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 2006 Canary
Wharf EN BREF: Issue 3
Everything you never knew you needed to know about Canary Wharf ... |
ON THE FERRY
AGAIN…
I haven’t told you, but instead of going home to my South London
apartment, I stayed a few nights in the event hotel, the Hilton,
just across the venue on the other bank of the Thames.
“Just take the ferry”, told me Linda Davie, “and leave your car at
the hotel, you’ll see, it’s a very short ferry journey, quite nice
really”.
Yes, sounded a good idea, so took my computer, and off I went. It
suddenly daunted on me as I was approaching the ferry that it was a
boat. Well I knew that, but I had slightly forgotten that I’m not
THAT mad about boats. At all.
 As
a pro, I still took photo from the boat, as the view was stunning,
and I have to admit that the walk through the streets of Canary
Wharf was very surprising indeed, statues, gardens, mini harbours… (more
in the Gallery)
Absolutely adorable.
But when after the matches, I was told that unfortunately the last
ferry had gone, you know what, it broke my heart… |
A LUNATIC IN CANARY WHARF
I thought I'd seen every kind of lunatic behaviour thanks to this
reporting job and to my profession, but I obviously hadn’t.
Just before the first semi-final, on court came a chatty young man,
Squash Coach at Cottons Fitness Exchange, Chris Sly.
He had a squash bag with him, put in inside the court, took out some
racquets, and started explaining to the audience that he was there
to teach them a few tricks of how to distract your opponent during
games…
And he started juggling with 3, then 4, then 5 racquets. What was
nice in particular, is that he was bringing the spectators in his
performance, as he was explaining to them what he was going to do,
if it was hard or not, getting them to participate.
He was also frank, and pointed out when he failed in his act. And
the same approach when he got to the closing number, riding those
one wheel cycle that you only see in circuses, holding a piece of
wood in his mouth on which he made a racquet spin, while juggling 4
racquets, where he gave himself 3 tries.
He got it right the second time.
And that was quite an impressive number, I must say. Well done
Chris, and well done Eventis and Alan Thatcher, to have tracked down
such an artist…
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BANDAGE…
 I’m
not a specialist of the rules, but I seem to remember that you are
not supposed to see blood on a player when he is playing a squash
competition.
 And
sometimes, injuries can start bleeding again, even after being
strapped.
So, as Anthony suffered from a little scratch that made his knee
bleed, he put a small plaster on it, and above that, a large white
bandage to keep the plaster in place. And as it was not enough, just
to make sure that blood couldn’t be seen through, he took a black
stencil, and covered the whole knee area with black .
Funny look, let me tell you…
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Canary
Wharf EN BREF ... Issue #2 |
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FULL HOUSE
I love that phrase… full house… Don’t forget I’m an actress, and
that’s what we like to have, plenty of spectators to perform for.
And let me tell you that they got value for money tonight, both
quality AND quantity, as we finished past 11.30 pm.
It was the first time in Eventis history that they were sold out.
And that is the best proof that those three (Tim Garner, Angus
Kirkland and Peter Nicol) and Alan Thatcher are doing something right…
Well done guys. |
DOH…
You men always have the perfect answer to every solution…
Next to me was sitting a charming man called Ed. And when he saw me
scribbling pages and pages, he asked me who I worked for, bla bla
bla, you know, the normal questions.
“But I see you are writing every point down”, he said.
“Well yes, that way, I can recall what happened during that
particular time of the match,” I replied.
“Wouldn't it be more simple to review the video later????” he asked
candidly…
Where to start…
So I explained how we work here on SquashSite, how every minute
counts and is accountable for, that we put results, quotes, photos
“as it happens” and that waiting about a month for a DVD may or may
not be published doesn’t seem that much of a practical idea…
Bless…
But after a quite dodgy start, we actually got on perfectly well, he
was a perfect squash companion, and I really looking forward to see
him again tonight for the semis… |
ALL THE WAY
FROM ESTONIA…
“I
enjoy your articles very much…” is always a sure way to attract my
attention, and especially if it’s a young man….
And tonight, on the first row, right behind the glass where Tim
Garner has the kindness to place the Press, I got chatting with the
Estonian number one player, Rauno Tiesel.
“We’ve got to chase the squash events, because they won’t come to
Estonia,” he laughs. “So we came all this way just to see the
tournament. You know, squash is growing in popularity in our
country, but we just started 13 years ago…”
Well, I’ve never been to that part of Europe, and who knows, maybe I
will soon??? |
… AND FROM
NORWAY…
If
you were already reading my column last year (and if you weren’t,
why not ???), you may remember David Loite, a squash fan from
Norway, who comes every year to Canary Wharf to enjoy the show.
Well, he didn’t fail this year, did he?
Nice to see familiar faces, you know, very nice indeed ... |
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Canary
Wharf EN BREF ... Issue #1 |
I’M SOOOO
DOOMED…
You may have noticed that I haven’t been writing as much as I
normally do, both in Manchester during the British Nationals and
here in Canary Wharf, London.
 Well,
I’m computer doomed really. After my computer’s screen turned to
black last year during the ToC, then the purchase of a new computer
that never really worked for no good reason, both hard drive and
video card corrupted, we bought a new one in November… that had a
hard drive setting error….
So, no computer for 10 days (as my repairman was away skiing on
holidays, how dare he), while my TV, central heating, mobile,
Bluetooth earpiece, electric tooth brush all died in the space of 5
days.
Is it only me??????
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GOOD ONE JOHN…
During the match between Karim Darwish and Olli Tuominen, a ball was
out of view from World Referee Mr John Massarella, one of our best
refs it has to be stressed.
”The ball was definitely down”, said one, “nooo, it was good”, said
the other player.
“Play a let”, said Mr Ref.. “But ... ...” and the discussion went on
for a few seconds, cut short by John. “If you can’t decide between
you two from there, how can I decide from here??”
Yop, too right… |
HAVING A
GOOD TIME???
 While
Peter Nicol was battling away with Spanish Marvel Borja Golan, the
laughter coming from people dining while watching the match
disturbed Golan who was about to serve.
“Quiet please” said the Ref.
“Enjoy yourself!” retorted the Boss immediately…
Well, it’s good for business, isn’t it???? |
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