Fortunes swing often and more often they swing catching you off guard. As Federer could not control his emotions during the Finals of Australian open, I was crying at my fate too. Our efforts to secure the tickets of 2009 Wimbledon were done and dusted as we were not at all lucky getting the tickets through Wimbledon ballots. Soon after, the first come first serve farce by French Open Organizers provided very few tickets for general public and that left us with no option but to enjoy the action on TV. While TV is a fantastic medium to witness exciting action happening all over the world sitting in your dressing room, I believe live action has its own excitement. The electric ambiance that an event of the magnitude of Grand slams, World Cups and Olympics create is unparalleled and there is no substitute to missing any of these whenever wherever accessible. The events at the start of the year 2009 meant we have no tickets for accessible grand slams and there is no possibility to watch the live tennis action.
Scenario changed quite rapidly as we were planning for the T20 WC games. Initial plan was to watch India live in action during the league games, then we confirmed that T20 final falls a weekend before the start of the Wimbledon. Dr. Bond suggested me to make a 9 day UK trip to enjoy both these events in succession. I thought we were being greedy but I did (had to) oblige. But, how about Wimbledon tickets? We could get T20 WC tickets but getting tickets for the most popular grand slam would be impossible, specially towards the end stages. Resourceful Mr. Millionaire as usual had information on his finger tips and informed that there are a few tickets (500 each for Center, Court 1 and court 2) sold every day at the Wimbledon gates. A few of his colleagues (Sameer et. al. whom we met @ Wimbledon) go to Wimbledon every year using these tickets. Tickets being in a huge demand, they usually stand in a queue for a day or so and get to see center court games quite often. That's encouraging but being in a queue...you are sure, in a queue for a day?
The Queue
If there is one word that I hate, I loathe, I distaste, I despise the most is "Queue", which is unfortunately ubiquitous all through our lives. Right before coming to life, our parents have to register themselves at the hospital and they end up in a queue. So, since our birth we are genetically trained to be in a queue and we studiously obey it all thorough our lives. You go to post a registered letter*, a queue is waiting for you. Go to pay a bill*, you have to be a part of queue. Medical check-up and a good looking nurse in a harsh voice sounds, "please be in a queue". School/College admissions are no different when one has to fight tooth and nail in a queue to access decent education. You only witness an extended queue as you are ready to enter a job market. I don't have to publish my views when it comes to Indian marriages but trust me this is no different. After all the living, when the body calls it a day to rest in peace forever, it's ends up in a queue at the cemetery. Why then we add more queues to our lives? But at times, there are no options...
The largest queue I have ever been in my life was the queue for Balaji Darshan in Tirupati and I never knew a queue larger than this can ever exist. We had hiked the Tirumalla hill to find ourselves in an eight hour (and we were considered lucky) long queue for Balaji darshan. Most part of the queue, we were scraping thought caged gates with no room to stretch or move and shouting "Venkataramana Govinda.....Govinda!!!" to entertain ourselves. What we achieved at the end of it was the much revered glimpses of GOD Balaji which calmed all of us. Here we dream of having glimpses of demigod Federer displaying his skills @ the centre court and we were ready to be in a queue even for a day or may be more...
The Wimbledon Queue
Wimbledon queue was quite an aberration to the Balaji queue. Moreover, quite contrary to my expectations, queue in Wimbledon was fascinating. Rather, it was not a queue at all and should aptly be called Wimbledon Camping. All like minded tennis enthusiasts from all over the world coming to witness the tennis spectacle can camp and be assured Wimbledon tickets. Here there is no discrimination, no luck. It works purely on a first come first serve basis and for sure you get very good front row seats so that you can literally breathe the players. The entire day need not be wasted either as once you obtain your Queue Card and place for your tent, you are free to do whatever you like.
Scenario changed quite rapidly as we were planning for the T20 WC games. Initial plan was to watch India live in action during the league games, then we confirmed that T20 final falls a weekend before the start of the Wimbledon. Dr. Bond suggested me to make a 9 day UK trip to enjoy both these events in succession. I thought we were being greedy but I did (had to) oblige. But, how about Wimbledon tickets? We could get T20 WC tickets but getting tickets for the most popular grand slam would be impossible, specially towards the end stages. Resourceful Mr. Millionaire as usual had information on his finger tips and informed that there are a few tickets (500 each for Center, Court 1 and court 2) sold every day at the Wimbledon gates. A few of his colleagues (Sameer et. al. whom we met @ Wimbledon) go to Wimbledon every year using these tickets. Tickets being in a huge demand, they usually stand in a queue for a day or so and get to see center court games quite often. That's encouraging but being in a queue...you are sure, in a queue for a day?
The Queue
If there is one word that I hate, I loathe, I distaste, I despise the most is "Queue", which is unfortunately ubiquitous all through our lives. Right before coming to life, our parents have to register themselves at the hospital and they end up in a queue. So, since our birth we are genetically trained to be in a queue and we studiously obey it all thorough our lives. You go to post a registered letter*, a queue is waiting for you. Go to pay a bill*, you have to be a part of queue. Medical check-up and a good looking nurse in a harsh voice sounds, "please be in a queue". School/College admissions are no different when one has to fight tooth and nail in a queue to access decent education. You only witness an extended queue as you are ready to enter a job market. I don't have to publish my views when it comes to Indian marriages but trust me this is no different. After all the living, when the body calls it a day to rest in peace forever, it's ends up in a queue at the cemetery. Why then we add more queues to our lives? But at times, there are no options...
The largest queue I have ever been in my life was the queue for Balaji Darshan in Tirupati and I never knew a queue larger than this can ever exist. We had hiked the Tirumalla hill to find ourselves in an eight hour (and we were considered lucky) long queue for Balaji darshan. Most part of the queue, we were scraping thought caged gates with no room to stretch or move and shouting "Venkataramana Govinda.....Govinda!!!" to entertain ourselves. What we achieved at the end of it was the much revered glimpses of GOD Balaji which calmed all of us. Here we dream of having glimpses of demigod Federer displaying his skills @ the centre court and we were ready to be in a queue even for a day or may be more...
The Wimbledon Queue
Wimbledon queue was quite an aberration to the Balaji queue. Moreover, quite contrary to my expectations, queue in Wimbledon was fascinating. Rather, it was not a queue at all and should aptly be called Wimbledon Camping. All like minded tennis enthusiasts from all over the world coming to witness the tennis spectacle can camp and be assured Wimbledon tickets. Here there is no discrimination, no luck. It works purely on a first come first serve basis and for sure you get very good front row seats so that you can literally breathe the players. The entire day need not be wasted either as once you obtain your Queue Card and place for your tent, you are free to do whatever you like.
Disciplined Tents in the queue. Queue extends far and long....
Once, the tents are erected, it's time for drinks. Dr. Bond wants to have two??
Our Tent!!! Thanks to Mr. Millionaire's meticulous planning and Dr. Bonds moral support, we had everything perfect for the camping. Alas!!! a few (romantic) candles lighting the next tent did us all in. Next time onwards, that will be a new addition for campingYou can take the stroll of the Wimbledon town or engross yourselves in any kind of sports activities. There are a lot of people playing Cricket, Soccer, Table Tennis and tennis of course. Moreover, there is a lot of buzz around. TV crews coming around to interview fans and all. All in all it's a festive atmosphere to enjoy and savor for a long long time. So much so that you even go to Wimbledon only for camping. In fact, we could find some spectators addicted to it. The lady in the picture was attending her 32nd (you are reading right!!! Her Thirty second Wimbledon). She must have been in queue an average 3 times each Wimbledon.
Lady with the cap was in the queue next to us and it was her 32nd Wimbledon. Looked an ardent supporter of Murray with "Go Andy Go" written on her dress. I had to confess to her that it was my honor standing next to her @ Wimbledon 
The Future Federer?? Kid with an amazing playing actionWe did it!!!
As we started in a queue @ 10pm in the evening, our queue card no. was 1300+. It was quite sure that we would not have made it for the Federer on Centre court the next day. So, we settled down to watch Andy's (Roddick and Murray) at the centre court the following day. What did for the entire day? Apart from a small walk in the Wimbledon town and nearby courts, we spent the entire day playing cards. In the game, seasoned Bridge gurus (me and Amol) were brutally thumped by the new chelaas (Bond and Vaidehi) who were debuting in their Bridge. Half knowledge is certainly worse than no knowledge. We hope to have a revenge match soon...
Finally, as Federer (and Nadal) have experienced the change of fortunes during the last few months, I have also experienced my fortunes oscillating as if it were a roller coaster ride....hahaha. Although T20 WC was a huge disappointment, Wimbledon made up for all the losses. Given a chance, I would certainly be going for Wimbledon including Wimbledon Camping yet again. Hope you will add "Camping @ Wimbledon" in your "Things to do" list...
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* Only those who had been in a queue can imagine the value of e-mails and online bill payments. Sadly, my dad never does.
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