a strange thing happened at cricket today...

A strange thing happened at cricket today.A group of 'cricket fans' sat in front of us and prior to the beginning of the the game they chatted among themselves about the selfish spectators who talk all the time,spoiling the game for everyone else.When the umpires walked on the pitch and the players were clapped on I was surprised to find that these 'fans' were so busy talking that they didn't seem aware that the cricket was about to begin.I'm sure I don't need to tell you that they talked all through the match.They talked about cricket venues including Trent Bridge,Old Trafford,Grace Rd etc and all the time they were missing a most enthralling game of cricket which they'd paid to see.They boasted about their trips to Australia to 'watch' the Ashes -I doubt if they saw any of it!As we were about to leave I asked if they'd enjoyed the day's cricket.'Loved it,wouldn't have missed it for anything'one of them said.You could have fooled me!!!

favourite day of the year

My favourite day of the year always falls in April.Last year it was 28th,this year it's today,17th;the day the birds begin to move into their nesting boxes.I wait for this day all year and I'm never disappointed as it fills me with hope.At the moment I have a painful back but what does it matter?This morning I watched a male bluetit 'chatting up' the lucky female he's chosen as his mate.He went to such a lot of trouble to impress- even,apparently, 'kissing' her and ruffling up his feathers proudly to show that he's the most desirable out of the bunch!!I think she fancies him as I watched them later gathering moss together and taking it into the nesting box.Love is definitely in the air!!

dialects

I've been recording the audio for a puppet sketch and was amazed to find,when it was played back,that I didn't recognise my voice at all.I've developed a Derbyshire accent after living here for 14 yrs.I had no idea and no-one has ever pointed it out to me.This got me thinking about the way our English language is altering and how many words are now being included in the dictionary.On a visit to Essex I was intrigued by the word 'sammink' and someone had to explain that it means 'something' There was a noticeable absence of 'th';it being replaced by 'v'and I wonder if this will be the accepted spelling in a hundred years.I hasten to say that this not a criticism but an observation.If I'm still around in a hundred years I'll let you know.