Tuesday 30 December 2014

Tuesday 30th December



The sun makes the Rec look beautiful today, but with the temperature at just 1oC there is little that can be done at the moment. The picture shows some of the tracks caused when vehicles were taken onto the field for the firework display. These tracks will need repairing before the start of the season, as will the more extensive damage next to the square and in our 'covers' by the railway line.

With repair work in mind I have ordered 2 tons of topsoil from Inturf. The Rec pays for 10 tons of topsoil a year mainly to repair damage to the field after the football season.  I thought that Inturf would use a lifting device on the back of their lorry to carefully lower the bags where we wanted them. Unfortunately they came on the back of a small truck with the only way of getting them off being to tip them off. Consequently they ended upside down! Just another little job to shovel it into bags the right way up. Hopefully the Tuesday Group will help. The topsoil came from Grantham and is good stuff (£48 a bag!).


Monday 29 December 2014

Monday 29th December

This is my first blog. I hope that you enjoy reading what happens in the life of a cricket groundsman and if you are a groundsman yourself, you will probably share some of the highs and lows with me.

With Christmas over my thoughts now turn to the year ahead. 

It is time to get the servicing of the machines organised. For a number of years we have used Kevin who runs 'Garden and Estate Machinery Services'. Kevin lives in the village and always responds quickly to my numerous requests for help when our ageing machines break down, often at the most inconvenient of times. I will email him later to ask him to service our Ransomes Marquis, the Ransomes Highway and the roller.

I will also contact Simon at STS who has the contract with the Rec for the upkeeping of the grass with the exception of the cricket square. I need his budget proposal for the forthcoming year which I can put forward at the next Rec Committee Meeting at the end of January.