Cum gratiis Musae Nanae 2.1 via Fluxus Google
My serene mood on the morning of this match was shattered by my sat nav announcing that my destination, Hampton Court Palace, had moved since my last visit. “Wow. The power of AI”, I thought, checking the route and noting that it was unchanged from my previous visits.
After a smooth and traffic free journey, my serenity was restored; until I arrived at Tennis Court Lane to the sight and sound of a municipal rubbish lorry outside the tennis court.
In a faux American tourist accent, I asked the security desk attendant:
“Is that a genuine Tudor garbage truck?”
The attendant laughed and radioed his colleague, alerting him that the “genuine Tudor garbage truck” was on its way.
Post-truck, serenity was restored, until battle commenced. I even had time to walk around and take a couple of photographs on that splendid morning.
Even the geese looked serene, entirely oblivious to the sense of forthcoming battle.
The results card summarises the battle: The Hamsters narrowly won the first three rubbers, then narrowly lost the last two. Every rubber was really tight – even the two-setters had a great many 40-40 games, with ebb and flow aplenty.
Just a few comments on the dramatis personae. Vernon Morris and Charlie Kearl of the Hamsters paired well to defeat the (previously undefeated in this fixture) pairing – me and Richard Prosser. They also both kindly doubled-up later as injury substitutes.
There is an adage in cricket-watching that the most formidable players are those with two first names, i.e. names that still make sense if you reverse the first and surname. Once Graham Findlay and Iain Harvey learnt that they were to face Vernon Morris and Barry Clive, the result was inevitable. Close but ultimately a win for the Hamsters was the result.
Before that, Ian Falconer and Christie Marrion looked well in control after the first set, only to be masterfully turned around by John East and Graeme Marks. Ian’s previous connection with this fixture was my visit to see him act on the evening after this match, two years ago – click here to read about that. I have oft observed that Ian really turns it on, tennis-wise, when he has an audience. A party of schoolkids no doubt helped Ian in the first set. Had I not been marking, I’d have rushed to round up some more school parties for the second and/or third set, which might have made all the difference.
In the fourth rubber, Ian Hopkins and John Yarnall looked in control, until Richard Sutcliffe and Charles Heaton, both unused to the vagaries of the RTC court, slowly got used to the court and took control of that rubber.
Similarly, Charlie Kearl and promising Hamster newbie Jay Lewsey (remember where you read that name first) looked in control against Peter Brunner and James McDermott, until Peter and James settled into their task and took the final rubber in three sets.
And of course the Dedanists’ Society coffers have been enhanced by dint of the Dedanists’ playing fees and the generosity of Hamsters alike.
The Hamsters hospitality, as always, was splendid – Ian Hopkins, with help from assembled Hamsters, provisioned us with delicious lasagne, salad, cheeses and lemon cheesecake, with wines flowing plentifully for those who imbibe.
As usual, for this delightful fixture, serenity and that wonderful real tennis feeling of bonhomie prevailed.
A picture is worth 1000 words. I asked Nano Banana 2.1 (Google Flow) to help depict the events of the day in the time-honoured fashion. The power of AI.
