing anything precipitous and when the lad gets into a fight with another he is confided to quarters. The young man is aroused by his direwolf and quickly senses that something is amiss and goes to the quarters of the Commander and foils an attempt on the man’s life.

Meanwhile Daenerys having achieved her ambition of getting her husband to take his forces across the water to regain her kingdoms is disturbed as the men start to take the women folk as they move to the coast raiding for slaves and money. She is rebuked by her husband when she questions the need for money as he reminds that it is needed to hire the ships which they need for the sea crossing. She sticks to her ground about the taking of the women saying that if the men want the women they should take the women as wives. This leads to one of his captains threatened by the increasing power of Danny to challenge her husband who kills the man with his bare hands although he is injured in the process. One of the rescued women who Danny has taken under her protection offers to heal the wound with skills learnt from her mother. She is regarded as a Sorceress and is to play a key part in what is to happen. The other captains continue to have questions and doubts about the role of Danny but her husband is impressed seeing this as only an indication that his son to be is filling his wife with courage and the will of a future leader.

Across the water Robb’s leadership continues to be a source fo concern and potential challenge when he decides to free an enemy look out who was trying to assess the number of troops which he has put at over 20000. Robb does not explain his reasons for letting the man return with the information on the size of the enemy and their intentions but we the reader suspect he has a plan, as yet undisclosed. The plan is a clever one. What he does is to sacrifice 2000 of his 20000 men in confronting the forces of the father of Lannister Senior who continues to have contempt for his height challenged son and decides that he and his brigands and wildmen should be at the forefront of the attack on the advances forces of Robb. Tyrion arranges to have a companion for the night before the battle and generally enjoy himself with good food and wine. When the battle is over he is surprised that although injured he is still alive, as is his father and he asks if the battle was won and his father says yes and the process of killing the entire remaining enemy continues. However his father says yes we have beaten the 2000 but the 18000 were elsewhere undertaking a surprise attack on the other brother and his forces.

In order to achieve the surprise victory it is necessary for Robb with his mother and the men to use a gated causeway controlled by a lecherous old war lord who although previously swore loyalty to Lord Eddard is known for his independence of mind and tendency to marry very young girls father several children and then take another wife with eight in total, if I remember correctly. It is Catelyn who takes the responsibility for negotiating a deal which Robb says he accepts and this includes that he will marry one of the warlord’s daughters and that Arya will marry one of the sons. Having negotiated the deal they are able to carry out the surprise attack which is not shown and next we see that Jamie has been captured who they now hope to bargain for the return of Ned and his two daughters.

A good part of this episode Baeolor (9) is devoted to Jon who has a new status on the Watch since saving the life of the Commander who gives him a well made family sword which was to have been passed down to his son who he regards as worthless. The others on the watch all want to see and handle the sword which Jon generously allows them to do so. Jon is called to the top of Wall where one of the elders now blind is chopping away at carcasses to create food for the ravens in their cages. Either on his own initiative or on behalf of the Commander he wants to let Jon Snow know that he understands the dilemma he is in, on one hand to go and help his half brother, half sister and his father and on the sworn loyalty of allegiance to his comrades in the Watch. The man discloses that he faced such a challenge late in life when the reality was that he would have been useless to help and he then also discloses that he is the brother of the Mad King, the Uncle of Daenerys. He is therefore sympathetic to the position of the young man but emphasises that while he will not advise or comment on which choice to make, he will need to decide and that once the decision is made there will be no going back.

Across the water Danny, now in the latter stages of her pregnancy continues to ride horseback by the side of her husband who falls ill as the wound he received when fighter a usurper begins to fester. When he collapses she insists they stop and make camp. Now another senior member of the Dothraki people steps in with his leadership challenge warning Danny that when her husband dies she will be nothing. Danny holds firm and calls on the woman she rescues and who tended her husband’s wounds to assist once more. The woman says that only the use of ancient beliefs can save the Kharl and she told go continue which involves the slaughtering of the Kharl’s horse with blood splattering on him and Danny. She is told to leave an ensure no one enters the tent and when the latest usurper moves to stop the old woman Danny is pushed to the ground and appears to bring forward the birth prematurely. When the man who has been her escort throughout the period in exile intervenes he is wounded but manages to kill the usurper. Danny enters the tent to seek the help of the old woman.

Back in the capital Lord Eddard in chains is approached by one of the other former advisers to the King, the eunuch who pleads with Ned to do all that he can to bring peace, to call on his son to stop the advance and to do what the Queen bids in order to protect his daughters. In the final scene he is brought before the public to admit his treason and that he and been wrong. Both his daughters look on with Sansa dressed in finery as the future wife of King Joffrey approves what he is doing while Arya dressed as an urchin looks on in horror. He sees her as he speaks to the crowd.

I therefore come the final episode of the first series Fire and Blood where I have also read that a second has been commissioned because of the positive audience response in the various countries where production has now been shown.

The episodes open with the news that following his speech on the orders of the King and his mother, Lord Eddard Stark is beheaded to the acclaim of the crowd. Sansa collapses in the shock of this betrayal which Ayra is protected by the man who provides the Watch at the Wall, the Black Watch, with new recruits. He cuts down her hair and tells her to function as a boy as he takes her North the Wall. There is an incident in which another youngster attempts to take the sword away from her and she threatens to the kill the individual boasting that he would be her second. The incident is stopped by another in the convoy, the blacksmith assistant, one of the previous Kings illegitimate children who had been visited by Ned, Lord Stark when tracing the investigation undertaken by the previous Hand to the King. I am not sure this part is the first book as I do not remember reading,

Sansa wishes to return home and experiences an assault by the King who says that his sister decided that they will marry in time. She is horrified by the betrayal by the King and his mother. She once was thrilled by his touch but now this makes her flesh cringe. He tells her he wants to have child as soon as she is capable. He forces her to see the head of her father and says he will give her another present on her birthday. Her brother Robb's head.

The grim nature of reality has come to her. A thousand leagues to the North the news of the death of his father has decided Jon to leave his post, to join his half brothers to avenge his father. Before he gets far he is overtaken by his three closest friends on the Watch all who took their oaths together. The persuade him to return. The Commander takes the decision to assemble the full force of the Watch to go beyond the wall to investigate what has been happening and to all try and find out what has happened to Lord Eddard’s brother who failed to return from the previous expedition to find out what was happening. The Commander questions Jon’s will and is satisfied with the commitment of the young man to participate in the quest with them. We see the troop leave the security of the Wall to out into the icy wilderness beyond.

Back in the area between the Kings Landing capital and their home the news of the death of Ned has reached his wife and son. She is tempted to kill Jamie and is her son but they hold fire until they have freed Sansa and Ayra after which she sears to her son that they will kill them all. She nevertheless strokes Jamie across the face with a rock and he admits that he did push her sun Bran off castle wall but does not disclose why. The news has reached that the brother of the King is claiming the throne. All Catelyn wants is get her daughters back and for them all to go home in peace. However the other Lords are not prepared to return without retribution for the deaths of relatives and comrades. They proclaim Robb King of the North.

Lord Lannister speaks approvingly of his son Tyrion’s recent conduct and his counsel and his father shares with him his plan which is to use a small force to cause havoc in area while they reassemble and prepare to make united battle against the forces assembled to meet them. In the meantime he announces that Tyrion is to become the new Hand to his nephew and put him and the boy’s mother, his sister, in their places. The only condition is that he does not take his woman, the whore, to court with him. Tyrion tells her of his father plan and his intention to take her with him as his mistress so that she can have an effect on the other women of the court. Tyrion remains the character of the series and the book.

The most dramatic development is however across the water where Daenerys discovers the treachery of the Sorcerer woman who has taken and killed her child after she gave birth claiming that it has been a reptilian monster. While her husband the Dothraki Lord has survived he has become a silent motionless shell of a man who enjoys laying out in the sun. However his captains and menfolk have for the greater part returned to their natural lifestyle abandoning the man who can no longer sit on a horse. The remainder with her are the women she rescued and a few of the older members of the Dothraki plus her personal protector. He is horrified suspecting that she proposes to die with her husband on the funeral pyre. However first she frees everyone to go or stay with her and the she orders the sorceress who betrayed her out of revenge for what her husband did to her people, to be tied to the pyre. The woman says she will not hear her scream. She does. But Danny also enters the burning conflagration and moves into its centre.

When the fires ends and the remaining embers cool, Danny is found alive at the centre fulfilling the prophecy that the descendents of the dragon. It is implied that she had taken the three dragon eggs given to her at the time of her marriage into the fire with her and these have down hatched and cling to her. The Protector and those who accepted her offer to remain with her as free men and women kneel to her in awe and admiration. She was confident she was the true heir to the Dragon Kings and would survive the conflagration.

So we have the breakup of the seven Kingdoms with three Kings and the Dragon Queen across the water, while the long dark Winter is coming with the re emergence of the undead.

2087 Case Histories, Sopranos, Spartacus, Chicago Code, Sport and preparations for Liverpool

It is 12.40 Friday 24th June 2011 and the penultimate of these writings which include long notes on cultural and sporting experiences.

In future I will diary in contemporaneous notes but only if the first draft can be completed immediately after an event. I have sorted out in my head the construction of the major writing for traditional publication which I will commence in earnest when I return next week from a trip to Merseyside to watch Durham play Lancashire in a vital match for the 2011 championship.

I have had a good swim but no sauna this morning and been into South Shields centre for some cherries and inexpensive indigestion tablets at Wilkinson’s which has been redesigned with new a new set of cashier point too great success. I am most impressed as the store has an upmarket feel. I also check out that the Computer stores does not do Lexmark 100 cartridge clones but before then I did see there are less expensive opportunities on the Internet Ebay and Amazon which I shall explore further when I return, having committed myself to the Brother for a little longer having purchased black sets from IJT. I also rang them to enquire about the failure of the batteries and blank CD disks to arrive, but these are now in the post having been out of stock.

Over lunch of lamb chops and Chinese and Indian snacks (Wow) and half a glass of Rosé I shall complete this writing and watch some tennis where two British women are playing and expected to lose in the second round. My Olympic account is back on line with my allocated tickets listed. In addition tot he ticket I will get a free travel card when they are issues for greater London which is a bonus.

14.35 Thursday June 23rd June. I have prepared for the next three trips with first the journey to the Travel Lodge, until recently Innkeepers which is located opposite the Liverpool Cricket ground with a Toby Carvery next door. I have down loaded some vouchers so if I can find someone interested to participate in the voucher deal a cooked breakfast is available for £2 50 and the carvery for £5 or alternatively a free ice cream with the full price carvery on my own. I have also worked out the location of the nearest Cineworld, Asda and Morrison Supermarkets and the location of the Tate Modern in the city as well as water trips. There is a direct bus service into the city centre and takes about 15 mins, so if the day is wet or the match goes badly I have the options to the ready.

It is 9 am Wednesday 22nd of June 2011 and there are gaps in the white clouds revealing blue sky. I have an overnight email which revealed that I had been awarded two single tickets for Olympic Football at Wembley including a men’s quarter final game. It will be just my luck that if England gets through to the latter stages the game will be played at Newcastle or one of the other stadiums outside of London.

The two games are on August 1st and 4th. Worse still is that because of these tickets I have to wait for the next application series after those who obtained nothing, possibly one million people could have taken up the available tickets from Friday. Only after these have been allocated and paid for can I apply for what is left which will be what no one else wants to attend. Hopefully there might be the odd preliminary game at Newcastle available. I will have to win the lottery to be able to buy hospitality tickets.

I am spending today Thursday and tomorrow preparing for the visit to Liverpool for Durham’s game against Liverpool, continuing with this writing and the last episodes of the first series of the Game of Thrones, commencing some housework with defrosting the freezer and then restocking with a major shop to qualify for one or two reduced price fill ups of petrol. I am going to be busy busy but have also watched the latest episode of Blue Bloods (21) which is the penultimate of the first season with a second agreed.

I have also booked a train ticket for the journey to Croydon and London in September, a mid morning journey for £15. I have to wait a couple of days to book the return. I have commenced to restock the freezer and larder having defrosted and also waited until I needed to spend £40 or more, as I had hoped the petrol concession would still be available. It is not. I will go to Asda at six to complete purchases necessary before the weekend. Doing a washing to day but suspect the ironing will wait until to morrow when I will explore getting inexpensive printing cartridges for the multifunction printer as well as the getting some cherries and inexpensive indegstion tablets.

The shopping went well with lost of good deals, the best of which was to spot an assistant marking down some packs of cakes-pastries from 75-84 pence to 10 pence. There were packs of Pepsi at £2 from £2.50. Other special bargains included 3 jars of curry for £3 from £4, so I acquire to sets. More regular deals included three large packs of prawns in shell for £10 from £12, similarly both supermarkets to deals on meats/poultry packs - Steak, Chicken, Turkey, pork and lambs with 3 for £10. There was a lot of the usual from toilet rolls to liquorice twists, vitamin tablets to sardine tins, grapefruit segments and rice pudding and bacon rashers.

I have been for two swims this week and intend to make two more visits over the next three days.`I have also spent time on the patio garage garden transplanting plants to one of the containers where the planting had been sparse and secondary quality . I moved from three of the hanging baskets and replaced with plants that ahd progressed in other containers and propose a furether check and good watering on Saturday with top up on Sunday morning.

I have prepared a lap top for the trip and transferred work location information from the top floor to the desk top central filing system. This confirms that I have not noted the contents of the two shelf free standing units moved in here earlier in the year and provides the opportunity to reorganise how these are placed in the room.

I will also note the contents of other boxes placed in build in shelving unit.

I still cannot connect this lap top wirelessly to my network and will have another attempt on return. I can connect with cable but the use of machines with cables seems to slow the system. I also checked out the two wireless mice and confirmed they are not working. I have then connected another mouse to desktop with a standard connection. The Tate BT mouse which I won in Tate site competition in 2003. I will therefore take the USB mouse with me on the trip together with headphones and speakers so I can catch up on Sky provided programmes. For a while I could not find the third internet link cable until it was located tucked in a draw where I keep lap tops and the cameras.

The Durham game ended in a draw against Yorkshire on Tuesday despite having an almost full day of play. I decided to delay attending to see if progress was made, waiting for five wickets to fall by early afternoon. It did not happen with one opponent making over 100. Durham had therefore to be satisfied with 11 points rather than 26 from a win. Attention was directed to the game between Notts and Lancs with Notts making a good start with nearly 350 runs and Lancs in trouble on two occasions but then later order batsmen rallied so that their first innings closed 20 runs behind. Alas Notts had one of their top order collapses or more accurately two collapses losing 4 wickets before lunch and three within a few balls immediately after luncheon interval. There was a rally by the lower order to set Lancs some 225 runs to win. They batted carefully with a whole day and rain not expected, winning by six wickets. Lancs are now 7 points behind Durham with a game in hand. This total is 1 point less because of a poor over rate. With Warwickshire beating Somerset and Notts losing even if these teams gain the maximum points with their game in hand they cannot overtake Durham as the situation stands. Sussex with two games in hand will also be 20 points adrift should they win both these games with maximum points. York’s and Hampshire remin the perilous position at the bottom of the table, along with Worcestershire. However with the weather uncertain and only half the season played these positions can dramatically change with a good or bad run by any of the nine teams in the division. There is an England 20 20 game tomorrow followed by the next Durham 20 20 against Lancs likely to be an omen for next week. This after I kept one eye on England’s women’s first 20 20 game in a series which includes, New Zealand who they bowled out in under 20 overs and scored the required runs early with 8 wickets in hand, Australia and India are the other two teams with Australia having a convincing win over India.

Wimbledon has required the roof over the Centre Court to get some games played because of the changeable weather. Murray started slowly losing his first set but won the mtrach 3 sets to 1 followed by 3 sets to 0 in the second round. He also plays tomorrow; I enjoyed a three hour contest between a 40 year old wife and mother from Japan and Venus Williams returning from injury and a six month of competitive inactivity. The Japanese lady reached the quarter finals over a decade ago and then retired from the game encouraged to play once more by her husband she was within a couple of shots of winning the match have taken the first set and playing some jaw dropping tennis as in fairness did Venus. This evening I had hoped to watch the former Wimbledon Junior champion, then aged 14 okay a second round match niw aged 17 years. She needs to do well this year if she is going to fulfil promise and expectation. Although the ladies with Anne Jones 1969 and Virginia Wade 1977 have carried the British singles flag over the past three decades with Jamie Murray, John Lloyd Jeremu Bates, Anne Jones and, Jo Durie having success in the mixed doubles.
Case Histories concluded its first series of three double episodes in a most satisfactory way. The series features an ex detective policeman turned private eye who uses his emotional loyalty links with his a former assistant and now senior detective to gain inside information and cooperation.

He is a man consumed with the memory of the murder of his sister and finding a relative having committed suicide by hanging themselves from the stairs, (we only see the lower part of the dangling body). In this two parter we begin by seeing the murder of a woman and child by a young man on a beach and another child, a girl, running away and hiding. We see men (police/army) searching for her and finding her as she continues to hide.

The private detective is on a traditional assignment of checking up on a wife who is having an affair with someone at a country house party. On his way back his car breaks down on a cold winter’s day before Christmas.

We also see a sixth form age young woman living in a small block of local authority flats arguing with her brother and finding his stash of drugs which she takes and leaves at the home of a former teacher who is helping the girl to study for A levels at her countryside cottage home. The girl quickly becomes the star of the whole series, resourceful, skilled, fearless and caring she is a delight in every respect and credible.

As the visit is unplanned the woman has to leave in her car leaving the girl continuing to work in the property after first warning the woman that she should not be driving because of her condition (we later learn a brain tumour) and the vehicle crashes onto a railway line in sight of the private detective as he is walking to find the nearest garage. He goes to assist the woman.

Fortunately, for him and the passengers on a train, the accident is n a corner with a 20 miles per hour speed limit so although the train hit the car, which we do not see and travels some distance before coming to a stop, with passengers told to move forward, we quickly see that the private detective either jumper from the car or was sent flying from the upturned vehicles and has hit his head and is laying at the side of the track. We see a male passenger leave the train and go in the opposite direction and then exchanges documents with the private detective. To add dramatic interest and effect we later see the man on a beach similar to where the private detective sometimes jogs and where he appears to have some connection in the past with the murder of the young woman and one of her children (presumed), It is only later that we learn that the man was the killer, released from prison, after two decades on a residential parole which he has broken.

The crash occurs within earshot of the young girl still at the cottage and she goes along the line with her bicycle to investigate where she finds the private detective barely alive and she works at resuscitating him and later she is at his beside in hospital waiting to have confirmed that he has recovered. She and the authorities know him by the driving licence found on him (that the killer had and kept up a driving licence is one of those questionable features and coincidences we reflect on later).

The detective is not fully conscious and is having visions of his sister grown up at the same time as a visit from his former colleague so when he calls out to the sister that she loves her, the police detective thinks he is referring to her and leaves the bedside rapidly emotionally challenged by his words.

We have most but not all of the ingredients for unravelling the principal story. The missing element is that girl has also got a job as a nanny for a young married woman whose is not at home when she calls as arranged and notes that the baby’s comforter is still in the room. Something which his mother would have taken with her wherever she went and for whatever reason.

Having saved the life of the detective and finding out what he does she asks him to help her find out where her employer is. The other ingredient is that the policewoman detective has gone on a date with a surgeon at the hospital when the calls come about the crash. He is a nice man who has treated the private detective, a widower of three year on his first date and she is genuinely interested in having a relationship although her difficult geeky son poses a problem.

We learn that the young girl’s brother is a drug dealer where the stash belongs to a couple of tearaways on the estate who trash the flat. The Detective persuades them to leave the girl and the flat alone, but the brother comes a looking and the girl decides to send him away and out of town when the private detective is present and saying she has choice and can hand over the drugs if she wishes.. Later she is at her brothers open coffin and places the drugs under his body. We learn that her mother had left her and the brother to go on holiday with a male friend and had drowned in the hotel pool after her hair had caught in some workings. Academically talented and of independent mind and idealistic she had attempted to keep the family and home together. She is brilliantly played by an actress I hope we shall see more of

Understanding his debt of continuing life to the girl he investigates the disappearance of the girl’s employer checking where the husband says she has gone to visit and finding this is a false trail. Eventually they find that the husband is at best an adventuring business man who owes money to heavies from Glasgow who has kidnapped his wife and child pending settlement of the debt. The detective persuades the man to insist on gaining proof that his wife and child are alive before agreeing to sign over his businesses in lieu of the debt. This enables the detective, with girl in tow, to trail the men after their visit to where they are keeping the woman and child prisoner. Meanwhile she stabs one of the two in the eye and then takes a knife she has spotted and stabs the second just as the private detective arrives to rescue her. My understanding is that the detective then puts petrol over the bodies the two men and sets fire. The girl had previously told the police of her concerns about the missing employer and child but now the police are told that the woman has been in a terrible state and cannot remember precisely where she has been and where she has stayed but is now recovered and all is well. This fits into the private detective applying his own sense of justice and in a way in which the audience always approve.

The woman, the woman who employs the girl as a nanny (another unexplained and implausible quirk) is in fact the girl who survived the murder attack on her mother and sister on the beach two decades or so before. The dodgy businessman husband was unaware of this background. The man/father committing the murder had just been released from prison on parole. It he who has left the train and exchanged documents with the Detective at the Trackside. Because he uses the man’s driving licence to hire a car at one point the uniformed police who stop the car beat him up believing he is the murderer on parole who had not reported in to probation prison after care as required. He has been driving the car one handed with the girl operating the gear levers!

The murderer is found to have shot himself on the beach at the spot where he committed murder. In prison he had converted to Roman Catholicism but had stopped practicing after a visit by the girl who has escaped him, one moth before his release, a development which it is presumed she had been notified by the authorities in advance. Thus we and the police were led to believe she had gone in hiding from the man and therefore her story was acceptable to them although he account of where she was is accepted only because the woman detective knows there is more to it and trust her former boss to have made the right judgements.

From the moment of meeting the Detective for the first time the woman says he seems familiar and at he end we learn he was the person who had discovered the frightened hiding girl alive two decades before, Having saved the girl once and he is protecting her from the involvement in the kidnap, covering up the affairs of the husband in so doing. There is more some good and some not so good.

The husband whose wife he had followed quickly becomes an obsessive pain in the backside with the private detective quickly switching sympathy to the wife protecting her location. She calls in the police when the husband finds her location and is visited by the new assistant to the police detective who has crossed swords with her former boss several times previously. He misguidedly gives his mobile and responds when the husbands returns and makes a scene in the roadway outside the property demanding that his wife returns to him. The private detective also arrives at the scene concerned at the state of mind of the husband and tries to prevent the policeman involving himself. The husband thinks the plan clothes detective is his wife’s lover and shoots and kills the officer who dies in hospital.

Throughout the two episodes the Detective adjusts to his daughter being in Australia, communicating with photo links on the lap top he presented to her as a going away present. She is learning to surf with the help of a new friend of her mother. Jealous and concerned at first he tries to learn more the new situation but sends her a surf board as a Christmas present. He visits his young saviour who is spending Christmas with her employer, husband and child to exchange Christmas presents but declines the invitation to stay for the Christmas dinner.

Following the incident at the hospital when the police woman detective had assumed he said he was in love with her she had left a message on his mobile when finding he had discharged himself from hospital. Having got his mobile back following the discovery of the body of the man who had attempted to switch identities, he had called at the home of this former colleague late one evening when she was entertaining the surgeon from the hospital for a meal and drinks. He had been sent packing. On Christmas Day he calls to ask her again what he is supposed to have said at the hospital and she tells him and he responds by saying that was about right and she says that is alright with her. He says he will return later and then goes off for a long run overlooking the city where they live. There is therefore the door left opened for a second series of programmes. There are questions about the situation with his daughter and ex wife half way across the world and the relationship with the his former assistant, and most of all there is what happened in elation to his sister, the young man in the car and the person who had committed suicide. At the same time there has been closure of a kind in saving the same person twice, as a potential murder victim and then as a kidnapped woman and mother. He tells her it is time to move on especially as the murderer has taken his life. He is also telling himself the same advice, accepting that his ex wife and daughter have a new life and appearing to begin a serious relationship with his former assistant.

Spartacus has taken an interesting turn with the purchase of several new recruits last week and persuading the wife of the Roman Commander who enslaved Spartacus and his wife to sponsor one of the men of her choosing and exceptionally masculine endowed individual. She tells him that if he obeys her in all respects she will ensure that he becomes free. The task she sets is to kill Spartacus. He survives with the help of Crixus and the new man is severely punished with the Gladiator school boss being suspicious at the turn of events but required to accept what happened in view of his desire to improve their social status by ingratiating himself into the top society through the wife of the Roman commander.

Crixus having clashed with Spartacus following his loss of authority over the other Gladiators becomes concerned with talk of being sold. The two clash in front of the Gladiators and Crixus still suffering from the effects of his injuries is badly beaten. However the saving of the life of Spartacus should change their relationship. Spartacus meanwhile has been encouraging his friend the roman citizen gambler to forgive his wife because of what happened to her.

In the Chicago Code the team get the opportunity to apprehend a billionaire drug baron only find they have no evidence to hold him and Federal Bureau wants to take over and offer him a deal to get access to others. The Team discovers that the reason for his visit is that his son has been kidnapped and he arrived with the ransom money. They persuade the Billionaire to cooperate in finding the son and eventually recover the boy after discovering he had been kidnapped by Nigerians with the help of one of drug bosses own men. They work out a deal which gives everyone a good result. The drug boss will stand trial for those crimes where the police now have evidence because of the testimony of the man who helped in the kidnapping under plea bargaining arrangements. He will also cooperate with the Feds on the basis that they will place his wife and son in a witness protection programme. He will not see them again. Meanwhile the undercover agent trying to gain evidence to convict the district Alderman is stressed and considering leaving the job because of his involvement in the death of a man where he was asked to torch a property for insurance money. He is then asked to act as chauffer for the Alderman for a couple of days while the Alderman visits the families of recently bereaved members of his community. This includes a visit to the home of the widow of the man who died in the fire. Thus the Alderman signals that he knows about the incident and in a telling moment asks whether the young man is up for the job and in. He says yes and also reports to the police chief that far from wanting to leave, he now wants to bring down the Alderman more than ever.

In the latest episode of the Sopranos D Girl the main interest is with Christopher who has an affair with the young female film executive in the Company of his film Director distant relative. The relative is interested in the reality of Christopher’s life as a gangster and adjusts his latest film project with a true story revealed by his relative much to Christopher’s subsequent anger, especially has the girl and the director reject Christopher’s script. When Tony learns of Christopher’s exploits and that he has written a script he expresses the same kind of concern which others including Christopher expressed when they heard that Tony was seeing a psychiatrist.
Christopher returns to his girl friend, a decision which the detective in Chicago Code also appears to make after re-establishing a relationship with his ex wife and caught leaving the family home by his teenage son at 3 am one morning. She seeks clarification of their relationship after the detective says he cannot bring himself to bring off from his fiancée who is growing anxious at the lack of time they are spending together. At the end of the episode it looks as if the Detective is going ahead with the marriage.

Tony and Carmela are having problems with their son AJ who damages his mother’s car while joy riding with friends. He has developed a melancholy philosophical view of life centred on the awareness that every life ends in death. Tony discusses the issue with his therapist who attempts to get him to talk about his relationship with his parents, and mother in particular, about which Tony remains resistant. Christopher agrees to be confirmed as a Catholic while the FBI force Pussy to wear a wire when attending the Conformation Party at Tony’s home and where Pussy has sponsored AJ and gives the boy advice! He is torn between his regard for Tony and being blackmailed by the FBI. Tony tells Christopher to give him 100% loyalty and attention and give up the writer nonsense.

Previously in the Happy Wanderer Tony hosts a high stakes gambling game in which tries hard to discourage a friend via the same high school as attended by their children from participating. When the man presses to join in Tony relents only for the man to lose heavily. Tony uses force to insist that the man pays him before his other creditors and take away the man’s son’s car in part settlement which he takes and gives to his daughter thus destroying the relationship between the two young people. She appears on her own in the high school concert.