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We've been quiet the last few days. We stopped at Nimbin on our wat to Jean's niece Mel's place at Tyalgum where we stayed two nights. No bowling club! Last night we stayed at Beaudesert Bowls Club as we promised in 2023. Today we've stopped at Rathdowney for a rollup. It's really quiet here. It's warm with zero wind. Next door though there's a camp draft to raise funds for a boy who had a farm accident. There are caravans and horses everywhere! When we arrived we met Greg who helps 80 year old Bob to manage the green. It's quite brown because they've had frosts. The scoreboards remember successes of their members. Mal went first. First end he nailed it for three. Jean took her turn. She managed four! Mal was all over it. Even with a Resting Toucher Jean couldn't catch him. After our rollup Jean went to the little shop across the road for some snacks. There were ALOT of chips! Rathdowney - nice little Qld town!

We drove 42 min from Lismore to Kyogle. They play this arvo but we don't want to be on the pot-holed road after dark so we'll just have a rollup. It's a little club. The bar is the centre. There are lots of anniversaries. The ladies won Pennants in 1960. There are a few more wins up. We met Liz from the bar. She took our photo out the front. inside we met Noel and Herb. There are three grass greens. One has been partially used for entertainment. The front green is where we rolled up. It's called the Shirley Green. When we went out for our rollup we met Margaret and her husband President Greg. Margaret gave us some momentos. They are The Bush Turkeys. She introduced us to Gwen who showed us her Bush Turkeys shirt. Jean took the mat. It was a little slow. She struggled a bit for shot. Mal had a go. He did better. Jean had consistent weight. Just not good enough to beat Mal. Last end Jean said we had to do two more ends because she thought Mal had shot and she needed another photo. Not so! When we came inside the bowlers were waiting to go out. Jean sat and chatted. She told them her memory of Kyogle was from high school. Her Deputy Principal was Mr Hickson who came from Kyogle. Steve said " I remember Kevin Hickson. He taught me!" Jean said "We used to call him Coogee Bear." They said "We did too!" We were very happy that Greg introduced us to all the members and wished us well. We left them playing social. Kyogle - very friendly people and great memories!

This morning Mal rang and spoke to Ray at The Heights for a chat and to get our names down for a Tuesday afternoon game. It's a small clubhouse up on the hill. Jean stood and chatted with the ladies. Dale and Ray looked after the money. Mal chatted with Paul outside. There's a bicentennial plaque from 1956. The sign on the hill used to be marigolds. There are three grass greens. The top green looks unused. It will be used for Pickleball. We played on the bottom green. Green 1 - The Platypus. With a beautiful native garden out the back. Probably due to the cold weather there were only eight players today. Jean and 7 blokes. It's Three-bowl Pairs . Jean was with Dale Against Ray and Mario. Mal was with Dave Their opponents were John and Fred. It was sunny with a brilliant blu sky. 17° thatvfelt like 14°. Jean scored shot with a Toucher then Dale consolidated with three. Peter the Bowls Coordinator came to watch. Jean was always up the other end when Mal bowled so she ran up to get a pic of his shot. The Pennants stickers are nice. Jean put the kitty in the ditch then got a second shot. Jean raced up the other end for Mal's two. Ray told Jean they put Mal against the club's gun bowler John because they're sick of losing to him. Mal started to catch up but lost 16-26. Dale and Jean won 35-19. It was nice and warm inside. We met President Barry. Barry called it. Dale and Jean won the day. The Heights - Lismore good times with the boys.

We dropped in to Casino RSM Club on Thursday on our way to Lismore. They had bowls on so we spoke to a member who said they have bowls on Monday arvo. We came back for a Monday game. It's a pretty big club. RSM is Returned Services Memorial. We were told by phone bowls started at 1pm. We arrived early and found out it's 2pm. We chatted with Bob and Peter who told us today it's the Travelling Bowlers - The Blue Heelers. Bob introduced us to Shirley and her husband Trevor who is the Blue Heelers President There's one carpet synthetic green. The Bob Ellis Green. The first green was opened on 1969 by the Bowls NSW Vice-president. Col, Jean and Trevor Played Mal, Shirley and Dick. It was cool. 17° that felt like 12°. The wind was outrageous! Bowls went everywhere! Mal managed to get two. Jean's two were the closest. Mal was bowling very well. Jean managed to get one near. Mal won by ten shots. We came inside to the warmth for drinks. Trevor gave us Casino pens. Braved the chill at Casino!

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!

Our second club in Lismore is South Lismore. Jean's been in touch with Greg on Messenger and he invited us to play on Saturday arvo. We came for a yummy dinner on Friday night. It's a nice little clubhouse - like a big barn. Greg knew who we were and came to say hi. Greg introduced us to Chairman Blake. They are The River Rats 🐀. Outside is Tom's garden. With the river behind. Greg showed us the 2022 flood mark. One of the guys at the bar showed us the club book with flood photos. It came up to the eaves. They had to gut the place. They recovered proudly. We came back for bowls on Saturday. Greg looked after the money in the office. Jean sat and chatted with Reg, Tony and David about all our and their travels. Out the front are two grass greens. With one out the back. We played out front. It's Pairs today. Reg and Jean Played Mal and Maureen. It was a gorgeous sunny day. 23° and not much wind to speak of. First end Jean had shot then Mal stole it! Jean and Reg scored. It was a very close game! Mal got a beautiful toucher. Then Jean again! Reg and Jean had a little surge the last three ends and won 21 to 13. We came inside for celebrations, commiserations and talk about the footy. Greg gave Mal a fly-stopper. Greg called the winners. Reg and Jean got Runners Up. What a good time at South Lismore!

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!

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!