Author: Michael James

  • Week 132 – September 19th – The funeral

    Today was the day that the world saw the longest ever serving monarch reach her final destination after an incredible 70 years of service.

    The weather held for the day as she was taken from Westminster Hall to Westminster Cathedral for the service and then to Marble Arch by a carriage pulled by the Navy, where it was transferred to a funeral car for the journey to Windsor.

    Some of the roads they drove on, I was driving on them yesterday. Seemed surreal.

    There were crowds for the whole journey, just shows what England thought of her.

    Incredible day watching this event on the television.

    A few pictures I captured from the television.

    Funeral
    The Funeral possession up the Mall and pass Buckingham Palace

    Funeral
    Queen coffin going passed Buckingham Palace.

    Funeral
    The Buckingham Palace staff all outside to see the Queen pass by.
  • Week 131 – September 18th – Windsor Part 2

    Some more pictures from the visit to Windsor.

    Windsor
    Windsor castle from the high street.

    Thames
    Looking down the Thames at Windsor.

    Windsor
    Many swans on the Thames.
  • Week 131 – September 17th – Kent v Lancashire

    Kent 306 -6 of 50 overs (J Evison 97, O Robinson 43, J Denly 78, A Blake 38, D Stevens 33*, T Bailey 10-0-46-2, L Hurt 10-1-64-2) beat Lancashire 285 of 48.4 overs (K Jennings 72, S Croft 72, G Stewart 7-0-42-3, N Gilchrist 10-0-65-3, J Evison 6.4-0-34-2) by 21 runs

    Finally after all these years at the 8th attempt.

    Kent kept their cool with three superb match-winning catches as they beat Lancashire at Trent Bridge to win the One-Day Cup by 21 runs and claim their first List A trophy since 1978.

    Tom Bailey struck with only the fourth ball of the match when left-hander Ben Compton carved to gully – and Croft comfortably held onto to a catch above his head. But Kent rallied well, as Ollie Robinson came in to help Evison share a stand of 78.

    It was ended contentiously when Liam Hurt cut Robinson in two with a lifting ball that appeared to hit something as it made it through to wicketkeeper Lavelle, who snaked out an arm at full stretch to take a superb left-handed catch, but whether it was bat or pad was hard to tell.

    Either way, it mattered little as skipper Joe Denly came in to put together a stand of 133 with Evison in 20 overs.

    But Evison missed out on a ton when he was bowled by Danny Lamb, Hurt bowled Denly, Alex Blake holed out to a Rob Jones/Keaton Jennings relay catch at long on and Grant Stewart went in a run-out mix-up with Stevens.

    As they say, catches win matches and it was the fielding that was the big difference between the two teams.

    Two trophies in two seasons now. Well done Kent.

  • Week 131 – September 14th – Wrote a condolence message

    I went on the Royal website today, I had actually earlier in the week, (but didn’t know what to say), and this time I did.

    Still hard to believe that the Queen has passed away.

  • Week 131 – September 14th – Fraud

    I was sitting at the table and my phone pinged. It was an unusual phone number for a text message, so I blocked the number as the text was a bit suspicious.

    Then my phone pinged again and this was from Nat West, saying you will receive a text about activity on my credit card.

    Looked at the previous text that I blocked and could see a strange entry.

    So I replied and then contacted Nat West.

    I was very impressed as this was for a small amount but they still blocked it

    From speaking with the Nat West staff it was for some insurance setup, though the company didn’t exist.

    The only place I think they could have got my details from, was I had a failed online order the previous weekend.

    Very impressed.

  • Week 130 – September 8th – Browns

    We had booked to have a meal at Browns restaurant.

    Still went, but just surreal with the earlier news today.

    We drank a toast to the Queen.

    It was still a lovely meal and evening.

  • Week 130 – September 8th – Queen Elizabeth II

    We were walking around Bluewater, when Claire got a ping on her mobile.

    It was a breaking news that the Queen had passed away.

    Even though during the day, the family had been asked together, it didn’t seem real, as we only saw pictures of her two days before with the kissing of the hand duties for the new prime minister.

    Seventy years’ service, incredible.

    RIP

  • Week 130 – September 6th – KIA Oval ballot

    Entered the ticket ballot for the cricket next year at the Kia Oval.

    See if I’m lucky here.

  • Week 129 – September 4th – Biggin Hill

    Afterwards we went to café at Biggin Hill airport and had small bite to eat.

    Again able to capture the spitfire after it landed.

    Spitfire
    Spitfire just landing at Biggin Hill

    Spitfire
    Spitfire going back to the hanger.
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