Betting Shop Lassitude

BOILING HOT DAY. And here I am, sat like a derelict in the William Hill betting shop. The "punters" are swearing and maoning that Sky (the satellite system) is out of action. So we've one screen of dogs and then lots and lots of clay court tennis (the French Open).

I just passed one of my dealers who looks like a member of the Taliban now. All I said was hi was I sailed past. Of course two minutes later, by which time he's truly gone, I have to phone. Give him twenty minutes so he can "do something," he tells me ... So I'm sipping cyder from a mineral water bottle, whiling away my time here ....

Actually I hate tennis but today it is mesmerizing. What's this rubbish about Sky? It is on! The 4:40 at Bath is running as we speak! These are the runners. I always think they're a little more exotically named than American "gee-gees":

Lord Nelsson 9/2 Sharaab 9/2 Top Trees 9/2 Sqirtle 5/1 Honour High 5/1 Jayer Gilles 12/1 (now leading by two lengths) Reflex Blue 14/1 Noble Calling 16/1 Montgomery 25/1

Oh dear. Jayer Gilles now leading two and a half furlongs to travel. Jayer Gilles still leads ...

Result:
First: Jayer Gilles
Second: Sharaab
Third: Lord Nelsson

Greek guy in the corner gesticulating and calling his selection something rhyming with "hunt" ...

Tennis: this is what is says on screen:
Federer 3631 0
Nadal 6462 15 - what do these numbers mean?

I note Pic Up Sticks is running the 5:10 at Bath. One I've lost money on before ...

OK I'm off to get more cyder. And I'm not writing another word till gitfeatures shows up. He knows where I am.

OK I'm writing:--

I'm looking at those ballboys running around at Roland Garros. (Why no ballgirls? Discrimination!) Wow they have to look sharpish. Tennisballs flying everywhere. If they gathered them up just as fast but without dancing like cats on hot bricks I bet they get fired for complacency.

4:55 Roscommon.
"Come on Ruby (Ruby Walsh: the jockey). Whip his arse! Come on my son!" urges the balding middle-aged man to my right (that narrows the field - not ...)

... but it's a photofinish. I notice the riders at Philadelphia don't even seem to carry "crops" ... would this be true? Is it illegal in America to beat the horses? I know it's seemingly illegal to bet on them. (Then why bother running the races??)

Canadian Grand Prix:
Hamilton= favourite - evens. oops Odds just dropped to 10/11 Alanso 5/4 Raikkonen 9/1

At which point Mr Taliban arrived outside, I scored and jumped the bus home.

End of a sweaty, dazzleglinting sultry day. And I'm tired now.

***

What do you think of the musical experiment? Madonna's singing because I stole the gizmo from Madonna's blog. Surely I can get it to sing other songs? (I'm not so sure.) Anyway: approve or disapprove? Answers, please ...

If it annoys you go to the bottom of the sidebar, there's play, stop, ff, rw buttons. Just press stop (II).

In my opinion track 3 is the best, 2 is good, 1 I like the least. Just click 3 times on another track, it will play. (I can tell you how to suck an egg if you like. Stay tuned tomorrow!!)

If I could find something like that with more choice of artists I might install it permanently. I do like Madonna but I know a lot of people don't!