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I'd like to tell a little story of how my afternoon went today. It all began in Vinoř and well ended there too, but it was one hell of a journey.
For years we've had a broken diesel roller sat at the ground, the ultimate frustration as we've not been able to use it. 1/14
For years we've had a broken diesel roller sat at the ground, the ultimate frustration as we've not been able to use it. 1/14
I've wanted for years to get it fixed and so Renča and I organised for a truck to come and collect it today. We had to do it in the snow, so as to not damage the grass and so that we can get it fixed in time to use pre-season. Here it is and getting ready to lift. 2/14
But the first problem emerged. It's been sat there so long and the ground has become so frozen that it was quite literally stuck to the ground. The arm tried for an age to get it to budge, but it wouldn't. It seemed that all hope was lost... 3/14
...but then with an almighty thump and a very worrying crack, it was up. The driving arm had bent/cracked, be we were airborne! But due to the arm we had a big issue, we couldn't lower it on to the truck. Hmm... 4/14
Don't tell Renča (she'll kill me), but I had to get on the back of the truck and with all my strength lift the arm as my partner in crime lowered it. The arm is designed to spin to steer & with my using all my strength I couldn't control it easily, so twice we had to abort. 5/14
However on the third attempt, I managed to keep it straight enough for us to go down completely and we had the roller on the back of the truck. I can hear you celebrating, but thinking this isn't much of a story. This is merely the end of our first chapter. 6/14
With the additional weight & the time taken to load up, the truck had sunk into the older, firmer snow (ice) and yep, was completely stuck. We tried chains, planks & transferring the centre of gravity more over the back wheels, but nothing worked. I thought this was the end. 7/14
My new friend Petr had other ideas: we needed a tractor. We knew there was a farming place nearby, so decided we'd check it out. It's just under a km away, but bear in mind 2 things: there was about 15cm of snow & I've not done anything for 3 months because of my achilles. 8/14
I was knackered, but we had a job to do. We searched all the buildings and no-one was there. We went around the fence to the skip at the back to see if they had a tractor, but nothing. We were on our way back, dejected, when a car pulled in and Petr ran after it whistling. 9/14
Moments later he came back smiling - he had convinced the guy to bring something (at this point I had no idea what) and would help. BUT we had to walk back. Bloody hell. OK. BUT we must hurry as he doesn't have much time. Bagr me (Czech joke). We just about made it 10/14
Hooked up, we were moving! Though the guys weren't exactly experts in towing. Shortly after this video the chain broke and they were having a bit of trouble hooking back up again. 11/14
Pat a Mat pulled through and a few moments later they were back moving - this time considerably slower. You can just about make out the netting which is on the southern side of the Banks Field. 12/14
Despite a bit of slide en route, the truck made it back down the path and safely on to the road that took it to Hugo's for repair. The sense of exhausted relief I was feeling by this point was amazing. 13/14
Having arrived at Hugo's, I gave him the honour of winding the roller to its final destination for repair. It was the end of a monster arvo, but we managed. Already can't wait to get it back to get the fields & pitches ready for @CzechCricket & @AkademieKriketu #Kriket 14/14
