wandering around ross

This morning we drove to the ancient town of Ross on Wye for an 8 mile walk up and down nearby Penyard Hill. We began the walk in brilliant sunshine, but by lunchtime (mulligatawney soup and assorted Indian snacks) it had clouded up. By the time we got back to the town centre to secure our customary brandy and dry ginger it was pouring. Even so, we prefered to drink it outside the pub, as there was a big, angry dog at the bar, barking at an amazing level of decibels; at what neither we nor anyone else was able to determine.

Back home we caught the second half of the women's final from Roland Garros and were able to savour the first victory from an Asian woman in any Grand Slam event. Witnessing her performance, I predict a glittering future for Ms Li.

Speaking of tennis, yesterday saw a resurgent Roger Federer end Djoki's run of 43 consecutive victories on the tour- an incredible achievement, and no disgrace to lose to a Fedski in some of the most devastating form of his life. Nadal likewise swept past our plucky boy, who also didn't disgrace himself, but was well outclassed. The final tomorrow threatens to be a classic.

COMMENT: WHO CARES ABOUT SYRIA?

So wffective is the clampdown on any reporting from Syria that it's difficult to work out what's going on, so it doesn't get much coverage, and what there is often comes with the caviat of "unverifiable". But reliable reports are suggesting that as many as 50 protesters may have been shot yesterday in Hama. I've visited Hama myself; marvelled at the medieval waterwheels, struggled to make myself understood in a place where no one spoke English, and felt the atmosphere of tension that pervades the streets. A Muslim Brotherhood uprising there in 1981 was savagely repressed, but today's protests are much more than the work of a single pressure group. Even though the government is placing snipers in high windows with orders to pick off protesters one by one, thousands of ordinary people continue to throng the streets on a daily basis in towns and cities all over Syria. Government supporters would have us believe they are all foreign agitators- what utter bollocks. These are Syrian citizens, demanding the right to live in peace and freedom- and they will not be silenced. I salute them.