Oh gosh I am sorry. I have been absent for a week but did not mean to be so I am now rambling and catching up. I have been in London helping with childcare which of course I love but wipes me out after a few days. I was taking Beatrice to nursery in the morning while her mum took Florence to school and these days being up, washed and dressed with the slap on by 8 am is an unusual experience but I managed it.
On the Monday Florence had a swimming gala to attend and as neither of her parents could make it she wanted me to be there so of course I went. So drop Beatrice off, go home, breakfast, tidy up. Off to swimming pool by noon (went by taxi as it was in Teddington and I had not the faintest idea where it was), delighted to see Florence so confident in the water, then taxi back early with Florence, home for an hour and then off to collect Beatrice who was very happy to see me with her sister. Decided to go to a local coffee shop and we had drinks and cake and sat and talked and I really enjoyed being out with them. They behaved well, sometimes at home they are dire but when out they are ok, so far....
On Tuesday morning after the nursery run, I stopped off for coffee and a croissant at at lovely cafe in Kew Village, very close to where they live. Kew Tube station is really very attractive and the whole are round there with shops, and food stores is delightful. Sun was shining and I sat there with my book and chilled for an hour and felt happy.
I managed to catch quite a bit of the French Open tennis during the week as well which is on terrestrial TV and covered by ITV4. I think this is the last year they have the contract and dare say SKY will gobble it up soon. The commentating team is led by John Inverdale, who because of reaction to a remark seen as sexist about Bartoli, the Wimbledon Champion, was banished by the right on, politically correct lot at the BBC and instead we had Clare Balding which ticked an obvious box for the Corporation who, though good, was and is in danger of being over exposed. There was an excruciating Wimbledon2day programme in the evening upon which scorn was poured by everyone who watched it, calls on Twitter for Inverdale to be given his job back complete with #beingbackJohn and it was all very silly. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Inverdale this week with his ease of manner and his depth of knowledge so fingers crossed he will make an appearance at Wimbers this years.
Goes without saying that Andy Murray produced two five setters which were totally unexpected and totally unnecessary and reduced all Brit watchers to nervous wrecks, me included. As I write this he is playing John Isner who is about ten feet tall and Murray has taken the first set. He beat Karlovic the other day easily, another who is about nine feet and who spent most of the time taking to return balls which Murray aimed at his ankles. It was a long way down and he invariably netted the return. Presume he will adopt the same tactic with Isner. I have decided to watch cricket at the moment and will check in with the Scots One now and then as watching him is bad for my equilibrium.
In between all of this I have managed to squeeze some reading in. A couple more of the British Library Crime Classics which I did not enjoy, in contrast to the last two by Miles Burton which I loved - still you can't win them all, but have been totally absorbed in reading the detective stories of Robert Barnard who I posted about a week or so ago. I read one which I find rather poor but then followed this up by three which I thought were simply excellent. He has written so many that it is hardly surprising that he has a few bummers. A lot of them on Amazon for the Kindle but decided to check my library online catalogue and they have dozens in stock so have reserved several of them. I love it when I discover a new author and even better when he has written a HUGE amount and I have loads of reading in front of me.
Sorry this is not exactly an earth shattering post, but it has been a good week. Family and books and tennis. Wonderful combination.
More anon.
I promise.
Au reservoir.
