In normal times, summer in Duthie Park is heralded by the appearance of gentlemen dressed in white who take over a large area of the centre of the park on Saturday afternoons and indulge in a game known officially as 'cricket' and by some as 'organised loafing'.
In Aberdeen, we note that a disproportionate number of the players have brown skins and are apparently of South Asian heritage, and the fact that their cricket whites are often layered with fleece hoodies and even puffa jackets demonstrates how, in contrast to the Indian sub-continent, our chilly North Sea climate is not well suited to this slow-paced game.
Well anyway, due to Covid-19, these gentlemen have been absent this year, and so the outfield grass has not been mowed and the cricket pitch lies undisturbed.
But elsewhere in the park, the occasional gym refugee is still active on children's climbing frame.
Things here are far from back to normal yet.
we noticed that too... the soccer fields and the running area look like a jungle... ist has something from being lost somehow...
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been by school playgrounds. I wonder if ours look the same? I think the new normal will be something entirely different for quite awhile. Will we ever be able to store away our masks?!
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteIt's all a bit disconcerting, is it not Bertie lad? As for the West Coast climate... can't see the hills for fog at the moment and maybe resorting to putting the heating on again soon!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx (Who departs the Hutch tomorrow...sigh...)
Bertie you look quite handsome out standing in the not cricket field.
ReplyDeletePlaygrounds are not open here yet either nor are bars and gyms. The gym and owners have filed a suit against the State. You see
breweries, tasting rooms can be open but not bars. 'The powers that be' say breweries and tasting rooms don't draw the crowd of bars.
As for gyms they were supposed to be included int Phase 2 which started May 15 and they were prepared had their gyms all set up with proper distancing READY. However, w/o prior warning on May 15 the Gov said NOPE even after all the money they spent to get ready...which could have been used to pay rent...Oh well.
Hugs
Cecilia
It must be nice to have the park to yourself Bertie.
ReplyDeleteWe have a big soccer complex near us, with lots of fields for a bunch of kids teams to play. (You call it football, but a football field is TOTALLY different!) It's been really quiet too.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that things are not back to business as usual. The Cricket pitches here seem to be undergoing renovations because the football fields aren't being used. Love the poor cricketers wearing lots of extra layers!
ReplyDeleteWe sure hope that slowly but surely things get back to, or at the very least, close to our old normal.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
Interesting. People are able to play games like cricket in parks in groups of 5 but children aren't allowed on a play structure. We feel like people just make up rules.
ReplyDeleteMy father was a national team cricket player. I've got to admit that I've never understood the sport - and it is so SLOW! I am glad that you have the pitch to yourself, Bertie! Perhaps you don't want the players to come back and take over the pitch?
ReplyDeleteA national team cricket player? Impressive! And intriguing...
DeleteCricketers loss is a dog's gain
ReplyDeletePeople often play ultimate frisbee in our park, but the grass is so high that even pups are getting lost! But it still looks like a nice walk for you, Bertie!
ReplyDeleteKiki and Rosie