![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
TENNIS: US Open afterword and sundries
Sep. 15th, 2025 08:13 amJust to observe that, as so often, four different women won a Grand Slam this year, with Sabalenka being the only one to defend one, although Swiatek and Gauff were adding more to their tallies, while Keys won her maiden slam. Sabalenka’s record in tiebreaks is apparently record breaking.
I got the chance to watch the full men’s final on YouTube, ( Read more... )
Jack Draper won’t be playing for the rest of the season due to injury, which is such a shame, because that whole year he was healthy, we was so good.
More by accident than design, I found out that Prime was showing the Davis Cup. ( The first day of GB vs Poland. )I didn't manage to watch any other matches or ties. (I watched the men's French Open final on YT instead - in two sittings.)
I got the chance to watch the full men’s final on YouTube, ( Read more... )
Jack Draper won’t be playing for the rest of the season due to injury, which is such a shame, because that whole year he was healthy, we was so good.
More by accident than design, I found out that Prime was showing the Davis Cup. ( The first day of GB vs Poland. )I didn't manage to watch any other matches or ties. (I watched the men's French Open final on YT instead - in two sittings.)
TENNIS: US Open 2025 week 2
Sep. 8th, 2025 05:57 pmI didn’t mention the controversy about the grown man caught on camera stealing a hat that a player had clearly passed to a child, getting named and shamed online. His ensuing apology made the early evening news.
There was a fourth round ( Read more... )
Quarter finals: ( Read more... )
Semi-finals: ( Read more... )
I read an article pointing out that tennis is the most popular sport on TV among women in the UK. There was some blether about men having more free time, but then, you never know how long a tennis match is going to take. Of course, it is one of (if not) the best sports on gender parity, and has had female stars going back to Suzanne Longlen – and I imagine most women are perfectly happy watching athletic young men like Jack Draper etc play too…
Women’s finals: ( Read more... )
Men’s finals: I listened to this live.
( Read more... )
There was a fourth round ( Read more... )
Quarter finals: ( Read more... )
Semi-finals: ( Read more... )
I read an article pointing out that tennis is the most popular sport on TV among women in the UK. There was some blether about men having more free time, but then, you never know how long a tennis match is going to take. Of course, it is one of (if not) the best sports on gender parity, and has had female stars going back to Suzanne Longlen – and I imagine most women are perfectly happy watching athletic young men like Jack Draper etc play too…
Women’s finals: ( Read more... )
Men’s finals: I listened to this live.
( Read more... )
Ep 5 – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle week ( Read more... )
Ep 6 – Children’s week.
( Read more... )
Ep 7 – Art week
( Read more... )
Ep 8 - Movie week and the quarter finals
( Read more... )
Ep 6 – Children’s week.
( Read more... )
Ep 7 – Art week
( Read more... )
Ep 8 - Movie week and the quarter finals
( Read more... )
TENNIS: US Open 2025 week 1
Aug. 31st, 2025 03:19 pmThis is via news reports, highlights, extended highlights and Quick Served.
Round 1: ( Read more... )
Round 2 ( Read more... )
Round 3 ( Read more... )
ETA: I deleted the accidental double post about The Thursday Murder Club.
Round 1: ( Read more... )
Round 2 ( Read more... )
Round 3 ( Read more... )
ETA: I deleted the accidental double post about The Thursday Murder Club.
REVIEW: The Thursday Murder Club (film)
Aug. 28th, 2025 09:13 amThe Thursday Murder Club (2025) Rated: 12A
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Screenplay by: Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, based on the nove by: Richard Osman
Starring: Helen Mirren, Piers Brosnan, Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley
This is well made and entertaining, it features lots of big names in the British acting firmament, some things have been dropped or tweaked for the running time, and maybe some of the characters flattened, but that’s what you expect with adaptations. I saw it in the cinema – as I don’t have Netflix, I was glad to catch it in my local arthouse cinema. I believe it’s on a short, limited run in British cinemas, at least. It is worth it for the communal chuckles, because it’s a film that sets out to entertain, and then it remembers that it is about real murders, ( Read more... )
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Screenplay by: Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, based on the nove by: Richard Osman
Starring: Helen Mirren, Piers Brosnan, Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley
This is well made and entertaining, it features lots of big names in the British acting firmament, some things have been dropped or tweaked for the running time, and maybe some of the characters flattened, but that’s what you expect with adaptations. I saw it in the cinema – as I don’t have Netflix, I was glad to catch it in my local arthouse cinema. I believe it’s on a short, limited run in British cinemas, at least. It is worth it for the communal chuckles, because it’s a film that sets out to entertain, and then it remembers that it is about real murders, ( Read more... )
REVIEW: The Clever Woman of the Family
Aug. 24th, 2025 03:46 pmThe Clever Woman of the Family: Charlotte M. Yonge
Virago Modern Classic 1985
I think this may be the first Yonge book that I’ve ever read, and it may have been that it was because this book was published by Virago as a Modern Classic that I bought it (second-hand, of course.) I was gripped overall by the characters and story, I even stayed up late for me one night to read it. I liked the general sympathy for most characters (although ( Read more... )
Virago Modern Classic 1985
I think this may be the first Yonge book that I’ve ever read, and it may have been that it was because this book was published by Virago as a Modern Classic that I bought it (second-hand, of course.) I was gripped overall by the characters and story, I even stayed up late for me one night to read it. I liked the general sympathy for most characters (although ( Read more... )
REVIEW: The School on the Cliff
Aug. 20th, 2025 05:15 pmThe School on the Cliff: Winifred Darch
(Part of ‘The New Winifred Darch Omnibus’, Oxford University Press, Reprint 1958)
This book does things that many girls own books do - there is a new girl, a new Senior Prefect and a wise headmistress, and it ends with a party - but with aplomb, humour and humanity. There is one big coincidence, and the adventure suggested by the title comes to pass, but it is within the realms of possibility.
( Read more... )
(Part of ‘The New Winifred Darch Omnibus’, Oxford University Press, Reprint 1958)
This book does things that many girls own books do - there is a new girl, a new Senior Prefect and a wise headmistress, and it ends with a party - but with aplomb, humour and humanity. There is one big coincidence, and the adventure suggested by the title comes to pass, but it is within the realms of possibility.
( Read more... )
TENNIS: The North American swing mainly
Aug. 19th, 2025 11:54 amI am aware that Bublik and Boisson made it to finals in the tournaments that were on the week after Wimbledon (I don’t know on what surfaces they were played.)
The north American swing started in Washington, ( Read more... )
The other story rumbling in the background was that quite a few top players were pulling out of the Canada Open and Cincinnati, both Masters events, which have been stretched to a week and a half, proof that the schedule is putting too much strain on top tennis players’ bodies.
( In Canada... )
( In Cincinnatti )
On to the US Open and the mixed doubles experiment. I was all set to have Sinner down as the clear favourite, but it depends how quickly he recovers. Alcaraz doesn’t quite know what his level is as his last two toughest opponents were hampered. Who knows with Djokovic – he hasn’t played since Wimbledon, but that doesn’t mean much, he’s had a great year in the Grand Slams if you’re not hunting for your twenty-fifth. It probably means more that Draper hasn’t played either. Zverev and Fritz have wobbled, though I’ve been impressed by Shelton.
The women’s side was a bit more open: Sabalenka is still no. 1, but the defending champion has had issues at grand slams this year, which only adds to the pressure. Swiatek is on her way back up, so maybe they're the top two favourites. Gauff hasn’t done much since the French relatively speaking, but it’s women’s tennis, I could totally buy there being four different champions this year – Rybakina has been improving, Paolini played herself into form at Cincinnati, don’t discount Anisimova or Keys or Whoever.
The north American swing started in Washington, ( Read more... )
The other story rumbling in the background was that quite a few top players were pulling out of the Canada Open and Cincinnati, both Masters events, which have been stretched to a week and a half, proof that the schedule is putting too much strain on top tennis players’ bodies.
( In Canada... )
( In Cincinnatti )
On to the US Open and the mixed doubles experiment. I was all set to have Sinner down as the clear favourite, but it depends how quickly he recovers. Alcaraz doesn’t quite know what his level is as his last two toughest opponents were hampered. Who knows with Djokovic – he hasn’t played since Wimbledon, but that doesn’t mean much, he’s had a great year in the Grand Slams if you’re not hunting for your twenty-fifth. It probably means more that Draper hasn’t played either. Zverev and Fritz have wobbled, though I’ve been impressed by Shelton.
The women’s side was a bit more open: Sabalenka is still no. 1, but the defending champion has had issues at grand slams this year, which only adds to the pressure. Swiatek is on her way back up, so maybe they're the top two favourites. Gauff hasn’t done much since the French relatively speaking, but it’s women’s tennis, I could totally buy there being four different champions this year – Rybakina has been improving, Paolini played herself into form at Cincinnati, don’t discount Anisimova or Keys or Whoever.
REVIEW: Shocks for the Chalet School
Aug. 14th, 2025 08:33 amShocks for the Chalet School: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer. Armada, 1981.
I think I may have read this once upon a time, but never owned a copy until now. (As I always say, I am trying to get a complete set of Chalet School books.) This is set during the St Briavel era, ( Read more... )
I think I may have read this once upon a time, but never owned a copy until now. (As I always say, I am trying to get a complete set of Chalet School books.) This is set during the St Briavel era, ( Read more... )
OVERVIEW: Towers in the Mist
Aug. 13th, 2025 09:51 amI bought Towers in the Mist by Elizabeth Goudge at the same time as I bought ‘The Heart of the Family’, discussed here, so I felt obliged to read it. But I won't be buying any more of Goudge's books from this point on. This is a historical novel, with an imaginary family, the Leighs, replacing a real-life family in Elizabethan Oxford and interacting with some historical figures. It starts with ( Read more... )
I hope to post more about books in the near future.
I hope to post more about books in the near future.
It’s series 11, and Sara Pascoe has returned to present. The theme of episode one was ‘shapes’, and as ever, I know I didn’t take everyone’s names in, but they seemed to have selected a variety of contestants, ( Read more... )
The theme of episode 2 was athletic wear, and they were still introducing the contestants to us. ( Read more... )
Week three’s theme was icons. ( Read more... )
Episode 4 was Korea week. ( Read more... )
The theme of episode 2 was athletic wear, and they were still introducing the contestants to us. ( Read more... )
Week three’s theme was icons. ( Read more... )
Episode 4 was Korea week. ( Read more... )
Nearly there, and this is helping with the withdrawal.
Day eleven
Women’s semi-finals: ( Read more... )
I then watched the mixed doubles finals, ( Read more... )
Day twelve
This really was men’s semi-finals day, but the coverage I watched started with one women’s doubles semi-final match and closed with another. ( Read more... )
Day eleven
Women’s semi-finals: ( Read more... )
I then watched the mixed doubles finals, ( Read more... )
Day twelve
This really was men’s semi-finals day, but the coverage I watched started with one women’s doubles semi-final match and closed with another. ( Read more... )
TENNIS - Wimbledon 2025 QFs
Jul. 13th, 2025 08:43 amI'm still running behind on posting!
Day nine
Worth noting that none of the women's quarter finals had won Wimbledon before.
( Read more... )
Day ten
( Read more... )
Day nine
Worth noting that none of the women's quarter finals had won Wimbledon before.
( Read more... )
Day ten
( Read more... )
TENNIS - Wimbledon 2025 R3
Jul. 6th, 2025 11:24 amDay five
( Read more... )
Day six
Rain meant that there wasn’t really any play on the outside courts until play started on Court No. 1 under the roof, where I paid the most attention. ( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Day six
Rain meant that there wasn’t really any play on the outside courts until play started on Court No. 1 under the roof, where I paid the most attention. ( Read more... )
TENNIS - Wimbledon 2025 R2
Jul. 4th, 2025 08:15 amDay three
As promised, the weather changed – so much so that there was no play because of rain until play was scheduled to start on Court No. 1. The sun would eventually come out, with a slight breeze, but it was about 10 degrees lower than it had been.
( Read more... )
Day four
( Read more... )
As promised, the weather changed – so much so that there was no play because of rain until play was scheduled to start on Court No. 1. The sun would eventually come out, with a slight breeze, but it was about 10 degrees lower than it had been.
( Read more... )
Day four
( Read more... )
