After last week's blog about my treatment at the hands of Lancashire's heavy-handed stewards I received a visit from two of the club's directors.
Lee Morgan and Geoff Durbin came over to see me and both are terrific blokes. As they said, this is a very exciting time for the club with the ground development and the way the team is playing. The last thing they wanted was something like that to happen.
Dhoni: has led India admirably
I've heard nothing from them since and I won't say it's finished with, but I'm hopeful it will sort itself out at some stage.
I have to say, although the security staff were heavy-handed as they removed me from the member's bar, they were acting on instruction - and those instructions came from stadium control, which is Lancashire Cricket Club.
Going to cricket - or any sporting occasion for that matter - has to be a pleasurable experience. It shouldn't be an ordeal of what you can and can't do.
Bumble
Quotes of the week
England v India, 3rd ODI
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My accreditation covered me, but that's neither here nor there. I was treated like a looter who was going to nick the telly.
It's by far the worst cricket ground we go to, which is a shame at a time when the club is so vibrant. Places like Trent Bridge and Edgbaston are excellent, but there is such an aggressive attitude at Old Trafford.
I received an email from a chap called Dougie Nattan, who says his girlfriend's perfume was confiscated on the way into the ground, which is absolutely ludicrous. His girlfriend says she will never go there again and that proves this situation needs to be sorted out.
The bottom line is this: going to cricket - or any sporting occasion for that matter - has to be a pleasurable experience. It shouldn't be an ordeal of what you can and can't do.
Final word though goes to David Knowles, who emailed in with his idea for a new Half Man Half Biscuit song:
"I manhandled Bumble in the Members Area".
The late show
There were more farcical events on Tuesday as the second ODI finished at 11pm. That's no time to be playing cricket.
How on earth are you supposed to get home? Are we to assume that everybody lives just outside the Rose Bowl? Even 8pm football matches are over before 10pm.
I wasn't doing the game (rested for strength and conditioning purposes), but it sounds like I was lucky. I've spoken to cameramen and journalists who were trying to get back to their cars on a golf course in the middle of the night. They said the mud was like Glastonbury Festival and their shoes are all ruined!
That's just comical. The last time I was at the Rose Bowl I needed wellington boots to get to my car, but it seems the British public love a bit of adversity. The punters all trek into the ground in the rain, covered in mud, smiling and singing songs. We're extending Glastonbury into cricket!
I enjoyed the game at home as England were dominant once again. India have had a disaster, but I must say I have total admiration for MS Dhoni.
He's the leader and he must be reflecting on the fact that so many of his men have deserted him. His hands are really sore, but he's stayed around while other have found it too easy to go home.
Maybe it's time for a change. They've been found wanting as a bowling unit, but the younger boys like Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane have played pretty well with the bat. That will give him food for thought.
I don't know Dhoni personally, but I have total admiration for him. He'll be hurting after what's happened.
Managing me
I'm pleased to say I've signed up to a new management company, ISM, who are now going to organise my chaotic life for me.
I'm excited to be working with Neil Fairbrother and the boss, Chubby Chandler, is a lovely man too. Michael Vaughan is with them as well.
They've got loads of the top golfers on their books like Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy... so I can only assume I'll be playing at the Masters next year.
Shopping shenanigans
Finally, I must share the "senior moment" I had at Waitrose this week.
I left the shop with two bags of shopping, put them down outside my car and then got in the car and drove off without them.
My house is only about 700 yards away and when I realised what I'd done I went straight back. Another guy had parked up in my spot, but he hadn't seen my bags.
So I went into the supermarket and told them what I'd done. "Have you got proof of purchase sir?" No, the receipt was in the bag...
Thankfully they had CCTV, which showed exactly what had happened. A lady picked up my shopping, brought it into the shop and walked up to customer services.
She then thought better of it, turned around and put my shopping in her car!
She then went back into the shop and did her own shopping. The CCTV shows we actually passed each other as she went out and I went back in!
It's a police matter now and we have a clear picture of her, but I'm sure this nice lady plans to return it to me.
I'd like to thank her for looking after my shopping in the meantime, though the lettuce might be in a bad way by the time I get it back...
Comments (12)
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Mike Christie says...
i agree come back bumble,love your commentry on the cricket, good insight to what is going on with the trickey umpire decisions and good fun chit chat, oh my start the car!!!
Posted 00:34 8th September 2011
Sue Thomas says...
I agree with all of the above - especially about missing you on twitter; it's the reason I joined in the first place! Cone back, please.
Posted 23:27 7th September 2011
Chris Pledge says...
With any luck that woman will have the lawn mower you had nicked a while back Bumble! Come back to Twitter, we miss your antics...
Posted 18:00 7th September 2011
Karen Crook says...
Priceless story about the shopping, have read the blog about 5 times now and it seems to get funnier each time, classic Bumble. Miss your comments on Twitter
Posted 17:32 7th September 2011
Brian Read says...
I could not agree more about the farce at the Rosebowl. After paying £60 each for a ticket it took me four hours to reach the ground and after four hours in the rain I called it a day. And I'm glad I did. The ECB should treat the paying public with more respect. A midweek game that doesn't finish until eleven is ridiculous. I also heard that it also took some hours to get a bus out of the ground and that this is a common problem there that was known about before the game. I have watched cricket around the world and will NOT be returning to the Rosebowl and maybe not to another ECB game, which is a shame. On a brighter note, I always look foreward to a Bumble Blog and think you really should give Twitter another go!
Posted 17:29 7th September 2011
Brian Read says...
I couldn't agree more about the farce at the Rosebowl. I had 4 hours travel to get there, sat in the rain for four hours before I called it a day and after hearing how hard it was to get out of the ground I'm glad I did. A midweek game not finishing until 11 and the ECB knowing about the transport chaos I think when the public pay £60 to see a game they should be treated to more respect! I have watched cricket all around the world but sadly will NOT be returning to the Rosebowl. ps. Look foreward to the Bumble blog, come on back to twitter.
Posted 17:23 7th September 2011
Martin Gibbons says...
Bumble, you were head hunted by chubby Chandler when he saw you whack murali for 2 sixes!!! When I watch sky sports news sponsored by auto windscreens I think they should just show that six with their jingle over the top!
Posted 16:56 7th September 2011
Peter Holland says...
Bumble - the 'Bumblemaster of Bumblers! Love your laconic commentary and blogs - but you make me homesick for lancashire!!
Posted 16:55 7th September 2011
Jonathan Kaye says...
Hear, hear, my Twitter feed is the poorer for the lack of your humour. Block the haters and the keyboard warriors, the same way Aggers does; the rest of us will appreciate it if you do return!
Posted 15:49 7th September 2011
David Ogg says...
David - I share your admiration for MS Dhoni. He has been magnificent this summer on and off the field in total adversity. I wish him a ton at Lords!
Posted 15:44 7th September 2011
Alfred Today says...
Bumble perhaps you can get your 'Management' company to do your shopping for you from now on? Is Mad George your personal security?
Posted 15:12 7th September 2011
Neil Harris says...
Bumble, I'm sorry you've been a victim of a shocking crime. But 700 yards away, you should be walking it!!! Come back to Twitter, these are the tales we miss. Forget the cricket chat.
Posted 14:11 7th September 2011
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