Carnage in prospect

Cypriot red wine is fine for quaffing as long as you ensure your taste buds are completely stunned by the first mouthful. I had discovered that the first evening here in Limossol for the Sussex Seniors cricket tour to Cyprus, so that was the excuse for ordering more last night. As they were still not functioning as we went to dinner, I managed to drink even more of it than I had the night before but this time I avoided the brandy. Cypriot Merlot is not a product I would happily endorse.

It was an entertaining evening, (well, after I had droned on about the benefits of opening an account with Currencies Direct to the assembled multitude) or it was from what I can remember. The Alzheimer’s is catching… Sorry I cannot remember what I was doing to say. Actually I think the Cypriot red has some amnesic qualities. It has to have something to recommend it.

Earlier I had gone for a very pleasing and long brisk walk along the coast in sunshine and very pleasant temperatures, but finding myself thirsty on the way back, and the sun being close to the yardarm, I did stop in an attractive beach bar/restaurant to partake of a couple of beers whilst sitting beside the ocean with the sound of the waves breaking on the beach. It was on the way back that I took this picture.

Doggy sandcastles

All was quiet and peaceful at first until when going to relieve myself of the second beer, I became aware of some noise and laughter in the interior of the bar. It was a coterie of Sussex Seniors doing the same as I. Preparing for the first cricket match today. I was invited to join them. They do say that preparation is everything. This preparation involved lunch, beer and a few glasses of wine. Tactics were discussed and it appears that whoever wins the toss, the opposition bats first. When I asked why that was, I was told that the local league side whom we are pitted against today, Mouflon, are all fit youngsters who can play and that Sussex Seniors always get thrashed. Now I had assumed that we were going to play against chaps of our own age. So they bat first and get 300 and then we bat and see how close we can get. I said that if that was the case I am glad I am not playing until the Sunday, but was told that in the next match we were playing an army team that regularly beat Mouflons. It seems we are all in for a lot of ball chasing and then being pinged by youngsters who can play over the next few days

Because we are seen as an international team, and the word Sussex implies that we are a county team, our opponents take the game very seriously and no quarter is given for our ages, many of whom are older than me. The word carnage springs to mind. Initially I thought I would have liked to play in both games before I leave on Monday evening, but now I am happy that I will only be subject to one runaround.

It will also be the first time I have been required to take a passport with me to a cricket match. I am going to watch the game today (I am being held back to make my debut tomorrow) which I think is being staged in Nicosia. There is some issue between the Greeks and the Turks in Cyprus which requires the presence of the United Nations and the British Army and it appears there are various checkpoints to be negotiated and the pitch is in an army base. Very relaxing then.

Chris France

@Valbonne_News