There was Helen & Meech and Sue times two
Janine & Sandy – made six total to view
Ladies of Wimbledon ready to play
Dressed in their outfits, so bright, and so gay!
Underground, over ground, adventuring, we
Travelled by Uber, Wimbledon tennis to see
Making good use of the booze in our packs
Bubbles and OJ we’d brought on our backs
Helen’s birthday and bucket wish list
Doing our best to make sure nothing was missed.
“Happy Birthday” sung to her by the crowds in THE queue
Over ten thousand, so it wasn’t a few!
Ham and cheese croissants, fresh fruit, all healthy
Who needs the paid seats of the incredibly wealthy?
Moving at last – a long line at a time
New space must mean – it’s time for more wine
Good weather was great and no mud to be seen
But on blazing sun we weren’t really keen
But, equipped with our brollies and shady sun hats
Some managed to curl up and sleep on our mats
At last we were moving – promised that entry was near
With just enough time to drink that last beer
With one great hurrah we passed through – until
We found ourselves settled atop Henman’s Hill
Sandy took photos of the big screen teevee
Later to crop them so that it seemed to be
We really had been there on the court at the centre
Happ’ly watching Struff being beaten by Federer
A long day it was, but worth all the queuing
And in the hot sun all of us slowly stewing
All the laughs, all the fun, all the jolly good time
Is a really good reason for this Wimbledon rhyme! 
Wimbledon: Helen’s birthday, 6th July, 2018, the above ode by Sue Rhodes
