Leon & Laura's Wedding

My 3rd wedding this year, and another really enjoyable celebration! Knowing both the bride & groom, as well as their families made it even more fun - it was so nice to catch up with everybody! It was held at the George Hotel in the centre of Edinburgh - great venue, flowers were beautiful, just a great day. A few of us went dancing afterwards at Shanghai club - turned into a late night :)





I have to admit it was pretty tough getting in at 4:45am, having 3 hours sleep and then having to go through to Kirkcaldy for a whole day of coaching on Sunday (which I volunteered to do, what was I thinking?!) It went really well though - lots of money was raised towards getting new courts, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it... I slept well on Sunday night :)

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Four Nations

Its always my favourite event, whether playing or captaining - the atmosphere is great and its really nice to have all the age groups compteting together. I was playing in the senior event this year, and spent the last couple of weeks practicing quite a lot so I could do myself justice, or at least not feel quite so frustrated as I did last year. Physically I feel really fit just now, and the competitive spirit never dies, so it was just a matter of hitting enough balls and trying to get match-sharp!


The first day Clare & I played against the Welsh pair and we struggled to find our rhythm - first time playing together and although we had some close games we never really got close to winning that one. Day 2 was against the Irish, and I won my singles 6-3 6-4 playing pretty solidly throughout... I'd forgotten what it felt like to be nervous on match point, but I kind of liked it! We also won our doubles, and played pretty well in that one.





Day 3 against the English - I had an epic battle which I unfortunately lost - after a come-back in the 1st set from 5-2 down I won on a tie-break 7-5 (5-1 down in that too!) Lost the 2nd set quite comfortably (actually felt mentally quite tired from concentrating every single point!) and then it was a championship tie-break for the 3rd set. I lost 11-9 - gutted. I actually played about as well as I could have done considering I've not had any matches for so long, so I was pleased about that but still very disappointed not to win... played great in the doubles and we won 6-1 6-4 - Clare & I starting to work well together by this point!

Day 4 was the singles vs Wales and once again I had an epic - nearly 3 hours on court despite it being only 2 sets & a championship tie-break! I really enjoyed playing this match, and although I didn't win it, I really did (insert quote from Sheila McInerney) - enjoy the battle :) It was 4-6 6-4 10-7, but we both played some great tennis and every point was a physical, tactical & mental contest :)

Overall Scotland came 2nd - next year we're hosting it, so we will definitely be creating some atmosphere and hopefully get revenge!

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Murray-mania!

It's been manic at Craiglockhart/Tennis Scotland the last couple of days with Andy doing so well in the US Open - great for publicity and atmosphere around the courts, but makes for some seriously long days! TV crews, newspaper journalists, radio interviewers etc etc, all wanting to know how his success affects the kids we coach, the popularity of the sport, our jobs etc. So we all went to watch the final at Centre Court pub just across the road - great fun :) A few cheesy pictures for the photographers but all for the good.


It's been a phenomenal couple of weeks for Andy, particularly his win over Nadal in the semis... shame it couldn't have been a little closer in the final but Federer was out to prove a point - he's a legend.

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Braemar Highland Games weekend

Headed up to Braemar on Thursday night with Ben and had a nice meal with mum & dad. Went up Morrone in the morning - testing out the route for the hill race on Saturday! Charlie & I had made a joke last year that we'd run it, and of course neither of us wanted to back out so we entered this year! Played golf in the afternoon with mum & dad - extremely erratic but great fun, when I connect its actually pretty good but they are few and far between!



The ceilidh on Friday night was brilliant - Ben loved it and hardly missed a dance! Gav, Jen, Ross & Kirsty were all up as well so we all had a really fun evening.
Saturday was the hill race and highland games events, we survived! It wasn't quite as bad as I thought it was going to be (was quite nervous before it!) but still didn't manage to keep running up the entire thing - it was a huge relief to see some of the people in front of me walking up sections, that meant it was 'acceptable' to do the same...just as well because I might have started going backwards otherwise :) And it was definitely worth the pain because I ended up being 2nd fastest female and got £100!!


I came back down to Edinburgh Saturday night and went to Jane's birthday party, hadn't planned to stay too late but I wasn't allowed to leave, and ended up getting in at 4 in the morning... still had to get up for a talent ID at Craiglockhart on Sunday - it was a LONG day!!

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