Murray Wins!

Watching the game with The Blonde

I had a ton of work to do today for various Managing Directors, before a big meeting that was happening in Boston on Monday, but there was no way I was going to miss one of the most epic games to be played, tennis history in the making.  So when The Blonde called me up at around noon to ask, "Do you want to meet me in Sloane Square in an hour to watch the Andy Murray-Novak Djokovic final?"  Of course, how could I miss it?

I quickly changed and made my way down there, where we made our way to the Duke of York Square, and found that we hadn't been the only people with the brilliant idea to go watch the tennis.  We finally found a spot near the back actually on the sidewalk, but close enough to the edge that none of the roving police officers made us move.  

With the boys in the chairs they brought

We were soon joined by two boys we know from various club events, two of those classic guys who are ubiquitous on the scene, always out everywhere, and who neither of us have ever really been interested in.  But they are always good company, and on this occasion they even brought folding chairs, which they put us into so we could sit, and then the two of them stood for the entire match!  What gentlemen!  (And of course, this is how life goes with The Blonde, where men are always fawning to do nice things, just because).  

Luckily before the boys showed up, I did get a chance to gossip and catch up with The Blonde a bit, who has moved on to yet another new romantic interest.  I swear it's hard to keep them all straight at times, and it amazes me how fast she moves!  

So two weeks ago, she'd been seeing a guy who had a 5-year old kid, who I think she'd gone for despite his obvious drawbacks due to his attractiveness.  I think I may have met this chap at a party once, and I do agree that he's quite attractive, but the kid (with a woman he wasn't even married to) did strike me as not the best.  Yet, as is always the case with these things, every guy that I say "no" to, The Blonde says "yes" to, and so she'd been seeing him for the past few weeks.  Although she was quickly getting annoyed with him, as his version of "dating" more often seemed to be asking her to come 'round (or coming over to hers) late at night and staying over.  Even The Blonde knows that when your relationship consists almost entirely of booty calls, it's not a relationship.  The latest insult being when he cancelled dinner plans, then asked if she wanted to come over to his for dinner, and then asked her to pick up a pizza on her way over.  

Her original plan for the day had been to meet the guy this afternoon to hang out, but with Henley yesterday, he'd called her earlier to say that he was too hung over and couldn't make it.  As she (rightly) pointed out to me, "All of you were at Henley yesterday and you've managed to drag yourselves up and out by this hour, what on earth is his problem?"  He even called while we were talking but she ignored the call, showing a surprising amount of backbone that I don't normally see from The Blonde.  

The massive crowds watching the screen in Duke of York Square

But that may have been because she now had a new interest, a guy that she'd gone on a date with last week after meeting online.  They'd had a fun time, talking until the restaurant closed, but hadn't kissed, perhaps due to a lack of chemistry.  Yet, whereas that's usually the point where I realise a lack of chemistry will kill everything, The Blonde will always ignore such warning signs.  So she was excited when he had expressed an interest in hanging out today, although The Blonde found that there was one small wrinkle:  He was friends with Guy #1, the one she was currently sleeping with!  (Another reason I think The Blonde might do well to hold out a bit longer before letting men into her bed!)

I was later to learn that after the game, she'd met up with this boy, telling me, "He and met me and we went and had a picnic (and a cheeky snog!!)  I do like him, but at the same time there's def something that holds me back too.  But I can't quite put my finger on what it is..."

Although I don't like sharing too many stories about the Irish Boy, I was at least able to show her a few of his messages, which I think are at least an example of how things should be with a boy.  He continues to write the most lovely and charming things every day, making me smile and laugh.  After his last message where he apologised for a delay in responding, I assured him that I no longer feared he was simply going to stop writing, that I was quite confident we would stay in touch until we saw each other in person again.  To which he replied:

"I can guarantee you that your messages are some of the most enjoyable, and most anticipated elements of my week, and you can also GUARANTEE that you will keep hearing from me!!!

And thank you for the extensive compliments! Because, I can say for certain that it will be a long time before I have the pleasure of sitting beside as stunning a lady as you!!!"

I do worry at times that he might be an even bigger player than the Tall South African, for it doesn't make a lot of sense that a charming, handsome, intelligent, good-looking man like that would be single and so into me.  Yet, for whatever reason he is, and he's enamoured of me, so whilst he's safely off in Dublin, I'll continue to enjoy the attention for now.  

The game itself was intense, even as it was won in 3 sets, as it really went back and forth for each point, with some incredible rallies.  It was definitely an opportunity to watch two evenly-match champions, fighting it out on absolutely equal footing.  Some of the games of Wimbledon had been boring, watching a number-1 seed absolutely demolish an unranked player, but this was very obviously an equal contest.  Although I was incredibly grateful to Andy Murray for winning it in straight sets, as I kept getting e-mails about work all throughout the game (from people in other countries who did not realise the significance of what was happening), and I doubt I could have held them off for too much longer.  

It was funny in the crowd, as although we were only watching the game on screens and were not sitting in Centre Court, every time a serve came, there would be some fierce shushing going on in the crowd, as everyone whispered, "Shhhhh!" as though Murray could hear us and we might be ruining his concentration if we didn't obey the Wimbledon maxim of "Quiet please!"

Yet, the moment of the win, it was amazing to be in that square with all of those hundreds of people, sharing in the joy of that moment.  Murray didn't make it easy, with the game going to the Championship point three times, everyone sitting on the edge of their seats before realising they needed to sit back down again, as Murray would lose the advantage.  So it was almost with disbelief when Djokovic returned a volley into the net, and we realised that the 77-year wait was over, a British man had won at Wimbledon once again.  

The moment of the win, with the cheering crowds!

Everyone was cheering and clapping, and just generally going nuts.  I found I had goosebumps and was shaking, I had been so tense.  Thank goodness Murray had won, I doubt I could have held out for much longer!  I found it funny when one of the BBC commentators interviewing him afterwards said that the game had been "torturous to watch", and Murray quipped in reply, "Imagine playing it!"

The happy crowd at the end of the game!

At that point, the group was making plans to go for drinks and to dinner (where I later learned Qatari Boy joined them, a shame as it would have been nice to see him), but I knew that I couldn't hold of work for any longer.  A shame to have to miss out on the rest of the celebrations, but what an amazing day, and an amazing win by Andy Murray!