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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!

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