Who’s the baby?

Who’s the baby here: I heard a ‘ball on court’ call so I stopped. Our oppenonts offered no replay of the point. Two games later in the second set, another ‘ball on court’ occured and they wanted a replay. I said no because of the last one. So the tall oppenont called me a baby, “that’s 15 minutes ago.”

  • Who’s the baby here?
  • Why calling me name, when I merely follow YOUR rule?
  • And what does time have to do with this matter?
  • …is conscious gnawing at you?

This is the most illogial and ontificative act I’ve enoucnted on a tennis court. Shame on you.

.. the warm up and a game

I lost all my serves in the set. At 4-4 and 30-40, the tall opponent hit a short ball to my right. I was about to chase it down, I heard ‘ball on court’ and saw the two next door neighbors were standing. So I stopped and looked back. Their ball was on the baseline. After I retrieved the ball, did I realize the game and set was over and we lost.

the first set, I served first

  • 0-1
  • 0-2
  • 1-2
  • 1-4
  • 4-4, 30-40… ball on court. Game set.

The second set, B served first; one serve landed on the middle line or near the line. I didn’t call: ‘99% out still 100% in’ is my motto (seriously, when player or players circling the ball mark, is he or are they considering the mark itself or fighting the moral guilit of their conscious?) I was the next serve. Ball on court. They expected me to replay the point. I stood on the ad court, and said no. Mr. Tall said, “oh you’re a baby, that was 15 minutes ago.”

Al and Bob left. So VJ and I played 5 games of singles, stopped at 4-1.

This morning at 4-4, 30-40 (coming back from 1-4), I’ve a “ball on court” call from the neighbors and stopped. Our opponents decided that meant game and set.
Then, second game of the next set, another “ball on court”—and they wanted a replay. I said no.

Mr. Tall didn’t like that. “That was 15 minutes ago,” he snapped, calling me a baby.

Excuse me? You make the rule, I follow it, and now I’m the baby?

Sounds like someone’s memory — and conscience (gnawing?) — are lost.

This was the most illogical, unsportsmanlike act I’ve ever seen on a court.

That game was 8 hours ago and long forgotten by everyone who played this morning. No one cares, except you and including the entire group in this text requires me to respond so everyone knows what type of person you are.

Just to clarify what happened today. No one on our side heard ball on the court. Your partner came to the net and said nice game or something like that.
( actually he said we won)
As we started to play the next game together, Bob asked up or down and we were to serve. I gave you the balls and you hit them back to them. I said we are serving do you want to serve you said no, so I served. After each point, if the ball was near you, you just kicked it to the side. Never picking it up and giving it back to me. This went on for two games with you not speaking to me. You continued to just kick the ball into the corner. Bob complained but you just continued to sulked. When they served to me I asked you if the ball was in and you answered you were not looking.
During the next point I called ball on the court behind them. You started yelling now you call ball on the court. Yes I called it because I didn’t want anyone getting hurt.
I play tennis for fun and exercise. I enjoy my fellow players and you were a big baby complaining because you lost a tennis game. You are a terrific tennis player and I have enjoyed playing with you in the past. I hope to never play with you again.

Oh baby, is it my Chinglish – don’t twist the subject – It’s about replay of the point, not when/if someone calls it.
I wouldn’t have said a word when (IF?) you called “ball on court.” It was when you wanted to replay the point that I said no. Your memory here? Let’s say it’s got a few unforced errors.

That first “ball on court” – it was sitting pretty right on the baseline of the deuce court, across the alley from the pickleball courts.
Might be time for an eye exam. And FYI — lying isn’t sexy, no matter how tall you are.

I went to pick up the ball, so I missed the net-side summit. Whatever was decided, the point wasn’t replayed — no dispute there, right? How I behaved on court is in the eyes of the beholders.

As for your heroic “I didn’t want anyone getting hurt” — here is my little promotional ad: I always
offer a replay when ‘ball on court’.
remind opponents when it rolls back.
let go of close calls: 99% out is still 100% in.
and smile when I lose = the group’s got game = there’s room to improve.

Guess I’m just more of a man than you are 🤣😜😇

 

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Took away his ace

Taking away Jim’s ace: I won the point when he hit my short return (high and short – I barely got it) out by a yard.

#nevergiveup

Jim 小哥的发球好厉害
大妈拼命挽救 居然成功 … 短高
小哥失望 奋力猛杀
结果出界好几尺

#nevergiveup

3 serves

a few forehands

… and the first point of the first game

 

 

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My forehand is improving

The sunrise, and decent forehand won 2-1:

  • w/ Ken, 5-3
  • w/ Zag, 0-5
  • w/ Breet 5-2

… but my serve is still work in progress – scratch back!

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A slam, bid & won

I bid 6 NT, and won a grand slam – all 13 tricks. It’s a wonderful 50 minuetes of play, before the book club.

36 hcp: I’ve 23 hcp: ♠️ AKQ ♥️ Q♦️ J 10 6 5 ♣️AKQ97. My P has 13 hcp: ♠️982 ♥️A 10 3 ♦️AKQ 7 ♣️10 3 2.

Janet is very gracious, helping us with which bid is asking for A and K, which is a prelude to a NT bid. 

 

 

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A tennis cruise

I ended up not going because the organizer was unresponsive. The tennis photos of the trip are from my friend M.

After M told me of the trip, I immediately called C, who returned my call the following day, Friday, May 9th. I provided him with my sign-up info and paid the deposit. 

Here is the trip info:

  • the company name
  • 5-night Key West Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Summit Oct 13-8
  • Port of Calls: Ft Lauderdale→Key West→Bimini→Nassau→Ft L
  • Cabin cost pp,  including tennis lessons
    • $790 inside
    • $1,279 window
    • $1,490 balcony 
  • tennis lessons
    1. Veltri @ Ft. Lauderdale / Planatation
    2. Sugarloaf @ Key West 
    3. Baha Mar resort @ Bahamas 

After the deposit, I heard nothing from him for the next five days, no receipt, no acknowledgment, no itinerary. Have I even signed up?!

I finally texted him: Receipt or cancel my reservation. A receipt is sent that day. Still no itinerary. 

C’s claim is that I’m part of M’s group, that’s why no individual receipt will be sent. 

“Did you receive any notice that I’ve signed up to your group?” I asked M, who replied “NOPE.”

In early July, I randomly called Celebrity to check if I was signed up and to see what my balance was. The Celebrity agent said, “Yes, you’re. But you’ll have to pay $276, which is due today, if you want to find out your balance, which is due August 15.”

When C called ten days later, July 15, for the final payment, I said, “Please send me an email with details.” 

No email sent. Two weeks later, I sent him the final email, asking to cancel my reservation—no reply, of course. Days later, I disputed the deposit charge with my credit card. They dealt with him promptly.

My friend M faired the same but decided to go. The day before departure, he still hasn’t received the itinerary, “C said he has emailed me, but that didn’t seem to work, so he said he’ll screenshot the itinerary and text me. Of course he didn’t.” 

Since the first tennis lesson is scheduled for 9 am on the first day, just a few hours before the ship’s boarding time, the tennis program offered a night stay at Hotel Dello Ft. Lauderdale, at $350. M booked this 3-star hotel himself at $135.

I’m a firm believer in paying for service. But what this tennis program does, I failed to see the value they think they deserve to charge.

M is over the moon about the tennis and C:

  • Actually I met him and he is really great. 
  • he does everything for you .
  • Ordered cab, paid for dinner last night, and more
  • He even took us out for ice cream last night

Why did he act the way he did?

They’ve 11 players (M’s wife doesn’t play) on this trip, and M’s the only man – what a marvelous time with his harem -:).

 

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Skorts & Shorts tourney

Another pickleball tournament features 32 players with fixed pairs in two tiers. My upgrade to level 2 is to stay.

The rules are 10-minute timed play. At buzzer time, complete the point; if tied at the buzzer, play continues till the server wins by 1 point.

Nick is my partner, with whom I have never played. Actually, I don’t even know that he plays. Luckily, we managed to win 4 out of 7 games:

  1. v. Yan & Martin: lost
  2. v. Joyce & Carlos: won
  3. v. Lurline & Jeff: won, came from behind 2-7 deficit
  4. v. Angela & Bill: lost (10-11)
  5. v. Karen & Richard: lost
  6. v. Donnie Ed: won
  7. v. Lynn Eoin: won (5-4, perhaps the lowest score)

I’m pretty tied at the end.

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Two moons & 9 serves


The autumn moon is still full. The reflection in the pool makes an interesting photo.

Tennis: 4-5, 5-0, 2-3 on serve but our court time runs out.

The first set was w/ Larry: we should have won. I served first, 30-0, 30-30, 40-30 and won the first game. The second time I served, an ace and 40-love … but lost. This was terrible!

 

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Make that box!

4-5, 4-4, rain begins …

My serve works today when I make the box! It doesn’t look good at praceice but once the game begins, I made a mental note to do the box, and it works!

After being down 0-30, we came back and I held my serve

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Can’t serve


The autumn sun in the morning

Yesterday, 5-1, 5-3, 5-2: but couldn’t get my first serve in 😭, for not playing for a month or what?

My first serve was like 20%. However, my second serve – all underhand – was nearly perfect, except one double fault.

Today, is a different story, that I got all my first serve in, except one; no double but didn’t win all three sets: 2-5, 5-1, 2-2 (someone retired).

From yesterday:

5-1, 5-3, 5-2: but couldn’t get my first serve in 😭

第一局的 1 是俺输的[闭嘴]

一发只有20%
二发靠 under 小球 95%
一个误发

不知是男娃们不肯占俺便宜 没有一个在我二发时挪进几步. 感觉多数人都不喜欢或者很少变更. 习惯主宰一切.

我还怎么活下去呀
球都不会发了 喔喔喔

左胳膊还在疼

撞墙吧 大妈

… 南墙 还是北墙?

😤🤔🫢🤭

From today

🍂 the autumn sun

秋天的太阳🌅

🎾 2-5, 5-1, 2-2 有人病退

昨天撞墙很有效
今天只有一个二发

撞的哪面墙?
… 您觉得大妈还能记得吗 [偷笑][Lol]

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Tennis courts @ Cadogan

On Sloane Street in London, there are two small private parks, Cadogan Place garden North & South, which has hard tennis courts.

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