Keeping...

...up to date with twitter and feed.  What?  the League One play off...(I wanted to listen to the Test).

I am so glad I wasn't involved, it was bad enough against Sunderland, but I couldn't have been either Huddersfield or Sheffield United's supporters today and the drama of the penaltes!  Finally after 120 minutes of game, the final score was 8 - 7 to Huddersfield on penalties scored, with the final Blades penalty being missed by their goalie, after saving their bacon, several times, during the match.

I know it might seem easy, when I can say from the position of champions, but I do feel for all Sheffield United fans...it's a cruel way to lose, especially when their city rivals grabbed automatic promotion in the last weeks of the season.  I wish them well and automatic promotion next season, as unwanted as that is right now.  Good luck to Huddersfield...we'll see you next season!

And the Test!?  Well, just finishing for the day...and after clearing the last four WIndies wickets, and a little bit of a sticky start...another ton for Strauss and Pietersen 72 off 100 balls, both back tomorrow....

...now just England United to go...

Only we...

...could arrange a short break where they've had the highest rainfall over the last few days!

Hastings had a few drops of rain yesterday, 110mm fell yesterday(that's two months worth)...and where are we off to? A village between Hastings and Rye, only for a couple of nights, then it's a visit to Mum. But, with all the glorious weather we've had...we've chosen this afternoon to disappear. Our seller is in France, so no decision will be forthcoming from her and her viewings of last week, we have a phone if someone does need us, and we certainly do need those hours away.

I've always wanted to visit Great Dixter, it's one place I've never been to. Coming originally from Kent, I've visited most others in the area, but never there...I have the cameras primed. Whether we get to Sissinghurst too, or visit some of the villages and towns, I'm not sure.

Saturday, I'm out with my Mum and sister, there's a lavender farm near Lullingstone/Shoreham in Kent, and we're off to that as it's one of their event weekends. The Hop Shop started as that, a business which sold hop bines for interior design, but now has an award winning farm shop, and lavender farm.

In the world of football, Charltons two...Murray and Chappell, have cancelled their meeting with fans tomorrow evening, and I for one am not surprised. They've been given legal advice that 'at this time it would not be appropriate'. You can imagine that even more speculation abounds amongst fans, and maybe this time with more foundation. Expectation is now high. If we are about to be sold, this could answer the question as to why certain players haven't re-signed contracts yet. We all await an announcement. Of course, the statement continues with Murray saying..."It might sound strange, but I hope fans take this as a positive thing, and of course we will rearrange the event the moment we are able to speak more freely.". Does this mean we're being sold, or being invested in with an injection of funds, with Murray et al continuing in place.

Today is the first day of the Ashes, when England play Australia....in Cardiff!! Usually the first Test is at Lords, but without Old Trafford hosting a match, the powers that be decided to go abroad... It's as strange as a stage of the Tour de France coming to England, but...ce la vie!

And we did...

...it again!

Our cricketers beat the Aussies by nine wickets in the first ODI. Scoring the winning run in 27.1 overs for the loss of one wicket, having bowled the opposition out with two balls to spare.

The England team are already world champions in the Twenty20 form and the One Day game, and beating the Australians by that kind of margin, showed just how far and hard this team have come and worked.

We already hold the Ashes....

A brilliant summer is being had by the England Women's team.

The English summer is being turned on it's head.

A match at Wimbledon finishing at 10:38 in the evening! With the brand new sparkling roof over Centre Court this is now a possibility, and Andy Murray's match against Stansilav Wawrinka (his hitting partner) was a roller coaster, knee trembling...depths of the soul kind of match for the first evening of this show of engineering. Exhaustion clearly showed at the end, that and relief at the win...as Mr Murray came to terms with his win. He knew it would be tough, but I doubt if he thought it would be quite that tough. The Swiss player has a very sweet, hard single-handed backhand, that would have wowed the crowd more if he hadn't been playing their favourite. Outside the top ten at present, I expect to see him back there, if he continues to play as he did last night. Andy Murray's next opponent (on Wednesday) is Juan Carlos Ferrero, the experienced wildcard entry from Spain... It's going to be hard work, especially after the emotions of last night.

And Charlton sign their first player of the season...(their own youngsters excepted). Miguel Angel Llera was signed from MKDons yesterday. A central defender with a left foot, at 6ft 4ins we will look to him to bring a presence to our defence. As Parkinson has commented...we have only two central defenders on our books, but with speculation growing over Hudson being sold to Cardiff...we could be down to one, unless Jonathan Fortune puts pen to paper on a new contract. Today sees the end of the contracts of ten players...six being released and four holding talks for renewing. Speculation is rife...rumour abounds...but, these negotiations are private...which is the correct way to do business.

And it's hot!! Sunshine fills the days...

This can't be an English summer? Can it!!

And some etched...

...beads...

1 - Rose Pink
2 - Pale Blue
3 - Clear

and some dots!

We're still waiting on details for the move, but we've had one removal company in to quote(we need eighty boxes...oops), and another two are coming on Monday... It's amazing how much you accumulate over eighteen years, and that's how long we've lived in our present house. He looked at the books and sighed...I took that as being an "oh my...poor back!" I didn't like to tell him there are boxes of books in the loft too...I just told him there were boxes... Our solicitor seems to be keeping himself busy, sending out letters, left, right and centre...querying all sorts of things...maybe he's trying to justify his fee too...

Apart from that...life just wends it's way...and England won the Test...

And they say...

...a week in politics is a long time.

Today has seen the fall into administration of another club, Stockport County have had ten points deducted, placing them within three points of the drop zone. Two players have been released by Norwich (by mutual consent)...Notts County let five go...Swindon reduce squad...Oldham have a new manager...Matt Holland would like to stay...and the list goes on.

Italian football is following the English game's lead, with Serie A breaking away from Serie B, and going it alone. Disagreement over finances is cited as the cause... It will be known as 'Lega Calcio Serie A'. Several Serie B clubs have already faced financial difficulties recently.

It seems a day in football is too! What the summer brings...it'll all go so fast!

Now just you wait until I start on the cricket season!