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We went to East Ipswich (United Sports) when we arrived on Tuesday and got our names down for 12:30 Saturday . Rhonda from North Ipswich told Jean the club has been bought out by a parent club that doesn't care about the bowlers. The have sold off some greens. They are building units. In the carpark we met Gaetan from Mauritius. The club was buzzing. It seemed like a real workers' club which Jean loved. At the desk we met Bob and Steve, who is the new club President as of Today. (Bob, Gaetan and Steve) The club has one and three-quarters of a green. They had to shorten it for corporate bowlers. It used to be a services Club. There's a memorial. They play fours on Saturday to practise for Pennants, which starts in June. Jean played lead with Dave, Merve and skip Andy. (Jean, Andy, Dave and Merve) Against Ken, Bob, John and Bev. Mal played second with for skip Gonzo with Craige and Dutchy Against Alan, Boomer, Greg and P Woodward. Jean played on the lower green, Mal on the upper. It was a fast green. To start with Jean was nowhere near it. The boys measured nearly every end. Jean went and checked out Mal's game. The boys declared "He's been a foot away all game!" He bowled one closer but they were two down. He played weight and knocked up his team's bowl for shot. Jean finally got one in the head for two! It was a tight game. We came in at half time for drinks. Ken and the boys are members of 'The United Barflies'. They told Jean the purpose is to consume as much alcohol as possible and play a few ends along the way. Jean was ecstatic when we went back out and she finally drew a good one. The skips called her down to take a photo "Before someone stuffs it up on you!" Mal continued to bowl well with shot. He said "I love the way they joke and niggle each other." Jean's team lost the plot towards the end and went down. Last end Mal did his team proud. They said "Come on Gunner!" "The visitor read our rinks really well. " They won 18 to 10. Mal chatted with Greg Riley who asked us to remember him to Andrew Howie when we get to Broadbeach. He told Mal he'll send him a Barflies shirt. United - most fun we've had at Ipswich.

When we arrived in Ipswich yesterday we drove around the four clubs to put our names down. There were a couple of workers in high vis in the Ipswich club. They told us it's closed but let us in to write our names down. Ipswich didn't have a list for Wednesday. We found out that Swifts club building was condemned so the greens are now fallow. Ipswich had another list up so we wrote a message. We got a call at 7am to get our names down and find out they have morning tea 8:30 and bowl at 9. We arrived 8:30 and met Chris, Sue, Lee and Julie in the office. They told us it's three-bowl triples. After paying $15 on The Sunshine Coast we were ecstatic to pay just $10 and discovered we get lunch as well. Pauline at the bar let Mal get some money out. We went upstairs before the game for morning tea. Mal struck up a conversation with Charlie whose name is actually Des. Jean joined them then Sylvia and Kay saw us sitting alone and came to Join us. Sylvia is an office holder and Kay is the coach. Sylvia told us the Club 113 years old. The club has an impressive array of past Presidents. They are all volunteers except the greenkeeper. It has some aged features. And, what Mal called, 'all-weather steps'. The President welcomed us and wished us safe travels. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. They kept coming up to say hi. There are two nice grass greens. We played on the lower green. It's the BWE Duce Green. He's a past President. There were enough players to fill two greens which was nice for a change. Jean played lead for Michael and skip Rhonda. (Michael, Rhonda and Jean) Against Pauline, Robyn and Ray (Robyn, Pauline and Ray) Mal played second for skip Anita with Ann. (Ann, Anita and Mal) Against Al, Fred and Val There was no wind, so the line was pretty true. Jean liked the grass and bowled ok. Luckily Michael bowled better. Robyn, Jean's opposing lead, has only been bowling since February. She put down some great bowls. Jean usually pipped her but she did really well. Ray told Jean he's going to play at Chinchilla. Jean told him about the Cactoblasters. Mal seemed to be having fun with his lot - joking around. It was 11 all on end 12 and Mal got shot. He kept it. It was 15 to 12 Mal's way. His skip Anita took the kitty back for 5. We played 18 ends. Both our teams won. Jean's by ten, Mal's by 6. Then we came upstairs for lunch. It was a nice ham and salad roll with a teacake They have a lovely draw - 5c a ticket. Jean won two things. As we were leaving Al said to Mal "You will win more than you lose. You are a great bowler!" Ipswich - nice people, nice food nice bowls!

Jean's sister Alison will cook us a baked dinner tonight so we're staying one night at Golden Beach. We rang a few days ago to get our names down for Pelican Waters on Monday but were told it's full. We put our names on the reserve list. We got a call as we were leaving Maleny this morning to say we have a game as a few people pulled out. The club's a few hundred metres from the caravan park but Alison dropped us off from her house. We arrived and Ian showed us where to go. Mal left his wallet in our car so Jean paid our money to Carol and Stan the Man in the Games Office. Jean sat with the ladies. (Georgina, Rosalie, Annie and Kaye) The Pelican is on the shirts And everywhere. It's pairs. We played together. Mal liked the club shirt and wanted to buy one. We played against skip Ron and Bill. We had all blue bowls but Jean's red ones. The club has two synthetic greens. It's that carpet Jean likes. We played on the far green. It's the Syd Lingard Green. It must be the same fellow named at Headland Pacific. Both greens were full. It was pretty quick. Jean was short but got it first end. It took us a while to get the weight but we worked it out half way. Alison came to watch the last few ends. In the beginning it was 7 zip. On the last end we needed 7 to win (had six bowls) they got one. We came inside for a rousing welcome. Pelican Waters - a good pair beat us.

We're going to Jean's sister Alison's place for a baked dinner Monday night. We tried to get a game at Pelican Waters that day but names have to be in week before. We decided instead to play Scroungers at Caloundra on Sunday afternoon. It rained heavily all the way there from Maleny. We rang to make sure it was still on. They said it's been raining on and off but it's not called off. We kept driving. We arrived just after 1:30 for a 2:30 start. Some bowlers were already there. (Mary, Pip and the bowlers) Mal gave our Money to Mary. She and Pip explained how it works. They gave us a minus 8 handicap. It's what you do to visitors who don't know the green. Make sure they can't win. (Mal, Mary and Pip) It was a quite busy Mother's Day at the club. There was a singer. The game is Scroungers with two games of four players - 3-bowl. Mal played against Barb, Sheila and Leonie. (Barb, Mal, Leonie and Sheila) Jean played against Pip, Robbo and Horst. (Jean, Robbo, Horst and Pip) Yobbo had an interesting approach to how to treat visitors. He had a go at Jean because she was working on her blog and didn't kick bowls back first end. "It's poor etiquette!" He said. Jean thought " Yes. I know those kinds of people." It put Jean in a bad mood. She was nowhere near the head plus lost 3 with a wrong bias. Mal did better. He seemed to have the mat a lot. Last end Jean rolled a short end. She got a full count until Horst took the kitty for second. Neither of us won. Mal said if he was on scratch he would have. It took us both 3/4 of the game to work out the green. Mal said his opponents were funny so at least he had fun. Caloundra - rude people take the fun out of the game.

When we were In Maleny yesterday Joseph told us we could get a Saturday game at Mapleton. Jean got on Messenger and talked with Mark. Mal rang and spoke to Ed to get our names down for 12:30. We met Ed at the bar. Then Mark came and introduced himself. Jean sat and chatted with Ros. She's from Canberra. She lived in Farrer. The club has one grass green. When we arrived the paid greenkeeper was rolling it. They have fixed scoreboards. The clubhouse is nice and cosy. There were six teams, four pairs and two triples. Pairs played each other and swapped after one game. Triples played each other both games. Jean played with Jeff. Against Martin and Ray. Mal played with Sandra. Against Martin and Graham. We loved Martins moustache! Jean liked the Pennants the club has won. Even though it rained the whole time we played, Jean and Jeff played well. Jean wasn't that close but often it was enough. Jeff and Mal both won so we played each other. It was spouses against spouses. Jeff and Jean kept getting shot and Mal kept taking it from us. Mal and Sandra were going up by ones. Jeff and Jean got zip. Jean thought they'd have to do a nudie run. Then Jeff and Jean got a shot then a multiple and got a bit of confidence. Mal said "The turning point was when you got that 3-bowl wick shot!" Jean was shocked when she asked Jeff the result. Jean and Jeff won 12 to 5. We came inside for drinks and results. (Mal, Jeff, Sandra and Jean) The winners had 30 shots. We didn't care - we had a lovely time. To top it off, one of the ladies gave Jean some chocolates for being a visitor. Mapleton - rain, rain, rain but fun!

We arrived at Maleny Friday morning from Maroochydore. Mal had rung Thursday to discover they play bowls today. When we arrived Joseph welcomed us and told us about other clubs we can play at in the area. We're told he's having heart surgery next week so we wish him well. Mal paid the money to Brett at the bar. Mal bought two badges. Brett told him they had 70 of them. They had a group of American tourists come and the bought the lot. They ordered 200 so they have heaps now. Brett said the local Publican in the 30s had a rink in the yard. He owned all the land and eventually built a couple of greens next door. The bowls club grew and the Publican gave them a 100-year lease. They ended up owning the land in 1955 for very little money. The publican's descendants are still involved with the club. The club has one synthetic green. It's the WHR Burnett Green - named after the Publican. The green is kind of plastic. We haven't played on that surface before. There's a nice memorial in the garden. Then Jean met Alan the Games Director. He said the club just spent $6,000 to refurbish the green. The game is Scroungers. Three games with three people who play with four bowls and Jean's group of four played with thrèe bowls. We score closest 3 then 2 and 1. Brett told Jean if anyone scores a full count they get a chocolate. Mal played against Ben and Les. (Les, Ben and Mal) Jean had Kay, Rob and Brett. (Brett, Kay, Rob and Jean) The radio station played 70's music in the background. It was great. Jean couldn't work out the weight. She said "It feels weird!" Mal did a little better. He scored three many times. The game was very relaxed and friendly. Jean got excited because she thought she had shot and a 3. Alas it was Brett. Mal got second and third. He said he loved playing with his new XGs. He said "A few times I had muscle memory of my Aero Optimas and missed the shot." Jean finally got shot. She rolled her short end. She got shot but, as usual Brett took it. She said if he did it again she'd swear at him. Jean got the mat again she thought she was going to get a chocolate but Rob snuck in. Gay stepped out because her knee was bothering her. Jean came third! Mal won. He said to Jean " I can bowl you know!" Brett told Jean the club celebrated its 85th birthday last year. They got out some old photos. They came inside for drinks. They have a draw. Everyone who plays gets a ticket. Jean got asked to draw. She said she gets asked everywhere she goes. She suggested Mal do it. He tried to pull his number '5'but pulled Jeans. Jean won $50 at the local brewery and restaurant. Dinner sorted! Mal won the day with 47. He got a bottle of wine. We went to Brouhaha to spend our winnings. We met some bowlers who were there to run the raffle for the club. (Don, Ben, Margaret and Mal) They were such lovely, friendly people. We will miss them! Maleny - We Scrounged out a win.

Someone from the club told Jean Nambour Bowls Club plays Bowls Wednesday afternoon. We couldn't get anyone to answer the phone on Monday and Tuesday. Mal rang at 11 but was told they have already done the draw so we couldn't get a game. John said he'd look after us for a rollup. It was Lara and Ararat all over. There's no way to contact the club beforehand to get our names down because nobody is home! Jean was told one could leave a message but the phone just rang out. We arrive early but can't get a game. We suspect no visitors ever come here. We arrived at 11:30 for our rollup to meet John. (John and Mal) John told us they were going to roll the green first for their game so we went inside for a drink. Jean bought a badge for $2. We sat and chatted with Slatts. He and Mal told each other their golf stories. The club has two nice-looking grass greens. The Croquet Club is next door. Jean loved the display of Pennants. There were no roses (too hot) but nice yellow flowers. They were playing a social game - we couldn't join them - but we rolled up next door. Mal got his new XGs out. First rollup with them. Jean took first blood with three Then Mal got a one. Then he remembered how to bowl with XGs. It was quicker than we thought, then Jean worked it out - "Less backswing!" Jean practised driving without much success. Jean gave up - Mal went up and back. Nambour Bowls Club - no visitors welcome here!

We popped in to Mooloolaba the other day, when we went to visit Erin Redfern, to put our names down For Friday. Mal got a call to say they were full. We put out names down for Tuesday 8:30. We arrived at 8am to meet Errol and Trevor at the table. There were already lots of people there. The club has two nice-looking synthetic greens under cover. And an old grass green out the front. We played on the right hand green. It's that flat carpet a bit like Weston Creek (only better quality). It's just as quick - 21 seconds! There are nice memorials on the seats. The game was pairs - 2-4-2. We played together against Grahame and Rick. (Mal, Grahame and Rick) It was tough to start with but we worked it out. Jean then bowled out a metre past the next rink number, just missed the neighbouring head, and took kitty off the T for shot. It was 7 all on the 9th end (of 12). Mal bowled a sticky first bowl to give us one. Then he put another on it. Next end Jean got two then Rick took second then Mal took it back for two. Last end Mal put down two beauties. We won by one. We went inside for tea and bickies. Jean had to put money in the wrong bias tin. These places with expensive green covers have to grab their money back somehow we guess. Gail came and introduced herself. She lived in Canberra 38 years and played hockey with bowler Lois Walters. Our second game we played Peter and Mark. They are good bowlers here to get a feel for the green for a championship. We got three. Jean had to take a photo before we lost them! We got a seven then they got a five. Jean and Mark had a great chat about the downfalls of the new rules and bad behaviour like that of the Tuggeranong Women's Bowling Club. We were five down and Jean drew shot. Mal said "Have to get a photo of that!" Three drives later we went down two. The final score was 30 to ten - not us! But we had a ball! We came inside to commiserate and talk about the lack of a narrow hand. While we were playing Jean told Grahame about when we got our bowls stolen and how much Mal misses his XGs. He said "Why don't you trade them in?" Jean asked where he'd do that Grahame said "Here. See Paul at Bowlers Paradise!" Jean went in and did a big sell job about size 5 with Parramatta logo. We got a set of XGs for $335 with trade in. (Paul Bowlers Paradise) Mal cried with sadness over the loss of his Eels logo then cried with happiness that he now has XGs. Mooloolaba- they tested us, we came to the party but they were too good for us.

When we were at Club Maroochy the other day we put our names down for Monday 2pm. We arrived nice and early. The other day we were impressed with their three nice grass greens that the State Fours were played on. In the office we met Col, Carolyn and Dan. (Carolyn, Dan and Col) We played on the front green By the deck but there were people playing on all three greens. The club is smallish but has pokies so doesn't have that nice little bowling club feel. The game was 2-4-2 pairs. We played together. It was purple day. Clubs around here seem to like uniforms so Jean wore Mal's Geelong City shirt for the right colour. Glenn, who is visiting from Brisbane took our photo so we took his with his dog Ralph. We sat on the deck for a drink while we waited. Mal read Ian Smith's email which said all Tuggeranong Pennant grades bar the Ones got into the semis. He was happy. He really misses playing with them. Brian and Jo came and sat with us and we talked about our pussy-cats. We played against Peter and Anne. We just couldn't get the weight. Jean took to driving all she did was cut them down. After six ends it was 1 to 15. Jean finally got two but they didn't last. Suddenly Mal got two and we were off. We'd worked out the weight. And again. We lost by fifteen but we thought we were going to get a nice, thick coat of clear paint! We didn't embarrass ourselves. They were good bowlers and we took too long to work it out. We came inside for drinks. Col welcomed us. We had a good chat. Club Maroochy - we almost got shellacked!

We're trying to get a game every day while on the Sunshine Coast. We saw that Nambour Heights has Barefoot Bowls on Sunday arvo. We don't really like that but a game is better than a rollup! The club, (known as 'The Heights ') has one nice-looking, unnamed grass green. We arrived at 2:30 for 3pm. There were only a few people there. We met Brett at the table. There was a nice outdoor area adjacent to the clubhouse. Someone from the club told Jean on Messenger Sunday afternoon is known as 'Mikey's Chook Run'. Brett asked Jean about our trip. He said "You'll like Nambour Heights!" Mal sat and chatted with Peter for a while. It was all pretty relaxed. They all seemed like friends The scoreboards are donated. There were two games. One triples and Mal and I played each other as skips in a game of fours. It was just twelve ends. Jean's team was Garry, Pete and Kev. (Jean, Pete, Garry and Kev) Mal's was Sheryl, Geordie and Gayle. Brett replaced Gayle later in the game. (Sheryl, Geordie, Mal and Gayle) The music was fantastic. 70s rock! They allow drinks on the green which is unusual. There seemed to be more onlookers than players. Lots of heckling. Jean and her team played particularly well. If the team was down Jean would come in and take shot. She enjoyed playing skip for a change. Mal on the other hand couldn't work out the green. A nice change for Jean. Jean's team won by thirteen. We came inside for drinks and raffles. Jean's team had a plus 13 which would usually be enough to win a chook but were pipped by the triples at 16. Brett introduced us. They gave us some stubby holders to remember our visit to Nambour Heights. Lucky, because the skip had to wear the Cock Hat (for the top cock). Nambour Heights - hugs and kisses all around!

Jean chatted on Messenger with Darren, President of Buderim Bowls Club. He told her to go online and book. She went to the website and got Mal's name down to play with the boys on Saturday. Even though she misses out, Jean likes it when Mal gets bloke time. He misses his Tuggeranong boys. We arrived nice and early. There was a bit of a line-up. We met Bill Connor who took the money. Mal's name was down (whew). The club is nice with a good atmosphere - no pokies! There's a relaxing outdoor area by the green. We sat down for a chat with Jock and the boys about the pros and cons of the new rules - especially stopping a bowl going in the ditch. We met President Darren. He told us about what happened in The Sides recently. A team was 80 shots up and on top of the ladder.. Their player stopped a bowl going in the ditch. The opposition appealed and the team defaulted. They dropped to third. Darren told us the club is going through amalgamation with the women's club. (Darren and Mal) The club has two synthetic greens - the good carpet kind with fabric covers. Mal was to play on the front green - the Ted Field Green. They then pulled the cover over. Mal played lead for skip Jock with Cameron. (Jock, Mal and Cameron) against Oggy, Dennis and Richard. They have a nice maroon and white shirt. It was two-bowl triples. Just one game. There were six of the seven rinks. It took Mal a few ends to get the weight but then he was back to his usual form with a toucher and shot. Jean knows well that when you lead, shots don't last long. Jean was watching and listening to the great 70s country and rock music while she waited for her sister Alison to arrive. (Alison and daughter Joelle) Jean went in to get Mal a beer and saw the great bowls clock. Mal's team bowled well. A shot each on the kitty. Finally Mal got to keep shot bowl! Mal's teammate Cameron put down two beauties. Mal said to Jean "Take a photo of that. It'll go viral!" They came in for drinks, bickies and announcements at half time. The bell rang and they went back out. The opposition skip said. "Come on boys, last end and it's 26-25. One in it!" The opposition had three. Mal's team went down four and lost the game. After the game Mal was excited. "You were inside with your sister and you didn't see me take the kitty seven ends in a row!" At the end we came in for drinks and raffles. Mal won nothing but he said he had a great day. Nice male company. Buderim - a good day for Mal with the men!

We drove yesterday to Headland and to Club Maroochy to watch the state Women's Fours. While we were at Headland we put our names down. We arrived and met Ken and Alvin in the office. The members were immediately friendly and asked us about our trip. Jean sat and chatted with some ladies. (Jan life member, Carol (President), Jan ( Jack-of-all-trades) Julie and Georgina) Then she had a lovely talk with Norma. We struck up a conversation with Marie and Ray. Marie used to live in Weston so loved Jean's club shirt. The club has an interesting history. It was opened in 1985 by founding President Syd Lingard who the road outside is named after. Apparently there was another club 'Pacific Paradise. That club has some financial anomalies and was about to go under. The two clubs joined but they still do many things separately. It's now the Headland Pacific Club. It was three-bowl triples. Two games of twelve ends. We played on the MacDonald/Turnbull green. They have unusual rink markers. We played together. Jean was lead and Mal with skip Alvin Against Margaret (lead), Marie and skip Ray. (Margaret, Mal and Marie) There were five rinks. Jean thought the skips were similar. (Alvin and Ray) Jean and Mal bowled well and often got shots. Very often it didn't last. Several times we went from 5 or 6 up to one down. This time we got four. Jean got in trouble because she was working on this blog post on her phone and was nine seconds late to bowl. Shame on Jean! Jean thought we were losing. She was shocked to find we won 16 to 8. We came inside for drinks and bickies. Second game we played against lead Georgina, skip Ken and Mabelle. (Georgina, Ken and Mabelle) We bowled really well but it didn't matter.. On the last end we had five second shots. All our skip had to do is play backhand to take out shot. He played forehand. We lost by three. Anyway, it was a fun game. We came inside for presentations. They draw runner-up Lead, second and skip then Winners from a barrel. We didn't win but Alvin welcomed us. Headland Pacific - a win and a close loss for us.