August 2013 Midlands trip to the cricket ends

Despite not seeing the greater part of the final of the 20 20 competition at Edgbaston I had a very enjoyable day, despite the difficulties of getting to the ground, and then getting back to Perry Barr where I was staying overnight, and despite the constant drizzling and later heavy rain. I had prepared well for the kind of day it became with waterproof leggings and the thicker top water and wind cheater purchased at Croydon, the fake straw hat and the small umbrella that quickly became damaged in the wind and needs to be replaced, something io forgot to do when going to the supermarket yesterday evening after an excellent day watching cricket back at Durham Emirates International ground at the Riverside.

In the first game 20 20 semi final last Saturday Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bowl. Essex lost Smith when the total was only 13 and were contained for the great part although Rutherford hit 2 fours and 2 sixes. Pettini made 3 fours, and Bopara disappointed with just 1 and 14 runs. It was the arrival of Napier joining Foster who potentially changed the game with Napier 38 from only 15 balls which included 3 fours and 3 sixes while also got 3 boundaries and one six in his 32 from 24 balls. The total appeared likely to be around the 140 until the contribution from Napier and the innings ended 168 for 5 and with everyone amazed that the game had proceeded without rain interruption.

It was Northants opener Levi who impressed, as someone who did not feature in the quarter final at Northants with 4 fours and 4 sixes making 57 from 35 while it was White who made 4 of each in his 57 against Durham, assisted in the first semi final with 36 from 25. It was his not out partnership with Crook who had been run out by Collingwood for a duck, who made 46 with 3 fours and 4 sixes to see Northants home with the first ball of the eighteen over having lost only the 3 wickets. Kyle Coetzer who had opened well for Northants against Durham run out Mustard 44 this time was out when 18.

Essex who had been the favourites to win this game left as did many of the supporters from the seats in the same row as me

With Lancs looking strong candidates for promotion back to division 1 of the Championship with six wins from 11 played, Northants are looking best placed to join them some 27 points ahead of Gloucestershire with both having also played 11 and Essex with a chance having played one game less and 27 points behind. They are also in with a chance of reaching the 40 40 quarter finals with Notts on 17 points and they have 16 both away playing away their last game on Monday afternoon.. By one of those quirks of the fixtures Northants are at Essex this week into the second day of their important championship game, they are 530 for 9 with peters 101 and Sales 131. They only added 1 and Essex started badly losing 5 wickets for 187 but yesterday appears to have been badly rain effected so a draw is the most likely for them. I am not sure if they have effectively two sides one playing 20 20 and another the Championship. I know that Kyle C was injured during the 20 20 final’s day.

There was no hesitations about who I supported in the second semi final after lunch when the weather improved with some sunshine where Surrey, my boyhood club was playing Hampshire who I have still not forgiven because of the way we were treated at 20 20 Finals day. Surrey won the all important toss and elected to field. Apart from Ervine with 47 from 32 and 2 fours and 3 sixes, Hants never looked like gaining ascendancy, losing their first wicket at 8 and three down for 38. It was Mamood with 2 for 9 from his overs who did the damage. They were 9 down for 142 which I felt was 20 to 40 runs short of a winning first strike.

Surrey who only scored 1 six at the end nevertheless always looked the likely winners playing strong batting strokes than cow corner slogs. It was former Somerset’s De Bruyn who made 41 not out with 4 fours who steered he club to the final, getting the required runs with 4 balls to spare in what became a close game after the fifth and sixth wickets fell within one run when the total had reached 111. De Bruyn was assisted by Ansari making an excellent 21 from 12, getting the only six of the innings plus 2 fours. All credit to the Hants supporters behind who stayed for the final determined to make the most of teir day.

I explained in the first piece that I felt shattered, laying on the carpet in the Real Ale Lounge for the greater part of the 90 minute interval before the 20 20 Final as the rain fell strongly and I had not enjoyed a small burnt burger costing £6. When the game was interrupted by what appeared heavy rain I took the decision to leave and return to the Hotel before darkness and listen to the commentary on radio having left behind the headphones required. Because of the problems encountered in trying to return to Perry Barr I arrived only to hear the hatrick which ended the game in favour of Northants, It was not until returning home the following day that I was able to watch the highlights.

The final was extraordinary with Northants put into bat scoring a significantly above par total of 194 for 2 from the shortened game fo 18 overs because of the rain delay. When Levi went with the total only 14 Surrey and their supporters would have felt they made the right decision Willey who had not been required to bat against Essex and only opened because of the injury to Coetzer. He smashed 4 fours and four sixes in his 60 in 22 balls and was thn followed by Wakely 59 from 30 and 7 fours and two sixes while White provided another good innings with 54 from 39. The total if 194 would have daunted any team, especially in the final.

Surrey were never at the races and were all out for a pathetic 92 in 13 ,3 overs a good half an hour earlier than anticipated whereas had I got back to the hotel in the half hour to an hour anticipated I would have been able to listen to almost all the game after the rain delay. Willey took 4 wickets for 9 runs in 2.3 overs including the hatrick which ended he game. He also made one catch and was responsible for the running out of Davies for the second wicked at 39. Needless to say be was the man of the final and has got the whole fo cricket talking. For Northampton this was their first trophy in two decades and their first success in this competition and it always pleasing when a team that beats your own goes on to success.

Last Saturday week plus a couple of hours I had a good sleep having enjoyed a bottle of Pepsi and a Snickers on return and made up the remaining bread rolls with the salami for lunch which I eat at the Wakefield service area having also had a comfort break at the first service station on the M42 which i joined from 453. I was back around 2.30 after briefly stopping at Morrisons Sunderland for petrol and a shop for milk and two cartons of red grapes for £3. Because of fine weather there was a crush of cars along Seaburn, and before this I had noted that a huge Tesco Extra is now opened replacing most of the former premises on the site close to the Football ground at one end and the Blockbusters site at the other. There was the annual visit of the Romaney’s with the picturesque small caravans, some dozen plus the horses and traps who I had noted on my way out but whose numbers had increased significantly by the Sunday. Because of the traffic I entered the Morrisons site from the back rather than taking a close look at the changes made to the sea front promenade and which I will walk one fine day later in the year. All was well when I arrived home.

a car journey from Derby to Tamworth, Sutton Colfield and Perry Barr and then to Edgbaston and back.

It is rapidly approaching midday on 20^th August 2013 and I have only been up an hour having returned to bed around seven and sleeping until 10.44, frittering away the time playing games against the computer since rising, On Friday morning last after eating that consolation breakfast I had purchased some healthy bran with nuts and dried fruit from an Aldi next door to the Travel Lodge at Chaddesden Derby after crossing over the road to see if the hairdressers also offered a service to men, but seeing only one assistant in the midst of a full perm for a female customer I decided not to wait and commenced the journey to a Travel Lodge at Perry Barr on the north west outskirts of Birmingham close to the M6 for a good night’s sleep before rising early for 20 20 Finals Day.

My route took me towards the centre of Derby a city I have only previously visited on its outskirts to Pride Park, the home of Derby County and which is located also just off the A 52 known locally by its official name, the Brian Clough Way. Finding the ring road I went in the wrong way round for the A38 going South remembering my experience on the previous visit to Mansfield and taking the A38 to reach the home of Nottinghamshire cricket, Trent Bridge, using the Park and Ride Service. The A38 south is a fast two lane dual carriage way which I continued until reaching the A453m a cross country route which take one direct to Perry Barr. Around midday I was full of thirst from the six slices of bacon, eaten with four sausages, three fried eggs, scrambled eggs and tomatoes wolfed at breakfast. Coming to a roundabout and seeing the sign Tamworth four miles and believing this was going in the opposite direction I nevertheless took the turn deciding I would take a break, buy myself a cold drink, although I was still full from the morning’s excess and did not want lunch. Not having breakfast this morning, this reminder of that breakfast makes me hungry and I will prepare lunch shortly.

Tamworth is one of those towns which in ordinarily circumstances I would have no cause to visit, no football league club, no cricket or other, to my knowledge would cause me to go there or pass close by. According to Wikipedia “Tamworth is a large market town and larger local government district in Staffordshire, England, located 14 miles (23 km) north-east of Birmingham city centre and 103 miles (166 km) north-west of London. Tamworth takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through it, as does the River Anker. At the 2011 census the town had a population of 76,900.[1] Tamworth is the second largest settlement in Staffordshire after Stoke-on-Trent.Tamworth is the home of the historic Tamworth Castle and Moat House, and has a non-league football team, Tamworth FC. The Snowdome, the UK's first full-sized real-snow indoor ski slope is located in Tamworth, and only a short distance away is Drayton Manor Theme Park.The town's main industries include logistics, engineering, clothing, brick, tile and paper manufacture. It was also home to the Reliant car company, which produced the famous three-wheeled Robin model and the Scimitar sports car for several decades.”

I discovered car firms another business complexes on entering the town and noted signs to a whole range of car parks having passed by one of the rivers and signs to the Castle. Although Friday afternoon there were no many pedestrians about apart from two parties of young people mainly female and several with bright luminous coloured hair. Later watching local news I found out that this was the weekend of the V festival which is held at two sites, one in South Staffs at Weston Park, the other at Chelmsford Essex but where the same major acts going from one venue to the other and this included the only performance of Beyonce, plus Kings of Leon, Jesse J, Basement Jaxx and over 100 groups and individual artists included a comedy stage,, a futures stage among the 5 stages available at each site. Wikipedia mentions criticism at the commercialism of the venture with water confiscated at the door and costing £2 and programme £10 without which you do not know which artists are playing where and when. I am still hurting from having to buy a small bottle of water for £4 at the Rosebowl 20 20 which had not been chilled.

Unfortunately my tour around the inner ring road with various indications of enclosed shopping centres did not reveal the kind of local news and tobacconist likely to have a cold drinks store. I decided to continue on the journey, hoping to do better at Sutton Coldfield which although larger that Tamworth 106000 to 76000 came across initially as a pleasant market town and indeed it become a commuter town for Birmingham located about eight miles from the city centre. My first encounter was deceptive but led to an extraordinary coincidence.

I found a small car park off what I believed was the main street and close to the railway station, intending to head for the nearest place offering a cold drink and also a comfort break. However immediately opposite was the sign for barbers and from the looking inside their appeared to be no customers or again populace about the streets although the others buildings appears small commercial operations such as solicitors, estates agents and the like.

The barbers appeared to be run by a woman who admitted during the conversation to being born in 1961, two years before I attended Birmingham University for a year. The younger assistant who tended my hair was born in the 1980’s although she appeared early 20’s than later. Mentioning that I lived near Newcastle led to mention of my lack of regional accent and to saying my family came from Gibraltar, Spain and Malta. It is here the coincidence occurred because shortly before my arrival they had attended a customer who had raised the issue of Gibraltar and the antic of the Spanish Government. The younger assistant had not grasped that Gibraltar is more than a Rock and has a resident populations around 30000 with about the same number of Spanish citizens employed and several million tourists arriving each year by sea, plane and coach. This discussion also got on to the issue of parentage.

On arrival I had mentioned the accident of finding them when searching for a cold dink and the colder assistant, manager owner offered a black current cordial which went down in two swallows. The younger appeared never to have travelled far from her home town and never been abroad. Given the time that was taken plus the cold drink the cost at £6,50 was excellent and set me fait for the rest of the day which was just as well as

I had a merry dance finding the 453 again, heading at one point for Sutton Park a huge areas of lakes, activities including restaurants and then finding the road went sailing past the Travel lodge , located back from the road, going passed the greyhound stadium on the opposite of the road which ought to gave alerted that I had missed the left hand turn, continued until reaching Perry Barr roundabout where there is also an under pass/overpass, cannot remember which straight into the city, took the wrong turning back and then had to reverse before taking the slip road back to the greyhound stadium and then heading northward until spotting the Travel Lodge on the right.

This is a four storey building with parking under cover to one side on the ground floor and a cafe on the other side where I was delighted to drink not one but two cans of a lemonade based soft drink called lilt. The cafe closed later because of staffing difficulties and I decided to resist the morning breakfast options discovering a local convenience store combined with a Subway sandwich outlet where I acquired a pack of rolls to add to the two packs of two ciabatta plus a pint of milk. This provided breakfast on two days with the fruit fibre and the salami rolls for food that evening ( two ciabatta) and for the cricket the following day, (two ciabatta and one roll) and for lunch on the way home on Sunday). To one side of the lodge was a car dealership and across the way a large Wicks store and then further out on the same side a Halford Motor centre. On the same side as the Lodge but set back and using a small road was a Goal project, which three floodlit all weather small football pitches and one indoor providing a commercial opportunity for young people to test their improve their skills as well as play small friendly, or not so friendly games. The rest of the large area was vacant grassed over space plus wooded background hiding a road and railway.

I stayed in for the rest of the day putting off the challenge of getting to the ground and back late at night in darkness. I continue to debate whether this was a good or not so good move. The following morning I set off between 7.15 and 7.30 and in fairness I managed to find Calthorpe Park with my blue pre paid car park pass although the signs were small and useless and will be the cause of complaint to both the ECB and Warwickshire, and not marked blue. Given that Edgbaston has been awarded the competition for four years my protests will be loud and clear.

However this was nothing like the problem I experience on the return journey when after rain which prevented further play I decided to leave before it got dark appreciating that I was going to have difficulties locating the road to Perry Barr again, It is impossible to remember all the failures and bad decision although the lack of good street directions and the pressure from other motorist bullies was considerable, thus confirming my hatred for the place, in part because of the unhappy time I had there when studying and training at the University after my Oxford experience. I did gain a tour of the city centre passing the home of the Birmingham Symphony and where an active nightlife was growing apace.

I also went south, east and west on separate occasions. I managed to find a garage which in addition to topping up on badly needed petrol provided a large size map of the UK which offered some help. The assistant showed me the route on his phone but the case for Sat Navigation became a strong one although my trips to Scarborough, Brighton (Train) Derby, and Hove via South Croydon are now familiar to me so this is something for the future.

The information was clear but I made two major mistakes. The first was not checking when I needed to get off the A/M 38 and ending up at spaghetti junction with three motorway like M6, M5 and M38 and all taking me to the east of where I needed to be. I tried to gain info local convenience store when going north on the A38 knowing I was no where near where i wanted to be. They could not help and three local lads on bikes did advise going back to the shops and turning right but I headed back where I had been before and then on a road towards Sutton Coalfield and then Erdington and had I continued along either of these road I may well have reached the 453. However I stopped and asked a man who was on way back from a pub who thought carefully for a few minuets and said I should continue north and then turn left at traffic lights and continue for sometime and then he paused as if unsure how to explain the next apart of the journey. I decided to following his initial advice which fitted into what my now was an accurate sense of direction required and travelled what in effect was a road parallel to the 453 but lower. At one point I was unsure given signs saying Aston Villa parking but a query with local lads revealed that the Perry Barr roundabout was a short distance away. I eventually as back long after the darkness and two hours after setting offing four times the length of journey of the morning. It could have been worse.

I paid the price for not making the effort the previous evening and then for not getting Geographa’s Midlands Birmingham guide. I thought I had one but could not when searching the car and my map collection beforehand. Was I glad to be back although instead of being able to listen to game I had left my digital radio headphone back at the Lodge and was only able to hear the closing over back on arrival. I had to wait until yesterday evening to watch the highlights of the final over one hour. Now to the 20 20 Finals day and my beefs with the hosting ground.

As mentioned signing from the centre of the city was pathetic as before this was no indication where Edgbaston was located and I found the link more by luck than judgement. The entrance to the parking entrance was down a side street and it was only the presence of parking attendants which signalled I had found the entrance as there was no immediate markings. There was also rain in the air which did not help to raise spirits. I was one of the first vehicles to arrive around 8 am about an hour before the ground officially opened. However when I left early the number of vehicles in the car park was surprisingly low so how the majority of the 20000 made there way remains a mystery although has mentioned in another piece i was able to attend the final day of a Test here in which Flintoff and Pietersen were batting and parked within a sort distance of an entrance in a residential street similar to the situation at Leeds.

I enjoyed coffee and snooze and as the weather appeared to improve and some of those parked commenced to make their way along a path at the roadside to the left of the park and with the impressive floodlights which are at an acute angle over the playing service from the uprights. I decided it was time to venture out of the car. Parked at the verge meant that i would be able to leave quickly when I decided to so.

I joined up with two Edgbaston members who expressed concern at the lack of signs and were uncertain themselves as to the best way to get to the ground as one entrance was closed because of building works. Fortunately the closest entrance was at the back of the ground to the entrance but almost immediately opposite the entrance to the Wyatt stand I needed.

I had chosen an aisle seat on lime to well up the stand but below the walk around space which creates a nightmare for those sitting the other side. My second beef is at the stewards who failed n two significant counts. First they appeared to have no idea of the seat numbering and blocks and for the greater part fo the morning people struggles to get their places. Secondly once the play commenced, bearing in mind this is only a 20 over innings, they failed to prevent people entering the stand for their seats. This was deplorable.

Facing me across the field is the new huge multilevel stand which occupies more than the playing surfaces. I was able to explore the ground once the seat was secured and I relaxed for a time.

The stand opposite had an uncover area throughout its length providing cover for several thousand people. Most fo the outside seating is also covered, there is also a wide undercover space close to main entrance and there was a cinema size screen showing the TV coverage, There were two other large screens outside which showed the Man U game against Swansea. Along there the covered walkway there were also smaller screen similar to those along the walkways inside football grounds. This was impressive. Close to the entrance of my stand there was a Real Ale bar which also provided good seating including armchairs with TV screen and good carpet on which I lay relaxed during the 90 minutes between the second semi final and the final.

There was a good range of food concession around the stadium and here is by third beef because I went for a burger in the evening which was advertised as having various fillings but was served plain and over cooked to burnt and had to make do with mustard which I managed to get along the side of my face according to a helpful passing couple!

Now to the other positives because given the rain in the air which fell at times the amount fo uncover facilities is impressive. I had come very well prepared wearing the over trousers on leaving the car as well as the rain and windcheater, my fake straw hat and the small umbrella which is damaged and needs to be replace, yet again!

The atmosphere, significantly alcohol fuelled was excellent through the day, in part created by the entertainment provided by the club and comprised a 12 person drumming group, split into four groups of three and where the surface was such that the drumming sticks caught fire at times. The instrumentalism was brilliant with sessions between the three games and shorter pieces throughout the day. There was also some flame swallowers later on and around my side of the stadium and opposite there were the electronic flame burst which wafted hot air towards when the wind direction was right. The younger people turned up in fancy dress agogo and on my travels around the stadium I was asked to take photos of one group of excited young people dressed as animals..

The amount of alcohol consumption continued to amaze with one group concentrating on jugs of Pimms, three at a time and where refilled half dozen to dozen times. I was lucky in my viewing position because in front was a very tall man but they appeared to have been allocated three seats and the seat on my side was also kept vacant so I had an uninterrupted view. Two young men were not fortunate but they were pleased to be able to move down the row after Essex supporters left after their team was defeated in the first semi final. Now to the cricket and the way the day went was perfect.

50 Travel lodges in 20 years as I visit Derby for cticket

It is Monday August 19^th 2013 and I am slow getting going after another memorable cricket travel to the midlands at Derby and Birmingham to watch another successive disastrous Durham County Cricket club performance, this time in the 40 40 competition followed by an excellent day, despite the rain at the 20 20 Final’s day before another getting lost in a city, this time fortunately I was in my car.

Although I was away only for three nights there is that feeling of being away a long time, in part because over this and next month I am in fact away from the house for more time than I at home.

I set off on Thursday morning early having packed well the day before but failed to get a haircut. There was an amusing moment of a kind on the Wednesday when I went to the Morrison’s garage at Seaburn and put in £32 pounds plus of petrol then could not to find my credit cards but fortunately I had just the right amount of cash to hand. It was on returning home that I realised that I did have the cards with me, in the pocket of my shirt! I went out immediately to Morrison’s for two small salami sausages, some milk and more soft liquorice at £1a packet, some tomatoes and a small pack of raspberries. I resisted the sprats and will continue to do so unless I am prepared to eat without the bead crumbs and batter and grill or bake rather than swamp in oil.

I went to Lidl’s for some breakfast cereal and for a haircut but the barber was closed - Wednesday afternoonitis. I could not resist purchasing two bars of nougat having also purchased a pack of salted peanuts at Morrisons. I had half the peanuts and one of the nougat during the evening and the rest when I returned Sunday, Both indulgences require punishment. I stopped at Seaburn on the way home yesterday afternoon for more petrol but found I had left the points credit receipt at home so will top up on my way Scarborough in ten or so days time, I bought milk and tomatoes again and some grapes, two packs for £3, and resisted the sprats and peanuts. I am yet to weigh myself but will do before lunching. I did find one barber’s open but there appeared to be half a dozen customers waiting as I drove past and on.

I decided to stop for a coffee after I set off at the McDonalds just before reach the Boro overpass and then continued until making a short stop to advise of my lunch companions for the expected time fo arrival. I was early and had to wait half an hour enjoying a lemonade which I topped up when the party arrived, and read some Montalbano while waiting. I enjoyed a chicken and bacon salad for my meal. I then made my way to Derby and a travel lodge located at Chaddesden. The residential village is to be found just before the city centre off the A52 which is known to everyone locally and further affield as the Brian Clough Way joining the Cities of Derby and Nottingham when here and a brilliant career with Derby County and Notts Forest.

Without Sat Navigation and relying on brief notes and a sense of direction I took the wrong turn at a roundabout and ended up back on the A 52 into city. This was a master stroke because as the road ended at a major roundabout I spotted the sign to Chaddesden and moreover the entrance to Derbyshire Cricket ground just along this road- truly amazing, with the Travel Lodge next to a Toby Inn along the road about a mile further,

The following morning I commenced to write having just eaten a ginormous consolation breakfast comprising two heaped plates with a total of four sausages, six pieces of bacon, three fried eggs, some scrambled eggs and slices of season tomatoes plus a refreshing large glass of delicious orange fruit juice with a little ice at the Toby Carvery all you can eat breakfast for £3.99 plus the cost of the fruit juice. All that salty bacon was to create a great thirst which led to a an enjoyable break at Sutton Coldfield in the day. More on this in the second piece.

The Chaddesden Travel Lodge is among the best I have stayed with a comfortable room fitting into my needs including four large pillows, usually three thinner ones, good power points and a large flat screen TV which I can connect my lap top if needed plus the full range of digital and radio TV channels. Unfortunately with only a one night stay I was unable to take full advantage of the quite residential location and a small shopping community which includes two mini supermarkets and a local Tesco’s. I am staying at the Day’s Inn just by the ground when I visit again in September otherwise I would have returned to Chaddesden.

Overnight I reflected night on the number and range of Travel Lodges I have stayed at commencing with the Greater London area, Croydon Central (1) a dozen time or more, (2) South Croydon(when another chain controlled but staying and this September) and (3) Caterham-Whyteleaf plus (4) Maldon Surrey with (5) Kings Cross in central for general visits to the capital and cricket at Surrey C C and Middx County Cricket and Lords On other visits primarily to watch Cricket, stays have been at Brighton sea front (6) Brighton and Worthing for Sussex CC (7) and where I will be going back to both in September. I think it was at Eastleigh (8) I stayed for the 20 20 Finals Day at Hampshire CC and I stayed at Leeds Bradford Airport (9) for Yorkshire CC.I am staying at Scarborough for another Yorks game (10) having gone to the ground earlier this year a one day game by coach and back in a day. I booked but did not stay at Trafford Park and Manchester Sports City for a game at Old Trafford cricket Ground Lancashire, although I have visited the ground before staying at the M62 Birch Services site (11), as I have for visits to both Manchester United and Manchester City Football. I did stay Liverpool Aigburth (12) to watch Lancs CC at the ground across the road and had booked to stay at Warrington Lymm, but decided to comeback straight home. Only earlier this week I made my first visit to Northampton central for Durham V Northamptonshire CC (13) and yesterday to Derby Chaddesden (14) for Derbyshire CC V Durham. I think it was the Birmingham Bromsgrove (15) to watch Worcestershire V Durham and I am now back in Birmingham North Perry Barr (16 )because of ease of parking and cost for the 20 20 Finals day tomorrow although the ground is situated in the southern half of the city. I have stayed at least twice at Nottingham Riverside (17) for Nottingham CC v Durham but also stayed at Nottingham Donnington Park (18), Nottingham Trowell (19) and Mansfield (20) for games of cricket.

I cannot remember the location of all the Travel Lodge sites where I have stayed in transit and nto as the main place of stay for a particular visit and this includes Scotch Corner (21), A1/M62 Pontefract(22), A1 Blyth (23), A1 Newark North Musk ham (24), Retford Markham Moor (25), Grantham Noteworthy (26) and Grantham South Witham (28). There are also two others, one on the a road between the A1 and M1 29 and the other to the East of the A1l (30) and then at the end of the AI and the M25(31) although this and that at the first service area from London on the M1 (32) are no longer shown. On the M1 I have stayed at Teddington (33) and I think at Watford gap (34) for Silverstone. There is also Bedford Marston Moretaine (35) and at Wakefield (36).Other transit stays remembered included Portsmouth (37) for the Island of Wight and Littlehampton (38) and Burford Oxfordshire to collect my car broken down when going to 20 20 Finals Day at The Rosebowl Hants.

I now come to Travel Lodges not already mentioned for visits places other than for cricket and which includes Hull, South Cave (39) and Hull central (40) Wirral Eastham (41) for Chester and Bromborough, Chippenham both sides of M4 for visits to Calne( 42 and 43) and also for a football visit to Cardiff. Keighley (44) for Bronte Country, Newport (45 for Isle of Wight). Bicester Cherwell valley for Oxford (46) and Penrith M6 for Northern Lakes (47) just remembered another Transit stay on M 23 Gatwick Airport for Gibraltar (48). The list does not included Premier Lodges at Croydon(Waddon) Hull Bridge or Innkeeper Inns Hull Willerby or what used to be South Croydon now taken over by Travel Lodge. Sometime I must do I piece on all the lodges encoding the photos when I remember to take them.

 

 

August 2013 visit to London for Lords and Northants begins

I began my third visit to London in 2013 on what became the hottest day of the year and elsewhere with the temperatures in the nineties. The air had that intense Mediterranean hotness which is my DNA but which I have not experienced for close on a decade. It only lasted the day as this morning after a thunderstorm the air cleared and although it became sunny and warm late afternoon early evening my understanding is that the heat wave is over.

At one level I prepared well for the trip only leaving behind the charge unit for my camera phone and for processing the photos onto the laptop. Fortunately I had not only also brought the reserve mobile but its charger but it will restrict the number of photos I will be able to take during the five whole days in London although as it now transpires I shall spend the 5^th night in Northampton. More on that and I why I added at one level in a mo.

I also left the house early unsure how left side of my back would hold up. I am assuming the recently difficulties, especially sleeping at night, were caused by not warming up before playing Wii sports and then performing at tennis with a professional rating together with ferocious boxing and other activities as a 30 year old, come to believe my fitness rate was real although for several months I felt it was so. Now I have been feeling more like 74.

I set off early arriving on the platform shortly before the train from London drew in and enjoyed a chat with a young mother and about to go to primary school daughter. She seemed to want to chat and commenced to tell me about her life but the opening of the train doors sent us to separate carriages although in fact I went to the next carriage to the one assigned with all four seats at the table were reserved while the carriage adjacent had several tables fully unreserved. This did mean I had no one sitting in the window seat for the duration although two people occupied the seats opposite having travelled from the home counties to some management venture in Newcastle. Usually they would have travelled first class and having disclosed that my ticket costs £15 the man said his was £160 something second class.

I had not slept well and spent most of journey eyes closed listening to the start of the Third Ashes Test from Old Trafford where as one commentator noted the fully enclosed ground means there was not a tree in sight and another thought the Pavilion was odd retaining part of the old structure but with a penthouse looking upper floor.

The train was delayed for part of the journey but speeded up to avoid penalties as the capital approached. It was indeed very hot. .I had baked two baguettes filling three parts with salami and olives and the fourth with cheese and olives and enjoyed one baguette at the station before the train set off. I managed to spill a cup of water over myself on the train forgetting it was still full. This has proved the only senior moment so far, I purchased a coffee on the train.

My room at the lodge is on the 5^th floor and after settling in I went to the Waitrose supermarket for a can of Pepsi which i drank immediately before returning for the second baguette and a Feast Ice cream from the machine on the first floor of the lodge for the excellent price of £1.

I then went for a walkabout having changed out of the suit into the, lightweight trousers and blue top. My attention was taken by the sound of drumming, bells and cymbals coming form a little way down the High Street where I was able to take a seat and enjoy the hypnotic noise and chanting of a party of South Korean Christian Missionaries who according to their English speaking leader had spent £40000 coming to the UK to spread their message of love. He had seen the light after his brother had tried to kill him over drugs.

Croydon is most cosmopolitan area of London when Arab, Asian and African intermingles with Europeans from every corner of the continent together with West Indians and those from the Americas and Australia, and where the city also hosts International companies such as Nestles, It is also the Home Office Immigration central office. On the way back to the lodge I noted that a new oriental buffet has opened following the closure of the other further up the street. The two prices are £5 before 4pm and £6 after but the selection looks limited but interesting and worth a try, if I can fit in my schedule and limit the quantity

I am determined not to increase my weight on this visit with that in April for the Oval visit having been so disastrous especially as I have so much travelling away from home and being out and about when I am there. The warm weather will help. On return to the room the priority was to sort out a ticket for the quarter final 20 20 competition game between Durham and Northants at the county ground late on Tuesday evening.

There was no information about the game on the Durham web site but that for Northants revealed that tickets were available by phone and personal contact from the ground for Members and 20 20 season ticket holders during the day. Tickets at £15 were available for everyone else from Friday 2^nd August. I had intended to stay up to see if they came on online at midnight but I was so tired I went to bed and sleep around 9.30 but fortunately waking around 11.30. By 12.05 I had booked a ticket with the booking reference required. I must find out what time the gates open. I had already booked my Travel Lodge accommodation and the plan is to pack after breakfast on Tuesday and take the luggage to Kings Cross putting the main case in left luggage over night and then taking the overnight bag and the sleep apnoea machine with me to register at the Travel Lodge at 3 and then go to the ground when it opens hopefully to view the earlier quarter final between Surrey and who ever they are playing or at last get a good seat bearing mind the potential weather. I have the information on bus transport from the city centre to the ground although I may walk. I have been to Northampton once before in the mid 1960’s when I went to see the wife of the brother of now imprisoned Stuart Hall in a restoration comedy. I watched the 1966 World Cup Triumph with the couple after attending their wedding.

Now to concentrate on my first day at Lords the home of cricket!!! Un terms of main pavilions Lords unlike Surrey is not visitor friendly. There are two problems. The main pavilion is treated as a gentleman’s club with all the traditional values of chauvinism, racism and class snobbery buried loosely below the surface. The official position is different but it is ingrained among some members and some of the staff where I noted that unlike Surrey there were no non whites.

There is also deep resentment about the rise of Durham and its supporters in particular. Although staff refer to you as sir it is said in a form of contempt. The MCC reeks the mentality of empire and the brotherhood.

I have been to Lords for Test Matches and one 40 over finals day although I missed Durham successful visit although I had a ticket because my mother had entered hospital a few days before from which she did not return to the residential home where she celebrated her 100^th birthday a few months before. I have also been to Lords to watch Durham lose before as well as the one occasion when they won.

My first visit to watch the championship playing side was in 1992 when Durham lost by 195 runs and the following year we were able to hold them to a draw at the racecourse ground Durham City. In 1994 the defeat at Lords was more horrendous by an innings and 34 runs back at Lords and the following year at Chester Le Street we lost by 386 runs and then by 306 runs back at Lords in 1996. There was a draw at home and the magically the one and only win at Lords by the single wicket in 1998 15 years ago.

Games were played alternatively at home or away in those years until the two division were created and with Durham and Middlesex in different divisions the years of games between the two clubs has been fewer

1999 Lost at Lords 25 runs and lost at Chester Le street by 8 wickets. 2001 Drew at Riverside Division 2 and lost at Lords Innings and 74 runs; 2002 Lost at Riverside by 10 wicket and Drew at Lords. In 2006 there was the first win at the Riverside by 105 runs, drawing at Lords although I will need to check back to see if I attended. There was then a game until last year when I attended to watch the matched affected by rain draw when a win had looked likely because of some great bowling by Graham Onions and we won again at the Emirates by 15 runs as we did earlier in this season thus I attended Lords this time with optimism as we had played 18 times losing 8 but now winning 4 with 6 drawn.

The day was warm with the promise of a sunshine throughout and I immediately realised I had made a mistake in terms of bringing my suit rather than the fawn blazer especially with brown red shoes! However I will be glad of its warmth for the quarter final game on Tuesday. I enjoyed a sausage and bacon roll and a tea (the coffee machine was being serviced) from Greggs which I had on site for £2,25 before going over to Sainsbury’s and buying a taste the difference King prawn sandwich with rocket, a bottle of orange juice and a packet of baked cheese and onion crisps (£3).

On Saturday morning I went to Greggs and brought back the sausage and bacon roll with the coffee to enjoy in my room after getting the king prawn sandwich and crisps from Sainsbury’s. The limitation of this approach is that I had the coffee and also the orange juice before leaving and on both days the sandwich was consumed before midday with the crisps soon after but I survive without buying more food until the return journey and visiting Waitrose.

On Friday morning I also went to the Oyster card shop to add £30 and get a new wallet for my cards. These are excellent slim and can take three to five cards. I arrived at East Croydon station a few minutes before 9.30 and then caught the 9.32 cross rail train from Brighton to Bedford, getting a seat and alighting at London Bridge station. From here there is a direct underground train using the Jubilee line to St John’s Wood. On Saturday I missed the 9.32 but there was only a 15 minute wait until the next train which was nothing like as busy as that on the first day.

I have never explored St John’s Wood beyond the immediate environs to the huge ground apart from knowing its proximity to the Park and London Zoo and that it remains one of the most sought after residential area of London with expensive blocks of apartments some with penthouses valued in their millions and also individual properties with their tall electronically operated block gates suggesting they are hiding more than defending. It was on an early visit that I had the idea of using a property in this area for one of the key characters in my unpublished novel which I am rewriting this October after the two months of cricket watching have come to an end.

Lords is a large ground full of areas to sit and picnic and where they is a wide range of places to eat during matches, domestic international. The ground also reflects the wide range of clients from cricket players and cricket lovers, to the hospitality junkateers, socialites and snobs and this is has developed as a love hate relationship with many and is regarded in awe by professional cricketers and hardened supporters.

My experience this time was a mixed one lasting only two days because of the course of play with day one spent in the grand pavilion although I regard that at Surrey as now better from the position of the county club member and visitor. Because I am returning for the one day 40 over final I decided to explore all the options for food. The Thomas Lord Restaurant offers breakfast at £16 and packages offering breakfasts and lunch and teas at test matches and International one days. There is a la carte at the Lords Tavern with three courses around £25 excluding drinkies.

The Sir Pelham Warner restaurant is located within the members stand to the left of the main pavilion but is only available to MCC members on test matches and other match days. The cost is between £38 for two courses and £50 for four with afternoon tea £16.50. The Harris garden specialises in fish and shellfish with main courses from £15 to £40, offers breakfasts and has a late licence so on special days you can go early for breakfast and have a late dinner wines after the game as ended. The Academy Restaurant offers breakfasts and teas to MCC members and to everyone else a three course lunch at £40. There is also a coffee shop there on other days. I will come to the Pavilion in a moment.

To one side of the Nursery ground where from the seats outside the Academy it is possible to watch the players warm up there is an L shape of permanent concession outlets which open for special matches. Here you can enjoy fish and chips, burgers, pies and curries together with peri peri chicken, or a sausage roll at £ 4.50 or a Jamie Oliver special steak sandwich at £20 washed down with glass or two of Verve Cliquot. There are two coffee and tea concession stalls which also sells alcohol and soft drinks as well as the understand bars and those within the upper tiers of the Grand stand and the Mound. There are no facilities of any kind in the Upper tiers of the Compton and Edrich stands either side of players and Groundsman entrance from the Nursery and with the media centre above. It is my understanding that this is area the club wants to develop which does pose a challenge given the two scoreboards and the media centre appears as obstacles to any major transformation. I sat in row L about two thirds down and immediately over the wicket in the Edrich stand on the second day among a small knot of Durham supporters

I purchased my ticket from box office (£40) for the one day International forgetting I had been told it was for the Compton stand so although it is row L I missed the opportunity to see immediately adjacent to the wicket although the seat is at an aisle. It was good to share what became an evident defeat among friends, so to speak.

On the first day I entered the Pavilion without difficulty in the morning although the season was inspected but sneered at after lunch by rather humourless and spiteful character who insister I put on jacket despite the knowledge that once inside everyone was removing their to watch the play. Ritual is everything here and he appeared forlorn when I refused to lodge my haversack in the lower cloakroom. Here there are four areas for food and drink.

The famous Long Room bar which serves different meals at each end overlooked by the cigar smoking Ian now Sir Ian Botham with across from the entrance and through the reading room a little bar from which it is possible to view the game while holding a pint. The member’s lounge with TV’s and newspapers serves coffee and tea and cakes but I am not sure if this extends to bacon rolls in the morning and cream scones in the afternoon and to one side of the middle tier there is also a bar which serves baguettes and cakes and where I enjoyed a refreshing lemonade at tea time. There is also a choice of iced or natural water and I must say the toilets are exceptional A unique feature is the availability of electronic scoreboard which give the progress of the home game as well information on the rest of championship games being played.

I purchased an edition of the MCC rules from the main store noting a second store which opens on Test and other special days. The price of admission is a modest £8 for the first three days with the fourth free. Entrance to the Museum is a standard £3 with concessions £1 Finally not to be missed are the three Hamper options with two by Jamie Oliver £155 and £77 and one Indian foods at £77. They are designed for two people and can be ordered up to 48 hours beforehand.

I suppose I must talk about the cricket match which Durham lost within an hour of the third day by six wickets. I would like to say that the main cause was the loss of the toss with Middlesex putting Durham into bat on wicket where the ball did fall low at time and appeared to swing and play in uncertain ways after a storm had drenched what I assume was a covered wicket a couple of hours before the start of play. There was great cloud cover for most of the day has Durham failed to make 150 or any batsman to stay after appearing to settle after the disastrous opening where four wickets were down for 44 runs. Middlesex then lost two wickets with 1 run on the board and third before steadying struggling to a lead of 25 on the Durham innings. Durham also struggled the second time round with three wickets down for 30 runs. Stokes looked in good form but then came down the wicket to spinner and was stumped and we were all out leaving the home team to get just under 150 runs to win. There were several appeals which fell on deaf ears including two where the visitors appeared certain but the umpires were resolute in resisting. Graham Onions did the prospect of being called upon for the Durham Test no harm by having a match total of nine for 102. While this now puts Middlesex 3^rd in the table on 144 points they have played the extra game which means a Durham overtake is possible with their 132. Sussex on 148 but with 12 games now played were beaten by Derby while Yorks at present on 149 looks as if they will lose to Warwickshire only 147 for 7 in their second innings but where a draw is likely because of the weather.

As a consequence I had two extra days before the Northampton adventure begins.

Getting lost at night in Northampton August 2013

My visit to Northants became a very mixed fortunes experience with Durham losing in the quarter final of the 20 20 competition and my getting lost in the city centre on return from the game which I nevertheless enjoyed.

I had a quiet day on the Monday in preparation for my plan to leave the Travel Lodge on the following day around 11- 11.30 taking the train from East Croydon Station to St Pancras, depositing the large case in left luggage and then taking the expensive one station underground train to Euston with the haversack and the sleep apnoea machine and then waiting for the 13.52 to Northampton which cost only £6, booking in at the Travel Lodge, unpacking and making my way to the cricket ground having established that it would be open from 16.00 with ticket collection available from 09.00. From the map the travel lodge appeared to be a short walk from the station and number 1 and 16/17 buses took one to the ground alighting at the Abingdon Pub from the bus station. The following morning I would rise early for the 7.32 back to Euston and the 10.30 from Kings Cross back to Newcastle and South Shields, after colleting the case from left luggage. That was the plan on paper.

I was aware that I would bring with me the heavy computer plus toilet bag and pyjamas bottom together with the information and tickets/bookings folder. There was no capacity to bring a second shirt after I took the decision to obtain a Macintosh type coat as I anticipated it would get cold as the evening went into darkness. I would wear my new suit, more about that in moment and the subsequent need for a second shirt which I did not possess. The alternative was travel in the blue summer trousers, and a soft brown zipped jacket which would go well with the shiny brown shoes and socks. I wanted to wear the suit. Doing what you want against rationality and logic sometimes has a high price and by nature I am not a gambling man.

Although I had expensively dry cleaned the suit before departure I only discovered after returning from my visit to see the film about the later life of Renoir that is remained badly stained giving parts of it a brownish tinge which suggested some adverse chemical interaction. On Monday morning after a breakfast of a ‘pain au choclat’ and a Danish for £1.20 from Sainsbury local with coffee I made the decision to look for an inexpensive new suit, still clinging to the belief that I am able to reduce my weigh to below 15 stone despite the time and challenging of getting below 16.

I first visited Debenham’s across for the closed Alders in the High Street and then found British Home Stores in the Alder’s end of the Whitgift centre, and then went to the Marks and Spencer’s at the far opposite end of the centre, noting the wide range in the price of suits. At M and S I found an excellent mid grey plain suit for £69 with a short leg fitting waist size pair of trousers and a long jacket which I could button and with an attractive blue lining. In the subsequent circumstances it was just as well that I did not purchase something more expensive.

After returning to the Travel Lodge to hang the suit I decided to try out the new Asian Buffet that has opened close to Church and Surrey Street by what was the former entrance of the now closed Alders departmental store. I was the first sit down customer although the number of reserved tables and the arrival of constant stream of diners indicated the popularity of this establishment where one can eat as much as one liked for £4.95 and where commercially supplied soft drinks are kept in a cool cabinet and sold for £1 in or 80 pence to take away.

The range of food is limited with about eight main dishes of chicken and meats, various rice and noodles, some prawn crackers and sauces. There are no sweets or puddings offered. The price goes up £1 after 4pm. I had two large plates of main courses without the rice or other side dishes or sauces and two cans of coke and was very satisfied although the quality and range does not compare to that at the Millennium Dome and which I had considered visiting if there had been something to interest me at the Cineworld or the weather had been such to have attracted a trip on the Emirates Cable Car.

It commenced to rain when I went on walkabout after the meal and became heavier as the evening progressed and I went across to Sainsbury for a sandwich £3 deal. I spent the rest of the day dozing, reading and writing and listened to the Proms on the headphones radio.

It is an appropriate point to confess that after an excellent control of food over the first two days of the trip on Sunday the madness took hold. I crossed over from the station to visit Sainsbury after the disappointment of Lords, assuming that Waitrose would be closed only to note that it was not as I passed by on the other side of road. On the previous two evenings I had purchased a carton of spiced chicken wings from Waitrose together with a carton of grapes and cold drinks. As there was only chicken that required heating up at Sainsbury’s I opted for a two packets of salami deal for £2 and two rather stale ciabatta rolls but which were Ok but then could not resist an inexpensive block of Vienetta type ice cream which melted quickly in heat so had to be immediately eaten at a price of £1 reminding when I had bought a pack of 4 possibly six Cornetto type ices for a similar low price on one the Mansfield visits. That is my admission and it was only after the ice cream did I eat the Ciabatta and salami. It was very enjoyable despite the guilt.

Apart from Sunday morning when I watched the Test Match on the laptop I have kept in touch via the pocket digital radio. It has been a game where Australia appeared in control from winning the toss and electing to bat on a good wicket with captain Clark 187 supported by Rogers 84. Smith 89 and Haddin 63 declaring, in the light of events and the weather too early on 527 for 7 He should have continued and set England an even tougher task to avoid the follow on. The only bright aspect of the first innings was the dismissal of Warner for 5 who it will be remembered was lucky not to been sent home after hitting Root at a night club after what appears to have been a taunt about losing the first Test. When he came to field he had to run the gauntlet of boos but after a subsequent press conference when he again held up his hands (no word play intended) and making everyone laugh he appears to have commenced to win back support for his obvious talent. We shall view with interest his reception at the fourth Test which begins at Chester Le Street, later this morning

England in their first innings demonstrated that they are not as good a side as the media has built up with 3 wickets going for 64 and 4 for 100. Only a brilliant controlled 113 by Pietersen after Cooke 62 and with Bell 60 helped the side to avoid the follow on hence the comment about declaring too early. Given the known weather forecast, Australia’s only hope of keeping the series alive was to bowl England out twice in succession. The next issue was for how long should the Australians bat in their second innings. It was here that Warner did well getting 41 quick runs. After bad light stopped play on the 4^th day Australia declared setting England to get over 300 to win. England were 37 for 3 when the rain set in on the final day leading to a draw which means that even if the Australians win the last two Test march at Durham this week and then the Oval, a drawn series means the Ashes are retained. If the game at Durham is won or drawn then England will win the series and thus win rather than retain the Ashes for the third time in succession.

The weather also helped Durham in the Championship table creating draws in the latest round of matches together with the great win of Derbyshire against Sussex Yorkshire retain their first place with 158 from 11 games played and still over 100 points to play for, Sussex with the extra game played are 148 and Middlesex with 11 played on 144 and Durham with six more games to plan and 150 points still to play for on 132.5 and Warwickshire 121 also from 11.

I now focus on what happened on my second only ever remembered visit to Northampton with the first made at night to a car park adjacent to a theatre and an immediate return to my then home in Oxford City afterwards. I bought a couple more of the Danish for £1.30 for breakfast and a king prawn sandwich, orange fruit juice and crisps combination £4.40 in total which I consumed between eight and 10.30 and remarkably not eating again until around 9.30 the following morning. I packed well wearing the suit but not the comparatively thick wind and rain cheater I had purchased the previous afternoon from Hewitts, a store in Church Street selling walking and camping gear as well as school uniforms and sportswear. This was the largest size available for only £12. It reminds that on my walk down to Reeves corner where work of some kind appears to be being commenced at the site of the burned down store although damaged shops and accommodation adjacent appears as before with presumably the legal battles with the insurance company continuing.

I made my way to East Croydon station around 11.00 noting that the rucksack had become heavy because of the computer and wishing I had decided to travel light to the game, returning on the 10.55 train to Euston which arrived at 12.30 and then making my way to Croydon for the night where the room was already paid for and using some fo the money for the night at Northampton on Taxis to the ground and back from the station. Life as one gets older consists of making choices without the information necessary to predetermine that will prove good or bad. The art is to relax and attempt to enjoy experiences irrespective of how the decisions work out. Saying this is easy.

The train between Brighton and Bedford was more than half empty so there was no problem about placing luggage in the rack provided and selecting a six seater space just for me. The guy at the left luggage followed his training instructions to the letter and I was pleased that the cost would be only £9 for the 24 hour holding session, although this was money I could also have saved had I not arranged the overnight stay. I then took the escalator down to the underground station complex for the Northern line noting there was a queue of people to be photographed holding a luggage trolley at the entrance to Platform 9 and ¾ a la Harry Potter books. I arrived at Euston a good hour before departure time collecting tickets by the platforms marked for Watford and Northampton putting in the code for the cricket ticket instead of that for train until checking. Unlike the ticket dispenser for the Cineworld Cinemas the machine is able to offer printing one or both sets of tickets. I managed to find a seat where I watched the travellers come and go as departure platforms were announced. With about 15 minuets before departure I moved position standing below the main departure board rather than the separate area for Watford and Northampton, a good move because in fact the train was listed for a different plat from the designated platforms. During the waiting it was good to see trains for Crew and Chester as well as Birmingham and Manchester reminding of the three years when I lived and worked for the County between 1971 and 1974 over 40 years before.

It had become quickly evident why the difference in available prices for the journey to Northampton where trains appeared to be departing every few minutes. This is because that is the West Midland services which ends at Northampton but which has a variation in stops along the route is less expensive that the trains which go on to Birmingham and further North, Thse while stopping at Northampton only stop at Watford Junction and one or two other stops before their first main destination.

On the outward journey my train which was fairly full but with spare seats made different stops from that taken then following morning when we also stopped at Harrow and Wealdstone after Watford Junction, There were stops at Hemel Hempstead, Leighton Buzzard, Berkhampstead and Bletchley in both directions but only at Overton on the afternoon journey The following morning there were additional stops at Tring and Cheddington. The track is very wide leaving Euston and in parts along the route. A feature of the stations is a double decker car park indicating the extent of commuting. Because of electrification the cross over stairway between platform are exceptionally tall and although here are lifts these were said to be temperamental and a cause of constant complaint by regular users as I was quickly to learn.

I have been to Harrow by train station having parked en route to Wembley. I cannot remember if I have been to Watford for the football but I did visit a computer shop there to acquire the pack which converted my Amstrad green screen 256 to 512. I remembered I had been to Beaconsfield and to Berkhampstead when I lived and worked at Oxford. I have stopped at Milton Keyens during coach rides to London as the stopping place for connections to London Airport. Once to avoid a traffic hold up on the M1 I found myself driving around and around Milton Keynes passing the stadium of the MK Dons, former Wimbledon Team and also stopping at the town centre. I have never been to Bletchley where the Park is famous for the government centre which racked the German code system using the Enigma machine. I have been to a professional managerial annual conference at the County Town of Hertford. The land is pleasant, undulating but which separate character or identity and thus I came to Northampton just after 3pm on Tuesday 6^th August with the weather sunny and warm after a dull shower looking start at Croydon.

The tall staircase from the platform looked challenging with the two bags and impossible if the case had been with me as well so I went for the lift which was working although had not been earlier in the morning according the father of the young woman with a pram who had come to meet her off the train. There is considerable work going on at the station entrance but as I was to find out the following morning the road from the Travel Lodge in theTown centre to the station is direct and straight. However this is not evident at the station itself and with a good number of taxi’s in line I decided to take on £3.50 for the journey.

The Travel Lodge is an adapted building on four floors with small ground floor reception. The young lady at the desk mentioned that she caught the 10.50 something train at night home to Milton Keynes where she lived confirming that it arrived at Euston at 12.30. She also explained that the hotel operated an electricity control system requiring you to insert the key card in a slot by the door to bring the lights on. My room was at the back quiet small given that it was a double and overlooking what could have been a former church building but which appeared to be used for something in relation to children. The TV was fixed on the wall above the end of the bed. I unpacked and set up the Sleep Apnoea machine deciding to make my way immediately to the ground after having a quick orientation along the High Street. I quickly saw a sign towards the train station but there was no indication where the bus station was located.

　

Following the sign to the Train station I enquired about the bus station as the junction which appeared to be a major thoroughfare with a Vue Cinema at the corner. I was directed to the bus station a short distance away which was under a shopping centre. I noted that it would not be a good place to use the under passes at night and reached the station via an entrance leading to the shopping centre. There are bus bays on either side fo the station and I went to the bay (8) for the 16/17 bus where the driver confirmed bus went lose to the cricket ground and that I should alight at the Abingdon Pub.

It was on the bus that with horror I realised that a ball point pen had leaked in the inside pocket of the new suit jacket and that there was significant patch of ink on the blue lining below the pocket and consequently on my white shirt. I removed the jacket hiding the inked shirt with the rain and windcheater in which I placed the pen wrapped in a handkerchief and deposited in the bin by the bus stop. Later I noted a small spot of the ink was visible on the from of the jacket disaster as unlikely to be removable.

Across the road appeared to be a large park with in the distance a number of cars entering and where I remembered from the notes provided on the club site there is free car parking, but where was the ground? An enquiry revealed it was located down a small residential street to the side of the Public House. However this proved to be the Members entrance and I had to reverse steps continue left along the road with the park opposite and then left again until reaching the main entrance of the county ground.

Northants has been a first class county in 1905 but has never won the Championship coming second three times and is one of the oldest if not the oldest clubs commencing in the Minor Counties championship in the 1880’s. It can only hold around 5000 spectators and even with planned developments the ground is unlikely to host major international games. Arriving early and collecting my ticket one of several hundreds booked on line and available at two tables in the car park by the main gates. With the Winchester to hold and with two and half hours before the match commenced there was plenty of opportunity for me to explore the stadium and select the best possible vantage point, There are seats on this side of the ground above the wicket although they are not high backing on to the indoor cricket school building which also houses the club shop. The main stands and pavilions are opposite although as I discovered the main upper view had been taken over by Sky equipment as the stand also features the broadcast and media centre. There were some seats to one side but I decided against as this was the wrong end to get to what I believed was the first bus stop from the ground after game ended.

There was access to the right had side of the upper side but this was area restricted to Chairman and members of the cricket committee. The player and officials pavilion was to the left of this stand while what looked like a members Pavilion below that of the chairman’s area. Below the main part of the stand there appeared to be what would be regarded as a members areas on match days but this was being reserved for seven tables of diners from sponsors. There were stands to the sides and also several outlets for food and drink more than would be normal at Clubs like Durham on 20 20 days with about seven food including burgers and hog roasts, several soft drinks as well as beers. In one corner from the main entrance and nets there was a club pub type with some splendid seating inside and it looked as if they were preparing to also supply food. I selected a seat at the back of what is named the University stand to one side overlooking the wicket, close to the exist and some male toilets. On my walkabout around the ground I considered purchasing some food as I had not eaten anything since well before 11 but as I was not hungry I held off.

I was very impressed with crowd that developed with the overwhelming majority families or people in groups. There was an excitement and realism given that Onions was playing and Collingwood was the Captain, as one parent explained to his son the man had been captain fo teh successful England one day side. They did not expect to win but they had come along in hope and to support. There was a sense of people being part of something special and the Northants Rugby Club had come along en masse to give their support.

Opening the batting for Northants was Kyle Coetzer who showed great promise when at Durham several years ago and who captains the Scotland one Day side that has performed so badly in the 40 40 competition and is not competing next year as a consequence. Another Northants player is the young fast bowler Luke Evans a former member of the Durham academy but who has not made the senior team. The most significant connection between Northants and Durham is that long serving Cricket Coach Geoff Cooke was a long time player for Northants and Wayne Larkins who also played for Durham was a Northants first team played for a decade.

Some of the most well known players for Northants moved on like Monty Panesar and Raman Subba Row was captain 58 to 61 when Northants had become one of the top teams with Freddie Brown playing for Middlesex when he captained England on that famous 1948 last Test at the Oval when Bradman was out second ball and where at the age of 9 I was taken by an older cousin queuing outside the ground for hours among some twenty thousand people. The fast bowler Frank Typhoon Tyson played for Northants as did batsman Colin Milburn plus Allen Lamb are other well known team members who also played for England.

A number of famous International cricketers have played seasons at the club with current side player Matthew Haddin, plus Mike Hussey and David Lilee and from India Capel Dev, Bishan Bede, Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly and Curley Ambrose among the West Indies cricketers.

The Northants innings had two distinct phases with Collinwood, Onions and Rushworth opening the bowling for Durham and appearing to contain and restrict the run scoring but with Coetzer and Wiley taking the total steadily to 89. It was the arrival of White who changed the game hitting three successive 6’s in one over and making 52 from only 32 balls and increasing the total from what would have been a par 140 to 160 to 183 for the loss of only 4 wickets.

Stonman who has batted well for Durham in the Championship earlier on had not had good form in a number of 20 20 games failed at 10 and Mustard found run getting very difficult but managed to reach 46. Stokes who is the Durham on form player this season was not out 51 in a total which was always 20 runs behind the pace and ended at 147 which some excellent end of innings bowling by Northants who were worthy winners much to the delight and amazement of their fans.

Northants have been to finals day twice before failing to win their semi final. This time I think they have a very good chance of beating Essex, the other third placed team who gained surprise win at Nottingham in the fourth quarterfinal. In the first quarterfinal, Surrey, my boyhood club beat Somerset which pleased me greatly. While Lancashire are not one of my favoured teams, I dislike Hampshire because of the Finals day experience at the Rose Bowl and because they have reached Finals day in each of the past four years. This proved the best match of 4 with Lancs nearly getting the 200 plus runs required failing with last ball of the over. I will go to finals day hoping for a Northants V Surrey Final and for a Northants win. But a Hampshire defeat of Essex is also a good possibility which could herald an early departure from the ground.

On returning home I checked to find that my ticket should have arrived a week ago and only then noted that the Warwickshire club had resurrected my old customer number from 15 years ago with my former address. immediately telephoned and the sent tickets cancelled. The correctly addressed ticket and car park pass arrived yesterday which is excellent service. Tickets are now only sale to the four clubs involved with only after they have taken up whatever they need will the public have access.

I left the ground as the final over commenced, I had noted only a handful of Durham supporters present and it was locals with children who had decided they and won also went to avoid the comparative rush at the end. The idea of walking into town was not a good one so waited fort eh bus which took over 15 minutes to arrive and takes an almost straight route through shops, eating houses and entertainments before raking off along the one way system into the bus station.

I had no idea how to get out of the bus station and my first effort took me to an area similar to where I thought I had arrived with access to the shopping centre closed and the need to take an underpass and then stairs to a roadside level. There were people moving about across the road and into a car park to I crossed over by found myself not as expected with the town centre shopping in view but at the edge going into residential areas. To admit one was lost at that time of time was potential dangerous but I asked and was sent in what proved the right direction although I thought I recognised a stairway upwards and then found myself in the delivery area of shopping area. Fortunately I remained calm and did not panic even when at one point I found a door into the centre but found progress barred and had to press a release button to get out again. Eventually I retreated the route and eventually a second request for direction go into the town shopping centre but with out a sense of direction or landmarks to say which way I should go for the Travel Lodge. I asked one young woman taking on her phone who sent me in the right way but it was two young girls with coloured streaked hair out on the town who escorted me along to the street which they were also going stopping at a cash machine just before the Travel Lodge. They had been out for the evening and said it would be 3pm before they went home so obviously going on somewhere open at that hour despite it being a Tuesday. We had a great chat about life along the way. I purchased a Fanta orange drink and then watch TV until after midnight setting the alarm for 6 am.

It was 5 when I awoke and 5.30 when I started to pack and got myself ready leaving the Lodge around 6.30 and told by the night staff that the station was straight down from the Travel Lodge in the direction I had taken the previous afternoon.

At the station I was confused because while there were trains to Euston listed on the first platform, the second train departing was at 7.39 whereas my ticket said 7.32. There was nothing for it but to climb up the stairs to go back over the track as I did not fancy taking the lift on my own. The 7.02 departing train was on the platform but as it was a pleasant morning I found a seat and waiting for my train although the cost fo the ticket for both trains was the same at £14, only a pound less than I was paying to return from London to Newcastle. While again I was able to chose six seats to myself by the time the train left Milton Keynes it was filling up with all five other seats taken and people standing as the train reached Euston.

On the way to Northampton we had been held up for a good five minutes just outside the town because of a goods train and while waiting at the station foods trains with container oblong and round with thirty plus travelled in both directions from Germany, Poland, China noted among the main countries of origin.

It was a fine morning so I decided to walk station to station and this proved a good idea as just before St Pancras there is a pavement cafe with just a few seats but an early morning offer of a coffee and large Chelsea bun for £2.50 while the bun on its own usually costs £2.40 and the coffee £2 plus. It was very enjoyable and much needed. There was plenty of time to collect the case and go to the first floor overlooking the departure board where I found a seat at a table shared with a couple who provided the information that the relative they visited who worked at the British Library said that London was being overrun by young visitors and not so young visitors from South Korea.

Although the train was ready to board 20 minutes before schedule we were not allowed to board until ten minutes because of an approaching train on the adjacent platform. I was able to get a table and window sear facing the direction fo travel. I was joined by three men in succession, the first was a table invader not only taking both seat facing but encroaching on my side with his computer and papers.

He was replaced by a very busy businessman who gave his first caller seven minutes as he was expecting a call which he took and then went into the corridor moving i suspect to his first class booked seat where he would seem more in place. He offered to talk to the caller again when he was on the move the following morning. The third table guest was equally busy but less attracting of everyone’s attention.

I arrived home to find everything Ok but there had been a major rainfall at the weekend with some local flooding. There was just a day before the Durham Ashes Test was underway with a ticket for the 5^th day and then only a day before my trip to the Midlands for the 40 40 game at Derby and the 20 20 Finals day at Edgbaston Birmingham. I am and then home for a few more days, the games against Surrey and then to Scarborough, Brighton, Derby, London and Worthing in almost quick succession. Phew. I need to add that while my side is better I am still having problems but will try and put off going to see the GP until the travels have ended.