FRIENDS REUNITED!
Hello Blogland!
Long time no type!!!! - In earlier messages I said I hoped to meet up with some Long Distance Friends in 2012 again ....
IT HAPPENED!!! - IT REALLY HAPPENED!!! AND.... THERE ARE PHOTOS TO PROVE IT TOO!!!
Corinne Noetzli - THANK YOU! thank you for arranging for a ticket for me - this was wonderful - even the stressful adventure whether it would arrive in time from Switzerland was well worth the wait too - it was Part of the Adventure! - thank you - I Owe You!!! - next Planet Dreamland Event is on me - ok????
The Following Post will be now 100% Tennis Related - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! - I'm BACK IN THE GAME!!!
Background Info - I ran a Tennis Fan Site and a group of Us would meet up at various tournaments and have lots of fun - We mainly follow Argentine Tennis Players, because they are really nice and really friendly and a great bunch of Athletes - I have followed one for over 12 years now - I used to run a Fan Site for him - he retired :-( - he changed direction and became a big TV Star instead - :-) - he still is a TV Star and NOW he is also joint Davis Cup Captain and London Olympic 2012 Captain too :-) - a very busy man!!! - the last time I saw him was October 2008 - wow that was a long time ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
-- - this is now similar to my Facebook Note - but I have made lots of changes - read on!
So... I had a really amazing day at the London Olympics - it may have been located at Wimbledon, but it definitely was not a typical day at Wimbledon! - the atmosphere was amazing - even in the rain. - Yep it rained, it hailed, it rained, and thundered, and lighteninged (new word) BUT that did not stop Corina and Me having an incredible day.
It started by meeting Corina at the Practice courts at 10am - watching G Dulko and P Saurez, Corina decided she would ask "Someone in Team Argentina" if they knew what time Pico would be practicing.... so she did... "Someone" said (with a smile!) Noon!! he will be out at Noon!! - so that was good, we had 2 hours to chat and plan. I did ask Corina who she asked, she said "Oh that was... So and So...." ok, it looked like M Jaite to me, (DC Captain Major) NO she said, it wasn't him.... it just looked like him..... Ok.... now... chat chat chat chat chat. 11.30am - the heavens OPENED!!!! it rained, it hailed, it lighteninged, it was really impressive weather!! - we were standing under a bridge watching.
Rain stopped, Marcus Baghdatis wandered about too much - dressed in CYP clothes always looking at first glance like a member of *Team Tandil - CYP clothes, blue, white and yellow.... Arg Clothes, blue, white yellow...
After 10 Marcus B sightings, the "Real Thing" crossed the bridge - and the Planet Dreamland was back in business after a 4 year break - (but who's counting!) - The Sun also came out at that moment and it was great! - Pico crossed the bridge then too - of course, we were NOT stalking! honest!!! - but there is not much else to do at London Olympic Tennis at Wimbledon in the Rain except People Watch :)
Noon had been and gone (Thank You British Weather!!!) but the sun had come out, the Practice court covers had been removed - Fabio and Novak were playing their match on Court 1... which meant that the other Court 1 players were going to come out and practice soon.... they had to .... right??
Suddenly - Two Members of Team Tandil left the Locker Room and marched really focussedly towards Court 3! - they were on a mission!!!!!!!!!! - we did not get in their way..... (Court 3 was a closed Practice Court). Corina went and checked that Yes, they were definitely in there - (Security Guards have their uses) - they had not sneaked out of the Grounds - they were in Closed Court 3 - SO we found a handy bench, and Corina took pictures of Maria Sharapova.
Lleyton Hewitt flew by, a few people tried to stop him, but he said he was "focussed", but still did some signing infront of us.
We decided then, after watching this, that we would just wish Team Tandil Good Luck, as they would be "focussed" too.
Team Tandil came out of Practice.... I went up to Pico - and Corina stopped Mariano - I really wanted to congratulate Pico for Hamberg and Top 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - mission accomplished..... Then.... I think I had the best 10 minutes of my life at Tennis Tournaments.....
{{{{{{{{THANK YOU}}}}}}}}}
It was a priceless, "Friends Reunited" moment - thank you.....
... they weren't "Focussed" at that moment, they were two extremely happy Olympians :)
.... tea break .... food break ...... - then the Heavens Opened again - and it rained solidly until 6pm
Pico's match was cancelled - but the Doubles Match against the China Girls was completed in the evening. So we went to watch this. I took pictures! - Marcus (my Marcus) prepared the camera and I was ordered to take lots of pictures.... (but it rained!!!) so I took Pictures.
It was REALLY hard to take photos (of the Players Playing!!!!!!!!!) with Mariano opposite me - but I managed, I think I got some really good results.
We had the opportunity to say goodbye to him after the match - and we met Martin Jaite - we were having a formal introduction - and he said with a smile, yes, we met this morning, they were asking about practice sessions :) :) - we confessed we needed "Information" it was the perfect end to a perfect day. - Oh yes.... we even managed to get into see the last few games of Djokovic v Fabio too. - THEN my camera battery died.
That was my day - THANK YOU to everyone - Birte I am so pleased we got to spend more time this time together!!! - and it was also lovely to see Alina Jidkova again - Don, she is coaching for Russia now :)
Mariano - it was so great to see you again after such a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - great to have you back in Tennis Land - You did tell me we would see each other again somewhere in at Tennis Tournament, somewhere in the World again - I did not expect it to be London 2012 Olympics!!!!!!!!!! - it was a wonderful day.
THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU ;-) Mr Bronze Medal Team Captain.
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*Team Tandil - Mariano Zabaleta (Captain), Pico Monaco, Juan Martin Del Potro (Bronze Medal Winner 2012), Maximo Gonzalez and Diego Junqueira - they all come from the same town, and 2 of them are Top Ten Players too) - and I apologise if I have missed anyone out.
