Rain, rain go away

A frustrating day which started with a 7.30am departure to head north to Chail to play our second match at the world’s highest cricket ground. We set off in torrential rain and with little hope of playing … and with several of the group suffering from stomach upsets untouched by Imodium. Half an hour in and an in-bus rebellion broke out after news that the game was off, but a four-hour trip to go 100km was still expected. In true democratic style a vote (well, kind of) led to the bus turning around and us heading home amid the floods and general mayhem.

Opportunities of culture (boys) and shopping (girls) were spurned – giving an idea of how bad the deluge was – and we set up camp in the hotel. Eds C and Copey had a machismo showdown disguised as a race on running machines which was won by the (far) older man.

Drinks at 5pm soon turned into mutually assured destruction in which nobody escaped unharmed, although Hobbs and Rosenfeldt suffered more than most, with Tristian’s fine for a receding hairline possibly the harshest. From then on it was downhill, with the nadir reached when Copey took his trousers off while singing “Hero”.

At this point we need to mention the ladies, who have felt ignored by this blog, and for that we apologise. All have brought much to this tour. Alice has shown a devoted ability to shield the more delicate Gatesy at all costs, even going so far as drinking his fines for him, Osha has been the dark horse (and not long after was on one), quiet at first sight but an absolute demon when handing out fines and an admirable cheat at any game from snap to the quiz night. Anna has handled all thrown at her with skill and downed blue drinks like they were going out of fashion … and all three of them ignored the pleas of hotel security to mount a priceless bronze horse, thus showing they were every bit as irresponsible as the boys. And Osha, who seems to think this is BBC Radio 2 Family Favourites, says hello to Marilyn.

Dick of the Day Pete Hobbs. He had it coming to him. Feigned illness to miss the early start and our unexpected return found him in the restaurant eating breakfast. In the eving he was torpedoed by a heft fine and crashed and burned.