WEEPING WILLOW

Those of you who had noticed that the tree with descending branches near the office, was a weeping willow (Fr. saule pleureur), must have also noticed that it received its annual pruning the other day. Here is a photo with Fred's head in the middle of it. All the branches have since been removed for burning: a pity, some will say. Ardent basket-makers may still have time to find a pile of these thin, flexible branches down by the swimming pool, to practice this ancient craft. A neighbouring farmer was an adept many years ago.

An interesting tree, the wood being used to make cricket bats, the bark having yielded salicylic acid used in the preparation of aspirin. A literary history also - a symbol of unrequited love: remember the song in Shakespeare's 'Othello'. Here's the last lines:

Sing willow, willow, willow:

Sing all a green willow must be my garland.

Act 4 Scene 3

And for our German friends, a reference to the same tree (die Weide) from a Schubert song in the cycle 'Die schöne Müllerin':

In Grün will ich mich kleiden,

In grüne Tränenweiden:

Mein Schatz hat grün so gern.

TOUSSAINT DOWNPOUR

With remarkable regularity, the beginning of November brings us rain. This year was no exception, we had a day of very heavy & incessant rain, with the accompanying rivers on both sides of the Club carrying lots of sand, earth, & stones before them. An immense amount of work was as usual needed to restore the claycourts to a playable condition; but after such a downpour, some of the hardcourts also, were badly affected. My first photo shows a fairy-like view of courts 6 & 7; note the rows of sand washed in from the opposing side, & the strange reflections from the remaining water. Hardly recognisable as tennis courts!

I include also a photo of a tennis ball that acquired a good coating of mud during the deluge. Even a golf ball appeared near the courts, washed down from 'La Bastide'.......

We were lucky to have been able to replay on all the courts so soon after all this.

NEW GIRLS

The current situation in many Tennis Clubs in the area, is a lack of good lady players (girls in my title) : so that it is with particular pleasure that I post this photo of a group of promising players containing 5 new faces. This was taken after a 'roundrobin' tournament arranged by the two new coaches.

Training sessions of such groups occur frequently now; they are well worth watching for the enthusiasm of both coaches & girls. There is an emphasis on rapid movements, well-finished strokes, balls hit to the baseline, volleys & smashes. Exercises in important tactics in doubles- play are frequent; the spectacle can be exciting, & always full of good humour. Come & watch, & you will want to join in!