Saturday 29th January 2016...catch up time!!!

But first my beautiful and special Sister in law has just celebrated a birthday and I want to wish Janet a great day and the huge medal for putting up with my Brother is in the mail....I know you will celebrate with family and wish I could be with you but glad we just spoke on Skype!!!

After the late night I slept in till after 8 am but I did not have to rush as I was not leaving the cabin till later in the morning..... So I relaxed and had fruit and yogurt and porridge for breakfast... I am trying to finalize some dates for South Africa in March but having some issues with dates issues..... I packed up for the day and was at the train station for the 12.30pm free train into Melbourne and then the tram to the stadium and I was in my seat for the start of the first match at the wonderful Rod Laver arena and the ticket I had gave me a great view I was on one of the corners so a good seat. The first match was a mixed doubles semi final And the action was fast and furious those players have such good and fast instincts and it was a great game!! The next match which followed right after was the final of the women's doubles and I was happy to see that Martina Hingis was in the final  funnily enough her partner was the girl who beat her in the mixed doubles yesterday... They were seeded number one and it was a fascinating contest powerful shots, short fast rallies and Hingis was victorious in two sets...it was a thrill for me to be on a stadium where a grand slam winners are presented with their trophy..... There was about an hour to kill before the final game of the night so after I had my sandwiches and drinks I walked around the concourse and took in all the flavor of the event..there were many Canadian flags and faces  and the ball girls and boys that are so well trained and add a joy to the watching of the matches..  .as I was walking past a doorway who comes towards me and goes into the doorway but the man himself....Rod Laver and his wife... They were waiting in this passageway and were just a few feet away and I took a photo  and his wife smiled at me and she beckoned me forward and Mr. Laver turned to me I just put my hand out and he shook it immediately and I told him it was just such an honor to meet him he smiled and said thank you!!!  I am lucky or what..how many people of the 15000 in the stands got that thrill?? I found my way back to my seat and it was occupied by four boisterous and funny Scottish girls... They knew one of them was in my seat but it turns out the four of them bought tickets off the same I did and they asked me if I minded moving down two seats so they could sit together and of course I moved...... It turns out I did get a deal with my ticket as they paid 325 dollars each..... So here is the preview to the game Andy Murray is Scottish and proud of his heritage and is seeded number two in the world there was some talk about him not playing the full tournament as his wife is back home expecting their first child and he told the press that he would leave the tournament to be with his wife if she went into labor.,... His opponent tonight is Milos Raonic from Canada but with roots from Monte Negro and he is ranked number 13..... It was going to be a battle about power as Milan has one of the fastest serves in the game today!! Well it was a fascinating contest sheer power and Milos took the first set and deservedly so....The experienced Murray figured out to get some returns of serve back and he took the next set...it was a great contest and the girls next to me will have sore voices tomorrow!!! With his serve still pounding away Milos took the third set before Murray came back and took the fourth set so it headed to the final and deciding with set. With my knowledge of the game and knowing a bit about the physkie of these athletes I think I can tell you where Milos lost the game.... it was  two p0ints that changed the game and began the downfall of Milos.....he was up on a very important game in the fourth set and he had two break points to his advantage but instead of breaking he lost that game and his demeanor and his spirit was broken. Murray raced away to easily win the deciding fifth set.  the game was just about four great hours and a thrill and a memory for me to be there!!! I just had time to get out of the stadium onto the tram to the train station for the last train at 12.15am and I arrived back at the cabin at 1.30am tired but thrilled and content because this part of my journey was to be about tennis and it was I attended 4 times and shall not forget the second of my Grand slams!! !!!! I will do another post tonight as this one was too late to write last night! Yashi Kochi!!!