Category Archives: Entertainment

The three minute 2012 Wimbledon tennis experience video

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Tennis is my favourite spectator sport. In truth it is the only sport that I can watch for hours on end. I hate Football. It annoys me and I hate all the posing and WAGery that surrounds it. Rugby is tolerable as long as the action is fierce. Golf is like watching paint dry. But a good long tennis match can provide edge of the seat excitement.

My earliest memories of tennis are watching Wimbledon finals as a child. I remember the five set marathon between Bjorn Borg and huge American ace serving Roscoe Tanner, and the “You cannot be serious” ranting outbursts of John McEnroe. Over the years I’ve followed Lendl, Becker, Sampras and shared the futile desire to see Henman and now Murray struggle to get their hands on the championships title.

But I’ve never ventured off the sofa and into a proper tournament until recently. I recent went to Wimbledon in week one to entertain some journalists and we enjoyed lunch and afternoon tea at the “Wimbledon Tennis Experience” before taking a wander around the courts.

Henman Hill is not as big as I thought. There are many restaurants and bars and everyone was dressed smartly for the occasion. Including the incredibly polite members of staff. What a contrast Wimbledon is to grubby football stadiums with their aggressive and unfriendly bouncers.

Wimbledon tennis experience video
Maria Sharapova on Number One Court
Sitting on a sweltering Number One Court we caught the end of an exciting match between Sharapova and Pironkova. My goodness doesn’t Sharapova make a noise when she hits the ball? What a racket!

As my skin began to tan, Brit James Ward came onto court to take on the American with the great name, Mardy Fish. And take him on he did. Ward hung on for 5 sets much to the approval of the crowd who always like to cheer for the British underdog. There were some real tense moments and everyone roared for more.

Other things I loved about Wimbledon:

  • The ball boys and girls choreographed moves are great to see. You miss this on TV. They obviously receive quite regimented training.
  • PIMS , the must have drink, is like weakly alcoholic coke but refreshing and welcome in the blazing heat.
  • The feeling that you are in a posh little village rather than a soulless stadium.
  • The slow hand clapping when a player challenges a line call.
  • The strawberries, naturally, but I put black pepper rather than cream on mine.
  • Lansons Black Label Champagne.

Check out my three minute Wimbledon Tennis Experience video which I think captures the atmosphere and thrill of this amazing competition.

If you liked the video please click on this link to tweet it.

What a great day out, and a flight delay on the way home meant that I watched Nadal getting slaughtered on a TV in the BA lounge. I fully intend to venture off my sofa another time. I should never have waited so long.

Over to you: Have you been to Wimbledon? What did you think? Who did you see play? Did you capture any interesting photos or video? Please leave a comment below and share your links and stories.

From Vienna with love – Ultravox Brilliant Album Review

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Ultravox were a chart topping electronic rock band in the 1980s. Best known for their atmospheric smash hit single, “Vienna” (with its equally standout video), it was famously kept off the top spot in the charts by joke single, “Shaddap You Face” by Joe Dolce.

The band,  fronted by Scots singer guitarist Midge Ure, have largely been forgotten since their appearance at Live Aid in 1985. Ure of course was the co-writer of the Band Aid single, “Do They Know it’s Christmas”, and co-organiser of Live Aid despite both accolades being mostly associated with Sir Bob Geldof.

Ultravox reformed for a one off tour in 2010 and it was way more successful than they could ever have imagined. So much so that they went back into the studio and have just released their first new recordings in 26 years.

Ultravox Brilliant Album Review

Bravely calling the album “Brilliant”, a title surely as close to a red rag to the critics as it is possible to get, they retread old sounds with new modern Celtic and Far Eastern themes. The heavy bass synth signature style is still there, and Ure’s vocal range seems to have improved over the last quarter century. Tuneful choruses, melancholy vocals, swirling guitars, and plenty of echo will certainly please the fans.

Ultravox Brilliant Album Review

“Live” starts things off to stadium anthem proportions with instantly recognisable piano notes and guitar tones. “Flow” has nods to U2 and title track “Brilliant” has a chorus that burns itself into your brain and a very hummable keyboard melody. “Change” reminds me of “Model” by Kraftwork but reinvented for 2012, and “Hello” gestures towards Pet Shop Boys. “Lie” and “Satellite” are a couple of bombastic up tempo guitar and synth layered epics.

Whether this will usher in a whole generation of new fans I am not sure but it has made me happy. Certainly some critics have predictably risen to the bait and labeled Brilliant as anything but. I bet Ure and the boys did that deliberately, knowing that the lazy critic would fall for their trap and take the easy route to pan rather than to praise. After all is a critic going to feel like a critic saying an album called “Brilliant” is brilliant?

But I’m not a professional critic and so I have nothing to worry about in declaring “Brilliant” to be brilliant.

Over to you: Have you heard this album? Is it a brilliant return? What are your favourite old groups that have reformed for the modern age? Should they stay in retirement or have their revivals been inspiring?

Warrior Film Review for BodyCombat instructors and participants

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BodyCombat instructors and participants all know that this Les Mills fitness class is based upon mixed martial arts (MMA). It’s a an authentic blend of boxing, karate, tae kwondo, muay tai, capoeira, kick boxing, Brazilian jujitsu choreographed to music. It’s a great way to work out and it burns calories and tones muscles.

Although the moves in a Body Combat class are authentic, it is non-contact. You don’t punch and kick people for real.

Warrior Film Review for BodyCombat instructors and participants

And that’s fine because most participants are not martial artists and are probably not that bothered about the difference between the styles. They are more interested in the exercise results.

If you are interested in learning more you could go to a full contact martial arts class. Or you can watch MMA tournaments on Sky TV. Look for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Or once in a while a Hollywood block buster comes along with an MMA theme.

There was one a few years ago called Never Back Down – which was more of a teenage rom-com with the usual impossibly beautiful American teenagers hanging out in expensive cars, partying, copping off with each other and, on this occasion, fighting in MMA matches. It was good eye candy and the fight sequences were well done. But there was little depth.

Warrior film review

Now along comes Warrior, a film with a great emotional story, superb acting and kick ass choreographed MMA fights.

Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) and Brenden Conlon (Joel Edgerton) are estranged brothers haunted by a betrayal by their alcoholic father (a superb Nick Nolte). Tommy is trying come to terms with losing friends in combat in Iraq and Brenden is trying to keep his family finances afloat as the bank tries to repossess his house.

They both fall back on their MMA background and enter a UFC competition. Whilst you can spot the inevitable outcome within moments, that they’ll meet in the final, their journey to that clash is emotional as each of the brothers and their father try to reconcile their past differences. The amazing fight sequences punctuate the drama. Unlike the teen film mentioned earlier, these guys are much older, battle hardened and world weary. The final fight tugs at the heart strings, and despite the savagery of the bout, I defy anyone not to wipe away a tear.

Warrior Film Review for BodyCombat instructors and participants

Pretty much every martial arts we have seen in Body Combat makes an appearance, and that allied to the strong story line makes it compulsive viewing even for those who are only interested in the exercise benefits of the class.

I often joke when I teach Body Combat that, “This class is only make believe.” Well this film is only make believe too, but it is so well made that you will get swept away with the gritty reality and the raw emotion of a family struggling for reconciliation.

Over to you: Have you seen Warrior? What did you think? What other MMA films have you seen and would recommend? Are you a Body Combat participant or instructor? How do you react to seeing “the real thing”? Please leave a comment by clicking on “leave a reply” below.

 

Such a social way to eat out – Salt Yard Tapas Restaurant Review

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There is something wonderfully sociable about eating tapas. Those small plates of Spanish meat, fish and vegetables served with colourful aromatic sauces. I love the flexibility of experience it gives you. You can pop into a tapas restaurant for a quick glass of wine and a charcuterie plate, or you can take a long leisurely few hours working through the menu with friends or business contacts.

Salt Yard Tapas Restaurant Review

Salt Yard (54 Goodge St London W1T 4NA), is one of the best tapas bars in the UK located in the bustling restaurant area near Charlotte Street it easily holds it’s own against competing establishments. And again flexibility is its advantage. People have coffee and cheese mid-morning, beer and a few plates of food for lunch, and wine beer and most of the menu in the evening.

It’s an award winning venue and you will have seen it on Master Chef UK – the contestants had to cook the signature “Courgette Flowers stuffed with Goat’s Cheese and drizzled with Honey”.

I recently spent an evening there with journalists and we started with a beer and a plate of deep fried chillies. Whilst these do not blow your head off with chilli heat they are salty and bitter. They get you in the mood for more drinks.

Salt Yard Tapas Restaurant Review

I selected the wine as my dinner guests checked out the menu. I was attracted to the “Pittacum (Mencia, Bierzo 2007)” described as organic and dark with pepper & blackcurrant fruit, herbal and earthy.

Very soon the chatty waitress brought the bottle and it appeared to be a popular choice. The food began to arrive with conveyer belt frequency.

First up was “Fried Squid with Tomatoes Chillies and Coriander”. I must say this was a little too fishy for me. I like squid precisely because it tastes different and this didn’t.

Salt Yard Tapas Restaurant Review

After a slightly disappointing  start came a tasty return to form. “Confit of ‘Gloucester Old Spot’ Pork Belly with Rosemary Scented Cannellini Beans”  – fantastic crackling crust and melt in the mouth moist meat below.

“Slow Roasted Chicken with Chorizo and Chickpea Stew” – a perfect Spanish dish warm and colourful.

“Grilled Underblade Fillet of Beef, Artichokes, Black Olive and Piquillo Salsa” – tender meat and earthy flavours.

A second bottle of Pittacum arrived as the journalists tucked into more fish and some of those courgette flowers. The restaurant was full now, atmospheric and noisy. A sociable way to eat has to be a accompanied by a backdrop of a hundred conversations, clanking plates, and clinking glasses.

We didn’t have any room left for a dessert even though the “Churros with Chocolate Sauce” caught my eye. We all left sated, having thoroughly enjoyed another evening of Salt Yard tapas – the social way to eat out.

Over to you: Have you ever eaten Salt Yard Tapas? What do you think of this restaurant? I’d love to hear your own Salt Yard Tapas Restaurant Review or about other similar establishments. Please post your recommendations and comments below.