BBQ at Simber's, including cricket in the park
4.00pm for crickers in the park, lighting up time 6.00pm for the grub.
For those catching the train - meet at the front of Snow Hill at 3.00pm.
Weather and god squad concert permitting we’re planning on having a friendly game of cricket (tennis ball) at 4 o clock, probably 2 a side (mixed teams) 2- 3 overs per team so everyone gets to bat and bowl. I’ll take some beers over to keep us going.
Dave, Phil, Chap & Jan meet up at Snow Hill as planned at 3.00pm - an uneventful train journey to Dorridge ensued before bumping in to Ian alighting from the afore-mentioned train. A sedate walk up to Simber's followed, where we joined up with the fellow cricketing types for a quick livener before heading off to the park for a quick game of cricket before the BBQ.
After hiking to the park, subtly avoiding the 'god-squad' party people, we found a suitable but rather soggy area in which to pitch the stumps. Teams of two were drawn randomly, and the well known Simworth-Blewis method of scoring (minus 5 runs for being out) was explained to Jan who had the honour of the score-book. The cricket proved eventful and a much need half-time drinks break was needed. After drinks followed a serious session with Phil steaming in to take four wickets in an over including a hat-trick and Ian gagging to score plenty of runs - some people taking it far to seriously!!!. The eventual winners turned out to be 'Team Fish' who won with the massive score of plus 2 runs, and with prizes in hand we headed back to Di & Sim's for the BBQ.
Nige joined us back at the BBQ to enjoy the splendid fair served up by Di & Simbers'. Roz became 'Gordon Ramsay' for the evening keeping all the hungry people well stocked with burgers, chicken, hot-dogs , etc into the twilight of the evening, which was washed down with copious amounts of drink. Phil provided the entertainment being centre-stage, but could not improve on last years 'Philistines Monster' allowing himself to be upstaged by the field mouse under the bird table.
Time passed swiftly, and people started to drift off around 11.00pm - The train chaps lobbed down to the station to catch the 11.45pm, only to find that it had gone AWOL and had to wait until 12.06am!! - this did allow Dave, Phil and Nige to nip in to the Forrest for a swift pint whilst Ian, Jan & Chap waited on the platform.
Thanks to Di & Sim for an excellent day and the good fortune to choose the only sunny day in the last 7 weeks!!
Caviat from Winners
More piccies here