It is that time of the year where Wimbledon experiences some disciplined chaos. Yeah,  chaos does not necessarily translate everywhere in the same way. Think about the Notting Hill carnival every year – potential chaos in itself in the streets of London.

Tube trains have been a little more crowded than usual in this muggy weather. Right at the entrance of Wimbledon station, a huge display has been set up to:

1. Inform and channel the potentially long queues of Wimbledon tennis court goers;
2. Make the rest of us play a bit of hide and seek with the zebra crossing behind the deer in the picture.
     
3. Make us fancy strawbs with cream like crazy. Where is the Pimm’s advert?

Campers further prove this ordered chaos. I saw it as I was passing by Southfields on the train a couple of days ago. Huge squares of campers who seemed to have been given the warning not to go beyond a specific line. I was expecting a much messier picture!

I guess this could be much in line with the spirit in this tournament. The appearance of attendees is far from being messy. Their looks are really polished in fact. Just compare it to the looks of those who go to football or basketball games – totally different, more upper-class. Tennis continues to be the sport of the well-heeled classes, even though everyone enjoys tennis these days.

Take a look at the less polished and uncontrolled reaction of the tennis players who celebrate their victories. They seem to collapse to the ground a lot.

Hope you enjoy Wimbledon if you have a chance to go and see any matches. It’s Pimm’s O’Clock!

Brian Waddington‘s blog.