April 18 – Cricket!!

I met Louise and John at a party in Santa Cruz New Year’s Day 2025, and we quickly bonded over this and that. My trip to London was long-planned, but as it was apparent I’d have more days than I expected, they planned to take me to The Cricket! They explained it much better than this:

Cricket Explained to a Foreigner

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.
Each man that’s in the side that’s in the field goes out and when he’s out comes in and the next man goes in until he’s out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.
When they are all out, the side that’s out comes in and the side that’s been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.
Sometimes there are men still in and not out.
There are men called umpires who stay out all the time, and they decide when the men who are in are out.
Depending on the weather and the light, the umpires can also send everybody in, no matter whether they’re in or out.
When both sides have been in and all the men are out (including those who are not out), then the game is finished.

Love the space-age media center. No idea what’s going on.

My spirit guides, John and Louise, explained it all very patiently, and as the action unfurled, I could sort of understand! Everyone seemed to cheer for everyone, which is, as they say, cricket.

Men with ball and bats, it was fascinating! The source of the term “sticky wicket” was explained to me. You can look it up yourself!

The Lords is a storied cricket ground, with very strict rules of attendance. Met have to wear jackets and ties/cravats. Women have to wear nice clothing (not dresses per se, but “smart casual”) and athletic shoes are discouraged but okay. I wore my little Taos ballet slippers and a jumper (no, not a sweater). I was able to walk from my digs through St. Johns Wood to the grounds.

I really enjoyed all of the art! These are my favorites.

Everyone hates this portrait. It was my favorite piece of cricket art!

Now for some food porn. I truly cannot remember what I had (hake, I think?), but it was just so good. Definitely one of the most skillfully and creatively plated meals I’ve ever experienced.

It was an incredible and fecking gorgeous luncheon. Or was it tea? At any rate, it was glorious, and such a kind treat.

Cricket women! The woman on the far right had actually walked Glyndwyr’s Way! She warned me it was harder than I thought it might be. She was right.

After I got home and settled in, I received a message from my friend Christine, letting me know she was too ill to travel to Paris. Very disappointing for so many reasons! I hadn’t had a lot of time to do much research, as I was planning on her vast knowledge and love of the city (plus her spoken French) to fill our days. I felt a bit at sea about it all, but also could not cancel.

So one more day in London, then off to Gay Paree!