Ted Max

I might well feel isolated and unsafe on the crossing*, but never have at the playground, which is actually what we were talking about. (* actually I never have, although I agree with you that traffic safety measures on that side of the Rye stand in contrast to that on the "posh" side).

Maybe the authorities have taken note of the forum poster that protested that the current site is isolated and unsafe?

Don't worry Brendan. England have, for years, sporadically imitated competence, even excellence, at one day cricket, only to lose momentum. Even this summer's 3-1 defeat to NZ was commenced with a commanding 100+ run win, switch-hitting sixes and all. Like my Scottish granny used to say about good weather - it's nice out the now, but we'll pay for it later.

England will bat first. Orthodox move in a day nighter over here.. In big jessie bomb-dodgers news, South Africa have withdrawn from the Champions Trophy. The first team to do so.

2:30 start.

Fisty cuffs? Sounds fun.

TeamGB is likely to do very well at sailing, rowing, cycling, archery and target shooting. You actual running, jumping, throwing stuff - not so much. So basically, we are, as an Olympic squad, very talented and enthusiastic CenterParc customers.

Told you. Bell was looking to get out and achieved his aim. Witless.

What is Vaughan's on? Crucial innings for him and England, for this match and the series, possibly even for the long term, and he's gone having a flail at a wide one, long before that sort of shot selection was anywhere near appropriate. As was Cook. And now Bell's in the same "positive" frame of mind. Were none of them actually watching the Safs bat at Headingly? Or even McKenzie, Kallis or Prince just yesterday, if Leeds is too far back for them to remember.

How annoying. Did you have a camera or camera-phone handy, to support your appeal?

He says I'm doing all the right things - hitting good areas, getting a little movement, and there's nothing wrong with my length. It'll come good in the end.

Blunt. No frills. Effective. You have aligned your posting style on this thread to that of the team you follow. I, meanwhile, put some good contributions in early, but have lacked penetration as the series has gone on.

We had a visitor once who was leaving v early morning and was a bit snooty about our offer of arranging a trusty but rusty local minicab. He phoned for Dial a Cab, and then they never turned up. A booking is more of an opening of negotiations, it seems, than a firm commitment. Second Addison Lee - they also have some people carrier things with built-in child seats. Not sure if suitable for a one year old but you can always ask.

ENGLAND WIN! - the toss and will bat.

Yesterday, as I was walking my dog, I saw someone throw a half eaten apple away - 'Don't you know there's a recession on, I asked him?" And later, stopping of at my usual greengrocer, I note that the price of apples has trended down a penny per piece, fully 42 retail days before the usual seasonal glut. "Sign of a retail slowdown?" I asked myself? Yet this evidence conflicts with the discarded apple anecdote. Truly, these are confusing times we live in. And so to my ablutions, wherein I note that our current bottle of shower gel has lasted a day longer than normal before getting down to the "last little bit left in the hook at the bottom" level. "Could it be," I mused, "I am subconciously economising on essential household items? I so, then we could well be heading for a recession." I write a stern note on the matter, unsure whether to publish on the Forum. Bedtime - I have taken to reading with the last of the natural light so as to reduce electricity consumption and avoid Bill Shock. I afford myself some black humour. "Dark days we live in, what dark days," as I descend into peaceful rest from monitoring global economic indicators.

I'm hoping this isn't connected to your recent goosing outside said venue?

You're suggesting grilling the bread for 15 minutes? You, sir, are a gastroarsonist.

I think for all the talk of anarcho syndicalism and social enterprise- what we're looking at here is a music club that costs ?10 a month to join. For that ?10, you get premises to schlep around in, records to swap and buy, somewhere to listen to music. Isn't that about it?

Too many spaghetti trees in East Dulwich?

I said 14 to win tomorrow morning. I wasn't too far out.

I had the same experience Giuseppe, but I soon knocked that nonsense on the head.

Oh, this Test was all done and dusted by 6:45 on Saturday evening. All the rest is just chat.

It feels premature to sack Vaughan, but by God he needs some runs. I also think there's a problem with his relationship with his management team. He seems to be trying to fiddle wickets with odd fields, as if he's publicly declaring that he's doing his best with what he's been given, and doesn't rate the plans coming from his back-up team. (unlike with Fletcher/ Cooley - where it was very clear what each bowler was to do to each batsman). His pre-match comments about Pattinson were also unworthy, as was giving him three overs on that first day, when Flintoff and Anderson bowled four times as many.

90 overs in a day, David. 4 x 20 plus 10 fiddled from a fifth bowler. It's a fairly normal sort of equation. The four would be Flintoff, Anderson, Panesar Jones. You're right, I forgot Jimmy, who deserves to stay for now. Five full bowlers is great if, a) your batting can carry it (England's can't) and b) it actually offers some variety (Broad, Pattinson, Anderson does not). None of it matters, though, if three of your top five batsmen play like tarts.

Agreed, it's got 1-1 draw all over it.