HOTELS, there are many, are there not, some good, some bad, some big, some small, but (and here's an early moan) I am getting a bit fed up with some of the big ''chain'' hotels.

I don't stay in them that often but, having a natter with a mate last week, we came to the conclusion that they are a bit of a rip off, and don't offer value for money.

I must say this is not all of the big chain hotels, many of them are very good, but how about a stay in a hotel in the middle of Luton (with a sea view no doubt). Cost per night £135 for a single room, not that big, not that special, then...an extra tenner for breakfast plus £5 to park the car.

I had to be in Manchester for an evening last week and now refuse to stay in city centre hotels, so I got on the net and found a superb farmhouse bed and breakfast, 15 minutes drive from the city centre, 10 minutes from the airport, but out in the country. It was peaceful, friendly, clean, there was loads of room, super breakfast, and how much? £27.50.

I can honestly say I have never stayed in a bad Farmhouse B & B. Some are better than others, but none of them have been as bad as some of the box-room city hotels.

Moan over, point made.

I have been ''chasing the crimson rambler'' a couple of times already this season.

The first game was ''up The Lye'', near Merry Hell. It was a damp, misty, rainy day, but we played a bit.

Looking round our dressing room there seemed to be a lot of younger faces, so I enquired as to the age of some of my team mates, and having a count up realised that the total age of four of our players was still less than mine! But who ended up fielding on the extra cover boundary... me.

We were having a difficult time chasing a bit total so the skipper told us to block it out. Twenty two overs for six runs seemed to suffice.

Now, I don't think you should get points for a drawn game, win or lose for me, but if the league is going to give points for a draw... we'll have them.