Sun, Sea and... Scattered Showers: The Holidays So Far

So, 3 and a bit weeks into the 2009 Summer holidays, and it's been a bit varied for me. Walking, Climbing and Sunbathing, it was all there. Fresh from a hard years work, with included sitting 4 GCSE's, I was raring to relax, so to speak. Straight down the caravan for the first week. How do I describe it? I know. Rain. And some more rain. A fine day was a rarity in that first week, so it was a week with the book and the iPod. The grandparents visited, and after deciding to go out for an hour, we nearly drowned it was so wet! So, not the most successful week weather-wise. Home for a week then, parents to work and me to the grandparents. Oh, and it rained by the way. Depressing stuff for the middle of July. So on the Wednesday it was decided that we would go with some friends to sunnier climes. Portugal to be exact. The following Tuesday, we departed from Cardiff for a holiday until Friday. What a difference a few hours makes. We stepped off the plane into a sheet of hot air. Lovely. The sunglasses were dusted off, as was the sun cream. I should have used the latter a bit more, sunburn on the shoulders isn't nice! 32 degrees celsius isn't to be sniffed at though, and soon the inevitable words came. "Oh, it's too hot isn't it?" I was nearly shouted out of the country by my parents! How dare I suggest it's too warm! Anyway, Friday came, and so did the plane. Landed at 7, down to the caravan straight away for the weekend. We really don't stop in my family. Beach Barbecue to celebrate a birthday on Saturday, which was lovely, then home Sunday for another week visiting the aforementioned grandparents. So, up to date now? Good. 3 weeks to go...

Ashes Agony

Same old England then. Looked dodgy in the first test at Cardiff, but held on by the tips of their fingers for a draw, then improving considerably to win the second at Lord's. The Ashes spirit of 2005 was once again present. We can do it were the calls, 4-0 some people said. The English (and Welsh) supporters of cricket were behind Strauss' men to pull off a remarkable comeback to what was quite frankly, a thrashing Down Under in 2006/7 (remember that? Not many English fans do!) England fans looked forward to 2-0 by the 4th day of Edgbaston. Michael Clarke and Marcus North had other ideas though, but no matter everyone said. Win at Headingley and win the series. As a certain meerkat would say, Simples! But no one expected what was to come. 102 all out on day one? Surely not! Echoes of the 51 all out collapse against the West Indies came. Maybe it's a terrible batting pitch. Erm, no. The Aussies piled on a lead and England found themselves batting to save the test. 57-0. Great start by Cook and Strauss. 87-5. Oh Dear. The middle order again. The don't fire when they need to, and even when the pressures off, 50's don't turn into 100's. Broad and Swann provided some very entertaining fireworks near the end. Possibly the most exciting batting phase of play of the whole series. But it was all in vain. England were never really going to get back in to the match, and Graham Onions' wicket gave the Aussies the equaliser they so dearly wanted. Now England are in a pickle. A misfiring middle order and they have to win the final test at the Oval to regain the Ashes. There's talk of Rob Key coming in, or Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott. Even Mark Ramprakash's name is being thrown into the hat. But one things for sure. Anything's better than what we've got at the moment!