Not that a Germany 5 day holiday was any huge cultural experience that required deep and pure immersion back into local society, but we had organised a day out to see the cricket test between Oz and the Pakis. Headingly was hosting the event, had opened a large new stand, the Carnegie, for the media and corporate/private box market and had prepared for floods of locals to fill the stands for this well promoted Test.
David had bought 4 tickets in the Members Stand to ensure we were catered for with seats and convienient and well behaved facilities.
It was a nice day out, except for a couple of things.
- Gail got called in to work so couldn't make it. 40 quid wasted.
- Australia were trying to defend a first innings score of 88. Yes just 88. For the whole team.
- No one much turned up to see the match, tickets must have been too expensive for the millions strong local Pakistani population who all live in West Bradford, about 5 minutes away..
- Both Pakistan and Australia suporters wear green and gold.... most confusing.
- The whole of Headingly went into blackout for about three hours halfway through play. So no scoreboard, no public announcements, no hot food no cold beer, no radio or tv coverage from the ground or anything that had anything to do with electrical. The game however, being more wood and leather than electrical, continued while everyone tried to figure out who was batting, bowling, what the score was, how someone got out, etc etc.... a very different way of watching a game. We left to do lunch in a nearby cafe.
- And Australia lost the test.
Some of the good things were ;
- it was Ponting's last Test as Captain (a personal view)
- The weather was perfect.
- We had a bunch of happy locals sitting around us who had great humour.
- The three of us enjoyed the day out.
- I got to see by the number of flag clad gals and blokes that there are quite a few local Aussies who know where Headingly is.
This final shot below is of our July back yard, umbrella set up and chairs out, just before we had Jon and Kylie over for a little drinkie and lunch at one of our village pubs. Thought you'd like to see it in its Summer glory.
Anyway that's it for what turned out to be a rather full July... As summer months here go, it has been quite a nice one. We also learned that while we were away in Duesseldorf (read following blog) that it was quite the stormy wet cold and blowy week here in Wetherby, so we timed our hot and pleasant visit to Germany rather well.
