The All New TENNIS Thread. For those with Sky and those without.

[IAmNotLouise]

Accidentally filled up the last thread without realising.

Have the day off today so can sit and watch the tennis scores update.

We still have too.

See, he does play better when I don't watch.

the would have looked lovely with a wee hat.

Why have you name changed Raahh?! I am having homework traumas again. My 9yr old would rather do almost anything else cept his work, it's driving me up the wall. Have tried sticker charts, rewards, confiscations, shouting, pleading, rationalising - you name it, we've tried it. Think boarding school is the way to go.

Clay, how's the hol going?

Juan- it is in honour of the soap Doctors doing a Jane Austen themed week It was a very wtf episode today, too, which was GREAT!

We got the kit list for ds's China trip today, so it is all getting a bit too close and real. And poor DD1 is feeling a bit neglected and left out (although we are trying very hard to avoid making her feel this way). So I'm conscious of not going on about the trip too much.

And EVERY SINGLE DAY I receive an e-mail from the schools application service, (one day TWO) saying I haven't submitted the app yet. Well, for starters- we've got til the 31st- and secondly, we haven't even been to 2 of the open days yet (though we are pretty sure where he's likely to go). So LEAVE ME ALONE!!

Holiday going well. Outdoor pool is closed. . Apparently 20 degrees is too cold for swimming. They've taken away all the chairs and tables so you can't even sit around outside.

Today I've mainly learnt why it's a bad idea to go shopping in the afternoon of a 1/2 day before a 4 day public holiday. Was absolutely rammed.

Have you tried a 'your homework your problem' sort of approach, Juan? Back of completely. If he gets into trouble with the teacher/has to stay in at lunch then it's his problem. Helps if the teacher cares about HW and he will get into trouble though. I suspect my cousins could not do their HW and the school wouldn't care. In that case it could backfire massively.

Oh right Raahh (not sure how to spell your name change so hope you don't mind me sticking to the old name)! How long is your ds going for? Are ds and dd at the same school? Will she get a chance to go one day? Have lots of Chinese takeaways when ds is away so dd can at least get a taste of Shanghai!

Clay - they've shut the outside pool? :0 Is there anyone you can go and convince you're a hardy English woman and get them to give you special dispensation? What a shame. Did you buy anything this afternoon? Is your dad able to accompany you everywhere or does he have to work?

Yes, we've tried the "it's your work, it's your problem" method - he thought it was great! He just doesn't seem to care, and the teachers are so busy they don't have time to chase up one recalcitrant child. I asked them at one point to keep him in at play times if he hadnt done his work, but that didn't seem to work either. I actually don't agree with homework at this age, or at least not much, but if he's got it to do, then he has to get on with it, it's going to get worse in a year and a bit. This situation is alien to me cos my other three were fine - cept I didn't appreciate it at the time.

Sorry for the in depth analysis of my child's homework refusal there ... :)

No, Raahh is fine. I actually don't like name-changing and ending up being called 'pem' etc. So Raahh is good

Ds and dd1 are at the same school, and her best friend has a sister who is in ds's class and also going on the trip. So they will keep each other amusedWe are planning a sleepover for the two of them, which they don't know about yet.
He is going for 9 days

I think this trip is a one off, but they have done other trips before, in addition to the usual end of yr 6 residential. My niece went to Iceland. They usually go to Gibralter (which is far enough, really!)

That's why I changed back after starting this thread. I'd got quite attached to this name and people calling my by something else didn't feel right.

I bet those 9 days will go quickly once he's there. Who gets the short straw of hosting the sleepover? You or the other parent?

My Dad worked til just after lunch today and then closed up for a public holiday that lasts for the next 4 days. He'll probably work mornings next week but I could convince him to take a couple off I think. And then there's the tennis next week too.

I think if I tried to convince them to open the pool they'd look at me like I was nuts and point me in the direction of the pool in the gym. There'd be knowing winks about the family of the English expat in Block B.

Fortunately the other parents like children have offered (and have more room a tidy house)

Hope you are enjoying your holiday, despite the pool issue, Clay

I'll survive the pool issue. It's not like Istanbul is short of stuff to do. And it is sunny and warmish. Technically I'm not supposed to swim because of a shoulder problem so it's probably just as well or I'd have done something stupid.

Thank God other parents are stupid brave enough to volunteer, Raahh.

I know .and am praying the offer isn't to be reciprocated

Jack Sock is beating Tomic convincingly. Tomic looks to be not even trying.

Hardly anyone in the crowd.

Ah, Jack Sock, haven't heard much from him recently. And he does have such a good name

Think Ferrer will play him in the next match?

Sock wins. Meets Ferrer next.

Watching Gulbis v Chardy now. Gulbis telling ball boys to hurry up - poor things only look about 9! Am sure they must be older but they don't look it!

Chardy has a very fetching top on!

Two of the ball boys (maybe more, picture quality is bad) have fishing nets to scoop the balls up with! Not seen that before. Gulbis is mardy.

I always wonder what exactly they're looking for when they inspect the balls before serving. What makes one round yellow object more acceptable than another round yellow object (barring obvious defects of course).

Bah. First set to Gulbis.

Not keen on Gulbis.

Match commentator has same intonation as a British rail train announcer. Making me sleepy.

"The next ball to arrive on the far side will be the 14.30 express from Gulbis"

"Chardy apologises for the delay of the 14.35 from his racquet. This is due to ball boys on the court"

Second set to Chardy.