On the prowl with the Leopards

There are days when your schedule is empty and other days when you somehow wish you could either divide yourself in three or be able to move from location to location instantly using a "Beam me up Scotty" technique. Saturday 23rd February was such a day.

The Dons were away at Dagenham & Redbridge in a vital League 2 clash, the 40th Anniversary of the Grren Party celebrations were taking place at the Spring Conference in Nottingham and Essex Leopards Basketball team were in the National Trophy Trophy in the less than palatial surroundings of the Braunstone Leisure Centre, Leicester.

Our days away in Wells ruled out attending the Spring Conference, and I was down to be on match report duty at Dagenham, but fortunately a replacement was found and therefore at 1pm I was at the Brentwood Centre to board the coach to Leicester.

Leopards is like a family, there's now about a hard core of 10 supporters who have followed the Club from the old regime days at the London Arena through to the new reincarnation at Brentwood and other venues around Essex.

The game itself was tight. Leopards pulled away but they were reeled back in by some exceptional three point shooting from the Teeside Mohawks. As the final minute began to unwind, the Mohawks were left with the final possession with the scores even. Would Leopards foul early, in the hope that foul shots would be missed, and give them the final shot. No, instead they let Mohawks engineer the final play, fortunate the pressure of the moment meant that the move broke down and so the game went to overtime.

Cometh the hour, cometh the player with the greatest experience. Robert Youngblood, Leopards Player-Coach, a man who led Leopards to the team's greatest successes in the days at London Arena. He had seen it and done it, but now he had to replicate it. On the Leopards first two possessions they went inside to 'Blood, he backed up his defender and scored with turn around jump shots. The early lead in overtime is vital and was it proved as the Big Cats cane home 99-91.

Leopards lifted the Trophy, our fourth trophy in 13 months. In some ways this was the hardest trophy to win. Last season we were the best team in the league, our US players were to quote a phrase a "cut above". This season , new era, new players, new coach. It made the win all the more satisfying.

Wells next the Sea

There are few places in the UK that appeal to me as much as Wells next the Sea. The harbour, the narrow streets and lanes, the beach with its wide expanse of sands at low tide, the small independent shops, people who take time to talk to you - what is there not to enjoy.

For my birthday we were given a two day stay at the Crown Hotel, an old coacing inn judging from the disused stables behind the pub.  Our room overlooked Buttlands, a square with some of Wells finest houses.

We walked from Wells to Holkham and back taking our chance to walk along an often near deserted beach. The wind was cold but it didn't matter, somehow in Wells there was time to collect thoughts, walk, think and relax.

On Thursday I went by boat to see the seals at Blakeney Point. My last trip was cancelled owing to rough seas, but this time I was able to witness the colony on the sand bank as well as seeing various varieties of sea birds.

Friday morning gave us the opportunity to doing the bulk of our weeks shopping in the small independent shops. How many main streets still feature a baker,butcher,greengrocer, fishmonger, deli,chemist and sweet shop. No trollies in sight, no buy two get the third free offers, just local produce and people shopping mixing in their community.

Friday lunchtime saw us visit French's fish & chip shop before the drive home back to Essex. I'm still delighted that we found Wells a couple of years ago it offers such a wonderful contrast to many towns in England today.

Being 60

Soon after I started work as a teacher in 1975, I placed a piece of paper above my desk that read " You can retired on 5th February 2013". In fact I chose to retire a couple of years ahead of schedule. However this piece of paper , long since forgotten, was dredged from my memory tlast week when I celebrated my 6oth birthday.

It's a strange feeling being 60, on the one hand I don't feel sitgnificantly different to the way I felt a year ago, five years ago etc. On the other hand society appears to treat you differently once you've reached this landmark.  With government determined to make people work longer, some of the benefits that would have at one time come my way have now been postponned to a later date; however I've applied for a Senior Railcard that will cut 33% from off peak train fares.

In fact much of the last week I've spent February doing what I have done for years, namely marking examination papers, however I was determined to mark the occasion. Interspersed with attending the opening of the sports centre at the school where I used to work, preparing for a Parish Council meeting and a day spent earning some extra cash driving a minibus.

I am by nature not a party person, years ago I realised I preferred the company of a few people to the many, and actually I really wanted only to be with those closest to me. To find a location that would suit an age span of 8 months to 60 years.

Some months ago I saw an advertisement for Sunday afternoon tea at Lords. I didn't need any persuasion, this was it. The Long Room at Lords, a champagne tea with cake. OK there were a few obstacles, there was a dress code; now I have long waged against such norms. The MCC only allowed women members in the late 1990s, but Lords is the home of cricket, and the added bonus being able to walk the corridors of the pavilion seeing the trophies, artwork and the England dressing room swung it.

The day itself saw rain fall continuously as we made our way to St Johns Wood. Nevertheless we arrived in good time to have a couple of drinks in the Lords Tavern before making our way to the Pavilion.

 

 

A string quartet played as a variety of teas, champagne, sandwiches,scones and cakes were served. After tea we made our way on a tour of the pavilion. I stood looking out from the balcony where England players stand, I saw the honours boards that stand for all to see which players have scored a test century or a fifer at Lords.

An afternoon to remember, an occasion, accompanied by my family and my oldest friend. Splendid.