Tennis history

The sunstroke symptoms were much less intense when I woke this morning, and my appetite was even back. I went outside for the first time since Sunday, just to the local shop to stock cupboards and fridge. It was strange to wake to cloudiness, but that's how it was today. I never thought I'd feel this way (I used be renowned as an inveterate sun worshipper), but I was actually relieved that the sun wasn't shining.

I didn't feel the need today for lie-downs in darkened rooms, and the Wimbledon lineup was quite enticing anyway (I know others were equally excited about the England/Slovenia encounter in the World Cup, but that isn't really my thing), so I was very much a couch potato today.

Yesterday I'd seen some of the match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut and had been impressed by both players. What happened today was astonishing, though. Quite apart from all the tennis records which have been broken, the encounter was just as much a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Resorting to a dreaded cliché, the real winner in this amazing match is tennis itself, but what happened on Wimbledon's Court 18 today goes far beyond the confines of tennis alone. These two players have demonstrated an indomitable spirit which is utterly astonishing. More to come tomorrow: I can't wait. Forget about your Federers and your Nadals and your Roddicks and your Murrays - Isner and Mahut are the new giants of tennis and deserve every accolade they garner as a result. It was a rare privilege to see this unfold.

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Because of the nasty dose of sunstroke, I'd fallen badly behind with my blip posting. It's a while since I've had to do this much back-blipping, but it's all done now, if you care to take a look:

Cards, cards, cards
Beckett lightshow
Tropical birthday
Darker, please
Blue sky in Suburbia