Desperate in December

[Sweder]

I find hedgrow birds amongst the fiercest critics of my running 'style'. British Magpies are noisy blighters but it's the Rooks that know how to mock, cackling raucously atop the fenceposts as I lumber by. Happily my hounds give them the charge; this usually cuts their Boucher-esque chirping short.

Sitting up to monitor Phoebe's BGs last night I caught the last session of yesterday's Boxing Day Test Match from the MCG. Aussie looked pretty good, although it's interesting to note how these tail-enders get the taste for time at the crease. Boycott reckons it's all the padding and protective gear aiding modern bravado. With your lot already 300+ to the good reckon you'll see a declaration by lunch. Jim Maxwell reckons you had 100,000 in the ground for the first 2 days; that's impressive. Looks like they'll be rewarded with a comfortable home win.

Our match is finely poised. England have a slender lead though with 5 back in the hutch our own long, flaccid tail is in the spotlight. Odds on the draw - Durban usually throws up a storm or two - but might yet eek out a result against the No.1 Test side in the world