The strange things you find whilst packing...
I have here in front of me a copy of Tom Smith's New Cricket Umpiring and Scoring - The internationally recognised guide to the interpretation and application of the laws of cricket. With an introduction by Richie Benaud and including the 2003 changed to the 2000 Code of the Laws of Cricket.
Why?
Well, way back when I first arrived here, when the Icelandic economy was in full flood and when we were going to build a strong, research-rich computer science department in Akureyri, our Dean had this wonderful idea to build a university cricket team. With the help of my Indian colleague, he felt that they could train sports-mad Icelanders in the appropriate application of willow to leather with the intention of challenging the other Icelandic universities and setting up a Real Inter-university Sporting Competition (such things do not exist in Iceland).
All they needed was someone who was willing to be the umpire.
Now my knowledge of cricket goes about as far as knowing what the Ashes are, that the Roses matches should always be won by Lancashire, that Freuchie is (was?) the only Scottish team to win at Lords and that Test Match Special is a marvellous programme full of civilised chaps having a jolly good chinwag punctuated by cake and the occasional sporting action.
Sadly everything fell apart shortly afterwards, but not before I'd bought (and even started reading) the umpiring manual. Once it did, of course, I didn't bother continuing.
So... would anyone like this book? If so then I'll pack it in the 'books returning' box, otherwise it'll go to the local Red Cross to confuse the locals.
(X-posted to Facebook.)
Why?
Well, way back when I first arrived here, when the Icelandic economy was in full flood and when we were going to build a strong, research-rich computer science department in Akureyri, our Dean had this wonderful idea to build a university cricket team. With the help of my Indian colleague, he felt that they could train sports-mad Icelanders in the appropriate application of willow to leather with the intention of challenging the other Icelandic universities and setting up a Real Inter-university Sporting Competition (such things do not exist in Iceland).
All they needed was someone who was willing to be the umpire.
Now my knowledge of cricket goes about as far as knowing what the Ashes are, that the Roses matches should always be won by Lancashire, that Freuchie is (was?) the only Scottish team to win at Lords and that Test Match Special is a marvellous programme full of civilised chaps having a jolly good chinwag punctuated by cake and the occasional sporting action.
Sadly everything fell apart shortly afterwards, but not before I'd bought (and even started reading) the umpiring manual. Once it did, of course, I didn't bother continuing.
So... would anyone like this book? If so then I'll pack it in the 'books returning' box, otherwise it'll go to the local Red Cross to confuse the locals.
(X-posted to Facebook.)