The Rules of Tennis Club

1. You do not talk about Tennis Club.
2. You DO NOT talk about Tennis Club

Except for now that is. I'm about to lift the lid on the odd phenomenon known in our suburb... as Tennis Club.

I've never played tennis in my life. It turns out that this is no disadvantage, because no-one plays tennis at Tennis Club. Except the children, and I'm only taking someone else's word for that, I've never so much as seen a tennis racquet at Tennis Club.

Tennis Club meets every Thursday after school & parents take turns at hosting it. Rumour has it that the kids are gathered up after school ends & taken to some secret place, not far away, which possibly has concrete & nets & white lines painted & possibly play tennis (I'm speculating here, bear with me).

Some time later, the kids are all transported back to the designated parents house, there can be dozens of them, I'm told, of varying ages & genders (I don't know for sure though, there were only about 6 of them when we've hosted it).

At about 7pm the parents gather at the appointed venue, indulge in finger food (it helps that two of the parents own local pizza stores), jocularity & pretty much get trolleyed. Luckily, with few exceptions, everyone lives within walking distance of each other.

Unless it's at our place, or within about 6 houses of us, I usually don't bother & send T out to do the socialising. I stay home & get to watch the news on TV - an unusual event. At the last one - the first of 2005 - parents did actually debate the merits of really playing tennis, I think someone had told a friend they were off to Tennis Club, then felt really guilty when that person expressed admiration that they were leading such an active lifestyle. "Top her up, please!"

Fortunately, one of the others present, was able to outline some new research that apparently says that if you are even thinking about energetic activity, it does you some good. Maybe not quite as much benefit as actually playing... but better than nothing.

At this stage, T told them that while they'd all been drinking & sharing inanities, she'd been "digging deep" and thinking about situps. They were impressed.

Meanwhile, I was at home, digging not so deep & wondering if the newsreaders are really CG creations. And wondering if I had time to watch my collector's edition DVD of the Good the Bad and the Ugly (14 new scenes!) before the girls got home.

Tennis club is at our place this coming Thursday... I'm thinking we need blazers.