Game, set and match...

As I'm sure you are aware I have not been blogging much lately. The main reason for this is tennis. Now you may wonder how tennis can stop my blogging hours and this is how. As summer draws to a close it is the time of our yearly club championships. Last week the juniors played and I spent a good few days watching Mollie play as she reached two semi finals (singles and mixed) and came runner up in the girls doubles. The evenings were spent competing in an open championship tournament in another club and my partner and I were good lucky enough to reach the final where alas we fell at the last, rather good hurdle.

This week sees the climax of our club championships, I was unfortunate enough to be seeded, (1) in the mixed doubles, (2) in the ladies doubles and (3) in the singles. I hate being seeded as it puts more pressure on me and I find it much easier to be the underdog, coupled with the fact that inter club matches are the hardest to play because of people you are expected to beat. Last night I had to play my singles quarter final match, a tough match against a formidable opponent. I was carrying an injury, a pulled stomach muscle, and had considered withdrawing but couldn't bring myself to do so. It was a very tough match on a beautiful evening but within minutes of starting I knew that if I won I wouldn't be able to play another singles match along with all the doubles so when I was leading 6-3, 6-6 (6-4) with match point I retired much to the delight of my opponent who now finds herself in the semi final.

As for me, I am disappointed but I live to fight for the other titles and doubles is far easier on the injury than singles also in the back of the mind is the fact that I have been selected to represent Leinster in an inter provincial competition in two weeks time and I don't want to let my province down.

So wish me luck, I hope to be playing tennis daily right up to finals day on Saturday then party on Saturday night like I've never partied before. In between I have to get everything sorted for the children going back to school, Dillon tomorrow and Mollie and Ben next week.