IT’S RAINING

Rather like a typical 1sts batting performance, the rain started really slowly and ended in a downpour.  The 1sts match away at Holmer Green started to look doubtful as early morning constant drizzle left everyone wondering whether or not the match would be played.  Gradually the rain increased in tempo until by 1230 it was persistent and annoyingly heavy – not downpour status just yet, but enough to tell us the signs were not good.
Widmer End (just along the road from Holmer) cancelled their match against the 3rds at 1200.  This left Ian Walter frantically calling his players (and waking most of them up in the process) and Ros Walter setting off to Holmer to do her unusually accurate impersonation of Lady Eleanor – who was sunning herself at Edgbaston with Bill whilst watching England lose a Test Series.
To make the afternoon interesting for her,  Robin took Ros on a tour of Buckinghamshire popping into Hughenden Valley enroute – the same mistake he made last year!
At Holmer it was raining.  The umpires went to the middle (almost sharing an umbrella) and agreed that if it stopped immediately play wouldn’t be possible until 3.30 – 4 at the earliest.   Then the rain fizzled out.  Suddenly there was hope!  But just as the Holmer players remembered no one had marked out the pitch yet and maybe they should do something about it – the heavens really opened and the downpour that had been threatening finally arrived.
A chat between umps and skippers and the game was called off.  Most of the Hilbillies left straightaway, heading no doubt for bed after their excesses on the LHCC tour of Somerset.  The hardened tourers – Krankie and Kevin hit the bar, along with Ian B and Robin.  Robin left after a pint (yes, just the one – a record we think) just as the rain stopped and the sun came out.
“Told you we could have played”, muttered Martin Little…

Robin Carr