French and Spanish Cricket at the seaside

Look out one and all. The cricket book to beat all cricket books is not far away.I'd love to say from all good bookshops, but we will have to see about that. The publishers have done a fantastic cover design, and I've done the proof reading. It's a tale of events, rantings and crickety thoughts that occurred as we drove to Spain through France as England played South Africa in late July 2003. Similar thoughts cropped up in Spain a year later, but were eventually torn apart and swept away by that terrifying Tsunami as I was watching England taking their turn in South Africa on Boxing Day. I'll keep you informed about its progress, but it won't be long now. We played Crowhurst on Saturday. It was miles to go for a game, but it was well worth it. A winning draw, a delicious tea, two wickets including a caught and bowled to die for. Back just in time to see Kent win the Twenty 20 final . Matthew Walker, Gravesend boy done well got 45 and plaudits from the pundits.

One of the Crowhurst guys said that the last time he played against Gravesend was in the seventies. He was playing for Bromley. He said that in the team was Graham Dilley and Stuart Waterton. The photo above shows what's happened to the cricketer I would have really liked to have played with. The photo was taken at Glenelg just down the tram line from Adelaide. I told the bloke who bowled well for Crowhurst that I played indoor cricket with Stuart and Dave Nichols. The Sky lot were pleased that Kent had Kent people playing for them. There's future guys too. Some of the young uns who were in the Shrimpers only two seasons back are now in the firsts, and one is captain of Kent under something or others. They were always given a good game by us, as were all youngsters. You do feel part of it, as we did on Saturday. As I said it was a lovely trip all round. Across country to avoid the M25 traffic, through Meopham, The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Matfield which were my old haunts when I was a visiting teacher for hearing impaired children. Bewl water, which was where we went for fishing holidays with the kids. Finally historic Battle, before homing in on Crowhurst. If we get a fixture with them again next year, I'll see if the missus fancies fish and chips in Hastings and make a weekend of it. She can read my book on the beach. After all she's the star of it.