There aren’t many bowlers who can tie down Graeme Swann when in full flow with the bat.

But tomorrow (Friday) he is finally being tied down off the field as he gets married in Nottingham.

It’s an exciting day for him and I’m sure there will be a lot of broken hearts around the world now he is tying the knot!

All the Notts lads will be going along for the occasion and I’m sure plenty of the England boys will be there as well.

I think about 500 people in all have been invited – Swanny is going to make sure no-one misses out!

I think his bride Sarah to be is a great match for him and he is a lucky boy.

I’m really pleased for them both and it comes for Swanny on the back of another really good tour in South Africa.

Here’s to the couple’s future happiness.

IT was a big night for me last Friday as I launched my benefit year in front of some very distinguished guests.

And I was delighted when none other than Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Notts County director of football, was among those at Riverside Crescent.

I had a chat with Sven and he was asking me why all us bowlers were so tall and he was showing us me his best bowling action – even though I’m not sure they play that much cricket in Sweden!

He came across as a really nice guy and took an interest in what we were talking about.

Everyone kept ringing me up asking if they could have their picture taken with Sven and he was only too pleased to pose with all the England and Notts cricket lads.

Of course, Broady and I made sure we were at the front of that particular queue!

I’ve said before that I realise how lucky you are when in professional sport that you get to meet such people.

Sven is someone who is recognisable not just across the country but across the world as well.

I was just as grateful for the support I got from a host of other people as well.

Charlie Shreck, Mark Wagh and director of cricket Mick Newell were among those there from Notts, while England player Ian Bell also came to support me.

But it was the fact people came from other sports – including Nottingham Rugby captain Craig Hammond – and other walks of life were there to back me that was so pleasing.

I had a question and answer session hosted by Radio Nottingham’s Colin Hazelden, which I was quite nervous about, but it went well.

It wasn’t so much questions about the cricket but other stuff and, encouragingly, there was a lot of interest in the two organisations I am trying to help – the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Shelter Trust and my own Little Siddy Club, which raises money for local hospices.

To know that people are firmly behind those two worthwhile causes is great to know – and I hope that same kind of support carries on through the rest of the year.

THE thing that I miss more than anything else when I’m away on tour is home cooking.

So it has been great since getting back home to be spoiled with a nice roast dinner.

I went to my mum and dad’s in Huddersfield at the weekend and they served up the whole works - it was fantastic.

I love good food but I’m not a great cook myself and it was certainly a step up from my brilliant specialities of beans on toast or poached egg!

I may be pretty useless but thankfully that isn’t the same for the rest of the family.

While mum and dad were looking after Indiana, Kate and I also had the chance to pop out to our favourite restaurant in Leeds, the Foundry.

The food certainly made a change from in South Africa where it seemed to be steak pretty much every night.

The other thing that contrasts greatly at home is the weather – I’m having to make sure I get pretty well wrapped up.

Even now, you can see it’s been really bad. There was still some snow on the higher Yorkshire hills over the weekend.

Having been out in the sun it’s absolutely freezing – just like going in one of those dreaded ice baths!

I managed to get to watch a few FA Cup games, too, which I don’t think is going to be the case when we get out to Bangladesh with the England squad next month.

Thankfully, for Kate’s sake, the rugby league hasn’t started yet as I’d be driving her made, glued to the television.

I might be a Strictly Come Dancing fan with all the cricketers who have taken part in the show, but I’m no Dancing On Ice fan.

I prefer the ballroom over the ice rink any day.

I’M really pleased to see Chris Read sign a new three-year contract extension at Notts because he is the man to lead the club forward.

Since joining the Trent Bridge staff from Gloucestershire, Ready has been a superb servant and great player.

He is a big-game player who turns it on when his team most needs it and as skipper, he leads by example.

With Notts now looking to bring through younger players, he is the ideal player to look up to and learn from.

And, I have to say, he is one of the nicest guys I have met in the game. He had his benefit last year and I can think of a no more deserving recipient.

Ready has been a very positive influence on my career. He has a likeable personality and has learned a heck of a lot from the likes of Stephen Fleming and Mark Ealham.

His captaincy skills have really improved. He is a fairly relaxed character but, at the same time, when he gets put there on the field, he is very determined.

As one of the senior players now, I will be doing my best to help those lads coming into the team.

It would be great to see Notts lads coming into the side from the academy, such as Luke Fletcher, and making first team places their own.

I will be able to help from a bowling point of view just as others such as Darren Gough and Mark Ealham helped me when I was younger.

You are not going to bowl well in every spell you have and sometimes as a young lad you don’t always appreciate that.

I will always be available if anyone wants to come for me for advice, but captaincy is something that does not really interest me, even in the future.

My field placings are most likely to be to put a fielder where the batsman has just hit it!

But seriously, I would prefer to stick to the bowling and let others lead the team.

Ready is doing a fantastic job and hopefully that will continue for several years to come.