How much can happen in two weeks?

Aside from the Northants suffering from ‘sour grapes’ duly outlined in my other blog titled ‘Sour Grapes’. (The accolades have been pouring in since I arrived at the title), the last two weeks have been a whirlwind…

The blasted hole in my kitchen ceiling/bathroom floor has eventually been fixed. The insurance people have eventually seen the light and realised that millions of people pay their premiums for an actual service, and not simply to line the pockets of large companies even more. It took a while, but once I explained to the lovely lady on the phone in outer-Mongolia how the business model for insurance companies worked, they realised it was not the ultimate ‘money for old rope’ scenario they had hoped for, and duly sent me a cheque.

Whilst I’m ranting…, why is it that when you order something through the internet, that could be located anywhere in the world, it is able to be delivered ‘next day’? However, when I speak to my mortgage company whose national HQ is approximately 1.5 miles away, I get the response “I’ll put that in business post to you right away Mr Wigley and it should be with you within the next 7-10 working days?” Everyone can work out that 10 working days is actually 2 weeks.

Alongside my house being made habitable for my lodger, and squatting with my girlfriend’s family, (squatting is a huge disservice – we were treated like royalty!) two other major things were happening.

Firstly, my aforementioned girlfriend became my fiancé. Naturally, we had to fit in at least two celebratory gatherings within a week. The first at the local pub, and the second when my parents were able to come and join us. This more than made up for the fact that I would be missing the regulation month of ‘letting oneself go’ and golf, post-season.

It was a win-win situation really. The reason I miss the period this year is to embark on my off-season trip to Auckland, NZ. Hardly a chore. This was the second major thing to happen – packing to go.

What a stress. The engagement was a much welcome distraction from packing and decorating. Although it did not remove the fact that both other things had to be completed by the weekend.

We were both very organised in packing really. We had to be because the night before we left was the End of Season Dinner at Northants. It was a good opportunity to say our goodbyes to a few people who we will not see next season. Most notably, our strength and conditioning coach, Ross Dewar and his fiancé. Ross has taken up the same post at my former club, Worcestershire. He will love it there. It’s a great place to live and bring up a family, should that be his next step after marriage!

I always like to get to the airport very early. Partly because I absolutely loathe queuing but mainly because I really really need to get a seat with extra leg-room. This mission was accomplished. What is does mean is that you get 3-4 hours in duty-free with no intention of buying anything. During this time we had a loooooong breakfast whilst taking it in shifts to wonder round the shops and leaving the other person to guard the ridiculously heavy hand-luggage, made heavier when my other half decided to buy every bottle of water that Boots had in stock.

I am now on the plane, with a couple of agonising hours before we land in Bangkok for a three-day stop-over, safe in the knowledge that if we have forgotten anything major, there is little point worrying because it is nigh-on impossible to get hold of it now anyway.

I look forward to updating you with news from my season and trip generally, in Auckland.