FeliWatch ...

I'm having a bad day ... we're all feeling like rudey poo, so thank you Feli for making us feel just that little bit better.

Enjoy your Ibiza holiday ...

Wimbledon epilogue ...

In #tennis we call Rosol a stopper, he won't win or even go deep in tourney but he will stop a top seed from advancing#wimbledon
— Jimmy Connors (@JimmyConnors) June 28, 2012

Rafa loses match; hugely disappointed; walks over to fans to sign autographs,makes no excuses for loss- GREAT Champion
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) June 29, 2012

No pudo ser... así es el deporte, hay q saber celebrar las victorias y encajar las derrotas! enhorabuena a Lukas... fb.me/2fZKHm3ea
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 28, 2012

Happy for Lukáš Rosol, but really feeling bad for Rafa,would be shocked if Rosol can get anywhere near that form again...agree with Jimmy.
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) June 28, 2012

Hadn't noticed that Rafa actually signed autographs on way out y'day. Class move—hard to think too many doing that after that sort of loss.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 29, 2012

#Nadal answers questions after his 2nd rd match : "There is no #tragedy, it was a #tennis match. That's life" goo.gl/VwlDw
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) June 29, 2012

I wonder what ...

... this household is doing right now.

Spain are through to the final of Euro's on penalties, and I'm loving that Rafa is wearing one of his own t-shirts.

That's my lucky t-shirt too, Rafa. ;)

Rafadorable ...

"Practicing with Adrián Menéndez, I met him in competitions when we are smalls :) "

I met him in the competitions when we are smalls ... oh Rafa! Never, ever change ... :D :D

Taken from Rafa's Facebook today. I love his Rafa-isms.

Wimbledon practice ...

Jajajajajaja ... you won me to lend you a golf club so you can do the Djok joke, Rafa??  Sergio ... you're not funny ... and neither is he.

You wanna see my bicep more?  H'ok ... I push up my sleeve some more ...

Maymo ... I look to see if that Rafan is lurking in the stands ...

I see her ... taking even more photographs ...

Bounce, bounce, bounce ... see I do the impressions too ...

Watch out ball, I'm going to thump you ...

Where did my hand go?

Pictures from the Wimbledon site.

Keep Colm and Carry On ... Camping!! Matron's report!!!

Over the past couple of days I've been bringing you Rafan's reports as she did the traditional Wimbledon experience and Camped for Rafa. She's back now after her adventure, and lucky for us, she's spent the time to write us this report and to bring us her photographs. So let's turn this post over to Rafan, and I hope you enjoy reading about her experiences ...

"I'm home safe and sound and busily uploading my photos in the background! 

So to continue my story...once we'd got our wristbands we waited around for a while longer before we went through "airport-style" security and then marched up and over the footbridge to just outside the grounds. We were held there for a while longer, then they opened up the gates. What you have to do is decide where you want to sit, then go to the kiosk selling tickets for that block. We'd decided on Block 113 opposite the umpire, and we managed to get 9 tickets together.  :) 

Once you're in, they hold you there a while longer, then you are able to escape to get food and use the toilet facilities.  *phew*  You then move up to a chain held by 4 security guards and - guess what? - wait there for a bit longer (until 10.30 am). While I was standing there a man from the Daily Express asked if I'd speak to them, so he asked me my name, age (could barely remember *cough* ), where I came from and what it was about Rafa that made me support him. Rather than just going *thud*.  I said something cheesy about his passion and determination and what a lovely person he is. I don't know if it'll ever get printed, especially as three Brits got through to the second round today! At 10.30 am they walk you slowly up the stairs before dropping the chain and setting you free to run like crazy (or walk stiffly in my case) to the practice courts, or wherever else you want to be. 

We headed for Aorangi, and hung around the end at Court 3, where me and Wooffs saw Rafa last year. Mahut was already there warming up, and then Baggy came along. We got word that Rafa was going to practice on an empty court - number 11 - which seemed strange, considering the amount of people they'd have to get him through, but turned out to be true! Unfortunately by the time we got there, there were already oodles of people so I couldn't get a clear view,  but I did manage to get a few pictures. We'd missed the beginning, and Rafa didn't practice for long. As you can imagine, there were slightly chaotic scenes as he left the court, he signed for a few people and then, flanked by security, managed to make his way slowly past and escape the hoardes. 

As we also pushed through I saw Toni's wife/partner with the children, and wished her good luck for Rafa. She said "thank you" and probably wondered how I knew who she was.  :D 

I went and got some lunch and we sat up behind Henman Hill - there's a lovely shady picnic area up there which I didn't realise! 

By that time Kvitova was on Centre Court, so I decided to go and watch her, seeing as she's defending Wimbledon champion. Luckily (after a slow start) she finished off fairly quickly, and a brief shower didn't interrupt proceedings for too long.

Then it was Rafatime . It was lovely to see him, and even though he went 4-0 down I didn't feel too I just thought there was no way Bellucci could beat him in a best of five. It was fab when Rafa got into it and (from what I could see in between taking pictures) he played some fabulous points. The TB was a drim, noh?

The second set went by in a flash, and the third set not much longer. Before I knew it, it was all over and Rafa was waving goodbye. At that point I did wish I'd booked tickets in the block where Rafa came in, but I'll know that for next time.

So, I'd do it again...but I don't know if I can do it again as soon as Friday night for Saturday. I'm going to Wimbledon again tomorrow - this time with a ballot ticket for Court 1 (where there is a totally rubbish OOP - oh and guess what - I get to see Simon again *gaah* ) - and it's so tiring, I feel at the moment like I couldn't face going camping again on Friday! We'll see anyway. I'm hoping to see a longer Rafa practice tomorrow, if I can find out where he is, and then maybe go and watch Marc! and Marcel on an outside court, and maybe Fer too. Hope my friend doesn't mind!!" 

My pictures are currently uploading, I'm doing them a few at a time, and the link is here. 

So for now I wish you goodnight my lovelies and thank you for the nice comments, and to Wooffs for uploading the pictures."

I can't thank Rafan enough for the hard work in bringing us her pictures and stories.  Its so tiring when you're experiencing it, never mind doing all this too, and I've found it fantastic to be given this insight on Camping for Rafa and what it all entails.  Remember, the link to her pictures is in the report so make sure you go along for a look.

I'd like to thank Rafan so very much for allowing me to publish all her stuff on this blog, and I hope you've enjoyed reading it.  And if she can summon up the energy to do it all again for Saturday ... make sure you keep posted.

VAMO3!!!

FerWatch ...

*gaah* What do I do?

Do I revive this feature or what? I was totally cheesed off with Fer's reaction when he beat Rafa on the now infamous blue clay. I was even more cheesed off when he changed the cover on his Facebook page to the one of him rolling about and kissing the blue clay. I "unliked" him for that.

When he lost at the FO and then went and played some Challenger and got beat by someone ranked about 1,027 and because he was obviously receiving some stick from some nobodies on Twitter about it, he then decided to totally spam Twitter so much with the positive tweets that he'd received that it needed someone to tell me how to block his retweets on the site so I could stop them and not see his nonsense.

All that followed me watching him from the hill looking down on the courts at Monte Carlo when he'd won his doubles match ... but he didn't have the good grace to wait for his doubles partner before he walked off the court, he just stormed off. Anyone would have though they'd lost. And then when we waited at the VIP entrance to see who we may see coming out of the Country Club (ie. HIM), Fer came along, but rather than wait in the lobby area for his car, he stood behind some wrought iron gates so that the hoi poloi (us) wouldn't be able to get near him, and then he made sure that he had some security with him when his car arrived and could walk out.

Pathetic really. Would you ever see such behaviour from Rafa? Of course not.

But the picture above intrigued me. On the day that Feli has stopped wearing a bandana because his hair is short enough so that he doesn't need one ... Fer has started wearing one, which means that his hair is long enough to warrant it.

The world's gone upside down with FeliFer ... not sure I like it.

Cocinado!!

Rafa posted this video message from his house after the match today. He's cooking. And dear God almighty, what on earth is he making?? *vomit*

And Rafa ... turn the heat down on that pan!! Its boiling away to death!

(Pasta and gambas ... what else does he know how to make?)

Match highlights ... Rafa vs. Bellucci

Rafaquiz !!!

No, not us. Him!!

Rafa was asked to take part in a quiz answering questions about his Wimbledon career. And oh ... it's so funny cos you can just see the wheels and cogs of his brain working as he searches in his memory bank to find the answers.  And he won't let it beat him!!  :D

So adorkable, Rafa!!

Scratchy and patchy ...

It wasn't vintage, was it??

I wouldn't even say it was a fairly typical start for Rafa as he took his time to adjust to the surface and everything else that goes with it ... cos when does he ever go 0-4 down at the start of a match? The thing is though, Bellucci sometimes belies his ranking. He gave Rafa a pretty hard time at the French Open in 2010, and last year, wasn't it Canada where he took a set off the PoD and had chances in the second too??

So it wasn't quite the "cakewalk" opening match people accuse him of and Bellucci didn't half smack that ball at the start. But then, this is probably why he is ranked where he is because its as if he suddenly copped on to what he was doing and got tight. Rafa roared back to 4-4, and then when Bellucci was away from expectation, he started playing with more freedom again. The set edged to a tie-breaker, but Bellucci's nerve was nowhere, and he got trounced 7-0.

The second set was more solid from Rafa, and with two breaks of serve and excellent stats racking up within it, he took command of the match as he won it 6-2.

After a quick toilet break for Rafa (I'm surprised that there hasn't been more abuse for him running out to take a wee and how that put off his opponent), the third set started with more of the same. Rafa broke early, so you would think here we go ... its a romp, but Bellucci had other ideas. He broke Rafa right back, and so it stayed on serve until Rafa broke in the 6th game with some beautiful play. At 5-2 with Bellucci serving, it was a bit of good shot, bad shot from Rafa, ending with a great shot from Bellucci. But when Rafa served at 5-3 it was two mistakes from Bellucci, followed by one from Rafa, then another one, then one from Bellucci, and bang! An ace by Rafa to win it. Who cares, he's through ... one match at a time.

And what a great picture ... as Rafa was leaving the court, Camp Vamo3 was pictured in all their flag bearing, pom pom waving glory. What a great way to end the match.  And  by the way ... you two know who you are, but what a great shot of you from the stands by the TV when Rafa was signing.  Dame Wooffster approves ... ;)

VAMO3!!!

FeliWatch ... :(

Feli, Feli, Feli ... what are we to do with you?

You could see it coming, couldn't you? When he drew Niemenenenenenenen in the first round, I knew he'd do for him. I mean, rankings and seedings aside, Feli should have won this, but I'm struggling hard now to remember when Feli DIDN'T go out of a tournament in the first round this year. This is a disaster for him.

Why can't he win tie-breaks? He was undone by one in the first set, but broke in the second and it was enough to see him through. When the third went to another breaker and Feli lost it, I thought uh-oh ... and so it was to be. He was broken in the fourth and the rain delay didn't save him either. This is a terrible one to go out early at as Feli is defending a quarter-final place and it wouldn't surprise me to see him tumbling in the rankings.

But why? What is it, Feli? I mean, after a disastrous start to 2011, he employed Alberto Berasategui after Monte Carlo ... and everything started going upwards for him. A final in the Serbian Open, quarters at Wimbledon, was it Rafa who put him out of the US Open? and he finished the year back in the top 20 which he hadn't done since God knows when? The he did well at the Australian Open and hit #No 15, and then its been nothing other than first round defeats.

What needs to happen, Feli? A change of coach? Is it worth it? I mean, he's 31 this year and I'm sure he wants to continue again next season, but how does he push on from this? The Davis Cup is over for him, what is there?

Such a shame really. I mean, he should have got his ass into gear at a much younger age because his actual game is one of the loveliest to watch ... really elegant. I feel a bit sorry for him right now, but I've no idea what needs to happen.

And a man this beautiful in his tennis whites (without the headband - loving the look) doesn't deserve to leave our shores so early.  Gutted.

Keep Colm and Carry On ... Camping!! - update 4

So Day 2 of Wimbledon has dawned, and what does that mean??

Rafatime!!

So what news of our Happy Campers down at Camp Vamo3?? Well, with a phone whose battery is rapidly dying by the minute, Rafan has managed to send us this message …

“We have tidied up the tents, bunched up in the queue and got our Centre Court wristbands.

We now have to wait until 8.45 am to move through security and into the bit where you buy tickets. We are going for those opposite the umpire's chair, so look out for me!!

The camping itself was fine, I was a bit cold at 2.30 am and then people were stirring at about 4.30am.

I'll be sleepy tonight!

10%”

:D :D 10% is a reference to the amount of battery she now has left on her phone. *yikes*

The girls have now got their tickets (and this is Rafan's !!), so hopefully for them now, it will be a few hours of enjoying themselves around the grounds before they start on the next game of hunting down which practice court Rafa will be appearing on, as this kind of information is never published at Wimbledon. Good luck, girls!!

And look who was lurking behind them in the queue … could it be the elusive @PseudoFed ?? :D

If you want to follow what the girls might be up to today, then look out for them on Twitter on @rafandready @creamola_foam @loobyloo222 and @TrueBubs9

Photos credited to @creamola_foam ; ticket photo by @rafandready

Keep Colm and Carry On ... Camping!!! - update 3

Under the sunset of the Wimbledon sky ... Camp Vamo3 gets ready to bed down ...

The bromance continues ...

Pico shared a picture of him having a bite with Rafa in order to celebrate his victory.

I think its a lovely picture, really nice. Well it would be ... Maymo is in it, NOT taking it. ;)

Contemplative Rafa ...

The practice is over ... the serious business starts tomorrow.

Rafa posted this picture of himself on Facebook today. Thomaz Bellucci awaits ...

GOOD LUCK, RAFA!! VAMO3 !!!

Hello young lovers ...

Loving how Xisca is getting more focus as the prominent feature in Rafa's life, and this is a nice photograph of them being intimate on a stroll together.

Awwww ....

source : @RafaelNadalFC

FeliWatch ...

Its the time of year when the now infamous Spanish restaurant - El Cambio de Tercio - opens its doors to a flood of Spanish tennis players, and Feli dined there once again with Marc! and his coach Albert, along with Alex Corretja.

I'll never forget the thrill of walking into the restaurant two years ago and there was Feli dining at the next but one table down. But I never mention it ... often. ;)

And who wouldn't want to share the backseat of a car with Feli?? *thud*

He's interviewed here which is to be found on the Wimbledon site, where he Deliciously talks about Judy Murray, how he'd like his tennis to be talked about and not just his looks, plus who he thinks is the most fancieable of the women tennis players.

He starts his Wimbledon campaign tomorrow against Niemmmenemememenemenennnn. Boy I hope he does OK, cos he's got a quarter-final to defend here. *unjinx*

GOOD LUCK, FELI !!!

Keep Colm and Carry On ... Camping!! - update 2

Well Camp Vamo3 is growing in size.

Here's a picture as the girls settle themselves down for the day. A bit of Pimm's was consumed, so I'm sure the girls are in great spirits. *cheers*

And their perseverance will pay off as Rafa is on Centre Court tomorrow,up second, following Petra Kvitova and before Andy Murray. A great day's tennis for them.

And this is it!! Rafan's golden ticket. She's number 130 in the queue, so let's hope she gets a great seat tomorrow. Don't you think its brilliant being able to see all this process? The tents in Wimbledon Park, the "rules" of the Queue Ticket ... I'm loving learning about all this Wimbledon process and decorum. VAMO3!!

tent source - @creamola_foam

Keep Colm and Carry On ... Camping!! - update 1

Rafan's Rafatent has made it to the queue!!!

VAMO3 !!!!

Carry on Camping ...

Its the eve of the start of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships and for those of you who aren't chewing your hands off watching the football, it could be in nervous anticipation of what the Fates have in store for Rafa this year.

But what a treat will be in store for us here on this little blog. As previously reported, my lovely friend Rafan is going to Keep Colm and Carry on Camping for Rafa.

VAMO3!!!

You can see above her beautiful pink and green flowery tent, and the list of essentials she's taking with her are, *takes a breath* :-

tent, airbed, foot pump for said airbed, picnic blanket, sheet, sleeping bag, PJs, tent pegs, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, fold-up chair, can of Pimms, picnic, stuff to wear, toiletries, sun cream, sun hat, umbrella, waterproofs and vamossing pom-pom

She camps light. :D :D :D

She'll join the queue tomorrow, with the aim of getting a ticket to see Rafa open his campaign on Tuesday. Battery life will be her main foe, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to bring her full reports on here, but I'm sure if she can tweet, she will ... so please follow her on Twitter at @rafandready

Her Wimbledon 2012 adventure has already got off to a brilliant start, as she met Rafa yesterday morning at the Wimbledon gates as he went in for practice. He was the last of his team to arrive, *roll* and he was with Xisca. One of the girls she was with asked for a photograph to which he obliged, but had to say, "... yes, but quickly, because I am late ... as always." :D :D Rafa, you're adorkable.

Here's a little bit more of what she reported on our Rafateers thread ...

"I can't remember what Xisca was wearing but she looked gorgeous as usual. Rafa was in white - he came out of his house and put his trackie bottoms on in the garden - he must have felt the chilly breeze. :D 

He looked fantastic, seemed in a good mood, and when he made his little joke and laughed all I could think was how amazing his teeth are! So white and even. He is beautiful, I never fail to get blow away by him.

Toni had gone into the club about 40 minutes before Rafa, followed shortly after by his wife and three children, all swinging their rackets! Rafa finally arrived with Xisca and Maymo, with Benito sprinting past as he signed for us."

And here's what he signed for Rafan. A postcard from the Olympics.

Let's hope for a dry night and to wish her and the rest of the girls well in their camping adventure. And girls ... no Barbara Windsor impressions, huh?

Feli'sScarfWatch ...

Rafa's wearing it!!

@CambiodTercio tweeted this picture as Rafa visited the kitchens in one of their many establishments ...

Wooffie's School of Photography ...

Not to be outdone by Maymo, I wish to proffer my own offering to this esteemed blog feature.

You know I'm going to the Olympics, so when the route of the Olympic Torch goes through your own town and is literally a 10 minutes walk from your own house, well ... his7ory means that you have to go and see it, doesn't it?

Except it was due at 7.38 am on a Saturday morning. (I'm still shuddering at the thought of it now).

So to try and add to my Olympics experience as I'll be there in London, in August, at Wimbledon to watch Rafa play for Spain ... I thought I'd add this experience to my memory bank. So I forewent my Saturday morning lie-in and dragged my carcass out of bed. *gaah*

Readers ... it was totally uninspiring. If trucks bearing the brand "Coca Cola" are your thing ... then this if for you. But the "torch" itself was a total damp squib.

And I couldn't even bloody get a picture of it in focus and nearly missed the whole thing entirely!!

Not sure I should ever take the mick out of Maymo again!!

Maymo's School of Photography ...

Rafa's getting excited as Xavi Alonso steps up to place a penalty which takes Spain into the semi-finals.

And Maymo still doesn't know how to operate "flash" ...

Rafa's best XI

For those of you who aren't aware, we in Europe are currently gripped to football's European Championships ... non more so that our Rafa, who is probably having kittens right now, because although as I write, Spain are leading 1-0 in their quarter-final against France, they're letting them in in this second half. *yikes*

Also ... I want to apologise in advance for what my Twitter timeline might be like tomorrow when England take on Italy as its their turn to fight for a semi-final place. Rafan hates Football Wooffs. ;)

Anyhow, this picture made me giggle as its Rafa's Top XI, as tweeted by @diannada, who thinks that it means as Rafa is so good, he can play any position. :D

Google+ hangout ...

Look guys, I'd been reading about this Google+ hangout with Rafa on Twitter, and being the Luddite I am, I hadn't a clue what it was all about, how to work it or how to join in.

I think it was something like Skype, and you ask Rafa questions over the world-wide Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Amazing.

Anyhow ... Rafa looked wonderfully relaxed and was wearing a fabulous HIS7ORY t-shirt and if you're like me, you'll probably just enjoy watching the cheat's version and click on the YouTube clip. Hehe ...

A few journalists and Mr Harmans took part, but the most annoying thing is that the YouTube clip that's embedded is stuck on Andrew Castle's mug ... the biggest bandwagonning fanboy out there. Guess which horse he's currently hitched his cart to. And he was crap in Strictly ...

Rafa's draw ...

Well its not quite the cakewalk that Rafa is always accused of getting and his quarter features Feli, Kohlschreiber, Dolgopolov, Fish, Tomic and Wawrinka, with a possible tricky quarter final against Tsonga, and Murray once again (of course, what else would the conspiracy theorists do other otherwise?) is his potential semi-final opponent.

Feds has got the cakewalk this time with Tipsy a potential quarter-finalist and obviously the PoD in the semi-final. Cue endless guff that because of the semi-final pairing, all Feds has to do to be No. 1 again is win the whole damn thing. Please ... when will this all stop! Stop it! Shut up about him, and move on!! The PoD's is relatively straight-forward, and Murray has been dealt the most difficult of all the top 4.

But to be honest ... I can't get too worked up about draws. Its a Slam, so there is a huge turnout, and as corny as this may sound, you can only play who is in front of you. Apart from maybe one surprise, it tends always to be the usual suspects at the end, so we just have to wish for God's grace and that Rafa has a healthy time.

His first round opponent is Thomaz Bellucci. He can blow hot and cold, so lets hope for a cold day on Tuesday, eh? VAMO3 Rafa!!

Boi's ...

Awwwww ... this a delightful picture posted by Pico on his Facebook in order to congratulate Rafa for being named as Spain's flag bearer in the Olympics.

He's just the kind of lad you'd like your daughter to marry, isn't he? Erm, I was talking about Pico but it could be either one of them! :D

Let me guess ...

Cooking pasta and gambas by any chance, Rafa??

And thankfully the backlight over the hob gave some light to the picture ... cos Maymo's flash surely didn't!!!

No carbs for Marbs ...

*gulp*

Our Rafa took a trip to Marbs for a bit of R'n'R before his next quest of regaining his Wimbledon crown ... and mighty fine he looks on it too.

One thing though. What is this job that Xisca has, cos I wouldn't mind time off to watch my boyfriend play tennis in Monte Carlo, Rome, Paris with a bit of frolicking in Marbs before returning to the UK. #justasking

source - via @RafaelNadalFC