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

Just a reminder that we return to the pitch behind the library at10.15am on Monday next.  Come one, come all and show us your boules.     Ken

I was incapacitated this morning and unable to attend so this report is secondhand.   Any inaccuracies, don’t blame me - blame the messenger.

Only seven members gathered this morning who soon divided into two teams named -   unsurprisingly - A and B.   
The games commenced with Team A winning the first four before Team B won five points over the following two and gained the lead.   

At some stage a young lady with toddler stopped to watch a while and in conversation she said she played the game at home in Turkey.    She took up an invitation to join in and turned out to be a bit of a killer and contributed to Team A finishing the overall winner by 14  points to 9.   

As usual there was the chaos of deciding whose boule was whose but also a lot of laughter and camaraderie.

Do join us on the next occasion we play which should be on 11th April.  I’ll send out a reminder nearer the time.    There are always spare boules if you wish to give it a try.   If you can toss a ball you’re 3/4 of the way there.    Just a little fine tuning after that.

Ken

Wow! I was amazed that 12 of us gathered together this morning to kick off our 2022 petanque season.  A quick divide into Ladies and Laddies and we were off with the Ladies scoring the first point.    The Laddies clawed back the equaliser before surging forward by winning the next 2 ends with 3 points in each.

Play continued with the Ladies showing their mettle with a win of one end with a monster 4 points.    With rain threatening we pushed on ‘til the final boule with overall scores of 8 to the Ladies and 15 for the Laddies.    A few laughs and a bit of chatter and we were all feeling the benefit of our get-together.    It was good to see you all.   We meet again in 14 days on the 28th March at 10.15 on the pitch behind the library.   I do think that if the number of potential players increases we will need to divide and some of us play on the adjacent grass.    It’s all good. 

In the meantime Brian and Ingrid will, hopefully, put some more weed killer down and then, if necessary, we’ll call a small working party to clear the more persistent of the weeds.

Ken.