After the rugby yesterday, I played tennis with the younger daughter. Nothing unusual about that except we were brilliant. And normally… one of us, sometimes isn’t. But yesterday, in the searing heat and horrible humidity, sheer brilliance.

And then I watched Roger Federer. He’s 83 years old (so you’d believe if you listened to the pundits) and yet is still the most perfect tennis player that has ever been. Every single shot that man plays is a thing of beauty. Every serve, every lob, forehand, backhand, volley, just a graphic of exactly, precisely, sublimely, how to play that particular shot. Very few of us can do that.

And how wonderful that there is always balance in the world. Someone’s born, someone dies, something bad happens, something great happens somewhere else. Call it ‘karma’, call it ‘balance of probabilities’, call it what’cha like. So this week, when Volvo declared they’re going to stop making fuel-burning cars from 2019 (not even 2022 as I originally thought), Jeremy Clarkson today reviewed the Bugatti Chiron. And its available soon and they’re only making 500 so get your two-and-a-half million quid ready and you can get one. Then give it to me. Because you really couldn’t cope with it. So stick with the Prius and I’ll drive the 8 litre, 16 cylinder, 1500 horse-power Bugatti. For you. Because I’m kind and thoughtful. It goes from 0 to 125mph in 6 seconds. And even has brakes. Its quoted fuel consumption is 12.5mpg. But Bugatti is part of VW and we know exactly how their figures are calculated on such matters. Were you to drive the car at 260mph (it will do over 280), it will take just 7 minutes to drain the 22-gallon fuel tank. There again, at that speed, there is no-where in the world that you couldn’t have arrived at in those 7 minutes. Ahhhhh, to dream.

Lionel Messi can afford a Chiron. He’s just signed a new contract at Barcelona paying him £1million a week. Yes, you read that correctly. Barca are worried about offers from other clubs to went a bit ‘pre-emptive’. Maybe overdid it a touch but that should make him safe. Though its worth considering that they estimate (no idea how but sounds reasonable) that Messi is personally responsible for 20% of Barca’s annual income.

A million pounds a week. And the little fucker (who I love dearly) still has ‘tax issues’, along with fellow ‘best-player-in-the-world’, the uber-narcissist Christiano Ronaldo, a ‘pauper’ for his mere 400 grand a week, but still being investigated about his tax. Or lack of.

Still lovin’ this hot weather.

Happy Sunday

A xxxx