29 Comments

I love this Dan -community bowls in jandals as an elegant art form and the photos are perfect

The Ringing of the Bell at the end of the season is so touching - the same custom is used at Dana Farber when someone finishes a round of cancer treatments - but will remind others of "last orders" or "last call" before a pub closes for the night.

In Lyall Bay- where the only weather constant is Uncertainty - Tiger Turf (imported from somewhere far away) means during season and throughout the year they can play in what are sometimes described as 'tricky conditions' Lovely to watch a good game and loely to read this post..

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Hi Susan! Glad you enjoyed it! 'Tricky conditions,' I bet. I'm writing here like windy rainy bowls is simply unfathomable, but I'm spoiled over here. The bell--so ritualistic, right? They ring a smaller bell to start the matches, a little handheld one, but I never noticed the big one on the wall until the moment the man rang it at the end. Felt like church, honestly! In the best way. The little rituals we need to make the days mean something, no?

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In Martinborough we've still got 2 weeks to go till we finish our bowls season! Last week was a washout, waiting to see how tonight plays out.

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A fellow bowler! Enjoy those last two weeks, Keryn. I miss it already!

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My bowling club is a fencing club! My other bowling club is a hangout. Let's meet there soon! Fine in the winter

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It's always winter in Welly

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Oooooh... Fightn words...

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Wairarapa truth

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Lovely story, Dan. Gorgeous bittersweet word pictures.

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Thanks, Anna! Bittersweet is the best sweet. As a vibe it's just as addictive as full-on sugar.

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Agree💯

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Just about makes me want to play bowls!

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See you on the pitch when you get back :)

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I have only ever bowled once - aka lawn bowling to Yankees - and I can only confirm one thing about it: 'Tis harder than it looks. PS: Very sorry I could not make it to the journaling workshop, Dan. Too far to go and too busy of a work day. Hope it went well and am keen to join if another is scheduled!

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It IS harder than it looks! I am terrible but Business House is marvellously forgiving. Here for any sport where you put down a beer to take your turn (my level of softball, no higher.) Workshop was great! Had a couple folks over from the Hutt, even. There will be more!

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Lovely story, thanks Dan.

I learned to bowl with my late partner in Melbourne. Interesting difference in terms, and ones I’ve heard in Central Otago as well. What you call green and length, we referred to as line and weight.

Linguistic differences always interest me, as do lovely stories.

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Hi Tracie! So glad you enjoyed it. Now that you say it...I know green is right, but maybe I've misremembered length for weight in Wairarapa bowls lingo??

Is the Australian game the same, I wonder? I suppose it is. That's a lovely memory, thanks for sharing. Funny how a little game sticks folks together in your mind. Like that's quietly the main point of playing.

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Yes, the game is the same, but in Melbourne summers barefoot bowls is very popular with young party groups.

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We gotta get it going here!

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I bloody love this Dan

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Hi Ben! Thanks for reading, glad you dug it!

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Beautiful.

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Thanks, Rachel! I know you get it about the seasons. Always strange to feel ‘em in reverse down here.

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Used to play with my dad, very rarely mind you! Great sport bowls, you obviously enjoy it too :)

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Father-son bonding, totally. I can't wait to get my boy playing. I didn't know there was a Japanese equivalent!

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Ah it’s more just what Japanese people in a similar demographic do, bowls I usually associate with retired folk!

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We 40-something dads are taking it back :)

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Just beautiful, Dan. I too hang out at a small town bowling club from time to time, but just as a 'social member'

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The reason to be, right there in the name!

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