Category: News

RSPB Big Bird Count this Weekend – Let’s Get Involved!

Apologies as this is being posted somewhat later than usual.

Here’s the link to the RSPB site.  https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

This is something we can all do, even if we don’t have feeders, maybe take a look at one in your neighbour’s garden or on the golf course – George H knows the ducks quite well.

I had two robins and a wren on my balcony this morning.  I hope they come back when I’m on my hour’s watch tomorrow!

Let us know what birds you have seen.  Those of you nearer the parks might get more varieties.

Wet Saturday and Indoor Bowls Match

It’s good we’re playing indoors.  It is definitely too soggy out to bowl!  However, if you’ve got the waterproof gear, go out for a walk, jump in some puddles.  Laugh and return home for tea and crumpets!

Looking forward to welcoming Iver Heath this afternoon for 3 triples game.

Tina, Terry & skip Peter T (Match Captain)

Tricia, Barry & skip Teresa

Dawn, Gym & skip Steve G

Reserves:  Ange, Bob & Frances, Laurence, Brian N

 

We’re playing Shoplands Select at the back end of hte month.  When I’ve got the date, I’ll put a sign up sheet up.  Not all clubs are playing indoors yet, so the matches will be few and far between I think.  We’ll arrange something else at the weekends though.  Anyone else like Australian Pairs?

Thanks

Dawn

 

Membership Form and Self Declaration Form

These can both be downloaded on the Membership Form and Fees page!  Indoor Subs £90 for returning members.  New members (i.e. first playing season at Cambridge Park Indoors) £45.  Social Membership £5

Those members with email addresses will be sent the subs invoice over the next few days.

Numbered Membership Cards will be handed out once subs have been paid.  If you know you are re-joining or joining for the first time, please contact Laurence, so he can get your Membership Card ready for collection.

Board Meeting Notes on the Members’ Page (password protected)

Indoor Risk Assessment will be posted by 01/10/2020

Thanks

Glorious Monday – The Sun is Shining!

I hope you all had a good weekend and managed to do the odd downpour.  (Mine would have been improved if the bloomin’ router had arrived.  I refuse to pay for hotspot wi-fi any longer!)

We had a great game v Chertsey on Saturday.  It was the first time many of the Chertsey players had been on a bowls’ green since last August and they were so pleased to get out and play!  Their own green won’t be open for another couple of weeks.    I think there was a runaway rink under Dave P‘s skippering and a good win for Steve G‘s team.

Norman’s team were doing ok until we dropped a 6 and Dawn managed to miss a score out on one end so that instead of winning 16-15, we lost 15-16.  Doh!  Norman played well with Terry M’s bowls and Sarah and Dawn were a bit in and out but we were trying, honestly!

It was brilliant to see so many friends coming along to enjoy the sunshine and company – Tony & Shirley O, Terry & Ann M, Reg (many people would be envious of his head of hair – he looks great!), Nadine, Jean, Corale, Beryl B, Brenda D, Colin M & his wife (apologies, I can’t remember her name), Gerry, George, Bob & Frances, Ron & Mo E, Lucy & Merve!  It was difficult to get a photo when they were all there as well as concentrate on playing!

Peter T and Norman exchanged elbow shakes.  Norman was very pleased with the overall win  and  claimed  the  victor’s trophy.  It will be up for grabs again on the re-match.  Might have to have a best of three!  (Apologies the image is rather dark – we did finish before 7 pm, so not quite sure what happened to my phone.)

Laurence was also on a winning roll with his Rock Cakes.  He’ll be making some more for this week!

Geraldine H, Gym and Dawn had a re-match v Kevin K, Richard H & Richard D at Hampton on Sunday morning.  The green was playing very well indeed.  It was just a shame that we three couldn’t match Kevin’s three.  You what it’s like when you don’t get the rub of the green.  We certainly didn’t get it but then again, we didn’t play well enough to deserve it either!  Anyway, Hampton are looking for a home and away triples game on a Sunday.  Please let me know if you would like to play – is Sunday better for you?

Chris C from Teddington saw our recent post and have we are now playing them at CP this Saturday at 3.30 pm.  We have a game v Bishop Duppas away on 4th July and a return at CP on 11th July.  Please let me know if you would like to play.  It would be good to get more of you on the game but if you just want to spectate, that’s fine.  It’s lovely to see you chatting away from a distance.  Maybe by this weekend, you can sit a bit closer!

Strawberry Hill are opening today, I believe.  Good luck to them.  Fordbridge Park only have one playable rink at the moment, but hope to come over and play in August.

 

 

 

Moving Forward

From today, you are welcome to bring your own drinks/glasses/snacks to enjoy after your roll up.  There are no rubbish facilities available, so whatever you bring, you need to take home again!

The tables, chairs & parasols are up.  Even if you are just spectating, please, please, please disinfect your hands with sanitising gel as this will reduce the risk of spreading the disease across hard surfaces that are touched.  You have all been brilliant with the social distancing so please keep it up even when you’re off the green.  It’s really tempting to step closer and closer but we are still vulnerable.

Looking another couple of weeks forward, we hope to be able to serve drinks from a table “out the back” but we’re not there yet.  Hopefully this can be organised once we have approval to do so.

The first IX v IX – Saturday 13th June

Yesterday’s friendly game v Mike Cooper’s IX was very successful with players from Bishop Duppas, Ashford and Egham making up Mike’s team.  The Gatfield IX had a win on this occasion but, to be fair, we had all (1) being playing ofr nearly a month and (2) being playing on our own green.  Something akin to home advantage!

It SOOOOO good to see lots of people at the club both playing and spectating, so we’re going to do it again and Peter Twells has taken up the IX and will be bringing a team from Chertsey who are not open yet (due to green and council problems) next Saturday afternoon.

 

Update from Pat P.  Ray’s op was successful on Thursday and he was sitting up in a chair yesterday.  Today he has to start walking.  Please continue to send positive thoughts to both Ray and Pat – for his recovery and her nerves!  It’s not easy for either!

I’m using a hotspot wi-fi and it keeps dropping off every 2 minutes which is really annoying.   Hopefully my new router will arrive tomorrow – it should have been here on Thursday!

Spring Poem – Just as Spring is Merging into Summer!

Thanks to Linda M’s friend who sent this over on Saturday

Wordsworth in Lockdown:

I wandered lonely as a cloud,
Two metres from the madding crowd,
When all at once my name was called
To enter Waitrose hallowed hall.
This was the pensioner’s special hour
I’d gone to get a bag of flour,
But I forgot -when through the door –
What I had gone to Waitrose for.
The Waitrose staff are extra kind
I told them it had slipped my mind,
They ask what else I had forgot
They clearly thought I’d lost the plot.
I phoned my wife again to ask
She reminded me of this special task
“I need some flour to bake a cake
With all that cream you made me take!”
“Ah yes, I recall” I had to lie,
I dared not ask what flower to buy,
But then I saw them at the tills
A bunch of golden daffodils.

 

He did well to hang on in the queue.  I saw the one at Hampton Sainsbury’s and decided to give it a miss.   IF I had gone to the queue, my car wouldn’t have been damaged outside my flat by some chaps escaping the police getting in ‘their’ van and scraping my car in their escape.  It seems to be superficial damage so it’s annoying but I was lucky.  In hurtling down the next narrow street in manic fashion, the police car at the other end took a battering and a policeman was badly hurt.

It was fascinating to see the police teams at work.  One said that  burglaries etc had decreased significantly since lockdown but there had been a rise in domestic violence and fraud.  Because of the general downturn, they were able to respond immediately when one of the neighbours saw the suspects jacking up cars and removing items from underneath.  Catching them red-handed was a very good result.  I don’t believe the van belonged to the suspects and it had false number plates.   My insurance underwriters won’t be impressed.  What with moths and this, I wonder what is coming next?!

Missed Norman’s Birthday on Saturday – Oops

Bottom of the class for me as I didn’t turn on the computer yesterday so belatedly want to wish Norman a very happy birthday from all of us.  I’m sure there must have been scones with clotted cream and jam (in the Devonshire fashion) with jelly and ice cream plus an odd zoom meet up!

Norman is known as one of Ange’s “special” ones ie no onions!  During lockdown we have discovered that landscape design for sporting challenge events along with sports presenter and commentating are a few of Norman’s hidden talents!  Did you also know he shares a birthday with Paul Gasgoine?  Not sure if that’s good or not!

Sorry, this is late Norman!

 

Down at the Club, we welcomed a new member  Dave Pitt, as Masonians isn’t quite up and running yet.  Good new for us and we’ll all have to up our game.  The intended singles ladder competition will be interesting.  Laurence is also thinking of running 75 shot competition in league fashion on weekend mornings but he’ll be working the finall details soon.

 

 

See Through Scrubs – Ooh, Sounds like Carry on Nurse!

Had a funny email from Barbara P who had some sheets ready to be made into scrubs by Jill G‘s U3A group.  Apparently white isn’t any good as it’s see through!  It might make patients laugh which would be good for some but not for all of them!  I never even crossed my mind about that.  So, if you have coloured sheets/duvet covers you don’t need, they will make less revealing scrubs and save a bit of embarrassment.

Well done to Ange & Scott for delivering 14 portions of Beef Stifado around and about today.  I was lucky enough to get a portion for my dinner and it was absolutely delicious.  The two of them have done a brilliant job cooking a meal each week and delivering to ever growing numbers.   That was Ange’s last cook-in for the summer though. Thanks a million to Ange, Scott (and Des giving up the kitchen) for all you have done for the members.  A big round of applause heading your way !

Ron C was pleased to hand over 2 bags of frozen peas on Saturday which the supermarket had delivered in place of 4 cans of mushy peas.  I suppose he could have thawed them then attacked them with a rolling pin?? !  Despite being under the weather a bit,  Ron has picked up the phone and rung a few people – excellent.  Do likewise everyone.  It’s good to talk even if you can’t get out.

Kevin K said all the Hamptonites he had spoken to were well.  I guess more of them as well as us will be venturing out a bit more to get some fresh air and/or talk to friends.  Do not feel bad if the thought of going out scares you.  Going from total lockdown to some freedom of movement won’t be easy.  Some of us have been going out to work (not using public transport) for the last 8 weeks, so we feel more confident in the street, supermarket etc.  We still have to be aware of good hygiene and the physical distancing required though.  There is no reason to be blase at all and handwashing is essential before you go out and after you come back.  Hand gel is also a must but don’t put your hands near your mouth, It tastes absolutely awful!

Ange reminded me that the wonderful Vic Perry (national umpire) was an international speed skater.  I wonder if he was ever up against Gerry?

Keep your news coming in.  It’s good to stay connected until we get on the green again!

 

Dawn

Easing of Some Lockdown Restrictions

I hope the easing of restrictions allowing you to meet someone from a different household outdoors but still at social distancing is good news for several of you.  Woodland Gardens in Bushy Park will have several of you talking with each other from 2m away.  Brilliant!

As regards sport which can be played on your own or with your household from Wednesday, we have plans in place and will get back as soon as we can as regards outdoor bowling.  There are a couple of hurdles than need to be cleared but we are very hopeful those that are able and want to will be back on the green very soon.  It will need to be regimented as we have to look at the safety of every member as a priority.  Not everyone will want to venture out yet and that will be respected.  Fingers crossed!

Dawn