Here’s the 15th post sharing our adventures in the British Isles and Ireland from September 29 to October 17, 2025, for genealogy, business, and sightseeing. Hope you enjoy it!
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Jim had to wait until the very last day of our vacation for his most-anticipated activity, the tour and museum visit of Wimbledon. He’s been playing tennis since he was very young, so of course, this would mark the pinnacle of the trip.
We’d been taking Ubers for this whole London part of the vacation, but I wanted Jim to get the experience of a black cab, so we took one from the hotel to Wimbledon. There really is a difference between an Uber and a black cab. I prefer the black cab, because the vehicles are all pretty much the same, the drivers all have extensive training, and Jim says you feel like you’re getting first-class treatment. It’s a more personable experience and most cabbies like conversing with you. It’s a little more expensive, but not out of line, and well, you get what you pay for.
When I visited London for work nearly two decades ago, Ubers were in the future, and black cabs were everywhere. Well, except for the night I wanted to see Wicked and figured I’d just hail one along the way. I can’t remember where I was staying, but I ended up walking the whole way and was late to the performance. I had to wait until a lull in the action before being ushered to my seat, but of course, absolutely loved every minute of it.
Anyhow, the funny thing I remember about black cabs in 2007 is that the first time I entered one, I nearly fell on the floor because I wasn’t aware of the large gap between the door and the seat in the back of the cab. I swear I could hear the cabbie’s head shake back and forth.
Following are Wimbledon photos and images of a very happy husband. Note: The facility is actually called the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
(Photo credit: James DeDad)
At the end of the Wimbledon tour, we stopped in the Wingfield Café at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. In keeping with our hedonistic practices while on vacation, we treated ourselves to a sandwich and dessert, which we never have at home. Mind you, the scale always registers significantly different upon our return, resulting in a severe course correction.
At the end of the tour, we went through the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. There we learned about the history and traditions of the championships and how they developed since 1877. We saw original clothing donated by tennis stars, Arthur Ashes’ diary, and got up close to trophies. The best part was a poem, though.
For my most-recent birthday, our kids got me a Storyworth subscription in which I am sent a different question each week and at the end of the year, all of my responses will be used to create a hard-cover book. Well, on the day we left for this vacation, the question was, “Do you have a favorite poem? What is it?”
The poem I chose was “If” by Rudyard Kipling, and to my surprise, this poem was on the wall of the museum! See the entire poem and analysis at the end of this post.
After Wimbledon, we took an Uber to Kensington Palace and then walked 50 minutes back to the hotel. We would have taken a black cab to Kensington, but we didn’t have the app to order one.
Although we were chilly at Kensington, we soon warmed up on the walk back to our hotel with Hyde Park to our left. This used to be King Henry VIII’s hunting ground and is now a huge, central green space used for events, relaxation, sports, and various memorials, including the one for Diana, Princess of Wales.
It being the last night of our trip, we splurged for dinner at the English Grill at our splurge hotel, The Rubens at the Palace, and took advantage of the free champagne coupons they gave us at check in. It was so nice to have someone help me into my seat, hand me my napkin, use one of those little crumb thingies on the table, etc. We used to have lots of places like this back home, but they just don’t exist anymore there. It was such a treat and so nice to relax and review our vacation and muse about where to go next.
“If” by Rudyard Kipling.
Poem in bold. The reflections shared with my kids are in italics.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
(Have you ever been that one, who tries to do the right thing, and has it backfire? Making you wonder why you even bothered? Stay calm. You will never regret doing the right thing, while doing the wrong thing might wake you in a cold sweat years later.)
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
(Have you ever been doubted because of the ignorance of others? It helps to consider that they are working with the information they have, or the deep-seated attitudes they hold.)
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
(Patience and persistence are the keys to good outcomes.)
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
(Don’t stoop to lying, even when others are doing the same. That won’t help anything).
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
(It doesn’t make anything better to hate those who treat you as if they hate you. Send love to them instead, even though it might be difficult to do so. Think: “I wish you health. I wish you happiness. I wish you peace of mind.”)
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
(We all know people who act like they know it all or brag about having the newest gadget and the most-expensive possessions. Others may be impressed, but you shouldn’t be. Be proud of the choices you’ve made that have put you where you are and have given you what you own.)
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
(There’s value in dreaming, but if you are not able to make your dreams come true, find something else of value to do. The important thing is to try.)
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
(Don’t just think. Do!)
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
(There is value in having an even countenance and not feeling too high or too low, when good or bad things happen. Circumstances always change. The good times turn into bad and vice-versa. If you stay even-keeled, you won’t feel the constant turmoil of ups and downs.)
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
(Have you ever been misunderstood or have had someone twist your words? That’s tough. Stay strong. Think about what you’ve said. Do you still believe it? Stand up for it, then.)
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
(Sometimes something we’ve worked incredibly hard for falls apart. Pick yourself, dust yourself off, and try again. Perhaps head in a completely different direction.)
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
(Don’t be afraid to take big risks, and if you lose, it’s really no one’s business, or burden, but your own. Try again.)
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
(When things get tough, draw on your inner reserves and the support of those who love you. Tell yourself you’re strong!)
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
(Showing confidence with those at a perceived higher level than you, or humility with those at a lower station than you, is a great quality. Be proud of who you are, but not haughty.)
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
(This is tough, because it’s easy to get hurt, but you should love yourself, even if it sometimes seems others don’t. Also, don’t give so much of yourself or put yourself in a position where people rely on you too much or unfairly expect too much of you. Remember Thoreau’s words from Civil Disobedience. “”He who gives himself entirely to his fellow-men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist.” Doesn’t seem fair, does it? But it’s so true.)
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
(Make the most of your time on earth. It goes so fast!)
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
(This poem works for all people!)
