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On their website, Lismore City Bowling Club says they have Friday night bowls so we came to check it out. We're told this is the oldest NSW bowling club north of Sydney. It's a pretty clubhouse. On the front wall is a painting of Life Members. We met Ian the bartender. Ron came for a quick drink. His wife used to be the Mayor. We had a great chat about Labor and the election win. Outside is a little barbecue area. There are two grass greens. The right-hand green is mown but very patchy from fungus with all the rain they've had. The river behind flooded the club in 2022. The clubhouse went under. Brad and Kenny turned up for a rollup. Jean played with Brad. Mal skipped Kenny. Kenny had never bowled before today. We only got one bowls photo of Mal with shot. It was getting dark and mozzies ate Mal alive! We gave up after two ends. We finished our drinks and went to South Lismore Bowling Club for dinner. Lismore City - no social bowls but nice people!

We'd been told East Lismore has social bowls nearly every day but we didn't know what time. We drove over to find out. We wanted to play here on Tuesday but found out they now only have Thursday and Saturday. We decided to roll up instead. It's a smallish clubhouse with a modern feel. The front entrance is nice. There are three good grass greens. We rolled up on the front green. It's simply called Green 2. The Travelling Bowlers support a scoreboard. Murray was rolling up. He told us he's the Grounsdkeeper two days a week. It was fantastic weather after all the rain and cold we've had. Warm with zero wind on the green. Mal took a turn at the mat. Jean was all over the place. He scored three. It was Jean's turn. She did a little better for two. Grass was pretty good. Not so much weight. Last end Mal was heavy. Jean got four. We came inside to spend a little money. East Lismore - thanks for the weather!

On our way up the New England Highway we've made it to Tenterfield. We didn't get up early enough to drive from Glen Innes for social bowls this morning so came for a rollup. Jean's been singing Peter Allen's song 'Tenterfield Saddler ' for a week, knowing we were coming here. We've been watching Peter Allen documentaries (R.I.P). It's a nice old-fashioned club in an old-fashioned town. There are nice country photos on the walls. With a great array of life members. Next door is a motel. The bowling club owns it. Out front is a comfy seating area which overlooks the bowling green. We met Jacob at the bar. Gary and Jo came to say hi. We chatted with Maria and Michael about our bowls trip. There are two nice grass greens out the front. They were playing social bowls when we arrived. On the Clyde Harman Green. The permanent shades down the middle are great. We took the mat. Jean had shot but Mal had to do better! She got him back though! Jean had four. She told Mal she needed him to do a photo-worthy bowl. He took three out. He kept saying " I can't work the weight out! " Then he did. We came inside and joined the social bowlers for a drink. They were all very welcoming and told us all about the town. Tenterfield - Peter Allen's not the only nice one!

We're been in Armidale for three days. Finally we get to come to Armidale City Bowling Club for a Monday afternoon game. It's a very big clubhouse. It's Mal's daughter Laura's birthday so he walked the clubhouse on the phone to her. Jean came on Saturday and spoke with Paul to get our names down. We came in and Des looked after the money. It's only $4 to play. Everyone sat around before the game. They drew numbers for teams. As usual Mal got his photo with the Greenkeeper Chris. There are three good grass greens. We played on the front green. It's the Ken Jones Green. Ken was the President in 1946. They laid a stone for him. His wife donated a fountain. Today it was 2-4-2 Pairs two games of eight ends. Jean played with Paul. Against Ken and Marge Mal and Mal Played John and Des Jean got a couple early. There were four rinks playing. Mal was doing well. We both won our first game. Winners played Winners so we played each other. Mal took the kitty for two. Then Jean scored a couple. Mal won - of course! Jean was secretly happy he didn't win the money! Armidale- nice to play each other.

While in Armidale we went south yesterday so missed social bowls at Guyra. We drove north today to Guyra for a rollup. We passed 'Thunderbolt's Cave on our way here. Still bushranger country! Guyra has a nice little clubhouse with a big bar. Their Vets have had good success. There are some lovely old trophies in a case. Mal sat and chatted with some old bowlers. Outside is a good, wide verandah. With a barbecue area And a mini golf course. There are two flat carpet synthetic greens. We started on the front green then moved to the back green. The front is the C.G. Mitchell Green. It reminded Jean of one of her favourite Les Murray poems - 'The Mitchells'. It wasn't so cold today - well 14°. Jean still needed her jacket! It was sunny though. After a few yucky bowls she worked it out. It was Mal's turn. His weight was on the money. Spud came out to watch and chat. Great weight again Mal! Then Mal went awry and Jean scored a good'n for four. Nice arvo in Guyra.

We're staying at Armidale. We'd heard Uralla has social bowls on Saturday so we drove out to try to get our names down. It was very cold. It's a pleasant little clubhouse. Outside there are tables with shades. The club started in 1945. The Foundation stone was laid in 1947. They've had a couple of big anniversaries. The boys were playing club Triples. We loved their jackets! We met Rob the Greenkeeper at the bar. He told us social bowls is tomorrow morning. We didn't want to drive back so decided to roll up. Chris came in from the cold to get a beer. Jean asked if he could take his sweater off so we could photograph it. It's all about Captain Thunderbolt around here! There are two grass greens. We rolled up near the boys on the front green. Down the back there's a bowls mural on the shed. We didn'treally get the humour. Jean ventured out well rugged up. The wind was outrageous. A head wind pulled our bowls back. Jean just got shot. Mal tried to master the wind. Going the other way we were in the ditch. We started to work it out. Mal topped the day. Jean was happy she got in there! Mal told the bartender how much he loved the club shirt. He scored a freebie! Thanks Uralla for the shirt!

We missed Walcha when we did Tamworth last year so we back just to see it for Men's bowls day. t's a very old-fashioned clubhouse with many original features. There's a great trophy case inside the door. And a Remembrance corner. Past Presidents are proudly displayed. George looked after the money. The boys sat around to wait for the game. When we arrived Mal started a chat with Phyl and Debbie who were veryhelpful. There's one flat carpet synthetic green. There is what they call the Cow paddock. It's only used for their annual tournament. It has an eighteen month waiting list. Mal, Jean and Will Played Mick, John and Tony. There were three games. Two of Pairs and our Triples game. It was Jean and 13 blokes. They were all very friendly and talkative. First end (after two errant bowls) Jean managed shot bowl. Mal aimed perfectly then Jean and Will consolidated. Have to tell the truth! Jean got helped a little here by the opposition for shot - then Mal took a lovely shot. Jean popped one in In the end we won by 22 shots. We came inside for drinks together. A friendly bunch at Walcha!

Jean's been chatting on Messenger with Cheryl from Nundle. She was so nice we decided Nundle was the place to play today. It's a pretty little clubhouse. With a great verandah outside. We drove over from Quirindi . Cheryl and Gail were the only ones here. It was Pairs against them - eighteen ends. Eddie, the Golf Club President and Gail's husband came to watch. It was a grudge match! We were losing until we started to work out the slow green. Jean put in two beauties. We had one then Mal put the kitty in the ditch for two. We took three for a convincing lead. It ended up we won 21 to 16. On the last end Brian and Leonie turned up. We all had drinks together. Nice people at Nundle!

On our way to play an afternoon game at Nundle, we stopped in at Quirindi to check it out and maybe get a rollup. We're staying at Willow Tree in the $15 camp ground next door to the bowling club It's been closed all the time so we've had no chance to get a rollup there. The Quirindi Bowling Club turned a hundred years in 2022. is a nice little clubhouse with a friendly feel. There are two grass greens. There used to be three but one has been turned into a playground. The front green is nice in the morning shade. It's the Nev Ryman Green. John came to say hello. We met him at Cardiff last week. Sue, Kerry and Helen had a nice chat with Jean about our trip. We noticed the solid permanent shades. Donated by the Women's Bowling Club. Mal took the mat He made Jean cross with his good bowls. Jean stepped up. She raced down as she thought she'd taken shot. With his last bowl Mal took the kitty. Jean finally put one in. Last end Mal had two shots. Jean had had enough and asked him to send two bowls back. She drove at him and took them both out. She cheered up then! Quirindi - lovely morning rollup in country NSW.

We're told by ABC News that the rain will ease and move south tomorrow - thank goodness! Today we're off for another rainy bowls-free visit to Carrington Bowling Club in Newcastle. It has an Elvis theme. It's a nice little old-fashioned clubhouse. It looks at first like there are two greens But one has been turned into an entertaining area out the front. Matt the barman told us the club was on the ropes a few years ago. A new licencee Jacquie came in and turned it around. Richard the cook came to chat about the fate of bowling clubs. He said the restaurant is now growing. Matt told us there was a local art competition where artists had to portrait a local business person. The artist (who won best-up-and-coming) painted Jacquie. Trivia players heard about it, bought and put the painting up. That's not all! A few years ago they did a nude calendar to raise money for the greens. There's one grass green now. The Ted Cullen Green. It was closed due to the downpour. Carrington- no bowls but lots of fun!

It's still raining again everywhere so no bowls this arvo. We drove to Cardiff to check it out. It's a small clubhouse that's had some reno's. It has a nice welcome mat. The Falcons. There is interesting bowls paraphernalia. Jean wanted to get a photo of the past Presidents and Life Member's array. Dave sat below and pointed out his picture - last one! One of the members told us we had to talk to management as we were taking photos. Once we explained ourselves things changed. Bill and Col called us over for a chat. Terry the Bowls Coordinator came over to join the conversation. There's a good, long under cover area. The club has two greens - one grass And a plastic synthetic. No way we could play on it today! Rain, rain, rain at Cardiff!

Everywhere we've been the last week it's been pouring rain. Today is no exception. We're in Newcastle and visiting Club Kotara. It will be a very short post with no bowls! It's a small, old-fashioned clubhouse upstairs. All the past Presidents greet you as you enter. With the Pennant winners. There used to be two greens but the front one has been turned into an entertaining area. The main green is grass. The train line sits above - noisy for bowls! Even though there's no bowls or rollup we wanted to write a blog post so here it is! Kotara - to wet for a rollup!