Putting in an extra day yesterday was well worth it. I will definitely, even allowing for hitches, be able to produce a complete set of pre-auction Vendor Advice Notes by the end of today, and almost all the images are done.
Although most of yesterday’s images were done using the scanner, there was one lot that warranted the use of the camera, one image from which gallery I include in the added media.
Even though half of today was spent at Raynham Hall, I still got plenty done at James and Sons (and have some pictures of new donations to edit later). I should get some database time tomorrow, as well as on Thursday and Friday, which will get the stock database complete and (I hope) get me started on the auction side of things in advance of the sale. I then have Tuesday of next week to finish things off in terms of advance preparation.
The Great Centenary Charity Auction is starting to look reasonably healthy, and I will have some new material for social media before long.
As usual I have some pictures for you…
After a superb Sunday lunch at my aunt’s place (parents away) I returned to catch up with the cricket, and got the last rites of the match as India’s response to a 338 run deficit on first innings was to be all out 94, demonstrating all the backbone of a jellyfish. What made things even worse for India than the abysmal score was the way in which some of those wickets were lost. One of the last few that I heard was a run out, which in a situation like that is absolutely crazy.
India looked like a side who had mentally checked out. They had nearly been all out for under a hundred in the first innings (a catch went down when they were 95-9), and in the second they were much worse, because the conditions were better for batting.
Later that night I watched the last session of the European Athletics Championship on iplayer (I refuse to get a TV license, being quite happy to watch stuff at a time of my choosing once it is available). GB had been locked in battle with France at the top of the medals table, but by the time Mo Farah had won his expected gold in the 5000 metres, Greg Rutherford had won the long jump, the men’s 4×400 relay team and both 4X100 relay teams had also taken gold, and GB were convincingly top of the medals table.
As usual I have a selection of pictures for you…
After just two days of the fifth and final test match against India, England appear nailed on for a 3-1 series win, and a second straight innings victory. Joe Root is on the brink of another ton, and India look like they have already conceded. India very rarely play five match test series these days, and it is starting to show. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who dominated the first two matches is now hardly able to raise a gallop, now bowling at a gentle medium pace and without menace.
Congratulations to the Indian women for winning their one off test against England. The outcome was more or less settled when England were put out for 92 on the first day although in the end it took some good batting from Mithali Raj to see India over the line (perhaps she could replace one of the men in their currently ineffectual top order?!)
As usual I have some photos for you…
No further progress on the database front today, but lots of imaging, and resolving queries (for the last hour, after the new images had gone off to ATG Media).
The lots I imaged today covered a very wide range and left me spoilt for choice as to what to include.
I notice that India, needing a win in the final test at The Oval to square the series are currently 125-9 (albeit having been put in, unlike in the previous test, when they chose to bat first and did not do a whole lot better). I also note, encouragingly for England, that it has been Woakes and Jordan who have done most of the damage (or been the principle beneficiaries of poor Indian batting?) rather than the much more established Broad and Anderson.
Now for those pictures…
Having gone in for an extra day this week (yesterday), I am making good progress on the August auction. My stock database now has full details of over 400 lots, so I am fairly confident of having it complete by the end of the week, which will enable me to produce pre-auction vendor advice notes (and ultimately, when I have full details of advance bids, a bid book).
I also did some imaging of course, and have some fine pictures to share with you all…
I have had a very productive day at James and Sons. I spent the morning imaging for our next auction and the afternoon working on the stock database for the same.
As a result of this work I have some good images to share with you, leavened with some not work related…
Sunday lunch at East Rudham, a spot of imaging (37 magic books, of which some of the better pictures feature in this blog) and finally home to check and edit the pics (left the cable here, so could not do it at Rudham). The weather although pretty unpleasant at times was not as apocalyptic as we had been led to believe.
I managed to catch the last rites of the Somerset v Sussex 50 overs a side game once I had got back. Sussex were always in command, and reached the target easily.
Now for those pics…
Yesterday England found the best way to avoid being hampered by the possible intervention of hurricane Bertha by wrapping things up very early. Not even a freak injury to Stuart Broad could prevent England from settling the matter. For the second time in the match India’s top order failed abjectly, and although I did not witness the events of the first two days being busy working, some of the dismissals suggested a team who had lost all semblance of fight.
Moeen Ali, who is not even a regular bowler for his county, took (or was handed) four cheap wickets. The only triumph to go India’s way on this day was the Brian Johnston Champagne Moment, which went to Pankaj Singh who ended a very long wait for his first test wicket – only two bowlers with test wickets to their name had conceded more runs before getting their first.
Perhaps the biggest single gainer on the day was new wicket-keeper Jos Buttler who after making a swashbuckling 85 in his first test now showed that he could adapt to different circumstances by making a much more restrained 70.
As usual I have some fine photographs from in and around King’s Lynn to share…
I am now deep into preparing for the August auction at James and Sons. I have about 140 lots already in my Stock database for this auction, and have also streamlined the input process in the Auction side of the database.
As usual I have plenty of pictures to share with you…
aspiblog 