Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday 10th July, 2011.

1) Kumearangissusakiss!



2) Pandora has found a nice shady spot on a rare day of July sunshine.

NB This was the last day of doing this with Anne and Derek who are retiring from volunteering at the CP after ten years service. We shall miss them.

James Taylor, LG Arena, Saturday 9th July, 2011.

1) Not the sharpest image but, hey, what can we do? It's just to say we were there. Vicky gave it 9/10 and so did David. But for different reasons which we won't go into here.

F1 GP, Silverstone, Friday 8th July, 2011 (morning action).

1) Drying track at 9.45am at Luffield.

2) Some young German bloke who, some say, has the potential to amount to something. Let's not get carried away.

3) Of course, as soon as the F1's are back in the garages the sun comes out. These cars are GP2's for the record.

4) Don't fancy camping at Silverstone (despite the Fun Fair)? Try the next step on the accommodation ladder.

F1 GP, Silverstone, Friday 8th July, 2011 (afternoon action).

1) It's just a couple of minutes before the start of the 1.00pm F1 practice session and guess what? Yep, those 'showers' are back. Get yer brollies out.

2) One of a select group of drivers willing to brave Lake Silverstone in the first 45 minutes of the 90 minute session. Most of the others are in their garages staring intently at gizmos telling them the cowin' obvious: yes, we've got showers passing over.

3) Half way into the session and the track's drying out a touch. But not by much.

4) Vicky has her eye on Alonso. She reckons 'he's on it' and looking good for the race. Dave says he's got no chance Vic.

5) Ah yes, 2011, the Year of the Cable Cam. It replaced the Boom Cam if you recall. In 2025 we'll all look back on such antiquated gizmos with a sense of nostalgic bafflement as we watch that year's GP on our personal holograms.

F1 GP, Silverstone, Friday 8th July, 2011 (non-action).

1) 'Showers' they said. Hurrumph. Here we are at the bridge from the car park to the circuit and, frustratingly, the air is filled with the sound of F1 cars circulating. We should have been here about thirty minutes ago but the rain was so heavy on the motorways of the Midlands that it is already 9:15am and we're not in yet.

2) No, still not in yet. This is the queue at the entrance. The Wing is tantalisingly close. Once inside, most folk head that way. But we are canny sods (we've seen it already thanks) and so head towards the old start-finish area where, perhaps, the grandstands will be less full. It is spitting with rain (so not too bad then).

3) We've watched the last 45 minutes of the first F1 practice session at Luffield and are now enjoying a reviving toastie and tea behind the stands at Woodcote. Stopped raining now. Note the folk behind us who, despite it being Silverstone in July, have chosen to wear shorts and flip-flops. I ask you.

4) Howard and David are eying up the next port of call on the 'snack' front. Vicky says we must wait 'til lunchtime. Boo.

5) The stand at Woodcote is nice and empty once the F1's finish. Vicky texts to friends whilst we wait for the GP2's to take to the track to while away the time.

6) Of course, you don't need to sit in a stand at all. Just bring a chair, park up in front of a giant screen, buy a beer from the nearby bar, and Bob's yer Aunt. Job done (unless it rains again).

7) Yes, that's right, it's the afternoon and it's raining again. And, yes, we are under the roof the stand! These so-called 'showers' are horizontal.

8) Howard is ready and willing to be the Test Driver for Team Lotus in 2012. Does that mean we might get free flights to Singapore? Go Howard!!

9) On the way out of the circuit at 7:00pm-ish. This is the camp site Fun Fair. Doesn't look like much fun at the mo'. Still, might clear up tomorrow, eh?

Home of Metal, Birmingham, Thursday 30th June, 2011.

1) We've had a days rest and, today, we've come up to Birmingham to see the Home of Metal exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery. On the way we gawp at the remnants of the rally against the cuts in Victoria Square. Michael Gove's visog is nailed to a lamp post. Unfortunately, it is only a cardboard cut-out (the visog, not the lamp post).
2) Gas Hall? Is this some (not so) veiled reference to the fact that we've just spent the last hour in the Handmade Burger Company? The Food Police are everywhere it seems.
3) Vicky and Howard are in the mood and are ready to rawk. The bats are a nice touch, eh?

4) Vicky, Howard and Ozzy cartoon cardboard cut-out figure.

5) None more metal? Er, no, there are many more Metal than this fella.

All-in-all we are not sure that this exhibition was worth the admission price (£6). Why was there an admission price in the first place? We've never paid to get into one at the Gas Hall before. They are usually free of charge. Perhaps we feel somewhat underwhelmed because when it comes to 'contempoary history' it is all too recent and familiar, not special enough. OK, it has one or two guitars, costumes, and a Harley (viz a vis nothing), but we (or anybody, for that matter) could put all our old ticket stubs, posters, programmes, old Metal Hammer covers, sleeve artwork etc on display and call it an exhibition and charge folk to come 'round and look at it. Hmm, now there's a thought.

Centre Court, Wimbledon, Tuesday, 28th June, 2011.

1) Strawberries and cream in the Court No 1 cafe-thingy. Well, for £2.50, you've got to, haven't you?

2) Top of 'Henman Hill' and it's drizzling again. But what's this? Re-sale tickets for the Centre Court going for a tenner each? Get in the queue Vic!

3) It's gone eight o'clock and the roof is now on. Still time for a set of Ladies Quarter Final tennis before home time. Not bad seats either.

4) Protagonist no 1: lovely unflattering shot of No 4 seed Victoria Azarenka (BLR).

5) Protagonist No 2: even more unflattering shot of Tamira Paszek (AUT) wiping her nose on the back of her wrist. She lost in straight sets.

First set finished at just gone 9. Swift walk back to the Park and Ride bus stop for the bus back to Merton College. Left Lunnon just gone quarter past ten. Got home quarter-to-one. That's two very late nights on the trot. We're not as young as we were. Can we have a day off tomorrow please?

Wimbledon, Tuesday 28th June, 2011.

1) Howard and Vicky are much happier now they have seen Rafa and it has stopped raining. The covers have come off on the outside courts and it's time to seek out some actual tennis.
2) These line judges have every reason to be happy. They get to see Rafa all the time and don't have to pay!

3) We've chosen to watch at Court 17. Well, it was the first one we came to and a match was about to start, so why not? This is an umpire. Obviously it's an outrage. She's far too young and feminine to control a match let alone the hurly-burly petulance of a girls singles.

4) Protagonist no 1: Jesika Maleckova (CZE). She's seeded so she must be good.

5) Protagonist no 2: Danelka Borthwick, not seeded but the British no 1 in the juniors. We'll support her then.

6) Jeremy Bates. Remember him? He's here to make notes on Ms Borthwick's progress (she won in straight sets - yay!).

7) Ball boy might be thirsty but he must not show it (oh no).

Waiting for Rafa: Wimbledon, Tuesday 28th June, 2011.

1) They said there was a good chance of thunder storms. 'They' weren't kidding. It began as we drove up and over the Chilterns on the M40 and lasted until we parked up at the Park and Ride at Merton College. Unsurprisingly, things are a tad damp by the time we arrive at just gone four. But whats this? Howard is excited. The air is electric with anticipation. Rafa is due to arrive to test out his dodgy ankle on a practice court. We are instructed by our companion to head for the players changing rooms. David has a sense of deja vu: it's gonna be just like waiting for Barrack, only different.

2) There's a bit of a media scrum lying in wait for Rafa. Other players come and go. Nobody's interested in them. Rumour has it he will be here at 4:30pm, but it is still drizzling, so who knows?

3) You've gotta have something for Rafa to sign.

4) It's now almost 5:30pm, the rain has stopped, and more camera-type-persons have turned up. Get ready..............here he comes!

5) The great man is here. There's mucho jostling. It's all very unseemly. Very un-British. To think, we had a prime position a nano-second ago. It's dog-eat-dog in the world of sports photography.

6) The great man strides off towards the practice courts. Looks fine to us. Might still put a fiver on him.