The Last Five Days

The plan for this weekend had been a trip to Oxford but as it was postponed we needed a back up and so this is what we came up with.

Yesterday was a lazy-ish morning not leaving the house until gone 10am which is unusual for us.  We headed for Solihull Nature Reserve to see what birds were around.  Still all quiet.  We had hoped there might be the odd returning bird on the lake but it was mainly Black Headed Gulls and Mallard with the odd Moorhen and Coot.

After spending a couple of hours wandering around we headed for The Robin Hood for a carvery.  We arrived after the main rush and within a few minutes of entering we were tucking into our dinner.  Obviously I didn't have meat and Clare decided to go without also.  At the end we were pleasantly surprised to find that we had been charged £8 less as we had the vegetarian option.  In all the time I have had a carvery I didn't realise that I got it cheaper by not having meat!  I just assumed I paid the same as it was my choice to abstain.

We got back from the pub in time to watch West Brom versus Man Utd.  A game West Brom were unlucky not to take a point.  Rooney's early goal was cancelled out by Long in the 38th minute.  In the second half Ashley Young's cross was deflected into the back of his own net by Reid.  The final score 2-1 to Man Utd.

All in all not a bad Sunday
Saturday, and having been to the Post Office to collect a package (photos) it was off to Morrison's for breakfast. Again another lazy morning! Afterwards and it was off to the bookies for our weekly bet.

Early afternoon and we set off for St Andrew's for Birmingham's first home match against Coventry. Having had a quick drink at the bar we took our seats. I was surprised at firstly how few Coventry had brought and secondly at the lack of our own support.  The gate was just over 19,000.  Coventry, however, despite their lack of numbers completely out sung the Blues fans who seemed to be suffering from the same lethargy as the team.

The first half wasn't much to write home about. Blues opting to play Chris Wood up front on his own.  Not many chances at either end.  A change in the second half saw Wood replaced by Adam Rooney, who headed against the post before teeing-up the rebound for Keith Fahey to hit home in the 73rd-minute. The game ended 1-0 to Blues giving us our first 3 points of the season, having lost to Derby last week. 

Friday afternoon was spent in The Field House catching up with a friend.  It was great to catch up but the location could have been better.  I'm not keen on this pub.  The staff are friendly enough but if you are not a regular then all eyes are on you when you walk through the door. 

Thursday was a fantastic day!  Weather wise it didn't bode well. Waking up to grey skies I was worried about what was in store. 

England versus India in the 3rd Test at Edgbaston.  With England 2-0 in the series a win at Edgbaston would see them ranked as the number Test side in the world.  Clare and I had tickets for Day 2. England had taken to the crease having bowled India out for 224 and at the end of play on Day One they were 84-0.

Heading into Moseley, Clare and I had breakfast at Maison Mayci.  Whilst we tucked into scrambled egg on toast (with extra toast) the rain outside seemed to be getting worse.  By the time we paid the bill it had eased off and when we arrived at Edgbaston it had stopped all together.

I was disappointed to find that there were no spirits available and instead ended up drinking pear cider.  It wasn't too bad but didn't go down quite as easy as my usual gin & tonic.

Play had been delayed by 30 minutes due to the weather but when the players took the field it was dry and warm although there was still a lot of grey cloud around.  The cloud remained throughout the day with the sun breaking through.  When it did it was actually quite hot and both Clare and I ended up with a bit of a tan!

The play itself saw Cook pile on the runs ending the day 182 not out (he went on to score 294).  Strauss managed 87 before being bowled out to, what was later found to be, a no ball.  Pieterson managed 63. Bell managed 34 before being bowled out.  I was still applauding Cook's century which he had reached from the previous ball.

The day ended with England 456-3 with Cook and Morgan at the crease. They went on to win the match by an innings and 242 runs.

Making our way home we walked the last leg of our journey with a bag of chips.  A fantastic, although tiring, day out.

Not What I Expected

It's been an odd day today.  We decided, this morning, we would head to Wolverhampton and go and visit Bantock House, believing it to be similar to Winterbourne Gardens.

Arriving in the city centre we decided the best way to get there was to get a cab.  At first the cab driver wouldn't take us but when he realised we were from out of town he changed his mind. Strange that!  He was very chatty and a little camp but the 5 minute journey (£5 fare) was pleasant enough.

The brochure for Bantock House led us to believe that we could spend ages wandering around the house and gardens and so we were surprised to find a very small garden attached to a park. 

The house itself is lovely and the staff were friendly.  There just wasn't enough of it! 

Having stopped at the cafe we decided to walk around the park.  Although pleasant enough there isn't much there.  Just a green space surrounded on all sides by main roads.  So much for getting lost exploring!

We left feeling a little disappointed and decided to walk back into the city centre.  It took about 15 minutes.  We had a couple of hours going around the shops before heading back to the station.

Getting home around 4.30ish meant I we had time to watch the end of the cricket.  England seem to be in control of the Second Test against India with leading by 374 runs at the end of Day 3.

A bizarre incident occurred when Bell was run out on the final ball before tea.  Believing the final ball had been hit for four he left his crease and headed off the field.  The ball however had not made the boundary and India knocked the bails off his wicket.  During tea behind the scenes a decision was reached that, even though India were correct and Bell had been fairly dismissed, he would be able to take to the wicket again after the break.  I admire India's sense of fair play but if I'm honest I wouldn't have changed my mind!

The weather has been lovely over the last couple of days and yesterday we headed to RSPB Sandwell for our monthly walk.  Bird wise it was very quiet but we did see quite a lot of butterflies including Peacock, Small Tortoise Shell, Green Veined White, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and a Small Copper.

Having spent the best part of the day wandering around we got back just in time to see Broad get his first test hat-trick.  A maiden over, 0-0-W-W-W-0.  A great display!

With the sunshine and the cricket, the last couple of days has felt like the first proper summer weekend of the year and I'm hoping it continues for a while longer!

The weekend started with a quiet Friday in front of London Boulevard.  With a cast that includes Ray Winstone, Colin Farrel, Keira Knightly it tells the story of a man who is released from prison but finds himself being dragged back into the underworld by gangsters.  Refusing to be drawn in he decides to go head to head with the top man. 

I really enjoyed the film.  It wouldn't make it onto my best of lists but for a couple of hours entertainment it was perfect.  For me Jordan (an out of work classically trained actor who spent his time getting stoned)  played by David Thewlis stole the show although all the parts were well thought out and well acted.

Barmy Army!

England have won The Ashes Series beating Australia 3-1.  It's the first time in 24 years they have won on Australian soil. 

The final Test in Sydney saw England win by an innings and 83 runs. The time difference meant staying up all night to watch it but I couldn't manage that.  Each morning I would wake up and put on the news to see that England had edged a little closer to victory.

India (ranked number 1 in the world) are due here in the summer and if England can maintain their form it looks like it will be a great year for cricket!

Where's The Snow?

We were promised snow overnight.  There was a flurry and a thin layer on the ground when I awoke this morning.  We were warned of wide spread disruption and chaos on the roads but it hasn't materialised yet.

Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily want the chaos the snow brings but it does come with some perks.  Snowball fights, sledging and so on.  As it stands we have the cold and ice but as yet no real snow fall.

I must mention England's performance in The Ashes.  The first Test in Brisbane is over and ended in a draw.  England trailing Australia by 221 runs after the first innings managed a total of 517-1 in the second!! 

Alastair Cook made 235 not out and broke the previous highest Test score at the Gabba set by Don Bradman (226). Andrew Strauss made 110 before being stumped and Jonathan Trott managed 135 not out before England declared.

The second Test starts on Friday I might stay up for it!

Catching Up

Over the years I've lost count how many times I've climbed the Malvern Hills.  I'd also forgotten how steep some of the inclines are!  Although saying that, on Saturday,I found myself on a route I'd not taken before.  The first part of it must've been at least at a 45 degree angle!
Clare and I decided we were going to climb to the top of Worcestershire Beacon. At 425 metres it is the biggest of the hills.  It was a very warm day which made the climb that little bit more difficult.  It's always worth it though.  From the top you can look across seven counties and the breeze from the west went someway to cooling us down. 

After a rest, we descended via a more direct route. Back in town we headed straight for a cafe for a sandwich and a cold drink.  It was lovely.  Sitting outside watching the world go by.  We then browsed the antique and book shops.  Malvern isn't a big place so doesn't take too long to get round so, after a while, we headed for the train station.

Great Malvern is a lovely station and we sat and had another drink at a little cafe on the platform.  Our train home was waiting for us and with the driver sitting at the next table, having a couple of tea, there was no danger of missing it!

Once back I managed to catch some of the Spain versus Paraguay match.  Blimey, talk about an incident packed second half!  The biggest surprise though was when I saw the Germany 4  Argentina 0 scoreline.   Now I wouldn't have predicted that!

England's cricket team couldn't manage to finish the series on a high, losing to Australia in the final One Day International.  At least we still won the series 3-2.

That's That Then

I suppose I should get the football out the way first.  I really haven't got much to say. 

We were beaten by a better side.  Prior to the competition, the pundits were saying that this was the team with the best chance in years to win the World Cup.  I never agreed with that.  I thought we were a mediocre team at best. 

Yesterday, I watched England suffer their biggest defeat ever at a World Cup Finals, at the hands of Germany.  England were outclassed and the game finished 4-1.  Yes, Lampard had an obvious goal disallowed, as neither the ref or linesman saw it cross the line, but I doubt that would have made much of a difference to the over all result.  However, FIFA really do need to review their policy on goal line technology.  It is becoming ridiculous.

On the plus side, our cricketers put on another good performance to go 3-0 up in the ODI series against Australia.  Although, in the final few overs, they made hard work of it!  Bollinger bowled a great over.  Taking 2 England wickets and giving away no runs.  In the end it was left to Tim Bresnan to notch up the required 8 runs off the last 8 balls.  A tense but thoroughly enjoyable end.

The Big Brother eviction on Friday night saw Govan evicted.  He had 72% of the public vote. Very high.  He deserved to go as he didn't come across well, a bit of a stirrer by all accounts.

So with the TV stuff out the way, what else have I been up to?  Well, on Saturday I went to Birmingham Rep.  Not for a show but for a sale!  It is due a refurb and they were selling off costumes and props.  I came away empty handed but there were some fantastic things on offer!  There was quality furniture being sold for £5.  Clothes and costumes were selling for between 1 - 5 pounds. There were a lot of am dram people buying all sorts of weird and wonderful things.  It was like the most interesting jumble sale you have ever been to.  Have a rummage and who know what you will find!

After the sale we headed to Moseley where we bought fresh bread, cheese and olives and headed for Highbury Park.  We sat under a tree and ate our food. After, we wandered the park and found a beekeeper looking at her bees.  As we watched the secretary of Birmingham Bee Keepers Association came over for a chat.  A very nice fellow.  Did you know that there are up to 16 exams to be taken to become a qualified bee keeper?!

Having walked the park Clare went for a drink at Kitchen Garden Cafe while I nipped off to a friend's daughter's birthday party.  I met Clare at the Kitchen Garden a couple of hours later when, after a quick drink, headed home.

Yesterday, was a trip to Solihull Nature Reserve, just to get out for a few hours as the afternoon would be spent in front of the TV watching the football.  We walked for a couple of hours but ,as it was  the hottest day of the year so far, was shattered by the end. 

Finally, Glastonbury weekend has sort of passed me by.  I have recorded a lot of the coverage but haven't watched it yet. It was nice that they got good weather for their 40 year anniversary.

Here are Muse covering U2's Where The Streets Have No Name.  Complete with The Edge on guitar.

England 1 Slovenia 0

So, England upped their game yesterday and managed to make it through to the next round.  They played well, especially in the first half and at times, looked like a World Class team.  It still worries me that we only managed the one goal (Defoe 23mins) and that we never topped what was a relatively easy group. 

What I did enjoy about yesterday was the vibe.  From lunchtime onwards, there were people on the street.  Walking to the pub or popping to the shops to stock up on supplies.  Others on their way home from work early.  You could feel the excitement in the air, or should that be tension?  The weather was great.  The sun was shining which added an extra element to things.  I think the time of day helped as well.  There were the lucky ones who were not at work, others leaving early or just skiving off. Some were stuck in their offices with it on the radio (Clare) or were watching it on their PC.  It all added to the sense of occasion.

So Germany in the next round.  Tough game.  If we manage to beat them then our next game would more than likely be Argentina.  We don't make it easy for ourselves!

With all the drama of the World Cup I have neglected other things.  Yesterday was National Cricket Day.  When the stars and coaches go into schools and organise competitions to help develop children's education through cricket. I'm not entirely sure how that works but it has been going since 2005 and so must have some benefits. 

Today, England take on Australia in the second One Day International. On Tuesday, a great display by Eoin Morgan helped England to victory, winning by 4 wickets.

Finally, there have been stories in the news lately about foxes attacking people. There has even been talk of a cull! Yesterday I was lucky to find one asleep in my garden.  He's welcome back any time!

World Twenty 20 Cricket

Yes!!!!!! England beat Australia by 7 wickets to win the World T20 final! I've thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and think England's performance has been great throughout. What a great start to the summer. I hope we can do as well in the football!