Thursday, April 10, 2008

I bloody nearly got him that time, didn't I?

Before I launch into an attack on the padre, let me first mention that I know that he has been less than well, and I wish him a speedy and complete recovery.
Wishes also to Sharon, who has been in hospital, and is not yet back on line.

Similarly, Pamela has been overdoing it, and consequently been more than a little run down. Best wishes to the dear, lovely old ratbag.

Zoe is also back up and posting, nice to see her getting better, if not better-tempered.

(that’s enough good wishes. Ed.) So the rest of you can just bloody well pull yourselves together.

I have grown to rely upon Dave to point out important dates in the calendar, so you can imagine my shock when he failed to report the first day of summer, which fell on Wednesday.

For those of you unfamiliar with saint’s days and so forth, I probably need to remind you that the first day of summer is marked by the arrival on my doormat (or, in this year’s case, in a slightly non-conformist manner, in my garage), of Wisden. This year I have opted for the new(ish) large size, partly to show that I am not so far a victim of old age that I am afraid to flaunt convention. Let me be even more controversial by saying that there are parts of it that I never read in full, and seldom refer to. The section on the laws of cricket is fingerprint free in every copy that I have. I do not have much time for religions that are full of “do”s and “don’t”s.

Whether cricket evokes memories of glorious June sunshine at Grace Road, or 98 gallons of rain on a cold April morning in Chesterfield it is the True Faith that unites us all. No one who ever witnessed a Tom Graveney cover drive can seriously question the nature of the Almighty or fail to understand the meaning of life.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, I'm first here??

Despite your attempts to give off that cranky fist-shaking-old-man attitude, I see right through you.

You're a marshmallow inside.

Big hugs, sweetie.

Dave said...

I've posted a saint's day today, especially in your memory.

Cricket, surely, is more important than mere religion.

I, Like The View said...

last summer I recognised a man on the beach who had been the boyfriend of my best friend when I was a young filly of a girl (she wasn't - she looked like a horse, but then he wasn't much cop either back then)(and still looks the same, which is why I recognised him) and he was playing cricket with his children and I so wanted to go up and say to him that the day he scored a Golden Duck when I was 14 and watching Trinity Boys play Dulwich is a day I'll never forget

I later stood behind him in the queue for the ice cream van and smirked - I don't think he recognised me

on the same beach sometime earlier I saw that cricketing person come tv personality, tallish and vaguely charming with a full head of greying/white hair - you know, the one Jonathan Ross always takes the piss out of. . .

. . .dave reminded me of his name at the time, but I've forgotten it now

cricket - it does, indeed, unite us all

X

Vicus Scurra said...

Pamela. Just call me sweetypants.
Dave. In my memory? Have I died? Shit! I suppose there'll be a Scurra day before long. Was there a state funeral, like for Churchill?
ILTV. I think that you are thinking of Hermione Gingold.

Dave said...

No, but I keep trying to forget you.

I once spent a day sitting in the sponsor's box at Trent Bridge, watching the silver-haired gentleman to whom ILTV refers score a delightful century.

His first name, too, is David. His last, ILTV, is a Welsh Peninsular.

Vicus Scurra said...

David Machynys? Who did he play for?

Richard said...

Seeing cricketers out of context is faintly amusing. I once saw Mike Brearley, within two years of his Headingly triumph, walking across the bridge by Ladywell station in Lewisham, South-East London. As South East London goes, Ladywell is slightly off the beaten track. He was wearing ghastly shorts and sandals.

I, Like The View said...

I didn't know who I was thinking of - but dave did. . .

. . .that's scary

I lived in Lewisham for a while and can vouch for that (Ladywell being off the beaten track, not the dodgy outfit)

I, Like The View said...

(seeing anyone out of context is amusing - or has that potential - imagine, for example, meeting vicus or dave in real life!)

Richard said...

And of course, the traditional domestic season opener is well underway with the MCC happily thrashing the county champions. As a Man of Kent this makes me very happy. (for the uninitiated, the County Championship is the longer form of the glorious diversion where players are reminded of the subtler nuances of the game; like how to play it properly and bowl the other side out).

I,SLTV I lived in Ladywell for 2 years. It was funny seeing bits of Lewisham round the back of the multi-story by the River Quaggy being used as sets for Ashes to Ashes.

zoe said...

I'm trying to get better-tempered but it's awfully difficult when you're as near to perfection as I am.

Vicus Scurra said...

Zoe, I infer from that that Qarsan is standing next to you.

zoe said...

No, QUarsan is not standing next to me - but I really don't want to over-do things.

Romeo Morningwood said...

It's a bit of a sticky wicket,
to come here and no nothing about Cricket,
So I'll just leave and say
fickit!

Richard said...

This is the closest I can find of what Vicus considers to be one of the most satisfying, if not beautiful, sights on the planet. It's not quite a cover drive, the feet aren't quite in position so it's a bit more of a square cut. Waffle waffle...

Richard said...

Apologies for the missing words. Words aren't enough though, are they.

I, Like The View said...

good morning!