Wednesday 1 June 2011

Anyone for tennis?

Hello! I have been without Internet connection since Saturday and have really missed my blog friends! We had to have our whole telephone lines,plugs etc replaced. I am thankfully back now and will look forward to catching up with your posts. First of all can I thank you for all the lovely comments I had about my colouring masterclass. I have been putting my skills into practice and will show them to you really soon.
 For this post I wanted to share some great tennis news with your all.
I really do enjoy the annual tennis at Wimbledon. We live very close and can get there by local train in under half an hour. Wimbledon Village is also a home to one of my favourite CK shops and also great for lunches!
This year is a special year for Wimbledon Tennis as it is their 125th Anniversary. I had a lovely surprise which arrived in the post a few weeks ago. My Hb and I have been very lucky and for the last 4 years in a row have managed to be successful for tickets for Wimbledon Tennis in the annual ballot. I thought our luck would run out. However I was delighted to find that we have been successful again.  For this year they are for Court Number 1; the other 3 years we had them for Centre Court. It is such a great summer day out, the atmosphere at Wimbledon is so unique. It really does epitomise an English summer and yes we did drink Pimms and eat strawberries! We always pack a picnic too as it is a long afternoon out and you are allowed to take food onto the courts and drinks in plastic containers.

 Whilst I was having a bit of a spring clean I found the ticket stubs from a couple of the years.
 We have seen Nadal, Federer, Murray, the Williams sisters and many more.
This was the view from our Centre Court seats in 2008............
We really were so near the action. The speed of the play is not really comprehensible until you have sat in the court and watched it. The players athleticism is quite stunning.


Having seats in the main Show Courts also means you get up and can be free to wander around the outside courts too. There is also play going on on about 14 other outside courts which are all open to view. It is always very busy but there is such a pleasant buzz no one really notices the crowds. Now last year I had not started blogging so I did not think to take any photos but this time I most certainly will. There are some great gift shops on site too and each year my darling Hb has treated me to a Links of London silver charm. They produce a special edition set of charms for Wimbledon. In 2008 he bought me a strawberry, in 2009 a replica of the ladies winner's plate and last year a logo of the Tennis club.
I love wearing them, they are such a sweet souvenir of some wonderful sunny days we have spent there.
I have never been inside Court Number 1, it was rebuilt some years ago and from the outside looks nearly as grand as Centre Court. We are so looking forward to our day there later this month and will of course take some "insider" blog photos this year so that I can share my day with you all.

Bye for now,

Jane x

18 comments:

  1. Hello Jane,

    Wonderful to have you "back" :)! And I am all in for tennis (not as a player but a keen watcher), and I always check Wimbledon in telly. I remember that from my childhood already, it is a summer tradition of some sort to check the games. My dad played tennis and loved to watch every single game. Lucky you to get into the action :) and I am looking forward to hearing and seeing your inside report!

    Sunny days!

    Yours,
    Mia

    P.S. Keep a close eye on our Jarkko Nieminen, he's a sweetheart and a great tennis player too!

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  2. It's great to be back too Mia, I have missed you! We shall certainly look out for Jarkko. I am so looking forward to our day at Wimbledon.We are still having such sunny days here and I hope you are too.
    Jane x

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  3. Welcome back Jane!
    How lovely to be going to Wimbledon, all the Pimms and strawberries and gorgeous male tennis players! ;)
    I have to say I'm not too bothered by the female tennis but I do love watching the men play. I watched Murray last night at the French Open, I do hope he does well at Wimbledon.
    Your little charms are beautiful and what lovely reminders of your visits. Make sure you let us know when you're there so we can look out for you in the crowd.
    Vivienne x

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  4. Glad to have you back, Jane!
    This will no doubt be an exciting June for you! I'm sure you'll absorb all the sights- I'll be waiting for your first hand account... That is, after you finish your colored cards, hee hee!
    Several years back, I had an opportunity to attend a professional women's event at La Costa, and agree, it's amazing to see how the "real" players play. (Whoosh! Whack!)
    Hope you're enjoying being back online this week! :o)

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  5. I missed you, welcome back! It was great fun for this American to read your story about being there -- and love the charms!

    I flew to Washington DC for Continental Congress for the DAR a few years ago and we were all abuzz as Venus Williams was on our flight and we got to see her several times and that was right after her big win.

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. What fabulous charms, I love the strawberry :O) Glad you are back too x I have finally figured out that Internet Explorer is totally naff for blogging and have switched to Firefox so I expect to be about more!! I have never been to Wimbledon and an not in the least bit active, except for a dog walk, but I do like to have the tennis on occasionally on the tv, I would love to go to and watch a game live one day. Take lots of photos for this country bumpkin to see please :O) Laney x

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  7. Vivienne, Wimbledon really is just as you describe. The atmosphere is truely unique. The only thing about the Pimms is that they charge £6.50 a glass for it..yes and I should think it will have gone up this year!Last year we were 6 rows from the front on centre court and were on TV all the time that day as we were so near the service line! Such fun,
    Jane x

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  8. It's great to be back Michele. I know this is such a busy month as we are also going on holdiday in less that 2 weeks! I do enjoy being busy though...never time to be bored! I really did miss blogging and it's great to "see" you again,
    Jane x

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  9. Hi Teresa, the Williams sisters are quite astonishing to watch but as I agree with Vivienne it's the male players who make you gasp with how they move around on court. I shall certainly be taking my camera so that you can "join" in the fun, watch this space!
    Jane x

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  10. Actually Laney it was not the browser which let me down but the actual wiring to the house. The engineer took one look and asked how long it had been there...well I would guess as long as there had been a phone in the house.....probably 1960/70s!!We moved here in 1983 and have not changed it. All fixed now and we are up to date! I will be taking lots of photos especialy as I know my blogging friends want to join me :0)
    Jane x

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  11. Dear Jane, great to have you back ... even also a little bit out of action lately!
    That is going to be amazing day in Wimbledon! My parents played tennis (and my father still in his 75 years - he has a birthday today) and we watched always the games! I played a little bit when I was young.
    Have a lovely time!
    xxx Teje

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  12. Yes Teje I think we both have some catching up to do! I must admit I am not a very good tennis player and have not played for many years but I do love to watch Wimbledon, not long now!
    Jane x

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  13. Welcome back Jane! I thought you might have already popped off on holiday! Glad your internet connection is now sorted out. How lovely to be going to Wimbledon again too!! Your little charms are such lovely souvenirs of your summery days there - what a lovely idea. It will be great to hear all about your day there this year and to see your photos. Oh, and I'll look out for you in the crowd on tv too!
    Helen x

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  14. Tee hee Helen, no we are not off on holiday just yet, it felt very odd having no internet for those days! I will enjoy sharing my day at Wimbledon when we go.
    Nearly the weekend, enjoy yours,
    Jane x

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  15. Hi Jane, So enjoyed this post and very happy to hear from you. I loved seeing the pictures and so exciting that you have gotten there for all those years! I really look forward to your new pictures and Of Course your new charm. I'm a real lover of charms too! It makes for such a sweet keepsake of a wonderful occasion. Have a happy weekend, xoRobin❤

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  16. I love hearing about the things you do. I'm not especially sports-oriented, but it seems like going to Wimbledon has to be an experience. Love the charms. Nice hubby :)

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  17. Hi Robin, we are cetainly having the weather for Wimbledon now...the strawberries are growing so well!The strawberry is also my favourite of my charms.
    Have a sunny weekend,
    Jane x

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  18. Hi Linda even the least sport orientated person would just love Wimbledon. It is such a great experience, if I could bottle the atmosphere there I could get very rich! You are right about my Hb too, I am indeed a very lucky girl!
    Jane x

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Jane x