Monday became a wonderful day. One of those day days when you hope an event will combine brilliant play with excitement and a nail biting finale which goes your way. They only happen occasionally in a lifetime when everything looks as if it is going in the opposite direction. I have mentioned recently that I have experienced watching Tim Henman in a last sixteen match on the number 1 court at Wimbledon. What struck me most was that because the tennis court is comparatively small compared to a football or cricket field or athletics track, you quickly become much more involved with the emotions of the players and vice versa. During the decade when Tim Henman interacted with the emotions of the crowd there were occasions when it appeared to become a single entity and there memorable occasions when he came back from a hopeless position to win and then with mounting hopes and expectations in which the whole nation focussed on his quarter final and semi final appearances, there was the great anti climax and let down. There is a different feel about yesterday a day when Andy Murray did what Gordon Brown hoped to do when he followed on from Tony Blair, however forgetting hat for most of us Tony Blair had already achieved the impossible and won three General Elections even when his personal popularity was at the lowest. If only he had put the welfare of the Labour Party before his personal ambition hr could have still be there as Chancellor seeing us through the present crisis with a new young leader preferable female, seeing the party gain a fourth and perhaps fifth and sixth term becoming he elder statesman within government and revered rather than ridiculed.
This evening Andy Murray ranked 11th in the tennis world, having reach 8th during the course of last year commenced his 4th round tie with a Frenchman who was known for being exceptionally skilful. Because of his hard work improving physical fitness, stamina as well as tennis skill and becoming more professional in Murray had already shown greater self discipline and emotional control when on court and he had won his first the matches only losing one set with crowd warming to him but lacking the emotions shown to Tim Henman despite all the disappointment he had caused us. This I suspect was the reason for holding back when you have given yourself fully to someone and it had not been reciprocated you are cautious about giving yourself to someone again especially so quickly. There was no expectation anyway that Murray would progress further given his world ranking and recent performances, although he said he was looking forward to reaching the final, if all went according to his plan.
This looked unlikely for the first two and half hours of what became a four hour game ending in darkness. He appeared not to be playing at his best with a less than standard first service success for this level of competition. There was one part of the first set where Murray showed all his determination and courage as well as skill to break back. You get the feel of a titanic struggle in the offing but somehow the Frenchman not only held his nerve but began to outwit Murray and take the set with brave and forceful play.
After giving his all and getting the crowd fully behind him, Murray seems deflated as did the crowd and the second set went to the Frenchman and with the hopes and dreams of everyone quickly vanishing. Having broken Murray's serve the Frenchman had only to win his service game to win the match but he double faulted to allow Murray to square the set 5.5. From there we move to tie break and Murray plays an extraordinary diving defensive shot in the far corner of the court almost into the crowd to make the winner to take the set. The crowd become hysterical and it is now the Frenchman who begins to weaken. Soon he looks blitzed. Murray breaks serve early on and two Australians fans for the earlier match of their hero Hewitt are now jumping up in salute for the Scotsman Britisher. Every play is now being cheered as Murray breaks service again to win the fourth set with some unbelievable tennis shots which has everyone mesmerised. Surely the impossible had not become possible? Too often in such situations after such a fight back there is a reaction in the fifth and final set.
The fifth did not go entirely Murray's way especially as the Frenchman gathered his thoughts and feelings during a toilet break and returns with great resolve, although appealing that the light had become impossible. In another match in different circumstances I am sure the officials would have listened to his plea but he had no alterative but to accept his fate with courage and dignity. He also showed his outstanding ability which will give him a special place in the affections of the crowd when he returns next year.
When Murray broke serve you felt it was going to be his day but you still felt anything could still happen. Murray nearly broke again but all he had to do was to old serve to take the match. The Frenchman would not give in and Murray needed to serve well to triumph. Whatever has happened before, giving the impression of being anti English pro Scots, was erased and he had become the new great hope for individual sporting success of the British people, especially after Lewis Hamilton has tarnished his crown by become domiciled abroad for tax purposes, attacking the media and failing to immediately deliver.
Murray demonstrated his determination and ambition early when he discovered that the Spanish player Nadal then 16 to his 15 years was training with the Spanish no 1 whereas he only had his younger brother to train with on a daily basis. His brother has now become our number 1 doubles player. Murray persuaded his parents to let him leave school and go to train in Spain, His quarter final opponent on Wednesday is Mr Nadal, who is just recovering from the celebrations of his national side winning the European Cup. It will be impossible for Murray to create another such match in a couple of days let alone in my lifetime, or can he become the super hero the nation has waited so long for?
I worked hard during the day on sorting the photographs and have nearly got to where I reached before in terms of scanning but have a clearer idea of what will happen to the completed work. I am tempted to put in a similar day of work tomorrow but I need to attend to attend to the in tray and also do some shopping.
While I worked I was able to listen and occasionally watch Glastonbury videos from the BBC site online.
Reverend and Makers were shown with what the BBC regarded as the highlights which included a guest rapper. I enjoyed He said he loved me repeated from last year. Yesterday I mentioned that I had been impressed by Newton Faulkner having watched his the place I go and then the Bohemian Rhapsody.. I was disappointed with the earlier part of his set available on line. I was also delighted to find the full James Blunt full set which included Goodbye my Lover, You are beautiful and ended with 1973. This was an outstanding performance and a great highlight. Similarly I can understand why The Gossip video was shown on all three nights . Ms Ditto has got that X factor wow I decided to also listen rather than watch the antics of Amy Winehouse. Her voice was distinctly slurred from alcohol/medication. It is sad.
Finally Listened to the Neil Diamond full set and the way he built up audience support and participation was truly professional, concluding with I'm a believer, America and Sweet Adelide
Durham also did exceptional well against Yorkshire at Headingley after dismissing the home side for 182 and losing wickets at regular intervals Phil Mustard and Liam Plunket the fast bowler had a partnership of over 125 runs with Mustard 92 and Liam not out in the end for 89 giving Durham a lead of 169 runs on the first innings. By the close of play Yorkshire had reduced the deficit by half for the loss of two wickets. However they will need to score a good 300 runs more runs to have a fighting chance.
I enjoyed my lunch of Chicken stir fry with two coffees and one slice of toast earlier. I then enjoyed the rest of he smoked salmon on three slices of toast around 5 and them eightish with a cup of tea and another coffee. Two juicy plums for lunch and a banana with custard for the evening meal with one and half glasses of red wine.
I must also mention 208 out of 900 games of Hearts won which is 23% reached a week ago and then slipped back to 22%. I decided to write a long e mail about the bridges of Newcastle and the transport infra structure and then crashed AOL so decided to make the writing into a Blog for tomorrow and stayed up until 3 am doing so.
This evening Andy Murray ranked 11th in the tennis world, having reach 8th during the course of last year commenced his 4th round tie with a Frenchman who was known for being exceptionally skilful. Because of his hard work improving physical fitness, stamina as well as tennis skill and becoming more professional in Murray had already shown greater self discipline and emotional control when on court and he had won his first the matches only losing one set with crowd warming to him but lacking the emotions shown to Tim Henman despite all the disappointment he had caused us. This I suspect was the reason for holding back when you have given yourself fully to someone and it had not been reciprocated you are cautious about giving yourself to someone again especially so quickly. There was no expectation anyway that Murray would progress further given his world ranking and recent performances, although he said he was looking forward to reaching the final, if all went according to his plan.
This looked unlikely for the first two and half hours of what became a four hour game ending in darkness. He appeared not to be playing at his best with a less than standard first service success for this level of competition. There was one part of the first set where Murray showed all his determination and courage as well as skill to break back. You get the feel of a titanic struggle in the offing but somehow the Frenchman not only held his nerve but began to outwit Murray and take the set with brave and forceful play.
After giving his all and getting the crowd fully behind him, Murray seems deflated as did the crowd and the second set went to the Frenchman and with the hopes and dreams of everyone quickly vanishing. Having broken Murray's serve the Frenchman had only to win his service game to win the match but he double faulted to allow Murray to square the set 5.5. From there we move to tie break and Murray plays an extraordinary diving defensive shot in the far corner of the court almost into the crowd to make the winner to take the set. The crowd become hysterical and it is now the Frenchman who begins to weaken. Soon he looks blitzed. Murray breaks serve early on and two Australians fans for the earlier match of their hero Hewitt are now jumping up in salute for the Scotsman Britisher. Every play is now being cheered as Murray breaks service again to win the fourth set with some unbelievable tennis shots which has everyone mesmerised. Surely the impossible had not become possible? Too often in such situations after such a fight back there is a reaction in the fifth and final set.
The fifth did not go entirely Murray's way especially as the Frenchman gathered his thoughts and feelings during a toilet break and returns with great resolve, although appealing that the light had become impossible. In another match in different circumstances I am sure the officials would have listened to his plea but he had no alterative but to accept his fate with courage and dignity. He also showed his outstanding ability which will give him a special place in the affections of the crowd when he returns next year.
When Murray broke serve you felt it was going to be his day but you still felt anything could still happen. Murray nearly broke again but all he had to do was to old serve to take the match. The Frenchman would not give in and Murray needed to serve well to triumph. Whatever has happened before, giving the impression of being anti English pro Scots, was erased and he had become the new great hope for individual sporting success of the British people, especially after Lewis Hamilton has tarnished his crown by become domiciled abroad for tax purposes, attacking the media and failing to immediately deliver.
Murray demonstrated his determination and ambition early when he discovered that the Spanish player Nadal then 16 to his 15 years was training with the Spanish no 1 whereas he only had his younger brother to train with on a daily basis. His brother has now become our number 1 doubles player. Murray persuaded his parents to let him leave school and go to train in Spain, His quarter final opponent on Wednesday is Mr Nadal, who is just recovering from the celebrations of his national side winning the European Cup. It will be impossible for Murray to create another such match in a couple of days let alone in my lifetime, or can he become the super hero the nation has waited so long for?
I worked hard during the day on sorting the photographs and have nearly got to where I reached before in terms of scanning but have a clearer idea of what will happen to the completed work. I am tempted to put in a similar day of work tomorrow but I need to attend to attend to the in tray and also do some shopping.
While I worked I was able to listen and occasionally watch Glastonbury videos from the BBC site online.
Reverend and Makers were shown with what the BBC regarded as the highlights which included a guest rapper. I enjoyed He said he loved me repeated from last year. Yesterday I mentioned that I had been impressed by Newton Faulkner having watched his the place I go and then the Bohemian Rhapsody.. I was disappointed with the earlier part of his set available on line. I was also delighted to find the full James Blunt full set which included Goodbye my Lover, You are beautiful and ended with 1973. This was an outstanding performance and a great highlight. Similarly I can understand why The Gossip video was shown on all three nights . Ms Ditto has got that X factor wow I decided to also listen rather than watch the antics of Amy Winehouse. Her voice was distinctly slurred from alcohol/medication. It is sad.
Finally Listened to the Neil Diamond full set and the way he built up audience support and participation was truly professional, concluding with I'm a believer, America and Sweet Adelide
Durham also did exceptional well against Yorkshire at Headingley after dismissing the home side for 182 and losing wickets at regular intervals Phil Mustard and Liam Plunket the fast bowler had a partnership of over 125 runs with Mustard 92 and Liam not out in the end for 89 giving Durham a lead of 169 runs on the first innings. By the close of play Yorkshire had reduced the deficit by half for the loss of two wickets. However they will need to score a good 300 runs more runs to have a fighting chance.
I enjoyed my lunch of Chicken stir fry with two coffees and one slice of toast earlier. I then enjoyed the rest of he smoked salmon on three slices of toast around 5 and them eightish with a cup of tea and another coffee. Two juicy plums for lunch and a banana with custard for the evening meal with one and half glasses of red wine.
I must also mention 208 out of 900 games of Hearts won which is 23% reached a week ago and then slipped back to 22%. I decided to write a long e mail about the bridges of Newcastle and the transport infra structure and then crashed AOL so decided to make the writing into a Blog for tomorrow and stayed up until 3 am doing so.
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