R.I.P. Basil d'Oliveira

I don't follow cricket: I never have. With a cricket-mad father and brother, I got more than enough of it as a child. But all the same, I was saddened to read this morning of the death of the great Basil d'Oliveira. I remember him well as a player my father loved to watch and admired. I don't specifically remember watching him play. But as an adult, I heard the story of the difficulties he faced in making a career for himself due to the Apartheid system in his native South Africa and the racism he continued to face after he moved to Britain and became a British citizen, and of his extraordinary determination, grace under pressure, and decency. He was a good man, and a role model, and he will be missed.

(no subject)

Laundry done: tick.
Bathroom cleaned: tick.
Groceries bought: tick.
Rewrites continued: tick.
Cats fed and fussed and let in and out: tick.
Marquis re-acquired: not yet. He's due to arrive around midnight. He'll be exhausted. :-(

I'm off to eat and watch the beginning of the new series of The Killing.

Skirt of the day: grey with black hem.