Happy 50th Birthday Simon!

I can't start today without wishing Simon Crockett a very happy 50th birthday!  I can't believe that he is 50...he looks much older!  Simon's arrival wasn't the only notable thing to happen 50 years ago, indeed today is the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's awe inspiring 'I have a dream' speech.  We will have to go out and celebrate with Simon who is currently with us on holiday in Tuscany with his long suffering wife Susie...the trouble is, he is so old I don't think we will be able to give him the bumps!  Anyway, many happy returns Simon (pictured above right, in a bar surprisingly) on your special 50th birthday!

Sadly all the rest in the world could not help us turn the tables in our snooker tournament yesterday and now Martin and I trail the whippersnappers David and Simon 3-1.  We have found a game in the villa that we can win however...shove ha'penny!  David and Simon don't have a clue how to play, so I fancy our chances of gaining a bit of revenge there.  Afterall, they refused to go double or nothing at table tennis - I can't think why!

A few of the party are off to Florence today although I don't think I will be joining them - it is a long way to go and I am already quite familiar with Zebedee!

Anyway, I digress...back to matters more pressing - there are five meetings taking place this afternoon, four on the flat at Carlisle, Catterick, Kempton and Southwell and one over sticks at Worcester.  The next runners from the stable will likely be at Stratford tomorrow.

*****

The US Open tennis championships continues today and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray starts the defence of his title against a relative unkown.  Murray, who has reached the final of the last four Grand Slams that he has entered reckons that he faces a big threat from Rafa Nadal in the later rounds.  It sounds a little arrogant to me to be focussing on the latter rounds already.  There is much to be said for a positive mental attitude, but with most sports these days, even the lesser-known players are capable of causing an upset on their day - let's hope that day isn't today!