Wimbledon 2007 - Day 6, June 28

Another early start to play so another early morning.  Because I had to get up this morning to pick up my laundry, I chose to bypass workout yet again.  Disappointed in myself, but I guess I have to hope on the walking around to keep me getting some exercise.

The laundrette across the street from the hotel is significantly less expensive I'll grant.  The problem, however, is that they aren't as meticulous as I might like.  The whites came back distinctly gray.  Quite annoying.  I suspect they actually put them in the same load as my colors to get it done more efficiently.  The venue shirts likely bled a little blue onto them.  Either way, disappointing.  Still, I just don't see how I can justify the exorbitant prices at the hotel laundry service.

I still cannot really describe the joy I get taking public transportation in to the venue and the walk from the tube stop to the security check.  The people watching is outstanding and I just feel totally alive.  That's a pretty sappy statement, but I just don't care. :-)

The day managed to hold from a weather perspective.  We didn't have any significant rain and got in a full slate of tennis.  I was lucky enough to actually get a ticket to Centre Court!!!  It was like a pilgrimage to a holy shrine for me.  It was awesome.  The tennis wasn't bad either.  I have really been spoiled this time around as I have been able to watch live tennis on both Court 1 and Centre this year.  I always have a twinge of guilt associated with going to watch tennis during the event, but if they bring a ticket down here and offer it to me, I am not going to refuse the chance.

My first brush with greatness wasn't actually a brush, it was a bump.  I was coming out of the restroom and Luke Jensen was coming in. He ran into me.  He's very tall.  He was at least polite about it.  It took me a moment to realize who it was.  Always very cool since we're under the media centre we see quite a few TV folks.

They pushed play until as late as natural light allows.  Thank God for small favors that there are no lights here.  Afterward, we had a some light work to wrap up and still managed to get out just before 10.  That meant we could still catch dinner at what is unquestionably one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever ordered from Rajdoot Restaurant.  I chose a Chicken Vindaloo and managed to get raised eyebrows from the waiter.  Everyone at the table assumed that meant I'd ordered liquid flame.  In the end, the Vindaloo I ordered in Tasmania was far hotter and the one I had in remote Ireland was more flavorful.  Still it was a good dinner.  They were even willing to split it between 6 AMEX cards so we didn't have to deal with the pooled cash issue.

They all chose to go to the pub.  I chose to walk to the tube.  I wanted to get home and I knew I'd need a top up for the Oyster and more cash before tomorrow.  While walking down the hill to the Wimbledon stop, I came upon a group of guys obviously smashed from a night of drinking.  Two stopped simultaneously in the bushes along the side of the path and began to relieve themselves.  I walked on without even a sideways glance.  Not 200 feet later, a young woman was standing on the path and asked me to slow down a bit.  I was curious as to why but then I saw her friend's head pop above the bushes indicating she too was drunk and had chosen that section of path to relieve herself.  That did cause me to raise an eyebrow, but the woman on the path thanked me for letting her friend finish in peace.  Like I'd really want to catch a glimpse of that!

Got to the tube stop just as the train was about to pull out.  The car was mostly empty and stayed quiet the whole time.  I sat and jammed the iPod while reading the bits of refuse newspaper laying in the floor of the train and then switched to one of the cheap ASCII games on the mobile phone until the train arrived at Earl's Court. 

I topped up the Oyster, but forgot that I have to request a receipt.  Oh well, I can likely just record it to keep up with the usage.  I went for 20 GBP because I knew I'd get good use of it.  Since that's below the receipt limit, I should be OK having debited it directly to the AMEX.  For whatever reason, the Barclay's Bank across from Earl's Court is no longer willing to provide me cash.  I don't know if it is that American Express is falling out of favor in the UK or if they've just been lazy about adding more, or maybe it literally just runs out every day given the traffic that machine must see.  So, that meant a run to Sainsbury's where the ATM is always at the ready to provide me some more cash. :-)

Back to the room and I was ready for bed.  I spent my time flossing my teeth.  Since the last chiding from the Dental Hygienist, I have been trying to floss every night.  I hate the dentist and her badgering me for anything associated with the health of my teeth grates me to no end.  They wonder why it had been so long since I went.  Oh well.  Tried to call Colleen, but she had already left for the gym.  That means I won't speak to her tonight and it let me down a little.  From there it was off to sleep to get ready for another fun day of Wimbledon fun!.

Cheers!