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

 I called an ad hoc game of petanque only last Friday and an amazing 14 members turned up this morning.    Too many for 2 teams so we put in an imaginary line through the middle of the pitch and divided ourselves into 4 teams - 2  x  3 persons and 2  x  4.

The 3 person teams became Ladies and Gents and the 4 member teams were Ladies and Mixed. 

Too much happening to report on an end by end basis but the 3 member Gents were the winners of the first game reaching 14 points -v- the Ladies’ 3 points.    Because it was over quite quickly we went on to play a shorter game of 7 points which the Gents again won 7-3.   

The concurrent game was soundly won by the Ladies’ team with 13 points to 6, but no time to start another.

  Who cares who wins?    The object of the morning was to have fun and a bit of a laugh and we certainly achieved that.   

We’re back on track next Monday at 10.30am on the pitch behind the library.  Join us then and fortnightly thereafter until the end of October.   

Ken. 

 Subject: Sun stopped play

A short report for today’s session. 

An excellent turn-out for boules this morning and we quickly determined our teams (A and B).  One team led from the beginning and the least said about the final score, the better.  Suffice to say that it was all over in about 20 minutes

Time, indeed, for a second game so, staying in the same teams, we were soon off.    Scoring was slow gaining one point or two alternately.    However, the sun was becoming stronger and hotter and a quick decision was made to limit the game to 5 points to find a winner and some shade.    There was a lot of rivalry and some very close measuring but eventually Team B came out on top.  Well done!

We were pleased to welcome a new player who promised to come again so come and join us all in two weeks time on the 18th September at 10.30am on the pitch behind the library.    We don’t play too seriously but always for laughs.    Ken

 Touch and go this morning.  Will the rain hold off?    With 5 people arriving by 10.30am we decided to give it a go and the first end went to the ladies by one point. 

Three more members joined in just as we could feel a few spots of the wet stuff, which developed into a spattering  but, after a short shelter under trees and umbrellas, we continued and the gents scored 4 on each of the next two ends, by which time the sun was bright again.     

The ladies retaliated by gaining two more points followed by the gents 1, then ladies 2, gents 3 and then 1 each which gave the gents the all important 13 points to win  outright,

(Who said 13 is unlucky?).  It takes more than a few drops of rain to stop Totton u3a from enjoying themselves!

There were some amazing shots - by luck or judgment - which caused some gasps and laughs, as appropriate, and an hour passed all too quickly. 

Join us in a fortnight at the same time on the pitch behind the library for a further fun and friendly morning.      Ken.

PS.  I’ll just add a reminder that anyone who fancies a short walk this Friday, 28th, meet at 10am at Matley car park which is about a mile from Lyndhurst on the road that passes Bolton’s Bench.

 It was a quartet of ladies and of gents in rivalry on the boules pitch this morning.    Ladies kicked off scoring 1 on the first end followed by the gents with a  2 and the former replying with a further 1.    All square at 4 each.

The ladies retaliated by scoring a magnificent 4 points on the next end which put them in high spirits which came crashing down as the gents equalised.    Gents then gained a further point plus, unbelievably, a 6 to finish the game at 13 points to 6 in their favour.

All over in 3/4 hour but we had an enjoyable time.    Join us again in a fortnight (24th) at 10.30am on the pitch behind the library.

Our next u3a general meeting is this coming Thursday at 2pm so see you all there, I hope.

Ken

 A lovely sunny morning saw a group of members on the petanque pitch and raring to go.

So, we divided into two teams of four, ie A & B, with Team A pitching first but lost 2 points on the first end.    Revenge was sweet as the two points were clawed back in end two plus a further one point on the next.

A short lived success as Team B gathered a further 3, 2 and 1 over the next three ends but A only managing 3 more points over the following three.   Then it was two 2s to B, then one to A with B scoring the final nail in the coffin bringing their winning total to 13 earning them a 6 point lead over their rivals.   Well done.

We’ll do it all again in a fortnight’s time being the 10th July at 10.30am on the pitch behind the library.   Do come and join us in another fun morning.            Ken. 

 I felt like Billy No-mates as I waited at the pitch at 10.30 yesterday morning.    Was the sun too hot for others to join me?  But no, they started arriving after about 10 minutes due to the chaotic traffic snarl up which had almost brought Totton to a standstill.

Anyway, with four of us there we called ourselves Teams A and B and at the end of the is first game Team B scored the first point.  Others began to arrive and were allocated to a team alternately during play.  On the second end Team A showed their mettle by scoring 5 -yes, 5- in retaliation.  Then with others arriving Team A increased the lead with a further 3 points giving them a commanding lead before the Bs snatched back another point.

Over the following 6 ends scores increased by ones and twos to gain 4 points each until the final one where Team A grabbed another magnificent 3 thus winning the whole match 15 to 5.   

A funny old morning with teams increasing in number alternately throughout but that’s the way we play.  Rules are manipulated to suit ourselves and so long as we agree and have fun nobody cares.

Join us next on the 26th June at 10.30 am on the pitch behind the library.  Hope to see you then.

Ken.

PS.  Two reminders - firstly anyone intending to join the Bus Pass group on Thursday, visiting Salisbury Cathedral for their new Art  and Liberty exhibition  ‘To Be Free’ would you please try and confirm by tomorrow(Wednesday) at 8 pm by contacting Christine on 023 8086 2882 or email cefarleigh@gmail.com.  If we prebook the cost is £9 against £11 on the door.  Make for the X7 bus to Salisbury at 9.30 am from the Salisbury road shops (near the vet and gymnasium) or join along its route.    We will probably board it at Testwood Lane stop.

The exhibition explores human rights and freedoms featuring a 13 metre embroidery of a contemporary Magna Carta sewn by civil rights campaigners, MPs, lawyers, barons, artists and prison inmates - a perfect complement to the Cathedral’s rare 1215 Magna Carta.

2nd reminder is for the longer walk on Friday commencing at 10am from Millyford Bridge car park (just before the Portuguese Fire Place, if you approach from Lyndhurst).    With the promise of a stop for tea/coffee and cake at Annie’s Tea Rooms I’m drooling already.

Remember, too, that it’s cash only.  Life is for living!

 A very bright and sunny Bank Holiday Monday saw 11 members (including two new faces) gather on the petanque pitch ready for another friendly battle.

The Ladies kicked off the first end, which they lost to the Gents by a measly one point, but retaliated by scoring 2 on the next.  The gents went on to win the next 4 ends to reach 7 but the Ladies surged back on the following 3 to equalise.  So all to play for. 

The scores swung backwards and forward over the subsequent 4 ends until the Ladies reached 12 points v 11points  which gave them the final incentive to gain another one 2 on the final end to win by 14 to 11.    An excellent finish  to another game full of friendly chatter and laughs.

We play again in a fortnight, 12 June, at 10.30am on the pitch behind the library - see you there.  Ken. 

 We managed TWO games today and the least said about the first, the better.    I have to report that the Lads smashed the opposition by 14 point to nil.

However, the Ladies found their stride on the 2nd game winning the first point and then the scores went backwards and forwards until we reached Lads with 12 and Ladies on 8 when on the final end the Ladies astounded us all by scoring a 5!    Where did that come from?

Well done to all and a fair result of one game to each side.    It certainly created a lot of laughs.

Join us again on the 29th (a bank holiday) at 10.30 am ,if you are free, on the pitch behind the library.    Come along and give it a try.      Ken

 Mixed weather for the Bank Holiday today as 8 members came together for another fun game of petanque.   

With Leah volunteering to be the token male, the ladies commenced play by scoring 3 points on the first two ends.    The gents retaliated by claiming the scores on each of the next seven ends finishing with a total of 14.  But it’s only a game and played for friendship.   

See you all for the next game scheduled for 15th May at 10.30am on the pitch behind the library.   

Enjoy your next Bank Holiday - and the coronation for those interested.    Ken

 Final reminder to anyone intending to play on Monday (17th) that STARTING TIME WILL NOW BE 10.30am FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

See you there on the pitch behind the library.    All welcome,  Ken

 Almost a full game

Not a promising start to the weather today as we met up for our latest two-weekly game of petanque.

Dividing into 2 teams of four the ladies kicked off (not literally) the first end which they won very, very closely by one point - about the width of an ice cream wafer. 

Nonplussed, the gents fought back and evened up the score on the next end.  The ladies came back with another point followed by 2, and then 3 points for the gents in retaliation. 

Over the following four ends the ladies scored 7 points and the gents 2, when a drizzle of rain caused us to call it a day.  A quick look at the scores to that point I calculated we were on 9 each so a good place to stop but having just totalled again I see that the gents only scored 8.    So we’ll done, ladies.    It’s a good job we’re all friends   

So, come and join friends when next we play in two Mondays time.    Ken

 Just a reminder that it is our intention to play petanque again on Monday at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.    It’s always good fun with a laugh or two guaranteed so why not join us.  It’s all very laid back and no pressure.

So, in the words of the great Eddie Cochran - “C’m on, everybody!!  See you there, Ken.

 A crisp dry morning saw 8 members in total gather on the petanque pitch ready to start the new season of fun Monday mornings.

Team division was easily dealt with being 4 gents versus 4 ladies ( though this fluctuated during the morning as some arrived or left to suit themselves.

Gents started strongly garnering 4 points in the first three games before the ladies retaliated with 3 over the next two ends.

Then 2 more to the gents and 1 to the ladies before the former continued scoring until the magic number of 13 was reached to win the game.

No time for another shot as some had appointments and other necessaries to deal with but all agreed it was a good start

Next game scheduled for a fortnight hence on the 20th March at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.    See you there with perhaps some new faces joining in.    Ken