Rhys on Wimbledon

 RHYS BOWEN: I don’t know about you but for the past two weeks I’ve been glued to the TV watching Wimbledon. Weren't the finals splendid this year, especially the men's doubles? 

I have always been a huge tennis fan, a tennis player too until an extruded disc between my shoulder blades put a stop to that. So Wimbledon is a big treat for me.

When I mentioned that I had attended Wimbledon in person Hank said I should blog about it. So here it is:

I became a tennis fan at a young age. I think I was given a racquet when I was eight.  My school had 3 hard courts and 12 grass so of course we played a lot f tennis. I also belonged to a club and played there after school. My friend Mary and I both had crushes on the Aussie tennis stars: Lou Hoad, Ken Rosewall, John Newcomb, Rod Laver. We had pictures of them on our walls. We watched them on our black and white TVs and once a year we went to see them in person at Wimbledon. I don’t remember but I think we must have played hooky from school because I don’t think we always went on Saturdays, in fact I’m sure we didn’t. We’d buy grounds passes, which in those days were easy to get and very cheap. During the first week there were always fantastic matches going on outside of the show courts. Also when people left centre court they’d give their seats to kids like us, so we saw all the greats play.

A bit older, as a college student and then as a working woman, I went with a date. We ate strawberries and cream, (which in those days were served from glass dishes, not plastic ones) and we drank Pimms. It was all so civilized.

Today if you want a grounds pass you’d better be lining up at dawn, or maybe all night, hoping you’ll be one of the lucky ones let into the grounds. If you want a seat on Centre Court or Court One you apply to a lottery and you have to take what you get—so maybe not the matches of your choice.  I feel really blessed to have grown up in a simpler time!

My latest Wimbledon experience was at the 2012 Olympics when I put in for three days of tennis AND got all three!  Fabulous! We had grounds passes for the quarter finals so we were able to watch some big names playing on other than the show courts. We were yards away from the Williams Sisters (who are much slimmer than they seem on TV). I walked along a narrow path with John Isner. It was like looking up at a tree. (He is 6’ 10!)

And we had the show court for Nadal, Andy Murray, and then watched Federer ,sitting with others on Henman Hill. Such a great experience. The only thing lacking was the food and drink. No elegant dining rooms any more. A sausage roll on a paper plate. Ah, signing for the good old days!

What makes Wimbledon so special and unique is the traditions that surround it: the players all have to wear white, and how nice that looks! The surface is a manicured green lawn. When a royal person is in the royal box the players stop to curtsey or bow when they come out. And until recently they were addressed as Mr. Nadal, Miss Williams. Now that’s gone, along with the glass bowls for the strawberries. But they still have the lovely purple and green towels, which I covet!

But there is still the aura of civility about the sport. IN which other sport do you wait until the opponent is ready before you serve? And wait until the crowd is quite silent? And the umpire chides noisy spectators with. “Ladies and gentlemen, please…”.  Can you imagine that at a football game?

I hope to return again some day but in the meantime there was fantastic coverage on the HD channels and I woke at 5 every morning to watch!  How about you? Any tennis fans out there?

Welcome Summer with the Perfect Pimms

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Once more, please welcome our own Celia Wakefield, today with some wonderful stories and her recipe for a perfect Pimms Cup.

 

I’m very happy to be back home with all the JRW clan (nod to Roberta), and writing about a subject that is dear to Julia and my hearts - L’heure bleue. That time when we stop and relax, preferably with a delicious drink. With our vaccinations done or shortly to be done, our l’heure bleue can include family and friends. Now that, my dear clan, gives me much joy. 

 

I don’t intend to drag on about our last fifteen months. Enough said and while the pandemic is hopefully a once in a lifetime experience, and will linger long in memory, it is time to embrace each other without the aid of Zoom. For most of us, that embrace will include something to eat and something to drink. Rather like Alice, we can choose our poison. Here by the lakeside we drink Pimms in the summer. Well that is I drink Pimms, Julia drinks Pimms, my daughter Olivia drinks Pimms and I share my Pimms with close friends who will appreciate it. I know that Pimms is not for everyone. Victor doesn’t usually drink Pimms.

 

Well, you may say, why Pimms and why in the summer In England? Well, with help from that web thing, I found out that Pimms was invented by James Pimms in 1823. Pimms grew up a farmers son in the County of Kent with which I have many ties, including boarding school, where we would have never been allowed to drink Pimms. James (one can overuse Pimms), owned an oyster bar in the City of London, he developed his ‘tonic’ with a gin base, - “Gin was mothers milk to her”, or “penny a glass, dead drunk for tuppence”, then added herbs and sold it as a health tonic. The actual recipe is still kept a deep, dark secret, but now includes fruit too.

 

It appears that I had to leave England for the drink to become so popular. Julia was in London in the ’80’s and remembers its popularity then. However when I went to Wimbledon in the ’60’s, what we wanted were strawberries and cream. 

 

I don’t remember what I drank at Henley; I was a guest of my best friend Helen’s parents, and dressed in my summer best including a gorgeous pair of while Kurt Geiger high heels, I was freezing all day. Lunch was the traditional poached salmon with hollandaise sauce, new potatoes and salad, and that was cold too. Whatever the weather, tradition is not just observed in the village of Anatevka, it is alive and well in England, which may mean freezing in the summer but dressed to enhance the occasion.

 

My introduction to Pimms came at the home of the same Helen. We met at boarding school and lived close enough in the holidays to get together then. Imagine a beautiful summer’s afternoon in the garden, Helen and I stretched out on rugs catching some rays and Mr. Plutte, Helen’s father, bringing us Pimms to drink. It was love at first taste. 

 

I don’t think I probably had the opportunity to drink Pimms when I was working in London as I really didn’t run with a high society crowd. Boys were willing to shell out for beer but anything more exotic? No, though I do remember after work  parties in the local, when I moved up to corporate life where spirits were always bought for one.

 

Ah me, now when I drink in the summer I do enjoy a Pimms, and I make it differently from any of the  263,000 recommendations from Google. I don’t always measure, but for this recipe I have done so. But first some explanation of the why mine is different. I add spirits to the Pimms mix, along with the measure of Pimms and I top it with Schweppes Tonic Water. 

 

 

 

For a garnish, I like cucumber first; the smell really enhances that first sip. Other than some wines is there any drink not enhanced with a slice of lemon or lime, so let’s add that too. Finally, fresh mint, preferably just picked mint which is why I try to grow mint each year. The mint in the photos was picked maybe twenty minutes before we started shooting.

 

Again, there are recipes with enough cut fruit that one might as well be eating fruit salad. Pimms is a drink, it should be treated as one. Now a note about your mix choice. You will see recipes with lemonade, soda water, ginger ale etc. this is a personal choice. My only caution is please don’t use *diet sodas, they will ruin the taste. For me tonic fits the bill and I like Schweppes.

 

 

 

Our l’heure bleue would not be complete without some tasty nibbles. The display on the table is an English cheddar served of course, with Carrs water biscuits, cornichions to add the bitter, some fresh strawberries in my Wimbledon strawberry bowl, yes, bought at Wimbledon, and the most delicious cookies from a local friend, Samantha Jane Melton, who has started her own commercial baking business. I don’t know if she is shipping yet but those chocolate crumbles, and lemon delights are to die for, and I know my cookies. You can order on her web site, Samantha Jane's Treats, if you want to indulge or send a gift. I know I’ve eaten too many tonight.

 

Finally, here is the recipe and a hearty Cheers to you all:

 

Into a 14 oz glass

Put 5-6 ice cubes

Take a 4 Tablespoon measure (I use a shot glass)

Pour to the top a measure of gin or vodka and pour over the ice

Repeat with a measure of Pimms #1 Cup

Fill with Schweppes tonic water* see above

Add Garnishes, cucumber, lemon, lime, mint, strawberry half etc. to choice

 

Our Gal in London

RHYS BOWEN: I was going to post something witty and intellectual today until it was suggested to me that people at home in the States would really like a first hand account of the Olympics.

So here are my impressions and experiences: the first impression is that  London is coping brilliantly with the games. There are volunteers on every street corner and at every station to help visitors find their way. London Transport has put on extra trains so there are minimal waits and the trains stop right at the Olympic park.

In spite of huge crowds the entry to the Olympic park was painless and smooth. We were in a seemingly neverending line but it kept moving and we zipped through security with no problem. There was a scare ahead of the games that the firm contracted to handle games security hadn't managed to find enough people, so the army and police were called in. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief that security was being staffed by people who knew what they were doing. And they've made it so pleasant by being friendly and agreeable (TSA could learn a lesson here).

The Olympic park is HUGE. It's literally a half hour walk from one side to the other with the venues--stadium, aquatics center, velodrome etc dotted around. There are central food courts, lovely gardens, a river walk and the buildings themselves are spectacular. One could actually spend a whole day here, eating a picnic while watching the giant screen or listening to concerts at the river bank stage. The  whole thing is spectacular lit up at night, including the weird sculpture tower, called the Orbit, I believe, that towers over the park.

Again there are zillions of volunteers all over the park. These are ordinary people who have given up two weeks of their lives. All they got was a uniform and free travel to the Olympic site. They can't even use unoccupied seats when off duty which I think stinks (one of the few bad things I can say about the way the games are run). They are so friendly, chatting with everyone in the crowd, laughing, joking. The police are equally nice and we saw a copper taking a photo of a family with the little boy wearing his helmet (can you see US cops doing that?) I was a little concerned before the games about the possibility of terrorism, but the atmosphere has felt safe, relaxed and congenial throughout. Everyone chats on trains and while waiting in line. This really is the global village we hope to see in the world one day. What a pity it's only for two weeks.

We had tickets to five events: first a day of badminton (a little ho-hum... sorry badminton fans), then two brilliant days of tennis. On the day of the quarter finals there was play on outside courts and we were able to see the Williams Sisters and Bryan brothers so close that we could almost touch them. Also watched the match between Federer and del Potro (went to 19-17 in the last set) and started to watch Andy Murray versus Djokavich on the screen on Henman Hill but it was cold and drizzly by then.

That's another negative--the weather has been bloody awful. Overcast, cold with a little shower every now and then. I brought nearly all summer clothes and have lived in two long sleeved shirts and two pairs of kahki pants.  \Our other events were women's water polo (US won and we found ourselves sitting in the middle of the US supporters, all chanting USA USA. So that was exciting) and last night women's soccer semi-final. Rather lack luster at Wembley Stadium and it took us hours to get home in the rain.

When not attending an event we've been clued to the TV. BBC has provided stellar coverage with selection of about five sports at any time. Ahead of the games I was asked whether I'd cheer for the US or GB. I replied whoever was winning. Actually it's been a mixture. Definitely US in swimming and water polo as those were our kids' sports and we know some of the teams. Definitely US in that fabulous women's gymnastic final and adorable Gabby in her all around. But for Britain in some of the track and field events, the rowing, the sailing where they have won an impressive number of medals. Considering the size of Britain compared with Russia etc we are doing remarkably well. And it's really special to hear 80,000 people all screaming their lungs out. It's like being part of a giant living breathing organism, a collective soul...really strange.

I was a little concerned before the games about the possibility of terrorism, but the atmosphere has felt safe, relaxed and congenial throughout. Everyone chats on trains and while waiting in line. This really is the global village we hope to see in the world one day. What a pity it's only for two weeks.

On Looking Writerly

JAN:What with Wimbledon on, I was reading about the latest fashions for tennis wear -- which I admit to spending way too much money on, because HEY, you have to look good on the courts. That means pleated skirt if pleats are in, no pleats when they go out, and now of course, a tennis dress instead of a tennis skirt.

But it got me to thinking. How about writing wear?? Yes, or course, most of us sit down in front of the computer in our comfortable grubbies, but we do think about what we're wearing when we speak at book stores, libraries and conferences. We

think about what looks "writerly."

For example, I'll admit that I own a sheared fur jacket. I WOULD NEVER wear it to a writing event. And not because I'm afraid by being attacked with blood by PETA, because the jacket actually looks like it could be fake. The reason I wouldn't wear it is because in my mind, even fake fur is too flashy to be "writerly."

I generally feel most comfortable looking like a reporter, in dress pants and fitted, button down shirt. But I feel compelled to wear long earrings and jewelry. Not expensive jewelry, funky, arty jewelry.

So my question is this: What do you wear for writer appearances, and what exactly makes it writerly?

HALLIE: I want whoever walks into the book event to know which one of us is "the writer." So I do try to dress "up" - up from my usual jeans-and-T-shirt. Whenever I start promoting a new book, I treat myself to one special item (for Never Tell a Lie it was a long charcoal sweater from Eileen Fischer) that's gotta be washable and packable and no wrinkle, and then I wear it to death. Yay, funky jewelry! Hold the tiaras.

ROBERTA: Yes, what I wear at home should never be translated to the outside world! My hub works from home too now, and the two of us have to be the worst-dressed people in town. We have to remind ourselves to go up a notch when we visit the supermarket or the P.O.

But on the road, I'm with Hallie. I like to dress up a little--not like I was selling Mary Kay cosmetics, but a nice pantsuit or slacks and a sweater. And never, ever forget to wear the pin I had made with my cover on it and the cutest little charms...it's the best advertising I ever bought!

RHYS: I agree with Hallie. I want the person who comes into the store to know that I am "the writer" straight away. Also people who attend a speech or book signing have come with expectations. They want the writer to look good. How the writer looks good is up to her personality. Think of Barbara Cartland and her feather boas. I'm not the feather boa or the artsy-crafty type. In my case it's fairly tailored--either pant suit or interesting jacket and black pants, plus I often use scarves to liven things up (if only I could learn to drape them like the French do).

JAN: There's a book on scarf draping. I owned it once.

HANK: Oh, please. When I'm home writing? I have a t-shirt from the gap that says tiRED. And a baseball jersey someone gave me that says PRIME TIME. My lucky shirt.

At events I try to look like "the TV reporter." So suits, heels, pearls. And yes, scarves. (My theory is, they look best if you don't worry about them.) And I'll admit, I try to wear something that will photograph well.

I think it's also about respect--the wonderful people have come to see you! And if it's a signing where you're just introducing yourself as people come in--you've got to look like you're someone they want to meet.

And I've worn high heels every day all day for years--no problem. (Though I always have flats in my bag.)

JAN: I'm over six feet with heels, so I've avoided them most of my life. I WISH I could wear high heels. But if I could wear them, I'd probably reach right for the "floozy" models instead of the writerly ones. (that's what happens when you've been deprived.)

Anyone else out there have preconceived notions about what looks "writerly," and why?

Sweet Fifteen!

RO: Fifteen grand slams. What a match! I hated to see Andy Roddick lose after he had such a great tournament, and played an almost perfect match today. And 16-14 in the fifth.? I can't believe I sat still for 5 hours, but I do it every year...and I don't even play.

And now back to the book stuff......

Is this news?

It may not be up there with Headless Body in Topless Bar, the infamous New York City headline, but this one has got to get honorable mention. It was either a slow news day or the grownups at the Trentonian started their holiday weekend early and left some kids in charge.

Having gotten the inspiration for all three of my books from items in the newspaper, I had to buy the paper. Who knows..maybe I can use it for book four.

Apart from dead celebs and the really serious stuff (war, the economy, the Yankees and the Red Sox), what's catching your eye in the papers these days?

Is it Roger Federer's quest for number 15, some politician's non-trip to the Appalachian trail? Take your gun to church day?

Is there anything you'd like to turn into your next mystery?