Thursday 31 st January 2019...well that month went fast!!!!!

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'

'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.

'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.

What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill . His son's name?

Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

Yashi Kochi!!!

Wednesday 30th January 2019.... a good day again!!!!

My normal gym session time of 4.30pm was moved up to 9.30am this morning....this is only for this week but it works much better for me as I don’t have to rush from poker to the gym to my English Class....

So the session was a good work out not too intense as Aaron knows I am not totally 100% healthy...I really think he is a superb trainer and a really great young man!!

I relaxed at home afterwards and then went to Mort’s house which is now the new location for our poker afternoon.........and again happy to report the New Year good luck continues with another deposit of    150   Pesos in my bank account!!

I was able to relax a little afterwards and then went to my English class at 6pm.....

   My three young men were the only Students that showed up and after telling of our paying it forward acts I organized a game night.

We started with a memory test...I had brought twenty different small things and laid them on the table let them look at them for 30 seconds and then covered them up and asked them to write as many as they could remember......they liked this and we did it a few times ....then I took a couple of things away and again they had to guess!!!

Next I had them make6 columns and each had a different heading....countries....sports....jobs....fruits....animals...names...

Then we went through the alphabet and they had to think of a word starting with that letter for each column.....some colours were hard!!!

Next they had to say two sentences..one true and one false and we all had to guess which was which!!!

Then it was word changes...I would write a four letter word on the board and they took turns coming to the front and had to change one letter to make a new word........they liked this game.

Finally we finished with charades and they always enjoy this and they know Wednesday night is chocolate night!!!

It was fun and informative class!!

Now home had some mushroom soup and now going to watch a show!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!

Tuesday 29th January 2019......a slow easy day!!!

Tennis on Tuesday mornings is always fun and always the same partners but today was a little different.....Jen is away for a few days and she arranged for a lady named Doris to sub for her......I have met Doris once before and she is lovely and I did get a chance to play with her for a set this morning and I told her it was a thrill for me to play with her because it was like I was playing with my Mum, she was named Doris!!!!

Relaxed for part of the afternoon and then went to the country fried chicken 

restaurant with Gracie and we met Lisa and Bo there and after an early dinner back to Bo’s house for and evening of Mexican 🚂!!!

A fun game it was too!!!

I am gradually feeling better each day still have a few sniffles but by the end of the week hoping to be back!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!

Monday 28th January 2019...a special day!!

Today I want to wish my adorable Sister in law a wonderful happy and safe Birthday as they leave Manchester on their way to Tenerife for a two week holiday!!!!

Janet have a fabulous time and beat that Brother of mine at Scrabble!!!

On February 7 th Gracie and I leave for four days at the beach....we found an Air bnb on the beach that will permit the dogs to come with us!!!

This is where we are going???

Troncones

Troncones is a relatively undeveloped, uncrowded beach village located about 20 miles (32 km) north west of Zihuatanejo on the coast of the state of Guerrero.[1] It is located in the municipality of La Unión de Isidoro Montes de Oca and has a population of about 593 people (2005 census).[2] Hammocks and palm trees are in most yards, chickens roam the streets and loud nightlife is limited to very few weekly events, making for quiet nights. Some local hotels and restaurants offer special events such as Movie Nights and Dance Parties, mostly during the Oct-May high season. On Sundays, El Burro Boracho has shows of Mexican folkdance.

Troncones has not been well-known until only recently. It was “discovered” by a North American sports fisherman who bought land here and convinced some of his compatriots to do the same. These property owners set up private homes or small hotels and guesthouses. Over the last 20 years, the population has grown as the local ejido benefits from increased tourism income, while maintaining a small-town aesthetic, in stark contrast to the high-rise hotels of nearby Ixtapa. On the 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) of beach, exist these houses, a few restaurants, a couple of grocery stores, and a growing number of eco-hostels, campgrounds, and surf schools. Even in the high season in the winter and spring it is possible to walk along the beach and not run into anyone.

The major surfing area is called Troncones Point, a steady left break, where Troncones Beach meets Manzanillo Bay just to the north. Waves tend to be smaller in the winter, as the Point needs a southern swell to break well, and it is recommended for confident surfers because it is a rock bottom with some coral. Many hotels offer surfing classes.  There is only one surf shop, but several of the hotels have basic equipment for ding repair, waxing, fin replacement, and other emergencies. There is also a professional surfboard shaper in town who offers repair services. There are many breaks and few surfers, especially in the low season of June - October when the swell is from the south and the breaks at Troncones Point and El Rancho can hit 25 feet (7.6 m). Breaks in Troncones tend to be gentler in the "shoulder seasons" of spring and fall, and some spots are better suited to long boarders. Near the beach are two sea caves called Troncones and Majahua as well as a waterfall called Cascadas Artesianas. 

I am ready for some beach time......

Yashi Kochi!!

Sunday 27th January 2019....a tad tired!!!!

Well I did get up at 2.30am and like many hundreds of thousands of fans around the world was looking forward to an epic five hour five set marathon..

Was not to be......

It took Novak just over two hours to completely demolish Rafa in three straight sets!!

Novak Djokovic says he is motivated by "having a shot" at Swiss great Roger Federer's all-time men's record of 20 Grand Slam victories.

The 31-year-old Serb, the world number one, thrashed great rival Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3 to claim his 15th major in Sunday's Australian Open final.

It was his third Slam in a row, having won Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018.

"I'm aware that making history in the sport I truly love is something special," he said.

Top seed Djokovic's record seventh men's singles victory in Melbourne moved him outright third ahead of American Pete Sampras in the all-time list, closing in on Federer and Nadal (17).

"Of course it motivates me," he said.

"Playing Grand Slams, the biggest ATP events, is my utmost priority in this season and in seasons to come.

"How many seasons are to come? I don't know. I'm not trying to think too much in advance.

"I do want to definitely focus myself on continuing to improve my game and maintaining the overall wellbeing that I have - mental, physical, emotional - so I would be able to compete at such a high level for the years to come."

I need to play better on clay - Djokovic

Djokovic may well have to beat 11-time French Open champion Nadal in Paris if he wants to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously again

Djokovic, who reclaimed the world number one ranking in November, will go to the French Open in May aiming to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously for the second time in his career.

Victory over Britain's Andy Murray in the 2016 French Open final meant Djokovic became the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four majors at once.

"I have to work on my game, my clay-court game, more specifically than I did last season," Djokovic said.

"I need to play better than I have last season. I am already playing better but I mean on clay specifically, in order to have a chance and shot at the title.

"The ultimate challenge there is to win against Nadal. Then you have Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, Roger is probably going to play.

"You have a lot of great players that on clay can challenge me or anybody else."

'Holding three Slams again was highly unlikely but not impossible'

Djokovic was ranked outside the world's top 20 last July after coming back from elbow surgery but has shown he is back to his best.

"Twelve months ago it was highly unlikely I would be holding three Slams," he said. "Not impossible, but highly unlikely.

"I don't want to sound arrogant, but I always believe in myself.

"I think probably the biggest secret of my success, if I can say, or probably any other athlete, is self-belief.

"Always digging deep in the moments when you're facing adversity, digging those moments of complimenting yourself, visualising yourself as a winner, trying to be in a positive state of mind.

"Twelve months ago after the surgery because I wasn't playing well, I wasn't feeling good on the court - I was questioning everything.

"I was doubting whether I will be able to play everyone on this level because I didn't know to what extent the operation of my elbow would affect my game."

'Win over Nadal was a perfect match'

Djokovic said victory over Nadal in Sunday's one-sided final ranked "at the top" of his 15 major triumphs.

It was the Serb's biggest margin of victory in a Grand Slam final.

Djokovic made only nine unforced errors against Nadal, taking his tally to just 23 in his final three matches - a total which was fewer than the number he had made in each of his opening four matches.

"Under the circumstances, playing against Nadal, such an important match, it's amazing," he said.

"In back-to-back semi-finals and finals, to make so few unforced errors is pleasantly surprising to myself.

"At this level, it was truly a perfect match."

Even the best players have defeats like this - Nadal

Nadal said it would have been difficult to beat an in-form Djokovic even if he had been playing at his best

Nadal said comprehensive defeats like this one happened to "even the best players in history".

The 2009 champion had not dropped a set on his way to the final but the fact he had come into the tournament without competitive action since September's US Open because of injury seemed to catch up with him.

"The way he played was unbelievable," Nadal said. "But at the same time it is true that physically I was not able to have that extra thing.

"I have been playing against a player that was at the highest level possible.

"With the way he was hitting, maybe it was difficult to beat him even if I was at my 100%.

"I have been lots of months without having the chance to practise, without having the chance to compete.

"It has been a positive two weeks. The only thing probably that I need is time and more matches."

'He likes it to be all Zen' - analysis

Kim Clijsters, four-time Grand Slam champion, on BBC Radio 5 live

I definitely think Novak could beat Roger's Grand Slam record.

It will be interesting to see how he manages to maintain this level. He knows what it has been like to feel his best. It was only a matter of time before he found that again.

It has been frustrating for him at times but it shows how motivated he has been to get that level back. It's a great achievement for him and his team.

He made it look so effortless and so easy out there but there is so much hard work that goes into it - from every bite that he puts in his mouth, every recovery practice is with a full focus.

He likes it to be all Zen.

The amount of focus and discipline he has put in to get to this level has to be extremely high and when he gets to this stage, he is then capable of showing the whole world.

I went back to bed around 5am and slept till 10 am...

Gracie and I took the dogs for a walk down by the Pressa...

But the water was too high to walk along the footpath..so we did a different walk.

This afternoon we went to a friends house where nine of us met for four hours of Mexican Train....  lots of fun!!

Going to get an early night to night!!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Saturday 26th January 2019...maybe be a long night!!!

Well something totally different for me tonight.....

I am going to try to go to sleep around 10pm and I have my alarm set for 2.30am to watch what will I am sure be an epic match!!!!!

Australian Open 2019: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal met in the 2012 Australian Open final with Djokovic winning in five sets in five hours 53 minutes

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will renew their long-standing rivalry in an Australian Open final where both can create new records.

Djokovic is aiming for a record seventh men's Melbourne title, while Nadal can become the first man in the Open era to win all the Grand Slams at least twice.

Sunday's match will be an ATP record-extending 53rd meeting between them.

"It is the biggest rivalry we've seen in tennis history," Australian former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said.

The top two seeds meet at Melbourne Park for the first time since their epic five-set final in 2012, which Djokovic won with almost six hours on the clock.

The pair have produced some of the greatest matches, meeting in:

▪ Seven Grand Slam finals

▪ Five Grand Slam semi-finals

▪ 17 other Tour-level finals

▪ 13 other Tour-level semi-finals

▪ One Olympic semi-final

Djokovic, 31, leads their head-to-head 27-25, with eight victories in their past 10 matches - including their memorable 2018 Wimbledon semi-final five-setter which stretched over two days.

"I've played so many matches against him, epic matches on this court," said the Serb.

"I'm sure we're going to have a good final."

Spaniard Nadal, 32, said he was happy to have shared "very special moments" on court with Djokovic.

"We push each other to the limit of our tennis level," he added. "Sunday is going to be another episode."

Djokovic set up the tantalising final with a comprehensive semi-final win over French 28th seed Lucas Pouille, which he described as one of his best performances in Melbourne.

Spain's Nadal, meanwhile, has not dropped a set in his six matches here.

Whoever wins will move closer to Roger Federer's all-time record of 20 Grand Slam victories, although Australian great Rod Laver believes Djokovic is best placed to overhaul the Swiss.

Djokovic has won 14 majors after his Wimbledon and US Open victories last year, while Nadal has 17 after claiming the 2018 French Open.

"When you look at his age and form in winning the last two, I'd say Djokovic has the best chance of eclipsing Federer," said 11-time Grand Slam singles champion Laver, 80.

Djokovic 'more confident' after beating Nadal at Wimbledon

Djokovic says beating Nadal at Wimbledon last year "mentally turned things around the most" for him.

Ranked outside the world's top 20 earlier that year after elbow surgery, Djokovic beat Kevin Anderson in the final for his first Grand Slam title since the 2016 French Open.

He followed that by winning the US Open in September and reclaiming the world number one spot in November.

"Winning against Nadal 10-8 in the fifth set, that has catapulted me mentally to a different, more confident self," Djokovic said.

"It has allowed me to then excel in the months to come after that."

Nadal 'surprised' by form

Nadal is playing in his first tournament since the US Open after injury problems and has been surprised by his level of performance in Melbourne.

"I am happy that I am competing that well that early. That's the most important thing," he said.

"I felt myself playing well in practice before the tournament. Then you have to compete, see if you can make that happen in the competition.

"I am very happy to have that feeling again. Of course, it is a little bit surprising that it happens that early."

'I don't want Djokovic to beat my record'

Six-time champion Djokovic is tied with Australian great Roy Emerson and Federer in terms of all-time victories in Melbourne.

Emerson, 82, said he is backing Nadal for victory because he does not want to see his record, set in 1967 and matched by Federer in 2018, beaten.

"Well, I don't want Djokovic to do it," he joked. "I don't have that many records to brag about.

"But my six doesn't look too good.

"Djokovic is still young and can still make all sorts of records.

"If he keeps himself in shape, like Federer, he's got another two or three years where he'll be winning majors."

Analysis

Lindsay Davenport, three-time Grand Slam singles champion

Nadal's big push in the off-season has been his serve, trying to get it on to the opponent much faster than he had been.

That allows him to play offensive in the second or third shot in the rally.

The toughest person to do that against is Djokovic, the best returner, and it will be interesting to see if Rafa tries to do anything differently - tries to put more miles per hour on his serve than their last meeting or if he tries to take the next ball earlier.

The way Rafa has played this tournament has been exceptional - but that's not easy to do against Novak.

What makes this more special for me is to know I was in the stadium, admittedly watching on the big screen,  the final two years ago!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Friday 25th January 2019...really it is true!!

I just read this on the BBC sports web page!!!

Pickle juice: Why athletes are turning to an unusual drink to boost performance

Frances Tiafoe credited a victory in the Australian Open with drinking pickle juice - although he was knocked out two days later by Rafael Nadal

When American tennis player Frances Tiafoe said pickle juice had helped him reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, plenty of people were a little taken aback/grossed out.

After all, who swigs the remnants of a jar of pickles to boost their sporting performance?

More people than you might think, actually.

Taking the Australian Open in isolation, two of the sport's rising stars - Tiafoe, 21, and Russia's Daniil Medvedev, 22 - have been spotted drinking it in Melbourne this week.

And widening the sample size a little, a photographer snapped Arsenal's 22-year-old Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira drinking from a bottle labelled "pickle juice" in the Gunners' 2-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend (although he did swiftly spit it out!).

Is this sport's latest fad? And what is the science behind it all? BBC Sport finds out.

In a pickle? Have some juice...

Tiafoe's not-so-secret weapon

Unseeded Tiafoe was a surprise quarter-finalist in the Australian Open, and made further headlines with his choice of replenishment following that win over Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16.

Speaking about the gruelling four-set match, which lasted three hours and 39 minutes in the Melbourne heat, Tiafoe said: "I had the break, but started to feel my body.

"He played a good game to break me. After that, as you asked me, I was trying to stay alive. I was downing pickle juice, having that like Kool-Aid, just trying to get that done.

"I'm talking straight up: just downing it. It tasted terrible. I'm feeling terrible right now, man."

The following day, Medvedev took time out from his match against Novak Djokovic to down some of the pungent fluid.

John Millman, the 2018 US Open quarter-finalist, was commentating on that match for television and was asked about the pickle juice.

"It helps the cramps," said Millman. "There's a lot of salt in it."

When asked how it tasted, the Australian replied: "Terrible."

It tastes bad... but does it actually work?

In a word: Yes.

Dr Mayur Ranchordas - a senior lecturer in sport nutrition and exercise metabolism at Sheffield Hallam University - has used the technique with professional cyclists and Premier League footballers.

And while, he says, the results are compelling, it is not necessarily for the reasons you might initially expect.

"Pickle juice contains sodium, potassium and vinegar and the obvious conclusion would be that it replaces sodium and salts lost when playing sport in a hot and humid environment like the Australian Open thus prevent cramping," said Dr Ranchordas.

"However, how it really works is that it triggers a reflex in the mouth which sends a signal to stop muscles from cramping. That's why it is drank at the onset of cramp.

"It stops cramping 40% faster than drinking water."

Dr Ranchordas says it is particularly effective as a treatment for cramps in warmer conditions or when sporting occasions last longer than anticipated - be it a five-set tennis match or in extra time of a football game.

Just last month, India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was shown grimacing on TV as he took the foul-tasting fluid on board during a marathon innings in oppressive heat in Adelaide.

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was given pickle juice - and a more traditional massage - when he cramped up during a long innings in scorching temperatures in Australia last month

What else is it good for?

The internet is full of stories of how pickle juice can cure alcohol-induced hangovers. One website even suggests pickle brine is the definitive hangover cure in some eastern European countries.

Throw in the fact it contains antioxidants, is said to help control blood sugar levels and boost gut health and you're on to a winner next time you reach for a nice refreshing glass of the stuff.

And the craziest thing of all?

It is actually good for your breath, because it kills bacteria which breed in your mouth and create a stink.

Now you're convinced, right?

Yashi Kochi!!

Thursday 24th January 2019.......time to relax a bit!!!

I know I sound like a broken record but what else can I do....started my morning with two hours of great tennis under warm and sunny skies.....I still have the sniffles and not total energy but I enjoyed the morning....

I then dropped off Pili.......

At the motorcycle repair shop around the corner so she could have her first service....I could have gone to the Honda dealership where I bought her but their charges are quite high..

Walked home and had a nice lunch and a lazy afternoon on my rooftop patio!!

Gracie then picked me up and we went to this play!!!

Playreaders: “Two Cops and Life on the Streets of Chicago” || St. Paul’s Anglican Church - January 24, 2019.

TWO COPS AND LIFE ON THE STREETS OF CHICAGO:

A NEW PLAYREADER DRAMA

By Henry Vermillion
Denny is a Chicago cop.  He is Italian, rash and impulsive.  But, next to his job, his wife and kids are the most important thing in the world to him.
Joey, his partner and best friend since the third grade, is single, and is like a member of Joey´s family; he eats with them, he baby-sits the kids—he´s their best friend, too. Trouble enters when the two policemen release a naked, hysterical Pakistani teenager into the custody of a blonde Anglo man.  The boy shortly meets a horrible fate at the man´s hands, and Denny and Joey are brought up on charges for not following the book in the case.
The play is called “A Steady Rain”, by Keith Huff, a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists, and will be presented at St Paul´s Church (on Cardo # 6) next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, January 22, 23, and 24.
A critic wrote: “Huff elevates to tragic dimensions the life of policemen the way Arthur Miller moulded Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman”…”A Steady Rain” is the most potent new play on Broadway.”  Time Magazine´s critic wrote:  “The taut 90-minute script builds with a tragic inevitability, yet with a coda of redemption that seems neither forced or fake.”  The language of the two is both earthy and witty.
The play is presented as a duolog between the two friends.  Sometimes they tell us what has  happened, sometimes they speak to each other. Fil Farmicola plays Denny, and Howard Bach plays Joey; Henry Vermillion directs, and Dic Simandl handles light and sound.  Admission is $30 pesos.  The doors open at 7 pm, and the play begins at 7:30, unless the house is full, in which case the play begins earlier.
The San Miguel Playreaders is a local tradition going back more than forty years.  It began with theater fans reading plays aloud to each other in private homes.

This was a great play and thought provoking!!

Came home and you guessed it...more live tennis from Melbourne!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Wednesday 23rd January 2019.....a fun day!!

Early morning, 8.30 am gym session this morning...I still don’t have my full energy but it was good to go for the hour and as usual Aaron, my trainer, is always in tune with how I feel?

I came home and had a nice breakfast and relaxed before I went for the poker afternoon...we always have some good laughs and the new year continues to be good for me with another 150 pesos win!

Tonight was a special English class I had invited five of my friends to come to class..it is always a gamble as I never know how many students will show up on any given night but I did ask them to try to make the effort if possible to be in class tonight.

It worked out perfectly all my students were present ...we started out with my students telling about what act of paying forward they did this last week and then I introduced each of my friends to one of the students and they paired up and just interviewed each other for 15 minutes.

This gives my students a chance to hear a different accent than mine and to meet a new person and to talk and listen to that person.

I then got everyone including my friends to come to the front of the class and talk about their new friend......it is a really a great time for them.

We finished the class with chocolates for everyone...a fabulous evening!!

Now home and going to watch more live tennis from Melbourne!!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Tuesday 22nd January 2019...easy come.....

Well had a good sleep I took lots of vitamins and drinks and throat lozenges.....played tennis 🎾 this morning under perfect warm conditions and I really enjoyed my time!!

My friend Sara called me a couple of days ago and said that a company in town were looking for retired volunteers over 60 years of age that live here part time to be interviewed for a survey about a proposed new development coming to town maybe next year..the interview would be about 45 minutes in length and they pay you 1000 pesos...how could I turn that down??

So I went after tennis and met Aldo their representative and really it was just a series of questions about the proposed venture ...it will be like a community living regiment village....the plan looks really great and they had thought of just about everything....

What put me off was the price......for a small studio in the complex with the meals and facilities it would cost around 2600 Canadian dollars a month..way out of my league..there was no pressure selling or anything like that..a real easy 1000 pesos!!

Gracie, Lisa and Bo and I met at the favourite Tuesday dining spot for country fried chicken and mashed potatoes and then back to Bo’s house for a fabulous evening of Mexican Train!!

A good day and I feel not too bad!!!

Watching some more live tennis!

Now this is what a border wall should look like....

Yashi Kochi!

Monday 21st January 2019.... a nice day!!!

Well I knew last night as I was going to bed I was not 100% and I felt a sore throat coming on and this morning my throat is scratchy but I don’t feel too bad.

A lovely sunny day and my gym session was at 9.30 am this morning .....I like this time but it is only for this week.

After class did a few chores and then spent the afternoon out in the sun relaxing and getting ready for my class tonight.

I have printed out an article about Martin Luther King and made copies for them so after their home work which was to bring five sentences to class and read them out and the rest of the class had to decide if the sentences were true or false..this got them thinking and was fun.

Then as a class we read the article and talked about him and the impact he had on America and the world....

Next I asked them to name some Mexican heroes...all of this gets them to think and talk!!

It was a really great class!!

I like these two quotes some very funny people out there..

Going to watch tennis from Melbourne now.....

Yashi Kochi!!!

Sunday 20th January 2019.. a special day for the universe!!!

Hope you were able to see this amazing event this evening!!!

I did but my photos did not turn out.....enjoy!!

Yashi Kochi!!!