We have all enjoyed a gloriously hot July day today. My heart went out to Sabine Lisicki during today’s Wimbledon Ladies’ Final. She had performed so amazingly to reach the final, knocking out Serena Williams along the way. Sabine was smiley throughout the tournament and has excellent nicknames in the German press. She is known as Doris Becker and Boom Boom, because of her huge serve, only the second fastest in the women’s game (behind Serena).

But today, Sabine couldn’t handle being in the final of Wimbledon and after she lost the first set, I suspect her toilet break was really a weeping break. She played on through tears and recovered some of her cool during the second set. I hope that when Bartoli finally won, Lisicki was able to recognise her own strength in keeping going when things had been so tough. A little pride was saved. Congratulations to Marion Bartoli.

From personal experience, I recognise the fury one feels when unwelcome tears well up. On occasions, I have felt very angry with my own brain and body, because I have cried in front of people who I really didn’t trust. Lately, my struggle has been with anger and bitterness. I don’t know how to handle them either.

Our cats have been visibly affected by the heat, being lethargic and lazy. How adorable do Percy and Milka look in this photograph?