Summer wouldn't be summer, would it, without a marathon session of competitive family sport?
Lucky for me our family splits neatly into two teams of two, and even luckier for me husband elects to go on my side in a recent round of cricket.
Well, strictly speaking, husband didn't exactly choose to have me as team mate, but teenage sons wer
e sticking resolutely together, and who can blame them, so he didn't have much choice.
Anyway, making the best of what he is already perceiving as a weak link in his team, he puts on a smile, albeit a tad restrained one, and puts me in place on the boundary.
When I say boundary, this is a decidely restricted pitch we are playing on amid gorse in New Forest, but he is coming over all England captain, drawing me in and out with little gestures and serious face on.
He seethes through some serious 'mis-fielding' as he puts it, and eventually, hands on hat as I allow another 'four' through my legs, says: "I just can't trust you in the outfield".
Outfield? There is hardlt an 'infield' let alone an outfield.
I try a spot of bowling which results in some glorious sixes from sons and much head-shaking from husband as he walks away disappointed.
He takes over, coming on all Freddie Flintoff now, and is eventually rewarded when he hits the wicket.
Which is a plastic spade topped with a fish-festooned bucket.
It is a serious business though, of course.
An appeal for life's little irritations has got you going again.
One reader has combined the recent gripes of this column to complain about the rather enthusiastic air-conditioning at M&S which leaves her very cold and very cross.
And Norman of West Wittering has taken it a step further than mere whingeing, with a Grumpy Club and its own website. This takes a pop at litter, mindless vandalism, politicians, councils and much more, with all the satisfying sounding off for a good cause - the Make-A-Wish Foundation, so it's all good.
Visit www.thegrumpyclub.com, and keep the annoyances coming.
sue.gilson@chiobserver.co.uk
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