The End of Summer

Get the full effect

First, to return to yesterday's Private View. A lot of you were clearly confused, and that was the intention of course. I too was very confused when I first saw those railings over 20 years ago. Without knowing anything about the history of the moor then, my first thought was that they must be there to prevent people falling (or jumping) off the crag. That seemed crazy, though, especially as there are far more accessible and vertiginous unprotected crags at the Cow and Calf. I soon came to find out that this area is fenced off because it is home to the Swastika Stone, the most famous and most intricately designed of all the Bronze Age cup and ring markings on Ilkley Moor. I still don't really see the need for the railings, but I guess it would be a brave bureaucrat who would now sanction their removal in this risk averse world. I guess they've also become a bit of a landmark in their own right now. I'm sure I'll get around to blipping the markings sometime soon.

Today was a big day for No.2 son. He was playing for the seconds against Colton with the winner of the game very likely to secure promotion to the second tier of the league. With the firsts having already secured promotion to the top division last week, it is really important that the seconds gain promotion too, otherwise the disparity in the quality of the cricket being experienced by the two teams might cause a few problems. The weather forecast last night was good, but come this morning it started to rain a bit and the revised forecast was now suggesting heavy rain during the afternoon. Colton is to the East of Leeds and offers the least attractive ride out of all the clubs in the league. It was for that reason that I missed No.1 son score his first century there 2 years ago. With that in mind, after some considerable prevarication, I set off on the bike, half expecting to get soaked on the ride and imagining myself sitting for hours in wet gear waiting for play to start!

Well, despite some very angry looking clouds, the promised rain never really materialised. And thank goodness. We bowled Colton out for 151 and although I missed a few wickets I was able to witness my youngest claim his best ever figures of 6-41, with five of those clean bowled. Today was a kind of coming of age for him, the first time he has bowled really well and also got fully rewarded for that effort - and on the big occasion too. I was so proud of him - so much so that as he led the team off the pitch I clean forgot to get the camera out and capture the moment. It would have made a great blip. Damn it!

There was still work to do at that point, but we duly got the runs we needed with the loss of only 3 wickets. The only worry was when some light rain did pass through, but it only caused a short stoppage. We now just need to claim a single point from the last game of the season to secure that coveted promotion slot. No.2 son wears his heart very much on his sleeve. He's not great to be around when things haven't gone well, but he's had this huge smile on his face all this evening. He is a very happy boy!

I avoided Leeds by taking a route that skirted the edge of the city, and found some rather nice freshly harvested fields. It would have been good to have some sun on those bales, or some dramatic clouds, but the heavily overcast sky did actually provide for an atmosphere which is quite fitting for the end of summer.