It's on the cards. So let me share with you one of the reasons that living here is pretty good....
Now things could have changed in the last few years, but from memory, if someone back in the UK had suggested a school class get together at the local crown green bowls club I would have thought that it was a joke!
It's a place that I would associate with retirees (bit of a generalisation I know). It makes me think of hushed tones with the occasional clunk of the bowls, everyone dressed in white and immaculate lawns . However, out here in Australia it's quite the thing for all ages. Bowling appears to be a family pastime.
I was intrigued by the signs that promoted "mufti barefoot bowls" and have to admit that I thought it sounded pretty suspect! When we were invited to an evening of Barefoot Bowl - mufti, I was more than intrigued and became almost a little concerned!
No need to worry - it means bowling in ordinary dress....phew.
So that's where we found ourselves early Friday evening just as the sun was setting.
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| impromptu soccer before bowls |
Yes the kids are playing soccer....on a bowls lawn! A ball appeared from no-where and next thing they were away. Do you know what? - the bowls club officials didn't bat an eyelid. The kids were having a good time so they were happy enough. ...It's very relaxed out here!
The adults helped to organise some teams and gave instructions to try and not throw the bowls quite so much, but apart from that we left the children to get on with it. They got the hang of the curve and encouraged their team mates with much whopping and high fives. (Definitely not the hushed tones of my memories...) They played on until the light faded and they couldn't see anymore.
Then it was time to gather everything up with lots of cries of "where's my shoes?" (kids) and "I can't carry everything!" (parents) and head into the bowl club. Inside we all sat down to a Chinese banquet to round off the evening.
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| the all important measuring to work out the winner |
Happy kids, happy parents, lovely Friday evening.
I'm off to my yoga class this morning -
so that I can come back all relaxed to face the mountain of ironing that's been breeding in my laundry!
What a great way to spend an afternoon with your kids and their friends:)
ReplyDeleteBeth, I was in my mid forties when I first took up lawn bowls and I quickly found that the game can be very exciting especially if, like me, you are competative! Then a few years on I was playing for Wales, both indoors and out - who would have thought!! I loved it. Perhaps we will see you or Sioned playing for Australia yet? xxx
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