House of Fraser Blog

Fed up with foul mouthed footie fans? Rather poke your eyes out than listen to Alan Hansen’s and Gary Lineker’s post match analysis?

Then hallelujah – Wimbledon, the bastion of civilised sport, starts today and we’re absolutely delighted!

I don’t think I’m going too far by saying that everybody loves Wimbledon. It captures the imagination of us all, catapulting us for a few weeks of the year, from laid back sofa lovers to active, competitive (did I mention deluded?) sporty types.

That’s right, don’t pretend you haven’t been inspired by Wimbledon in the past – we’ve all got a dusty tennis racket hidden away somewhere, under the sofa or in the garage. And as sure as eggs are eggs, most of us will dig it out in the next few weeks in order to get a little bit closer to our hero of the day.

Sports centres across the country must be rubbing their hands in glee at the extra trade us Wimbledon wannabees are bringing them!

But let’s not pretend that the charm of Wimbledon starts and ends at sport alone. It’s far more than that. For two weeks, we get to behave like civilised, well-brought up human beings. You know. Genuine, Jane Austen-like bona fide adults, who say things like ‘after you’ and ‘why thank you, how delightful’.

We drink Pimms and lemonade over lager and lime and indulge in the most English of all desserts – strawberries and cream. The women dress in romantic floral frocks or sophisticated separates, while the male uniform is gentlemanly, with beige chinos, boating blazers and of course, the straw hat, winning over fair female hearts.

Aside from the overall Englishness of Wimbledon, there’s also the drama of the occasion – can Murray get past the first round? Will our young Brits make a breakthrough? Will Sir Cliff pop in for a sing song? Will Dad still be ogling Sue Barker?

And, of course, whilst I don’t know the answer to any of these (bar, perhaps the last one…) I do know that for the agonies, ecstasies, style, romance and overall Englishness of this superior tournament, we should all be extremely grateful. Three cheers for Wimbledon!

P.S. To get yourself in the Wimbledon spirit, prepare for a perfect summer picnic with our scrumptious hampers and gorgeous outdoor living collections.