my school Cricket & The Ashes

Rupertswood was my secondary college in Australia
CRICKET / THE ASHES Rupertswood holds a place in the great sporting rivalry between Australia and England. It is accredited as being the "Birthplace of the Ashes". To make sense of how the whole Ashes story came about, we need to go back to "The Oval"; August 29th 1882. An Australian cricket team had been sent to England to play an English team. It was the first time an Australian eleven had played an English eleven.

Previous Australian sides to England had always outnumbered the English side by several players and it had always resulted in losses anyway. Very unexpectedly, the Australians won. The incredulity was such, that a sporting journalist, Reginald Brooks, published a tongue in check obituary lamenting the death of English cricket. It read; "In Affectionate remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET, which died at the Oval on 29th August, 1882.Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. N.B. The body will cremated and the ashes taken to Australia".
This was the first time that the term "ashes" was used. The notice appeared in an obscure part of the paper, but it was noticed and taken very seriously by the powers that be at "Lords". Ivo Bligh, amateur cricketer and heir to his brother`s Earldom, was immediately approached to captain a team to Australia to re-instate English pride. In late 1882, William Clarke was in England with his family and attendants. They were enjoying their second grand tour of Europe.
Overall, he made a favourable impression and as a result gained some very influential friends. He was recommended to Queen Victoria as a candidate for a baronetcy. This was approved by the Queen on October 29th. Sailing home on the "Penshawur", Sir William`s fellow passengers included the English cricket team. As Sir William was the president of the Melbourne Cricket Club, an invitation was extended to the English cricketers to spend the Christmas and New Year holiday at Rupertswood.
On Christmas Eve 1882, after a congenial lunch, Sir William, suggested a social game between the English cricketers and a local side, made up largely of Rupertswood staff. By all accounts it was an enjoyable game with no-one really keeping score, however, it was generally agreed that the English won.
The servants were run off their feet retrieving the many fours and sixes. Pat Lyons, a worker at Rupertswood, clearly remembered the afternoon many years later. It was his understanding, that Lady Clarke, at dinner that evening had presented Ivo Bligh with a pottery urn. It was purported to contain the ashes of a burnt bail. Lady Clarke announced to the company assembled that Australia and England now had a real trophy for which to play. England did go on to win two of the three official matches played in Melbourne and Sydney.
The term "Ashes" stuck and the urn became a prized personal memento of Bligh. Interestingly enough, no-one really knew that the urn existed until Bligh's death in 1927. It was handed over to Lords in the early 1930's, where it still lives today. An interesting aside to the "Ashes" story is the romance that developed between Florence Rose Morphy (companion to Lady Clarke and music teacher to the Clarke children ) and Ivo Bligh. Their romance blossomed during the English cricket team`s sojourn at Rupertswood. Florence was very much loved by the Clarke family. It was largely due to their sponsorship that Bligh`s aristocratic family back in England eventually approved the marriage. They were married on February 1884, with a lavish wedding reception held at Rupertswood. In 1900, Bligh inherited the Earldom and became the eighth Lord Darnley and Florence became his Countess. They returned to England to reside at Cobham Hall --- Kent; his family seat.

Golf around Sotogrande

Valderrama voted no.1 in europe I see Sotogrande voted no.5 the PGA Catalunya was 3rd ranked and having played it last year i thought it was a great course.

In the Spanish Rankings La Reserva was 9th, The San Roque golf club (old course) came in at 18th. All in all Not bad for this area and its golf Click here for List of golf rankings of Spanish courses (not european rankings)

Food food and more food

A change of subject for Tailor Made.

I have in the last 2 years provided many different write ups and I hope informative articles regarding the property market in Sotogrande. Its time to steer away from the bleeding obvious and concentrate on lifestyle and fun. After all that is why most of us come here. Whilst the crisis isn’t that much fun for anyone we all may like to share in lighter moments and for this reason a change of subject by your local agent is long over due.

First a run down of familiar names and places and over the next few months I will look to write about my experiences at eating out

My favourite subject is food and I find myself often contacted by friends asking if I have tried this or that restaurant invariably the answer is "Yes" and it seems I am the check before you try target

Sotogrande has struggled with consistency in its culinary offerings for some time now and often its a case of the chef has left or the trade is so poor that the ingredients are no longer as good as they were.

Restaurateurs rarely see table strewn with empty champagne bottles & cigars after 200€ a head meals, it seems even the traders have stopped this age old practice.
There has been a run of restaurants opening and then closing a testament to that has been Sotovillas at one point there was Japanese, an Italian (Transylvania) An Argentinean (Estribo) and what I thought was the ever popular American Diner. There was then a run of closures until recently when the rot at Sotovillas was halted by the arrival in Sotovillas of Salsa and Mara. Mara a Spanish sea food restaurant & tapas is a theme that I have long waited to arrive locally. I Have yet to test Salsa but am told South African vein runs thru its flavours
Into the Pueblo Nuevo we find Reflexions with a chef of Michelin Star status offering fantastic breakfast lunches and increasingly popular Friday night Gourmet menus. Now to be challenged by a French chef also of Michelin star background who has opened a very trendy looking La Boca in the port. Both Reflexions & La Boca offering the best Dining experience in the area at a cost although maybe some of the artistic flare in cooking is not everyone’s taste.

Whilst in the Port Mytilus has expanded and I am told rejuvenated its menu with some good reports. The Hairy Lemon is our first gastro pub and a local of mine for lunch and a very good lunch it is too. Particularly the great value menu del dia. However as soon as one cuts the cost with a menu del dia another has to cut costs as well and within days La Taberna de Sotogrande (also in the Port) a very Spanish flavour has produced a set lunch menu but whilst I enjoy its cuisine and tapas my wife finds it too Spanish for her palate.

Then there are the old favourites particularly for those who have lived here for years. Names such as Gaucho, La Reunion and Lombardos come to mind established eateries with regular clientele and of course the ever famous and busy Ke who I am told serve 1000 meals a day in the height of summer.

There is also the honey trap of eating in Los Canos too much wine and Moorea lures you in and who can risk the recovery time. Most of us will at some point get sucked into a heavy night and enjoy it but at the same time regret the foolhardiness then pick the bones out of the experience a few days later at the golf club or tennis club.

What’s the Chinese like in the port I have never been yet you don’t here anything about it but its still there. Despite the high price I miss the Thai that was in the port but cannot remember its name. Little Buddha is an alternative but I do like the Thai on the beach at Laguna village.

We all love a piece of home and what Brit can refuse a trip to Duquesa for Marlow fish & Chips or even more British maybe our local Indian the ivory or try the Indian on the beach at Sabanillas. I find the Indians here aren’t as good as my favourites in the UK but hey we are not in the UK


Whilst I do not claim to be a food expert I do love sharing my experiences and trying new venues and experimenting with food. Wines are a complex subject and finding good value fine wines is a favourite past time for me. Although I do prefer to enjoy a couple of glasses of really good expensive wine rather than get a cheap bottle that is palatable. Having said that once the subject at an eatery turns to trying good wines the results can be lethal when you get to the point of no return

Anyway off to the Chinese tonight modern building on left just before Duquesa. Third time there but this time will make sure i get the name of it. Will let you know how I get on

bye for now