Up until Sundays final, the epic 3 hours semi-final match between Nadal, the world number 1 and our British hope Andy Murray had proved to be the highlight, with patriotic pride resting on the Scotsman Murray who played valiantly and came painstakingly close but ultimately lost to the champion. So like many a final before, it was between the eternal rivals and giants of the modern game, the current number one Rafael Nadal and the record breaking former champion Roger Federer.

It was almost like a replay of their famous epic Wimbledon match of two years ago for although the pair have played in many finals since, it was the first time the pair have faced each other on British soil, indeed in London, since their record-breaking 2008 match in Wimbledon. This time Federer turned the tables on Nadal, who may have been feeling the after effects of his epic battle with Murray, to record a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory at the London arena and win his fifth Barclays ATP World Tour title, having succeeded previously in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, becoming the third person in the history of the ATP to do so joining Pete Sampras who dominated it in the 90’s and Ivan Lendl in the 80’s. It proved to be a bittersweet win and end to the season for Federer, who despite a brilliant start winning the Australian Open earlier in the year and end with this record equalling win, conceded the overall ATP World Tour Championship title and number 1 ranking to his rival Nadal who had a fantastic year in 2010 winning 7 titles this year in tennis among them the French, Wimbledon and US Opens and a number of ATP tour finals.

The overall Barclays ATP World Tour Final proved to be a thrilling event inside Londons O2 arena, which, usually filled with the best of events and stars of the entertainment world, was transformed for this one week only, into a world class indoor tennis arena for the second year in succession. It’s proved to be a great venue, with all the little nuisances from last years event having been tweaked out to perfection. The tour schedules were set in tune with Londons transport lines making travelling to the arena easy, with no danger of missing essential matches. Also new this year, were two practice courts with seating for 400 spectators, allowing people without tickets to wander in at their own leisure and catch a glimpse of the worlds top players in action during practice times.

Another bonus with this years renewal was that the worlds’ top eight tennis players (including double champions as well as singles) were still game and fresh enough, despite a gruelling season, to bow out for the year in terrific champion worthy style. This years final with players still at the top of their game, highlighted the ATP finals and series status as the worlds best indoor tennis event and showed Britains O2 arena as a world class sporting as well as entertainment fixture, a great omen for London 2012 where the O2 will host the gymnastics and a number of indoor events. All in all it proved to be an event not to be missed, with Nadal deservedly being crowned the series champion despite the final loss, Murray proving a worthy British contender and upcoming threat and the old king of the court Federer finding some consolation in winning the ATP final and adding another tennis record to his overall legendary status, ending on a high note after a somewhat disappointing season for him and proving why he is still the only player capable of overthrowing Nadal, setting the stage for some exciting tennis next year, and perhaps a rematch at  Wimbledon 2011. Overall the events at the London indoor arena this year proved to be a fitting end to the tennis year and a good omen for future tennis and indoor sporting events on these shores.

The build-up is very much the same both sides of the pond and will remain so until a few minutes prior to kick off when it’s time for the National Anthem. In Colorado the crowd will unite with Jordin Sparks (sorry I don’t know her either but she won “American Idol” if that means anything to you) and stand proud in the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. In the rugby matches a sub competition occurs at this point when each nation involved sings its own anthem. It’s a proud moment with the power to bring tears to the eyes. I know I’m not the only one.

For instance take the match between England and Wales at Twickenham, London tomorrow afternoon. This is the one match that every Welshman wants to win. Wales beating England at “Twickers” (say this in a posh English accent) the home of rugby. As the Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland summed up “It’s not just a game of rugby. It’s nation against nation and bragging rights – not for a few days, but for a whole year”. Over in the USA I can imagine that Patriots supporters will have bragging rights for a lifetime if their team wins!

In Twickenham, when the brass band hits the opening chords the thousands of visiting Welshmen will, as one, launch into “Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau” (“Land of our Fathers”) with all their hearts . Then, they’ll be respectfully quiet as the English sing “God Save the Queen” knowing full well that the Welsh Anthem wins hands down with its power to stir the soul. This respectful scene on the playing of the Anthems will also play out in Croke Park, Dublin where Ireland entertain Italy and in Murrayfield, Edinburgh where Scotland play France.

In the singing of the Anthems in all of the above matches I’m sure of one thing – most of the crowd will not know more than one verse of their own National Anthem.

C’mon Wales…… and Go Patriots.

Prices have not yet been released but if you want hassle free flying between these cities in 2009 and willing to pay for it I’d suggest that this may be the flight for you.

Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Kandinsky, Tatlin, Malevich are all represented in this exhibition and with highlights such as The Dance by Henri Matisse it is sure to draw in the crowds.

So, Art lovers if you’re in London you’ll not want to miss this. The Royal Academy of Art, Burlington House, Piccadilly is hosting the exhibition until the 18^th April.

There seems to a good number of costume dramas on the TV currently and I for one am not complaining. The latest success we’ve had is the series “Cranford” that was an adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel of the same name amalgamated for TV with her other books “My Lady Ludlow” and “Mrs. Harrison’s Confessions”. This will air on US television in May and you’re in for a treat. We’ve also had Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” and “The Old Curiosity Shop” on over Christmas.

Why do we watch these series’ in our millions? Are we all a bunch of nostalgics? I think not. My view is that although they’re visually stunning, evoking the period in which they’re set, they are without doubt brilliant stories that have withstood the test of time.

Although some of these will be partly studio based a great many will be filmed on location around Britain. Most of the scenes from Cranford were easily recognizable as being set in Lacock and West Wycombe just to the west of London. You’ll find that Lacock will usually feature very strongly in a good number of these period dramas as it’s a living, working village that’s changed little over the centuries and is now owned by the National Trust. The money from these films must add a lot to their coffers and go towards the upkeep of the village. I’m not sure if I’d enjoy living there though with so many film crews taking up residency there. It’s not a period drama but the Harry Potter crew also shot some scenes in the Abbey at Lacock. It’s a very easy to get to as you drive to Bath from London sitting just south of Chippenham eight miles out of Bath.

The dramatizations of Dickens novels generally conjure up pictures of London that are probably far from the truth. I can’t imagine that London was a very healthy place to life in the 1800’s. Imagine the raw sewerage flowing in gutters into the Thames, horse manure from the thousands of horse drawn carriages, smoke belching from each house’s chimney – not to mention the unwashed hordes and the prostitutes, pickpockets and drunks. Not the sort of place that most of us would find comfortable – it must have stunk to high heaven. It’s rather more pleasant today thank goodness. If you want a good day out and find out more about Dickens’ London then I could recommend a day out in Dickens’ World in Chatham, Kent where Dickens lived for a time. It promises to immerse you in “the urban streets, sounds and smells of 19^th century London”. Thankfully it fails in the smells department otherwise I imagine we would all be physically sick.

I’m ashamed to say that although I’ve enjoyed these bus tours when I’m touring abroad (Paris, Rome, Berlin and New York) but had never been on the London CitySightseeing tour. It’s for the tourists I said walking the other way mumbling something about being almost a local. Anyway daughters being daughters, she got her own way in the end and onto the bus I trudged flanked by three Germans and a few Italians. Up the stairs to get on the top deck and found a couple of seats from which we could see the world around us. At this point I was reflecting that I had never been on the top deck of a London bus. I know London well, but only from ground level when I’m driving or walking. I was now beginning to enjoy myself and look forward to the tour. We’d embarked at Marble Arch and the whole trip took around an hour and a half and in that time we saw all the major attractions with a real live English speaking guide to entertain us. Make sure you get on the buses with the T1 yellow route signs for this.

The whole experience was a real eye opener and I’d rank this tour second only to the sightseeing tour of Rome. I didn’t introduce me to any new sights but it did give me a totally different view of the ones that already knew.

If you’re new to the city this is a great way to get your bearings. Don’t hop off on your first trip stay on and get the whole experience. You won’t regret it as it will really help you to see the scale of London and really help with your planning for the few days that you will have in London. It will also make sure that you will have at least seen all the major attractions before you move on.

When you arrive in London you’ll have probably flown over on a “red-eye” flight that will get you into London Heathrow or Gatwick early morning. If you can’t check in to your room till early afternoon then leave your luggage in the hotel and head straight out to find a Sightseeing tour . Sit on the(open) top deck, relax and let the fresh air revive you after your flight and transfer to central London. I’ll guarantee that your jet lag will disappear.

Finally don’t forget that your ticket is valid for the whole day so after doing the circuit, by which time your jet lag will have gone, you can get back to your hotel to check in and freshen up before getting back on the bus to do a few hop offs to get close up and personal with some of the great attractions.