UK Trip 2019 - #2 - Visiting Family, & Wimbledon

Thursday June 27th - Friday July 5th, 2019
I got on the train and went to stay for a week with Ray & Julie.  I hadn't been on a train for a while, especially on my own, and the part that worried me was changing stations in London, via the underground.  Unfortunately my train was late getting into London, and I missed my connecting train by a few minutes.  There were no problems though, when I explained and they guided me to the next train.  I did have a very nice young man help me up the stairs with my suitcase.  Sometimes being a little "old' lady has it's perks!!!  I arrived at Ray & Julie's safe and sound in one piece. It was good to see them again.
Meanwhile back in the USA, Bryan left Brenda's after a great visit, and stopped overnight at Patricks again, before returning to his moms for a while.
I had got tickets for Court 1 at Wimbledon on July 3rd, and Julie was going to come with me.
I originally planned to go with Ian, but unfortunately the date clashed with a tour around Bailey's new secondary school, that he will start to attend in September, so Ian understandably couldn't make Wimbledon.  We were both disappointed, but there's not much you can do about those things.  It's a big moment in Bailey's life, and it was just unfortunate that the dates clashed. C'est la vie.
Anyway, Julie agreed to come with me and changed her days off to accompany me.
July 3rd arrived and Julie & I got a cab to the train station, and then a train/tube to Southfields Station.  Once there we walked to Gate 5, at The All England Club, Wimbledon where I could collect our tickets.  It was quite a smooth process, and we were soon in the grounds.  We stopped and had some lunch.  I had a sandwich and an Eton Mess type dessert. Unfortunately we couldn't find a table to sit at, or chairs, so we "perched" on a wall.
After lunch we proceeded to No. 1 court to find our seats.  Play wasn't due to start yet, but we wanted to find where we were sitting.  The court and seating were virtually empty, but it was amazing to finally be here, and on a show court.  Last time we came we were on #3 court and rain stopped play early.  It is also the first year with the roof on Court 1, so we knew even if it rained we were guaranteed to see tennis.

View from our seats

The roof is open.  It is quite an impressive structure that can close quite quickly when needed.

The first match was the Uk's Heather Watson against Anett Kontaveit from Estonia.  Kontaveit is coached by Nigel Sears, Andy Murrays father-in-law.

The crowd got behind Heather, but after losing the first set 7-5, the second set got away from her, and she lost the match 7-5, 6-1.

While we were waiting for the next match we went to get a Pimms.  Can't visit Wimbledon without a Pimms.  Julie also spotted Judy Murray talking to a group of young girls behind the scenes.

Cheers

Next up was Feliciano Lopez against Karen Khachanov.  "Deliciano" as Judy Murray calls him, is playing mens doubles with Andy Murray here and I had been hoping their first game might be today, but it ended up being tomorrow and it was on Court 1.  I was one day away from seeing Andy, ugh!!!!

Feliciano Lopez

Anyway, Feliciano was pleasing to the eyes, ha!!ha!!  

It was a good match, but unfortunately Lopez lost in 4 sets, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.   There were some exciting moments, and the crowd was really behind Lopez, probably more so as they knew he was partnering Andy. The partnership had just won the Queens mens doubles tournament, in Andys first tournament back since his hip resurfacing.

After the match we left and walked around the grounds a bit.

Scoreboard

Centre Court

Centre Court

Centre Court

We decided to pass on getting anything to eat, and walked back to Southfields Station.

Unfortunately, the train ride back took longer than expected, as there was a problem with the electrics/signals?? on the line, which delayed the trains.  We were both extremely hungry by this time, but there really wasn't anything we could do about it.

We decided to get a Chinese takeaway when we eventually got back to Cheshunt Station, and took some home for Ray as well.

Thanks Julie for coming with me. It was a great day, apart from the delayed train, but at least it didn't rain, and we got to see some good tennis.  

Thursday July 4th, 2019

Ray & I went to visit Mum & Dad's grave today. We tidied up around it, and trimmed the edges of the grass around the stone.  The garden that they are in, in the churchyard, has been extended a little, and a large tree that was nearby had uprooted, so it has been taken away and the area cleaned up.  Because extra graves had been added, it looked at first as if their plot had moved.  The bushes by the side seemed nearer the stone, but it was just because of the missing tree, and the additional graves that had been added.  They used to be on the outer row but now they are no longer the last row there.   I said a few words to them, and then we left.

Love and miss you both so much xx

We walked back to Hoddesdon, and got some food shopping.  I took a selfie of the two of us, before we got a cab back home.

Love you Ray xx

Today is my last day here, as tomorrow I will get the train back to Ians.  It's been a lovely week, and I even managed to have Skate(my favorite fish) and Chips, so I was very happy.  It is getting harder and harder to find Skate in the UK and none of the "chippies" by Ian sell it. 😒

Friday July 5th, 2019
I got the train back to Bridgend, where Kris picked me up and took me back to the house.  Ray had helped me change my train time so I would have longer to make my connection in London, and it worked out very well, as I didn't have to rush. 

Ian & Kris told me they have a bird nest in their garage. Before I left they had noticed the birds flying in and out, but there was no signs of a nest.  They must have been prepping it in readiness.  Now, we will be in full "Wedding Preparations" mode.