You really would have thought that there must be creatures on other planets who are kind and pleasant and fond of a game of cricket, or whatever the equivalent is wherever they come from. But alas, all they want to do is take over the world - I wonder if Napoleon came from Mars or some other planet far across the Milky Way?"
Actually, I distinctly remember that one of Douglas Adams' books featured aliens (and their human friends, perhaps) visiting a game of cricket. There was a spaceship hidden by a SEP (Somebody Else's Problem) invisibility field. And perhaps the aliens made off with the wicket. It's been a long time so the details are fuzzy, but at least I'm pretty sure they weren't trying to take over the world at the time.
If you haven't, you should - Hitchhiker's is the best. I think it was also one of my first literary exposures to cricket, which sounded utterly mystifying. Ah, here it is, I looked it up:
Of all the races in the Galaxy, only the English could possibly revive the memory of the most horrific wars ever to sunder the Universe and transform it into into what I'm afraid is generally regarded as an incomprehensibly dull and pointless game. Douglas Adams, Life the Universe and Everything (1982).
And Bill Bryson furthered my incomprehension: It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavours look interesting and lively; that was merely an unintended side effect. I don't wish to denigrate a sport that is enjoyed by millions, some of them awake and facing the right way, but it is an odd game. Bill Bryson, Down Under (2000)Hee hee
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What are you on, and send me some - PLEASE!
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What am I on? No bloody idea. All genetic - was born like this and middle daughter is just as nutty. You can has my DNA?
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Shifting Sands is the first film that Jamie made, when he was still up at Cambridge, Features his first kiss, too - see icon.
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That's right. *grin* Mmm, pretty. *stares at your icon*
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You would faint if you met Horatio in his Danny specs. Archie nearly had to have sal volatile administered.
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from. But alas, all they want to do is take over the world - I wonder if Napoleon came from Mars or some other planet far across the Milky Way?"
Actually, I distinctly remember that one of Douglas Adams' books featured aliens (and their human friends, perhaps) visiting a game of cricket. There was a spaceship hidden by a SEP (Somebody Else's Problem) invisibility field. And perhaps the aliens made off with the wicket. It's been a long time so the details are fuzzy, but at least I'm pretty sure they weren't trying to take over the world at the time.
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Of all the races in the Galaxy, only the English could possibly revive the memory of the most horrific wars ever to sunder the Universe and transform it into into what I'm afraid is generally regarded as an incomprehensibly dull and pointless game.
Douglas Adams, Life the Universe and Everything (1982).
And Bill Bryson furthered my incomprehension:
It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavours look interesting and lively; that was merely an unintended side effect. I don't wish to denigrate a sport that is enjoyed by millions, some of them awake and facing the right way, but it is an odd game.
Bill Bryson, Down Under (2000)Hee hee ( ... )
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Cricket is an extraordinarily exciting game, even when it goes on for five days without a winner. Not as exciting as rugby, though.
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