Xmas blog

24 December, 2007 | 20:12

So, picking up from the other day, but staying with the same day at Roehampton. If you see what I mean….

Lunch was a bit of a nightmare at the NTC, if only because every man and his dog were in the cafe eating their LTA Crimbo lunch. Proper full-on Xmas lunch - Turkey, the whole lot - so a few of the players gave it a bit of a swerve, and took their plates back up to the players lounge, which overlooks the courts.

Felt a bit sorry for them because all the office bods can stuff themselves crazy with a full fat plate of Turkey, but they had to pick out the athlete option, which seemed to be a little bit of meat, plenty of veg, and no gravy. Still, it beats working for a living…

Repeat of Manchester United versus Liverpool was on the TV, so plenty of banter flying around between the Scousers and the United fans (including Jamie)….

 

 

Round about the same time, a whole load of kids finally plucked up the courage and ask Jamie for his autograph. They’d been playing on one of the far courts with Judy earlier, and in they trooped, a little bit intimidated by the size oh his hair. One by one they duly waited in line to have their t shirts signed…

 

 

Lightweight Xmas lunch digested, it was back onto court again for another session with Louis Cayer and the guys. Emphasis on the serve in the afternoon, and unlike singles, both players have an input into the tactics on a play-by-play basis.

Hence the hand signals…

 

 

I’m sure the hand signals aren’t a huge trade secret, but the point is the receiving pair can’t see what’s being communicated, a bit like the pitcher/catcher scenario in baseball.

 

 

More work later on in the afternoon at the net, which makes for some typical Jamie pictures….

 

 

And they were all done at around 4:30pm, leaving the players to go get some well earned Physio. Jamie headed to see one of the specialists for some treatment on his back, and that was that….