Successful Scottish Cricket!

 

 

Scotland have won at cricket!

Now there is a headline you don't see often!  

Scotland has of course played cricket since the game began way back when, however, once football was organised, by Scotland first in spite of English Toffs claims, cricket took a back seat.  It was never considered important to most Scots and while the 'Better schools' attempted to turn young Scots into Englishmen by force feeding them cricket and rugby, normal schools, the 'ragged schools' of my youth ignored the game.

So cricket was not important to the majority though various places have had clubs dating back hundreds of years, and therefore Scotland, a nation of 5 million, never produced a top level cricket side.  Now however, having worked their way through the lower orders similar to themselves they have qualified for what is considered the 'Top 12.' 

The will be 'dancing in the streets of Raith tonight,' because of this. Though it may be drink the mor likely cause.

For the cricket lover this is a good thing.  Scotland has, not that long ago, beaten England at the one day game, the first time ever, and now finding themselves for the first time ever at the top table the players and backroom people can be proud of their achievment.

What happens now?

Now Scotland enter another group phase.  This however includes three of the top sides in the world, India, Pakistan and New Zealand!  Afghanistan has also qualified, with one other as yet to be decided to join also.  It matters not, holding their heads high whatever matters is all that they are required to do now.  Qualifying for the first time was important, whatever the results against the top sides they matter not, just follow the Scotland attitude and 'have a go!'

Cricket on TV

 

I note the rising numbers falling sick from the virus has caused worries in No 10.  Javid, the millionaire Health Secretary, will bring a number of concerned people together and try to work out how to allow as many as possible die without admitting blame on his or Boris's governments part.

That should be easy.

Schools are easily and deliberately being allowed to spread the virus, 'Herd Immunity,' even though this causes much pain and possible deaths.  I am not sure I can remember a government so happy to allow UK people to die for an ideology.  Previous governments may have been happy if people died abroad, but rarely did they encourage killing your own!  

I note Brazil has decided to take action against their president on grounds of failing to protect the people.  Soon I hope, the same will occur in the UK.

 

 

I have been watching a bot of the Ireland cricket match, it does not last long.  Several Irish players look ideal for the rugby union side, I am not sure they fit in with cricket, except afterwards at the bar!

As I watch another leaves with a score of 1 run, the Sri Lankans are having fun here today.  

Thus I have been occupied, ignoring the 'To do' list...

 

Brilliant!

 

Grumbling...

 

Saturday afternoons are baneful.  Last season I could enjoy watching the Heart of Midlothian via PPV TV, but not now.  UEFA ban Scottish football being shown this way in England, why?  Who wishes to watch meaningless English games?  Overpaid, over publicised, over important, they are not worth the huge wages on offer.  Anyway, I want to see my team!  If I was in Scotland or Ireland I could see it, but not in England, why?  This is a disgrace!

This means while football is on I see nothing.  No games from anywhere in the world.  Not even Japan!  Tsk!  

Now, with a full game being shown later, at 6 pm, on BBC ALBA, I cannot even look at Twitter in case the score of that game, St Johnstone v Livingston, is revealed.  This is all very annoying, especially as we saw all the games last season. Bah!

 

Nothing happening today.  News is quiet being the weekend with only the death of Amess yesterday filling space.  Even Boris gave up his holiday for that, this did surprise me.  The leaders laid flowers today in ceremony.  I would not lay flowers, this appears to me to be a catholic thing, certainly an English thing which now has spread into Scotland.  People lay flowers and tributes to a dead person, usually one they do not know, often one who they may dislike in real life!  I can understand the emotions of the moment but laying such tributes is not my way.  Of course with Diana this became nonsensical, the nation ran out of flowers and a huge pile 20 feet high rotted away in Kensington Gardens.  A nation without God seeks something to follow, even something as shallow as Diana.

I suspect Monday will see statements in the House and tributes brought.  I hope Boris and the rest behave themselves.  I doubt however, that this will bring an increase in cash for Police, though better protection for MPs might be found.

 

 

A Nothing Day but then a Murder.

For several days now an idleness has awoken in me.  To be honest this began not long after I was born, about five minutes after I would suggest, however, it keeps returning and now, just a few years on, I have been besieged by it.  For three days I have fought this, I have attempted exercise and found this did not relieve it, I walked to the shops and back, this did not relieve it, and wandered slowly around town breathing deeply of the late Autumn air and a great deal of stour from the building site round the corner.  This did not bring freshness to me.  They are building a council white elephant costing millions!  

Today I filled the washing machine again, just how many times do I use it, just to keep my world turning, however, that wore me out so I have avoided strain elsewhere by returning to stare out of the window.

There was no football two nights running!  Shocking!  This was so bad I almost went out to the Club and spent money.  However, when the time came I just could not be bothered... I just sat here and moped, this was cheaper.

 

 

Sir David Amess, not an MP who appeared much on TV or in the media, was stabbed to death while condcuting a surgery in his constituency today.  A 25 year old gentleman rushed in, stabbed him repeatedly and was caught by the police a short while later.  So far no motive has been mentioned.

Amess (69) was a Conservative, a Brexiteer, a Catholic, and an anti-hunt animal lover.  He opposed abortion and same-sex marriage but supported most Tory policies.  It does seem strange that he would be attacked at this time, he would not be an obvious target. There may be a personal motive, terrorism, or a far left loon, but so far we do not know who or why.

Five years ago Jo Cox, a female Labour MP was killed by a Right-Wing mental case, much hand wringing but little action.  To be fair spending on MPs security did rise, from £170,000 to £4.5 million, but one-off attacks do happen and little can be done, especially when MPs have to meet their people.  What could be the cause?

One cause is the deliberate encouragement of a 'Divide'a 'Them and Us' mentality, sponsored mostly by this PM and his media.  Encouraging cries of 'Unpatriotic' upon anyone who disagreed with them, encouraging Brexiteers lies, and lying about the EU, especially France.  And now the attack is on the overstretched NHS, overstretched as it has lost 125 A&E departments, 22,000 beds, 1500 GPs, and has 86,000 vacancies, since 2010 yet the media blame the GPs and the staff!  This has led to many atacks on staff and some serious injuries.  

The government is entirely to blame.  

Regarding Jo Cox's death, I just saw a clip of how Boris answered those female MPs at the time who informed him his attitudes were to blame for her death.  "Humbug," he called it, and went on to say the best answer was "To get Brexit done."  That reveals much about the man and his cabal's attitudes.

Maybe now his people are dying might bring it home to him, although I expect he will remain on holiday to avoid any stress...

 

Spam Aftermath

 

The theological discussions, the debates, the libations over and the money running out, I headed off home.  Considering there was only 5 of us we covered a lot of ground.  I confess the ground covered was mostly by walking back and forth to the bar as the barmaid somewhat rudley refused to run after us as we considered she ought to.

Women have their uses but when stubborn they are difficult to manoeuvre.

Monday night is the clubs lowest attendance, that is why we were allowed in.  A handful of regulars, mostly lonely old men with no-one at home, seeking company with those they know, even if they rarely speak to one another.  Every bar has them, at the same spot each day, rather like Norm from 'Cheers,' that once famous Boston Bar now sadly missed.  One woman, of unknown age, was in attendance, a regular, and as is always common in public houses, a gentleman with a beer barrel of Hogshead proportions also took his regular spot.  Quite how he has not died by now I cannot understand, surely if I am overweight and upsetting a nurse he must be.  Being in his 50's may help, but he is one who may be taller lying down than standing up.  He remained for a while, welcome among friends, occasionally wasting money on one of the brightly lit colouful machines that promise much and deliver little.  I wonder about the lonely men who are found in such places.  Did they once have families, were there wives, have they mental problems?  How one or two of them survived Lockdown I do not know, they were always propping up the bar, how did they survive without this place?  Indeed, why did they not find a life when they had a chance?  

 

I showed such men how to have a life today.  

I lay in bed, walked round Tesco (not at the same time), and sat staring into the abyss for the rest off the day.  I watched a bit of football, await the Scotland game tonight, and ate fish and a few chips, the first time in months.  I am also eating dark chocolate, 90% cocoa, as they say this is good for the brain.   I may need to eat several bars a day...

 

Monday Mope

An early morning visit from the air ambulance, an orange one instead of the usual red one, as someone somewhere was clearly in trouble.  Not the best thing to hear before 8 in the morning, especially as he hovered above me waiting for the dog owners to clear the way so he could land in the park.  Deperately nosey, I wanted to know what this was all about, however, being desperately lazy I finished breakfast instead of enquiring.

 

Nothing else happened.

I ventured out only to visit the surgery for the anti-cholesterol prescription where a busy woman with a short queue awaiting service aided me, and naturally had no note of my prescription.  Soon, she had remedied this and I was on emy way to the pharmacy across the way where a sour young thing served me efficiently though with all the joy of a depressive.   I reckon it's my bright shining personality that brings out the worst in women...

 

 

Tonight however, is SPAM night!

Soon, the men of the Kirk will gather to put the world to right, discuss matters women do not understand, enjoy one anothers company, and be bullied by the barmaid!
Theological subjects are never raised, as the vicar may feel left out.

 

 

CAUGHT ON VIRTUAL RAILFAN CAMERAS, SHOOTING AT THE TUCSON, AZ. AMTRAK.

A Wander in the Sunshine

In a vain effort to find life again I took off quite early for Tesco.  Saturday morning among the masses is often invigorating.  It was however, like the misty glinting sunshine, quite peaceful and the healthy ingredients sought were soon found.  Healthy, that is those rumoured to stimulate the brain, Bluberries and very dark chocolate for instance, were joined by Flax, Chia seeds and Hemp, the latter for one of my nieces husband's Christmas's, he will probably think it will get him high.  He is one of those convinced cannabis is the answer to all problems, from cancer to covid.  This, he attempts to prove but he so far has not been successful.

The rest is for my latest health trend, and having paid through the nose for these goods, along with my other calorie controlled foodstuffs, I should look like Charles Atlas by Christmas.

This may not however, be the case.

 

I had to look twice at these balls hanging on the trees.  These trees were only planted a few years ago, 10 maybe, and I do not remember any fruit on them last year, though I could be mistaken.  'Conkers,' all around, at least the outer shells, as it appears some kids have been having a go at them already.  The more mature trees all around have certainly passed their fruit onto the public as the mess around their feet reveals.  Many a child, and not a few adults, will now be enjoying themselves with such on pieces of string.  Entertainment is easy, computers or no.

 

 

Having walked home from Tesco carrying a heavy but healthy bag it is almost a delight to walk without any weight attached.  Having lost a stone and a half I rather hoped walking would ease, it looks like another stone must go.  At least once that stone has gone my old shirts may fit once again.  

A sun drenched public garden, with a bit of early haze, is a delightful thing.  All were happy apart from at least once screaming child, the fruit of the children's play area at the top end.   
 

The last of the roses blossomed happily in the sun.  A large bush, almost a tree, once full now with only this lot left in any decent condition.  The volunteers who help the gardners do a great job of keeping these plants going.  

 

The idea was to walk round and energise the bulk, instead I felt my knees objecting.  Naturally, this park is on a slope, and to go homewards meant going uphill.  I await my lottery win so I can employ a servant to drive me uphill when my knees tire.  This however, may be an unfulfilled dream.

I wandered about, as always getting strange looks from women with kids, clearly women who read 'those stories' and listen to 'old women's tales,' and most of them appear neurotic as a result.  Even young dad's look sheepish, though that might be because they are not used to doing such work as watching kids.  

 

As I headed towards the gate I saw this man stiing low down and apparently unaware I was approaching.  Moving slowly along the path I got two decent shots of him before he felt he had posed enough and disappeared under the bush.   Usually Robins are very wary, quickly flitting out of distance and hiding in the tree.  This one may have been asking himself what life was all about, or where has the wife gone, or wondering what football was on today.  He appeared preoccupied but once he moved he did not show up again to ponder.

I don't think much of this fountain myself, it's all a bit weird I say.  There is a rumour it represents a kid who drowned in the river.  I don't blame him if he thought they would do this to him!

I kept going when common snense told me to return home, eat and sleep.  Common sense is as you know in short supply these days and it failed to appear with me also.  Instead I continued up the slope, across the town, passed all the workers still attempting to finish refurbishing the High Street, and noticed the old church had a door open.  I peeked in, something was going on, so I entered and enquired off the two young ladies on guard what was amiss?  "It's a Ladies Day," they said grinning.

I made my excuses and left!

I wandered into 'Clintons' Card shop and glanced at the horrendous Christmas stock on display, almost none of which was suitable for my needs.  However, I purchased three £25 Amazon cards towards the Christmas present stock and was picked up off the floor by the helpful young woman working the till after I fainted when I realised just how much I was paying for this.  She grinned as I explained the vast number of women I had to serve in the family and how I was failing to remember the pin number I have used for almost 30 years.  A very helpful young woman, not unsual around here I must say.

Heading home I met a young man from the Kirk and we put the church world to rights, OK I mean we grumbled a lot, and then were joined in our grumbling by one of his old workmates, so our grumbling widened to include much of the local world.  In all, this was a very enjoyable imitation of a group of gossipping old women.  I then headed home much to my knees relief and now await the Scotland football team playing Israel for the (I think) ninth time in 3 years!  The draw for competitions must be changed I say.  

Brain Dead

This picture sums up my week.

Nothing is going right, I have not got out, been forced to do two washings and live among the damp results.  Knees ache, too little football to watch, and the gas man has put £7 on the bill.  

The brain dead feeling means I have no energy to write, research, read or do anything worth while.

Tomorrow morning I must away to Tesco for sme brain food....