My Favourite Place in the World

In an attempt to cheer myself up from the trials and tribulations of the past week, I'm going to tell you about a place that makes me happy. Bedford Cricket Club.

For many, this small pavilion next to a church and it's outfields are the scene of a boring recreational sport but to me, this place holds some of the best memories I have. For the past ten years, I have called this place a second home, spending the majority of my summer weekends with some of the best people, enjoying what can be the most glorious of sports.

There are a few strands to this. Strand number one is the act of playing the game itself. For someone who overthinks everything in his life and struggles to concentrate on one thing at a time, the art of batting is one that helps focus the mind. Time spent at the crease helps me forget everything else that may be going on in my life at that moment as I concentrate solely on footwork, on hand eye co-ordination and on scoring runs for the team. There are few things as infuriating yet similarly glorious about batting. The game can make you look like a hero or a fool in the space of five minutes. Mostly though, for that period of time, my mind is nowhere else. In some ways, it gives my mind a break. Even when things don't go my way personally, I absolutely love seeing my friends get to personal milestones as I soak up the sun by the pavilion. I celebrated my good friend Dan's first 100 last season more than I celebrated my own! Likewise with Dom. They are both great people, as is everyone at the club, which makes it a real highlight of the summer. I generally have a problem with the word "banter", but true banter takes place here, as all of us lightly mickey take the others, knowing each others boundaries as to not over step the mark.

When I'm not batting, I'm out in the field, more often than not the leader of the pack and directing proceedings. The art of captaincy is one of the toughest tasks in sport, especially when things are not going your way. But again, it serves to distract my mind from the intense world that lay outside the perimeter of this marvellous club. More often than not, I populate the slip cordon, two, three or even 4 of us waiting to pounce on any edges that come our way. Even the chatter in between balls and overs serves to cheer me up and feel relaxed and at one with the world.

When the action ends, it's time to chill out in the pavilion. Especially after a victory, we can sit for hours and just reminisce and talk about all things cricket and sport. About the time we squeezed home by 13 runs in the Bedfordshire Twenty20 final. About the 153 I scored whilst still being drunk. About the crazy scenes in Houghton Regis or someone's amazing bowling or batting performance. It's always great to recount great memories.

On non-match days, the action doesn't stop. Every Friday night sees hundreds of kids come down to the club for their training session, with the BBQ going, food on the table and the bar open, many a great night out has started at the cricket club at 6pm every Friday evening. Soaking up the sun, playing one-hand-one-bounce in the nets and generally having a laugh.

The social nights are great fun too. If it's just a general chit chat and a drink or a poker night or a FIFA night, there is always something going on within the four walls of the pavilion. Always full of laughs and always occasions I look forward to.

So as we come to the end of February, it's time to start counting down to the beginning of another sun-soaked season. With turbulent times ahead, it can't come quickly enough.