Having been caught, yesterday. in the overnight rainstorm I was amazed to wake to bright sun this morning.    Well, it WAS  9.15am ‘cos my body hasn’t yet adjusted itself to losing the hour over the weekend.  So a quick bounce out of bed, bathroom and breakfast and I managed to reach the boules pitch just about on time.

Pleased to find that a total number of 8 members had come together to make the most of the sunshine and enjoy another game of boules.  Following our usual breakdown into Ladies and Laddies the Ladies kicked off the first end but lost by 2 points and again on the next, then by 3 and 1  on ends three and four.    There were a lot of close calls as some very accurate boules were thrown at times. 

Nonplussed, the Ladies retaliated with 1 point on the next end but lost 2 points to the Laddies on end 6 before regaining 3 more  over ends seven and eight.

The final end was a resounding 3 points to the Laddies which totalled their score to 13 against the Ladies 4.  Another good game and we look forward to the next one on Monday 15th at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.  Come one, come all!

The sun continues to shine on us so aiming for an hour in the garden this pm.    Let’s hope for more brilliant weather tomorrow when many of us are gathering at noon for the monthly luncheon. 

See you there.  Ken.

 The weather didn’t seem too promising this morning (18 March) but six expectant members - including a new face - appeared for a fun morning.    Evenly divided into teams by sex we were soon into an end starting with the Ladies who lost by 3 points.  Then another male member appeared to join the Laddies so the Ladies were give two extra boules to use to even them up for the rest of the game.  

Continuing, the Ladies moved forward with 2 points and then it was 3 to the Laddies followed by a further 2 points to their opposition.    The next 5 ends increased the scores by 4 points each when the Laddies smashed a 4 and a 2 to reach the goal of 13 and win the game.

A second game was started but with reduced teams of two a side.   This time the Ladies showed they meant business by scoring 6 on the first three ends with the Laddies retaliating with a 1 and a 3.   The Ladies then put the boot in by gaining 8 points in the final 3 ends finishing with a magnificent score of 14 to 4.

A fair ending with one game to each side.     Our next meeting will be on Easter Monday so,  if you are available, do join us on the pitch behind the library at 10.15am.

Ken.

 What a lovely bright sunny day greeted us this morning for the start of the new season for playing boules.    It certainly brought out 9 members determined to enjoy themselves and make the most of it as we divided ourselves into two teams as usual, Ladies and Laddies.

Ingrid delivered the first boule of the year and placed it almost on top of the cochon (jack) which immediately put us all on our mettle to try harder but the first end finished with the Ladies taking one point to gain the initial lead.

The next 3 ends were all won by a single point and then the Laddies gained 2 points which  made us 6 points apiece.

The 6th end was smashed by the Ladies with a fantastic score of 5 carefully picked out of a cluster of boules centred on the target.    The next 3 ends gained the Laddies 2 points plus one to their opponents before the Ladies followed up with a 3 and a 1 completing the magical 13 points to snatch the game.

Well done and congratulations Ladies.  A good start to our playing year.      We’ll meet again in a fortnight (19th).  Same place but a little earlier, maybe, at the request of some.  I’ll confirm it in my reminder nearer the time.    Do come and join us.   

Ken

 Where’s that sun!  Just a reminder that we hope to be playing the first game of boules of the season next Monday at 1030 am on the pitch behind the library- weather permitting. 

At the very least let’s hope it is dry.    All welcome to join us and give it a try.      Ken

 Despite threatening clouds 6 members appeared on the pitch this morning rarin’ to go.  Though it stayed cloudy there were several warm sunny periods to enjoy. 

Dividing into two teams of three (A and B) with A team pitching first and finished the end with the first point.    Team B retaliated strongly claiming 4 points and then 3 points on the following two ends before A team scored its next point.   

The next four ends saw some tense moments with a lot of jockeying for the leading position but still B team managed to win them all with a total of 5 more points.  Not despondent, A team then scored a 3 followed by a 1 which promised some hope but it was not to be as B team scored that all- important last point to win the game 6 - 13, so congratulations to them.    It was so enjoyable that there were murmurs for another game in a fortnight so if the skies look promising why not join us at 10.30 am on 13th November on the  pitch behind the library.

The weather stayed bright and dry throughout the game and I hope most of us were home before the heavens opened drenching the whole of the town and beyond. 

Ken. 

 A chilly but sunny morning greeted us for petanque today but still nearly a dozen of us met  together for another hour of absolute pleasure.

5 men in one team against a 6 member ladies’ team (I know that’s not in the rules but……) and the gents kicked off.  Everyone seemed to be on form and on target so that the advantage alternated almost with each boule pitched.    So tantalisingly close each time that the ladies only managed to score one point on that first end.  It was difficult at times to determine which boule was the nearest to the target ball.

The gents worked hard over the next two ends but only managed one point in each.    However, on the 4th end they scored 6!

Not despondent, the ladies won 2 over the next two ends but the men roared back with a 3 and then a 2 thus giving them the required 13 points to win the match. 

Another happy morning and we’re all looking forward to our next scheduled game (the last of the season) on the 30th October at 10.30am on the pitch behind the library-again, weather permitting. 

See you there.              Ken.

 Having had my wrists slapped -twice - over last week’s report I need to apologise to the Ladies’ team  for not giving them the credit of winning the short match and not the Gents. Sorry Ladies BUT its only a game!!!

I’ll try to get it right this time.    Rather than pitch ladies against gents it was decided to divide into mixed teams of 4 each, A and B.  A kicked off the first end but lost by one point which they equalised on the second.    Only one point to each alternately until the end of end five when A was leading by three ends to two.    It goes to show how close we managed to be near the cochon.    Over the next four ends B team roared ahead gaining a further 8 points and then A team regained one.  The last four ends saw As win 1 point and Bs 3 making the final scores 5 to 13 in favour of the latter.

It was a brilliant game with boules being nudged away alternately from a good position time and time again with a few surprises.    A real “bite your nails” situation.    We’ll done everyone

Join us again on the 16th October at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.      It’s fun. 

Ken