Christmas message 2024

I am delighted to see more and more of my friends and contemporaries saying this year that they have either just retired or intend to do so next year. Well done to them - you won't be sorry!

As you know, I like to keep active, so my shoulder injury that resulted from a skiing accident in 2023 has taken the edge off my enjoyment of playing sport this year. The NHS surgeons and physio did a very good job in getting me somewhere near normal, but now it's up to me to motivate myself to work on restoring my lost strength, and self-motivation has never been my strong point! The loss of public access to our favourite local swimming pool hasn't helped either.

Just before a short trip to Spain in February, I slipped walking down my stairs at home and landed on my back, which was painful, but thankfully the only damage was to soft tissues. I went on the trip anyway, which became known as "The Pain in Spain". With help from my dear physiotherapist friend recommending suitable mobility exercises, I did manage to get on a bike for the last few days of the week.

There was a total solar eclipse in April this year, with the line of totality passing directly over my friend's house on the outskirts of Dallas, so three of us took the opportunity for a trip to Texas, culminating in some spectacular astronomy viewed from my friend's garden. Here's me settling in for the big event:

And the TV people could take a far better photo of the moon totally covering the sun than I could possibly have managed:

My old team invited me to play a couple of games this year, which I enjoyed, and it was great to see the lads again, but I wasn't needed to wield my bat, as we won both games comfortably.

In terms of watching professionals play, a small group of us went to Lord's, the home of cricket, to watch day 1 of the men's test between England and Sri Lanka at the end of August. It's a pilgrimage that every cricket fan should make: so much history to take in. We had a great day.

Our group plays beach tennis once a week (weather permitting); it's good fun and easy to pick up. I also play proper tennis once a week in Poole Park with a mate.

One of my cousins sadly passed away this year, and I have dedicated my new mountain bike to his memory, so I'll be thinking of him as I'm conquering the mountains of Dorset. I'm lucky to have some friends that are also keen on cycling, and we go out once a week or so. I am putting off for as long as I can the cop-out of obtaining an e-bike.

I did manage some social beach volleyball in the summer, but I struggled a little, so I'm not sure how many more years of this I have left in me; it's a young athletic person's game really.

When I was 40, I said I would take up bowls at 50. When I was 50, I said I'd take it up at 60. I did try to take it up this year, but the bowls club that was recommended to me didn't answer my enquiry. I guess it's not destined to happen.

It's not really a sport, but I've started playing bridge socially on Wednesday afternoons at a club. I don't normally like playing in clubs as I usually find people take it too seriously to be enjoyable, but this session is aimed at casual and new players, and I like going along and meeting new people, oll of a "certain age".

I still volunteer as a first aider for St John Ambulance, but we're going through major changes at the moment and I'm not finding it as fulfilling as I used to. The good news is that I plan to step back from my management role as part of the reorganisation, and I also plan to lead fewer of our large events, as I have a keen protégé who wants to take over from me, allowing me to return to the ranks where I'm happiest.

Back despite popular demand, once again this year you are invited to try my quiz. Click or tap on what you think is the right answer to each question. Only your first answer for each question will be scored.

Your score: 0 / 0

1. How did I describe the increasingly-popular game of Pickleball when I first tried it?
   1. A game that came out of a Christmas Cracker Correct - mainly because the ball is cheap and plastic.
   2. Tennis for geriatrics No, but I did hear someone else describe it as this.
2. Who is the Olympic road race cycle champion whose favourite chair I sat in when he stopped for cake in his favourite café in Spain?
   1. Remco Evenepoel Correct - he's from Belgium but trains in Spain in the winter.
   2. Sir Mark Cavendish No: I would have recognised him!
3. I was also due to watch another day of test cricket at Lord's v the West Indies in July, but why did I not see it?
   1. I overslept and missed my train up from Poole No, that would have been a cardinal sin!
   2. We had tickets for day 4, but England won the match inside 3 days Correct: hooray for Bazball!
4. YouTube charged my card for what was supposed to be a month's free trial of videos without adverts. How did I get a refund?
   1. By following the simple instructions on their website Nope.
   2. By sending them the evidence to an email address that I eventually discovered somewhere in their site No, that didn't work either. If anyone has had any success with this, please do let me know!