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Challow and Childrey Cricket Club,

 G’day everyone. As you prepare to begin your new season Em and I just wanted to pass on our thanks to you all for your hospitality and friendship last year. We both had an absolutely amazing time and want to thank each and every member of the cricket club for making it happen for us. I wanted to thank individuals at the awards night last year but it would have taken too long. So in particular, we would like to briefly thank the following people:

Gerald Wixey – for being our contact man, for organising everything, for the curries and for picking us up and dropping us off at the airport

Lin Kay – for putting us up for 6 months, for the many beers, meals, lifts and everything else you did to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable

The Podberrys – for your incredible warmth hospitality, generosity and friendship

Mikey and Kate – for being amazing friends and being so welcoming to us

Glynn Lumb – I have never enjoyed batting with someone as much. To all members of the club – if you get the chance to bat with Lumby make the most of the experience, you will learn a lot. I’m sure he’s still got plenty of years left in him

Will Clarke – for being a good mate and a dedicated captain – remember to stay positive skipper

Don Pert – for your wisdom, and encouragement, and for your great support of all overseas players and the club as a whole

Adam Hunter – for your musical entertainment

John, Stephan and Dave Pilcher – what can I say. Thank you for your absolutely amazing dedication to the club, for everything you did to make our stay possible and ensuring it was as enjoyable as it was.

Weed, Bobby, Sean, Geordie Dave, Mark, Albury - for your support and good times at the bar

Les Burry – for shaking your head when it counted

Dave Slade – for taking the time to help me get organised with equipment at the start of the season

Will Harvey – for getting me a job and demoralizing my bowling along with everyone else’s in the nets

Dave – for scoring each and every week

Lynchy, Robbie, Rob, Lee, Olly, Chucky, Lawrence, Steve, Francis, James, Paul, Corply and everyone else I played with, for great times on the field, for the boat races and good fun off the field and for making Challow and Childrey a great place to play cricket.

Kate, Holly, Sarah and Kate – for providing Emma with some female friendship and being someone to talk to that does not want to talk about cricket all of the time

I’m sure there are many others I have forgotten to mention, but please know that we are eternally grateful to each and every person we met at Challow and Childrey. Your helpfulness and warmth added those few extra degrees that made those cold, cold and rainy pommy days bearable. We will always remember with great fondness our time in the UK. Memories of a couple of ducks, three brown bears, a pig that died of embarrassment, 14,16, Dave Slade, having to shower twice, Clarke and Stevens’ all round greatness, Rob Harris’ karaoke and vomit riddled shirts. If anyone is planning trips to Brisbane to see the Ashes return to their rightful home at the end of the year, or any other time in the future we would love to return the hospitality you showed us during our stay so please let us know when you will be here.

 
I’m sure you will all look after Dan the same way you did us. Despite his strange appearance, even stranger talk, occasional 4 wides and poor jokes he is an excellent bowler and an even better bloke. OK he has hit a few boundaries as well. Good luck ‘Mozzie’ I’m sure you will have an awesome time.

Good luck to everyone this season. I look forward to reading the entertaining game reviews and following your progress throughout the year. Thanks again, hope to see you again soon,

Sincerely,

Mark and Emma Ellison