h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Good grief.

I've just been so stupidly, stupidly busy lately.

Today I cleared out my email inbox. I had over 100 emails that needed some kind of action. Some just needed filing; others had photos that needed to be added to the blogs on the Cavaliers website, some needed me to do something for h2g2. They were the sort of emails I enjoyed reading a few months ago, but with other stuff taking priority they've most sat there staring at me, making me feel guilty, waiting for me to find time to go through them and clear them out.

The wedding is taking a lot of organising, as thes ethings do, but it's not just that. I'm into the regular round of fire/H&S regulations paperwork now at the end of the summer, so I'm spending every day at work writing, updating and filing Policies ready for the enxt round of inspections. I'm also working on updates to the disability policies at the Wildlife Trust as well, as some of you will know, so there isn't much time for doing the things I enjoy right now.

Tomorrow is a day off. I have an eye test first up, but the forecast is brilliant and I might go up to Taunton to watch day two of Somerset vs Lancashire. It's likely to be usual long, slow day of play that sends most people into a deep sleep, but that suits me; the sun will be out, and I can just sit and relax in the sun for the day without a care in the world. A day at the cricket tends to gently tease away day-to-day worries, particularly if it's an insignificant day's play at a game nobody really cares about.

If I don't go, I plan to do all the stuff I have to do in the next few days all in one day tomorrow instead and head up there on Friday. I'm due a day of pure, unmitigated selfishness, I think And there won't be many days like tomorrow before the season is out.

I can't tell you how much I envy you being able to go to Taunton for some relaxation, Rich. I could use an afternoon at a county game myself right about now, but not half as much as you need one by the sound of things.

When things get on top of me the way they're getting on top of you I'd love to have a pub like that one near to you - the one we went to a couple of times last October - just around the corner from me, but I know that if there was one like that within walking distance of Fort Gosho I'd spend far too much time in there, spend far too much money and do far too much damage to my liver. American bars, even the ones that are themed like pubs, just don't have the same atmosphere as a British pub. Nothing in the world does except maybe an Irish pub.

I hope the weather stays good for you and the beer tent remains open all day

I can't tell you how much I envy you being able to relax in the sun for the day without a care in the world. I hardly seem to get a spare hourand now I am prioritising, as some stuff which used to be fun and relaxing (like hootoo) now seems not so much

But this is your journal, so good luck with the wedding arrangements and time off

Just don't go to an England/Australia ODI if you want stress relief

Well done for recognising that you need to take the time to rest. Weddings are a tough grind, but you'll all think it was worth it when the time comes.



Best of luck.

I'm always amazed at just how much organisation and preparation seems to be necessary to organise a wedding... I'm sure a good wedding organiser would organise a trip to the moon easier than NASA

A day out at the cricket (hopefully not too far from the beer tent), sounds like a very good idea to me Just what the doctor ordered I reckon

Hopefully from this point of the year on, things, at least as goes the hotel oughta be quietening down a bit?

That was a damn fine day out

Somerset were superb. By the time I got there, they had already bowled Lancashire out, but I got the pleasure of seeing Trescothick and Suppiah share in a first-wicket stand of almost 200. Both clattered massive sixes into the stand next to me, and Tresco went on hit 102. He wasn't at his fluent best today, but he's still the best batsman in the country by a long chalk, and watching him bat is a real privilege.

After he and Suppiah were out Somerset consolidated, and the late afternoon was a war of attrition between our batsmen and Sajid Mahmood, who bowled exceptionally after tea. At one point, about twenty minutes passed without a run being scored. It was tough, uncompromising stuff, and in the end we did well to get to 266 for 3 at the close (we lost five overs to bad light at the end, in brilliant sunshine).


There was more to come. Lainey picked me up from Newton Abbot, we had a cheap dinner and headed off to see an acoustic duo who had played at her hotel a week or so ago. They were brilliant; so good, in fact, that we booked them for the wedding there and then.

I'll be going to bed happy tonight

Nice

Tell that 'twenty minutes without a run being scored' thing to most people and they'll think you're

Sometimes sport is about more than just racking up the numbers.

Well, football can go 90 minutes with no points...

And another 30 minutes on top of that if no-one scores in extra time

And infinitely longer if both teams are really bad/good at penalties

I tell you what though, Gosho - Saj was on fire in that last spell. He passed the edge Bob knows how many times, bowled some tremendous bouncers, and was almost unplayable apart from the half-panicked, half-cool defensive shot. All Somerset could do was survive, and they managed it. It was an incredible passage of play, and on the evidence of this afternoon I can only presume Lancashire are doing so badly because of a lack of decent batting.

It really is something to see a fast bowler roaring in for so long, unplayable ball after ball after ball. I might even offer him a go in the Cavaliers.

That's all very well... but what about the beer?

Seriously though, somehow, sometime, I have to get over during the season and see a game at Taunton. It'd have to be before the middle of May, or during the first two weeks of September. I can't take time off between those two. I really need to see some cricket.

I knew you were subscribed here, Gosho, but I didn't want to mention the beer on tap. Partly because I knew you'd start to scheme some mad idea about getting over to see Somerset, enjoying the Pedigree on draught while you were there.

Oops.

Oh, well - you can play for the Cavaliers while you're over here, then

I should coco