Saturday 28 July 2018

Dazed and confused









I spent almost the whole week watching the littlest boy playing cricket, and I can honestly say I now see the attraction of it all. Sitting in a chair, on the grass, staring vacantly into middle distance for hours and hours every single day has a very emptying effect on the mind. The grass was bleached, everyone was wearing white, the sun was blazing and I went slightly snow blind. By Friday afternoon I had lost all concept of time and space. Life had narrowed itself down to small boys, cricket stumps and blue ice lollies. I had no idea how many runs we had, who was winning or even what day of the week it was. I propped my parasol over my head and pretended to be concentrating, but really my head was totally empty. Nothing in there at all! Of course, there are those who say that is the normal state of affairs, but while I may appear vacant, all sorts of things are usually swirling round in panicky circles in there. So the emptiness was strange and wonderful. If you are ever offered tickets for five days of cricket, take them. You don't need to know anything about the game at all, it's just a sort of meditative brain cleanse. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Sadly it all came to an end, and we are having to reenter normal life where things are expected of me and I am required to think and act. Sigh. I am already wondering if there will be another one next year.

Back in reality we took advantage of a cooler day and galloped the dog around a bit. The land is dry and pale here, as everywhere. Dare I say I'm loving the weather, despite that. I like not wearing loads of clothes and never being cold and sun every day. And the cricket, let's not forget the cricket.

Next week I think we will tackle some of the chores. Uniform, that sort of thing. Get it out of the way, so we don't have to think about it any more. Then we can slide on into the fun stuff. I have a completely unrealistic pile of books to read, a mental list of places to go and things to do and work to be done as well. It'll get done or it won't, and I shall not be stressed about it. See, still chilled. Cricket, people, you heard it here first.

20 comments:

  1. I guess I need to start watching cricket! Although, I will say that watching the World Cup gave me similar feelings after a while. At one point, I went out and got a haircut and visited the library and grocery store, and came home to the same game still going and people looking glazed-over on the couch. I think they were getting the same effect.

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  2. I’m afraid I’m not likely to learn to enjoy cricket matches, I’ll just sit and chill in the garden!

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  3. I am trying to do some mindfulness and now I see that I actually need mindlessness. I need to find some cricket immediately! It sounds like you are enjoying summer even though all those boys expect you to do things!

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  4. When my son was about 10 yrs old he was in the cricket team and I remember sitting for hours watching him and his team. Unfortunately I did not enjoy it as you have as summer here is very hot and every Saturday seemed to be well over 30C and no shade around. However, a few years ago I had knee surgery and spent summer watching cricket on TV and thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  5. I so enjoy following your blog and enjoy the sights around your environs. Thank you for sharing your lovely life with us.

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  6. Well, I love England and almost everything English apart from cricket. It just doesn´t make any sense to me. We are more football or ice hockey fan here in the Czech republic. It´s quick and there is more action in it. Hana

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  7. I know nothing at all about cricket, but I can see the attraction of sitting in the shade of a parasol on a sunny day to the sound track of birds and leather on willow. Throw in a picnic and a bit of knitting and it sounds heavenly. xx

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  8. I’ll bet you’re thanking the heavens it didn’t start today! Just back from a race in Dorset- it rained the entire 15 miles! Glad cricket went well xx

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  9. None of my boys ever played cricket so I can't say I have ever experienced that pleasure. It was always freezing cold muddy football pitches where there was no chance of quiet contemplation.

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  10. You didn't mention the sound of leather on willow! I was never keen on playing cricket unlike my dad, and that explains why mum was generally happy to go and watch him play. xx

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  11. Ha!
    Love it!!
    Have a cozy evening!

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  12. That first photo is fantastic. Really sweet yet captures the spirit. Your description of losing oneself in the pace of cricket sounds fantastic.

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  13. Sadly no cricket round my way or I'd be there. Sounds wonderful, five days of brain cleanse. Isn't this hot summer wonderful! Pants for the veg garden of course but otherwise idyllic. Hope it lasts for the school summer holidays.

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  14. I love the first image, it's a fab capture! I also get what you mean about the cricket. :-)

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  15. I love to watch cricket when i was young, but now a days i have no interest.
    Nice to see the boys taking practice!
    Love the seen of the dried grass shot from distance looks like empty land:)

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  16. I have NEVER watched cricket in my life, ever. The cricket club is really out of the way in our town and I don't even know anyone who plays! I haven't any children either, so....
    LOVE the photos of your adorable dog though, that I can relate to that, oh the unbridled joy!

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  17. An empty mind. What bliss!
    How are the children's chores coming along?

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  18. I need some cricket in my life. I'm also thinking it sounds like a great opportunity to sit and crochet, or even better, do nothing.

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  19. I understand completely your feelings about watching cricket. My son runs a men's cricket team and in the last couple of years my husband (following a successful knee replacement)! has been able to play for the first time in 40 years! Also in the team are 3 of my grandsons ages ranging from 14 to 24. So I get the joy of watching 3 generations playing in the same team. That's what I love about cricket. Like you I!m no expert but I do know that there is much laughter and encouragement that goes on and many family memories being made.

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