After the excitement of yesterday, the main stories seem to be the passing of Diego Maradona and which tier we’ll be in. I’m not a football fan, but I know a lot of you are.  Was Maradona the best footballer of all time?

Well done to Ann D who has made 4 Christmas Puddings and is starting on the Christmas cakes this week.  Keep on stirring!

Good luck to Mike & Tina as they continue packing boxes for moving.  At least there has been no distraction from bowls in the last 3 weeks so they have been able to get on !

11.30 am today is the time for announcing the tiers for when lockdown finishes. If we’re in Tier 2, Sport England’s Guidance states:-

Indoors:  Classes and organised adult sport can take place for a household or bubble or in group activities – such as classes – provided there’s no mixing between households.  People can also play certain sports which do not involve close proximity or physical contact with one person from another household, such as a singles tennis match or badminton match. 

Just throwing an idea out namely, Australian Singles.  Malcolm B’s club Fordingbridge in Cambridgeshire played this outdoors in the summer rather than ‘normal’ singles.  Social distancing is easily maintained as long as players change ends on separate sides of the rink and the bonus is that you should reach your 10,000 step limit in the session!

Two players = singles.  One at each end to start.   (Players can have a jack each to deliver or it can be placed)

Player A delivers one bowl towards jack ;

Players change end and Player B delivers one bowl;

Players change ends and Player A delivers 2 bowls

Players change end and Player B delivers 2 bowls

Players change end and Player A delivers his/her final bowl

Players change end and Player B delivers his/her final bowl.

Player A announces score then Player B starts off the next end.  Both players getting a chance to lead and play final shot on alternate ends.

Bowls in order of delivery:  A1; B1; A2&3; B2&3; A4; B4

This format would fulfil the same criteria as badminton/tennis singles in the guidelines, as each player would be at opposite ends of the rink throughout and your opponent wouldn’t need to be in a support bubble with you to play, which will help quite a few of you.

The EIBA will publish their own guidelines in the next couple of days.

Was it only last year that Brian was enjoying a significant birthday as we headed off to Potters?  We hope you have a great day, although it will be somewhat different this year – as with about 90% of our members’ birthdays.  At least it looks as if your birthday month might well be able to finish with a round of golf!

Had a walk and chat with Gerry at lunchtime yesterday –  one of the Sweaters of yesteryear.  Now you’ll have to ask him what a Sweater was! 

Gerry worked on the tank transporters during the war and his de-mob was delayed by about 6 months as he took part in the Berlin Airlift, travelling in a Dakota to drop coal into Berlin.  Hands up all who knew that?!  It’s worth looking up on the internet if you’re not familiar with the airlift.

Gerry started indoor bowls at Egham around 1985 – he went there because Hounslow was full and had a waiting list.  His wife, Doreen, joined him a bit later and they both went to play outdoors at Staines as a lot of the Egham players were there and where he played his first match.   There was no looking back after that until, sadly, he decided it was time to retire from bowling this year.  He is still a social member and likes to keep up with all the news.

Kevin L (who has his Grandad’s car – the 1967 VW 1600L Variant) is a man of many talents.  If you need any furniture making or need shelves or cabinet and I can put you in touch.  He is our “Will” of The Repair Shop based at Cambridge Park!

Some days I have the attention span of a flea, although the memory of an elephant for trivia (the sort of which never comes up in a pub quiz1)

Anyway, I  have recentlly started listening to podcasts.  Their length varies but you can stop and start and they’re a good option if an audible book is too long.  There are thousands out there covering innumerable subjects from breathing, sleeping, eating, health, vaccines, life experiences, football, rugby, cricket, and not forgetting Strictly and some on bowls!

BBC Sounds App* is brilliant.  You can listen to the radio live, play back or podcasts and I stumbled upon Joe Wickes (who turns out to be another one of Ange’s students!).  Jo Malone’s was really interesting but the one that has been so fascinating is No.12, when Joe chats to astronaut Tim Peake.

This link may work https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08sjnq4 or try clicking play below.

Worth listening to whilst making your Christmas cake today or when out walking.

There are other places to find podcast apps not just the BBC.

Let us know any you have listened to.  If you’ve enjoyed it, no doubt someone else will too!

It’s the weekend.  It should be Yippee, it’s the weekend! but for most, it’s just another day as they are all rolling into one.

Tomorrow is Stir Up Sunday, so today’s the day to check the store cupboards then go out to top up your dried fruit, flour, brandy etc to make your Christmas Cake.  List of ingredients for one of Mary Berry’s Christmas Cake recipes below so you can do a quick check.  Fits a 9″ round or 8″ square tin.  Of course there are many other recipes out there, so this is just a guide.

It’s a bit of a grey day so far, but not as cold as yesterday so good to get out for a short walk to the shops or not!

Hands up who has a petrol or diesel fuelled car?

Hands up if you’re saving for a ‘green’ car?

Hands up who will still be driving in 2030?

So many questions.  At least today’s news knocked Covid and Brexit off the top of the headlines!

I was thinking 2030, that’s years and years away.  It is but only 10.  I hope I will still be driving at 75, but who knows.  Despite all good intentions to reduce emissions, I doubt I will have gone ‘green’ by then.

Joe Biden is still driving the car his father gave him as a wedding present – a 1967 Red Chevrolet Stingray Corvette.  Isn’t that amazing.  That is a man who loves his car and obviously looks after it with a passion.  I hope he has a right hand man/woman who can look after it while he’s being President.

A boyfriend from the 1970s had an Austin 7 and collected me from a hockey match in it.  I’m not sure if there was a door.  I just remember climbing over to get into the passenger seat!  He was part of the 750 Motor Club and we went to Silverstone for their annual event and I ended up assisting on the grid.  When those motors come round the final bend of the trial lap and your toes are on the white line, you just hope they have good brakes!  The relationship didn’t last very long so it was the nearest I have ever been or sat in a classic car. There is a local dealer in classic cars in the area as they have put a display along the street during the Hampton Hill Christmas lighting-up night.

What about you?

Do you have a passion for old cars, your current car or are you hankering after something classic, something sporty or what?

Has anyone done the London to Brighton car rally?  I would love to do that.  It would normally be running around November, wouldn’t it?   Now seems like a good time to re-watch Genevieve!

Our website host, John Q, based up in the Highlands, not only is a top notch greenkeeper, designs and hosts websites, lives with his family and several donkeys, but also has another hobby …

He’s currently restoring this 1965 Volvo Amazon and hope to have it back on the road next summer!

Thanks for sending the photo in John.