SOME BRIGHTER MOMENTS
I suppose we must be thankful for small mercies
after an appalling 2020 and, so far, a pretty grim 2021. We are told that by
July 18, with any luck, the many restrictions on our lives will be lifted and a
semblance of normality will return. As a nation we will emerge rather poorer,
decidedly frazzled, certainly more divided and yet reassured and fortified in
the belief that the worst is over and that we retain the ambitious capacity to
rebuild our prosperity and reinvigorate our way of life.
The Queen enjoys
Trooping the Colour at Windsor
In recent days some events have cheered us up. Without
being rabidly patriotic, most of us will have enjoyed the traditional Trooping
the Colour, scaled down to the grassy courtyard of Windsor Castle from the open
spaces of Horse Guards Parade off Whitehall, this year led by the proud Scots
Guards but with all the usual martial music, brass and bagpipes, scarlet tunics
and esoteric ritual. Her Majesty, a spritely, smiling 95, tapped her feet in
pleasure. For a native Scotsman, a particular treat was the medley The
Aberdonian, dominated by the iconic North East song The Bonnie Lass of
Fyvie.
Not everything went Scotland’s way, however.
Scotland lost 0-2 to Czech Republic in their opening game at the Euros. The
Scots were predictably pedestrian, probably under the baleful spell of La
Sturgeon. There was a comic side too, as the Czech second goal, a beautifully
executed lob from far out by Patrik Schick over the out-of-position Scots
keeper David Marshall, saw him entangled in goal-net confusion!
David Marshall netted
It pains me to say that England need lose no
sleep over their game against Scotland on Friday. Mind you, Wales are looking
good after victory over Turkey, in Baku, Azerbaijan, that typically European
opponent and venue!
Much the most engrossing event last week was
the French Open Tennis at Roland Garros. My lovely wife is Greek and we were
therefore cheering on Maria Sakkari and Stephanos Tsitsipas. Maria battled
through to the semis, only to be pipped by the eventual champion, unseeded
Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.
The progress of Tsitsipas was sensational. With his confident winners and hard-hitting tennis, he swept aside 2nd seed Medvedev, 6th seed Zverev and in the final against top seed Novak Djokovic he breezed to a 2-set lead. But uncharismatic yet icily composed Djokovic is not world no 1 for nothing. His sublime placement and lethal dropshots finally overcame the Greek, who will no doubt bounce back. Djokovic had earlier deposed Raphael Nadal as King of the clay courts in an unforgettably epic match. Everyone’s favourite, Roger Federer, now in the twilight of his career and trying to recover from knee injury, won a sticky match against Koepfer of Germany and them withdrew from the competition.
Novak Djokovic, a
worthy grand slam champion.
This week we have been watching the tennis from
the Queens Club, West London. There was a cameo from Scots hero Andy Murray,
rusty from a long lay-off. He won his first match but succumbed to the no 1
seed Italian Mateo Berrettini. Sadly, Murray is a shadow of the great player he
once was. Some up-and-coming British players have done well, notably Dan Evans,
Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper. Inevitably the Old Guard changes and new faces
will compete in all sports at the highest level.
This summer we can look forward to Wimbledon,
to great rugby from the Lions in South Africa, to golfing magic from the
various Opens, and for excitement at the Euros. I fear there will be thin
pickings for the Home Nations but do not let failure and the British weather
get you down.
Remember in extremis, there is always
Fred and Ginger! I attach Isn’t this a lovely day to be caught in the
Rain from Top Hat (1935).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl6FLfHTC68&ab_channel=RyanWenzel.
SMD
17.06.21
Text © Sidney Donald 2021
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