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It's our last day in Nowra region before we head back to Wollongong tonight. We've come for Wednesday afternoon Bowls. We came in on Saturday and put our names down. It's a nice-looking clubhouse. We drive to Wollongong after the game tonight to look after Jean's Mum and her sisters' dogs while they go to Tasmania. It seems there are some champions here! Jamie looked after the draw. Today there were four games of three-bowl triples. Steve, Jean and Mal Were against Derek, Ken and Allan. There are two nice grass greens. We played on the front green. It's the John Herbert Green. There's a nice memorial in the garden. It took nearly ten ends for either of us to do a photo-worthy bowl. Suddenly each of our team members had a shot. Mal had two. We ended up with one. They all kept barking orders at Jean. " Put the mat down!" "Leads don't stand on the green!" "Shhhhhh! He's on the mat !" Then some bloke on the sideline had a go at her for missing "the bowl of the day" being on her phone. Men think that's OK behaviour. Jean finally got one after she got cranky at Skip Mal for calling her on the other hand. Mal started to get the fast green. Steve convinced Jean to roll a short end. She was dubious but it worked out very well! Mal put the kitty in the ditch! We won 20 to 16. It was a tough game. Mal reckons they were top bowlers. We had to race off because there was a sports game on at the oval and our caravan was about to be parked in. Who knows if we won the day? Husky Sports - we just escaped!

We've driven out south-east from Nowra to Currarong for a game with the boys. Mal said " It's like a Tardis - huge on the inside! " There's a nice entertaining area by the green. Jean met Todd the greenkeeper. Mal met Ray who organises Tuesday bowls. Ian looked after the money and draw. It was only $5 each to play. The boys all sat around before the game. They were very friendly and welcoming. There's a good sign. With two grass greens. We played on the lower green. The Bert Worboys Memorial Green. We played three-bowl triples. There were 17 players so three games with one swinger. Peter, Jean and Mal. Against Bert, Mal and Neil. It wasn't the usual six ends. Jean scored second end. Jean got three. Then Mal took her second shot out with his first bowl and stole it with his last. Jean's (Peter's) team was ahead all game. After the six Peter's team got Mal's team caught up. They needed three to win on the last end. They had four then Jean's team scored a one after Mal moved the kitty. Winners got their green fees back. They served us up little boys after the game. Currarong - bowls, frankfurts and a win for Jean.

Today at Saint Georges Basin Country Club it's Sunday Chook Run day. We arrived early. Out the front we met Heather and Graham. It's a surprisingly big clubhouse. The plaque says they've been bowling for over 60 years. Jean messaged the club yesterday to get our names down for a 9:30 start. Committee member Greg rang Mal last night to confirm. Brian looked after the money. We sat and chatted with the guys before the game started. There are three nice-looking grass greens. The green was being rolled. As usual it's named for a man. There were three games of three-bowl triples. It was Graham, Jean and Charlie Against Ray, Jean and George. Paul, Mal and Heather Played Pam, Geoff and Keith. The green was super fast. It took a while then Jean scored a three. They said to Mal " You can stay as Skip! " Jean felt she bowled really well. Mal had shot then the opposition skip pushed his bowl and the kitty up for two. We came inside to celebrate. We both had convincing wins. Jean's team won by 14, Mal won by 24 shots. He won the Meat Voucher. One of the guys gave Mal a Club cloth. A meat voucher for Mal at St George's Basin Country Club!

We came to Greenwell Point after we visited Culburra Beach Bowlo. We'd seen online they had Saturday afternoon bowls on. Mal rang but they said there's a tournament on. We dropped in for a visit. The sign says it's been open since 1974. It's a pleasant little clubhouse. There didn't seem to be any bowlers around. We were a little bit surprised about that. With a little outdoor area out front. It seems you can drive your boat here! There are two grass greens. It looks good. We didn't get to try it. It's the WL Sneddon Memorial Green. Jean asked Mal if he wanted to roll up. He said " It's way too windy! " It comes off the ocean! (Jean thinks he was just tired. He'd had a big day!) Perhaps we'll come back to Greenwell Point!

We're in Nowra for a few days on our way to Wollongong to look after Mum. We've come south-east to visit Culburra Beach Bowlo. It's a nice, bright, buzzing clubhouse. There seem to be 2 1/2 greens. The middle green looks to be recuperating. Secretary Ken gave us a cloth as a momento. He told us their two Greenkeepers gave them the best greens in the Illawarra. Ian recognised us from our blog. He was playing in the final of the Club Fours. It was a good, close game to watch. A number of the spectators chatted with us about our trip. Mal told them about Leif Selby and the beer fridges at East Cessnock. There's a sign that says visitor rollups are $10. That goes against our policy so there's no rollup for us here today. We would have stayed to watch the final but Mal was stressed as he's misplaced his licence. Culburra Beach - no rollup but friendly people.

We're on our way to Wollongong to look after Jean's Mum and her sisters' dogs while they go to Tasmania for a holiday. We've stopped in at Nowra for a few days. Today is Club Nowra. Mark the Bowls Organiser let us in the side gate. He asked if we were the ones who put our names down for today. It's a mid-sized clubhouse. There's an upstairs outdoor area. It's the Lyrebird Larrikins Nest! One of the bowlers - Monkey (Chris) - designed the logo. Dennis organised today's game. He's been following our blog. Jervis came and chatted with us. There are two grass greens. One downstairs with Barefoot bowlers on it. We were on the hidden top green upstairs. It's four-bowl pairs today. We played together against Lex (Lexford) and Tom. Tom is ex-Navy. Many of the Nowra players are ex-Navy. There were six games of pairs. Jean and twenty-three blokes. We started well with a two. Then Mal drove the kitty into the ditch and followed it. Jean consolidated. We got a three Then a four! Jean said " I'm doing really good bowls today but more than half were flukes! " We finished up after 18 ends. We won 25 to 12. We came in for drinks with the boys. Jean's old friend Lana dropped in for a catch up with her. We stayed and had dinner. Club Nowra - a win, old friends and new.

We're headed to Nowra for a few days. We came from Sydney so decided to come via Canberra to spend time with our grandsons, daughter and son-in-law. Braidwood is on the way to Nowra so we've come to Braidwood Services for a rollup. At home we saw our new Grandson Zac again. It's just five weeks since he was born but he's changed so much! Mum (Laura), Dad (Dwi) and big brother Zeke were close by! Braidwood Services is a free camp so we parked the van there. First person we met at Braidwood was volunteer Lee who had just mowed the green. Lee introduced us to Dylan the greenkeeper. He's played at Mal's club Tuggeranong and knows some bowlers we know. It's an RSL club. It has a golf course. The Manager told me 52 women are playing Golf today. It's a medium sized clubhouse. It has a nice indoor-outdoor area. Pixie served our drinks. There are two nice grass greens. One looks to be out at the moment. The main green is up top. It's named for a greenkeeper who gave 42 years of service to the club - Ray Neilsen. We wanted to roll up. Dylan had trouble finding the mat box key. He sorted us out eventually. Jean took a swing. The weather was beautiful - a little warm and not much wind. We were pretty happy with our heads. Line and weight Ok. Mal was determined! Jean played weight twice to take ot Mal's great shot bowl. He persisted! Jean said " My weight's pretty average but my line is ok! " Mal had the last laugh. Good grass! Lovely afternoon at Braidwood Services!

We drove 25 minutes from Club Austral where we're staying to get another evening game at Campbelltown Bowling Club. Simone was waiting for us. Austral's Robbie rang her last night to get our names down. We met Ashleigh, a journalism student who interviewed us for a local paper. It's a nice clubhouse. Out the front is a Christmassy outdoor area. Simone wanted to get a photo in front of the club sign. Simone told everyone at the club about our trip. Lots of people were interested and came up to chat with us about it. Simone introduced us to Brian the Bowls Coordinator. John and Dennis came to chat with us. Dennis is from Ingleburn which has been closed for two years. They've invited us back when it reopens next year. They all play here. Simone is trying to steal them. There are two grass greens. One is closed. We played on the first green. The Allan Lowe Green. The scoreboards are donated by different people and groups. Tonight it's Pairs. We played together. Against Angus and Lou. It took her a few ends then Jean put three in before Angus stole it. Then Mal put in two to a moved kitty until Angus did it again. We were two down when Jean took the kitty back for two. We were hungry so (since we were losing badly) we asked to finish at 8 so we could get pizza. Last end of three-bowl pairs we needed seven to win. Mal put one on for show. Campbelltown - Pizza time! POST SCRIPT: Ashleigh sent us her article:

We've left Jean's Uncle Donny's place for an evening game of bowls at Club Austral. We were taken with the cosiness of the club. There's lots of work being done. Outside they are building an alfresco area. There's already a nice under cover outdoor area by the green. Jean's been corresponding with Karen at the club on Messenger. She put our names down to play bowls tonight. She also said we could park our caravan there. We met Brayden and Julia with Karen. Brayden is the resident wrestler. They have wrestling on the green as a family thing at Christmas time. Karen brought us out some shirts And Club Austral cloths. We sat for drinks while we waited for the bowlers to arrive. Karen introduced us to President Terry. Mark (Bellringer) looked after the draw. Jason told us he's been following our blog. Green one is being renovated. We played on the top green. We've never seen these scoreboards before. They are the Austral Eagles. We played triples tonight. Everybody enjoyed themselves immensely. We felt so welcome. We played together. It was Mal, Jean, Andy and Paul. Jean worked it out second end. Then she did a Nyngan draw bow l and took shot. She was having a ripper! It was eight all on end ten. The sun started to go down. It was so close. We lost by two but had a really good time. We won the meat tray - supplied by Andy's shop. It was too late for Jean to cook so we came for dinner with Jason, John Robbie and Lauchie. Lots of fun at Club Austral. POST SCRIPT: We went to Bargo to watch the Austral boys play Pennant. They lost and had to play again for the finals. They contacted us to say THEY WON! We are so proud.

After our fantastic time at Austral , we came to Bargo Sports Club for a rollup and to watch the Pennants. We arrived on Friday and went into the big clubhouse to check it out. We spoke to a manager who said "No" to all our questions. No rollup for us as it had rained. A bit of a shock after the welcome we got at Austral and at Campbelltown . It's a pretty big club with a couple of bars, two dining sections and an outdoor seating area under a canopy. It was opened in 1965. We came back tentatively on Saturday to try to get a rollup. We'd read online that they have social bowls on Saturday but it's unlikely due to Pennants. The bowlers were much more friendly. They are known as The Bargo Bushrangers. We checked out the greens. The first one is being renovated. We're told it's the best in the district. The Pennants game is on the bottom green. It's a small four-rink green. It's the Jack Eyeles Memorial Green. It was dedicated in 1967. It has a boardwalk up top. We are very happy that we read on the board at Austral that the grade Two boys will be here today to play against Bargo . Greg, Gavin, Dean and Mitch from Bargo were practising and invited us on to the green for a rollup. We took to the green for a short one before the boys arrived. Jean stepped out. She did well first end. Mal took his turn. He did ok but Jean had him surrounded! After a while Hutchy and Roachy from Austral turned up. We finished our rollup early so they could have our rink. Mal wore his Austral shirt so we could be their cheer squad . Mark (Langers) from Austral came to introduce himself. He was away playing in Nambucca Heads when we were there. We talked about the Canberra region. He told us when he went to Crookwell they shooed the sheep off the green then they bowled on it! Ben the Bargo Club Manager had heard about us and came to say hi. He told us the woman we spoke to yesterday was having a bad day so we forgave her. He offered to shout us dinner to support our trip. If Austral wins here today they are off to State. Jason who we met at Austral was there. He's a newish bowler so he's come up from the Sevens to play Second in the Twos. The game got underway. They all looked resplendent in their blues! The Bargo guys were so nice we felt we had to cheer their good bowls as well. It was a fantastic game. 21 all after 20 ends! Getting towards the end, Bargo shot ahead by ten points. Austral crept up so that, with one team left on the green and three ends to go - they needed seven to win. Bargo did it in the end. The Austral guys had a huddle. Back inside, Mal met President Troy. He found Mal a shirt and some caps and very nice cloths. As promised, we met Gracie who fixed up our lovely dinner for us. Bargo - couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of blokes!

We didn't have Kemps Creek on our map. Jason from Austral told us about it last night so we decided to drive over and take a peek. There are two grass greens. They look long. There's a normal size and a six-rink. The club was closed so we walked around. We met greenkeeper Brock who works with Jake who we met at Kingswood and St Marys. He told us nobody really bowls here now and the greens aren't prepared. We decided not to try to roll up. We waited until eleven for the club to open so we could get an inside photo. It has a good outdoor area which has a nice outlook over the greens. Amanda, the receptionist told us Covid knocked them around so they are in talks with a big club about amalgamation. Kemps Creek - no rollup for us!

After our fun time yesterday at Kingswood, we've come today to St Marys for a Tuesday game. The clubhouse is quite big with three bar areas. Joan and Paula did the draw and added us in. Tim took our money. Jean sat and chatted with the boys before the game. Joan called the cards The two greens are named for John Yealland. There are two nice grass greens. Jake from Kingswood is the greenkeeper . We played on the side green. It seems to have its own name. There are nice, big pullover shades. It was Paula, Jean and Garry. Against Dan, Regina and Tim. Joan, Mal and Joe Played Rick, Ron and Anne. They are the Scorpions. There was no wind so it was perfect for bowls! Jean started first end really well. Next end Mal took kitty back for one. He was having fun with them. A battle of the Leads! Jean did it again a few ends later. Jean took the kitty back to her bowl then Garry consolidated. She got a heart! Mal was Lead on the far green so Jean kept running over but he said " I'm not doing any good bowls! " Not true - they just kept getting pushed out! After the game, Paula gave us a gift of hats and a club book. Mal's team won by one shot. After being ahead all game Jean's opposition came up on the last end for a draw. Jean's rink won the money - because it was a draw we shared it. St Marys - little battles and little laughs.