"Popular"

Hello play mates and welcome to Captains Blog.

I think it's fair to say that the popularity stock of the skipper and his confounded blog have been higher... bur I blame the weather, work-load and my peculiar sense of humour for that. Let's review the evidence, shall we?

1. The Weather

It was cool and damp on Saturday morning but not actually raining, although the cricket at Lords was delayed due to a wet start. And the weather from London usually ends up at our ground 2-3 hours later. And sure enough at 11.15 precisely it starts to drizzle. Then gets heavier. A really annoying light, misty drizzle. I'm still hopeful at noon it might clear when Jamie calls me from the ground to say "we've had it for the day, Jon". Now Jamie as we all know is a chap of few words. And as groundsman he knows better than any of us. Unlike me he does know what he's doing. The wet Thursday has not had chance to clear and the pitch is soaking. I like to give us as much chance to play as possible, but, on J's informed advice I decide to "call it"right away.

First to call the opposition, Dunmow-Eastons (Angus has their details), then the person on our team doing teas, then those with furthest to travel, then the rest. That's my order. Mike was doing teas and was not best pleased with me ("you are joking?".... Erm, "no") . Even now I suspect he's wondering what to do with 8 French sticks and a catering pack of cheddar ("Ebay?"). Mr Popular I am not. I wonder if I should ask him to do teas next week....?

Everyone else gets a call. I can't get hold of Ali. When I do txt him that the match is off I receive the following txt reply:

"Thnx. I know. I am at the ground..."

Oops. Mr Popular part deux.


2. Work

Due to heavy work-load I couldn't make the very committee meeting I had scheduled and a lot of people hadn't got the message (sorry Bretty). I suspect committee members weren't too impressed by my lack or organisation, planning and communication skills even though they are far too polite to say.


3. Panther

Ah yes. Well, Andy Goodwin had what "Human Resources" might call "some constructive feedback" relating to my blog entry of last week, which he shared via email with most of the club. And raised at the committee meeting. I shall make my peace when I see him next. ("Don't say anything about Panther in your blog this week Jon, you know what you're like, always going just too far. Stop it" - Ruth).

I'm assembling quite a list.

Add to that Brucie who still hasn't played since I under-bowled him against Flitch Pilgrims last year, Ed Priest who refuses to play with me at the moment whilst his raging hormones sort themselves out, Clint who might think I have "backed off" from helping him sort out the Sunday side and Patrick who I never phoned back this week and, erm, do we have a full team of disgruntled players yet?

Of course it will be fine next week. It will be sunny and hot, we'll win the toss, play well and win and everyone will love me again, carrying me on their shoulders in triumph into the bar and buying me drinks.....

Probably.

But until then, I will wear my hair-shirt and walk about hitting myself with my bat every few minutes in order to cleanse myself. And talking about cleaning myself, on the advice of a very good friend I have booked myself in for "colonic hydrotherapy" next week. Seriously. Apparently it really does help relief stress, fatigue and aids a bit of lower abdomen weight loss. Mike said I should have it cos I'm full of sh*te! Fair nuff.

Until then have a great week and see you all on Saturday. I don't know about next week's fixture (who we are playing or if its at home - organisational skills again) but I will be in contact. And if you do phone me back, try not to call me at 10.35pm on my mobile as one player did last week. That's way past the "cut-off". All being well, I shall be calling you from Moscow if my freebie ticket for the Champions League final materialises, thanks to a friendly client. I do, it seems, have one or two friends left!

Till next week.

Preacherman