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We've nearly done all the clubs on The Central Coast. Today we're at The Ary - Toukley RSL - for a Saturday morning game. We're told Ary is short for RSL. It's quite a big clubhouse. Lucy managed the draw. People lined up to pay. It cost $10 and we got a game and a barbecue. Peter took the money. Everyone sat for a chat before the game. There are two grass greens. The far green was set up for social bowls. It's the Eric Trevallion Green. It was Mal, swinger Jean and Dave. Jean swung for Jimmy and Peter. The green was tough. Very narrow on one side. Jean tried to bowl one team on one side and the other on the other side. That didn't work. She equalled her record of six wrong biases. Her first shot was a metre out! Mal popped one in there. Jean finally got a toucher! Mal did it again - just. We came in for the barbecue. Peter's team won by one shot and were drawn as the winner of the day. On our way out we met Vicky, Carol and Jodie who have been following us. The Ary - nice to win for a change Jean!

We drove up from Mooney Mooney to the Central Coast for a few days. Before getting to our caravan park we stopped in at Canton Beach Sports Club to try for a game of bowls. It's a nice modern clubhouse - smallish. There were loads of people here to listen to a nice country music band. We found the bowlers in the Function Room. President Dave and Secretary Lesleigh organised things at the table. There were lots of bowlers in there. Dave and Lesleigh looked a little freaked out when we said we wanted to play today because they were full due to travelling Bowlers. They said they could get us into a Fours game. It was raining though as a championship was played. There are three grass greens. The first green was set up for social bowls. They had been playing Consistency. They came inside and had a great chat with Jean. One of the ladies had read our Blog. Dave came up with a sad face to say it was all called off due to the rain. We decided to stay for the raffles and got some food. Canton Beach - shame about the weather!

Jean's been chatting for a while with Liz from Mooney Mooney after she posted on their Facebook page. Liz has been so helpful finding places for us to stay. We had it on good authority that caravans can park at the club. We turned up yesterday and set up only to be told by the bar attendant that new management doesn't allow it. We understand the new manager doesn't get country hospitality. Liz and Annie worked hard and eventually got us a spot at the wonderful Angler's Rest Hotel. The Mooney Mooney club is a decent size. Modern. It's owned by Revesby Workers. The outlook over the Hawkesbury is lovely. Down the back is the bowlers' shed. With bowls edging the garden. There's a little outdoor BBQ area. It's plain inside. But really you'd want to be outside! Liz had told us a few people turn up on Wednesday Arvo for social bowls. We caught a bus from the pub and arrived 3:30. Tim and Peter were rolling up. Sandy came later and recognised Jean. There's just one grass green. There were a few people there. They were all very friendly and talkative but nobody seemed to want to roll up with us. We rolled up together on rink 11. (We thought the numbering was a bit odd with one green.) Jean had a go. The green was really slow from the rain. It took all our muscles to get up there. Jean pipped Mal. Mal stepped out. He did a little better though he struggled. Jean was surprised to nearly get a full count. Jean sent Mal's bowls back to make sure he scored shot. He didn't disappoint! The mozzies started to get Mal so we finished early. Dave who we met at the pub arranged for the pub bus to pick us up. We came back for a lovely Angler's Rest meal. Mooney Mooney - just a little roll-up but nice.

We're staying at Mooney Mooney so decided to take a quick ferry ride to Dangar Island. With no cars on the island we were surprised it has a bowling club. When we arrived we understood. Jean had been in touch via Messenger. They said: " Thursday from 5:30, Friday and Saturday from 6 and Sunday from 12:30. Bookings are also essential for lawn bowls in our opening hours. Sunday may be the best option for you as we are open from 12 noon to 3 pm or later depending on clientele." We couldn't get there those days but we got permission to take photos. We drove to the ferry terminal in Brooklyn. We got on board. There were some interesting sights along the way. Our first glimpse of the island. And the Dangar Island Ferry terminal. A little walk up the hill and we're greeted with a congratulatory message. The first thing we spied was a Chess set! Yes. We felt welcome. We got a look inside through the window. Mal took the steps down to the green. Hey surveyed the scene. The green looks a little unkempt. With a small volunteer membership it's no surprise. Hey if bowlers want to bowl they take what's on offer! It's tiny. Only three rinks. We had an hour to wait for the ferry so came to the cafe at the terminal for some food and drinks. Thanks Dangar Island for letting us come. Perhaps we'll come back for a bowl some day?

We drove on Sunday to Pittwater and Avalon bowling clubs to have a look. They were both locked up so we couldn't roll up. We then stopped in at Mona Vale and got our names down for Monday afternoon. It's a pretty little old club. With a nice outdoor verandah. On the wall is a poem about The Bowlo. Wally at the bar has been here 40 years but doesn't bowl much. He wrote our names down. We arrived on Monday and we're immediately welcomed. It's like they were waiting for us. We met Fred the joker, Jan and Bill who looked after the draw. Here is the draw. Two games. Two men and for women played today. There's a Manly Sea Eagles jumper on the wall. Parramatta fan Mal wasn't impressed until he saw Fred pictured top left. There are three grass greens. The end one has been split and looks like it's not used a lot. It's for barefoot bowlers. It was three-bowl pairs on the far green. It's the Cec Wall Green. There was a championship game of Consistency Singles on another rink. Jean played with Jan. Everyone was so friendly. Against Mary and Martha. Mal skipped Lynne. Against Fred and Anne. Mal forgot to take photos. The girls called Jean over for a pic of Mal's shot. Jean ran down the other end to capture her good bowls. She did it again but didn't get another one for Mal. Jean won. Mal lost. We came in for drinkies. Mona Vale - a nice place to bowl!

We're still in Sydney. We've done a couple of clubs on the Northern Beaches. Today we're off to Newport for a Saturday afternoon game. Lyn came over to introduce herself to us as we arrived. She was part of the group that managed to get us a game today. Rob had rung Mal this morning to arrange things. Everyone was very friendly. It's a nice old clubhouse with some old trophies on display. Steve the Manager, who looks after the bar, looked after the money. Members David, Alan, Dave and Rudi called us over for a chat. They were watching the end of the Minor Singles championship game. There are three greens. Two are grass with one six month old plastic synthetic the bowlers prefer. Today it's triples. We were both on the synthetic. It was Fred, Jean and Charron. Against Joy, Peter and Geraldine Mal was with Rob and Phil Against Tony, Lynne and Francis. Jean raced over to Mal's rink just as he put in a great shot. Then Jean got two - including a toucher! Charron put in a third. Jean and Charron did it again. The game seemed very slow. It wasn't though! If Jean or Charron did a good bowls, Fred would give a little wiggle. Mal was losing but he managed to put one in. The last ten ends Jean's game was even. One up, one down, one up, one down... They got a five on the second last end so no chance. Mal lost by one! We came inside for happy drinkies. Happy losers at Newport!

We weren't going to do Sydney for a couple of years but we stopped in at Narrabeen for a couple of days on our way up north. Today we have bowls at Belrose. We can both play. It's a mid-sized modern clubhouse. Peter looked after the money. We rang last night and John added us to the list. Lots of people rolled up before the game. They all came in for the card call. John called the cards & introduced us & our trip. There are three nice grass greens. We played on the top green. There were three games of three-bowl pairs. Nine ends per game. We played together First game was against Jenny and Mick. It took a while but Jean scored two. Second game was against Bob and Graham. Mal put one right on the kitty! Jean got two in a caterpillar. Our last game was against Carl and Alex. It was close but Mal snuck in! We had two losses but won our last convincingly. We didn't even win the raffle but met nice people! Belrose - at least the people were nice!

So we're back on our trip after eight weeks' gap visiting kids, grandkids and sisters. After a lot of argy bargy we managed to get a caravan site at the Royal National Park and today it's bowling at Engadine. (We haven't done Sydney before!) We think because of gender restrictions allowed in NSW we can't play together (oh Victoria we love you) only Mal can play today. It's our second Sydney club - after our favourite Austral. It's a decent-sized clubhouse. They've had excellent regional, National and international successes. Graeme and Gary looked after the money. They are the Engadine Cougars. We met Geoff and Lindsay. Mal wouldn't let Green keeper Jordan go without a photo! Mal chatted with the boys at the table. They were quite apologetic about men only and urged Jean to have a roll-up. She did that but got cranky because every time she had shot Mal stole it. She raced up after three bowls to get a photo of her good bowls before Mal ruined it. While we waited for the draw to be announced Steve called us over. We met him when we were at Gilgandra. It was Fours and triples. Lloyd, Peter, John and Graeme played Graham, Peter, Mal and Richard. Jean waited most of the game for Mal to do photo -worthy bowl. He probably did some but Jean didn't see them. She finally caught a beauty. Last end he didn't disappoint. On the last end Mal's team was up one and got two for a late win. They came inside for drinks and raffles. Engadine - No bowls for Jean but good to be back

It's Jean's turn now. We've had to stay in Canberra a few more weeks while we wait for our new caravan fridge to arrive. We decided to catch a bus over to Jean's club at Weston Creek for a Tuesday morning game. We had to bus it as our car was in for repairs. Tuesday is ladies' day but all days at Weston Creek have always been mixed. We waited for ages to get in (someone told us to be here at 9. We arrived at 8:47.) The club opened at ten. We were the only people here! After we'd been standing around for a couple of hours Jean shrieked " I forgot my bowling arm! " Three guys turned up so Jean suggested Mal roll up with them. It was Mal, Des, Phillip and Bruno for three-bowl pairs. Weston Creek has three greens. Two grass and one old synthetic. They rolled on Green 1 adjacent to the club. The W.N. "Sam" Hall Green. Mal skipped for Lead Phillip. Mal took shot his first bowl down. Mal was on fire! He did it again second end. Mal and Phillip were up 5-1 after four ends. With nothing better to do Jean decided to video Mal. He blitzed it! Mal does a schmick bowl! They were a full half ahead. Mal finished well. Mal and Phillip won convincingly. They came inside. Jean bought a round. Weston Creek - Jean's home and Mal wins.

We're at home for a while - enjoying our grandkids - which is why we haven't posted much. Today we came to Mal's club - Tuggeranong Vikings for a game of Wednesday Pairs. All Mal's mates were sitting for a chat. It's a nice little clubhouse below Vikings Club. Club champions are displayed proudly. We've said before that Tuggeranong has three greens. Two grass (for the moment) and one plastic synthetic. We played on the synthetic green. The Eddie Weatherall Green Wednesday used to be strictly Men. After amalgamation they introduced women however Jean was the only girl today. We played together Against Noel and Kevin. We lost the first end by five. Next end we had one when Jean knocked Mal up for two. We had two then Jean took kitty for three. We were two down and Jean put in a beauty for one shot. We lost it then Mal put kitty in the ditch for two. We were four down when Lead Jean drove one took shot. We won 27 to 14. We only played 18 ends. It being election time, our local member David Smith - Member for Bean - turned up for a rollup. Jean knows him from the Labor Party and they had a nice chat. He gave a nice speech about his involvement with the club. They drew the winners. We didn't win but our opponents got runners up. Tuggeranong Vikings - nice to be home!

Today is our last day in Victoria. We've stopped in at Mansfield for an early game before we head home up the Hume Highway. It's another lovely little country clubhouse. With a beautiful memorial for past members. And a gorgeous tapestry of lady members back to 1957. Champions and Presidents are displayed on the wall. Outside is a nice verandah which overlooks the grass green. We dropped in when we arrived in Mansfield on Monday. We met Daniel who's a signwrighter. He updated the honour boards. Just after 8 Tuesday morning we saw Alan and Denis look after the draw on the TV. Shane came to chat with us about travel to the Cape. He was here to clean the barby. Then we met Larry and Judy who are visiting from Mullumbimby. We'll call them when we visit there. The boys sat and chatted outside while they waited for the game to start. There are two greens. The back one is a plastic synthetic. The front green is grass. We played on that. It will be replaced soon with a nine-rink Tiger Turf and the old synthetic will be pulled up. It's the JA Lakin Green. Alan rolled it before the game. It's Fours today. Two games of ten ends. Mal skipped Jean, Christina and Denis. Against Harry, Mark and Brendan. They are the Mansfield Eagles. We had three rinks. As usual Mal was a great Skip. We were three down and he got us on the board. The green was slow. It took a bit of getting used to. Jean had two then Christina gave us two more. It was 9-all going in to the last end. They got 5. Our second game we played Phil, Pete, Anne and Larry. Again Christina consolidated Jean's two shots. Jean told Mal he had to do a photo-worthy bowl. He did a beauty but Jean was so excited she forgot to take a photo! We hardly won any ends that game so got flogged. We came in for a drink before we drove to Wagga Wagga. They all said we should vote Mansfield as the best club. It's close but still pipped by Alexandra. Mansfield - see you in November Victoria!

We came to Alexandra Bowls Club on spec, before heading to our accommodation, to see if they had Thursday social bowls on today. They don't but what they have is even better! We pulled up and met Bob the Bar Manager who arrived at the same time. He told us there's a tournament on the weekend and they are a couple of players short. We agreed to play within seconds of him asking! He took our names then said we can camp on the old green. It was a bit hard for Mal to get our big caravan on there so instead we parked in front of the shed. Bob guided Mal through the narrow gate then hooked us up to power and water. Instead of staying at the Alexandra Showground for one night - we'll stay for four nights here! It's another little country Clubhouse. With winners displayed proudly. There's a comfy looking outdoor area. Dave (Homer) the Greenkeeper came to introduce himself. Dave looks after the plastic synthetic green. The Lewis Green. Thanks to Victorian Gov't. They have Government help with the water. We assume it's an in joke on the wind sign. George Argent - Hooley Dooley! We had a ball hanging out with the locals on Friday night to prepare for Saturday. Jean said " I feel that Alexandra might surpass Skipton as our favourite Victorian club! " We met President Gilly. THE TOURNAMENT - SATURDAY We got up bright and early on Saturday for a 9am start. It's $70 per player. With 7 games of bowls four meals and snacks we think that's good value. Prize money is from the Calcutta. Terry sat at the door to collect Calcutta fees. We started with a Calcutta. Jean didn't know what that was so she just went with the flow. It was the best-organised Tournament we've ever seen. Every team got a bag. Each bag had everything we need. Stubby holders, bracelets, bowls stickers, pens, cloths, programme and Calcutta book. All the teams sat down to sort themselves out. There were teams here from Yea , Shepparton Golf , Yarra Glen and Whittlesea where we've been and Moonee Valley, Elwood Elsternwick we'll do in Melbourne in 2028. We went out to play. Today It's two-bowl triples. Four games of fourteen ends and three tomorrow. Mal was Homer's Second with Steve. They played first game against Bubbles, Ken and GI Jane. Gilly skipped. Jean played Second with Lead Mick who came from Yea. They were against Riley, Nathan and Brayden - young guns from Moonee Valley in Melbourne. Gilly says Nathan will be Victoria's next Skipper. The Tournament is called Murrindindi 2000 for the Murrindindi Shire. The first one was in 1997. They thought is would last three years. 28 years later they've kept the name. Jean had no chance against the guns. The score was 2 to 25! All she could manage was a couple of catchers! Mal had a much closer game. At least he scored a shot in his Alexandra shirt! His second game he was against Angus, Paul and Braiden from Elwood Elsternwick. Second game Jean played Andy, Doug and Roachy. Gilly's team was so excited to get more shots in one end than the whole first game score. Jean was over the moon with her two shots! Jean's rink had the best head of the day. Jean won but Mal lost. We came in for a lovely country lunch of Corned beef, ham salad and potato bake. Dessert was Apple Crumble and ice-cream. It got hotter after the lunch. We were expecting 34°. It was 32°. Jean played against Warnie, Curly and Athlete. Mal against Trevor, Pip, and Tim. There was Aussie rock music playing in the background. Everyone was singing along and having a ball. 2nd end Jean nailed it! Mick consolidated. The Zooper Doopers came out just in time!. Last game of the day Gilly played Graham, Brett and Ben. Mal and Jean both won two and lost two. Mal lost by much less than Jean's 20 to 30. We were so tired and sore after 56 ends of bowls we had no energy to take a photo of our barbecue dinner. All we got was a quick picture of the corner to corner shootout. SUNDAY Sunday started with breakfast at 8:30. We got ready for another 42 ends of bowls. Breakfast was tea with bacon, eggs, hash browns and Collingwood vs Port Adelaide on the television. Steve went home so Mal played today with Homer and Mal. Their first opponents were Mark, Beau and Liam from Yarra Glen. Jean was against Josh, Matt and Blake who are from Moonee Valley. It was raining. So welcome after yesterday! First bowl down for Jean was a wrong bias. She made up for it though. Likewise Mal up the other end of the green. Neither of us won our first game. Next game we played each other - opposing Seconds. First end Jean had two and Gilly consolidated. After a full count, Jean was up ten-zip. Jean had a lovely shot but Mal took the kitty back for three. Gilly got one back then. 11-zip. Mal's side had three next end. Gilly drove and split the jack! Dead end! They finally scored with three in the re-play. Mal had two shots. Jean said " Take that Mal! " Gill won 21 to 5! Mal won't live that down! We came in for lunch. This time roast lamb & pork. Dessert was Sticky Date Pudding. Chris, Levi, Marie and Rose fed us beautifully. Over lunch it pelted down! The boys decided to play on it. They to call it. They tallied the results. Mal's (Homer's) team got best Saturday team. At the end of the day we think Alexandra has not only eclipsed Skipton as Victoria's best club, it's now Australia's best bowling club! We came in for a well-deserved drink. We believe this was the best tournament we've ever been in. They're never sure when it will be run. If bowlers want to play in it they can contact President Gilly (Greg Gilmore) on 0411 605 732 or gillygilmore60@hotmail.com . Alexandra - we think we're honorary members now!