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Post by getta on Mar 18, 2010 9:00:25 GMT -5
www.bnpparibasopen.org/News/Tennis/2010/Interview-Transcripts/Interview-Transcripts/Extra-Column/Marcos-Baghdatis-Third-Round.aspxMARCOS BAGHDATIS THIRD ROUND PRESS CONFERENCE Indian Wells, CA, USA by ATP Staff | 16.03.2010March 16, 2010 M. BAGHDATIS/R. Federer 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 An interview with: MARCOS BAGHDATIS THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. Where do you rate that? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Best win of my career. I think that says everything. Yeah, I cannot say I'm not happy. I'm very happy. A lot of emotions are going through right now. It's the best win of my career. I lost a lot of matches against those top guys, and, you know, it's a relief to win a match like that after being out for two years, having some tough moments, you know. You know, it's a great moment for me. I'll try to enjoy it. Q. What do you think you did differently in this matchup than all the other ones when you didn't beat 'em? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I stayed there. I stayed focused. I didn't give a lot of points. At the right moments I was more aggressive, I can say, and being smart, playing very smart tennis, serving big. I mean, I did everything well, because Roger had a great percentage of first serves today. One moment he was playing only with first serves, so it was really tough to return. But, you know, I kept calm. I said to myself that the chance would come, and when it comes, I'll take it; that's what I did. You know, through the experience of losing to Djokovic in Dubai, having chances and not taking them, remembering all the moments that I had so many chances against these players and I didn't take them, today I took it. So I'm very, very happy. Q. Roddick has said that the best time in tennis is the 10 or 15 seconds after a huge win. Do you agree with that? What went through your mind just as you won? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: The best moment is when I mean, when you hit the serve, and the ball, you know it's going out, it's a great feeling. I don't know what went through my mind. A lot of things, I can say. But, you know, I don't know what to say. A lot of things go through your mind. Q. You said you kept calm today; is that maturity? Is that growing up? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Experience. Experience. Experience. Focused, and, you know, know what you want, you know. I think I needed some time to understand those things, and I hope I continue this way. I'll try. I mean, I have a great team around me now that believe in me that think that I can do great things in this sport. So for me, it's motivation, you know. It's a big motivation for me. Q. You fought off three match points tonight. Can you take us through those match points a little bit? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't even remember. Q. Two in the second set and then you had one... MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, I remember the moments, but I don't remember what went -- I mean, he missed I played the one I remember is he missed a slice long. Q. A backhand down the line and forehand down the line. MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah? Q. Yeah. MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Okay. So yeah. Thanks, Justin. Q. Looked like you tweaked your knee when you ran to pick up a dropshot towards the end. Can you talk about that a little bit? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, I just felt like my knee moved a bit. And I was not my knee was moving a bit when I step on the floor, so I wanted to make sure with the physio nothing is wrong. And he told me nothing's serious, so that's all. Q. How's it feeling now? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Perfect. Q. Roger said he wasn't sure whether he was too aggressive or too passive. How would you... MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Too aggressive. Q. No, with regard to your game, do you think you were better with aggression or being passive? Do you think you were better today because you were patient and relaxed or aggressive? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Both. I mean, you cannot be aggressive the whole match. You have to choose the points that you have to be aggressive. You have to be smart. You have to change the game. I think that's what I did well today. Roger was, I can say, a bit too aggressive. He was missing a lot of balls, and I was more calm than him today. Q. Roger was saying that while it was a good match, the quality of the Australian Open was way better. What are your thoughts? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: It's true. It's true. Today there was a lot of mistakes I can say from both sides, especially in the beginning, and not a lot of rallies, I can say, a lot of very good serves. I was serving pretty good, he was serving pretty good, so not a lot of rallies. But I can say it was a different match. Completely different. There were more rallies, more points in Australian Open, tougher physically than today's match. Q. In 2008 when you were playing challengers, what was the... MARCOS BAGHDATIS: 2009. Q. What was the weirdest place you had to go and the result you had in that particular period? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: It was 2009. It was Pakistan. I went to Pakistan. The courts were really rough, very hard. Every time you have to make a step, you had pain everywhere. The balls were flying. Nothing you couldn't feel. You know, I won the tournament by fighting, by mentally being strong, so I think that helped me to come back and, you know, win matches confident. Helped me a lot. I won four challengers in a year, I think in not even three months, I can say, three, four challengers. So I think that was very important for me and was a great decision by me by my team to go play challengers. Q. How high do you think you can go? I mean, you got to the final in Australia. MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't want to put limits. No limits. Q. So you can see yourself lifting a Grand Slam trophy? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, that's why I play. Q. Talking about coming back tomorrow, this is such a great win and you talk about the emotions, but now tomorrow you have to get ready and play another match. What are you going to try and do to get ready for tomorrow? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: My usual routine: wake up, go play some soccer, go eat, and then prepare for my match by hitting some balls. And then go out there, have a great fight, and try to fight try to find a solution to win. That's the plan. Q. Can you talk about the energy in the arena tonight? It was really a good buzz, especially that third set. MARCOS BAGHDATIS: You know, when you're on the court you don't hear much. You know, you're just in one goal and you just don't hear anything. You're just so concentrated. So I think it was great. You have like flashes, but you don't really remember a lot, you know. FastScripts by ASAP Sports.==================================================================== a few random comments on the interview:
- Marcos' loss to Novak in Dubai might cost him a lot but this experience brought him here.
- he always mentions how lucky he is to be surrounded by such great guys (Infantino, Anselmi, Pancho...)
- and last but not least, Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. Tashkent is NOT in Pakistan, Marcos.
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Post by getta on Mar 27, 2010 23:45:44 GMT -5
a few blog/internet-based-tennis-news-portal entries on Marcos’ recent sparkling form by tennis bloggers/writers whose style definitely rocks. ========================================================================== sportsthenandnow.com/2010/03/20/surprises-litter-a-week-of-great-tennis-at-indian-wells/#more-4288Surprises Litter A Week Of Great Tennis At Indian WellsPosted on March 20, 2010 by Marianne Bevis The Roger-Baggy StorySix matches played, six wins for Federer. But as soon as the draw for Indian Wells was out, his meeting with Marcos Baghdatis in the third round jumped off the page. For Baghdatis has the type of skills to upset the rhythm of the very best. And he has, of late, started to regain some of his best form after a succession of injuries. As long ago as 2004, when still just 19, the Cypriot had taken a set off a Federer on his way to a first US Open title. Baghdatis repeated the trick 18 months later in the final of the Australian Open. This week, Federer came into Indian Wells with no matchplay since his win in Melbourne. So quite rightly, Baghdatis fancied his chances, and would have fancied them even more after seeing Federer’s inconsistent and tetchy performance against Victor Hanescu. It proved to be a see-saw match, apparently going Federer’s way when he won the first set and held match points in the second. But Baghdatis clawed his way back. Again Federer seemed to have everything under control with a 4-1 lead in the third set, and a match point at 6-5. Again, he acquiesced with impatient errors. Indeed he racked up a total of 46 unforced errors. What proved to be seventh time lucky for Baghdatis marked the first time since Rome 2006 that Federer had failed to seal a win after holding a match point. Significant? Federer thought not. He plans to get in plenty of practice before Miami. He might also consider reverting to the patient, clinical, tactical game that won him the Australian Open. Attacking play is one thing: impatient play is its less productive doppelganger. The man with the sunshine smile fell in the next round—A match with Federer seems to have that effect on a player— but his win over the world No. 1 for the first time could inspire him to his best world ranking in over two years.
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Post by getta on Mar 27, 2010 23:57:20 GMT -5
then another one, deadly serious. ==================================================================== www.tennisdiary.com/2010-articles/march/zachs-tennis-diary-baghdatis-defeats-federer-winning-and-losing-practice.htmlZach's Tennis Diary - Baghdatis defeats Federer - Winning and losing=practiceWritten by Zach Kleiman Thursday, 18 March 2010 00:25 "I had an audition yesterday," my 7am student started our session this St. Patrick's Day. "It went pretty good, but the casting person had the look of 'it was just OK.'" "You've been here so many times -- hit some balls with that OK attitude," I suggested. "I hate being OK," she said. "You may or may not be OK, but take on the attitude." She went back to the baseline and smacked the nuts out of the ball for about 30 shots. Her focus was strong; her hits more solid than usual. Her pace increased by about 20mph. She even smiled. "That's you being OK?" I asked. "That's being pissed at being called just OK." "So losing the part and being OK sent you into your passion to play better?" "Baghdatis beat Federer last night. Fed said he needs more practice matches. Baghdatis needed the win for his assurance that his practice is paying off." "What's your loss, then?" "I guess it's my gain -- to get me to practice with a different attitude." We rallied with more consistency and fun than we'd had in weeks. She has two more auditions today. As she left the court she announced, "I gonna use my hate of OK the rest of the day." Disappointment can be a Muse if we listen to what it motivates within us. It can inspire creativity and desire. It can inspire hesitation. Make it a choice.
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Post by christos on Apr 26, 2010 5:48:46 GMT -5
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Post by getta on Apr 28, 2010 14:11:59 GMT -5
Interview of Marcos at the Status Athens Open 2010 official program Christos, i don't know how to thank you for posting this here. i typed it up and so now it's easy to read and comment. and i go a step further by declaring it the worst article on Marcos i've ever read. obviously the interview was meant to fuel on the Athenians' patriotism and nationalistic pride and i assume, but don't know, that the author expected similar engagement from his Athenian readers. hopefully Athenians won't be mesmerised by this "justified" crap and all as one will think to themselves, 'why the fu*k don't the idiots just stop the not-so-subtle nationalist brainwashing on us'. as for the emotionally neutral information, nothing new there. so much for that, a "journalist" reporting ancient news. ================================================================= Interview of Marcos at the Status Athens Open 2010 official programTHE INTERVIEW"I am more mature than ever and I dream of reaching No.1 in the No.1 in the world..!"Interview with Tryfonas Panousis MARCOS BAGHDATIS... The athlete who represents two countries (Cyprus and Greece), and one idea (Hellenism), and the hopes of all of us to outdo himself once more and climb back to the top-10 of the tennis world rankings! This is not to say that his current position in rankings (around n.30) is not a great feat by itself, especially after the multiple injuries he suffered during the previous year, one of which deprived us of his presence in STATUS Athens Open 2009! we met him during the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam, Holland and who we saw was a different... Marcos! A few weeks later, during the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, he managed to beat Roger Federer, a surprise result that left the tennis world in awe...!Your last performance comes to complement a very different image of yours that we see recently. Has Marcos changed? Is he more mature? What happened?Marcos has indeed matured. I passed a long period of time with hardships and unlucky moments, and all these have helped me grow up. I made mistakes! Some of them I corrected. I learned from them. The people in my team helped me identify them, analyze them and correct them. And just like this... we move on! In a recent interview it was noted that the old smile was lost from your face and you didn't interact with the crowd anymore. is this a byproduct of your maturity that we talked about?I grew up, I changed! My character is not the same any more. I am not a child; I am a grown man who wants to move forward in the world of tennis. The fact that I don't smile as much or I don't interact with the crowd doesn't mean that I ignore them or I don't think about them. I just have to be focused every step of the way, so that we can achieve the goals we have set as a team! Recently there have been numerous changes concerning you and tennis. a change in your couch, a change in academy, fitness trainer, a racket change, even your clothes have changed!It is true that recently I have been a little lost, especially with the numerous injuries that I suffered. I didn't like the Mouratoglou academy in France anymore. I tried a different academy there, but I realized that this wasn't the correct way either. So i chose to hire my own coach, who I picked out myself. Thank god this has proved to be the right choice so far, and he has helped me built a team of professionals around me who are really exceptional! Who are the members of this team?Except my coach, my team comprises of a fitness trainer, my physiotherapist and a hitting partner. So we have created a company, a group of friends who travel together and constantly work together. And this is the key, if you consider that during the previous years I was all alone in most tournaments I went to. The reason is that there are no other Cypriot players at this high level (like there are groups of players from countries with numerous players in the main draws like Spain, France or USA). So I had to set up my own team, who would be my "family". Having someone to talk to, to be supported psychologically, to eat with... Every year professional tennis players travel around the globe. Think how important it is to have your own people around you! Indeed, the last two years were filled with misfortunes, hardships, odd moments and were a catastrophic period for your tennis! Having been a top-10 player, suddenly you had to fight through the qualifying to play in top tournaments! What will the future bring? Will this injury parody come to an end? This is my wish and hope! Already I have had no serious problem for the last 8 months! An exception is what happened in Australia, but it bothered me for a short time and a little rest was all it took to heal. We work a lot on this with my team. Building a body thst will stand the test of tough competition in ATP Tour. I never think negatively any more, only positively! we only see ahead of us. so I will keep on working the way I do now, because i believe this is the right way! How will you break in the top-10 or even the top-5?I will follow the way we have paved recently. I will stay completely focused on what I want to achieve. I know what I want. I am "hungry" for results and effective tennis. And the most important thing is that I believe in it and this gives me great self-confidence. What is your daily schedule when you are not competing in a tournament?I go to the gym twice a day, sometimes doing workouts that last 2 to 2.5 hours. I am trying to add muscle weight and reduce my body fat. Next goal: to further strengthen my body! I need this so I can gain speed. Speed gives me faster reflexes, and all these contribute to having good "confidence", something that all the athletes strive for. Naturally I practice in the tennis court almost every day to work on my weaknesses or improve in certain parts of my game. I watch what I eat, I have a good rest and this is how it goes. How about the psychological part?Luckily my team covers this area, too. They know what they are doing and their professionalism is evident in every step of the way. I discuss with them the outcome of a match or the results of the practice session and we work things out. In Cyprus and in Greece we are really proud of your every success that we instantly learn of. How do you feel when you know there is such a plethora of supporters, waiting anxiously for your next success?it is a great pleasure for me to know that i have by my side so many people from Cyprus and Greece. It is also enjoyable to read news about you in magazines, newspapers and websites, and know that there are many people who trace and record your every success. But this doesn't mean that me number one priority should divert from being focused on my tennis and the way I should bring the best results. Does the subject of family trouble you? Are you thinking of having your own soon? we saw Federer getting married, being a father and still being n.1 in the world, Clijsters being a mother etc.This is certainly not in my immediate plans and I leave it for the future. Every person would like to have a happy family, but this is something I will deal with in the later. For now tennis is my main priority! What is the message that you would like us to convey to our readers?Marcos is determined to do his best to achieve the best possible results. And is not only Marcos, but his whole team as well! It is the people who travel with me all the time and they have taught me one thing: the dream! They have taught me to dream! And this is very important for me! When you have dreams, you move ahead! This is another field I work with my team: creating dreams! And every day I dream what i want to be... and this is being n.1 in the world! I wish i make it come true. It is a long road, a difficult road. But the people around me and myself dream about it!
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Post by getta on Apr 28, 2010 14:27:24 GMT -5
Marcos while he had a few free days before Monte Carlo was eager to answer his fans' questions. here's the announcement on his official site: baghdatis.com/articles/view/put-your-questions-to-marcos-1so, there you go. it seemed a good idea and time has come for Marcos to talk of many things. =========================================================================== baghdatis.com/articles/view/marcos-answers-your-questions-1Photo: Ray GiubiloInga Karmazinaite: Hey Marcos, what's the craziest thing you've ever done?Never did anything Crazy….because…Nothing is crazy for me… I think that’s cause I’m a bit of a Crazy person… so even if I do something it does not seem crazy to me! Rose Barnfield: Hi - I was wondering if you were planning to play in the Basel tournament later in the year, as it is one of my very favourites.80% possibility yes !!! Chris Shopneck: Who do you hang out with the most on tour and what do you do when you're not playing?Not really, I spend the time with my team, practising, or just on the laptop in my room …. doing nothing. Mario Leontiou: What would you rather do - win Wimbledon or win the Davis Cup for Cyprus?Wimbledon. Johnathan Patatsos: I'm just curious, when does Cyprus require you be a part of the army? I believe there was an arrangement with the Cyprus government and yourself to give you an extension to allow you to have a career in tennis. How much longer do you have? After my career … I guess. Daniela Lorenz: Hi Marcos, what aspect of your game / which shot do you tend to practice most?Everything, I can say….. and for the moment working on my physical strength. Bryan Hulke: Hey Marcos. What are your goals for the clay court season? I know it hasn't traditionally been your favorite surface. Do you have a plan for adapting to it this time around?I think that this year I can win a tournament on clay, and try to play well in two Masters 1000s and Roland Garros. Tony Kyriacou: Hello from Australia. My question is - Will we see you playing a greater number of doubles tournaments in the near future and if so are you likely to have a regular doubles partner?Not much doubles, and whenever I play I have Stanislas Wawrinka as my partner. Michael Protopapas: Marcos - Would you consider that the 2010 race is open for every body? Are you considering yourself a candidate for number 1 (or in the top 4) by the end of the year?Tell you the truth top 4 would be very difficult this year, I think the place is open , but I will try to continue the hard work in this come back year, and hopefully next year I will be stronger and be able to make it to the top. =========================================================================== unreal! Marcos' fans' questions are way better than those of certain tagged stupid journalists/reporters.
far you'll go, guys! keep it up! also, congrats to Marcos on coming up with a perfect idea to meet the "needs" of his people. ;D if i find time, i'll leave my comments and add notes to it... hmm, and that's a promise, not a threat. stay tuned.
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Post by christos on Apr 28, 2010 16:31:22 GMT -5
Just to inform you that the interviewer is the owner of a greek tennis magazine, Tennis society, if that helps ;D
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Post by getta on Apr 28, 2010 16:57:14 GMT -5
Just to inform you that the interviewer is the owner of a greek tennis magazine, Tennis society, if that helps ;D well that explains a lot of my questions that have floated around my head about his, to put it mildly, inadequacy. you had the final missing piece to his sillyness puzzle, Christos.
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Post by choupi on May 7, 2010 9:48:13 GMT -5
The news was announced today in our local newspaper "Le Républicain Lorrain". Marcos has officially accepted to take part to the Open de Moselle in Metz in September. www.republicain-lorrain.fr/fr/sport/article/3097615/Le-retour-de-Baghdatis.htmlAprès le Croate Ivan Ljubicic, 14 e joueur mondial et fidèle de l’Open de Moselle qu’il a remporté en 2005, les dirigeants du tournoi ont obtenu l’accord de Marcos Baghdatis pour l’édition 2010. Le Chypriote compte une participation à l’épreuve messine : c’était en 2008 et son épopée aux Arènes avait tourné court, Marcos Bagdhatis se blessant sérieusement au dos. Depuis, le finaliste de l’Open d’Australie 2006 s’est refait une santé, au point de se hisser au 31 e rang du classement ATP, après un début de saison au cours duquel il s’est adjugé le tournoi de Sydney et s’est distingué au Masters 1000 d’Indian Wells, où il a battu le grand Roger Federer.
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Post by getta on May 7, 2010 22:12:07 GMT -5
Choupi, if you love tennis, whoever you see is quite exciting. on a serious note, news like that makes me so d**n jealous. maybe this will make me change my mind about the next tournament i’m going to attend.
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Post by getta on May 9, 2010 0:12:24 GMT -5
indirectly related to our site’s subject. =========================================================================== www.tennisdiary.com/2010-articles/april/zachs-tennis-diary-winning-is-everything.htmlZach's Tennis Diary - Winning is everything?Written by Zach Kleiman Thursday, 29 April 2010 00:12 "Do your priorities change as you're hitting?" I asked a 45-year-old player the other morning. He'd been struggling with money, career and family for over a decade. If he takes a certain job he'll lose the day-to-day connection with his young family for many months at a time. If they move with him to the job location his wife will lose her job, health benefits and some pension. The children will be uprooted; neither parent wants them to lose the continuity of friendships and teacher relationships. Though he knows everyone needs to learn adjustments at every age and compromises are inevitable, he's frustrated and confused. He wants out of the cycle he's been trapped in. "My priorities..." he announced proudly, "they're the same all the time. I want to hit well. Ha! You thought I was gonna say ‘win.'" "I don't believe you. There's no way that when you mis-hit a ball your priorities remain on ‘hitting well.'" "I still want the ball to go where I want it to go," he defended. We went out to the court to hit with our attention on what's important shot for shot. He was suddenly very focused; the first few dozen shots needed no adjustments. When one shot floated higher than I know he likes, he hit the following shot into the net. "Your priority changed?" I asked and stated at the same time. "No," he said. "You didn't want to hit the shot that landed in the net lower than the floater?" "Of course I did." "But your intention for the floater was a drive to the backcourt?" "So." "Your priority changed in response to the floater - the shot you didn't like." His head nodded recognition as he walked back to the baseline to restart the rally. His mind quieted; we had a 40-shot rally. He laughed when he shots were not perfect. "To observe my priorities - shot for shot - seems to require me to accept my performance, rather than judge every outcome." "Then you are able to re-prioritize." "I may have to stop fighting it." My priorities don't change every shot, but they are frequently modified. When I mis-hit a shot I either refocus on the ball or loosen my grip or remember the sound of the ball on the strings... I even ask myself "What did I want?" or "If I want something, what might it be?" The "want" often connects me to the priority. My priorities juggle into a new order; eventually coming back to the original order: play to win. But, as they say, and my student is pondering: winning isn't everything; or is it? I saw the same guy today. "If you only needed to please yourself, how would you hit?" He nodded, knowing what I meant and hit the ball solidly but without passion. He seemed unsure. "If you needed to make everyone around you happy - except yourself - how would you hit?" His backswing shortened, his focus got intense and each shot was hit hard and flat. He seemed pissed off. "If your only priority was your children - no wife to please or career obligations - how would you hit?" His shoulders dropped and he easily flowed through each shot. He seemed content. "If you only followed your heart?" He opened up even more with his swing and started hitting with more spins and artistry. Though he showed a lot less consistency for the tennis, he had much more fun for the man who didn't need to win. "I've been squashing my joy," he noted at the end of the session. "When I follow other people's needs, I lose a lot of myself." I agreed. Winning was now not everything - it was much more; and I left the rest up to him. He now had choices.
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Post by Ljubica on May 9, 2010 7:02:42 GMT -5
Choupi, if you love tennis, whoever you see is quite exciting. on a serious note, news like that makes me so d**n jealous. maybe this will make me change my mind about the next tournament i’m going to attend. You should indeed go to Metz Getta It's one of the few European tournaments I have never been to, but I hope to change that this year - if only for a long weekend. Would be nice to see Choupi again and maybe meet you too.
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Post by choupi on May 11, 2010 1:38:07 GMT -5
You should indeed go to Metz Getta It's one of the few European tournaments I have never been to, but I hope to change that this year - if only for a long weekend. Would be nice to see Choupi again and maybe meet you too. Would be nice to meet you again Rose. And Getta of course, you're welcome.
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Post by getta on May 11, 2010 8:59:44 GMT -5
You should indeed go to Metz Getta It's one of the few European tournaments I have never been to, but I hope to change that this year - if only for a long weekend. Would be nice to see Choupi again and maybe meet you too. Would be nice to meet you again Rose. And Getta of course, you're welcome. you girls convinced me to head to Lorraine this autumn. just hope there isn’t any problem if i buy my tickets sometime by mid-July.
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Post by choupi on May 11, 2010 10:13:00 GMT -5
you girls convinced me to head to Lorraine this autumn. just hope there isn’t any problem if i buy my tickets sometime by mid-July. You can buy your tickets directly on the site of the event, and no pb if you do it by mid-July.
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