Greetings from Hopton-on-Sea!
Another great week for the Cambridge Park & Friends Touring Party.
As usual the accommodation, facilities, meals and entertainment are exemplary.
Most bowls trousers have elasticated waists so returning to proper clothes at the weekend could be a problem! The braised duck on Tuesday evening seems to have had the most 5* so far. It’s Christmas Dinner tonight.
The bowls tournament is well under way. Ann H, Kevin & Maureen K and Terry P have won all their 4 round-robin matches so their place in the final 16 is confirmed. Stella, Barry with Val & Brian N have won 3 of their 4 games as have Tina, Mike, Laurence & Dawn who had 3 good wins and an absolute shocker of a loss in the last round. It’s not often (if ever) that all 4 of us played like we’d never been on a green before at the same time! Having said that, the opposition from Kempston Park all played very well!
We await the outcome of the last two round-robin matches this morning, so won’t know until after 12:30 whether any of our other teams have got through.
Kevin was selected to play in Andy Thompson’s Celebrity Match team last night. The pressure is on with just one rink in action and lots of spectators. Both Andy and Greg Harlow make it as relaxing and fun as possible but it’s still nerve wracking being so exposed!
Kevin did really well, even though his team lost.
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Extra curricular activities organised by Laurence and Ann B (as his glamorous admin assistant) included Table
Tennis which had a new winner in Ron M (plays outdoors at Bishop Duppas) who defeated John D in a relatively close final. Having looked up the game on google, the new format as introduced in 2001 which means games are now played to 11 shots and serve changes every 2 points. We still stuck to our old-fashioned ways and played to 21, changing serve every 5 ends!
Iris M and Sally L have been trying out different activities whilst we are bowling including
‘Iris’ folding, Stretch classes, quizzes and Abba dancing. Laurence, Iris and Dawn tested the new hairdresser on resort. Jacqui has gone off to explore Great Yarmouth by bus. When we travelled up by train in 2022, it was pouring with rain and the town looked rather sad. This morning, it’s crisp, bright and sunny so should look prettier.
All the bowls, banter, chatting, all-inclusive treats has been quite tiring and several have disappeared off for a post lunch snooze, including Cabbie Brian who decided to test out the lounge sofas! He wasn’t the only one!
Prior to the evening shows, there is Bingo which is popular amongst our group and with Kevin having had a sizeable win on Monday evening, more of us are giving it a go! Tina was 1 number off the £750 flyer win last night and will be back with eyes-down tonight.
The shows themselves have been excellent again with singers and dancers and all-round entertainers. We have been treated to first class performances from a variety of musicals to a brilliant 60s pop sequence. The cast changing rooms must be really well organised as the costume changes are made in about 90 seconds between numbers! Last night’s variety show only had 6 in the cast and they gave us a full 90 mins of really excellent singing from pop to musicals to opera. A real treat.
Tonight is the Christmas Spectacular followed by Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime. It’ll all be fun and once you get into the style of the humour, you can enjoy it.
Thursday morning gave Laurence a chance to get the table football tournament going.
Lots of excitement, although all those playing in defence were having trouble waking their goalkeepers up as the balls slid past regularly! It really helps if you have a left-hander playing in goal! Videos available on our facebook page. The tournament was won in style by Laurence with (virtually no-help-at-all) partner Dawn v Carol K & Ron M.
Off to watch bowls, sing Christmas songs, drink coffee and chat with friends now, so more updates later.
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