Day 3 at South West London, Wimbledon!

While many will have enjoyed Tim Henman's victory in five sets (thanks mainly to an all too Tim-like wobble in the fourth set) yesterday over the Swede Soderling, one of the matches of the day was that between the German Alexander Waske and the qualifier Italian Stefano Galvani. It ended at 16 to 14 in the fifth in favour of the Italian, bringing a pause to the late flowering of the German's career.

The loss of the first day's play of this year's Wimbledon Championships has meant that many first round matches are still to be played today. One of those on court for the first time this year was the defending ladies champion, Venus Williams. She may have only taken part in four tournaments this year, but memories of her three titles here and her enhanced seeding (6 against her world ranking of 12) should give her the motivation to progress this year at the All England Club. Certainly her first opponent (on Centre) and fellow American, Bethanie Mattek, barely provided a warm up, and was dispatched in 51 minutes.

The Argentinian and third men's seed Nalbandian and the popular Belgian Kim Clijsters follow Venus onto Centre, but the main draw later in the afternoon will be Tim Henman's attempt to find some way round the world number one and defending champion Roger Federer. Short of popping something in Federer's water dispenser, you feel that this year could see one of the briefest of Tim's spells in the tournament. Still, Roger is professing wariness - at least in public - and this may not be mere politeness since Tim is one of the small minority of players on tour whose face to face records against Federer show more victories than defeats. England may expect, but perhaps for once not too much, and that in itself could help Tim's cause.

Martin Lee of Britain has put in an impressive display to oust the Belgian Dick Norman. Others through, in the ladies draw, are Sharapova and Mauresmo - both in short order. The latter's 39 minutes on court can hardly assist the claims for equal prize money for the ladies game here.

The match that has attracted my attention on this third afternoon is between the former finalist Andy Roddick and the young Serbian Janko Tispsarevic, who took the first set on a tie-break and has flung himself after the Roddick serve with guts and gusto. There has been a huge amount of heart and enormous energy from the Serb who fought hard to try to recover from being a break down to Roddick in the second set. He is definitely one to watch for the future, whether he beats Roddick or not, and Roddick will be grateful for the rigorous workout he has been given - if that is all it proves to be! This is possibly the match so far of the tournament, with Janko thinking his way carefully around the court and scampering to catch Andy's shots. Wonderful matchplay and dogged perserverance on both sides.

Click here to find out Wimbledon Results

More on InternationalTraveller.net


John Milverton (Guest Writer)

Wimbledon Grand Slam Tennis Tournament 2006!

The first day Championships at Wimbledon 2006 - Grand Slam Tennis Tournament was a washout. As a results the matches scheduled yesterday are having to be played today starting at the normal time of 1300 BST.

Matches include the unfinished ones between defending men's champion Roger Federer against France's Richard Gasquet and between the women's second seed from Belgium Kim Clijsters against the Russian Zvonareva. First on the show courts today are Justine Henin-Hardenne and Britain's Tim Henman. Will we have another rousing performance from the British favourite at this year's tournament? People will be hoping for one last hurrah from Tim especially after his performance in getting to the semi-finals of Queens, but he will have to face the World's No.1 Roger Federer on the second round!

For anyone wanting to go along to see the action on the outside courts during the first week (and not lucky enough to have tickets for one of the show courts!), the good news is that 6000 tickets are for sale each day at the entrance on Church Road - on a first come, first served basis! And while this means queueing from the crack of dawn, at least the street performers will keep you entertained. And the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum opened this year: highlights include the Championship Trophies, a 200" cinema screen, and a "walk-through" of the men's dressing room with John McEnroe as it was in the Eighties. The doors open at 10.30 and the grounds are open through till 10 pm. Now that the weather is on the up after yesterday's downpour, what are you waiting for??

Here are the list of the Top 10 INDESIT ATP Rankings for Men and alongside are WTA Ranking for the Ladies. .

(1)Roger Federer (SUI) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA).

(2)Raphael Nadal (ESP) Kim Clijsters (BEL).

(3)David Nalbandian (ARG) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL).

(4)Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) Maria Sharapova (RUS).

(5)Andy Roddick (USA) Nadia Petrova (RUS).

(6)Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS).

(7)James Blake (USA) Lindsay Davenport (USA).

(8)Tommy Robredo (ESP) Elena Dementieva (RUS).

(9)Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) Mary Pierce (FRA).

(10)Mario Ancic (CRO) Patty Schnyder (SUI).

Let the Championship at Wimbledon 2006 begin!


More on InternationalTraveller.net

Alan Aldana

How to survive holiday horrors

Lost Wallet

If your wallet or handbag has been stolen, contact the police immediately and let them know exactly what has been stolen, including money and credit cards. You must get a police report for any insurance claim.

If you are visiting a country such as the Dominican Republic or Turkey, where the police do not usually issue reports, get a letter from your rep confirming you have reported the incident to the police, exactly what was stolen and the fact that local police do not issue reports.

If your passport is lost or stolen, contact the local British consulate to get a new passport. Travel insurance should cover the cost of a replacement passport and associated expenses such as an extra night in a hotel up to about UKL200 to UKL300. You will need a letter from the consulate confirming the loss of your passport and receipts for the cost of the replacement. Your cash, up to your policy limit, is covered if you have receipts to prove you withdrew it.

Car accident

If you are involved in a car accident, get a police report - in many countries the police must be involved by law. You must also contact your insurer or the car hire company. If you are driving your own car and have informed your insurer that you are taking the car abroad, then you should have the same level of cover as in the UK.

If you have not told your insurer or are driving a hire car with standard insurance, you are likely only to have third party, fire and theft cover. This could leave you out of pocket if there is damage to your car. Try to exchange insurance details and get witnesses' details.

If you are injured, get someone to contact your car insurer or hire firm on your behalf. You may also need authorisation from your travel insurer for the cost of any medical treatment.

If you can no longer drive the car, comprehensive car insurance should pay to get the vehicle back to the UK and for you to have a replacement hire car. If you were driving a hire car, it should be replaced by the hire firm.

It is vital to understand what cover you have when hiring a car. For instance, in the U.S., you need collision damage waiver. But beware of being ripped off at airports by hire firms that try to sell unnecessary personal insurance. A good car hire company in the UK should set you up with all the insurance you need.

Other countries often have zero tolerance on alcohol consumption. You may invalidate all insurance if you were over the legal limit when the accident occurred.

Taken ill or an accident

More than one in ten people fall ill or have an accident on holiday each year. Nearly two in five suffer a stomach upset, says Holiday Which? magazine.

Travel insurance is a must, especially if you are traveling too the U.S. where medical treatment is extremely expensive. In Europe, the new European Health Insurance Card which replaced the E111 will give some free emergency medical cover, but check where you are being taken if you are ill.

If you are involved in an accident then the ambulance will probably take you to a state hospital. If you go yourself, you are likely to be directed to a private clinic. Inform your insurer before you seek treatment, or get a family member or the tour rep to do so if you can't, otherwise your claim may be turned down.

To make a successful claim, you will need a doctor's report of your condition and treatment, and receipts for any treatment for any costs incurred. Most insurers set a time limit of 31 days from the end of the holiday for your claim even if you are still waiting for paperwork. Finally, before you go, tell your insurer of any pre-existing medical condition you have, or anyone in your party on whom your trip depends however trivial it may seem.

If your insurer refuses to pay up, ask for a review. If you haven't heard within eight weeks or its answer is unsatisfactory, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). This is free and is legally binding on the company. You can take further legal action if you are still unhappy.

Rooms not matching the brochure

If you booked a package holiday, then as soon as you discover the accommodation is not as booked, or does not match the brochure write-up, start complaining.

Get the holiday representative to sign a complaints form acknowledging the problem. If the rep refuses to move you, then get them to put this , and the reasons why, in writing. If you can afford it, find alternative accommodation yourself and take up the matter with the travel firm on your return. Talk to other holidaymakers and get their details if they are also unhappy. Take photographs or a video, and keep a diary of problems. It is more difficult to claim against the travel company if you went on an 'accommodation-on-arrival' holiday. With these, you cannot complain about lack of facilities or location, for example, but you can if it is unhygienic or unsafe.

Complain on the holiday company on your return. The firm must reply within 28 days. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) runs an arbitration scheme costing from UKL72.00 for claims up to UKL3,000 rising to UKL164.00 for claims between UK10,001 and UKL25,000. The ruling is legally binding, so you can't then go to court. Alternatively, go to court.

If the claim is less than UKL5,000, you can use the small claims court. This costs up to UKL120 and you don't need a solicitor. Alternatively, contact a specialist law firm such as Edmunds & Co. or Irwin Mitchell. Take details of other holidaymakers so you can launch a class action against the operator. Many firms will act on a no-win no-fee basis, so it shouldn't cost you if you lose.

If you booked the accommodation directly, paid by credit card and the cost was between UKL100 and UKL30,000, then you can claim under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This makes the card company jointly liable with the hotel if your accommodation does not meet acceptable standards.

Otherwise, your only route is legal action against the hotel.

If you booked directly with the owner and cannot settle amicably, then your best route will usually be the small claims court.

Missing bags

Get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) from the airline as soon as you realise your luggage is missing. The terms and conditions of your ticket will tell you how long you have to claim from the airline - it can be as little as seven days.

Under the Montreal Convention, the maximum payout is around UKL850 as it is based on the weight of the bag rather than its contents. If you have travel insurance or all-risks cover on your home contents insurance, then you can also claim from either of these. Both will have limits on the amount they will pay out on single items and overall. Neither is likely to cover valuable left in a case.

More on InternationalTraveller.net

Alan Aldana

A wash out Chelsea Flower Show? Don't worry...

Book Flights, Hotel, Car Rentals and Travel Insurance

Royal Horticultural Chelsea Flower show is a wash out!

Four days ago, my intention of going to the Chelsea Flower Show this year has been reduced to next year's show due to the inclement London spring weather of blustery wind, rain, more rain and dampness. The irony, the south-east of England has been affected by the hosepipe ban due to dry winter months in the last two years where the Royal Horticultural Show has drilled a 1,000 ft bore hole to extract ground water, which will be pumped into two vast underground tanks so that everything in the garden will be lovely without having to resort to the precious main water supply. The funny thing I've heard is that a lot of the showcase have water features therefore a truly wet Show.

Disappointment of not making this year's Chelsea Flower Show was short-lived as my friend suggested the Hampton Court Palace Show for one week in July for the world’s largest annual flower show. This event features more than 700 exhibitors and illustrates the best in horticulture during high summer.

Around 50 gardens showcase established garden designers and new talent, and an array of looks from traditional to contemporary. Visitors can buy plants - new varieties and old favourites - mine would be lilies, daisies and roses from more than 100 of the UK’s top nurseries and growers, and the finest gardening gifts and accessories from hundreds of stalls.

Floral art, fruit and vegetables, plant heritage and floristry are also on show, alongside the unique water gardens and the world’s largest annual gathering of roses in full bloom, making the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show an unmissable day out.

Therefore, crossing the divide of north and south by bus from Battersea to Chelsea and on foot back to Battersea exposing ourselves to wind and rain, occasionally sheltering on the bus stops and commercial premises on the way as part of my recuperation and spring health regime was not a waste after all, for in this long walk, owing to my slow pace of steps another Flower Show bloomed.

If you enjoy these blogs check out my website at International Traveller

Alan Aldana

Absence makes the heart grow fonder!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder!

I know, I have not been blogging for the last 6 weeks or more but I have a very good reason (at least, I think it's good enough that you would forgive me - and I hope you'd hear me out).

First Attack

On the 18th of March, Saturday - at around 2230 hrs immediately after my late dinner of Poached Salmon in a bed of Watercress Salad drenched with balsamic vinegar and extra helpings of extra virgin olive oil for dressing, I had severe abdominal pains. I tried many a different positions to alleviate the pain to no help.

The pain was so bad and unrelenting that I decided to go the the Accident and Emergency of St Thomas' with my friend on the 20th of March, 2 days after the first onset of pain. I was seen in a Major Surgery Ward.

The reason for not going sooner are as follows:

I hate needles
I hate being fussed about
I hate hospitals as a patient

and last but not least, my pain tolerance is apparently very low. The manifestation of series of face contortions, sound productions every time I had my injections and blood drawn. The daily ritual of 1800 hrs injections and 0730 blood drawing before breakfast reinforced my great dislike of hospitals. Only this time, I started believing that Dracula must be in residence somewhere in the basement of St Thomas' hospital hence the need of blood sample under the pretense of blood tests!

Anyway, to continue, I was discharged from the hospital at 1800 hrs with a prescription of Omeprazole and Peptac which I queried from the doctor who attended me. To my dissatisfaction, he only replied that it was the only prescription I needed and that the pain should eventually go. I insisted that it might not work to which his reply was " see your GP in 3 to 5 days time if still in pain". I was not impressed but left anyway.

Four days later, I returned to the Accident and Emergency in the same hospital after having seen by my own doctor who diagnosed me with appendicitis (to which I disagree). I was told by my doctor to take a taxi to the hospital. I replied, can I drive? to which he said - No and no bus either. I thought, that was the only sensible advice he could have given me that day!

Whilst at the hospital this time, I waited for two hours to be seen by a doctor in a Minor Surgery Ward. I did not say anything but I thought - this is typical, they must be thinking that I was wasting their precious medical time - I even doubted my pain, but it was too much to ignore anyway.

More blood tests - result was negative again. I then mention if it could be gall stones. This time I was right for it was confirmed by the lady doctor who did the ultra-sound scan and who was most sympathetic to the pain I was in. She said, "This pain is worse than giving birth! I know you would not know that type of pain but that's the best I can describe it". Alas, I felt relieved, that someone believed my pain! It wasn't a product of imagination - it was real! Hurray!

As a result, I was not sent home but was confined in the hospital - confined at Luke's Ward!

Luke Ward, was not a very nice ward. Why, because they have quite a number of nurses that didn't have compassion. It felt like they were only there because they needed to make a living and it was their job. This was the impression I got from them and that is my personal opinion of the ward. In fact, whilst I was in this ward, one patient requested to be moved to another ward. I also had a series of unpleasant experiences in this ward and the last one reduced me to tears! Saying that, there were nurses that were nice too! Glad to be discharged on the 2nd of April though.

On this recent life's journey, I realised that when one is in pain and ill, one's perception becomes acute; making you sensitive to peoples needs, peoples reactions - be they fellow patients, nurses or doctors! It also makes you selfish. Why? It makes you aware of your pain and it makes you want to be notice therefore more aware of your needs and self centred.

Sunday, the 2nd of April, it was a beautiful day. John, Melanie and Andy kindly picked me up from the hospital after the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race which was around 1930 hrs. We then proceeded to the Blackpepper's a local restaurant then home!

I was relieved to be back home but was short-lived.

John drove me back to the hospital three days later after having been ill again and sick from Tuesday the 4th of April.

This time, I was admitted by the hospital in no time. I had ERCP two days later and was cut open three days after that on the 10th of April and was discharged on the 22nd of April.

On this journey of mine, it made me realise who my true friends are for they occupy a special place in my heart. John, Ruy, Marcia and Lee. My family's affection were manifested by them crossing the Atlantic and staying with me for two solid weeks - Mum, Roy, Ellen and Jamie. For the rest who remained in the US - Mama, Dad, Josh, Aunts and Uncles and Cousins - their love and prayers kept me going. My best friend Jerome's best wishes made it easy too.

Alan Aldana

Kilchurn Castle, Scotland

Book Flights, Hotel, Car Rentals and Travel Insurance

These eerie ruins, mirrored in the glassy waters of the aptly named Loch Awe, are all that remains of Kilchurn, a looming Scottish landmark. It was built five centuries ago, legend has it, by the feisty wife of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, who was away fighting in the Holy Land. He wrote faithfully to his beloved for the seven years he was absent, but his letters were intercepted by a rival in love, Argyllshire chief MacCorquodale. The latter convinced the object of his desire that her husband was dead and, broken, she consented to marry him. It was not to be - Sir Colin returned home on the day of the nuptials, just in time to thwart MacCorquodale's plan. Today the restored castle welcomes visitors, chugging over by steamer - or taking the traditional route, along the marshy banks.

Travel Diary in April

Snowbombing - Tirol, Austria (April 2-8)

This ski and snowboarding event takes over the whole resort of Mayrhofen. Fifty of the finest snowboarders compete by day; by night, it's one big party with 150 of the world's top DJs making the place hop. For accommodation, passes and equipment hire, see snowbombing.co.uk (from UKL199pp). British Airways (+44 (0) 870 850 9850) flies from Gatwick to Innsbruck form UKL19 return. Check BA.com

Pii Mai, Luang Prabang, Laos (April 6-16)

Join the processions of kids, elephants, ninja dancers and brightly decked beauty queens at Laos's New Year festivities. The highlight is a town-wide water fight in honour of King Kabilaphom (who had to be doused with water to stop the world going up in flames). Lastminute.com has flights from Heathrow to Luang Prabang from UKL852. Local guesthouses cost as little as UKL2pp per night.

Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaii (April 16-22)

Dedicated to the Merrie Monarch of Hawaii, King David Kalakaua, this week-long festival plays host to the island's leading hula competition. Wiggle your hips at the crowning of Miss Aloha Hula or join in Ho'olaule'a (celebration). Kuoni Travel (+44 01306 747 008, kuoni.co.uk) has seven nights from UK789pp, based on two sharing, including hotel and flights from Heathrow. Regional add-ons from UKL100.

Easter Sunday, Florence, Italy (April 19)

In the Scoppio del Carro, two white oxen pull a cart through the city streets in a procession of thousands of costumed partygoers. The cart explodes in fireworks at the Piazza del Duomo, setting off a mechanical dove that hurtles through the cathedral doors. To Tuscany (+44 (0) 20 7193 7782, www.to-tuscany.com) have apartments from UKL360 for four. Alitalia flies from Heathrow to Florence from UKL200.

Solar Eclipse, Ghana (April 29)

Don't miss your best chance in a decade to see a total eclipse. Ghana's coast lies directly in its path, and at 9.10am, the capital, Accra, will be plunged into darkness for 2.58 minutes. British Airways (+44 (0) 870 850 9850, ba.com) has flights to Accra from Heathrow from UKL525. The Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra (00 233 2177 5360, goldentulipaccra.com) has double rooms from UKL122.