Thursday 23 May 2013 - London. Wimbledon

 Lyn at Waterloo tube Station where they have built a barrier between the platform and the rail lines. One of the few places where this has been done. When the train stops, doors open in the barrier as well as the doors on the train. Mick surmised that it was because too many people came throw themselves under a train after they had met their Waterloo. Maybe not.

Today on yet another cold and windy day with patchy rain, we went to Wimbledon, home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Wimbledon (the event) is the oldest tennis championship in the world. Mick had booked the visit yesterday. It included a guided tour at a cost of £19 each, which is the seniors rate.

We travelled there by underground and overground rail services, the trip taking about an hour. We could have taken the tube which is a short bus ride from our hotel and gone all the way to Wimbledon but that involves about 50 odd stops. By splitting the journey using the overground trains which are faster, quieter, wider, more comfortable and stop much less frequently, it made the trip a much more pleasant experience. (And we weren't constantly in a tunnel!)

When we arrived we spent some time touring the extensive museum which used lots of audio-visual aids. One of these had a 3D John McEnroe describing his experiences. Very good.

Our 90 minute guided tour started at 12.30pm and was excellent. It included visits to all the areas within the complex with plenty of time for taking pictures and the lady leading the tour was very knowledgeable in all aspects of tennis and the venue.

The lawns were looking pristine with every blade of grass being 8mm long. The lawns are cut 3 times a week in the growing season and are 100% perennial Rye Grass. There was a lot of horticultural and building activity going on in preparation for the big event.

All this years action gets underway (rain permitting) on 24 June 2013 and  finishes with the Men's singles final on 7 July. This years prize fund is £22.6million, up 40% on last year. The singles champions will pick up a cool £1.6million and even first-round losers will pocket £23,500 for their troubles. Mick says he is going to take up tennis. Lyn told him with his knees he wouldn't last the first game. Point taken or Game, Set & Match.


Through this gate we had our bags checked by security

Henman Hill or maybe this year, Murray's Mound

This years Ladies Champion, Serena West at her post match interview. It is a condition of playing, that everyone must attend their post match press interview.

Lyn at Court 1

Mick in the stands of Centre Court. Can you spot the tethered bird of prey on the end of the rope?

Mick on the hill with the London Skyline in the background. That's how far out of the centre of London, Wimbledon is