[community profile] thefridayfive for 22 August 2025

21/8/25 22:49
killercahill: (Darren Smile)
1. Have you ever stayed in a hostel? If so, where? Did you like it? If you haven't stayed in a hostel, would you? No — I never have, and I don’t think I ever will. Even when I was younger, I was more likely to end up in a little family-run hotel or something slightly nicer. Hostels have never really appealed to me; I can “rough it” if I must, but only if roughing it involves room service and at least three pillows. I like a proper bed, a bit of quiet, and the ability to unpack without worrying someone’s going to nick my shampoo. 
 
2. What is your favo(u)rite airport that you've been to? Why? Changi in Singapore. It’s the only airport that’s ever made me wish I had more time before my flight. Waterfalls, gardens, food that isn’t just sad sandwiches — it’s practically a five-star hotel masquerading as a transport hub. Heathrow could never
 
3. What is the best museum you have visited on vacation? The Uffizi in Florence. Walking into the room with Botticelli’s Birth of Venus felt like being slapped across the face by beauty. I nearly cried. It’s one of those moments where you think, “oh, this is why we put up with queues and blisters and dodgy train timetables.”
 
4. Have you ever made friends while traveling whom you keep in touch with on a regular basis? Not in a lasting way. I’ve had those glorious holiday friendships where you’re inseparable for three days, then never see each other again. I rather like that, honestly — no pressure, just golden little moments, like postcards you keep in your head.
 
5. Have you ever had a conversation with a seatmate on a plane? Yes, though I usually hope for the universal signal of headphones in, book open, please don’t. But once, on a transatlantic, I sat beside a woman who told me her entire life story — loves, losses, scandals. It was like being handed a novel, only with complimentary gin and tonic.
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Back from the Tennis Trail: Monte Carlo to Wimbledon

24/7/25 16:09
killercahill: (Default)
 It feels like I’ve been living out of a suitcase since April—and honestly? I rather have. From the clay in Monte Carlo to the grass at Wimbledon, it’s been a whirlwind of airports, match points, and one too many cappuccinos on the go. Somewhere between chasing the ATP tour and trying not to melt in the summer heat, my little corner of the internet went a bit… dormant.

But now that I’ve drawn breath (and finally unpacked), it’s time for a proper reboot.

Back When I Was Much Younger

Back in the mid-late ’90s and into the early 2000s, I followed the tour properly. I’d jet off to Australia, swing by the US Open—it was easier back then, and frankly, far less ruinous on the purse. Was I a tennis groupie? A lady never kisses and tells.

Post-COVID, with travel feeling heavier and—if we’re being candid—the years creeping in, I’ve mostly stuck to a handful of clay court tournaments in Europe. But this year? I’ve not gallivanted quite like this in decades, and it’s been glorious fun.

Life on Tour: The Real, Beautiful Chaos

Monte Carlo was the start, planned down to the last detail. Then life threw me a delightful curveball: I met the loveliest Spanish couple, David and Miriam. One moment we were chatting over coffee, and the next I was in their car, road-tripping back to Spain. That turned into an unplanned escapade through Barcelona and Madrid—two cities, two entirely different rhythms, and frankly, more tapas than is respectable.

Rome was always on the agenda, though I had to tear up my flights and start again thanks to my newly altered route. It was the sort of last-minute scramble that used to send me into hysterics; these days, I simply shrug and order another espresso.

Then a quick interlude at home for laundry (and perhaps a decent cup of tea) before Paris called for Roland Garros. After that, back to London for Queen’s and Wimbledon—with David and Miriam making a surprise appearance, which was the perfect punctuation mark on an already mad summer.

At this point, my suitcase and I are on first-name terms. Plans shifted at the eleventh hour, flights got rerouted, and my main concern was not leaving my favourite tennis hat in some forgotten corner of Madrid.

And you know what? That unpredictability—that joyful chaos—is what makes this whole thing magic. It’s why I fell in love with tennis in the first place: the drama, the brilliance, the constant sense that anything could happen. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Why the Reboot?

After months of gallivanting and tennis-induced adrenaline, I wanted this space to feel like me again: books, tennis, and a little slice of life. Think vintage tenniscore meets literary dark academia—because my heart belongs equally to manicured grass courts and a well-worn novel.

What’s coming:

  • Weekly round-ups (Kitty’s Weekly Serve) mixing books, matches, and musings.
  • TBR check-ins, book lists, and a few strong opinions.
  • Tennis reflections and some inevitable US Open chatter.
  • Moodboards, playlists, and the occasional aesthetic indulgence.
  •  

So, What’s Next?

Today kicks off a new posting schedule - 4 to 5 posts a week through August. Tomorrow, we’re diving into my Current TBR.

In the meantime, tell me:
What’s been the highlight of your summer—books, tennis, or something entirely different?

Drop a comment and let’s catch up. 💬

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🌞 The Sunday Post – April 13, 2025

13/4/25 11:21
killercahill: (Default)

Hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer

Hey everyone! I didn’t manage to post anything on the blog this week because, well… I’ve been in Monte Carlo soaking up sunshine, sea air, and seriously good tennis. It’s been a blur of match days, long walks back to the hotel, and collapsing into bed too exhausted to even think about writing. But I’ve started using my Instagram again a little (baby steps!), so that’s something!

✨ Last Week on the Blog
Let’s be honest: not a lot happened blog-wise. But I’ve got a backlog of thoughts percolating and some posts lined up for next week (fingers crossed the Barcelona sun lets me sit still long enough to write them).

📚 What I’m Reading
✅ Finished: Interview with the Vampire — moody, brooding, and yes, a little theatrical in all the best ways
📘 Almost done: You and Me on Vacation — soft and sweet and hitting all the right romcom notes
🧛 Next up: The Vampire Lestat — because clearly I’m having a bit of a moment with long-haired immortals right now

📆 Coming Up This Week (…maybe)
A review of Interview With the Vampire
A review of You and Me on Vacation
Maybe a little “Meet the Blogger” post
And possibly: My Unpopular Bookish Opinions – which is bound to ruffle a few covers!

🎾 Tennis Talk
Monte Carlo has been everything. Nothing compares to watching live tennis—the atmosphere, the tension, the ridiculous beauty of that centre court against the sea.

There were a few upsets this week that properly got to me (Dimitrov’s quarterfinal still stings), but it’s all part of the thrill. And—this was unexpected—I ran into Darren Cahill. I’ve met him a handful of times over the years, but I wasn’t expecting to see him in Monte Carlo, so it felt like such a lovely surprise. He’s always exactly what I need him to be: steady, kind, and so much more real than you’d ever guess from the commentary box. That moment will be tucked away in the highlight reel for sure.

💬 Life Lately
Life has mostly been sunshine, good food, and beautiful backhands. I made friends with a lovely Spanish couple while watching a match and—because life sometimes writes a better story than I can—I’ll be heading with them to Spain after today’s final for an unexpected little adventure to the Barcelona Open.

Sometimes, you just have to say yes.

 

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