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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

It's Jean's turn now. We've had to stay in Canberra a few more weeks while we wait for our new caravan fridge to arrive. We decided to catch a bus over to Jean's club at Weston Creek for a Tuesday morning game. We had to bus it as our car was in for repairs. Tuesday is ladies' day but all days at Weston Creek have always been mixed. We waited for ages to get in (someone told us to be here at 9. We arrived at 8:47.) The club opened at ten. We were the only people here! After we'd been standing around for a couple of hours Jean shrieked " I forgot my bowling arm! " Three guys turned up so Jean suggested Mal roll up with them. It was Mal, Des, Phillip and Bruno for three-bowl pairs. Weston Creek has three greens. Two grass and one old synthetic. They rolled on Green 1 adjacent to the club. The W.N. "Sam" Hall Green. Mal skipped for Lead Phillip. Mal took shot his first bowl down. Mal was on fire! He did it again second end. Mal and Phillip were up 5-1 after four ends. With nothing better to do Jean decided to video Mal. He blitzed it! Mal does a schmick bowl! They were a full half ahead. Mal finished well. Mal and Phillip won convincingly. They came inside. Jean bought a round. Weston Creek - Jean's home and Mal wins.

We're at home for a while - enjoying our grandkids - which is why we haven't posted much. Today we came to Mal's club - Tuggeranong Vikings for a game of Wednesday Pairs. All Mal's mates were sitting for a chat. It's a nice little clubhouse below Vikings Club. Club champions are displayed proudly. We've said before that Tuggeranong has three greens. Two grass (for the moment) and one plastic synthetic. We played on the synthetic green. The Eddie Weatherall Green Wednesday used to be strictly Men. After amalgamation they introduced women however Jean was the only girl today. We played together Against Noel and Kevin. We lost the first end by five. Next end we had one when Jean knocked Mal up for two. We had two then Jean took kitty for three. We were two down and Jean put in a beauty for one shot. We lost it then Mal put kitty in the ditch for two. We were four down when Lead Jean drove one took shot. We won 27 to 14. We only played 18 ends. It being election time, our local member David Smith - Member for Bean - turned up for a rollup. Jean knows him from the Labor Party and they had a nice chat. He gave a nice speech about his involvement with the club. They drew the winners. We didn't win but our opponents got runners up. Tuggeranong Vikings - nice to be home!

Today is our last day in Victoria. We've stopped in at Mansfield for an early game before we head home up the Hume Highway. It's another lovely little country clubhouse. With a beautiful memorial for past members. And a gorgeous tapestry of lady members back to 1957. Champions and Presidents are displayed on the wall. Outside is a nice verandah which overlooks the grass green. We dropped in when we arrived in Mansfield on Monday. We met Daniel who's a signwrighter. He updated the honour boards. Just after 8 Tuesday morning we saw Alan and Denis look after the draw on the TV. Shane came to chat with us about travel to the Cape. He was here to clean the barby. Then we met Larry and Judy who are visiting from Mullumbimby. We'll call them when we visit there. The boys sat and chatted outside while they waited for the game to start. There are two greens. The back one is a plastic synthetic. The front green is grass. We played on that. It will be replaced soon with a nine-rink Tiger Turf and the old synthetic will be pulled up. It's the JA Lakin Green. Alan rolled it before the game. It's Fours today. Two games of ten ends. Mal skipped Jean, Christina and Denis. Against Harry, Mark and Brendan. They are the Mansfield Eagles. We had three rinks. As usual Mal was a great Skip. We were three down and he got us on the board. The green was slow. It took a bit of getting used to. Jean had two then Christina gave us two more. It was 9-all going in to the last end. They got 5. Our second game we played Phil, Pete, Anne and Larry. Again Christina consolidated Jean's two shots. Jean told Mal he had to do a photo-worthy bowl. He did a beauty but Jean was so excited she forgot to take a photo! We hardly won any ends that game so got flogged. We came in for a drink before we drove to Wagga Wagga. They all said we should vote Mansfield as the best club. It's close but still pipped by Alexandra. Mansfield - see you in November Victoria!

We came to Alexandra Bowls Club on spec, before heading to our accommodation, to see if they had Thursday social bowls on today. They don't but what they have is even better! We pulled up and met Bob the Bar Manager who arrived at the same time. He told us there's a tournament on the weekend and they are a couple of players short. We agreed to play within seconds of him asking! He took our names then said we can camp on the old green. It was a bit hard for Mal to get our big caravan on there so instead we parked in front of the shed. Bob guided Mal through the narrow gate then hooked us up to power and water. Instead of staying at the Alexandra Showground for one night - we'll stay for four nights here! It's another little country Clubhouse. With winners displayed proudly. There's a comfy looking outdoor area. Dave (Homer) the Greenkeeper came to introduce himself. Dave looks after the plastic synthetic green. The Lewis Green. Thanks to Victorian Gov't. They have Government help with the water. We assume it's an in joke on the wind sign. George Argent - Hooley Dooley! We had a ball hanging out with the locals on Friday night to prepare for Saturday. Jean said " I feel that Alexandra might surpass Skipton as our favourite Victorian club! " We met President Gilly. THE TOURNAMENT - SATURDAY We got up bright and early on Saturday for a 9am start. It's $70 per player. With 7 games of bowls four meals and snacks we think that's good value. Prize money is from the Calcutta. Terry sat at the door to collect Calcutta fees. We started with a Calcutta. Jean didn't know what that was so she just went with the flow. It was the best-organised Tournament we've ever seen. Every team got a bag. Each bag had everything we need. Stubby holders, bracelets, bowls stickers, pens, cloths, programme and Calcutta book. All the teams sat down to sort themselves out. There were teams here from Yea , Shepparton Golf , Yarra Glen and Whittlesea where we've been and Moonee Valley, Elwood Elsternwick we'll do in Melbourne in 2028. We went out to play. Today It's two-bowl triples. Four games of fourteen ends and three tomorrow. Mal was Homer's Second with Steve. They played first game against Bubbles, Ken and GI Jane. Gilly skipped. Jean played Second with Lead Mick who came from Yea. They were against Riley, Nathan and Brayden - young guns from Moonee Valley in Melbourne. Gilly says Nathan will be Victoria's next Skipper. The Tournament is called Murrindindi 2000 for the Murrindindi Shire. The first one was in 1997. They thought is would last three years. 28 years later they've kept the name. Jean had no chance against the guns. The score was 2 to 25! All she could manage was a couple of catchers! Mal had a much closer game. At least he scored a shot in his Alexandra shirt! His second game he was against Angus, Paul and Braiden from Elwood Elsternwick. Second game Jean played Andy, Doug and Roachy. Gilly's team was so excited to get more shots in one end than the whole first game score. Jean was over the moon with her two shots! Jean's rink had the best head of the day. Jean won but Mal lost. We came in for a lovely country lunch of Corned beef, ham salad and potato bake. Dessert was Apple Crumble and ice-cream. It got hotter after the lunch. We were expecting 34°. It was 32°. Jean played against Warnie, Curly and Athlete. Mal against Trevor, Pip, and Tim. There was Aussie rock music playing in the background. Everyone was singing along and having a ball. 2nd end Jean nailed it! Mick consolidated. The Zooper Doopers came out just in time!. Last game of the day Gilly played Graham, Brett and Ben. Mal and Jean both won two and lost two. Mal lost by much less than Jean's 20 to 30. We were so tired and sore after 56 ends of bowls we had no energy to take a photo of our barbecue dinner. All we got was a quick picture of the corner to corner shootout. SUNDAY Sunday started with breakfast at 8:30. We got ready for another 42 ends of bowls. Breakfast was tea with bacon, eggs, hash browns and Collingwood vs Port Adelaide on the television. Steve went home so Mal played today with Homer and Mal. Their first opponents were Mark, Beau and Liam from Yarra Glen. Jean was against Josh, Matt and Blake who are from Moonee Valley. It was raining. So welcome after yesterday! First bowl down for Jean was a wrong bias. She made up for it though. Likewise Mal up the other end of the green. Neither of us won our first game. Next game we played each other - opposing Seconds. First end Jean had two and Gilly consolidated. After a full count, Jean was up ten-zip. Jean had a lovely shot but Mal took the kitty back for three. Gilly got one back then. 11-zip. Mal's side had three next end. Gilly drove and split the jack! Dead end! They finally scored with three in the re-play. Mal had two shots. Jean said " Take that Mal! " Gill won 21 to 5! Mal won't live that down! We came in for lunch. This time roast lamb & pork. Dessert was Sticky Date Pudding. Chris, Levi, Marie and Rose fed us beautifully. Over lunch it pelted down! The boys decided to play on it. They to call it. They tallied the results. Mal's (Homer's) team got best Saturday team. At the end of the day we think Alexandra has not only eclipsed Skipton as Victoria's best club, it's now Australia's best bowling club! We came in for a well-deserved drink. We believe this was the best tournament we've ever been in. They're never sure when it will be run. If bowlers want to play in it they can contact President Gilly (Greg Gilmore) on 0411 605 732 or gillygilmore60@hotmail.com . Alexandra - we think we're honorary members now!

When we were at Berwick on Saturday Marshy rang Foxy from Narre Warren to get our names down for Wednesday bowls. It's a proud club. Pennant wins are displayed likewise. The clubhouse was opened in 1987. It's a small clubhouse. Mates were all sat around for friendly chat. We met Arthur and Kerry at the table. Foxy was the person Marshy rang for us. The barbecue area welcomes us to 'The Pantherdome'. The two carpet greens are under a big dome. It was two-bowl triples. Five rinks in all. Mal, Jean and Joe Played Ula, Ray and Stan. Today's winners are ends won so we only ever need one shot. Jean took kitty and did it. Stan told us all the Panthers lost yesterday in the finals. We saw them at Cranbourne. We noticed some of the seats are donated in memorium. Jean snuck in two. We lost by eight. Second game Jeantold Mal it was his game to win. We played Hans, Ernesto Len/Leo. Len and Leo bowled alternate ends. We lost by an embarrassing score. It was because Mal didn't get near the kitty all day - but for his final two bowls of the day! We came in to commiserate. Despite his poor performance Mal said " I enjoyed that! " Over the bar it says " Group Therapy "! After our dismal performance Jean was asked to draw Winning Lead. She drew herself! We left with our tails between our legs but with smiles on our faces. Narre Warren - well some people had a win. Not us!

We dropped in to Cranbourne on Sunday. There was nobody around. Jean found a number for Secretary Karen who told us there's no social bowls during Pennant. She told us the Sandbelt Pennant Finals are here Tuesday. We came for a sticky beak. It's quite like all the other small clubhouses we've seen only loads of awards on the walls. All the Pennant players were on a break when we arrived. An impressive sight. There have been lots of Pennant successes over the years. There's a painting of club stalwart Robbie. We met him when we were here on Sunday. There are two nice outdoor areas which overlook the greens. The barbecue area is dedicated to Ray. The Indigenous Plant Garden is pretty. Brendan is a selector at Edithvale. He's doing the scoreboard for the Fives. There are three greens. A plastic synthetic and a grass out front. The Pennant players were playing on the front grass green. The Hans Worsteling Green. There's another grass green out the back. We liked the little bowls sculpture. There weren't many Cranbourne people around. They were at Burden Park watching players. We spied Treasurer David. Mal stood and chatted with him about all things bowls and commented on the good shots played. Jean met Karen who Mal had called Sunday. Karen told Jean that Sandbelt Region only plays Pennant Finals on grass greens. Then she stood and chatted with Michael, Peter and Bruce from Cranbourne RSL. Pennants played were Division 5 Cranbourne RSL vs Edithvale And Div Four was Edithvale vs Narre Warren. We decided to have a quick rollup on the grass green out the back. Mal was keen. The green was a little slow. It suited him. Jean went out nervously. It was touch and go but she got it. Two again for Mal. Jean said " One's enough! " It was a bit hot so we finished and took off. Cranbourne - good bowls, nice people

Jean has been in touch with Belvedere via Messenger. We couldn't make it on their social bowls day so turned up on spec on a Monday to a nice surprise. They were all there for Mixed Pairs. It's a small clubhouse but nice. There's an impressive trophy case. First person we met was Kevin. Lil introduced Jean to Mal who seemed to be in charge of everything. Lindsay asked what we thought of the green. We found out Mal is the President. Mal had to get a photo with him. The two Mals. There are three greens. Two are grass. When we arrived they were just finishing the mixed Pairs on the synthetic. We were going to roll up on it but they put mats out for us out the back on the grass. The synthetic is the Barrie Charles Green. Jean stepped out onto the grass. The slower green really suited her. Jean had two before Mal took one out. Mal had a go. Jean had one and Mal put it in the ditch! Jean liked this green. Mal was doing fine! We came inside. David, Jim, Janice, Mick and Lil were having post championship drinks. We joined them along with Julie, Ann, Ken and Lindsay. David was proud of his Belvedere Bulls shirt. We had to drive 40 minutes back to Berwick so said our goodbyes and were wished safe travels ahead. Belvedere - a good grass rollup!

We're camping in Berwick. We saw on their website that outside Pennant season there's bowls at Berwick Bowls Club on Saturday. We turned up and found out it's Finals day today but they still have Social Fours on today. For those non-Victorians it'spronounced 'Berrick'. It's a decent-sized clubhouse. There are loads of Pennants successes on every wall. Outside is a nice outdoor area under sails. We arrived at 11 because we didn't know what time it started. We figured we'd either get to play second game or have a long wait. We met Reg, Marshy and Bruce at the table. Out front is a pretty fountain. There are three greens. Two are grass. The other is a Tiger Turf under a dome. The R&L Cotter Green. Malcolm and Charlie were rolling up. David (The Rat) and Mal then rolled up. David turned on the big scoreboard for us. The shelters are donated in memorium. There's just one rink/game with Bruce, Trevor, Marshy and Mal Against Reg, Jean, Don and Bob. They have a picture of the clubhouse on the back of their shirts. Mal had shot until Jean took the kitty. Then she knocked out the shot bowl for one. She said " I've done my bit now! " Mal said " Finally! I did it! " He said " I got excited becauseI did it again! " He stole shot from Jean. Mal won 8 to 4. Nice guys at Berwick!

We left Somerville yesterday and arrived in Berwick. Today we've driven 40 minutes to Chelsea on the coast for a game of Triples. It's a cute little clubhouse. Members erected the clubhouse in 1962. Mal had rung Secretary Jim to get our names down. He told us to look out for Alan. We met Alan and Maureen at the table. There's one plastic synthetic green. The Kevin Savage Green. It was Alan, Jean and skip Mal Against Donna, Maureen and Lisa. We had four rinks. Three of Three-bowl Triples and a championship Singles game. They were all very happy; congratulated bowls on other rinks and helped new bowlers. First end we did ok. A nice tight head. Mal took the shot. Second end Jean got one. Alan consolidated. We won convincingly. Our second game was against Kathy, Steve and Kay. Sam and Ian were exhausted from their Handicap Singles game which Sam won. Second end again Jean scored well. Jean said to Kay " You really like my bowls don't you! " Her black bowls knocked Jean up three times! Mal did loads of great skip shots but the good results didn't include his bowls. We won again though our opponents put In some ripper shots to be 6 to 10. Chelsea - a very happy club!