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We drove 25 minutes to Winchelsea for a rollup and arrived at 11. There was not a soul there. We found a list for a game of triples that day, we figured it was in the afternoon. We put our names and Mal's number down. The club has one carpet green. It had plastic snakes on it as well as an owl and two pussy cats. Gerry from RSL explained that the snakes keep the bats away. Apparently the bat poo is oily and damages the synthetic surface. We went for a drive and got some early lunch to fill in time. We came back at 12. Still nobody around. We went for another drive and visited the markets. We walked back at 12:20. There was still nobody there. We figured since there were only nine other names down they decided not to go ahead with the triples match. We didn't want to disturb the snakes so decided not to roll up. We decided instead to scrub our names off the list and go home. We had some things to do at the shops. Winchelsea - perhaps they'll give us a call anyway.

We did our (now customary) drive around the city clubs during Saturday Pennants to find out about social bowls and put our names down at three clubs. We met some lovely bowlers and landed at City of Geelong for a rollup. The club is known as City Thunder. We didn't find out why. It has two nice carpet greens. One in sunshine And one under a dome. We rolled up on that one. The steps down to the dome were scary. Jean hung on with white knuckles. As usual Jean struggled and Mal nailed it (that's so annoying). We were warned by Gerry from RSL who we met earlier that the wind is outrageous under the dome. He was right. Jean had to bowl out past the next rink number forehand away from the clubhouse and practically straight coming back. Jean did her best but Mal had it completely worked out. Not telling the score. Let's just say Mal lots, Jean few. Jean remarked that she's aware she's getting much better on this trip but hadn't considered Mal would improve his game as well. City of Geelong - windy under the dome!

We went to the Geelong RSL for our first Geelong rollup. We got there and it started to pour with rain so we had a drink instead. There was not a bowler in sight. We even asked some old blokes if they were bowlers. They just looked at us. We waited 20 minutes until the sun came out then we got the mat and jacks out. The green was the same as Weston Creek - carpet and quick as buggery in the wet. Jean's wide bowls just went narrow. Mal's Aeros were, of course, right on it. Jean started to just play weight. Once she put the kitty on the boundary but all her bowls went in the ditch. Even when she successfully took out Mal's shot bowl she didn't have any in the head so Mal got two. When it was eight-zip Jean said "If you can get two this end that will do us!" He got four. Jean didn't score a shot. Just in time. The rain started again. Geelong RSL - where are the bowlers?

We arrived at Smeaton Bowling Club and were welcomed by Rhonda who told us she's been bowling for 50 years. She started when she was 20. The club has a Synthetic and a lovely grass green. There is a gorgeous landscape view from the grass green. We could see the rain coming from miles away. Jeff turned up and we decided to play a game - Jeff and Rhonda against Mal and Jean. The green was lovely - a little quick which we liked. We scored a two on the first end then they scored a three on the second. Then the rain poured down. It's what wed call a quick loss. (Mal, Jeff, Jean and Rhonda) We went inside the tiny clubhouse and were impressed with the awards we saw. After our game we met some of the boys having a drink. They called themselves the "pisspots from Smeaton." (Jeff, Graeme, Rob, Slim and Macca) Smeaton - a quick rollup and a wet trip home

We put our names down last week to play at Webbcona but had a clash with Daylesford. We met some nice people there and couldn't wait to get back. When we arrived for our long-awaited game we met Wally and Peter - with whose wife Jenny we played with at Sebastopol. Peter told us about his cousin a champion blind bowler. We chatted about NRL, AFL, basketball. (Wally and Peter) The club has two very nice grass greens and a Synthetic. Bruce told me the front green is the best in Ballarat. We thought it was nice. A little quick. It cost just $5 each to play. There were three games of triples with 16 blokes, and Shirley and Jean. Two games of twelve ends. Jean lead for Pat with Mike as second in the first game against Bruce, Shirley and skip Bob. (Bruce, Bob, Jean, Pat, Shirley and Mike) Jean took a while to get the grass but once she did she bowled well. The thing is she'd get a shot or two then Shirley or Bob would take it off. The skips both bowled exceptionally well. They both stole shot from the opposition many times. Mike and Pat played valiantly but they were just too good. Pat's team lost 9 to 10. Mal played second with Peter and skip Alan against the two Ian's and skipper Bill. Bill told Jean his wife Lois told him we played with here at Daylesford last week. (Alan, Mal and Peter) Second game we played each other. First end Jean had shot and Mal took it with two bowls. He bowled really well. On a really long end he put a bowl on the edge for shot. The wind was ferocious. Jean had to bowl over to the next rink number on the forehand going towards the club and less than a metre of forehand grass coming back. Mike turned it around with kitty and toucher in the ditch for four. Pat consolidated with one on the plinth. It wasn't enough. Pat's team lost again 9 to 13. (Mike's toucher in the ditch and Pat's bowl on the edge) We sat with the boys after the game and had a great chat. The players were all very friendly and interested in our trip. Jean won a prize for some reason. Mal's team won overall $10 each. Webbcona - a great bunch of blokes (and ladies).

We dropped in to Sebastopol Bowling Club on Sunday arvo to put our names down. They told us to call Monday. We did and got into a triples game. We had nice friendly chatter with a few players before the game. There were people there from Webbcona, Memorial and other clubs. The club is kown by the locals as Sebas. It has three nice greens - two grass and a nice synthetic under a dome. The only one in Ballarat. The club facilities are lovely. The synthetic surface is a tight carpet. The only negative was there is no shade on the grass green. We played two games of 12 - one on grass, the other on synthetic. Big adjustment. Jean played lead with Jenny and Helen from Webbcona against Bill, Mal and John. (Helen, Jenny and Jean) Jean bowled quite well - within a metre most times. Mal was hit and miss but when he was on he was on. Mal's team won something like 16 to three. Second game Jean's team played losers, Mal played winners. Jean was against Neville, Keith and Ron. Neville was a bit of a card but Jean would put two shots on and he'd kick her out. The girls kept getting second shot every end, both games. They kept losing but kept their opponents honest. Secons game Mal was against Mick, Paul, Geoff. Mal found it tough going from grass to carpet. It took a while to get his weight. He did eventually but it didn't matter. His opposition were club champions and were eventual runners up. He had a chuckle at his lead Bill. Bill couldn't see so the skip had to stand over the kitty so Bill knew where it was. Mal said "Bill bowled some pearlers!" (Geoff, Mick, Paul, Mal and Bill - Skip Robbie was organising) After the game, for the raffles they draw out a position. Jean won a $15 voucher to the club as Helen's lead. They congratulated us on our trip and gave us each a commemorative pen. Sebastopol - lovely banter.

We were told by some Midlands players there is always someone at the club to roll up with after 4pm. That wasn't our experience. The club has two nice greens. The grass was closed So we elected to rollup on the synthetic- hoping someone would turn up to play with. Yes it was mid-week Pennants day but five blokes turned up and completely ignored us. It was a bit of a surprise after the welcome we've had at all the other clubs. We played a few ends. Jean scored first shot Then Mal scored a couple. Mal was ahead by a couple of shots until we got bored and decided it was our last end. Jean scored a four and won by a shot. Midlands- very disappointing.

When we arrived at Central Wendouree Bowling Club Margaret, who was in a committee meeting, came out to greet us. We met when we were there the other day. She gave us a mat and jacks for our rollup. The club has three greens. Two are grass. The other is carpet. We were a little shocked when cars drove past us on the driveway. We played on the middle green which was a little quick but it suited us. We were only one apart for most of the match then Mal got a couple of lucky shots (perhaps there was some skill involved). Jean kept scoring one to keep him honest but it wasn't enough. When he skipped ahead Jean just threw her bowls in the ditch and Mal won. Nice greens at Central Wendouree.

We got to Ballarat East for a rollup and met Craig who told us the green was closed due to the rain we had last night. Craig said he's the jack of all trades at the club. Jean told him our story and said we are sad we'd miss out on Ballarat East. He made a phone call and got us a rollup. The green was surprisingly nice. It didn't look great with all the dark spots but ran quite true - though slow from the rain. We had a quick rollup - six ends - the green was slippery and Jean took a tumble. The green suited Jean. We both did short ends because it was slow. Jean started with a four and kept getting shot. Mal bowled very well but then Jean took the cat (that's what they call it in Ballarat) back for three. The last end it was nine to one. Mal got cranky Jean was winning so he drove all his bowls. First three went in the ditch. Fourth bowl he picked up the kitty (cat) and put it in the ditch for three. He still lost nine to four. Afterwards we went inside for a drink and chat with Mark (Big) and Noel (Bilbo). (Mark, Noel and Mal) Noel told us Ballarat East is a sister club to Mt Xavier. They know Paul (Knackers) the President (who we bowled with) very well. On the way home we spied a Chinese restaurant that does Yum Cha so we stopped in. Ballarat East - Thanks for the accommodation.

When we drove around to the city clubs on Monday some people from Victoria Bowls Club told us about their annual Australia Day Fours comp. Mal rang Peter and got us into a game with father and son Billy and Brett. (Mal, Billy, Brett and Jean) Jean chatted with Bill and Ron when we arrived. It was a lovely day. 28° and sunny. (Peter, Billy, Mal and Ron) Mal chatted with organiser Peter. There are three greens. An eight-rink carpet and two grass greens. We played on grass. 12 teams. The other green seems to be out of action. The tournament has good prizes. $15 entry and $500 1st prize. We get a nice roast beef roll at the end. We played three games of seven ends. The scoring was 20 points for a win and a point each end won. We arrived at rink 10 and met Brian, John, Brad and skip Craig our opposition from Buninyong. (Craig, John, Brian and Brad [may have names confused]) There were mostly Victoria players but some from other clubs. We started with the national anthem then they played Aussie rock music in the background. Jean scored the first shot and we were away. The Buninyong boys scored a couple then Mal and Brett scored to put us ahead. The weight kept changing. We drew and shared the points. Second game was against Kris, Bob, Ray and Barry. We got a four which is a positive in a seven end game. We won eight to six. (Barry, Ray, Bob and Kris) Third game we played against Doc, Barry, John and skip Len who represented Milands. We won the first two ends. And went on to win. (Doc, John, Mal, Barry and Len) Overall we came third with 62 points. We won $50 each. Victoria - we had so much fun!

We met (and drew with) some boys from Buninyong at Victoria Club yesterday. They told us to come on Friday arvo and there'd be heaps of people to bowl with. They were right. There were people everywhere. Playing comp, rolling up or watching. Lots of people like to sit on the verandah. They have two nice grass greens. Very quick. Brad (from yesterday) introduced us to President Graham (Nico). He then introduced us to Norm who's been bowling more than 22 years. Norm told us the club is150 years old. They had the celebration last year. it's the oldest bowls club situated in a botanical Gardens. It's just lovely. We convinced Frank and Stuart to play a game with us. (Stuart and Frank) Mal played skip with Frank and Jean played lead for Stewie. We were pretty evenly matched. In the end it was 9 to 8 Mal and Frank's way. After the game we met Jeff Douglas who used to live in Holder ACT. (Frank, Jeff and Mal) Buninyong - we feel like we met the whole club!

When we were out and about on Monday Mal struck up a conversation with a bloke from Daylesford who wrote down contact details for their monthly Fours. Mal rang, spoke to Winston and got us in. When we arrived we sat and chatted with Joy and Margaret. There were teams there from Daylesford, Kyneton, Creswick, Memorial, Smeaton, Kangaroo Flat, Mt Xavier, City Oval and Ballarat., We caught up with Mal who we rolled up with at Memorial the other day. We played Fours. Two games of 12. There were 18 teams in all. Scoring was ten points for a win and a point for each end. It costs just $15 and we get sandwiches for lunch and cheese and bickies afterwards. (A stubbie and a wine costs $7.70). Our team was Adrian lead then Jean, Lois (who skips Division Two) and skip Mal. 1st game against lead Roger, Brian, Allan and skip Hotze from Kangaroo Flat. (Allan, Hotze, Brian, Lois, Mal, Adrian Jean and Roger) The green was damp and slow. We all bowled well but Lois was the star. Mal did some great skip shots to save our bacon. Jean struggled with weight. It took a lot of muscle to get it up there. She nailed the grass. We won the first game 14 to 3. (Lois takes shot) Second game was against a Daylesford/Ballarat team with Joy, Barry, Garry and Winston. We all went off the boil. Grass had changed. If we got shot, Barry or Winston took it off. (Barry, Winston, Joy and Lois) We lost 10-17 and went inside for beer, wine, cheese and bickies and an ice-cream. (Adrian enjoys his ice-cream) Overall 2-game winners were City Oval with runners up Smeaton. It was nice to hear the players talking about their childhoods on farms. Jean chatted with the Creswick boys. The guy she spoke with said they don't play there any more because it got flooded a year ago and they haven't recovered. Daylesford Monthly Fours - great format!