Sand, sea and sunshine! While we saw plenty of each, I don’t think many of us ventured onto the sand and I’m pretty sure none of us went into the sea, but I’m sure we all revelled in the glorious sunshine which we were treated to on our annual Bowls Tour.
This year, our destination was Bournemouth, and despite the fact that Bournemouth seems to be suffering from a surfeit of road works and diversions, Andy, our coach driver, managed to deliver us safely to our hotel all in good order. Thanks Andy, you did a great job.
We played three games while we were away. The first was at Southbourne Bowls Club, where we were warmly welcomed and spent an enjoyable morning out on the green, making lots of new friends – even if they beat us by eighteen shots. After the game, we retreated to the clubhouse for some well-earned refreshments and great banter. There was much laughter when it was pointed out that I’d got their Club badge wrong on our website, and I was ceremoniously presented with a badge.
On Wednesday, after a stormy night – and with the rain still falling – we sat at breakfast contemplating the prospect of our second game, this time at Dorchester, but we needn’t have worried, as by lunchtime the sun was shining and another warm welcome awaited us at Dorchester Bowls Club. This time it was victory for Norwest by five shots.
Day three, and our last game – Swanage, this time. We spent a pleasant morning at Swanage before boarding the coach for the short-but-steep climb to the green. This was a return visit, as we’d played them in 2016, on a previous tour. Again, the sun shone and the atmosphere on the green was just as sunny. Another defeat for Norwest, this time by fourteen shots, but still a very enjoyable afternoon. In the evening, it was ‘party time’ as we had a birthday boy in our midst. Yes, poor old Brian was seventy, a fact which definitely needed celebrating.
It was also a time for thank yous: presentations were made to Mary and myself for organising the tour, and Andy for his incredible navigational skills of Bournemouth’s roadworks. It was a great evening, and Brian would like to thank everyone who made his 70th such an enjoyable and memorable day.
But, as with all good things, they must come to an end, and Friday morning saw us all boarding our charabanc for the journey home – all tired but happy, with just one thing left to do: the tour quiz, of course! Apparently, this year’s quiz was a bit of a stinker, and I promise that next year I’ll try to make it easier, but nevertheless we had three stalwarts who handed in their answers, Ron and Val, Eric and Kath and Pam. Well done for all your efforts. And the winners, who carried off the wine and the trophy, were Ron and Val!
Gluttons for punishment, our lads were back out on the green Saturday, when they welcomed old friends from Stothert and Pitt to our club for a friendly. The game went to Norwest but, apart from general rivalry, the result didn’t really matter, as it’s always nice to meet up with old pals.
NH