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Writing Romance in Paradise and loving it…

~ Australian Expats in love, far from home. Global careers, perfected veneers.

Writing Romance in Paradise and loving it…

Tag Archives: Rafael Nadal

‘En Vacances,’ now ‘Back in Oz .’

25 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by wendyleslie in Uncategorized

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La Decima, Monte Carlo, Rafael Nadal, Tennis

With the Romance Writers Conference just a page-turn away, it’s on to the last minute tweaking of Pitch proposals and Elevator length, spell-binding book blurbs.

Visiting Monaco again for the Tennis Masters 1000 and catching up with friends from all over the globe was always going to be hard to avoid. The effort well worth the expense.

– polishing up the schoolgirl French

– the routine of using lifts at the end of tunnels and passageways carved through the rock with entrances neatly tucked away in Church entrances, help to offset the trip back up the mountain. Staircases skipped down with a smile at 8am develop a less jovial appearance on return after 4pm.

– learning to calmly negotiate the buses to ‘je ne sais ou’ and find oneself there, more often than not.

– My sporting hero Rafael Nadal has achieved “La Decima” at Monte Carlo Country Club.

🙂

From Rose to Gold

26 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by wendyleslie in General, Writing Romance

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Alex Sokoloff, Australian Romance Readers, Avon Romance, Baci, Choc Lit, Gold Coast, Google, Harlequin, HelzKat Designs, Monte Carlo, Penguin Group (Australia), Rafael Nadal, Romance Writers of Australia Inc

Well, I’m sneaking back in on tippy toes after a more lengthy absence than anticipated, but “la vie en Rose” it certainly was and our Hero made it eight-in-a-row. Well worth the effort to be there…

So, back on the Gold Coast, still savouring the aftermath of the wonderful Romance Writers Conference here last week. Pure Gold, in so much as what was presented, what was learned and what can be done to enhance one’s WIP.

Alex Sokoloff’s workshop on the Friday thrilled us with her Screenwriting Tricks for Authors and set the tone for the entire event – it was fabulous – as were without exception,  our keynote speaker,  Eloisa James and presenting Authors of the sessions I was lucky enough to attend.

The Author Cafe morning teas and brief lunch breaks with, in my case, Barbara Hannay and Fiona Lowe gave us the chance to ask one on one, questions dear to our hearts.

New friends made and existing friendships reinforced – it truly was a Conference worth it’s weight in Gold.  Thank you, Romance Writers of Australia,  RWA and all of our sponsors and supporters who participated fully and really were part of the Conference. Thank you.

…and snails and puppy dogs tails…become Heroes. They really do. :)

23 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by wendyleslie in General, Sport

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Australian Open, Heroes, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Strine

Living in the heart of Surfers, within the current Schoolies bubble, I have to say firstly the behaviour this year so far, is excellent. They’re kids and they’re having fun.

Speaking of kids, and kids will inevitably evolve into Heroes and heroines in their own right, I thought I’d like to share the experience of being a Tennis Fan site moderator and having the good fortune to watch a sporting Hero evolve.

It began in 2004 when I took my daughter to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open Tennis and we watched a match on an outside court. The fascinating thing was not so much the match; I’m not even sure exactly who was playing except that the game was being watched by a group of Spanish speaking players and coaches including one excitable young teenager who kept clattering about swapping seats and rows, laughing and having a great time.

After about twenty minutes of this, I looked at him, squarely in the eye – he was now two seats away in the same row – and said something along the line of, “For goodness sake, please sit still,” and obviously had a frown on my face to accompany the request.

A “Mum” showing displeasure was too much for the lad and he apologised, with a sweet smile and sat still, almost still, for the rest of the match. I didn’t speak Spanish and he didn’t speak English, but he knew exactly what the problem was.

That night, to my absolute surprise, Lleyton Hewitt played a Round Three match on Centre Court and who was his opponent? Yes, it was seventeen year old Rafael Nadal no less. He put up a great fight and was applauded with a standing ovation by most of the crowd who had enjoyed the match so much, they forgot to be parochial. 🙂

Being one of his early fans who had actually told him off and asked him to sit still, got me hooked and I began to follow his progress as the tournaments took him far and wide around the globe.

Having a professional sports person in the family, although not in tennis, I felt I had an insider’s POV and understood much of the coaching, training and assorted difficulties a young sportsman faced. After posting comments on the original site usually regarding all of the above, I was asked to help moderate and am still at it.

It’s been a joy and many of the guys and gals have rallied to travel to the various venues over the years, meet each other, get an autograph and cheer our Hero on. The last few years, some from overseas have made it to the Aussie Open and next year I am going to Monte Carlo, joining fellow members from all over Europe, together with some Americans and Canadians…and me.

It has been an interesting journey, firstly being lucky enough to watch someone develop into a world class player – and all this from a little kid with a gorgeous smile who nearly drove me mad.

So I look at the Schoolies and try to imagine how they will evolve. What will they choose to do and will I cross paths with any of them again. Who knows, one may well be my Doctor in ten years time, so I am generous with my smiles.

Cheers!

Recent Posts

  • ‘En Vacances,’ now ‘Back in Oz .’
  • Back to the Classroom
  • sytycw
  • From Rose to Gold
  • Monte Carlo – et la vie en rose.
  • Looking Back at Heroes – and even more Impressed.
  • Pirates in Paradise
  • Summer in Oz
  • Year’s end and a New beginning
  • Choosing Heroes
  • Moulding and honing the new Writer
  • Marion Lennox

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