johnh

I can remember (1949) being a member of a boys' club and going to play a table tennis (evening) match against St Sylvester's club down Scotland Road. It was turned 10 o'clock when we finished and walking back to get the tram we passed loads of kids, some as young as five and six, playing out. Most were in bare feet. I remember being shocked at the time even though I was only 13. Thank goodness things have changed.

The traditional name for the game 'knocking on doors and running away' is 'knock down ginger'. The modern name is 'Parcelforce'.

Roast beef (well done outside bits) Yorkshire puds, crispy roast potato's, cauliflower, sprouts (a sprig of broccoli as a nod to healthy eating) and a nice thick meaty gravy. Why would anyone want a burger?

I remember Boycott being dropped after scoring over 200 for England. The selector's said he scored them too slowly!

A 100 run lead would be handy but I think it will be a lot less than that on this wicket unless it moves about at start of play in the morning.

In the Pinkneys Green area of Maidenhead, where I live, they have been replacing all the gas mains and the connections to the meters in each house. After a year, they finally reached our road this week. My house has an extension and they found that they couldn't use the route taken by the old pipes to lay the new pipes. I was worried that they may have to dig up the drive which I had block paved at much expense. Instead, they dug a trench across my front lawn to gain access at the other side of the house. They also found a minor leak in the gas hob on the cooker which needs to be replaced. They have given ustwo electric hot plates so we can do some cooking. They were supposed to finish today but they are coming back tomorrow. The guy next door has got bigger problems than us and he is in a bit of a panic as he's just had a new kitchen fitted and he went white when I told him that they were drilling holes in my walls. At least its a nice sunny day. Elsewhere in Pinkneys Green the work was being done throughout the winter.

Can't believe that Bell got picked after his abysmal performance against NZ. He poked and prodded about for 1 run and could have been out earlier when he miscued a slog against Lyon. He batted like a poor no. 11.

I got one weeks jury duty in 1963. Did a lot of sitting about doing nothing. Some of the judges were absolute plonkers, absolutely no connection with the real world. Too old now!

OK went to Louis.

In the post.

Here in Maidenhead we never see a police officer, even in a car. We occasionally see 'community' officers (plastic policemen). Still, it does indicate that not much happens. Last year we had a police helicopter buzzing the town for about an hour at 3.00.am keeping most of the town awake. It turned out they were looking for a stolen car. :shaking fist:

That's a lot of graphs and bar charts to tell us what we already know - we were pretty crap last season.

For our USofA friends. Granddaughter, who is 20 today, is on her summer break from Uni. She has a job in the States as a lifeguard at NJ Camp Jaycee., she is helping out in other areas too. She is a qualified lifeguard and swam for GB as a junior. I know that the camp is a summer camp for children and adults who have disabilities but is it a well known facility in the States? I would appreciate any views. Her brother (16) is a rabid Everton supporter and goes to quite a few games (with my son) both home and away, even though they live in Nottingham.

Today's date is burned on my brain. It is the 61st anniversary of the day I reported for National Service training in the army. I had to go to Devizes in Wiltshire and it took me 10 hours from Leeds. 3 trains (via London).

Glad I wasn't playing in the group following him.

Golf is one of those games where it is better (at amateur level) to be lucky than good. I have played golf for nearly 50 years and have never had a hole in one, even though I had a good iron game and hit par 3 greens 9 times out of 10. Years ago, a guy I worked with decided to have a go at golf. He went to the driving range several times and then I took him out for his first round on a proper course. After the round I said to him 'you will have no problems, you are a lucky player'. During the round he sliced into the trees and came out into the fairway, thinned shots and bounced over bunkers. Went into trees and had a clear shot out. Three weeks later he had a hole in one.

It would only take a simple letter from Bournemouth AFC to say that they would take responsibility. I can only think that maybe there is a complex clause in his contract covering termination. Anyway, its only a few days away.

England had 60% possession but didn't appear to do anything with it. 18 goal attempts against Italy 11 but they scored 3 of their's

Had a minor problem with our fridge (fixed now) but it reminded me about not long after we were married in Leeds. We had been saving up for a fridge (deposit, not total cost) and it was delivered in January 1963. The heating in the house was by two coal fires, one in the front room and one in the back room. As we had no furniture in the front room that fire was never lit, so the sole heating in the house was one coal fire. The morning after the fridge was delivered I got up to light the fire. Thought I would check the fridge to make sure it was working OK. Checked the temperature gauge and then had a look at the thermometer on the kitchen wall. It was several degrees warmer inside the fridge than in the rest of the house. 1963 was the harshest winter since 1947 (and I remember that one as well). As I sit in my centrally heated house with double glazing, I don't know how we survived. True story that.

Not long ago I read that Sandbanks was the second most expensive (cost per square foot) in the WORLD. I don't think the Distin deal is that bad a deal for Bournemouth. If they use him carefully and don't overplay him then his experience will be invaluable. The cost to them is his wages. say £2m for their first year in the Premiership. I don't think that's too bad.

I can't believe he's only just turned 22.

Went to Windsor yesterday (evening) to meet up with some friends. As her indoors can't walk very far (arthritis) I went to the open-air car park opposite our meeting place. I found a space and went to pay. Maximum stay 4 hours = £10. I worked out that we would only need three hours so it only cost me £8. The joys of living in the south!

The view that 'the ends justify the means' is fine if it is the only way to achieve relative success but what if it doesn't achieve relative success? ie playing boring football to achieve a mid-table position. We would be better playing attractive football even if the end result was mid-table. Drawing 3 - 3 instead of 0 - 0.

Probably not true but the story goes that someone mentioned to Merv Hughes once that Christmas Day was on a Friday that year. Merv said 'I hope it's not the 13th'.

I hope they do umbrella's like Del boy used to have in his drinks.