2488 Montalbano and the Patience of the Spider.

I should be finishing 2484 catching upon TV and Films experienced during August and the first days of September but as it continues to rain all day, justifying the wicket prepared and the approach of Durham in their dramatic and wonderful win against Sussex yesterday afternoon, I am going to tackle the latest book read in the series of Montalbano novels created by Andrea Camilleri - the Patience of the Spider.

I was inspired to return to the series after watching an excellent programme about present day Sicily as Francesco da Mosto completed the tour of his homeland Italy Top to toe. Checking up his name on the BBC I player I decide to watch again the BBC Promenade concert which commences with the new tenor heartthrob from Malta Joseph Calleja singing popular and less known Verdi arias after the Overture, The Force of Destiny played by the Italian Verdi orchestra under one of the few leading conductors who happens to be a woman and from China.

The Patience of the Spider is a clever tale where familiarity because of the TV production helped to appreciate its ingenuity. A young woman is kidnapped but the circumstances arouse the suspicions of Montalbano from the outset when at first the motor scooter she used was found in an unusual place and facing in the wrong direction from which he expected. Investigation of the site brings him into contact with the young wife of a disabled man who finds additional income to that from selling fresh eggs by entertaining men with passion. Montalbano finds a way to keep the woman’s secondary income from the attention of colleagues and enjoys sucking a raw egg or two as his reward, something which I know some enjoy but has never appealed to me.

The victim is a dutiful daughter with a clever young man who wants to become a policeman when he graduates from his law studies and who Montalbano comes to admire because he too is puzzled by aspects of the case and the behaviour of the victim before she disappeared. The first big clue comes when he reveals that shortly beforehand they had become lovers at her instigation after resisting his advances during their time together.

Most kidnapping have only one of two motives in mind. The major one is money but in this instance the father has no funds. The other is sexual where often the victim is found dad. There have been “celebrated” cases in the USA and in Belgium recently where individuals have been kept prisoners for a decade and more for sex use purpose and in the USA instance the man in question was found within the past days hanged in his cell despite half hour checks suggesting complicity worse.

It is when Montalbano discovers why the family has no means to pay the ransom and which is also why the mother has become an invalid incurable from a disease of the emotions and the mind that eh begins to unravel the mystery. The brother of the woman is one of those characters Montalbano hates most, an individual who preys on the ties and emotions of others from self interest. Under threat of life the family, the husband and his brother a doctor, had raised the sum required, and the decision meant that when the family business commenced to fail because of changing market conditions, they lacked the funds to keep going through the difficult times and it had failed. The brother who by this time had become successful primarily through his party political contact had refused to help out, failing to repay his debt.

Through skilful use of the media by the kidnappers pubic pressure is exerted on the brother in law especially when a recording of the girl’s plea to a TV station is released together with a photograph of her imprisonment. Montalbano arranges for the photograph to be enlarged because there is something which he finds puzzling but does not reveal to the reader until the mystery beings to be solved

The brother in law does in fact raise the requested funds and leaves the money notes as instructed and is then shocked to find that he is accused of betrayal when after the girl is released the kidnappers state that the ransom was not paid. Salvo makes a quick dash to the location where the money was said by the man’s lawyer to have been dropped and there he finds the container but instead of bank notes he finds cut newspaper which confirms in the public and the official mind that the brother n law is a rat and his social standing as well as political future is in ruins.

Montalbano however works out what really happened after the victim’s boyfriends informs that the girl ahs rejected him wanting no further contact. Salvo establishes that the girl had prior to the kidnapping arranged to leave Italy to work as a missionary coinciding with the death of her mother. The ransom was in fact paid but has now been distributed to a wide range of International and national good causes. Montalbano has his own sense of justice, natural justice one might say and keeps quiet once the girl with the assistance of the uncle admit what they had done.

The book title is about the intricate way in which spiders prepare their webs and hide waiting for their prey to come for the bait. The relationship between Salvo and Livia who has used holiday to care for him after the shooting in the previous volume remains difficult like a long married couple and he admits to jealous over the friendship she has with the notorious Mimi although he is now married and obsessed with their first child. Livia accuses Salvo of lack of concern about the kidnapping although he is officially not on duty but called in to help out because of the publicity. Another contention is when he agrees to become the godfather to the new child of the delinquent son of his housekeeper. He makes amends by agreeing to become godparent to Mimi’s child with her..

The confinement convalescence has meant food restriction with the housekeeper keeping away while Livia is there and Livia although does her best fails to measure up the standards which the house keeper sets. They have also not been able to go out for meals as much as he would have liked. When he does go to his favourite Trattoria with Livia his appetite fails because of the of quarrelling and he pushes away a simple starter of spaghetti all’aglio e olio - garlic oil pepper and parsley and he initially decline the fish dish which he had started to savour as its aroma emanated from the kitchen out of peek until Livia overruled him a sea bream - Sicilian olio.

Returning home he is jealous of Livia natural concern on learning that Mimi is in hospital with broken ribs. He rejects the offer she makes to warm up a dish and goes to fridge for a prepared dish of Ragusan caciocavallo covered in green and black olives. Her perks up when taken for a meal and find the woman of the house is a excellent cook preparing baconiglo all’agrodole which is rabbit dish which he says is best cooked one day and eaten the day because the flavour and aroma increases after and using a ratatouille type of stew with aubergine, tomato, green pepper, garlic, onion, celery, black olives vinegar, olive oil, and anchovies. The starter was a cavatuna in tomato sauce - a crushed pasta .

We also learn something from a visit to the grocers where he purchases green and black olives, caciocavallo cheese fresh bread covered with a form of sesame seed and a jar of Trapanese pesto which is later explained as a sauce made with uncooked crushed tomatoes, fine chopped blanched almonds garlic, olive oil and black pepper and finally to celebrate solving the case to his personal satisfaction and the decision that he will restart his relationship with Livia as the had been beginning he goes out and orders everything seafood antipasto, fish soup, boiled octopus dressed with olive oil and lemon followed by four mullets two grilled and two fried an then an explosive kick of a liqueur and where he had two. As mine host commented he was back on good form. Indeed he was. Tonight, Saturday I look forward to a new series entitled Young Montalbano.

2487 Durahm Cricket glory away and at home

Given that Yorkshire County Cricket Club had responded with a second wicket stand 280 on Friday evening August 30^th, 2013 I set off for the two 20 20 International games at Durham Emirates ICG at the Riverside Chester Le Street early on Saturday full of anticipation and confident that I had made the right decision to return home and not arrange to stay for the concluding day of the top of the championship table contest. The result would be a draw. I was wrong and there was to be Durham glory at Scarborough and then at home..

I had planned my day well assuming that similar to the experience at Birmingham that if I arrived early I would be parked in a good position for an early get away should the game and opportunity merit. This was so and I was parked in the front row with straightforward access away should I wish.

(While I read through my writing I am listening to a magnificent TV recording of a concert with Anna Netebko and Rolando Corazon two of the great contemporary operatic soloists)

The forecast last Saturday was a cold wind and was it a cold wind so I left the vehicle with a shirt, the summer blazer and the Winchester on and even with these buttoned` the wind was cold and unpleasant for the majority of the day as my seat at the back on the lower level of the Durham stand, an end of aisle seat row J number 001 was almost in the shade throughout the day.

I was greeted by a Durham Steward I know from over the years at the entrance directly from the car parks after using the under road tunnel and who I promised to keep informed about any news of Durham’s progress. I am hopeless at estimating crowds but there were several thousand in for the commencement of the Ladies International with Australia where this year for the first time points were awarded for the single Test match and then for the series of one day 50 50 and 20 20 games. By winning their last game the English team had secured the Ashes of a cricket ball first created in the 1980’s.

Throughout the day there were at least a thousand people around the ground, queuing for the toilets, for beer and for food. On my complete tour of the ground I had counted at least thirty assistants waiting in the beer concession along the embankments behind the Durham and new east stands. I enjoyed a coffee for £2 after finding that my usual machine providing supply was out of plastic cups and although it was repaired on Wednesday it was out of order again yesterday. Nor could I get a nutrient bar yesterday with the money slot appearing jammed, eventually revealing a brand new £2 coin, so new and shiny that I suspect a fake. I may try in a change slot at the same vending station when I return in two weeks and if it fails take it to the bank to check out its legitimacy. The machine was demanding the correct price as the change had run out.

Last Saturday the media were provided with meals in this building and the indoor cricket centre appeared to be used as a centre for staff. In addition to the Durham stewards who were in control of ground arrangements a security firm had a large number of officers available and did an excrement on compared to what happened at Edgbaston. No one was allowed to take their seats while an over was in progress and they were also able to show people where to go for their seats. At one point I advised a senior officer that I would write to the ECB to congratulate and to make comparison with what happened at Durham. The concession food prices were significantly better and appeared better value for the money.

The English ladies won the toss and decided to field getting off to great start with the claiming the first wicket at 1 and after that by a steady fall of wickts together with the large boundary meant that Australia were only able to score singles and twos with only five boundaries achieved throughout the innings which ended at 91 for 7. I was able to listen to the commentary on headphones and the point about the size of the boundaries was well made although reducing the boundaries could mean teams concentrating on building their physical strength rather than skills. It was evident that the the Ladies compete on skill rather than crah bang wallop which leads great cricketers like Iain Botham and others unwilling to devote time to the short game which they feel is more akin to baseball than cricket where at least the pitcher (bowler) is given even chance with the surface of the bat restricted than the wider bat

England then carried on as they have over the previous five 40 nd 20mover games and demonstrated their superiority as batswomen. And despite the loss of three wickets for only 14 runs which rang alarm beels form some of the crowd myself included, suspected the celebrations for wnning the Ashes series two evening beforehad taken their toll, a stand of 78 saw a hiome win by seven wickets andnsome 22 balls to spare which is a huge win by any standards.

Bceause of the decision to focus on weight reduction and fitness again I did not stay for presentations and lap of honorough around the ground which felt a betrayal of my support but after a comfort visit I made my way through the member’s entrance car park to the pahway under the road bridge and an into the Riverside Park and across to my car. The area for those who had purchased tickets in advance looked almost full with some cars parked in front but still leaving my vehicle able to exist quickly when I wished. I enjoyed my prepared salad without touching he grapes, having enjoyed some soup on arrival.

As I had left the ground there was a good crowd standing on the walkway overlooking the nets where the two teams were getting ready. Although the crowd had built up steadily during the first match it was evident that a substantial number were arriving for only the men’s match which is disappointing. The radio commentary was talking of nearly full ground of some twenty thousand whereas for the Test I though the maximum capacity was seventeen and indeed not all the blue seats were occupied with several hundred, but no more spaces noted towards the back of the stand.

The atmosphere had built up considerably on returning to my seat and although I witnessed some continuous drinking by a group sitting close by there general atmosphere was of having a good time rather than of wildness although the cricket did appear incidental at times especially for the young people some of whom, of both sexes were scantily dressed, insulated by the drink and perhaps some other stimulants and appeared unconcerned about just how bitter cold it was.

Australia won the toss and decided that England would bat. England made 195 for 5 with Hales making an excellent, I nearly forgive you 94 and Lumb Wright and Morgan all contributing. I anticipated the score would be enough on the Durham wicket but after the extraordinary outcome of the first of the games two nights before, In this the Australians had made 248 for 6 score which had one of the batsmen Finch getting a world record 156 for this limited over game. England had also done well getting one of their highest 20 20 totals with 209 with Root 90 not out, as still no English man has reached a 100 in an international 20 20 event. Bopara reached 45 and Butler 27.

I enjoyed another walk about in sunshine during the interval returning just after the Australian innings commenced and just in time to see captain Broad dispatch Finch for 5 with the total 9 and when Watson was brilliantly run out by Morgan for 7 with the total 15 the crowd were able to relax and enjoy themselves. When Warner went for 45 as the fourth wicket at 111 a win looked certain.

I planned to beat the traffic by leaving with two overs to go and walked quickly to car listening to commentary on the radio. I was surprised that there was no third game in this format enabling one of the sides to win the series 2.1. Yesterday while at Durham an experimental England side went to Ireland for a 50 over game in advance of the game tournament against Australia throughout September.

The International Cricket organisation is keen to increase the number of countries where cricket can become a major sport and where the game develops into Test condition playing as well as Internationals in other formats. This can only help achieve greater commercial clout and increasing earnings for players and financial viability for cricket clubs. Whereas cricket appears failing in Scotland with the national team pulling out of their own regular competition with English clubs losing all their 40 40 over games this season,, in Ireland it has flourished with a number of Irish player playing in the Championship and representing both countries, in fact there is a switching between playing for the England and Ireland as the Irish team grows in strength and pubic interest improves. Two years ago although there was good crowd but the game was rain affected . There year there was an audience of 10000 on a perfect sunny late summer‘s day although when the fixture was arranged for early September there was apprehension about the weather prospects.

Ireland were put into bat by England and performed exceptionally well largely through Porterfield who started showing lack of confidence but with some luck achieved a century batting almost through the innings with 112. Ed Joyce from Sussex who once played for England in this fixture hit his wicket gently dislodging a bail and was out for 21. Other in the lower order contributed and with a total of 26 fours and 3 sixes the team made a total of 269 in their 50 overs.

Michael Carberry , the black Hampshire player got his first play for England at the age of 32 after being selected to the squad but failing to dislodge the tried and trust opened of Hales and Lumb in the 50 over game and who do the same job for Nottingham. He dropped a dolly of a catch and then another more difficult and appeared to go to pieces in his fielding. I hope there was no racism in the relish in which his behaviour was greeted by the partisan Irish crowd and there was also relish in the condemnation for the Irish commentators contributors in the radio relay. I hoped for his sake he would have a good bat but he, Luke Wright from Sussex, and the diminutive James Taylor from Notts, closely followed by Gay Ballance from Yorkshire and England appeared to be in the more at 48 to 4 to a somewhat hysterical crowd. Captain Morgan, an Irish man whose boyhood club he was now playing in Dublin together with Bopara then stuffed the Irish good and proper winning the game with a great stand, possibly an International world record with a stand of some 230 124 and 101 not out respectively. That quietened the crowd demonstrating the great gulf that still exists and the men achieved their victory with nine sixes and eighteen fours. Hee hee!

Ben Stokes of Durham was also given his opportunity and the all rounder for whom the English selectors have had great hopes in the past before his injury and some mixed fortune appearances did not get his opportunity to bat but as given his full ten over allocation but was not able to take a wicket conceding 51 runs, OK in the circumstances and it will be interesting to see if it was enough for him to be selected for the game against Australia at Headingley tomorrow when a day of rain is forecast,

As I explained in my previous writing and here I returned home for the England Australia 20 20 International at Durham ICG having debated to stay for an extra day as Durham dominated Yorkshire at Scarborough until the second and third sessions of the third day when after being asked to follow on at lunch time and losing a quick wicket Jaques and Williamson mounted a record stand of some 262 before the second wicket fell on the morning of the fourth day. Everything still looked set for a draw although I did not know that the last time Yorkshire avoided a home innings defeat was back in 1956.

What happened net has already become a Durham legend as wickets steadily fell during the morning and early afternoon from 282 for 2 to 284 313 349 351 357 and then only a stand with Plunket 42 prevented an immediate collapse with further wickets at 410 and 419 and 419. This left Durham to get 120 odd runs with some 38 overs. They gained the required runs with 10 overs to after Stoneman had gone for 0 after his first innings match winning 120 along with the centuries from Stokes and Richardson.

The victory meant that Durham closed the gap at the top of the table establishing themselves with 179.5 to Yorkshire’s 185 but with a game in hand. Sussex to Durham commenced to play for the first time this season at the ICG are in third position with 156 but have played one more game although a win would bring them into contention and Middlesex also with the extra game played could not be ruled with 150 points. One goes back to the first season when Durham won the Champion and they sneaked ahead as other teams failed to win. Nothing in cricket in certain until the eight challenged ladies sings! Although Notts have only 1 point more that Somerset in 7^th position they also have the extra game to play. Similarly Derbyshire have played one game less on 91 points to Somerset’s 91. Surrey at the close of lay on Saturday had only 76 points but were still playing their 12^th game. They won the game against Derby to revise position and take a 1 point lead and with a game in hand.

This was the perspective in which I attend the crucial game against Sussex over two days of glorious hot early September weather having decided not to visit Brighton and still with a cough which could go either way.

Durham won the toss and elected to bat on the same wicket on which the 20 20 games were played on Saturday. The first day proved a strange one as apart from Stoneman Durham struggled to score as the ball appeared to have that extra bounce and twist. With the forecast of heavy continuous rain on the Friday it appeared that throughout the two divisions every effort was being made to create wickets where a result would be possible in three days. Stoneman made 96 and Durham 245 from just other 75 overs.

It was Graham Onions returning to the side from his broken finger who did the early damage ending with 4 for 50 having had one poor over from which 14 runs were score. Because of injuries to Wood and Harrison after their Yorkshire triumph and with Thorpe also out, Durham called on Claydon to return from his loan at Kent and he seized the opportunity taking 3 for 25. I previously mentioned that i was impressed by Usman Arshad, the recent captain of the second team squad who like Onions bowl wicket to wicket and who dismissed two batsmen in one over in both innings against Surrey. He did the same thing again taking 3 wickets for 16 runs in his second championship game. Rushworth whose evident as the proud granddad while failing to claim a wicket contributed well with giving only 2 runs from his 14 overs and Sussex avoiding the follow on were nevertheless 133 behind on the first innings.

Durham had scored 212 for six at the close of play a lead of 345 and with every prospect of a win on Thursday although I anticipate that the team will bat out until at least lunch time given what happened with the declaration against Yorkshire. Everyone contributed some runs but a stand of 93 between Collingwood and Mustard was crucial with Collingwood out 45 and Mustard not out 57 with Arshad 14.

Elsewhere low first innings scores were something of the order of the day. Somerset collapsed all out for 103 against Derby but after dismissing the home side for 298 have rallied to 234 for 4 and this game could still go either way. Surrey looked doomed again when they were all out to Middlesex for 145 but they too are rallying after Middlesex had scored 294 but are 133 for 5 although they are still likely to win if they gamble and declare with the threat of heavy rain tomorrow. Notts and Warwickshire looks as if a draw is likely while Yorkshire sit and watch. Lancs are also sitting out this week while Northants had a good chance of reinforcing their claim to first or second spot and promotion with over 400 runs on the first day but in one day form Hants are 160.2 to a draw again looks likely while Essex look likely stepping up their challenge with a first innings of 351 and dismissing for102 a lead f 251. Worcester are still some 80 runs behind with 7 wickets left at the end of the second day.

This was rhe scene I set off n another warm to hot day although there was much cloud about and indeed the temperature also dropped significantly as the afternoon commenced. Although Durham decided to bat on it was evident that batsmen had been given instructions not to hand about. Overnight Mustard was 57 and Arshad 16 with the total 212 for 6. They went in to 268 fir 8 setting Susses 401 to win Mustard went fir 73, Arshad 34 and Claydon and Rushworth achieved he required target for declaration. With the use of the heavy roller I did not think the pitch offered as much bounce and swing as it had over the previous two days. Although Wells with the total four Yardy and Nash appeared confident and score good runs before a sudden collapse again with wickets falling 71 73 77 and 82 and 82 for 6 there was the scent of a thrashing but with more clouds the sky darkened and the possibility of bad light rather than rain occurred to me for a short while. Fortunately the sun shone again and this heralded the demise of the opposition with wickets going at 104 110 and 110 and Durham won by a massive 286 runs and topped he Championship table.

The problem Sussex encountered was not Onion or Rushworth who bowled well but Claydon and Arshad who again took three wickets apiece as they had in the first innings and extraordinarily special young Arshad again took two wickets in an over, the fourth time in four innings. Claydon who has signed a contract to play for Kent year smutch figures of 6 for 56 and Arshad 6 for 34 with Onions 7 for 86 and Rushworth 1 for 41 in 31 overs and remarkable set of records.

Alas Middlesex beat Surrey by 146 to make their situation more perilous while Somerset and Derby are the only game able to continue to day because of the continuous rain everywhere else. At the time of writing just before lunch at 12.30 with the earlier starts in September at 10.30 Derbyshire require 56 to win with Chanderpaul at the crease. Derby got Somerset out for 103 in their first innings but the home side rallied with 428 the total 541 for the match. Derby did well in their first innings with 298 but at 127 for 5 he game looked to being towards Somerset.

The table at present has Durham played thirteen 8 wins and 199.5 points and Yorks with 6 wins from their 13 games and 185 points so only for Durham to lose or draw in one game will Yorks take over at the top again. Sussex who have played one more game are on 159 so Middlesex on 150 will take third position if they will their extra game. If Derby win they will leap from bottom above Surrey and Somerset and with a point of two of Notts, Thirty Four runs are now needed but two more wickets have fallen but Chanderpaul is still at the increase. Chanderpaul who was crucial in the year when Durham won the championship without losing a game has steered Derby to an unexpected 2 wickets win which places them fourth from bottom as there continues to be no play at Nottingham and therefore the anticipated points for a draw are yet to be recorded. As also anticipated England‘s one day game against Australia at Yorkshire has been cancelled without a ball being bowled just to add the woes of the Yorkshire’s faithful.

2486 Scarborough visit 2013 (2) Clash of Cricket Titans

The main purpose of my visit to Scarborough was the 120 something Cricket Festival with Yorkshire County Cricket Club celebrating the 150^th years and playing Durham County Cricket Club celebrating its 21^st Year. Durham was in second position in the County Cricket Championship Division one having become cricket champions by default for the first time in 2008 when other clubs failed win and take the title on the last day but the following year they won again at a canter without losing a single game. They also won the one day competition in 2007 and reached the Finals day of the 20 20 competition subsequently.

 

Last year they were in danger of relegation until Paul Collingwood took over as captain midway and since then they have stormed up the table and despite the financial and other troubles before this season commenced and when all the cricket writers and Durham as one of three clubs to be in the relegation zone they were now within a couple of wins of the top of the table the table and one of these was a game in hand over Yorkshire. Yorkshire under the chairmanship of Geoffrey Boycott were determined to win the championship especially have been recently relegated to the second division and failing last season at the 20 20 Finals day against the winners Hampshire.

As previously mentioned I had paid £4 for a two day parking ticket at the roadside by the Villa apartments where I was staying and with a full rucksack with a vacuum of hot soup and salami rolls I caught the bus stopping close to the Esplanade in the town centre walking back until reaching North Marine Road for the cricket ground.

I mentioned on my previous visit, the first to the Scarborough ground, that it looked magnificent in terms of the colure and condition of the whole play area although now after the summer it was looking frayed and a walk about revealed the field not to be the rich flat surface I had assumed. I had first taken a seat in the good high stand above the wicket where I had sat for the 20 20 but immediately found the sun was very very hot. I therefore moved round across to the seating reserved for member and which was in the shade, including a cover over the rows at the back where there was also a walkway along the side of the ground including an access to Trafalgar Gardens. I had an excellent view and close to rhe wicket, perhaps as close as anywhere in the ground but sufficiently high to be able to see something fo what the ball appeared to be doing.

According to Boycott the pitch would prove a flat batsman’s paradise as long as you survived the first half hour or so at the wicket. It also had the reputation for being lively with the start of the a game and this proved to be the situation when to the delight of the majority of the huge crowd Sibebottom had Jennings LBW for 0 although the umpire took a long time to give consideration. Borthwick came in and looked stunned when the umpire also gave him out first ball also LBW and Durham were 2 wickets for 5 runs.

My seat was in the midst of the most passionate and biased of the Yorkshire supporters among a huge crowd said to be close to six thousand and the largest at any championship match this season. Because of the festival a northern Park and Ride was added to the two from the South and West. There was a tented hospitality areas with guest speakers and visitors with Dickie Bird the Yorkshire umpire spotted and Mr Boycott as well as others associated with the club.

The 5 for 2 wickets score line left the good Durham support in silent shock and we prayed that there would no immediate further wicket by Stoneman and Smith who had scored the magnificent 120 against Surrey in the one day game played carefully against Sidebottom who appeared rampant. Ryan had recently gained one more wicket than his fathers huge total of 596. A Yorkshire born lad from Huddersfield he spent a couple of season with Notts after helping them to win the County Title in 2007 as he had done with Yorkshire in 2001. He returned to Yorkshire and saw them relegated and back this year. In addition to the 600 county wickets achieved in this match and he has 79 Test wickets plus 29 from other Internationals.

However it was Brooks who added to the gloom descending upon Durham supporters when he had in form Smith caught by Williamson for 20 bringing Stokes to the crease with Stoneman. Stoneman played brilliant innings attacking the bowlers who maintained a close field and with slips and saving the one run challenging the batsman to hit for the boundary and miss or give a catch. Stoneman made 122 with 23 fours and one six before falling to Sidebottom with the total 195.

Stokes had played more adventurously than his batting partner, surviving appeals and several swipes which missed butt also commenced to score with great power and reached 27 before his and Durham’s 5^th wicket fell at 315, 17 four and one six. The speed of the scoring meant that Durham were in sight of gaining all 5 batting points with the first day of 96 overs and they closed over 400 around 425 from memory. I returned to the Villa apartments walking through the town centre back across the valley footbridge and up the hill. Leaving the rucksack in the car I went to Sainsbury’s local when I purchased a beef in black bean sauce and rice, a carton of grapes and a six pack of Pepsi and enjoyed my evening with the food and drink and watching television although I did not have a comfortable night, excited I suspect with the everything that had happened to date on the visit.

The following morning there was a nasty wind and much cloud with the possibility of rain although none was forecast. I arrived early before the ground opened and sheltered and amazingly found two seat at the back of the members walkway with the walkway behind. The previous day I had brought the heated hot soup from the previous day and salami sand rolls which I had enjoyed early on. Today I came light and having secured the seat made my way to the food concession for a sausage bap with tomato and mushrooms for £2.50, excellent value given the £6 paid at 20 20 Finals day. At lunch I had a burger with onions for the same price with tea/coffee at a £1.

Early in the morning I was joined by a seasoned Yorkshire member from Huddersfield who was involved in the production of a history of grounds at which Yorkshire had played championship and who was connected with the clothing industry and with strong views about the impact of joining the EEC and the ending fo major manufacturing in the UK. There was no discussion possible and at least devastated by the eventually result of the game he will cheering that Huddersfield and finished top of the Rugby League beating the favourites Warrington who are in danger of having a season without a trophy.

He was of the opinion that Durham should have declared but I explained that we had came not lose but and to gain bonus points which were a factor if we did with one game in hand. Durham not only batted on but continued where they left the previous evening with Collingwood going for a good 81 but the surprise o the game was the performance of Richardson the second eleven wicket keeper originally from South Africa and who had come to Durham as an MCC young player. He made the third century of the innings for Durham and together with Mustard 421, Wood 20 and Harrison 35 Durham amassed a grand 573, their highest total of the season.

Over the delayed lunch break I left the ground after eating burger with onions to work out car parking the following day passing the Crazy golf in the small park before descending the hill and crossing over to one side of Peaseholme Park where later in the afternoon the weekly battle of mini ships in the Lake with fireworks entertain a large audience of holidaymakers.

There are two car parks around the corner one at the main road level one above next to an indoor swimming pool. The cost for an over 6 hour to 24 stay is £6 for the lower and £5 for the upper with special rate for a weekly stay. Across the road from the lower car park is the entrance to the large 6500 seat outdoor theatre which reopened in 2010 after closure in 1986 with stars of the order of Elton John, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Jai McDowall, Aled Jones appearing that year, Dionne Warwick, Russell Watson Olly Murs, JLS with special guest Alexandra Burke in 2011 and this year Leona Lewis,Status Quo,Katherine Jenkins and McFly. There are also family centre free shows weekends Monday to Thursday. There is also a small railway located.

 

I returned to my seat just in time to see Yorkshire lose their first wicket at 18 with Lythe 10 and then Jacques (an Australian) who went with the total 72 and captain Gale 107 and as then Williamson and Bairstow appeared to settle in for the day I and the majority of those present assumed we would see Yorkshire begin to amass runs the following morning and perhaps throughout the day. My companion put forward the view that Yorkshire if they could would declare stopping Durham gaining bowling points and setting the challenge of Durham to gain a score which would provide Yorkshire with the opportunity to gain the runs required to win as well as Durham time to bowl them all out. The total was just under two hundred at the close ( I think) with close on 800 runs being scored over the first two days.

This time I made my way back via the Valle Bridge Road as I had gone to the ground in the morning working out how I would get to the Travel lodge after returning to the car which was parked in a space just by the Apartments and then went back along the road turning right at Traffic lights just before the Valley Bridge. Reaching the roundabout by the beach I took the left branch up back into the city and followed my nose and ended passing a pubic car park outside a hotel before coming to the way one way system along the Grand Hotel and Travel Lodge with cars parked in the middle but not a space in sight.

I registered and found that although there was a lift to the second floor the room allocated also involved a short flight of stairs I would describe the room as OK as there was no artificial light over the desk k and when the bathroom light was turned on a loud noise commenced soon after. However there was a good ledge by the window which served good place for the margarine, milk, lettuce and tomatoes brought with me plus the Pepsi and remaining Snickers bars. Without unpacking I had immediately gone down stairs and to my amazement managed to find the only vacant and free car parking space at the far end of the public car park against a side wall.

The following morning I packed early and was down for the car just after eight setting off for the car park adjacent to Peaseholme park. I managed to undertake a grand tour of residential Scarborough before finding my way back to North Marine Road from which I knew where I was going. I was able to park the car in the only shaded area where i rested until deciding I would arrive at the ground around 9.15. On my way I noted down the various B and B establishments which back on to the cricket or are close to it and the restaurant which serves a good range of basic breakfast and main meals for reasonable prices. Jalna House, Tudor House, North Sands Lodge, The Marina, Wickets, The Brindley, Argo(AA) Sunnyside and he Boundary.

What happened at the cricket where I selected an aisle seat in partial sunshine with go down in legend for Durham and as a horror show for Yorkshire. Stokes came on and with his in first ball of his first over had Williamson LBW with the total 211. Bairstow went for a second run and Balance was run out by an excellent hitting the wicket throw. With Rashid going at 219 and Yorks having lost five wickets the prospects of a following on and innings victory for Durham loomed large. Bairstow was trying hard to make amends for his rashness and when joined by Plunket they managed to progress the total but at 253 Bairstow was out and with luncheon interval ahead the prospect of seeking the extra half became a reality when Plunkett and Pattison went with the total 257 and although there was a further defence the side were all out for 274, a massive 399 runs behind.

I left the ground for the car when I had left my lunch which I enjoyed and noted the two hotels there overlooking the Park Manor Health and Lynwood. On the way back I enjoyed a cold Pepsi sitting in a bench outside the local store and newsagents and whom will make sandwiches fresh to order. Durham had enforced the follow on and I was faced with a dilemma. Should I try and find somewhere to stay for another night with the prospect of an historic Durham win and if I was to leave should I stay for the whole of play or leave as planned at tea time?

When Lythe went again for 10 and the total this time 19 I swung one way and for a time it looked as if another wicket would soon fall with appeal after appeal all turned down and with the local growing hostile to the Durham cause.

By tea Jacques and Williamson had commenced to look in control so i decided to make my way home and what appeared the right decision as the two remained not out and put on over 250 at close of play.

It was also a good decision driving relaxed over the Yorkshire Moors but sufficiently alert to cope with the blind summits and those drivers determined to travel at rhe maximum permitted speed and over. Approaching the Boro I failed to take the turn for the 174 which by passes the ton back to the A19 and went through the town centre, coming by the Cineworld and the travelling the dual carriage. way fly over to Stockton before joining in the A19 and home ward, calling in for milk.

I checked the House and the post and made an effort to unpack but concentrated on preparations for the 20 20 International at Durham the following morning. I had used the pocket digital radio to listen to commentary from Martin Emmerson Radio Newcastle and Callaghan from radio Leeds during the three days although the service was also shared with coverage from the US open from four. I guessed correctly that if there was to be cricket commentary on the Saturday it would be from the Emirates and not Scarborough. Had I made the right the decision?

　

2485 Scarborough Cricket festival

I am home again from an excellent trip to Scarborough and an interesting but bitterly cold wind day at Durham from which I have caught a chill rather than a full blown cold, but which has led me to decide to cancel the wrong dates Travel Lodge booking at Brighton.

I had adopted a relaxed approach for the trip to Scarborough when I commenced writing on the morning of Tuesday 27^th August 2013. I had only 7.6 hours of Sleep Apnoea Treatment use averaging 8.2 hours this month with a high of 8.3 and a low of 8. With the total hours for 30 days and ranging from a total of 240 to 250 hours, a low of 6 and a high of 10. I packed the machine for transporting and redid the bed from top to toe for my return. I did forget to contact the special unit at the Freeman for a new pack of air filters. I will now do this Monday as well ask about a replacement full face mask

I had a debate whether to go casual on the trip or take the suit and a casual option and decided on the suit when I found the green trousers had not dried over night and the brown had a stain which requires attention leaving only the blue and the casual green.

I also managed to contact the GP health centre to rearrange the free cardiovascular assessment from September 12^th when I am at Derby to 3.15 on the 16^th the Monday of the week when Durham play Notts at the Emirates. No blood test is required which would have put off the assessment until October. I failed to contact about an service inspection of the central heating system where there is confusion whether it took place when the hot water system was repaired. I will also attempt to sort this out on Monday

I then debated whether to take more food than usual because where I am staying is mainly self catering apartments with kitchen areas in what is also described as studio bedrooms. I gambled a took margarine and milk, bread roll, as well as salami, pate, olives, lettuce, tomato and the Snickers packet, peanuts, dried figs, kitchen roll and towel and cutlery. This proved a good move because on arrival the room allocated contained a full built in cooker, microwave and a fridge with a freezer compartment. The TV had the full range of digital stations.

A breakfast bar with high stools separated the kitchen area from the high double bed which I used as a desk and there was a wall point close to the bed so I do not need the Sleep Apnoea machine extension lead. I discovered that I had not brought the plastic container with my fruit and nut, bran cereal combination but bought some Tesco’s Fruit and Nut Muesli from a neighbourhood store on way back from an orientation explore this evening. It is remarkable that the main supermarkets are now competing with the all hours corner stores which primarily the Asian community commenced to provide some two decades ago in substantial numbers and which broke the monopoly of nine to five trading practice.

Last Tuesday I had time to play some chess where I have been failing badly at level 4 with only a 46 games win run and 26 the next highest. I have achieved 1100 game run on Patience and over 10 million points on the latest round of Mah-Jong. I checked emails and did the latest TV review not listening to the radio on Monday.

I left the house just after 11 and had reached Morrison’s at Seaburn for Petrol and Cash before realising that I had not brought my store of pound coins and silver. I decided not to return and at the cafe asked for 8 pound coins change on their breakfast bap and coffee special offer of £2, It was around 11.40 when I was back on my way taking the A19 to the Boro and then the 174 and 171 to Whitby and then Scarborough. Along with ice creams, Snickers bard, bacon and sausage baps together with the salami rolls accounted for the increase in weigh approaching sixteen and a half stone once more. Appreciating this on return I have re-instituted a tight regime..

I had attempted to work out the locations of the Esplanade Villa Apartments and the Travel Lodge Scarborough beforehand and that of the Cricket ground from a small town map included in a volume of such maps as well as printing out directions from home to the Travel Lodge and to the cricket ground and vowed to buy a street guide as soon after arrival as practical.

In the event I successfully worked that I needed to head for South Bay and found the Esplanade high above the bay through a combination of common sense direction and luck going down the right street from the main road from the town centre across Valley road Bridge and along the small neighbourhood shopping centre which I immediately. Arriving an hour before registration time I found an adjacent public car park investing £2 instead of £1.50 although I could have paid by credit card the correct amount had I taken a bit more time to work out the system. Similarly I learned that I could have arrived early and used the car space booked on site at a cost of £7.50.

I walked the short distance to the main road to the small collection of stores, including a Sainsbury Local and two Costcutters, the second by the bus stop had the street guide coffee shop, and kebab and burger take away and most important of all The Albion Inn where I enjoyed a lemonade after a comfort break. The second task was the map with the Simsbury’s local and the Costcutter across the way did not have nor at first did the Costcutter express close to the bus stop in the direction of the town centre. Determined to avoid what happened in Birmingham I asked an assistant who showed me where there were three copies of a plain street map and guide. She apologised for not having one with attractions and other information added but this was exactly what i was seeking and proved an invaluable purchase.

Returning to the car I added some green olives stuffed with pimento to the small baguette I had freshly baked earlier and which I had filled with about half the French salami, having also prepared another which I hoped to use for lunch the following day.

I booked in just after 3pm as several others were also arriving and was shown the car space before the receptionist decided to bring my heavy case up the stairs to the room as lift was at the back of the property, although excellent as I was to discover when I departed.

The electricity is run by a metered card at £5 and £10 units with just under £3 available which the receptionist said should last a couple of days. However given the Sleep Apnoea machine, the use of the microwave and cooker, computer and TV as the evening progressed on the second night I realised even with the emergency button I purchased £5 worth and then forgot to bring the card home with me for potential future use.

Having unpacked and digested the environment I needed a towel but otherwise the room was excellent with a high comfy bed. My only regret is not finding the place before booking the Travel Lodge but hopefully there will be opportunity to visit again when there is no clashing with other events.

Just before 5 I set off on the explore the town with the first task locating the Travel lodge which appeared to be next to the Grand Hotel walking along the cliff side of the promenade with green walkways below. There is some car parking, if you are lucky along the beach side with Winter gardens complex at the far end where on my previous visit over a decade ago I listened to an orchestra playing during one afternoon. I then took the bridge walk down across to the hotel area of the town Grand Hotel across from which according to map the Travel lodge is located and not where I though it was as the building looked very much the hotel for elders where I had stayed for my only residential stay of four days. I have stayed overnight at a hotel also in the South Cliff invited by the Department of Health to join departmental staff for an evening mean who had been attending a training course, departing early the following morning without staying for the full English breakfast to get to the office for a full days work. To reach this point I had gone down a long sharp decline which suggest finding a bus route back might be a good idea. It was very hot and the view across the bay towards the castle on the North Bay headland was outstanding.

I found the bus station area more by luck and from the map where it is not marked and noting the stand for the buses from where I had noted the bus stop close to the Apartment block. From here I cross over a junction noting the sign to the cricket ground along North Marine Road and then read misread the map so a few yards from the main entrance to the ground (number 3 bus route) and did a complete circuit of the ground stopping on a seat in Trafalgar gardens to drink an ice cold Pepsi purchased from a local store. The ground was open with players getting used to conditions but I decided not to watch and made my way back needing to use the map as I though I had taken a short cut. The climb back up to the Esplanade was a great a challenge as anticipated but fortunately there was vacant bench seat before the main climb commenced,.

I enjoyed a bottle of cold water from the machine in the Apartment Villas and heated and eat the spicy chicken wings and most of the carton of green grapes brought along. Later a second cup of tea to that enjoyed on arrival was not thirst quenching and after watching an excellent episode of New Tricks without Armstrong and Jameison and introducing Nicholas Lyndhurst who played Rodney in Fools and Horses as the new fourth member. The story line this time concerned an unsolved murder in which the daughter murdered man discovered, he was not her biological father. The mother and the murdered man were former well known porn stars. There were several suspects, including the woman previously acquitted of the crime, a promising former jazz singer, another former porn staff who now admits she visited and found him dead and the father of the girl a former violent criminal who had attempted to purchases holdings of the porn star. The killer turns out to be the former manager of the jazz singer who killed the man after he had been humiliated as a lover!!!

There was tension between Gerry and the new man having lost two of the original three brought back retired officers in the series and because of his self confident attitude. However things soften when Gerry discovers he has a severely physically handicapped daughter. England were well on their way to winning the first 20 20 of three in the ladies competitions before New Tricks forgetting that I do not have an Internet connection until Thursday at the Travel Lodge. I was thirsty so i went down stairs for a cool coke, pressed the wrong number and got a sugary isotonic drink. Yuk. Must put some ice in the freezer unit and bring some drinks in tomorrow evening after the cricket. England did win and only need to win one of their remaining two games to win back the Ashes.

I did not sleep well, in part because of the new environment. There was also excitement at the prospects for an important game of cricket.

I set the alarm for 8 during the night and this was needed. I enjoyed a second bowl of Muesli fruit and Nut cereal having and one during the night with coffee and another cup this morning before setting off. I heated on a ring the soup from yesterday and enjoyed during the morning. I also used the remaining salami with two of the bread roles.

Just after nine I was about to go down stairs to purchase an on street parking voucher when I could not find the car keys and returned to room to find that they were in the lining with no immediate way of how they got there. Eventually I found a small hole in a pocket and retrieved the keys so was much later than planned in leaving for the bus to the town centre. I purchased the parking notice £4 where one has scratch out the month the dates and insert the vehicle registration number of the vehicle all left ones discretion. This effectively enabled me park until the morning with free parking overnight so if I cannot find a space at the Travel Lodge or use the loading area when I book in tomorrow there is the this last resort alternative as the climb up to the Esplanade is north something I fancy undertaking again..

I then went to the bus stop by Costcutters and took the bus towards the ton centre discovering it has a circular, so with no idea of where the bus goes before returning to the bus station bus station road from which North Marine Road extends after the roundabout, I took the second stop down by the coast road below the main shopping area and decided to walk over to the ground finding that all the best seats were well occupied. I sat above the wicket but the sun was hot so I decided to make my way to where there was shade and which proved good decision as one is as well as feels close to the play than elsewhere around the ground.

I did a circuit at lunch time buying a coffee ( Nescafe instant and hot water for £1.20) and discovered there is an entrance/exit to Trafalgar Square which is better for reaching the town centre. At tea I went on an explore down North Marine discovering a local store where I purchased a can of diet Pepsi for 59p and noted a restaurant serving reasonably priced meals. I was look to see car parking but it was evident these were some distance away and saw which direction the Cricket festival park and ride bus took going down what appeared as steep hill..

I stayed until the end of play and walked back to Villa Apartments after finding that the 7/17 circular service appeared to have packed up for the day with one bus arriving marked not in service although I did see one going in the opposite direction when I went to Sainsbury’s to purchase an evening meal. At the Sainsbury’s after temporarily depositing the shoulder bag in the car I purchased a beef in black bean sauce and rice dish £3.75, a carton of grapes £2 and as an after thought a six pack of Pepsi Max for £2 and during the evening and over night I enjoyed the main dish finishing the grapes of yesterday and three of Pepsi max cans, including one as part of breakfast with the Muesli Fruit and nut mix. I also had two of the Snickers bars and a third of the packet on salted peanuts along with some dried figs. I listened to the first half of the league cup game between and Newcastle where a makeshift team was being played by the Toon and scored two goals within the last 7 minutes to take the tie and earn a home daw against Leeds

I did not listen to the second half of the game preferring Do You think you think you know who you are where the subject now acts as an Adviser to Alan Sugar’s programme and who once worked for an advertising company which he came to own with Sugar as one of his clients. He explored two of his ancestors one on his mothers side who was a catholic who became High Sheriff of Belfast and the other an ancestor who fought for the Royalist Cause of Charles1^st , lost all to the Parliamentarians and was reinstated and advanced with Charles 2^nd.

I was in bed and asleep just ten and fully awake up around five I anticipate having a snooze at the cricket. During the period until now I have drafted the opening paragraphs of my storybook about which I am growing in confidence and reconsidered the options for the day and tonight. The decision is to keep most things packed and accessible in the car taking a much lighter shoulder bag with me to the ground, aiming to go out for a cooked meal at lunch time and use prepared rolls this evening, finding out how to get to the Travel Lodge from here by car and about parking this overnight before taking the car and parking as close to ground as possible on the way out on Friday morning and setting off home depending how this absorbing match to date is going. There was to be a significant twist before coming to a decision.