Wimbledon 2012

Late last year Ross and I decided to apply for the Wimbledon ballot - something taken very seriously by the All English Lawn Tennis Club (we had to register for the electoral roll so they could verify our address).  We have both watched Wimbledon for as long as we can remember, so we were thrilled when we were offered tickets for the Round 3 sessions on Court 1, and the day did not disappoint!

We arrived well before play started on our court to soak up the atmosphere and see some of the earlier games on the outside courts and were greeted by the most polite security bag checks we've ever experienced ('I'm so sorry for this, I'll repack your bag when I'm done') - not your regular sporting event!

We were lucky enough to stumble upon Djokavic warming up on the outside courts while trying to decide on the best vantage point for the doubles match - quite surreal to stand 5m from the world number 1 as he smashes out a few serves.  

Djokavic warming up

Unfortunately not long after that the rain started and was on and off - the ground staff are well practised with the covers!  The matches on Court 1 were scheduled to start at 1pm and miraculously at 12:55pm the clouds mostly cleared and the sun came out - game on!

First up was the rest of the Querry v Raonic match, followed by Sharapova v Hsieh, and Clijsters v Zvonareva.  Not too bad!  

Sharapova took out Hsieh, despite some great winners by Hsieh and being a little rattled by the wind - and Clijsters was all set to win when Zvonareva retired after taking a medical time-out.  We weren't that interested in the last match on Court 1 so went off to see what else we could find and ended up with front row seats for the Huber/Raymond v Stosur/Dellacqua match - not bad!  The power in Stosur's arms and legs is just incredible and Dellacqua hit some cracking baseline winners - a treat to get to see them so close!

Maria Sharapova vs Su-Wei Hsieh, Court One

Kim Clijsters vs Vera Zvonareva, Court One

Dellacqua/Stosur vs Huber/Raymond, Court Six

Stosur and Dellacqua, Court Six

I also managed to spot Alicia Molik in the crowd on her way back from the gym - she is so tall!

Such an enjoyable day (despite the variable weather) and another thing off the bucket list!

Strawberries and Cream at Wimbledon

Vive le tour!

It's that time of year again - ordinarily the time of year when I get very little sleep and learn lots about 15th century churches - Tour time!

It's been really hard in the lead up to the tour not to get too bogged down wishing I was going again this year, but I know this is only happening because we had such an amazing time in 2011.  The long, lazy days, the anticipation, the celebration, the recap conversations well into the night - I'm going to miss it all!  

 

Here is hoping this year is as great as last year - Allez Cadel!

Another June in France

When Marine asked us if we wanted to spend an extra long weekend with her and Jason and her family on Île de Ré, France we didn't hesitate is saying yes! Île de Ré is an island just off the coast of La Rochelle.  It's about 30kms long and 5kms wide, and known for its fishing and salt production (salted caramel everywhere!).


Looking forward to our longest break since starting work we set off on Wednesday morning to Stansted to get our first Ryanair flight - what an experience!  It's a bit like getting the tube to another country.  Ads everywhere, people fighting over seats, even a problem with closing the door because there was something in the way.  Even so, much faster than getting the Eurostar and then the TGV.

Pierre, Marine, Jason and I riding to St Martin de Re for ice cream

Our first port of call was cycling to St Martin de Re to have 'the best ice cream in the world'.  Excited much?

While I haven't tried all of the ice cream in the world, this would have to be close!  I enjoyed a Speculoos and creme brûlée waffle cone with croc caramel - diet?  What diet?

The harbour is gorgeous!

The next morning we set out for some more traditional pursuits - to collect some oysters and palourdes (like mussels).  You dig the oysters out using the pick end of the hammer, and you crack it off the rock using the hammer end.  The newbies were a lot slower at spotting and then removing them, but we did ok!

 Ross broke his shoes after about 3 minutes!

After this we took a trip across the mud to get the palourdes.  I'm not sure I've ever laughed as hard as I did trying to get across the mud and the creeks.  You never knew when you were going to go sliding or end up up to your knees.  So exhausting!

 Me, kneeling in the creek after deciding it was easier than trying to stand in the mud

 The boys trying to get rid of some of the mud

Our catch was cooked by Marine's family and served for lunch and dinner over the next few days.  It was pretty cool to go and get your own lunch! 

 Gazpacho, oysters and bread

Palourdes, cooked in butter and garlic with bread and salted butter

Marine, Jason and Ross trying to work out the keg

When we weren't eating we were either at the beach or out on the boat wake boarding or waterskiing (I just watched - I'm chicken and didn't want to re-injure my shoulder!).

Altogether a fabulous week(end) with friends!

Why, no. I'm not Danish, tak for asking!

It's (usually) quite flattering when you go to another country and get mistaken for one of the locals.  Kind of proof that you don't always look as lost and hopeless as you might sometimes feel!  I guess it was the blonde hair and riding a bike that confused them - easy mistake as everyone rides a bike in Copenhagen, and almost everyone has blonde hair.

I loved Copenhagen almost immediately - everything seems to be beautiful.  There is so much history packed in, but in a really relaxed way - the people are genuinely excited to share it with you.

We fit a lot into our four days, including watching the Socceroos play Denmark (and lose), a walking tour of the city, a cycling tour of the city, changing of the guards at Amalienborg Slot, the crown jewels at Rosenborg Slot, The Little Mermaid, Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens, some amazing furniture at the Danish Design Museum and what I'm sure is my spiritual home, Illums Bolighus.

A few of my favourite pictures from the weekend...

Sco Supreme

Socceroos vs Denmark

The oldest street in Copenhagen

Amalienborg Slot

Nyhavn

Bicycle graveyard

Changing of the guard

The Little Mermaid

Tivoli Gardens