Newsflash! (and other stuff.)

Well would you believe it, I actually had a response from the Car Parking company!

Now you may wonder why I sound so surprised. I'm not sure how it is with all you folks abroad in your respective countries but I'm pretty flabbergasted because I've become accustomed to not receiving responses from companies and indeed many other institutions in the UK. And as for customer service departments - there's more chance of my having a conversation with a purple 6 legged alien with 4 eyes than actually getting to talk to someone who knows their subject.

Anyway, the good news is that I've been absolved from my car parking ticket - without even producing my ticket! I've got to admit it was not the result I was expecting; I'm not used to things going my way. Maybe fortune has, at last, begun to shine on me! I suspect the administrators decided to take pity on me because of the cruel circumstances of my fine and my being such a poor downtrodden, overworked, lonely housewife.... with only one leg....

Hmm.....wait a minute. Maybe they thought I was one those nutters who write to newspapers and radio stations and rant about moral injustices? Perhaps they thought I might bomb their offices, go on a starvation diet or even handcuff myself to one of their parking meters in order to bring attention to their hideous plot to milk the middle classes of all their hard earned cash?

Hmm..... could be....

Not that I would ever, ever do such a thing. Well...not whilst I've got a blog anyway.

Besides those pink fluffy handcuffs would look far too silly. And the starvation diet.... well it's a nice idea but um (cough, cough)...not very likely. Although, a bomb I could manage. Easy. I can work wonders with a milk bottle and some Stilton cheese you know.

Oh well it's 3.30 am and I'm having another bout of insomnia so I might as well continue. Well you'd hardly know it was summer here due to the appalling weather we've had lately. Nevertheless I've been out and about with the boys. In between parking fines and car crashes we've spent the last 3 weeks at various tennis tournaments and young Ben is on top form having, in the last 2 weeks, picked up 4 tournament wins to add to a whole host he has already won this year. Last year it was Master Jacob's turn to pick up the medals but here they are pictured together just after picking up wins in both their age groups at a tournament earlier in the year.

Gez. What a pair of rascals! Although I don't know what's happened to Master Benedict's ears in that photo. Looks like I need to get the sellotape out. However, I've got to admit that's a better photo than some of the ones I took on our trip to Wimbledon earlier in the year:

Okay, I'm not saying I've got a problem taking action shots but well after about 500 shots I thought maybe I' better do some stills instead. Anyway, wanna take a guess whose legs they are?

Well here's the owner:

Elena Dementieva.

And yep those legs are spectacular up close. Beat Venus Williams' anyday. Just a little more definition. This was her cruising to an easy semi final win over somebody (can't remember now - sorry!)... whose legs weren't quite so impressive.

Not that I'm jealous of those legs. But nobody, and I mean nobody, mention them again. Okay?

(And get that comment out of your head Gary Davison. Cos I said NO!)

Here's one of my favourite piccys from Wimbledon:


This is the Austrian Oliver Marach taking up what I call the "Get out the ****** way or the ball's gonna hit you on the head" position. I'm sure there's a more technical description but you know I don't actually know it. Maybe just "crouching"? Gez, I shall have to do some investigation (but not at 4 in the morning) in due course. Now this isn't a position you see much in junior tennis - unless you play doubles with Master Ben who has one mean serve. Boy, can he blast 'em down. Believe me, his doubles partner stays well out the way - just in case Master Ben delivers the odd stray ball. Regretfully, I must report Master Ben has quite a developed sense of humor for an 8 year old. In fact, he frequently "dabbles" with the opposition. He lets them win a few points, see a spark of possible victory light in their eyes.... and well then he pulls out what Master Jacob refers to as "The Emergency Serve" and then annihilates them. I mean they can't even get a racket to it!

Ho, ho, ho.

I shouldn't laugh should I?! But oh well... some of those tennis mums are so darn pushy sometimes I can't but help have a silent giggle........

Naturally, young Master Ben inherits his serve from moi which is one of the strengths of my own game. Unfortunately, rather more of my balls tend to go astray. No reason really - I just like hitting Mrs P (Housewife Extraordinaire in Training) on the back of the head. I keep telling her to take up the "crouching" position but she's far too dignified.

I just hope she doesn't sue me for brain damage in due course.

Oh... I've just written a book review for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame- Smith over at The View From Here. If you want to know about the latest literary craze of Monster Mash pop over and take a look and discover what I think about zombies let loose in Regency England. Hmm...time to hit the sack I think.

See you soon!