I did too! Got quite a surprise when I turned on the lap top this morning.
I found the photo from last summer to show Jacob what the real one looks like as we have a small toy one here - although ours as Jacob pointed out, has no man driving!
I must have pressed publish as we don't really have combines in Suffolk in April!
Anyway.................
Thank you to everyone for comments on Saturday, it was a busy weekend and lovely to have Grandson Jacob staying again. He grows up so much in between times - unfortunately the getting-up early-very-excited phase is still ongoing!
Today's proper post
In your birthday month it's a tradition to have a bunch of flowers as a gift at WI. These are my tulips from big WI. I think they had been bought several days earlier as they soon flagged.
We were all given a pin badge to celebrate 100 years of Suffolk East Federation. How do I remember to wear it for the meetings this year?
Our speaker at Big WI was very interesting. She told us all about being an umpire at Wimbledon, this year will be her 38th year.
It takes many years to become qualified enough to be one of the team that works at Wimbledon through the two weeks of the tournament - when I say works they are all volunteers and are not paid. They also have to pay for their accommodation, she said she is lucky as she has friends in London who have a flat she is able to use for the duration. But they do get vouchers to use in the restaurants for 3 meals and snacks each day. They are also given all their uniform - jacket, trousers and skirts for the ladies, hat and shirts. They have to go for a fitting every other year so mustn't put on weight in between!
To keep qualified they also have to volunteer at other tournaments through the year so not something lightly undertaken. Wendy is a single lady and runs her own business so is able to take the time needed.
There are 366 officials at the tournament either line umpires or chair umpires and they will officiate at over 650 matches. When they arrive each day they get a schedule to tell them which team they are in and on which court and they then work one hour on and one hour off right through from 11 in the morning if they are on the outside courts and possible until 10 at night if they are on Centre Court with the roof closed and the lights on. There are 9 in a team on the main courts and 7 on the lesser courts.
At the end of the tournament they are given a certificate and special trophies after (I Think) 10, 20, 30 and 40 years. She wants to keep going until her 40th year.
She told us how rude some of the players are to the ball boys/girls and to the umpires which doesn't sound fun at all, and how some of the young players have a competition to see how many items of Wimbledon memorabilia like towels they can acquire while they are there.
She will be there again ready for the first day on 1st July - I'll be watching.......on TV.
The speaker is always followed by coffee and cakes of course.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
It was very interesting to read about Wimbledon. I have a very good friend who gives to Wimbledon a lot for the tennis. Glad you had a nice time with the family, I had a lovely walk round he village where my daughter lives with my grandchildren and was a lot of animals in the fields.
ReplyDeleteHazel
Now that sounds like an interesting talk, one even I should have been able to stay awake through. I have a real problem staying awake through talks. That's why I left our local Garden Club 😆🤣
ReplyDeleteSounds like her hobby has become a full time once a year job. Must have been an interesting talk.
ReplyDeleteI wondered what the combine photo was all about. Seemed too early to be cutting grain.
That was very interesting! Mother-in-law loves to watch Wimbledon. I'll have to share this with her. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteYes, I did rather wonder what they were combining at this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried putting a coin eg 2p in the water with tulips?Someone told me about this a couple of months ago.Previously tulips just drooped but it does seem to work.Perhaps yours were past their best when you got them!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting WI meeting! Years ago, I was lucky enough to go to Centre court at Wimbledon. I was enthralled at not only the tennis (Andre Agassi!) but also at everything else going on around the court. I also watched a documentary about the ball boys and girls. The training they have to do is very intensive.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention about the ball boys/girls. For years I have watched to see how respectful, or not, the players are to those hardworking young people. I worked as a ball person for one small tournament, it was brutal, the heat, the standing, the bending over, ouch, groan. I never root for anyone rude, however famous they might be. I understand about the combine. My grandson is 10 but he still loves the big machinery.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, I always thought they were paid. That is a whole lot of volunteer hours.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
What a wonderful and informative post.....I love Wimbledon fortnight and everyone who knows me knows not to knock, phone or try to get hold of me during that time.....gosh, I sound awful don’t I?
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