February 24
Wellington
Jane went to work and I set off on foot into a grey but very slightly sunny morning to walk to the Basin Reserve, a couple of kilometres away. The morning traffic was very busy but it didn’t slow my walking speed.When I arrived, the crowd was gathering and I joined a long queue to order and then receive a coffee. Unusually for a sports ground, this was cheaper than it would have been in the real world, only $4.I found a spot on the grass embankment, not too damp surprisingly, and awaited the start of play in increasingly sunny weather. On a bright green pitch, New Zealand started with a bang and took three wickets in half an hour.There was then a hiatus when a passing fire engine (three of them actually) made me suspect that I hadn't turned off the electric heater in the house. It took me an hour, a couple of buses and some walking to confirm that I hadn't and I unplugged it.
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I watched a little more play, walked ten minutes down the road at lunchtime, found some lunch at a Greek stall and then returned to the ground. I settled down on a bench on the opposite side of the ground and enjoyed the afternoon's play.
The sun came and went, went and came again. My various layers also came and went. Most importantly, it remained dry and England staged a major recovery.
Just before 17.00, Root completed his century, the rain started and I had to leave in order to meet Jane & Robert in a Vietnamese restaurant for dinner. A bus then took us to the Botanic Gardens for the laughably named "Summer Shakespeare."
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It was distinctly chilly (bl***y freezing) but The Tempest was entertaining. I find it a rather confusing play but it seemed to be well done. Yet again, the rain stayed away from that part of Wellington. A couple of buses took us home and we indulged in cheese and wine until midnight.