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Rain fell steadily all day today.
Shelly and Ron’s friends Pete and Maggie emigrated to Spain a year or two back. They have stayed with Jackie’s sister and brother-in-law for the last couple of weeks and are due to return home in two days time. The skittle alley in their local pub, The Walkford, was booked this afternoon for a gathering of all their friends, including us. Plentiful sandwiches, snacks, and cakes were provided and we could buy drinks from the bar. Which we did.
We also engaged in a skittles tournament in which the women beat the men, although Ron was the individual champion. Since the women’s prize was presented to Shelly, I think it was a fix. Mind you, Shelly did share out the chocolates. The final, killer, round was, appropriately won by Maggie, who received a bottle of wine to take back to Spain if it lasts that long.
Ron kept the score on the chalkboard; others took turns to do the sticking which is apparently the term for standing the skittles up again when they have been knocked down. Pete chose to take up his stance behind the pins. A glance at what the balls have done to the back board will reveal why he was at pains to keep his feet out of the way.
Back at home we were in need of no further sustenance.
That looks like a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Everyone appears to be competent skittlers – was that Jackie behind the camera?
She took the one of me, Pauline. Only Ron was really competent 🙂
Looks like a good way to pass the time, though there’s no way I’d stand in line with the skittles. Those balls hurt. You are looking well-trimmed.
Thanks a lot, Quercus. A bit too much trim, I think
Give it a few weeks…
🙂
Those are some very serious skittlers! LOL! I’ll bet Maggie’s bottle of wine didn’t last. 🙂
I rather doubt it, Jill. Thanks very much
Looks like fun, a little like bowling? We are so lazy here in America that we have to have machines to set up the pins and return our balls.
Yes, it is like bowling, I think. 9 skittles, though. Many thanks, Andrew
Yes- I thought the same – we call it bowling. But our balls are bigger.
Very similar. Don’t the 10 pin bowling balls (very popular over here) have notches for digits?
Yes! 3 holes for the thumb & 2 fingers. When I was a kid my dad took us bowling & used his old college ball. He had gained some weight & the ball’s holes weren’t big enough. I can’t remember exactly what happened, but the picture in my head is of him horizontal in the air, arm extended, bowling ball still stuck on his hand.
What a marvellous image
Luckily, he doesn’t read your blog. He’d think not.
Glad that wasn’t wasted, Jodie
I don’t think we play skittles here in the states. We play shuffleboard, which might be similar. It looks fun.
There must be loads of things you can do with pins, balls, and boards. Thanks a lot Leslie
That looks like so much fun and I like the name!
Thanks very much, Lynn. Ron’s grandparents ran the pub many years ago
xx
That Pete’s a brave lad! 😀
He is. Thanks a lot, Widders
Derrick – are you very tall? I never noticed before. but even bent over you look to be 6 feet.
In my prime I was 6’3″; now just 6’1′ 🙂 Thanks very much, Lisa
What fun! I haven’t played skittles in years!
Thanks very much, Clare. I’ve only played once before, in France, on a much truer alley
What fun! Those pins look worn. I bet everyone had a great time.
We all enjoyed ourselves, Lisa. Many just enjoyed the conversations. Aims became less accurate as the afternoon proceeded 🙂 Thanks a lot
That should keep you fit (along with the chocolates)!
Thanks a lot, Sylvie. Actually I not a fan of chocolate 🙂
☺
Looks like a great time was had by all! I’ve bowled, but haven’t tried this game…no gutter for the balls to wander into, I noticed.
Thanks a lot, Diana. No obvious gutter, but a pretty uneven floor!
Wow! I wish I could play Skittle too with a group as lively as that!
Thank you very much, Uma
What fun! Perfect for a rainy day.
It certainly was LL/PS. Many thanks
I never played Skittles, but is it legal for the women to have their feet over the white line? That’s a no-no in bowling.
We were all oldies and didn’t really care much – especially after the second drink 🙂 Thanks a lot GP
Now that’s a good friend and good fun!!
Looks great fun! I suppose someone needs to say that life isn’t all beer and skittles. And it may as well be me. Though, not having an original thought in my head, you’ve probably already had a comment to that effect, which has disappeared into the top of my PC monitor where I can’t see it … 🙂
Yours is the first, Mike 🙂 Many thanks
No kidding! Those balls look like they pack a punch. Also, looks like you had a fabulous time!
We did. Many thanks, Laurie
I don’t know that game, but sure looks fun =)
A bit like 10 pin bowling, but with 9 skittles and smaller balls. Thanks very much, Frances
I see skittles, I think rainbow colored candy. Learned something new today 🙂 thanks Derrick
Thanks very much, Kim
I’m no expert at all, honestly, first time hearing of it. Still I wouldn’t stand in that spot here the destroyed wall. Maybe if I were getting paid..maybe.
Thanks very much Lisa. And maybe not 🙂
Hi Derrick,
I play walking football at Arnewood School with another 18 chaps. I am looking to book the skittle alley for us and our wives in late September, apparently I need to fill a form in. But I wondered if you played regularly, or in a league, and was therefore asking if you had a team that we could play against, for a laugh of course. Let me know if interested.
Colin
Sorry, Colin, this was a on-off family event. It was fun