Wimbers Tennis Week

The week kicked off with something that seemed exceptionally unlikely at the start of this year – Maureen, bless her, somehow made it to her 89th birthday.

Ginny, Muriel and I managed to get her out to the terrace area of her care home, where Maureen seemed entirely confused about the sight of a cake, being told it was her birthday and why on earth we were trying to sing to her! We usually manage to get a smile or two from her, but not that day – she even spat out the tiny bit of soft cake filling that I popped into her mouth, and that tends to work too… Ah well! And Ginny does somehow always manage to take a photo where I look like a bloody whale in the foreground – note to self, take one of her next time…

I popped over to Twickers area to catch up with Liz T in the week too – sadly still finding it very slow and frustrating as she recovers from the awful car accident back in January. Very good to catch up face to face, as we had spoken by phone a few times during our Spain trip, and to have a bite of lunch together. And always nice to feed little furry Freddie a few cat treats – the boy can pack them away!

Next it was finally time for H, the car, the bikes and a very bored dog to return home to Dora Rd from Espana, about 11pm on Thursday eve. We did a rapid unpack of the car and chucked everything into the hallway, as SW19 is a bit of a hot bed of car crime. Though why anyone would want half empty condiment bottles, squashed loo rolls and some grubby swimwear is beyond me.. Thanks to Paul Taylor for being his travel wingman this trip!

H and I were then straight off to Wimbers tennis on the Friday, along with a hefty picnic, bottle of fizz, cool sleeve and several cans of cheeky Pimms. And what a top first game! Djokovic vs Rinderknech, which was one of the most exciting games we’ve ever seen there – lots of ‘how did he squeak that in’ shots and both of them felt out on the grass multiple times.

Which perhaps put a slight death knell on the pretty crap Ladies game that followed. We watched the second Men’s game into its first set but the lure of picking up Maddie from over the road and easing my sore back on our sofa won out.

Thence we were into more social – I had a v nice tea trip over to my old school chum’s house in Epsom, where Maddie galloped in, clearly recognising it as where she has spent 2 x two week visits, when Fiona & Peter have very kindly looked after her when we’ve been away. Peter was very rapidly put to work throwing the ball for her in the garden – Fiona & I could hear panting from there, and weren’t sure if it was Mads or an increasingly hot hubby…

And finally yesterday was Pam’s 60th birthday bash – two weeks before the actual event so she was only in partial mourning at this point.

About 16 of us headed to the Black Swan at Ockham and sat out in the garden for about 5 hours, very nice too. I was jolly pleased I managed to unearth a very undignified photo for her birthday card from a tour many years ago – it might be in the past but never forgotten! Tee hee…

Today is Sunday – and I’ve been doing Kantar work most of the day – boo hiss. Might post this now then treat myself to an hour with the Sunday paper while H is running round a hot padel court. Ah yes, good plan. And its roast chicken on the BBQ later, I must remember to light the damn thing or it’ll be midnight chuck and we might as well stay up and watch the footy..

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