Victory over the West Indies in the 1st Test was comprehensive and thorough. Given that play didn’t start until 14h30 on the first day, winning by the close of the fourth day translates into a 3½ win. Celebrations followed and the next day we were on our way to the island of St Kitts and the venue for the 2nd Test starting today.

The Marriott Hotel & Resort is an enormous hotel which seems to spread over a couple of acres. I am fortunate enough to have a room in the main building thus negating the ten minute walk to the breakfast room every morning.

Yesterday was a groundbreaking day for me. Unchartered waters had to be navigated and a brand new challenge was set. The self operated laundry!!! On arrival in St Kitts my bag was full of dirty clothes and being as I travel particularly light, laundry was top of the list of priorities for the day. Now the hotel has a coin operated laundry but I am happy, though somewhat embarrassed, to admit that I have never ever operated such a machine in my life. Basic requirements were 8 x 25c Eastern Caribbean pieces (4 for the washing machine and 4 for the dryer) and 1 x small packet of washing powder available at the hotel shop.

I was hoping to drag some unsuspecting die hard bachelor along with me and who would know exactly how these monsters worked. Unfortunately the crew had already left for the ground to go and rig so I was alone and nervous and yet inwardly excited with the task that lay ahead.

When I found the laundry I was confronted with three identical washing machines and two dryers. Fortunately my apprehension was unfounded because I reckon my 6 year old granddaughter could have worked this thing. Okay so I had to read and follow the pictures on the inside of the lid and I did take ten minutes to work out how to put the money in because the instructional pictures did not correspond with the machines coin mechanism, but I did it!! Such dilemma’s as selecting hot, warm or cold wash and tricky questions like fast or medium caused some moments of vulnerability but in the end, I did it!!

The afternoon was taken up with ironing my pile of freshly washed laundry which I did in my room whilst watching Bafana Bafana go down 2-0 against Uraguay. I confess too, to standing in front of my TV during the National anthems with tears pouring down my face as I felt such pride in my adopted country as to how far they had come since that dark day in Soweto 34 years ago.

Oh, by the way, I did manage to leave one sock in the washing machine but I reckon almost everyone has done that.