Next petanque game is set for this Monday, 20th, at 10.15 am on the pitch behind the library.   As usual, all are welcome to join in so see you there.   Ken. 

Just for a change Chris and I arrived early to give the pitch a rake over and pull a few weeds before members started to arrive.   

It was an absolutely glorious sunny morning and we gathered a total of eleven members on the pitch so we split into the usual two teams, one of ladies and the other of mixed gender.   The ladies began by winning the first and second ends by one and two points respectively before the other team clawed back a point followed by a further four!

We attracted several interested bystanders including one lady who came across to enquire of what we were doing.   She was talked into throwing a boule before moving off.  Another member wandered by and we managed to cajole her to play on the mixed side to even up the teams. 

Play continued with some VERY close calls.   At one stage we had boules of opposing sides actually touching the Jack together.    We certainly had a lot of measuring to do on several ends to determine which boule was in the holding position.    Several gasps on occasions as we couldn’t believe how close we were getting with our aiming. 

Moving on three or four more ends the score was 10 - 5 against the ladies and then it was almost single point scoring until the eventual winning team was declared - the mixed group.    Well done.

More fun and giggles in store when we play again on 4th July.    Join us then.    K&C. 

 Hi there, Petanquers

Just a reminder that we’re due to play again on the pitch behind the library at 10.15 am next Monday (6th) so get your bowling arms ready.     Newbies welcome, as always.

Remember we play fortnightly on alternate Mondays so mark up your diaries NOW!

Hope to see you there.   Ken. 

A baker’s dozen of us collected together this morning for our bi-weekly game of boules.   Quickly breaking down into two teams - with the ladies being given the advantage of the extra player - we were off.     4 points to the men after the first end followed by a 2 and then three ones putting them 9 points in the lead.   Far from feeling despondent the ladies rallied and with many “oohs” and “aahs” over very close calls scored 8 points over the next four ends.   The men then countered with a further 3 bringing their score to 12.   So close to winning!   

 The next end was going so well for the men when Sandra threw a magnificent googly which scattered the boules in every direction but meant that it gave the ladies a vital one more point.     It was all down to the last game, which following one or two close calls, the men proved to be the overall winning team.

So many laughs had been enjoyed in an hour and a half’s play that it really didn’t matter who had won.   

Join us again in a fortnight (20th) at 10.15 am on the pitch behind the library.   See you there,  Ken

A dozen of us (plus a dog) gathered on the boules pitch this morning ready for another hour’s fun. A quick division into 2 teams, A and B, and we were off with team A scoring the first point. Elation was very soon deflation when the Bs came back with 3 points on the next end and maintained the lead to the bitter end. Mind you, there were many tense moments due to some very close calls and quite a lot of time was spent with various measuring implements to determine just whose boule was the closest to the cochon (the Jack to you). Anyway the final score was 13 - 5 to B team so it was congratulations all round to them and with cheery goodbyes as we departed. Join us again in 2 weeks at 10.15 on Monday 23rd of this month. Ken.

We’re playing petanque again next Monday (9th) at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library. Come and join us. The more the merrier. Guarantee at least one laugh and a smile even if its only over something stupid I’ve done. Ken.

The sun shone and there was little wind as 5 members came together this morning for another game on the petanque pitch. We summarily divided into obvious teams of 3 ladies and 2 men and the latter kicked off and won the first end which the ladies equalled on the second. However, playing with an extra team member showed and the ladies then moved forward and were soon 4 points ahead. Another member came by and she was soon persuaded to join the men which certainly helped them narrow the points gap. A second member arrived later and she gave the ladies that extra advantage again. As usual, we had several interruptions from passing public who were interested to know what we were doing including four Ukrainian refugees who had recently arrived here and were being introduced to the delights of Totton by their host. We encouraged them to have a go, which they were pleased to do, before moving on. Then it was back to the game and and at one time it was difficult to determine who was closer to the “jack” as five boules landed almost nudging it. By the penultimate end the ladies led by a single point. Of course, this concentrated our minds on the game and by some miracle the men managed to gain 5 points putting them over the magic figure of 13 to win. Final score was 11 - 15 to the men. Well done everyone. It was all very light-hearted and enjoyed by each one of us. Ken

A short reminder that we’ll be on the pitch behind the library (weather permitting) at 10.15am on Monday for more fun and laughter. Let’s see you there with your boules in your hand and ready to go. Newbies always welcome. Hope you all had a brilliant Easter. We did. Ken.

I arrived at the pitch a few minutes late this morning, due to our washing machine disgorging its load 5 minutes later than expected and wanting to get the laundry out into the sunshine, to be greeted by a sea of expectant faces all ready for playoff.   

Getting down to business team B finished the first end two points up.    Second end they were just as good and scored the same.    Just to make sure that team B did not become bored,  team A managed to gain one point on the next end and another later in the game.   However, team B surged ahead and finished the last end with a magnificent SEVEN points!   Final score was Team A with two points and Team B on fourteen.

I was in team A and John Benfield was part of team B and so I now wish B team many hearty congratulations (because John told me to do so in my report).    I’m not the jealous type.     I’ll now crawl back into my little hole until the next game on the 25th of this month.

Good news, so far as I am concerned, is that the washing was dry when we arrived home. 

See you all again soon,  Ken