This is the time of year when life comes to a standstill and I am at risk of getting square eyes. It is Wimbledon Fortnight. Somehow it just isn't the same now that Tim Henman has gone into long trousers and graduated from the tennis court to the commentary box. The tennis is not as riveting as it used to be and I really miss the silky smooth commentary of Jimmy Connors, but it still seems to be compulsive viewing.
I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Wimbledon. I bought my first flat there, as soon as my salary was enough to support a mortgage and have many happy memories of my bachelor girl days in SW19. The flat was in the wrong part of Wimbledon - I could not afford the village or up the hill. It was about as far away from the All England Lawn Tennis Club as you can get and still be in the SW19 postcode. But the address and post code were Wimbledon SW19 and I was on the first rung of the property ladder. The flat had only one bedroom. The windows rattled in the wind and the bathroom had a damp patch, but it was mine. When I moved in I had a cooker, a bed, a stool and a portable television. Within a few years I had out grown the flat and moved. From the flat I used to go, to queue, to get in, to stand, to watch the tennis on Centre Court or the No 1 Court. The contrast between watching the tennis on my old black and white portable television and seeing it live in 3-D colour was amazing. Today television is so good that seeing someone in the flesh can be quite a let down.
Wimbledon itself became a different place during Wimbledon Fortnight. The area around the railway station was tidied up and smartened up with hanging baskets while a variety of stalls, appeared within the confines of the station, selling souvenirs. The roads were clogged up with cars and crowds thronged out of the station. It was almost like being on holiday.
Now, when the television camera pans across the London skyline then zooms in to the Southfields area, I am transported back to a green and purple period in my life.
8 comments:
Thanks for the visit and the comment.
Wimbledon was a special part of my life too - I covered the tournament in the 80s so we probably bumped into each other there!
Isn't it a small world?
I have been really enjoying the matches between everything else that is going on. I have lived in Fulham and Battersea and Tooting, but never Wimbledon, I gather from friends though that it is a lovely area to live in.
Yeah Wimbledon is a special place. I lived in Wandsworth and once we went down and got in for the late matches after work when the full-paying people had gone home.
I agree - Wimbledon tennis this year has been rather boring especially the women. The top seeds got knocked out and then the victors went on to produce some poor tennis. I had my first knee accident just before entering Junior Wimbledon many moons ago and have not been able to pick up a racquet since!
The best thing about a Williams' sister final is that one of them has to lose.
I really enjoyed the Nadal/Federer clash, and have to admit that unlike some of your other commenters, I really enjoyed a lot of the matches this year.
Yes I enjoyed the Feder/Nadal match. It was a pity that one of them had to lose.
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