Now, I'm not the most active person in the world. Exercise for me takes the form of a long walk in the countryside. About 8 - 10 miles preferably with a minimum of up! (Unless of course it's the South West Coast Path which is par for the course!). Where I am sporty is that I love to watch sport and over the last few years I've started going to more sporting events.
In 2012, the Press were horrified by the sight of a woman knitting at Centre Court rather than being riveted to the action. What is wrong with that I ask? If you have a small simple project, you don't need to look at the work and you have something to occupy your hands. You can easily drop it to your lap. Would there be the same criticism of someone on their phone, tweeting, texting, facebooking? I don't think so because these have been common practice. I would have more sympathy with this outcry if the argument had been that the clicking of needles was distracting to others or that the knitter was seen as a fidgeter. Of that I have a lot of sympathy because if I'm at a concert then I feel that way about restlessness & people using their phones. In that case, I would expect the person next door to say something.
I've taken socks to Wimbledon & Lords. No one has complained, I've had the odd converations and had to persuade a security guard that 2.5mm (diameter) & 15cm wooden knitting needles weren't going to be a serious weapon. OK so at Lords the person originally sitting next to me swapped with his friends but that mightn't have been the knitting, maybe I smelt?! The other thing about bringing knitting to a cricket match, is that really as distracting as the amount of beer that people drink & the comings and goings to get more or to relieve themselves. Again, at Lords you are actively encouraged to tweet about the game & given free wifi so what I'm doing is it that distracting? I'm not sure.
OK, so rant over. Why do I bring knitting to sporting matches? Yes, I'm an addict & so a leisurely day spent outside seems a waste without having some knitting to do. Kntting is easily portable and easy to pick up and put down unlike a book. A phone, well, you worry where you've left it & drop an electronic tablet? Not a good idea besides which they are heavy & don't take such good photos as a camera.
So, Wimbledon. I love going. I've only once been lucky enough to get a ticket for Number One Court for the whole day thanks to a Debenture Holding friend of my Mother's. The rest of the time, I've queued like normal people. But are we normal? Maybe not. After all to get into the queue, I tend to get up at 4am and be there for 5.30. That has never been early enough to get a day ticket for a Show Court but it does get you the Court of your choice for the early matches. That's a bit of a lottery. You choose something that looks like it should be good but no, your match on Court 18 ends up straight sets and easy while over on Court 5 there's a real humdinger going on or do you head to Court 3 and see what happens there?
It's during the queue that it's worth taking your knitting. You sit and hang around for quite a while. If you are lucky, you are next to people who you can exchange pleasantries but you could easily be next to someone who is desperate to get onto Centre Court and is comparing Wimbledon unfavourably to the Australian Open. Humph... There's something so civilisedly (I know this isn't a word!) English about the Wimbledon queue. You obtain a card with your number so that there is no queue jumping and on that card is the rules for queueing. The Stewards ostensibly keep an eye on things and move the queue along when necessary but in practice they play the charming and polite hosts to perfection. Encouraging, informative, welcoming. At 7.00am you aren't awake so soothing knitting is perfect as is the bacon sandwich from the mobile catering.
The queue begins to move, you've gone to the loo and not sure where your place was. Your queue helps as you check someone else's number & move accordingly. You think that this is it but no, the tents are down, you move further up and more people fit in. You look behind you and cannot believe the numbers behind you. You smile smuggly, Your sleep sacrifice has been worth it. You think you are getting somewhere but what the newcomer doesn't realise is that there is a long way from opening the gate to the queue to getting to the ground. You cross the Park, passing entertainment from the former tenis players on a mock court, tempted by soft drinks from the sponsors. You are moving albeit in a stop start fashion. At this stage, knitting isn't so great as you are on your feet moving slowly. I would then recommend either enjoying the atmosphere or get out a lightweight reading device such as a Kindle. Round the corner,then you see it. Centre Court looming there in front of you. Airport Security, wooden knitting needles passed OK, you pay (cash only) and you are in. There's a queue for the loo but you don't bother, you work out the nearest way to the Court of your choice. You've been through so much and it's only 10.30 am with play not scheduled to start until 12.00.
Welcome to Wimbledon rings out and you are advised of the weather and in particular if it's going to be hot or interupted. Water is advised on hot days but you pray you get the tap rather than the rain variety. Then the thing I love the most, the courts are opened and a line of stewards including the forces and fire service walk slowly towards the courts ensuring no running, no panicking, no shoving. Technically once you've sat down that's it, no moving or you jeopardise it but in practice, dump stuff (ensuring you take valuables including knitting & hop to the loo). it's then that you really need your knitting as you are condemned to sit in a not very comfortable seat until play begins. There's no wifi at Wimbledon so any tweeting is done on your own accout but who cares. You are there.
Am I that woman who knitted in 2012? No I'm not. I have to admit that my head is like all the others and is transfixed by the speed of the ball and the agility of the players but I do find that when the players take their extended breaks I do pick it up. If I choose to watch a match on the big screen from Henman Hill then yes I do as a screen is far less compelling than actually being on Court.
The end of the day? A little sojourn on a show court. Wimbledon has the best returns system I know. show court ticket holders on leaving can return their tickets, you can then buy them for a donation of £10 for Centre & £5 for No. 1 & No. 2. The courts remain full, you get to see the tennis and charity benefits. Perfect! That way I've seen Leyton Hewitt in his final match at Wimbledon, the most generous sportsmanship from Jo Wilfred Tsonga. I've not made it to Centre and possibly I never will unless I get lucky in the ballot (providing I remember to enter it!) but I would rather see the top players on No.1 than waste time during a perfect Day at Wimbledon!
