... I didn't get the opportunity to take any more photos today. The rain held up the photos so everything got compressed into the end of the day. Now it is just after 10pm, and I am hoping we have done all the photos that will be needed by the writing team. If that is the case, we can go home! One more day, and then, if enough matches have been played, we will have Sunday off. I am looking forward to that more than I can possibly say.
I think we have had roughly 1800 photos sent in today, and we have published 75. That takes us slightly below the expected daily average.
Fingers crossed that tomorrow will bring good weather - I want to get out and take more photos myself! But for now, goodnight...
Friday, June 27
Photos from Day 4
A few photos from yesterday...
- Bogdanovic reaches for a forehand return during his doubles match.
- His doubles partner Marray powers a shot down the line.
- Marray stretching for all he is worth
- Marray lunges for a low ball.
- A line judge squats and pays close attention to a serve.
- Marray knocks one back.
- Nestor looks on as Zimonjic serves.
- A ball girl waits to bounce a ball to the serving player.
- Crouched and ready to run to rescue any balls that end up on the net.
- Such a stoic and steadfast gaze from one so young.
- A ball boy waits to take up his position on court.
- A line judge focuses on her job.
- Goodall slams the ball back at his opponents.
- Who is this that I spied on the balcony on Centre Court? Oh, a mere legend, the infamous Mr Ilie Nastase!
- A line judge resplendent in his Ralph Lauren attire.
- A hairy Victoria sponge? Of course, it is the rubber line that runs round a tennis ball.
- The hairs on the ball.
- Can you guess? It is the head of the big cat on a Slazenger tennis ball.
A motley assortment perhaps! I will hopefully get the chance to take some more later today, work allowing...
- Bogdanovic reaches for a forehand return during his doubles match.
- His doubles partner Marray powers a shot down the line.
- Marray stretching for all he is worth
- Marray lunges for a low ball.
- A line judge squats and pays close attention to a serve.
- Marray knocks one back.
- Nestor looks on as Zimonjic serves.
- A ball girl waits to bounce a ball to the serving player.
- Crouched and ready to run to rescue any balls that end up on the net.
- Such a stoic and steadfast gaze from one so young.
- A ball boy waits to take up his position on court.
- A line judge focuses on her job.
- Goodall slams the ball back at his opponents.
- Who is this that I spied on the balcony on Centre Court? Oh, a mere legend, the infamous Mr Ilie Nastase!
- A line judge resplendent in his Ralph Lauren attire.
- A hairy Victoria sponge? Of course, it is the rubber line that runs round a tennis ball.
- The hairs on the ball.
- Can you guess? It is the head of the big cat on a Slazenger tennis ball.
A motley assortment perhaps! I will hopefully get the chance to take some more later today, work allowing...
Food, inglorious food...
Had A.A. Milne eaten in the Broadcast Centre canteen (BCc for brevity hereafter) before he penned 'The King's Breakfast' it might have read like this:
The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid:
"Could we have some butter for
the Royal slice of bread?"
The Queen asked the Dairymaid,
The Dairymaid
Said, "Certainly,
that will be £10"
Eating here is quite an experience. During the first week, build week as we call it, prior to the Championships starting, food is available in the BCc. It is simple fare, and reasonably priced. We eat, collect the receipts, and all is well.
Come the first day of the tournament things change. For starters, the BCc is a lot busier. I can handle that. The people who serve the food are swift and efficient, and there is always plenty of it. What beggars belief is the disparity between the prices during the tournament, compared to those of the week before. Lunch, during build week, might set you back £4.50. You can double that during the tournament. A tiny pot of jam is oh, £1.75. Coffee is anywhere between £1.50 and £1.95, depending on the type you have, and seemingly the mood of the person on the till.
We are given an allowance, on our identity badges, to spend on food during the event. We were once told that it is an allowance, and not a target. Well, given the astronomic price hike, it is only just possible to get three meals and a couple of drinks with the amount we are afforded, and so is an unavoidable target. It is not an ungenerous amount either. I asked one of the head people, a managerial chap in a suit who reminds me of the diminutive sidekick, Tattoo, on Fantasy Island crossed with the Spanish chap who genially invites you to buy property via Polaris World TV adverts, about the marked difference in pricing. Without batting an eyelid he replied that it was because "Last week it was not the Championships. This week it is the Championships, and you are all on expense accounts." He then scuttled off, ear pressed to his mobile, muttering "The plane! The plane".
Now, you could be forgiven for asking "Why do you care Jay? You are getting your food paid for, so what is the problem?"
I would have to say it is simply the principle. I think it is an obscene practice, to double the prices just because you have a captive audience and expense accounts are footing the bill. It is not haute cuisine. Indeed, if Gordon Ramsey were to cast his eye over the dishes served he would have a thing or two to say, no doubt. Mostly beeps.
OK, time to get off my soapbox and do some work. I have some photos to share, which I will post in a little bit. There is a light mist of drizzle that may well delay the start of play. The overpriced breakfast is now a distant memory, and the haunting spectre of a Cheese Ploughman's fashioned with bread that has reverted to a clammy dough and a new type of brown lettuce looms large on the horizon. Boo. Beep.
The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid:
"Could we have some butter for
the Royal slice of bread?"
The Queen asked the Dairymaid,
The Dairymaid
Said, "Certainly,
that will be £10"
Eating here is quite an experience. During the first week, build week as we call it, prior to the Championships starting, food is available in the BCc. It is simple fare, and reasonably priced. We eat, collect the receipts, and all is well.
Come the first day of the tournament things change. For starters, the BCc is a lot busier. I can handle that. The people who serve the food are swift and efficient, and there is always plenty of it. What beggars belief is the disparity between the prices during the tournament, compared to those of the week before. Lunch, during build week, might set you back £4.50. You can double that during the tournament. A tiny pot of jam is oh, £1.75. Coffee is anywhere between £1.50 and £1.95, depending on the type you have, and seemingly the mood of the person on the till.
We are given an allowance, on our identity badges, to spend on food during the event. We were once told that it is an allowance, and not a target. Well, given the astronomic price hike, it is only just possible to get three meals and a couple of drinks with the amount we are afforded, and so is an unavoidable target. It is not an ungenerous amount either. I asked one of the head people, a managerial chap in a suit who reminds me of the diminutive sidekick, Tattoo, on Fantasy Island crossed with the Spanish chap who genially invites you to buy property via Polaris World TV adverts, about the marked difference in pricing. Without batting an eyelid he replied that it was because "Last week it was not the Championships. This week it is the Championships, and you are all on expense accounts." He then scuttled off, ear pressed to his mobile, muttering "The plane! The plane".
Now, you could be forgiven for asking "Why do you care Jay? You are getting your food paid for, so what is the problem?"
I would have to say it is simply the principle. I think it is an obscene practice, to double the prices just because you have a captive audience and expense accounts are footing the bill. It is not haute cuisine. Indeed, if Gordon Ramsey were to cast his eye over the dishes served he would have a thing or two to say, no doubt. Mostly beeps.
OK, time to get off my soapbox and do some work. I have some photos to share, which I will post in a little bit. There is a light mist of drizzle that may well delay the start of play. The overpriced breakfast is now a distant memory, and the haunting spectre of a Cheese Ploughman's fashioned with bread that has reverted to a clammy dough and a new type of brown lettuce looms large on the horizon. Boo. Beep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
