As the sun dawned on the famous green grass of the All England Club, June 2001, little did it know that soon a group of people would meet and unify for one player - or two in this case really...and if you count Raymond & Stubbs then number increases, but you get the picture.

Wimbledon began in scorching heat, but this did not deter the determined fans of seeing our favourites. What did was the terrible scheduling that saw everyone wait all day for Arantxa's match on court 3, only for it to be changed to 1. Then what larks to be held when attempting to get into court 1 - even Stacey's tears failing to work. Eventually they prevailed...but the scheduling that was to rue the maniacs' Wimbledon was not allowed to rest...

The second day brought mixed feelings to the camp. Unfortunately Magüi lost a tough match against Petrova on the dreaded court two. Unluckily for her, she was not to repeat her wonderful run in 2000, but there was always the doubles with Henin & mixed with (quote from Magüi herself) ‘an Aussie’ so that Magui Mania could continue if on a smaller scale. On the bright side, I was to arrive ;-), and despite the fact that I was seriously tired from a nightmare London tube sojourn, I managed to save up the energy to play with the rugby ball, which was to become an important feature in our lives.

And after an allegedly vastly under prepared Wimbledon 2000 – I had heard horror stories - I was impressed how everyone was very prepared and had thought of everything. Unfortunately I had not, but I promise I will be next year. Thanks everyone for the use of their tents etc. But our little gathering increased as more people joined our little camp - Karl of course (who every Tim Henman fan despises, & you know why young man! LOL), and later in the week the Bulgarians Olga & Elli, Steffi fan Dyah (shame on her LOL) & Ben completing the set. And not to forget Sue, who the girls met at Eastbourne – a fellow Welshy, who was very kind! (And her family of course!) Jason the aussie, we cannot forget him. (Only missed Kat this year – next yr maybe??) Oh and Stacey’s mum even got into the act!

Magüi's premature exit & Arantxa's match against Osterloh were the lowest points for us. Personally I would like court two to be demolished or I'd even pay for an exorcism. Something needs to be done ;-). Magüi’s match was always going to be difficult, while Arantxa never got going & Osterloh played some fantastic tennis. Never mind, there was still the doubles with Martina. We enjoyed Magüi's doubles & then Arantxa on court 1 - especially when we managed to make the whole side of the stadium clap with us. We woke the sleepy crowd up during a ridiculously quick match that lasted ten minutes (well 37 actually)!

Yet - alas! The dreaded scheduling was to hit us yet again "Cruel fate - why do you mock me!?" Arantxa's first doubles match wasn't given a court so we had to hang around waiting. Arantxa's mixed doubles match was also moved onto the next day, and even then it was moved onto court 1 at the last moment. Then to make things worse Serena Williams pulled out of the doubles - thus wasted centre court tickets for me, Mel & Jason. Also on the same day Henin pulled out of the doubles leaving Magüi stranded in limbo with no partner. I don’t think we can forgive Henin for that! We reckon Justine owes Bea & Caz £82…. But apart from such terrible organisation and just pure bad luck, it was a fantastic time. Magüi still thinks we're nuts, especially when Paula & I decided to shout out ‘Vamos Magüi’ from court three when she was going to court 4 (she was thinking "Why are they on court three?" you could tell)...and the fact that Stacey nearly gave her a heart attack by threatening her with Sandrine the rugby ball.

Ah yes, Sandrine. Who is now legendary. The rugby ball that saw us through thick & thin. And that Stacey decided to get Sandrine Testud to sign (I haven't seen such a confused tennis player) - thus the name Sandrine. We all miss Sandrine deeply - Stacey had better been taking care of her. And you should all join rugby clubs, my dears.

And Arantxa getting us tickets for court two for her doubles quarter final...which as everyone knows, they lost -*shudder* we hate that court two! But thank you Arantxa, even if it still was a struggle to actually get in despite Emilio’s efforts!

I cannot finish without mentioning: Pam Shriver, who was (and lets be fair to her) stalking me! Well, I saw the Baltimore legend practically every day, and one time she was even in front of us in the taxi queue. Pam - who much amused our Raymond & Stubbs friends Karen & Cath, (who also to their credit, jumped down memory lane with me & Ann Jones). Well, Pam much amused everyone, bless her (but don’t mention her 6-0 6-0 loss will you with Virginia 'Only in the Centenary Year' Wade...they failed to go to DEUCE or the Sem-is)

Sandrine, our friendly rugby ball

And so much more that there doesn't seem time to mention, like the Nescafe girls that we hounded every day (and made Nescafe bankrupt), the cereal people, and Mel's Welsh jokes which I can't even remember now & Eddy of course, and the kind woman who gave much needed showers to Mel & Paula, and the lack of sleep, and "She said what now?" for Charo, and that bottle of wine (achum…Stacey…), my bad Pam Shriver impressions, Caz lugging that flipping heavy bag, and the mad Tim Henman fans, Magüi asking us why we looked so depressed, and the looks from the left luggage people when they saw us AGAIN, and the pleading looks to the guards on court 1, Karen’s “I’m not cheering her on”, Karl’s anti-Henmania, Paula’s expert attempts at putting up the tent; putting us all to shame, Charo's snoring, Stacey converting everything into Aussie dollars, getting up at 6am by mad old stewards, and *£1.50 for a bottle of coke!*, hanging around the practice courts in the hope of a glimpse of our favs, Bea's really cool t-shirts, playing rugby with Sandrine, "Are you ready to Order????" from the Fortune Cookie guy, falling asleep during matches, the infamous Spanish flag.......and of course: Emilio! ;-)

Oh yeah, & there was some tennis in there somewhere!

Thank you to everyone who helped make Wimbledon 2001 such a wonderful experience – yes you the fans! Here is to 2002 – lets hope we have just as good a time!

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