Friday 7th June 2013…another beautiful day!!!

 

 

This morning I was up at 7am and these were taken from my roof top

a few minutes later a man walks down our street ringing a bell which is a sign to get out with the garbage!!!

then it was time  to watch this classic battle!!!!

 

 

Rafael Nadal won a stunning heavyweight clash with world number one Novak Djokovic to reach his eighth French Open final.

The seven-time champion, 27, saw off Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 9-7 in four hours and 37 minutes.

Nadal will play compatriot David Ferrer  in Sunday's final.

 

It will be his first Grand Slam final since he beat Djokovic at Roland Garros last year, having missed seven months with a serious knee injury.

Friday's first semi-final had been the focus of attention ever since the draw paired Djokovic and Nadal in the same half, and it did not disappoint.

While not quite matching the five hours and 53 minutes of their 2012 Australian Open final, there was drama every step of the way.

Nadal failed to serve out the match in the fourth set and Djokovic let a 4-2 lead slip in the fifth, before the Spaniard proved the stronger as the decider headed past one hour and 20 minutes.

"It's very, very special for me," said Nadal. "I want to congratulate Novak, he's a great champion and he will win here at Roland Garros one day, I'm sure.

"Serving for the match at 6-5 in the fourth, I was serving against the wind, so I knew it was going to be a difficult game. I was ready for the fight. In Australia 2012 it was a similar match - today it was me [that won]. That's the great thing about sport."

World number one Djokovic said: "It's been an unbelievable match to be part of, but all I can feel now is disappointment. That's it. I congratulate him, because that's why he's a champion.

Rafa rules at Roland Garros

Rafael Nadal has lost just once in his 59 matches at Roland Garros - a fourth-round defeat to Sweden's Robin Soderling in 2009.

"That's why he's been ruling Roland Garros for many years, and for me it's another year."

With the temperature pushing 30C, Nadal's fearsome forehand had dominated the early stages, helping him to break at 3-3 and go ahead early in the second.

Djokovic would prove to be at his most dangerous when behind, however, stringing together a brilliant four games to level and letting out an almighty roar after one rasping forehand.

The two tournament favourites landed blow after blow on each other, with Nadal responding superbly to dropping the second set by breaking at the start of the third when a line call went against Djokovic.

Nadal closed it out after a brisk 37 minutes, interrupted only when Djokovic headed off court with the trainer, and the champion twice led by a break in the fourth against the apparently fading top seed.

 

 

Djokovic refused to yield, however, recovering to 4-4 before some magnificent returning denied Nadal as he served for a place in the final at 6-5.

With the wind in his sails once again, Djokovic raced through the tie-break, levelling the match with a fizzing forehand that caught out Nadal at the net, and got his first glimpse of a place in the final with another great return at the start of the fifth.

Djokovic, looking for the one Grand Slam title that has so far eluded him, made it to 4-2 before Nadal began to reel him in, levelling in a thrilling game that saw the Serb miss an easy put away by touching the net at deuce.

Both men produced brilliant tennis, and the occasional shocking miss, as the games ticked by and the tension rose, but several missed smashes and complaints to the umpire about the slippery court suggested Djokovic was the edgier.

When the end came, it was swift, as Nadal fired a forehand winner on his way to three match points and Djokovic sent a tired forehand over the baseline.

It might only have been a semi-final, but the Spaniard's reaction showed how thrilled he was to reach his first Slam final after 12 months so disrupted by injury.

 

 

How they can play so hard after 4 hours tennis is a testament to their fitness and training.

In the afternoon I helped my friend Carol with moving some items to her new casa……….managed to get an hour on the roof relaxing before supper and yep you guessed it hockey!!!!

Some more memories!!!!

Riding the huge surf in Barra de Navidad!!

A couple of years ago again in Barra…I am sat in  between Joy and Colin, special friends…..Joy is my personal hair dresser and Colin was the one that put me onto the pay back scheme for British pension…thanks!!!

Also in this photo is my long time special friend Inga!!!

Last year Bridlington, England….My Grand dad used to walk this beach years ago with his handkerchief on his head…..this is also my Auntie Rita and my Dad’s brother Bram….what a fun afternoon that was !!!

I am so lucky to know Ashley the wonderful phenom tennis player but also Zach who is the youngest son of my wonderful friends Heather and Kirby, the home I stay when in Nanaimo, Zach is one of the best young golfers in the Province and this weekend he is in….

 

The Elmwood Golf and Country Club in Swift Current, Sask., will play host to the third CN Future Links Championship event of 2013 – the CN Future Links Prairie Championship – which will be held June 6-9, with a practice round being staged on Thursday, June 6.

The 54-hole stroke play championship will feature the country’s top junior golfers aged 11-18. Players will vie for titles in a Junior Boys and Junior Girls division, respectively.

“Swift Current is about to see some of the best young golfers Canada has to offer,” said Tournament Director Russell MacKay. “The CN Future Links Championship events allow Canada’s amateurs to show us the bright future of golf in this country.”

The Elmwood Golf and Country Club has hosted various Saskatchewan Junior, Amateur, Mid Amateur and Senior events. It has been in operation for 90 years and is known for its big beautiful elm trees.

“I am excited to watch the terrific talent enjoy our golf course and see the great junior players battle it out,” said Elmwood Executive Professional Sheldon Reinhart. “I am looking forward to seeing the next Mike Weir or Graham DeLaet playing our golf course.”

 

Well after the first day guess who is at the top of the leader board??

 

YES ZACH!!!!!!!! he is 2 under for the day well done..proud of you!!!!

 

 

 

Yashi Koshi!!