The Life and Soul

Alias Wendi and Roam

I've spent pretty much all day in the office but at least I didn't miss any good weather. It's been grey and blustery and rather cold. The forecast currently suggests that summer isn't quite over yet but it sure felt like it today.

Before cycling in I popped by the cricket club at Ben Rhydding to see what was up with the 24 hour crickathon that was being held as a fund-raiser. I arrived to find Wendi and Roam still full of beans and running a cricket game with some of the under 9s. I got chatting with one of the parents who told me what a great job Roam had done this season. He might be dead lazy when it comes to doing jobs for me around the house but full credit to him for giving up his Sunday mornings through the summer to help run this team of little ones. It was great to see him engaging with them this morning, especially having been up all night. He looked every bit a chip of the ol' block. I'm proud of you mate.

Wendi is a great club stalwart, a qualified coach, and much like Pete (who I blipped the other day), another of those special selfless people without whom clubs simply couldn't function. If there's a job that needs doing, Wendi will be the first to volunteer. She has two sons both playing in the first team but I can't help but look on her as a surrogate mum to all the young lads in the club. And perhaps some of the older ones too! Her man has also been called up out of retirement to the first team in recent weeks. The Boltons have become synonymous with Ben Rhydding in recent years. Wendi, you are a star! And I'd say looking pretty good here for someone who had been up all night.

I did finally sort out all my bugs, but not quickly enough to get me home before dark. With no lights I had to abandon the bike and get the train back. As is often the case with a difficult and perplexing problem I found it was actually a number of problems interacting in a strange way. I think I can be forgiven for struggling with it somewhat. I'm feeling very tired now but also mighty relieved. I'm not as tired as Roam though. He's already crashed out in bed having captained the third team to another heavy defeat this afternoon, sandwiching non-stop cricket activity between this game and his second team game yesterday. I guess I better dish up some sponsorship money for him. It's very well deserved.

So today's blip is dedicated to Wendi and Roam, who surely were the life and soul of the party that was the crickathon this morning. There were lots of others that were involved but most seemed to be comatose by the time that I turned up. Well done to you all.