Not being able to play our game of boules a fortnight ago due to pouring rain we were pleased to see a drier, though overcast, morning today.      5 of us appeared on the pitch so teams were made up of three ladies and 2 laddies with the latter having 3 boules each against the ladies’ two.  

Ladies pitched first and won the first two ends with a 2 and a 1 but the Laddies retaliated with two 2s.   Scoring continued relatively evenly and by the end of 9 ends we were 7 points each.     

By this time we were playing in a light drizzle so decided to play just one more end to decide the winner.    The Laddies gained the winning one point on the very last boule after a nail-biting end.   

So that’s it until 2025.   Thanks to all who have turned up to play when able.    We’ve had some very happy mornings.     It’s such a simple game played to our own rules so whether two or twelve players gather on the day we can accommodate them.    Give it a try when we restart next year.  

If the weather looks promising during November we may call a last minute game so keep a look out in your emails.    

Ken.  

 As our word smith is on holiday it has fallen to me to report on today's game.

Unfortunately with some on holiday and others on the sick list we were down to 4 players today.

So we split into two teams. The first match start well as the side that I was on scored one on the first round,

and thought we were off to a good start but then we were white washed and the other side reach 13 before we scored another point.

As this was a short game we decided to go again - and this time we gave them a good run for their money, they scored in the first

two rounds, we scored in the next four, then they got another one point, we got three rounds. in the end they beat us 13 to 11,

we had nothing to be ashamed of we had put up a good fight and had plenty of banter and laughs along the way.

Do think about joining us - we meet every other Monday morning on the pitch behind the library. Next game will be at 10-15 on Monday

30 September. Everyone is welcome

Ingrid

A very fine drizzle faced us this morning so not expecting to play.    However, one plucky lady joined us and as the precipitation had ceased we decided to give it a go but only play up to 9 points.

There being only 3 of us we decided to play individually against each other.    Four ends later the scores stood at 1 point each for the two ladies and two for team K when another  lady member passed by who decided to join us.   

A swift rearrangement of teams with the original two ladies making a merged  team (Team C) carrying forward a combined score of 2 whilst the new player joined Team K also on 2 points, so even- Stevens.    I told you our rules were flexible!

Team K took the next two ends with 1 point each matched by Team C with a 2 and then followed with a one in each of ends 8 and 9.    Team K then managed to win two 1s before Team C grabbed another point.   

By this time Team C was leading 7 - 6 but Team K came back with a 2 and then a 1 which gave them the winning score of the agreed 9.    Well done to all in this close match.    Though the sun only peeked through at times at least there was no more rain, in fact, it was a very muggy and humid morning and a couple of jackets were discarded during play.

Next game is due in two weeks on the 16th at 10.15am at the pitch behind the library so join in then.    K & C won’t be there so someone, perhaps, will need to arm themselves with a rake.    It will also be that I’ll be offline so be unable to remind you nearest the time so put this date in your diaries NOW!

Ken

 We’re due on the boules pitch again on Monday (19th) so hope to see many of you there at 10.15am behind the library.    Open to all to give it a try.

As an aside, may I say thank you to all those who were able to respond to my plea for help to set up and put away tables at the last meeting.    It was a great help.    If you can continue to do so for future meetings it would be most welcome.

Ken

A cool morning, just right for a game of boules and seven of us thought so too.   A few minutes late in starting as players straggled in.   

There were just a couple of us of the masculine gender so we decided on mixed teams - A and B.     A team started the first end but with so many close calls only managed one point.  Team B then equalised and then won 3 more ends by one point each.   By the end of game 6 the score was 2 - 4 in B’s favour.

A team bounced back with a couple of 2s before B crept ahead in a whole series of single points and then a 2 but by the 18th end the As had taken the lead by one point, being 12 - 11, so all to play for.

But it was B team that triumphed by next scoring that all important 2 points making them today’s worthy winners.      One of the longest games we’ve  played. 

Low scoring on each individual end as opponent’s  boules landed so close to each other so many times causing much measuring throughout.     Skill or luck? You decide. 

More fun to be had in two weeks time (19th) so why not join us then?

Ken

 Although a very damp and unpromising morning today it still didn’t deter 7 enthusiastic people from their fortnightly fix of petanque.    Two teams, consisting of 4 ladies and 3 gents, were soon underway chasing the cochon (jack). 

Ladies took the first end by one point which the gents equalised on the next but couldn’t rest on their laurels as the ladies roared back by scoring 9 points over the following 6 ends.    There were several times when very close measuring came into play and the boules were bouncing and smashing all over the place.    There were some amazingly placed boules but whether by luck or judgment we can’t determine but I expect the individuals concerned would plump for the former.

Anyway, by the close of the 16th end we were on 12 points each.    A nail-biting situation with all to play for and concentration took over from general chatter.    Leadership of the final end changed several times but it was the gents who won that all important single point making them the over-all winners.    AND , by this time, the sun was shining brightly causing some discarding of coats and jackets.

Thanks again to those who played today.    Join us for the next scheduled game in two weeks ( 5th August) at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.  It’s all very light-hearted.    Make a note of the date NOW as I may not be able to send a reminder as usual. 

Ken

It was raining this morning so at 9.45am I started ringing around the usual players to cancel today’s game.    Nobody answered my calls so left messages.    Nevertheless, we went to the pitch in case anybody turned up and was delighted to find 3 members waiting for us.    The rain had stopped so we decided to carry on.   

We made two teams of 3 ladies and 2 gents and commenced play with the ladies kicking off and gents took the first end with one point with the ladies retaliating  with a good 2 on end two before another male member joined us.  Gents then took the upper hand scoring 1, 1, 3 and 1 before the ladies managed a further 2 making the scores 4 to 9.   

Amazingly, the gents then scored a SIX giving them the magic 13 points to win and so we then had time for a second game. 

Ladies started again with each team scoring 1 point each.  Scores were repeated on ends 3 and 4 making 2 points all.  The following two ends were won by the ladies with 1 point in each but the gents caught up with 2 points which was then duplicated by the ladies.    On the final 3 ends the gents won with 2, 3 and 4 points respectively giving them the winning total of 13 for the second time.

The rain held back throughout so it was a worthwhile morning of play.    My thanks to all those optimistic members who came along to play today.    Why not join them when we next play on the 22nd?        Ken.

 A sunny and very warm day greeted our members on the pitch today.    Dividing into 2 obvious teams of 4, Ladies and Laddies, the Ladies started the game but lost the first 3 ends by 1, 2 and 3 respectively but gained 2 points on the 4th end.   

It was nice to have a quick chat with three other members who passed by during the morning, Frank, Ray and June. 

On the 5th end Laddies gained a further 2 points. Then the following 4 ends ping-ponged with two threes to Ladies and a 1 and a 3 to their opponents making a running total of

8 - 12 in favour of the Laddies. 

There had been several close calls and much measuring throughout but it was then time for that final end in which the Laddies scored just the 1 point to declare them the winners with the magic 13.

Another good morning spent with friends.  Why not come along in a fortnight (8th July) at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library?

Ken. 

 A spitty-spotty morning today so who will turn up to play?    Six enthusiastic players, that’s who.   

 So, two teams of three and the first to pitch was called Team A (naturally) who took the first end by one point.    Team B stepped up to the mark and scored an equaliser followed by a further 1 on the next. 

 After ten ends we were even with 7 points each, so all to play for.  The final four ends gave the first two to Team B scoring 2 twice but Team A came roaring through with two fantastic scores of 3 winning the game by 13 - 11.      Well done!

An enjoyable hour with friends to start our week with many laughs included as always and mostly at ourselves.  Come and join us if you can on Bank Holiday Monday (27th) at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.

 Bright day but quite windy when we met yesterday but we were reasonably sheltered between the back of the library and the car park hedge.    Decided to have mixed teams this time so called ourselves A and B.

As early as the third boule being pitched there was a very close call and some tricky measurements had to be employed to determine whose boule was the closer to the cochon (jack).  Team B scored a 2 and a 3 before Team A managed to gain their first 2 but we reached the 10th end all square with 9 points apiece.  The final two ends were taken by Team A with a 3 and a 1 respectively which scored them the magic winning total of 13.        Well done!

The game took a little longer than usual - just over the hour - probably because a lot more measuring was involved and needed.  Some very exciting moments at times. 

Join us for more fun on Monday week (13th) at 10.15am in the same spot for some more oohs and aahs. 

Ken

 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