London and LORDS

What a grand few days! Rain and all, still got too busy at Lords to get around all the highlights. I have been late to put this up as was hoping to get photos off Josh's camera first but he forgot them last night when he came out to stay....had a great birthday with he and Anna making such an effort and Jill and Rob arriving with lovely champagne, real glasses too. And I was given such presents-2 days at Lords from Josh and an amazing oil painting of the very view which blew me away on day one in London........Big Ben, London Bridge, Westminster, London eye...and it includes the double decker bus and a taxi! phew..... the very photo I tried to line up.Not looking forward to seeing the credit card as may necessitate cancelling a weeks touring........

Anyway must rush and get something on from another fantastic weekend as I want to get on to an unreal time today with umpiring a famous group of cricketers.......

London Thursday 15th May....7.07am train to Paddington

Day one started very early, met Josh near the ground by 9ish......found shelter for coffee. Went to our very wet seats by 10am, start due at 11!...delayed to one. We decided to shelter under media centre and soon spied two old gents with a bottle of champagne, top off-10.05am, so went to chat. What a hoot! They said they usually wait for the toss but predicted it would be late so decided to be early. We spent a great hour with them, hearing stories of cricket and drinks and admiring the famous orange and yellow MCC members tie.........one admitted to being at Bearwood last year- for confirmation. They were two Bishops.

The scene was set.

An early lunch necessitated a beer at the Nursery end bar, here we are joined by the Bearwood Head of Cricket, John Talbot......the facilities are endless.

Pavilion end not too bad either.
Katrina hit town Friday night, after Josh and I toured London for the day......hope he gets me all those photos he took, who do you think was the subject, 100 times. revenge for those people who have put me to sleep with holiday snaps...hehe.Anna took Katrina to The Sound of Music, after shouting us a lovely pre Theatre dinner. Next day was more rain, the girls did the tour including the tower. (below)

Some say Harrods is a great place to be but after an exhausting Day2 of 8.1 overs it is just like any other boring shopping venture to me , it seems. Not true...we will return, but not to buy.
An opera singer, supreme to entertain near the escalator. And yes Mum did join in, Anna's help got them through.
Saturday night bought a catch up with Tim and Michael Austin, Michael's birthday and a Josh generated special deal in Soho, very memorable.
We had superb surroundings and views and food and service........and service chargers and company.....these two maximised the fire call out, out the window! A fun night with Buddha looking slim beside us.

Thanks to Michael I got back to a full days play and time to meet up with WG as well as witness a Vettori 5 for and a Lords ton from Vaughan....captains day.

We did see some quality cricket at the home of the sport......Vettori to Broad, on a hat-trick........very honourable draw and I can hold my head up at Bearwood, as you may imagine there is a bit of good natured "stick" going on. Why does that happen to me?

Below is Katrina's record of weekend, I can then get on to my now,new magic cricket highlight.........life is great!

The "lost" email.

Hi everyone it is 6.40 and still at school waiting for Murray to pick me up.We had an awesome weekend. Murray left early Thursday morning as he and Josh were going to cricket, while I stayed home alone in the Tower flat. But I caught the Train to London and met by Josh and Anna. Went out for dinner and then to musical, 'The Sound of Music'. I know I have seen it 5++ times but I cried 3 times (much to Anna's amusement). The stage settings/props/special effects were outstanding.Next morning Josh and Murray were up and off to Lords. It was freezing and cold!!!! Anna and I went on a bus tour around the city and then a river cruise and then the highlight of my outing we went to Covent Gardens. The street performers, shops and atmosphere was amazing. Just as we thought of shopping the guys rung to say the cricket was an on and off affair and they were freezing so we met them at Harrods..................Wow, wow, wow! Didn't and wouldn't buy a thing but the shop is in itself an experience.As time was getting on we didn't get a chance to go home and rest up or change before we met Michael and Tim (Austin). We met at Piccadilly and walked around looking for a pub that would allow a minor...(A no go here in England) Snuck into one and were very comfortable but were asked to leave after we had finished our drinks. Timing is everything...we went onto our restaurant where we were taking Michael for for his birthday. Josh, bargain man, had made the booking and hit the jack pot as they say. It was so classy and the meal Devine. It was nice to do something for an Austin for once and not the other way around. Photos attached. We had a great time with lots of laughs.Sunday dawned a nicer day so Murray went off to the cricket with the Austins and Josh and Anna and I went to Camden Town markets. The scene is hard to explain...1000+++markets and amazing. Some futuristic and some very British. We went to an English tea rooms for afternoon tea. After purchasing some .............................(can't tell you as it it Murray's birthday present for tomorrow) we tubed home and I turned around and being very brave went on 5 different trains to meet Murray so we could catch our train back to Tywford. Murray had had a great day at the cricket. Tomorrow night Anna and Josh are coming to stay since it is Murray's birthday. It is so nice to have them here. My sister, Jacqui and her partner Geoff may also join us which will be very exciting as I have not seen her in 13 years. We are off to Scotland next week as it is our mid-term break. Don't be jealous as I then have another 7 weeks. Total of 12 weeks teaching..... Miss you all. Look after each other. Keep smiling Katrina and Murray