Great company and hospitality at Portarlington

Mal kept on his quest to ring all the clubs to find out when they have social bowls. Yesterday Portarlington rang him back to say they play Wednesday. He got our names down.

We were running late so rang to say we were on our way. When we arrived they were already out. We met Anne and Robbie in the office. They said "You're ok, you still have ten minutes."

The club has two synthetics,

with a lovely view of the ocean. We played on the quick one.

The club was founded in 1920 which makes it 103 this year.

We started with a minute's silence for a member who passed on Sunday. Very solemn. The flag was half mast.

It was three-bowl triples. Two games of ten ends on five rinks. Jean played lead for skip Anne and Joan

(Joan, Anne and Jean)

against Keith, Tony, Ian and Rob. Triple played with three bowls (skip two) and four played with two.

Despite it being a fast synthetic, the line was true. Jean got her first couple of bowls close. They won the first end. Lost by five.

We went inside for a cuppa and raffles. Anne's husband had caught some fish and donated them. Jean said "I'm going to win the fish!" First draw was Tony, he chose the fish and gave them to Jean. What a lovely gesture.

Mal played lead for skip Sue with John

(John, [photobomb], Mal and Sue)

against Ken, Ian and Mal. Jean often heard comments like "Great bowl Mal." Or, "Take out that bowl of Mal's." They won.

Jean played game two against skip Margaret, Christina and lead Peter (Grumpy) from Yarrawonga. Grumpy gave us his number and told us to contact him when we get to Yarrawonga and he'll introduce us around.

(Christina, Peter (Grumpy) and Margaret)

Jean bowled better second game and often took shot. The team was behind the whole game and needed four on the last end to draw. Got it.

Like many small bowling clubs they had great bar prices: $7.50 for a beer and a soft drink.

Portarlington - goodbye and thanks for all the fish!