Friday, September 13, 2013

Thursday, June 13, 2013





Queens Day 3 - Wednesday 12 June 2013


Made it!

After days tracking the BBC weather forecast it wasn't looking good is a huge understatement. The tournament director, Chris Kermode made the sensible decision to start play on all courts at 11am as the weather dictated play much like yesterday. It was supposed to be dry up to 4pm. The forecast was really lousy after that though.

It was early, hence the short queue. Relief!
A typical British summer day was in store. Wet, windy, quite cold and overcast. Perfect tennis weather! (That last bit was sarcasm if that didn't come across). 

We arrived at Queens shortly after 11am and saw some players warming up on one of the outside practice courts. 











Hewitt with a low backhand get



First up on centre court was Grigor Dimitrov v Lleyton Hewitt. I expected this could go the distance, on paper it was to be a juicy encounter but the veteran Hewitt played the best I've seen him for a long time. Despite my slightly reticent shouts of "Grigor", the tenth seed was dispatched with ease by Hewitt in under an hour. Starter over, it was time for the main course. 

Vicious unbrellas, might look tame now but turn your back...


Next up was Thomas Berdych v Thiemo De Bakker, again this was a straight sets affair, the Dutch player, De Bakker getting only five games, it ended 6-1 6-4. I didn't see this, I probably could have had as much exercise as the players running in and out between rain breaks but instead decided to indulge in a beverage or how ever many, and a good, but well overpriced sandwich. Oh and it rained, and rained. We sat outside, put the umbrella up and down and up and down until it too had had enough of the weather and part of the metal upright sheared off missing my head by mere inches. Luckily it had stopped raining by then, but of course it started again. We tried to make do with the umbrella as Queens apparently don't have any spares. The material kept swaying up and down in front of my face hitting me which wasn't annoying at all! It really was one of those days it seemed!


Mahut about to serve to Murray




Murray returning serve from Mahut

I guess Andy Murray v Nicolas Mahut should have been the main course. They were next to brave centre court. I really thought this match could go the distance with Murray being a being a bit rusty and Mahut famous for his five setter at Wimbledon a few years back. Andy was on top form though, hardly missing a ball and grabbed the set with a pretty convincing 6-3 score line. It then rained for a change. Murray and Mahut traded blows in the second set, the match was stopped at 2-2 due to (fill in the blank). Enough was enough, play was cancelled for the day at 6.30pm but we had long gone to have some proper dessert. It was a shame not to see Tsonga play singles and Del Potro in his doubles, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Rain!
Still having not been for a few years it was an enjoyable day out. I estimate we saw a couple of hours of rain in-between the tennis. If the ticket prices were not so exorbitant for centre court I'd certainly consider going again. I think I paid almost as much this year as in the final a few years back. It's certainly not a cheap day out but to get to watch the top players up close really is something special, when it's not raining of course! Even just soaking (sorry)! up the atmosphere is well worth it. 

Monday, January 30, 2012

Free Sofa needs to go quickly though!

3 seater Sofa, free to a good home, but needs collecting by Wednesday 2nd 11am from near Oxford. UK.

Approx measurements: 2 metres x 1 metre x 66cm

It's in pretty good condition, the left side sags a bit, all cushions zip off for easy washing too.



Well - this is going to the tip now, shame, but there you go. Seems lots of people like to waste their time and mine saying is it available, then either cancelling or not responding when said it was. So much for freecycle, good idea in practice but unfortunately not in real life!


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Kasabian Brighton centre 28.11.11


What a band, what a gig, what a night…. what more can be said, probably best gig of this year so far. :D Here are some pics taken, as well as the set list and video links to youtube, as for some reason I couldn't embed them in this blog. 

Youtube video links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UwesoL5Z5c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJU54hirP2U



Set list

1. Days Are Forgotten 

2. Shoot The Runner 

3. Velociraptor! 

4. Underdog 

5. Where Did All The Love Go? 

6. I.D. 

7. I Hear Voices 

8. Thick As Thieves 

9. Take Aim 

10. Club Foot 

11. Re-wired 

12. Empire 

13. La Fée Verte 

14. Fast Fuse 

15. Goodbye Kiss 

16. L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever) 


Encore:
17. Switchblade Smiles 

18. Vlad The Impaler 

19. Fire 


























Friday, November 18, 2011

Adam Ant gig o2 oxford 18.11.11

The first album I ever purchased was Adam Ant - Prince Charming. Yup, it could have been a lot worse back in the eighties. Here's a few pics and video from last nights amazing gig with his new band. Some are even in focus. ;)

Set List:
Intro (Vince Taylor - Rock'n Roll Station)
Plastic Surgery
Dog Eat Dog
Beat My Guest
Kick!
Cartrouble
Zerox
Ants Invasion
Stand and Deliver
Puss'n Boots
Kings of the Wild Frontier
Wonderful
Vince Taylor
Whip in My valise
B-Side Baby
'Antmusic'
Cleopatra
Never Trust A Man (With Egg on his Face)
Goody Two Shoes
Vive le Rock
Christian D'or
Lady/Fall in
First Encore
Prince Charming
Red Scab
Second Encore
Get it On
20th Century Boy
Physical (You're So)

Support Bands
Poussez Posse
Twinkle Twinkle