A day off.

And the first of many days off for BHP. I hope that he enjoys every one.
Today, we did not go to Wimbledon, we had to settle for watching the Sharapova/Lusicki match on TV.
It was a little disappointing, in fact it was pretty poor.
We watched Lusicki in the ladies doubles yesterday, partnered by Stosur, who was certainly the stronger player.
Be hopes that the final is a better game - perhaps we needed a Dane there to add some spice!

Anyway, we walked down to the river this morning,along & then around the town, stopping for coffee at M&S. There are some very nice shops, mostly for window shopping only, & lots of little galleries.
Since getting back to Paul's, we have done the front garden & planted it out (three pink geraniums in the window box!)
I can't think of anything to do, apart from watch more tennis.
We are meeting aj's entire family for dinner, at the local, this evening.
Should be fun.

Wonderful Wimbledon.

It was wonderful on Court 2 all day. The sun shone, no hint of rain, a pleasant crowd with little shouting &  some excellent   tennis.
We watched two mixed doubles, one ladies' doubles, one mens' doubles from yesterday & senior mens' doubles, with Pat Cash.
We didn't see the mens' quarter finals, but were updated with the scores at every change of end & could hear the cheering from the Centre Court, next door.
T & B should apply for tickets for 2012.
The 493 bus took us straight there on our bus passes, with a packed lunch in aj's bag, to avoid missing play/ paying a fortune for a sandwich.
Posh houses near by had rented out their front drives to hamburger stands.
I may do this at home next year to raise a little cash, either during Wimbledon fortnight or when Maxstoke castle is open.
Paul left a super meal in the fridge for us - salmon steaks, salad & strawberries, which we devoured when we got in at 10.oopm, whilst watching "You're Fired"
Aj thinks that G should apply for The Apprentice" next year & show these youngsters up.
Time for bed, I'll wake aj up.......
Pottering around Richmond & Kew Gardens tomorrow.

Well done Andy....

I hope that I will have to use that title three more times this week.
I only caught the first few games, watching with Thomas, who declared that he liked watching tennis.Otherwise I just caught the odd glimpse as we were in & out of the garden, but he didn't seem to have had a problem (Andy, not Thomas)
Today is the big day, down to London on the train to meet aj, then Wimbledon tomorrow, Court 2.
My first visit since I was a teenager. Aj & I drove down in the Imp & parked somewhere nearby - the days before "Hospitality", when you went for the tennis only, not the social scene.
William & Catherine were there yesterday, I was pleased to see the next generation of royals taking an interest. They do have the benefit of some pretty good seats & on Centre court.
I've watered the garden, dead-headed the pansies & started the ironing, all before 7.00am.
It will be an early night tonight, I guess!

Well done Andy.

A brilliant match yesterday, Andy Murray against the Croatian man mountain.
I've watched more of Wimbledon this year than ever before, a result of being at JR's, where we tend to sit down in the afternoons & evening matches due to the roof over the centre court.
I'm catching up on ratings & players so that I can hold a conversation with aj on the subject.
There have been some great matches so far, hopefully more to come, specifically on Court 2 on Wednesday!

The weather is strange, April in June; warm with showers, varying from light to storm force downpours.
We had quite heavy rain yesterday from tea-time, overnight, so the garden looks lush & green.
The washing, on the other hand, looks a little damp & dripping.
The trick is to get it in at the precise moment when it is drier than when it went out, before the rain starts again.
Not putting it out is not an option as nature intends that we hang wet things on a string in the garden to dry.
Nature before technology!

G is on a motorcycle course!
He wants to ride in Vietnam on his next visit, rather than ride pillion.
He does not want a bike!!!!

I am writing a sermon for tomorrow  - Romans 6, 12 - end. Miserable sinners.
Anyone else fond of Pelagius, who committed the first heresy of the early church by denying original sin.
It's more fun than it sounds, really!
I'd better finish it before I'm found playing!

Have a good weekend.

Points.

We have just returned home from Birmingham, where we went to the ballet at the Hippodrome - "Passion & Ecstacy", two modern ballets.
The first (20 min) was set toAllegri diversi by Rossini. It was very gentle & pretty.
The second was set to Carmina burana by Carl Orff, a morality tale following the fortunes of three Seminarians who reject their faith.
It was amazing!!!
I only wish that I hadn't nodded off briefly & missed the section about eating, with dancers in fat suits, & that T & Jessie could have seen it.
We had a Cantonese meal afterwards, then came home.
An excellent evening.

This morning I shopped in Kenilworth market - wonderful fruit & veg for a knockdown price.
To complete the day, we were home in time to see the end of "QT".
Bed time.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Home again.

I'm sitting watching Wimbledon - V Williams vs Date-Crum.
DC was 5-1 up when I came in with my lunch, she is now 5-6 down. Shame.
Where on Earth does Venus get those dresses? They do have a logo, a "U" perhaps.
It's a brilliant match, by the way. 

I've been with G to have his leg assessed this morning, he now waits for a date to go in for a day.
We looked at the local car showrooms, as futurists.
Nothing made me smile or dream, which is sad really.
The shopping highlight of the day was going to Ikea in Coventry, afterwards & buying a mountain of packets of beautiful paper serviettes, in toning colours, followed by jars of jam, flavours never found in JS.
G is out somewhere secret, in the Lotus, I have to buy some food, having run out of fresh things after a couple of days away, prepare dinner & iron.......after the tennis.
Murray is on next, I'll have to miss his first  two sets, which, I  am guessing, he will lose.

JR was well, enjoying being cared for.
We went out for lunch twice - low calorie main & a pudding. Toblerone cheesecake is pretty good.
 Must have a look at "Travelzoo's top 20", before VW catches up & ends the match.

Happy Fathers' Day.

We have celebrated with all of  G's offspring here with grandchildren.
We carried the scullery table through to add to the kitchen table & enjoyed (I hope) roast pork  (always a firm favorite....) followed by strawberries in a trifle, in a jelly & in a bowl.
This was followed by a couple of hours in the garden on bikes, tractor, bouncy castle, playing football & water fights - Thomas brought his gigantic Ben 10 water pistol, in order to "get Grandad".
He succeeded.
The kids all had a whale of a time.
I admit to only taking part in the "sitting on a garden bench" option.
We then replaced calories expended with scones, crumpets & chocolate cake.

The house is all back to normal, we have polished off the pink bubbly with nibbles, watched "Scott & Bailey", G is asleep, watching "Coast"!

The paper has pictures of Pandora's new bracelets - fine ply cotton friendship bracelets in nice colours.
Place orders with W, he was making such thing long before Pandora.
Blog a few, W.

Coast is in the Netherlands, in Freisland (never heard of it before)
The cows are black & white, Freisans!
My ignorance is limitless.
They are interviewing a "cow historian" - she's human.

I'm off to see JR tomorrow, leave G with some cold pork.