Barbados Diary

giddyup

It's 9.15 pm here so I'm trying to extend my Irish day so I can keep up the pace for the few days I'm here. Had to overnight in Gatwick on the way so it was a long slog to get here but worth it as soon as I got the sweaty jocks off on arrival and headed straight for the beach across the road from the hotel. I'm joined by Da Giddy here and he's not even a sports buff let alone a cricket fan so I'm looking forward to spending the day explaining the basics to him over a few beers.

We've put away a few rum punches and I've already made a dent in the crate of Banks (which is good stuff at around 1.25 yo yos a bottle).

Not many Irish around where we are although there was a smattering on the plane. Andrew Symonds passed us by as we were eating dinner but by the time I realised it was him and the mouthful of nachos was gone it was too late to shout vague threats at him. He has a fit bird though!

If there are any other boardsies around let me know where you are and maybe we can hook up for a banks or 2.

Over and out!

DMC

giddyup wrote:

as soon as I got the sweaty jocks off on arrival and ...

Arrrgh!!!

Rum, seasides swims and Andrew Symond's breadknife are all well and good, but I was eating a sandwich, dammit!!

Noooo........

Enjoy the trip!

KevIRL

Nice way to start work on a Friday morning, reading this!

Would love to be out there. But good to see more boardies have made it out. Keep us updated with regular updates

giddyup

Well that was a kick in the nuts after coming all this way but I'm nothing if not a realist and I was prepared for a potential hammering. When they won the toss and put us in the thought did cross my mind that we would be lunching back at the hotel. Anyway the match is being pondered in another thread. The oval looks great, there was a big crowd at the game, the organization was great - loads of local in bright orange shirts wishing us luck and telling us where to go.

giddyup

...got cut off there..

anyway - not too many Irish around unfortunately - not sure if that came across on tv. Lots of aussies and neutrals. Good craic at the game. Was over at the party stand and there was some great banter. Got a photo of McGrath on the boundary beside us and my shout of 'you could have played for Ireland McGrath' went down well with the aussies around me.

Upside of a quick game - time for a dip in the sea.

Roll on Sunday!

giddyup

Last bump for this thread. Back home since yesterday. What a trip. The Bangladesh game is a sporting memory I'll have for a long time. The Da is now a convert. I say it time and time again but you have to experience it yourself to fully understand that there are few better ways to spend a day than a day at the cricket when the company is good, the sun is shining, the beer is cheap and cricket is competitive.

Most people on this forum will know what it's like to have a conversation about cricket in Ireland. Generally people think you are a little unhinged. In the Caribbean everyone you meet wants to talk cricket. Roll on 2011.

Here's a few quick pics if you are interested:

http://www.jpegr.com/uploads/2/crick1.JPG [the view from the boundary]
http://www.jpegr.com/uploads/2/crick2.jpg [me and the Da after the Banga game]
http://www.jpegr.com/uploads/2/crick3.jpg [Banga victory lap]
http://www.jpegr.com/uploads/2/crick4.jpg [me and DLS]
http://www.jpegr.com/uploads/1/crick5.jpg [had to inlcude a pic of the beach bedisde our hotel just to rub it in a little!]

TrueDub

giddyup wrote:

http://www.jpegr.com/uploads/2/crick4.jpg [me and DLS]

Did you mug the poor bloke to take this one? He looks terrified!

giddyup

TrueDub wrote:

Did you mug the poor bloke to take this one? He looks terrified!

heh heh...no he was cool - he wanted to see the photo and when he saw we were only half headed he wanted me to take it again but I told him to get on with his celebrations.