Wellington’s famous Basin Reserve cricket ground is right smack in the middle of my cycle commute.
It’s actually in the centre of a big traffic roundabout, and cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to walk through it, which is usually a lovely oasis of tranquility.
As I was biking home after work on Tuesday, I was making my way through the ground when I noticed some cricket players on the field, as well as a handful of spectators. Looking at the scoreboard I could see it was actually a first class cricket match between the Wellington Firebirds and the Auckland Aces. I continued on my way home but after a hundred metres or so I thought, why not go back and watch some of the game? So I parked my bike in the new bike racks and walked back in. It was great. It’s the only live cricket I’ve seen this summer, and I’d forgotten how much I enjoy being there. Auckland were batting first in a rain shortened one dayer, reduced to 31 overs a side. I watched the last third of their innings which took about an hour. I really haven’t been following domestic cricket this summer, and most of the players names were unfamiliar, apart from the odd former international player. It was still very good quality cricket though.
In the break between innings I got back on my bike and continued on my way home, through the middle of town on the flash new cycleway, and along the waterfront. It was a lovely evening and there were loads of people spending time down by the harbour. I had a big smile on my face by the time I got home.
I was at a flash work do on Saturday night, chatting with a colleague’s wife. They live with their family in Island Bay. I said how much I loved living there, how much I miss it and still dream about the house we lived in there. But now I’m thinking, when was the last time I had that dream? Yes, we were very happy there when the children were younger, but in spite of our enormously expensive retiling fiasco (still not over) with our current house, I love living where we are now, where the action is.