Some news......

I thought I'd just pop in with some news, some very good news in fact. I'm going to be a boastful Mum, so click away now if you like!

 You may remember this post from a year ago, Trials and Tribulations,
which was about the County Cricket Trials

 for both my boys.
 

 It's always a tricky time as both boys have tried to get into the County team since they were battling for a place in the under 10's side.
 

Number 1 son has always been a great player but suffered from nerves every time he went into trial. It can be a very daunting experience and as he was our first (and the first to trial from their cricket club) no one really knew what to expect; he wasn't really very well prepared in those early years.

Number 1 son was always quite small for his age and although he was skilful he didn't have great strength. Every year he came home down hearted
 although he always told me it had gone ok

 (his Dad standing behind him, unseen, showing me a thumbs down!).

 

It's probably politically incorrect to say this (although I'm sure it's relevant to lots of sports) but it also seemed that you could be welcomed into the squad on things other than talent - namely money, coming from the right school, the right club etc etc,
and we were none of those things.

 

Anyway year on year he insisted he wanted to try again, this was made all the harder when his younger brother got in on his second attempt. We have to give him credit for his tenacity, he's always supported his brother and never once had a cross word
about his cricket achievements.

 

Last year it all seemed to come together for him, he'd grown to 6' and was a lot stronger. And every session he went to seemed to go well, he played his socks off at every trial! Husband was excited, we all were, this was his year!
Then he wasn't chosen.....
Two of the coaches told The Builder later (confidentially)
 that they'd wanted number 1 son in the squad but were over ruled!

Anyway he decided to try this year, I have to say I didn't want him to, one last time before he's only
eligible for senior cricket.

The first trial for the under 19's went well, .......
....and then they offered him a place in the squad!
No more sessions necessary!

We're over the moon for him, all that effort, practice and perseverance has paid off..... I'm so proud!



Learning the correct grip, age 2 - note the regulation footwear!





 



Going for his very 1st trial, age 9

Taller than his Dad, age 17 - wearing his lucky Aussie hat!


 So now he's going to show them what they've been missing in their squad
for the last 8 years!

 

It's been a while.....

I'm so sorry not to have posted since my birthday, thank you for all the comments they really did help to put a smile back on my face. I managed to get myself into a dark place for a while (not something I'm prone to do). My birthday often does that to me; in the run up to the day itself I get so many mixed emotions from a little excited (because you have to)

to the dread of what may or may not happen on the day itself!

 

I am 99% certain that I will NOT be doing the parachute jump, which is what most of the commenters agreed they would do. There were one or two who thought it may not be a terrible idea! I've spoken to a couple of friends who have both done a tandem jump themselves and both say it is a fantastic experience. However it's not necessarily an experience I want to have!

 

It has rather become the "elephant in the room" at home, no one dares to mention it! I can feel a moment brewing when I have to say why I was so upset, there have been a fair few tears shed about it! After thinking about my reaction I know I was most upset that they seem to know so little about me, and my husband has lived with me for 30 years! We've not been having the easiest of times lately - nothing major just those work/home life stresses that everyone has. However during the summer I struggle to cope with the fact that cricket takes up pretty much all of everyone's thoughts and probably all of their time too. After being worn down by number 2 son I think what I wanted most was a rest, some tlc and some thoughtfulness and not the "challenge yourself" present they all thought I needed! What I actually wanted most was for them to notice what I wanted most!

 

Anyway there is a tiny 1% of me that's considering the jump, only because I have a stubbornness in me that thinks you should try opportunities when they are presented to you. I would never have asked to do one, never ever; but here it is, and I've got a year to think about it.

 

Anyway it's been a while since I posted and the cricket season has drawn to a close for all concerned. We've said goodbye to the New Zealander who was playing for the club this summer, who stayed locally with his wife and 2 little boys. We'll try to keep in touch over the internet,

sometimes I really love Facebook for that.

 

We also celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary on the 14th. We got married in 1991, on the first available Saturday after the cricket season ended! However we didn't leave for honeymoon until the Monday as there was a Sunday match to play!

 

Confetti gets everywhere!

We had lived together for 8 years before getting married, we do everything very slowly!

We were married in the tiny village church close to where my husband was born, my family aren't originally from Norfolk so I had no particular ties to any church.

 

And our reception was....well, can you guess?

 

It had been quite funny when the invitations were sent out (no one knew we were planning to get married until the invite arrived through their letterbox) as there were some anxious looks at the idea of our venue. As far as they were all aware we would be trying to host the reception in the tiny, tumbledown, corrugated iron cricket pavilion which was the only building at the ground

 - it had no electricity either!

There was a collective sigh of relief as they marquee went up! There were 2 Pipers to announce the arrival of the bride and groom, we have no Scottish connection at all,

my Mum just thought we'd like them !

 

Anyway our anniversary went by quietly although we did manage a meal for two in the evening. We don't usually buy presents or cards but this year was a little different. After the birthday fiasco I got a beautiful bouquet of roses and I'd had a gift made for The Builder.

Sorry I cropped the top off as it has our name written on bunting - I try to be a little anonymous!

 

I thought it was about time we had a family portrait painted!

This was done by Nick, who's work I'd first seen on her blog Morten and Me. 

She's a super artist and I'm over the moon with the finished article too. I did wonder if it was a bit more "me" than "him" but he loved it. And so did the kids.

The only complaint was that the scoreboard showed 22 where in actual fact he would have scored 100 (ever the optimist) - I did have to point out that 22 was the number of years we'd been married, although come to think of it 100 years may be what it feels like!

 

This is probably the only picture which will ever show me holding a cricket ball!

 

Well onwards and upwards, winter cricket training starts tomorrow!!

 

 I will try not to be away so long again but I am still keeping up with everyone else's posts, I love reading what you're all up to.

 

xx