1447 Return to the Isle of Wight

It is becoming difficult to switch back to my feelings of only four days ago when I decided to visit Sandown and Shanklin on the Isle of Wight for the first time since the early 1950's. After the amazing experience of 20 20 finals day I did not fancy joining the tens of thousands rushing to the Naval dockyard to see the twenty vessels, including visits on board ships, and considered that it would be quieter going in the opposite direction. I pondered what to do over breakfast of two croissants with marmalade, grapefruit segments, orange fruit juice and two cups of coffee, leaving a “pan-au-chocolat” for later, which was just as well because as the wrapped tin foiled sandwiches had to go and I did not fancy the bananas or pears, there was just one container of prepared salad mixture for the day, together with one flask of hot coffee and one of ice cold water. I hoped I would have sufficient to keep me going on my travels and my practice of eating as I felt I needed to rather than according to conventional times.

Following the previous night's route into Havant I saw a sign to railway station before reaching the town centre and found a large car park where for I could park all day for £1.50. This proved to be the first of several occasions when strangers asked fro information and I was able to pass what I had just learnt on. The individual commented out aloud ask a visitor of you want an answer. The train fare was something like £3.60 return and for this day only the train stopped at the next station because of the navy days, before going to Frat ton Park the home of Portsmouth Football club, the central Portsmouth and Southsea before Portsmouth Harbour. It is only a short walk from the platform to the entrance of the Fast cat Ferry service every 30 minutes taking 20 minutes with five minutes for passengers to alight and five for them get on board. Because of my age I was entitled to seat by the exit and there was just time to acclimatise to this new environment before reaching the end of the pier at Ryde and my first memory realization. Memory has blocked out unnecessary information for half a decade. It was only on arrival that I remembered the length of the pier and that only first timers or people like me walked into the town and bus station with everyone else being picked up by friends or taxis or taking the island train which goes some six miles from the pier to Shanklin. This is made up of carriages from the London underground (Tube) system. After finding the male toilet I was prepared for the interesting walk take care when two vehicles passed by in opposite directions and the other first time visitors who stopped to admire the view. I watched the train depart and wondered if I was making the right decision given that the morning was progressing and I longed for coffee and the pan-au-chocolat. Sadly I watched, unknowingly, the first bus travelling in the desired direction, a single Decker, leaving the small bus station at the end of the pier, and to wait for sometime before the next, a double Decker, arrived, unloaded, and reloaded but was then immediately away, through the town into the countryside. At the ferry office I had picked up a copy of Wight Life which contained a double page spread map of the Island, providing a calendar of events. I am going to leave to another day reference to my interest in the island arising from relayed information related to "child care" issues as none of that information has been independent verified although it does provide a potentially challenging perspective on island life away from that presented to the tourists, see however what is happening now re Jersey and the "child care" revelations emerging The island which is just under 150 square miles with under 60 miles of coastline has a resident population of around 140000 with an imbalance of elders who are attracted by the climate and living abroad where British is the main language unlike parts of London and other major cities and towns and an a for a major part of the year as they go to further education on the mainland many meeting their future partners establishing their occupations and first homes away. The residents, especially those of generations will have mixed views about the extent to which the island is given over to long and short stay tourism. At the ferry station I acquired two excellent guides to the island for free and both contained a map. The first is magazine style island which begins with a calendar of main events plus and second list all notified events at the time of publication, called Wight life and the other a pocket guide. Later I also obtained a tourist map book and all three provided information to the extent that I immediately wished to make a longer stay. Traditionally the Island is known for its Cowes Week sailing regatta, when all the posh hotels are taken by the country and London smart set of the day. I have a poster of the first Rock festival now established in June and there is a second music festival, the bestival, There is the food "Garlic festival with 300 stalls and 20000 visitors and an international sporting event with 500 competition, with action sports in the air, land and water as well as art and live music, On the day of my visit I quickly discovered that Girl Aloud were appearing the former summer residence of Queen Victoria Osborn House. There is also great access to the Island with several crossing points for vehicles and pedestrian/cycle travellers, some 400 a day which is over 15 an hour. My route from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde, with the vehicle ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, From Southampton there is a passenger Catamaran to West Cowes and vehicular to East Cowes. From Southsea there is foot passengers to Ryde, vehicle Lymington to Yarmouth and passenger from Keyhaven to Yarmouth. There is also a chain ferry between East and West Cowes.I did a coach tour or two wishing that we were able to go in our own time. There is the needles areas where for many year I had a souvenir container of different coloured sands and several Chines small gorges or ravines but the various wildlife and adventure parks, the historic sites, river and steam engine trips are all post 1940 developments.I alighted from the bus at Sandown which I remembered well with its street of shops parallel to the road beach where wooden ladder take you down to the beach unless you go to northern area where there is no road and direct beach access. I believe the first time we stayed at Bembridge which then had a country village atmosphere but no beach so we had to take the bus to Sandown. I also remembered the pier which looked the sane externally. It follows the traditional organisation of arcade amusements designed to separate you from your cash, then a place to have an all day breakfast or fish and chips, or dunkin donuts, then an open walking area with a few seats, then a couple of rides and then a precarious area for fisherman. It is not a long pier which is why is has survived whereas that at Shanklin became derelict and was destroyed altogether in a storm. There are still the canopied high back deck chairs which I eventually persuaded the aunties as doing so was considered superior to lying out on the sand. It was time to move on to Shanklin where I had forgotten that the town is some distance from the sea front, missing the town stop at the small bus station and then deciding to get off at the Old Village, making key way back and have a look at the theatre where I was unable to remember if we were able to afford a visit or if in deed there were summer shows.. I bought the map booklet in order to work out where I was, sitting at a bench by a church and then made my way down the steep hill to the sea front at the most southern end of the bay where there is a miniature golf course which I always wanted to play but was not very good at and where there were public toilets. There used to a great long pier here but it became derelict and then was destroyed in a storm. I vaguely remembered that was a lift to the cliff top but was not in operation when we visited and the present one was built around1955, has two lifts and costs 60 p for pensioners one way. My memory is that we went to the children's parade although whether this was at Sandown where it take places to day or at Shanklin I cannot remember. I am certain that one year we did go to Shanklin rather than Sandown for the illuminations. On my way back I found a bus stop just before the town bus station where I missed one again and though I did not have long to wait thinking that the time table applied to the stop. There I met a grandmother who was waiting for her son in law to take her his home so she would baby sit while the parents and older children went to see Girls aloud. One of the daughters was to be Princess in the parade. I did not recognise much about Shanklin on explore much although I was tempted by one restaurant hotel offering a dressed crab salad and another which offered steak on a slate like hot slab with vegetables served on a second plinth. The journey back was not enjoyable, first a half an hour weight for the bus. Then although I arrived in time for the 6,15 ferry it was cancelled for operational reasons so there was a great queue and scrum for the 6.45 which set off five mins late which was crucial because although I made my way directly to the station and along the platform past the five coach train, it pulled out before the stated time, When I challenged the station attendant he first lied and then admitted that the off was signalled some thirty seconds before departure time and that he worked for the railways and had nothing to do with the ferry service which sums up just what is wrong with the private enterprise system. As it happens I had a choice of train with those going to Waterloo and Victoria also calling at Havant as well as the departing train along the coast to Brighton but for some, including one family off the ferry there was an hour's wait. Back at the motel I enjoyed a made up evening meal of packet soup, packet pasta, Danish and fruit, water and coffee. It had been a very short visit back into childhood and at the point I was not certain when or if I would return, despite remembering that we had stayed at the third resort Ventnor. I was also experiencing personal discomfort with what I hoped was a mild heat rash in an intimate area of the body but nothing affected the sense of having recaptured part of my childhood.

1446 A great day out but a cricket disaster

I have experienced several great days of major live sporting disappointment, usually when the anticipation has built up over a period of weeks, months and in a few instances years. The first is a memory which I usually repeat when I meet someone new at cricket. In 1948, I think, I was taken by a cousin on a bus to the Oval cricket ground for England's 5th and final test match against Australia and after queuing for several hours we were allowed into the ground to sit on the grass between the usual boundary fencing and the boundary rope set for the match. This was to be the last Test match played in England of Donald Bradman, later Sir Donald. We all stood up a cheered as he made his way to the wicket and a few seconds later we cheered him all the way back as he was out second ball bowled by Eric Hollis. I thought it was the first. Ray Lindwall, Lindsay Hassett and Keith Miller were other Aussi big guns, of course. Leonard Hutton whose book he autographed for me several years later, Denis Compton and John Edrich with Alec Bedser were British Guns.. FR Brown captain?

It was a few years before I would make my own way to the Oval to watch Surrey play, and Peter May, the Bedser twins, and Locke and Laker but I did watch one day at a Test match at Lords when still at school with Aunty Harriet, my care mother, having acquired a ticket through someone she knew.

Since then I have attended Test Matches at many other grounds Headingley, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and the Riverside, but apart from Botham's Test and Petersen and Flintoff in more recent times, the memories are very hazy. I hope I will retain vivid memories of the Rose Bowl until my dying day although there is the major disappointment of Durham failing to perform, of surrendering meekly to the opposition. However it was a glorious day of summer and there were several highlights.

I awoke before the alarm, just as well as it only went off in the evening, something I only confirmed the following evening, continuing for nearly a hour so I assume no one was in the next rooms or the sound proofing is better than usual. I went down and sorted the car around 7.30 buying a bottle of water at the garage opposite and filling one flask, finishing off the bottle. There were two prices for still water in the chill cabinet, 70p and 99p. The assistant said 70p and then after a couple of sentences asking how to get to the A3 for the M 27, I was given only 10p change. I helped myself to the free Newspaper from the tied pile on the step outside in Inn doors with the intention of reading at an outside table in the early morning sunshine but a staff member opened a side door, I had checked that the main entrance door was locked and I therefore enquired if breakfast was available. It was a quarter to eight. And I was advised I could have entered earlier as the staff member had been on duty from 6.30 am. I enjoyed a bowl of grapefruit segments, a fruit juiced, two croissants and a cup of coffee. I wrapped a Danish Pastry in a napkin for later. For the day ahead I had also prepared a flask of coffee and from home, the salad in a sealed container and sandwiches wrapped in foil, a mistake and the a container. The strawberries in the shop carton, large juicy ones but in a firm condition. A weather top for the evening cold and possible rain storm and the small umbrella as I assumed the stadium had been built and I would be sitting under cover, although I nought to have realised the implication that the video was shown under the development section with reference to submitting the plans to the local authority in 2006. I was quickly to discover that it had not been built!

I asked the staff member for the directions and he advised to follow the sign A3 London as it would also show a sign to Portsmouth. AS soon as I was on my way I recognised the same road that I had travelled the previous evening and realised that I gone past the neat the Inn, continuing into Havant and then circling back. Alas I would make the mistake again on the return journey because I did not know that the road would be marked Leigh Park rather than Rowland's Castle. I also forgot to note the name of the junction I needed to take on the return journey Waterlooville, that's my name with recognition given to the Ting Tings, that's my name.
The first surprise was to appreciate the views over the Solent as I reached the junction between the A 3 and the M27. I then had problem reaching junction number 8 and following the signs to Park and ride which led to a large field marked so that vehicles could line up. There was only one line where I was something like car thirty having arrived within half an hour of the centre opening. This was to prove a great significance some thirteen hours later.

I was therefore on the first bus to the ground, a journey of more than the forecast ten minutes, I would say fifteen to twenty but I did not check. At the ground I was given a thorough body check as well as the bag unpacked and every item checked, something which does happen elsewhere. It was reassuring although odd. I then had my surprise as the video of the ground is just that a video ground. A plan of more hope than reality.

The Rose bowl has a fixed inner area of continuous terrace seating and then an upper tier which has been added and with everyone entering the stadium at the second level promenade which as at Sunderland Football club leads to major congestion. There is an attractive Member's Pavilion similar to the new stand at Lords but not as effective and smaller versions for the large hospitality area with first level seating below which remained sparsely filled as many appeared to arrive later or remain at the table serving food and drink. The toilet facilities for the rest of us were diabolical and a scandal for the Test board and English cricket and I will write to Test board accordingly. With a 20000 capacity this is about making money although in fairness I thought the adult ticket of £48 plus £1 booking fee reasonable, especially as children and young people under sixteen could attend for £11, although this would be a very long day for the very young. It was still and occasion for young men drinking excessively and old men wishing they still could but there was a good showing of females and middle aged.

I ought to be used to the prices from the concession with surrounded the perimeter of the ground inside the stadium. £2 for a soft drink £3.50 for a small carton of chips and three fifty for cider four pounds a pint with the drinkers consuming between ten and twenty pints each on the day and with repercussions for a group of Essex supporters behind me. But first the cricket.

The opening semi final between Kent and Essex lived up to expectations except for the absence of sixes. There was a fast outfield and therefore batsmen using the advantage of restricted fielding outside the marked area could reach the boundary with strong and well place shots without the risk of the skied miss hit. The match was a close one with Essex never looking as if they would reach the Kent total after Napier was out early and Shaun Udal and Murali Kartick, spinner restricted scoring in what was a pitch taking spin not usually associated with 20 20 games. This was ominous because Durham lacked world class spin and it was evident that the pacemen could be hit hard at the beginning of the innings and at the end. Early on it was evident that we had a vociferous group of young Essex supporters behind us and as the quantity of alcohol increased their behaviour more loutish. I was befriended by an exiled northerner from Consett who had obtained a social work qualification at Hull after undertaking further education having been a trade union official at the steel works. He had lived in the New Forest area for over two decades working for Probation and Prison Service. His brother a Durham Member had got him the ticket. There was also a young man with whom I had a chat later and who I hope to see at Nottingham. He had come down with a party, perhaps official travel club members staying at a hotel at Heathrow and we had similar views about the ground and merchandising as well as on the Durham Performance.

The less said about the Durham Performance the better in the second semi final. We won the toss and elected to bat such was the confidence and De Venuto was caught early for 0 giving the worse possible start, Mustard quickly followed and although Chandrapaul scored runs with Collingwood and Smith they struggled against the spin that a total of 140 appeared the best possible, inadequate at this level of competition. Pollock did well and Liam Plunkett who came in ahead of Blenkenstein did not have the time to get going. It was a damp squib of a performance, frankly pathetic and it was not surprising that our bowlers were then humiliated. First as after a solid start we were blitzed by. all rounder Tyrone Henderson and Middlesex won the game with ease and Durham departed immediately to their hotel where it would be interesting to learn if they watched the final on TV.

The lighting for the final was the only exceptional aspect of the ground for with six masts compared with the usual four it was possible create a day time effect with ground and crowd brightly illuminated.

Middlesex posted what proved to be a match winning score and although Henderson again scored valuable runs it was Shah to banged away 75 and had he not lost his wicket a score of 200 plus appeared possible, However Kent were not to give up the title easily and hey need three runs of the last ball, but failed. Captain Key produced a solid start with 90 runs on the board before three wickets fell quickly and then there was a stand for 70 which appeared to turn the match.

I felt there was a gulf between Durham and the other three sides but it will have been great experience and hopefully not demoralising as what has happened to Yorkshire.

I must now turn to the issue of drink. On one hand it is up to each adult to drink responsibly and certainly the prices do nothing to encourage excess. The group of young men with one or two young women who were sitting with them or became associated with them for a time as the day progressed drew attention and alienated themselves from the surrounding crowd by the extent of their shouting and the insistence of climbing over seats in order to buy drinks and visit the toilet. There was great delight when Essex lost because it was hoped that the group would depart although I already knew this was not the position because as they had travelled by coach which would only leave at the end of the Final. This took some interest in the second semi final and final, but they passed the time by further drinking. There were notices around the ground which indicated that even the stacking of plastic glasses was an offence. There were three levels of stewarding inside the ground and I only saw a police presence once towards the evening as if t remind that they were there to be called upon if needed. The first level of stewarding had been recruited for the day with the role of helping people to their seats although being new to the ground and possibly to the situation they were given ground charts and appeared to be just as unsure of the situation as the visiting supporters. They were removed from the main circulation level within the stadium when the game commenced to the entrance passages otherwise they would have obscured views. Then there was a second team whose function was clear litter where this was possible. I assume this was to avoid having to do so at the end of the game or the following day but there was also the purpose of preventing the accumulation of material which could be used to throw above and on to the other sections of the crowd. The third group were the green tam designed to watch behaviour and deal with any situation, They functioned as individuals until a situation built up when they acted in number as a organised group, linked with communications including small head level cameras which recorded conversations and actions and which were relayed to the central control point. At what point the young men came under supervision I have no idea but there was a conversation developed about accumulating the plastic glasses to create a stack with a view to be thrown out of the ground. One encouraged another to do this. This talk continued over a period of time but then a male member of the green team approach advised the man collecting the plastic glasses of the regulations, asked him to surrender what he had, warned it could lead to expulsion and when he started to pretend he was no misbehaving and he was given a formal and what was evident to me final warning. When his behaviour continued a senior female member of the team approach and advised more than warned that he had had a good day and not to spoilt the situation for himself and for others. I thought everyone was leaning over backwards to avoid having to act. The final straw came when he left his seat, crossed the main circulation area and collected three or four stacked glasses from under a nearby seat. Shortly afterwards four members of the Green team arrived and asked him to accompany them for a talk outside. It was evident he was quietly being removed, would be taken to a holding area for assessment and possible arrested as being drunk and disorderly. His particulars would be noted and kept by the Test Board his home county and possibly other counties so that if he requested membership or tickets he would refused. His companions who at first considered the whole matter to be amusing then became serious and hostile to officialdom. I had noted that when confronted the young man in question lied about his intentions.

It was evident that leaving the ground and car parks would take several hours unless one left early. Although the outcome of the final was uncertain I decided to leave five overs before the conclusion as I was able to listen to the Sky TV commentary over the radio head set ear piece purchased for £10. I believe these can be used at any ground where Sky is broadcasting a live game, but not otherwise. I was directed the long way round a prepared and market route to where a fleet of buses was waiting bin convoy to take to Park and ride. Another fleet was waiting to take to the other motorway junction site. The vehicle did not leave until it was full which was just as the final over drama was being played. It was the first bus to arrive at the site and there I was in a dark field with several thousand cars. My problem was that although I had been in the first row, other cars had created new rows on both sides and for a moment I had visions of spending hours searching for an unfamiliar vehicle although I the written registration number on a card with me. I decided to back my belief as ton what constituted the first row and went along counting cars and there it was. Getting away to the M27 going East was therefore no problem as well as getting on to the A3 motorway. I decided to come off at the exit after Waterlooville which was the correct thing to do but because there was no sign Havant or Rowlands Castle, I came back over the other side of the motorway and repeated what I had done the previous evening at the Waterlooville junction exit roadways. It was around 11.30 tired but cricket overdosed. Wrapping the sandwiches in tin foil was a mistake and they had to be thrown away but in general I got the food right but should have doubled the water ration at the expense of the coffee.. I had a midnight snack of a soup in a cup with boiling water over the contents of a sachet and then a pot pasta with boiling water over the prepared contents of a small pot, There was also a Danish from reserves.

It had been a great once in a life time experience, not to be repeated unless Durham get to the same position again in my lifetime or my financial position changes and I would try the hospitality route which I would like to do for other sports and events, once. I hope Durham will learn the lessons.

1445 It couild have been a lot worse

It is just as well I wrote that I had prepared myself to expect the unexpected during my journey of 340 miles on Friday from the North East of England to just outside Portsmouth.

I had packed my main suitcase the previous night and gathered together in an organised fashion everything required in three medium sized soft trolley bags, plus haversack and document briefcase. The first task of the early morning was food. I prepared four sandwiches of cheese and ham wrapped in foil and then placed in containers for Saturday and Sunday and then prepared two mixed salads in containers of lettuce, salad pepper, cucumber, olives, tomato and chopped fine pieces of salmon in a tomato and basil sauce. There were two Danish type pastries and fruit, strawberries for Saturday with a banana and a pear, and grapes for Sunday with another pear and banana.

In the second bags I prepared a large salad for the journey, some prawns in shell, two Danish type pastries, the remainder of ham, cheese, lettuce cucumber and tomato which would not last my absence but my last until Monday Tuesday. There was also picnic cups, glass and plate, knives forks and spoon, kitchen roll, waste bags, tea towels.

I posted two Blogs where I had difficulty doing so before bedtime. I assembled luggage in vehicle as would be required during the day, in the evening and could be left overnight in the vehicle. I check weather forecasts. Plants inside and outside the house were watered, washed up and had a cup of coffee. It was still 9,30 when I left having hoped it would have been closer to eight o'clock. I had decided on the Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert, the two LP's of the Music Hair and Miss Saigon tapes, her first back up tapes of Long Play records and the second a back of the double tape.

I love Miss Saigon I saw the original London production three possible four times enjoying the music, the spectacle and the Madam Butterfly storyline. I adore Madam Butterfly have a CD Performance. I began the day with Miss Saigon and completed the work before arriving at the Scotch Corner service area for prepared coffee and a Danish. It was a glorious sunny morning and I remember remarking to myself that the vehicle was running like a dream. Ho Ho Ho!

Before reaching Scotch Corner there were already roadside earning notices that the M25 was already a crawl between the junction with the M1 and the M3. It was time for plan B and in fact I kicked myself for not checking the alternative beforehand. This involved continuing on the M1 until Northampton Service area and turn off and taking the A 43 on the road to the Midland cities by Silverstone race track and then taking the A 34, joining the M40 briefly, and then following the A34 all the way until connecting with the A3

I continued in good spirits deciding on lunch at the Nottingham Trowell Service area where I would be staying for the cricket the following week. It was very hot and later I learnt the hottest day of the year. The radio had advised of significant chaos on all major roadways with several closed for hours at a time because of accidents as families sent off on their annual long holidays intermingling with the usual Friday rush to complete travels and get home for the weekend as quickly as practical. I remember what Friday afternoon on the M25 was like and chided myself for ever contemplating going that way.

The shock of the day was the news that Labour had lost their second safest seat in Scotland to the Scottish Labour Party. This was not a surprise to me as it was evident that the Prime Minister and the Labour Party hierarchy had lost touch with the mood among their own supporters as well as the middle ground of those without party political allegiance. I anticipated that despite all the arguments about changing leadership there would be open talk of doing so. As the day progressed, especially the run through of the first editions, it was revealed that Cabinet Ministers had told the PM directly or indirectly that he had to change his position and that of the party over the summer or there would be a move to replace him.

I also listened to Dr Mark Kermode do his run through of the Top Ten box office films of the past week before reviewing the latest releases. Just after Silverstone as I approached a junction the traffic became stationery and within a couple of minutes police arrived to close the road ask the oncoming traffic to take the slip road as I was able to do and then find that the road was clear the other side of the junction and have time to look back and see a horrendous accidents. Shortly after leaving the A43 for the A 34 I pulled up at a lay-by for a cold drink and because I was tired, There was a great sign earning that the area was a lorry theft hot spot so I decided to continue to the M 40 Cherwell Valley service area for a longer break and where the A34 then went via Oxford to Portsmouth and Southampton.

A couple of minutes after setting off I note that the radio had stopped and then as I approached a roundabout and was going round the engine cut out completely and there was a smell of burning. I got out as quickly as I could removing my coast and brief case on an island junction rather than the central roundabout. The car was in a dangerous position as vehicles swept round and also continued from the direction I had travelled. I contacted the AA who advised it could be up to an hour before I am reached despite advising of the dangerous location I try and direct traffic away from my stationery vehicle so I advise the police. I sped the next half hour directing traffic. Police contact to say just has information passed to them and will send two officers to assist. AA then phone to say 5 mins away. I am taken off round about to safe lay-by near by and the officer then attempts to sort out the problem. Definitely electrical burn out but what ? Two community police officers to establish everything is OK so there must have been communication between police and AA. Possibly some of the motorists/ lorry driver advised of my situation and efforts.

AA officer works out that when I left the lay-by the starter motor had jammed and then burnt out and would need replacing. Vehicle jump started and then road tested. I then drive vehicle with AA following to Bicester, garage of Worldwide Automotive Ltd. They will arrange starter motor and advise of cost Monday, cash payments only and then be ready for collection on Tuesday. Later all out cost £35 ho ho but provide Citroen Car T834 AKX for my use until then, Find garage in Bicester and add fuel. The slowly get only way having transferred all the luggage from one car to another. There is rock festival at Blenheim this week which may or may not account why road is choc block ahead so I follow other vehicles as they take a different route joining in A 34 later when the road is clear but stationery opposite direction. Road goes round Oxford towards Newbury. Decide to go to services to stop and find out about car lights, radio etc. Miss turning and go to new private secured village situation and motorist impatient as I try and work out what to do. It is a weekend of impatient motorists!

Go to McDonalds at Service area and have McChicken meal with Diet Coke on outside bench in the warm evening. Before leaving car note an alarm sounding and that rear lights are on. Because of what has happened before mind has stopped thinking. Ring mobile of garage and they think it is to do with having unintentionally put side lights on. I turn off lights but alarms sounds continue. Only later do I work out this is clock alarm going off at wrong time. Muppet. Will decide to tell garage later. I write down the car registration number on garage card. This was brilliant given subsequent events.

Drive on anxious to try before darkness but must have misread map because road takes me away from Portsmouth to Southampton and the M27. This is OK as it will help re morning but it is getting later and darkness descends as I am on M7 towards Portsmouth and A 3. Pass junction 8 required for the morning and note roadwork’s area for extra time morning. Come of junction before by mistake and read of map in off road area does not really help. Rejoin M27 and take A3 but which slip road at the junction do I take. In the end decide on Waterlooville and what luck as once approach end of slip road there is sign saying Havant. This involves taking dark area of overhanging tree. At end of this area there is a road to Leigh Park and to Havant and decide to go to Havant and before reaching town centre see sign Rowlands Castle and follow this road for sometime and then straight ahead I see Harvester and next to it Innkeepers. Park. Register at Bar as requested and alas my room is on first floor which involves negotiating three doors with luggage.

I eat greater part of salad in lettuce bowl, Danish pastry and coffee. By the time I have done this I am tired and ready for bed. Must have arrived around 10pm and with unpacking and food and preparing for morning and then some writing midnight passes and onto at least 1 am. I am so looking forward to tomorrow do not sleep well and wake up during night do some more writing.

1944 Preparations for cricket trip

Day spent methodically preparing for trip to Rosebowl

Clothing. First a wash and dry and then an iron. Given recent weather conditions and planning to be out and about from early morn until possibly after midnight a range of short and long sleeve shirts, some smart other casual. Given a variety of situations and activities the suit, two pairs of trousers, two pairs of track suit bottoms and at least one comfortable house jacket. Then the if you were to end up in hospital up in hospital kit of pyjamas and dressing gown (I forgot the to buy an additional washing and shave bag) socks underpants. Handkerchiefs, Durham tie. Ideally should pack clothes in two bags because of two different stays but settle on one case with a lock, but where is the key? Take outer coat and inner jacket but without the sleeves as well as the full wet and wind lightweight protection acquired for the Diana concert last year. Small umbrella and sports umbrella.

Food. For maximum flexibility on what could be two days cricket with a fill house at weekend and then three or four days Nottingham decide to take made up sandwiches cheese and ham rather than tomato, lettuce makes read soggy but also two three prepared salads in separate containers. Also buy pot noodles, pot pasta and instant soups which can be made with kettle at accommodations. There are three continental breakfasts provided but not in the rest of the accommodation so take a cereal, French type toasts, a spread. Tins of prepared salmon for salad also remembered to buy olives, have tomato, cucumber and salad peppers. Consider stopping for cherries and strawberries tomorrow, Have three bananas and four pears, Consider preparing fresh pineapple if time otherwise take with me for preparing tomorrow evening. Some small cakes lemon slices and carrot cake and some slim biscuits.

Equipment Various Lap top and mains charging. Camera and charging unit additional batteries and memory stick card. Telephone charging and information book re Wifi internet. I must start to go wireless but need a day more to learn and work out whets what. CD Player Damien Rice, Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan double disk. Some Mozart and a Bach Mass, some traditional Jazz and some swing. DVD that has arrived. George Melly autobiography and Antwone Fisher. Lightweight binoculars. Lightweight seat, and high back seat both in shoulder bags.

Toiletries. Sun Tan. First aid kit. Find booklet on air compressor emergency kit. Spare Toilet Roll, Kitchen Roll, paper serviettes and picnic stuff. Notebooks and pens. Durham Year Book. Re-sewn button on trousers of suit. Checked torch in car but not the condition of spare tyre. Arrange all plants in area where they can be watered if it rains. Give good watering tomorrow before leaving having watered well previous two days. Unplug appliances. Time for bed will take notes with me to see what else I did but cannot immediately remember and what I have missed. It was nearly 2 am and the alarm was set for 7.15am

I woke for getting up at 6.,55 which continues the interesting tendency to always wake before the alarm if it is set.

The Scottish National Party has been beaten Labour with a swing of over 20%. Gordon Brown has to go down and Harriet Harman take over. Thought for journey.

1443 Cricket at its best

After all the excitement of Tuesday evening Wednesday's 40 over game with Somerset was bound to be something of an anti climax. Somerset are an excellent team with former England batsman Marcus Trescothick and they have suffered this season with the injury to Andrew Caddick although he is beginning to play again in the second team. Unsurprisingly the crowd was significantly less although a comparatively good one for an evening night game scheduled to end around 10.45 or so. I quickly realised that the evening was nothing like as warm as the previous day and wondered if the combination of a long sleeve shirt and sleeveless jacket, plus a light wet and wind jacket would be sufficient at we progressed into night.

In the first year as a county I travelled to Darlington on the 2 3 and 4th of June for my first visit to the ground and what became Durham's first home win, having won at Glamorgan previously. The feature of this game was a generous declaration by Somerset when 192 for 6 wickets setting Durham 213 runs in something like 50 overseas which they completed in 39 for the loss of only two wickets with Wayne Larkins scoring 92 and the Australian Dean Jones 79. Young Caddick played in that game and Durham Captain David Graveney became Chairman of the England's selectors. I was at Lords to see Durham well beaten by Middlesex. I travelled with the club travel club to Uxbridge for the one day second round Nat West trophy against Middlesex which we won and then went to Grace Road Leicester where we lost in the next round.
I suspect that I was not alone in think back to previous meetings in a game the club could have done without before Saturday's big day. Nothing prepared any of us for one of the brilliant century knocks of the season by Marcus Trescothick as he hit the ball hard and with great skill. This was not a slog a la Mr Napier but world class batting and it was pleasing to see many in the Durham crowd giving him a standing ovation. Somerset went on to score 286 which in forty overs was a remarkable score and one suspected beyond Durham. As the opening order collapsed to 66 runs for the loss pf six wickets one suspected everyone's mind was concentrated on Saturday, There was however a strong defence by the captain who reached an impressive 50 but when he was out I was no alone in thinking the match was over. We did lose but not before an extraordinary battling once again by Liam Plunkett the bowler who alone with batsman Will Smith are my present choices for man of the season with still half a season to go in the county Championship . He was devastated to be run out as Steve Harmison crashed the ball into the opposite wicket and it went straight to the hand of a fielder who was able to throw down the same wicket with Liam stranded. The determination shown encouraged for Saturday and the loss was not such as bad thing as will make the team more determined and remove any sense of over confidence.

The rest of the day was used to prepare for the weekend. Hampshire has previously been regarded as a typical county with a count ground but over the past decade it has developed its ground in a showpiece cricket stadium which I look forward to seeing as in addition to its contemporary design it features covered standards which is helpful as light rain is forecast on the first day and I have been allocated a seat the upper level of a roofed stand facing the main Pavilion.

There is no Parking available at the club but free park and ride services just off the motorway which passes close to the ground. Everyone will be going to the first of these unless they are staying overnight in the Southampton area. So with the park and ride service operating from 8.30 and staying about 20 mins to half an hour away I would l want to leave no later than 8.15 which just gives time for a fruit juice, bowl of cereal, a croissant and cup of coffee as long as I I have risen early enough, got everything ready including the food and drink for what will be a long day unless play is abandoned because of weather conditions. Should the forecast prove wrong then on Sunday there is the final open day in the dockyard enabling a visit up the Tower adjacent to the Harbour Train station before catching a ferry to the Isle of Wight for a quick reminder tour of the Island visit on holiday as a boy, However the art of good planning and enjoyable travel is flexibility and preparedness for all weathers and circumstances. More of that tomorrow.

1442 Remake horrors

Sensitivity and empathy has been more of a curse than a blessing for me although I do not regret the nature of my feelings. I wrote this in the morning as a passing thought. I then knew it was important to think about the week ahead and undertake some actions, including attending to matters put in the pending tray. The overwhelming majority of items are still there and in fact I can now only remember attending to one. So however insightful and understanding we are, we believe what we wish to believe, especially about ourselves and self deception is the King even if sensitivity is our Queen.

The reason why I did not attend to matters pending is that I enjoyed a morning of preparing for the week ahead, listening to AOL music radio. The Black- Keys Have love will Travel rated 5. Chris Isaak- Baby did a bad thing 7. Duffy- Hanging on too long Rockferry album 8.Blues Brothers- Shake your Talkfeather 5.John Mayer-Belief album continuum 8.Howling Wolf-Three hundred pounds of Joy album the Chess box 6.Tom Watts-Please wake me up 0. Worse record ever category. Kate Melua-In my Secret Life 7 from Pictures. Nina Simone-Since I fell for you 6.Mississippi John Hurt- Frankie 8.Stevie Ray Warne and Ray- Life by the Drop 6. BB King and Eric Clapton-When my hearts starts beating like a hammer 7.Mark Knofler- Baloney again 7.Jimi Hendrix- Born Under a Bad Sign 6 Then I had intended to listen to tracks from some of the alums which were also available but became sidetracked by the arrival of a DVD which I had added to the list to view but its arrival did lead to shaking of the head, are you really going to use valuable time watching this although it would give another connection showing changing times between those of previous generations to the present. I watched the film over lunch and playing chess and hearts, it was that kind of film. Later winding down after the cricket I watched another film with full attention, a film I have seen several times before and have the DVD and realised there were also connections.

The two films raised an issue which has become relevant for all parents landing one couple according to media reports to be reported to the police by a major photographic developing company because it contained photos taken of one of their children in the bath,. There is good reason for public concern and social vigilance not just because there is a trade in such photos which usually indicates more serious criminality, but it also shows insensitivity by parents about how their children will react to such photos, however innocent, in the future. Most parents want reminders of what their babies and children were at all times, often to mark a time when they as adults were as innocent as their children. Sometimes it also is an indication of a parental attitude towards the wearing of clothes and belief that we if see and accept the body as it is, we are more likely to see ourselves and others, and life as it is, and therefore be able to cope more effectively than is often the situation.

On one hand I grew up sharing a bed with three adult women until an age long after I should have been, but my attitude towards my body was shaped by the headmistress of the Catholic preparatory school who advised that we should never reveal our bodies to others and always dress behind a screen which at the time others in the class thought as funny, as presumably they like me did not live in a home where bedrooms had dressing screens, and a fiction created by Hollywood, along with married couple having individual bedrooms or twin beds. And everyone wearing pyjamas. Nowadays do you see any adult wearing pyjamas in contemporary films? These two approaches towards the body are covered in the two films although in very different ways.

The original Wicker Man has become a highly regarded cult film, usually as a mystery film with a horror ending, and because it appears to show the body of Brit Ekland, although in fact a body double was used for the scene when she attempts to seduce Edward Woodward who plays an ultra conservative policeman also a lay preacher who is engaged but is a virgin who does not believe in sexual activity before or outside of marriage.

The film is not to be confused with the more recent remake which some might enjoy who have not seen the original but not the two teenage girls who also the film one afternoon in the Sunderland multiplex along with half a dozen others.. I do not know if they were familiar with the original but as the film ended one said to other in a voice which addresses the cinema that was a load of………..to which I added a silent amen. I say this has the ending of the film had a similar effect on me as when I saw The Passion.

The original film is a story about a environmental ancient God worshipping group of islanders somewhere off the coast of Scotland blessed with a climate which enables the growth exceptional fruit and vegetables run by the Lord of Island who encourages the kind of flower power freedom from childhood until the ending of the physical body which although came to the fore in the sixties has always held an attraction for some among the intellectual classes as well as rural primitives. Edward Woodward receives an anonymous letter addressed personally but post marked on the Island claiming that a named teenage girl has gone missing and appealing to him for help. That he embarked on the trip alone and without appearing to make any preliminary enquiries is a flaw which needs to be overlooked

Unable to fathom the situation and horrified by what he finds after arriving he stays on accommodated at the only Inn. He is incredulous by what eh sees and an hear especially at the local school where for some unexplained reasons the girls are taught separately from the boys and by the attitude of the Lord of the island who asks Woodward if he refreshed by the sight if a group of unclothed teenage girls who can been seen in the distance jumping over fire in a ceremony prior to May Day. Putting to one side the question of child nudity on screen the more important issue is the extent to which parents should be allowed to raise children in their particular beliefs including religious beliefs without some independent socially appointed supervision. Should circumcision ever be tolerated? Should regarding female children as only baby producers, domestic slaves and doing the work in the fields while the men set the rules for society, and take all the political, professional and managerial roles ever be regarded as acceptable whatever the over hanging and religious structure. It is one thing for educated adults to make decisions about their beliefs and behaviour but is it ever justified in relation to children without ensuring they have all viewpoints and have reached an age to be able to make their own assessment and decisions? The film rightly carries an adult certificate not because of the implied nudity but because of the issues raises and its ending.

There is a scene in St Trinian's 2007 in which a teenage girl is robbed of her clothing while taking a shower and the product is shown immediately on the internet while girls in the sixth have created a nice little earner from sex chat lines and other contemporary money makers although the scrupulous handling of the events on screen would not embarrass maiden' aunts or contemporary Mrs Whitehouse’s, although I would hope they like me would conform the overall morality of morality of the film even if does accurately reflect contemporary behaviour. I first came across the St Trinian books before I moved from the Children's section of the Library to the adults and was still at school when the first film with Joyce Grenfell was made and starred a young George Cole. Later films included Margaret Rutherford and Alistair Sim in Drag and one in the 1960's Frankie Howard and Reg Varney. St Trinian's is an expensive fee paying boarding school for the daughters of criminals of all classes outwitting the Department of Education and its Ministers, bearing other Girl schools by foul means and operating various profit making scams. In the books and early films the girl smoked, this is now taboo and drank and gambled, which girls at such schools have always done and do.

St Trinian's is based on a real school St Trinian in Edinburgh which practised in 1922 the revolutionary education concept that discipline should be self imposed rather than imposed. The school continued until 1946 when the head and founder retired. During the war two girls who attended the school were evacuated and are reported to have told of their experiences at the school to Ronald Searle who after spending part of the War in a Japanese camp returned to create Cartoon's for Lilliput magazines which explored what such a school could become like, including visiting team hockey plays slaughtered with pitch forks.

The approach appears to support the content of the Lord of Flies that in a world run by school boys the bullies and the criminals take over and the weak and the young are exploited and killed. On Wednesday afternoon I listen to the a series this week about siblings of various kinds where those who had experience of children's homes, while highly critical of carers spoke with considerable understanding and affection for the relationships which emerged between the children. There was also the experience of one former foster child who had grown up treated no different from the children of the family including going to church only to have his whole life turned upside down and inside out when an older Jewish brother came to claim him.

As to the 2007 version Rupert Everett continued the tradition developed of the headmistress being in drag and Colin Firth plays the Minister of education with Russell Brand Flash Harry. Girl's aloud also have a cameo role as St Trinian school girls. According to Wikipedia another is planned for 2009 called the Legend of Fritton's Gold. I would be inclined to discourage teenage daughters to see either although I believe such an establish would provide a good education for learning to survive in a world ruled by money lenders and international corporations.

The main event of the day was a cricket match, This as not just the opportunity for the team and its supporters to reach a Cup Final day in successive years, but for me it would be something of a pilgrimage to mark a year since the admission of my mother to hospital for her final week's of life. I was quietly confident given recent results although having on paper such a stronger team might prove not the blessing some suggested. It was a perfect Cricket playing evening, warm, sitting in the shade and that intensity of light which is rare in England even in summer. The public responded in their thousands to the small entrance fee for adults and there were many more children of all ages able to enjoy the spectacle, with free parking and free scorecards and the Durham proceeds of the evening donated to charity.

The match was far from one sided with both sides losing early wickets, then gaining runs until with a quarter of overs left both sides had achieved the same runs and loss of wickets. However whereas Durham had added significantly in the last two overs the ability of Glamorgan to do like wise was the question. Unexpectedly, given the performance to that point, they collapsed and Durham had made it and the joy was immense. I am sure many of those present will return for similar games next year and hopefully some will attend other forms of the game and some of the youngsters inspired to take up the game themselves. That should have been that apart from placing on record my appreciation for the effort put in by the club in difficult circumstances, given my previous criticism. Sadly there was a situation which could affect the role of some members as Ambassadors for the club on their travels to other grounds. However, hopefully as this was restricted to a small group, I have decided that the less said in public the better. There is another match tomorrow evening in the 40 over league so I will not be able to see the approach taken by regional media although I may be able to assess the reaction of Members, depending on where I decide to sit.

1441 Health, Music and Sport

On Monday July 21st I had a health screen designed to work out the risk of heart diseases in patients over sixty and advice on action to reduce the risk. As one hundred and ten thousand people die of heart disease each year it is something that one should take appropriate steps to avoid. I had been asked to undertaken a blood test between five and seven days beforehand but for various reasons this was taken very early on Friday morning but still the results were available for the assessment arranged for 9.45. My cholesterol reading which was below the concern level on the previous test was just above and was therefore something to be addressed. The culprits thought to be peanuts and ice cream so both will go after current supplies end. One ice cream and two packets of peanuts and then no more. The weight issue was not as worrying as I had suspected although there is need to start reducing however gradual and similarly the exercise needs to be maintained an increased a little. Blood pressure was normal as has always been and there is no indication of diabetes. Overall I have been doing the right things but not at the necessary level.

During the day or the radio and on one evening regional news programme the issue of breast cancer was discussed because of the presence of Kylie Minogue at the Metro Arena this week they interviewed a young women who discovered a lump in her early thirties while on holiday in a situation where her then boyfriend had lost his first wife through breast cancer only a few years before. The couple are now married having proposed on a trip to Paris and in the knowledge that although the treatment was being successful the fight for good health was on going. I wonder how many other people received bad news this morning, some presumable where the problem had been diagnosed too late.

The highlight of the day was unexpected. The music of Olivier Messiaen has not previously appealed to me. In this evening's promenade concert two pieces features of his work features in the first part of the programme. L'Ascenion is a piece for the organ used again after the opening night to show the restoration. My attention was caught by Et Exspecto Resurectionem Mortuorum. Asked to create a requiem for the dead of the two world wars he replied that he would create a work on resurrection titled "I await the resurrection of the dead" completed in 1964 and which has an extraordinary orchestration full of woodwind and brass and full percussion which eh hoped would be played in vast spaces. He created the work with images of Mexican step Pyramids, Egyptian statues and temples, Romanesque and Gothic Structures while working at his home in the Hautes-Alps. It is not uplifting music but goes to the depths of souls. The second half piece was the Organ Symphony by Saint-Saens, full of romantic melodies and harmonies with the organ dramatically overpowering the orchestra at times. The orchestra this evening was the Paris Radio France Neuvel Orchestra. I have been Radio France for an orchestral concert on a visit to Paris but I cannot be certain if it as their Orchestra or a visiting orchestra performing. I have the record nearby but the cabinet is locked and I am too lazy to get the key. The conductor for the past eight years is the form pianist Myung-Whun Chung who communicated a special feeling for the Proms, rewarding the audience with a spirited extract from the overture to Bizet's Carmen.

The programme was followed by a documentary about the life of someone who I listened to once a week for decade upon decade of my life Alistair Cooke, the author of Letter of America (2869 in total) Throughout his experience in the USA he used a moving camera bought when as part of his drama and criticism research fellowship to the USA he was required to buy second hand car and travel around the country. Amazing. I have his book America. I was unaware about his life or his love of jazz music where he once recorded for the BBC a jam session of famous musicians of the day on the top of New York building including Fats Waller and Sidney Bechet. He was also a friend of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey B, two of my favourite film people. It was a wonderful programme.

I watched one film, A touch of Fate, no original but very watchable. Two people, one returning home to see his dying mother and the other on a surprise weekend visit to her fiancé become acquainted after being involved with an accident where a local drunk is knocked down and killed. The story primarily concerns his estranged widow and son and a $200000 lottery win which will change their lives, but all three and the brother of the returning baseball player have a future destiny together. It was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.

I had intended to visit Durham Cricket again before the health test but it as I set off I realised it was going to be a rush and therefore I turned back, went to the supermarket then went back to the club after the check. I bought a ticket and handed the application and the assistant did not say we already have received more than the allocation.

The disappointment of the day is that although the builder attempted to refit the light there was a problem which required a fully qualified electrician. However having gained the momentum I will arrange this after as soon as I return from the mini trips.

I have won 500 games at second level chess although a series of silly lapses of concentration means that the best run has been of 62. I have learnt how to win more games of Hearts than has been the situation pushing the percentage to 24% and with the prospects of significant more improvement. The football season is underway with the warm games before the big money purchases are made. Guess what England were defeated and humiliated, surprise surprise. That will teach them to drop Harmison and Collingwood from the team as well as Mustard earlier. Their loss is Durham's gain. All three will be playing tomorrow with Shaun Pollock and Chandrapaul.