When I drive a cab I used to take a few visitors to the museum in winter, including some from Mexico and some from Argentina

I’m also unsure what local benefit the tennis brings outside of the 2 weeks or so of tournament - I guess the museum etc, but in terms of local jobs, I wonder how many who work there are “local” (especially outside of the fortnight)… Someone is definitely benefitting, and I’d guess it’s landowners/landlords, but who knows?

I'd like to think that the destruction of a Capability Brown designed landscape held some weight, but doubt WP exists in its original form nowadays. Like OI, I spent a lot of time in WP as a lad. Not been there in yonks, so really don't know why this expansion concerns me, except for first hand observation of how they operate for the rest of the year. The job I had took me inside the AELTC on a daily basis. The first thing I noticed was the internal roads in a constant state of being dug up. The contractors were there all year round, except Wimbledon fortnight, year on year. Now excuse my logic if incorrect, but surely for a mere fortnight's use annually, those roads shouldn't need constant repair. Either that, or the contractors are not doing their job properly. Did I mention tax fiddle? No, I did not. I may have thought it though. Now imagine the same scenario in a much expanded complex. I'm sorry if I sound cynical, but if my 77yrs have taught me one thing it's never to believe anything the press, local council or MP tells me. If it looks and smells fishy, it probably is. Someone said earlier it's all about money. You betcha.

Was at Victoria Park yesterday for All Points East - lots of people, plenty of dust 😷😂 and some great music - didn’t see a single bit of trouble despite there being about 40,000+ there - journey to Mile End and home again afterwards totally peaceful and safe with lots of people on their way to Carnival and back home in the evening, though I’m sure there will be some bother at some point (alcohol and drug related mostly), which isn’t too surprising given how many people go there.

OTD - I think it was loanee Curtis Haynes-Brown, who scored an OG and was so bad he was replaced in the second half by the useless Warren Cummings, who had been dropped after his performance at Burton a few days earlier. CH-B got injured soon after, barely played again and was sent back to where ever he came from.

I was on a train stopping at Shepherds Bush yesterday afternoon, a few dodgy looking characters around

Free on YouTube now merstham vs jersey bulls

Egg, all friendly and peaceful here, if it goes bad, it's typically when it starts to get dark

The Nelson Arms is Showing the Reading game Tomorrow 7pm KO

I remember a few years back we got to Wimbledon town centre early during Carnival as we was getting the supporters coach to an away game and there was a massive street fight involving gangs about to go to Carnival and I just thought if they’re like that here wtf are they going to be like once they’re up there 😳

Most people in Wimbledon don't want to go to the tennis but equally most people don't want to go to the football. Both should be allowed to thrive. I will definitely welcome the land that will become open to the public, rather than just a few rich golfers (£85K each richer as well I think).

Opportunity to be on the WHAD podcast for anyone interested [Link]

Reading gas and electric meters today as requested by Eon. Think my standing charges will higher than my usage this month.

I know it has, don't know too much about it, or the circumstances behind it. I did think about doing a helicopter ride with my wife today strangely enough, but didn't get past the idea, it is our Coral (35 years) wedding anniversary today

Alan IoW - A helicopter 🚁 has crashed near Ventnor.

No but if the rumoured 8 years of disruption are true maybe he will become one

Is papers a Nimby ?😂

Spit-Papers lives near the tennis so pop in and use his loo rather than slashing in the local gardens

[Link] Tantrums!

7000 police today Keefy, the rest of london will be a shoplifters paradise today.(oh it is every day)😡

Closing church road for 2 weeks during the tournament was the biggest mistake. At least their is no queuing on the roads anymore,stops the likes of Carshalton and OI having a piss in posh people front gardens😂

Nearest I've been to Notting Hill is watching the film.

As per most major sports these days you have to pander to the top stars otherwise they don’t show up

Don't they need to keep up with the other Grand Slams; New York, Paris& Melbourne

Changing the subject, just noticed that Sutton Utd are 3rd from bottom of National. Irony that they had a good pre season and ourselves a poor one, given our respective starts. I remember being told that there was an inverse relationship between performance at PSFs and the start you make