N.W.8 and all that! or A shaggy dog story??

It may have come to your notice, it's certainly come to mine! My hours spent with the noble hound have, even for an aged chap, been times of learning. (Forget that blather about old dogs and new tricks)





Having ‘chewed the fat’ recently, with regard to the Tour de France – I could see Bing appeared somewhat troubled. I ventured to ask if there was any small snack he fancied (this always brings good cheer) but he smiled wistfully and asked when the 2nd Test match with Australia would be taking place?

By now of course, you'll be well aware that he and I are somewhat keen on following tele-visual sports via the magic box.  We have been accused (in some female quarters) of being ‘couch bananas’ - the lad not recognizing that potatoes are the same thing as crisps!

Frankly, even I'm a little miffed at this accusation, but the quiet dignity with which my pal accepts such slanders, means, I choose not to rise to the bait…or from the couch!

I sensed that Bing was about to proffer some previously unknown nuggets of knowledge, so I settled and was soon rewarded.

‘Cricket is and was invented by dogs don’t you know.’

Well I was amazed, in fact my ‘am’ had never been so ‘mazed!’

‘Oh yes.’ He settled his chin on my knee and gazed up at me. 

‘You seem a tad incredulous?’

‘Well….um….er…..'





‘Listen old puffer.  Where do dogs most like to go for walks?’

‘Well…um….

‘Somewhere trees abound!’

‘Ah yes, of course.'

‘These are called?’

‘Forests!’ I blurted out

‘And?’

‘Well….um….er…..

‘Okay, where is the home of Cricket?’

‘Oh, Lords Cricket ground’

‘Correct….which is where?’

‘North West 8’

‘Which is?????’

‘St John’s W……….(the penny or cent, dropped!)

‘Yes The famous Wood of St John, a sleeker version of the St Bernard!'

‘Ah.’ (I couldn’t think of anything else to say.)

‘Ah indeed aged codger. It was in the parkland adjacent to the wood, that Augustus St John came up with the idea of Cricket, or as we dogs prefer Crackit! - The art guv, of whacking a ‘real' tennis ball (with or without squeaker) was achieved by very few dogs, but fielding of course rapidly became the speciality for many of us.'

'I see.'

'Augustus' guvnor, who happened to be the Landlord of the "Taverners" next to the parkland, was quickily employed as "Chef de Thwacking" and within a few days, a committee formed, and the rules agreed.

'Good heavens!'

'Crowds would come from far and wide to see the games played.'

'Really?'

'Sadly within a short while "Man" decided to adopt the game for their own uses, the bat invented, and thus "Cricket." Those who stuck with a ball and stick called it "Rounders" and the Yankies "Baseball" but it’s "Crackit" that spawned 'em all.’

I was on the point of venturing a question or two....but the boy Bing was off into the garden, a sunny patch beckoned along with a favourite 'squeaker!'






A short while later, I was strirred from a gentle slumber by the prod of a certain chaps hooter.

'Any chance of a snack guv?'

As we wandered to the kitchen, I started to wonder if I'd imagined the whole thing..........