I Think The Cricket Is Heading For A Draw In The Rain
England have avoided the follow on, and it looks like the weather is going to do what Manchester is famous for; rain.
So what are the odds on a draw? The draw is four to one on, on Betfair.
The bookies are usually right!
Getting To The Madejski Stadium At Reading Is Getting Easier
I last went to the Madejski stadium at Reading a couple of years ago and it wasn’t an easy journey!
But today’s trip was a lot easier.
As the new Metropolitan line station at Paddington s now almost complete, I go to Paddington using that line, by getting a bus to either Barbican, Kings Cross or Euston Square stations. It’s then just a matter of walking over the bridge to the requisite platform.
I got a train direct to the new Reading station and then walked a couple of hundred metres to get one of the umpteen buses to the stadium.
The journey will probably get better, as the two stations are completed in a few years time.
Crossrail should also improve the journey, but I’m not sure how at present, as I’ll still have to do part of the journey by bus.
It’ll be interesting to see how I do this journey in a few years.
You Don’t Have To Be Big
I went to Reading today to see Ipswich play. We did lose 2-1, but Jay Tabb scored our goal.
He is not one of the tallest players being only 1.70 m., but judging by the reception he got from the fans at his old club; Reading, he was popular with the fans.
In some ways he reminded me very much of Terry Dyson, who I saw play for Spurs many times in their famous double-winning side of 1960-61. Dyson was very much an irritant and got a lot of his success by being persistent and in the right place at the right time. Tabb seems to play in a similar vein. According to Wikipedia, the much more successful, Kevin Phillips is the same height, and he’s just signed to play in the Premier League at 40. Having met Kevin Keegan, I can attest that he’s not much taller than my 1.71 m.
Given the fact that the next batsman in line to play cricket for England; James Taylor, is only 1.68 m., do we sometimes put overdue emphasis on size?
Depression Or Just Fed-Up?
They are talking about depression on BBC Breakfast this morning, saying that more anti-depressants are being prescribed.
Over the years, I used to suffer from mild depression, but generally my mother or later my wife, used to pull me out of it.
Since being diagnosed as a coeliac, fifteen years ago, I haven’t seemed to have suffered much, if at all. And it’s not that I haven’t had something to get depressed about, what with the death of my wife and son to cancer and my stroke!
But then due to my gluten-free diet, I’m getting all the vitamins I need, as my gut now works properly.
But I’ve been rather fed up in the last few weeks, as I don’t like the hot weather, the lack of an intelligent lady to take to art galleries, the theatre or the cinema, the non-progress on my building works and no football to watch live or on the television.
It all gets better this weekend with the football season starting for Ipswich at Reading and Stevenage!
All I really need now, is someone, preferably female and intelligent, to share meals and experiences.
I do wonder how many of those prescribed anti-depressants, just need a decent experience or two to give them a lift!
Did These Adverts Affect The Choice Of The Royal Baby’s Name?
These adverts are on the Tube all over London and have been for several weeks.
Did These Adverts Affect The Choice Of The Royal Baby’s Name?
Was it a subtle message? As the Queen was obviously very interested and probably went on Saturday, it was perhaps a name in the forefront of the whole family’s minds.
My youngest son, was called George, so I have no objections to it as a name, but to me, it’s probably an unlucky one.
I don’t know whether, I could have a lady friend called Georgia or Georgina.
I’ve Got No Boxing Day Football Again!
This year Ipswich Town are away at Doncaster on Boxing Day. They’ll of course be no trains.
But how many other matches will be impossible to get to?
Derby on Tuesday, October 1st
Leeds on Tuesday, January 28th
Yeovil on Tuesday, March 11th
Huddersfield on Tuesday, April 8th
The Copper Box
After leaving the park yesterday, I went and had a look in the Copper Box.
This is the first new Olympic venue to become fully open.
It is an impressive arena and I shall be looking to see if I can play badminton there. With my eyesight, it might be a better game to play for me, than real tennis. You can play badminton there and details \are here.
Although the information isn’t fully working, it would appear that the bus stop for the Copper Box on the 588 route, is called the Copper Box. They would appear to run every fifteen minutes and I took one back to Eastfield for a train home.
Saturday At The Anniversary Games
These pictures show some of the races at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games on Saturday afternoon.
This day and Friday were two very good days of athletics.
Leaving The Olympic Stadium
I took these pictures as I left.
Or a friend took two as you can see.
The stadium is not as impressive yet, as it was at the Olympics, but I suspect it’ll get there.
Friday At The Anniversary Games
These pictures show some of the races at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games on Friday night.
It all happened very much to time.
The Anonymous Widower 