Monday July 6th 2009

Wimbledon : I've deliberately waited until after Wimbledon has finished before posting this Daily Comment. I am getting tired of people asking why we don't regularly produce world class tennis players. Okay, we have had the occasional top 10 player, Tim Henman, Sue Barker, Virginia Wade and now Andy Murray, who were all quite competent players. But the truth is there and plain for all too see. Look at the faces in the crowds at this Wimbledon. The greater majority of people ( spectators) are made up with middle aged, middle class women , most have no financial worries, wealthy husbands and most can be seen in the local Womens Guild or some charitable organsation making jams etc and who view Wimbledon as the place to be seen at in their social calander. They have NO interest in British tennis the other 50 weeks of the year and that, in a nutshell is what's fundementally wrong in tennis in the UK. In America, you go to see the US Open and the crowds are full of young college guys and their moms and dads , who watch the game because they want to play it themselves. They would probably rip the heads of their opponents to get to win a tie-break. They REALLY get annoyed and depressed when their favourite player misses a shot, or fluffs a serve. They WANT to win, they WANT to compete, they have the HUNGER for success on the court themselves. here in the UK ? Well, Ive already said it, just look at the people in the crowd , all nicey-nicey and jolly hockeystick brigade. THAT'S why we have , and will never produce world champion Grand Slam winners in tennis. Andy Murray is a supreme talent, of that there is no doubt. But, watching Rodick battle it out with Federa yesterday, it has to be said no way in a million years would Murray have got that far.

My comment on Andy Murray is this : Stop thinking defensive shots and start thinking of offensive attacking play. Watching his games this past week has shown me he is an excellent back of the court defensive player. But it's ok sat at the back of the court hitting the ball straight back to your opponent all the time and waiting for them to make mistakes, or wear themselves out, occasionally you might get away with that, But in the Grand Slams, the top players are trying 200% and they take the game to their opponents and let THEM wear themselves out by attacking the corners of the court.

Tuesday 7th July 2009

Day Headlights : Okay , this is a personal comment to all the drivers who think that driving in the middle of the day with your headlights on is in someway a safe way to drive . WRONG !!! I have been driving for 37 years, have a faultless driving record, am a member of the ADI ( Advanced Motorists Institute ), and have been for 24 years and drive up to 50K each year. The only thing oncoming motorists see when they see you coming towards them with your headlights blaring is a HAZARD. The sole oncoming vehicle with headlights on in an oncoming line of vehicles distracts the drivers attention for a few moments, therefore taking the drivers eyes away from the road for a few milliseconds. Dangerous. If you think that it enables drivers to see you coming , WHAT ??? If a driver cant see a vehicle coming then they shouldnt be on the road in the first place. PLEASE turn off these pointless daytime headlights, its not necessary, its pointless and above all -- IT'S DANGEROUS!

If you only realised what normal drivers think of you when they see you with your headlights on you would cringe.

Wednesday 8th July 2009

Our Troops Abroad : Am I missing something obvious here ? As each day goes by and yet more and more of our troops are murdered in Afghanistan , my question has to be " What the hell are we doing over there anyway?" Speaking from a laymans perspective, all I see is our troops in a country thousands of miles away , a country we have no soverign rights to, yet we seem it fit to interfere in someone else's troubles and wars. The Americans do the same. Why ? Why do we need to send in our troops to help ( interfere ) in a country that 1.doesnt like us 2. wouldnt bat an eyelid to help us if the situation was reversed 3. seem hell bent on killing our men ??? For gawds sake, pull ALL troops out NOW , stop interfering in other countries strifes and troubles, its none of our business. Let them get on with whatever wars they want to get on with, leave them to it, stay out of it and STOP the senseless murdering of our troops.

Saturday 11th July 2009

Metric Measurements : Well, I'm 53 years old and I would wager money that the greater majority of people in the UK over the age of 45 have NO idea what weight a kilo is or what length a metre is. I have no idea. The sooner we go back to imperial measurements in the UK the better. The bods who have been trying to convert the UK population into a 'metric' nation will, and have failed miserably. Let's start a campaign for the return of feet and inches, and pounds and ounces so we all know what's what.

Friday 24th July 2009

Some People ?? : People often ask me about my profession , and how I got into entertainment. Very occasionally I get some uninformed 'gent' suggesting I get a proper job. Proper job ? Last week a prime example. After the show, this rather rotund guy came up to me, shook me by the hand, and said "Great show Andy, but why the hell don't you get yourself a proper job ? " GRRRRRR...Soooo...as I was in the mood I let fly with the following " Okay" I said , "listen , This is my 30th year as a professional entertainer, prior to this I am a fully qualified City & Guild trained motor mechanic , I also am a fully time served painter and decorator , I have had jobs you wouldnt even have nightmares about, scraping blood and guts from the M62 motorway when on 24 hour accident recovery call-out, freezing your nuts of at 3am on a wintery night in Yorkshire, Ive worked continental shifts at a drianage pipe manufacturer coming from 100degree heat in the kilns walking into the freezing cold night hauling huge pipes on my back. I have been a member of the ADI ( Advanced Drivers Institute ) for 25 years , been driving for 37 years, unblemished record , I used to take part in the UK rally championship in the 1970's . My so called non-'proper' job allows me to excersise my talent for web design of which I am told do a pretty excellent job of work. My profession is regarded by 'WHICH' magazine as being in the top 5 most stress related professions in the country, and I am in the top percentage of my bracket. I have won awards for my show nationwide, have had not one, but THREE succesful television series, and what other profession can you have your customers come up after each job and shake you by the hand with a huge smile on their faces.In my profession I make people smile, make people happy, can you say that ?, AND I have my daytimes free to do whatever I like eg; golf , AND , I can pretty much guarantee that I earn more in a 2 and a half hour show than you do in 2 days. Soooo my friend, when you ask me why dont I get a 'proper' job, I think I indeed already have one, dont you ?

He walked away from me with his eyes spinning around in his head.