As a result of Sundays matches, Verwood have slipped to second place with 32 points, on shot difference.
Broadstone, also with 32 points, are Division 5 leaders with Shroton, Verwoods opponents next Sunday, in third place on 31 points. Verwood have a one game advantage over Shroton but they need a win with preferably six points from the match.
Alderholt who are in fourth place with 29 points have games inhand over the top three clubs.
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
Sunday, 28 January 2007
Slight Slip
Verwood only managed to earn 2 points against Poole Park today.
Both the Fours and the Triples got off to a fine start but failed to keep up the pressure.
The Fours led from the start and were well ahead for most of their game but only managed to win by 14 shots to 13 and earn the 2 points for a win.
The Triples game swung from one side to the other until Poole Park took a decisive lead. The decision was then made two thirds of the way in the game to change my position from Number 2 to Skip and the game started to swing Verwoods way, but to late. Poole Park won the game by 22 shots to 17.
Next Sunday Verwood have an important match against second placed, subject to games results being declared today, Shroton. Unfortunately Verwood Fours will go into this match with a team made up of three reserve players.
Both the Fours and the Triples got off to a fine start but failed to keep up the pressure.
The Fours led from the start and were well ahead for most of their game but only managed to win by 14 shots to 13 and earn the 2 points for a win.
The Triples game swung from one side to the other until Poole Park took a decisive lead. The decision was then made two thirds of the way in the game to change my position from Number 2 to Skip and the game started to swing Verwoods way, but to late. Poole Park won the game by 22 shots to 17.
Next Sunday Verwood have an important match against second placed, subject to games results being declared today, Shroton. Unfortunately Verwood Fours will go into this match with a team made up of three reserve players.
Saturday, 27 January 2007
On Top
Verwood continue their aim for promotion this Sunday with an away match against Poole Park who languish at the bottom of Division 5 with 14 points from 8 matches.
Last Sundays win put Verwood at the top of the division with 30 points, 2 points ahead and one game in hand of 2nd place team Shroton, Verwood are away to Shroton on February 4th, Broadstone slipped to 3rd with 26 points.
There are three teams on 26 points with one, Alderholt having a one game advantage over Verwood and two games over Broadstone.
Once again this week, due to some first team players not being available, Verwood will be putting out reserves.
Because the top of the Division is so close, Verwood cannot afford to relax in their remaining games if they are to obtain promotion this year.
Last Sundays win put Verwood at the top of the division with 30 points, 2 points ahead and one game in hand of 2nd place team Shroton, Verwood are away to Shroton on February 4th, Broadstone slipped to 3rd with 26 points.
There are three teams on 26 points with one, Alderholt having a one game advantage over Verwood and two games over Broadstone.
Once again this week, due to some first team players not being available, Verwood will be putting out reserves.
Because the top of the Division is so close, Verwood cannot afford to relax in their remaining games if they are to obtain promotion this year.
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
Concrete Jungle?
Green Belt land which protects fields and open space around towns and cities should be "abolished", a think tank has urged.
The call for an end to the tough planning rules that for decades have saved the countryside around towns and cities, came from the Policy Exchange in a study on the effects of the planning system on the UK economy.
They conclude in this report, that the main objective of planning has been to limit the spatial extent of cities and that this artificial reduction of land supply has severe consequences for society, the environment and the economy.
Since Labour came to power their policy seems to have been to turn the countryside into a concrete jungle. The end of the Green Belt would mean the destruction of our countryside and an environmental disaster.
The call for an end to the tough planning rules that for decades have saved the countryside around towns and cities, came from the Policy Exchange in a study on the effects of the planning system on the UK economy.
They conclude in this report, that the main objective of planning has been to limit the spatial extent of cities and that this artificial reduction of land supply has severe consequences for society, the environment and the economy.
Since Labour came to power their policy seems to have been to turn the countryside into a concrete jungle. The end of the Green Belt would mean the destruction of our countryside and an environmental disaster.
Start of a cold snap
In the UK snow fell and started a cold snap after a spell of unseasonably mild weather this winter. In London, one or two centimetres of snow fell, settling on parked cars and some roads.
More snow is forecast but it is unlikely to settle except in the north of the country. There will be further wintry showers over, mainly, parts of eastern England but nowhere is expecting much in the way of an accumulation of snow because the air is not really quite cold enough.
More snow is forecast but it is unlikely to settle except in the north of the country. There will be further wintry showers over, mainly, parts of eastern England but nowhere is expecting much in the way of an accumulation of snow because the air is not really quite cold enough.
Monday, 22 January 2007
Blue Monday
It's official, Monday, 22 January is the most depressing day of the year. January has always been a pretty bleak month, but a formula from a tutor at Cardiff University shows that it gets even worse this Monday.
Bad weather, debt, fading Christmas memories, failed resolutions and a lack of motivation conspire to get us all down.
Most of us are stuck at work, too - just to make it worse.
Bad weather, debt, fading Christmas memories, failed resolutions and a lack of motivation conspire to get us all down.
Most of us are stuck at work, too - just to make it worse.
Sunday, 21 January 2007
Verwood are Triumphant!
Verwood earned 6 points with their 49 shots to 33 win over Broadstone today. This puts them at the head of Division 5, 2 points clear of Broadstone, subject to any other results being declared.
The Fours led their match from the start coming out 22 shots to 11 winners.
In the Triples match the score swung from one team to another. Both teams had some high scoring ends but the turning point in the game came at the 14th end when Verwood scored a six shot "Hotshot". ( A Hotshot is when a team gets all their woods on the mat and the opposing team fails to get any of their woods on the mat). This is the second "Hotshot" Verwood have achieved, the first one by the Fours in the match against Whitechurch on the 17/12/2006.
At one stage Verwood were leading by 12 shots and finally won their match 27 shots to 22.
Next Sunday sees Verwood travelling to Poole Park who were, prior to today, lying second from the bottom of the division.
(To keep up to date with the League table click on the link and then division 4/5)
The Fours led their match from the start coming out 22 shots to 11 winners.
In the Triples match the score swung from one team to another. Both teams had some high scoring ends but the turning point in the game came at the 14th end when Verwood scored a six shot "Hotshot". ( A Hotshot is when a team gets all their woods on the mat and the opposing team fails to get any of their woods on the mat). This is the second "Hotshot" Verwood have achieved, the first one by the Fours in the match against Whitechurch on the 17/12/2006.
At one stage Verwood were leading by 12 shots and finally won their match 27 shots to 22.
Next Sunday sees Verwood travelling to Poole Park who were, prior to today, lying second from the bottom of the division.
(To keep up to date with the League table click on the link and then division 4/5)
From this.......
......To This
Weather forecasters have warned that winter's first big chill is set to hit Britain as temperatures plummet bringing freezing snow and ice down from the north. This will end the unseasonably mild temperatures experienced of late as the wind changes direction from the warmer south west to the north, bringing weather in off the icy North Atlantic.It is predicted that snow showers will move down the east coast at the start of next week, stretching from as far north as Aberdeen, all the way to Dover. Some snow might even fall as far inland as London. North Wales and Cornwall may also be hit.High pressure out to the west will then gradually move in on Thursday and Friday to kill off the snow showers, though it will remain cold.
Saturday, 20 January 2007
Need to win!
Tomorrow (Sunday) Verwood Short Mat Bowls CLub play Broadstone Hawks in Division 5 of the Dorset Short Mat Bowls League.
Broadstone head the division with 4 wins and 2 losses in the Fours and 5 wins and 1 loss in the Triples. Verwood are lying in third place with 4 wins and 2 losses in the Fours and 3 wins and 3 losses in the Triples.
This is Verwood's only home game until the final game of the season in April and although Verwood have two games in hand over second placed Whitechurch, who they have beaten at home and away, they need to beat Broadstone to maintain their aim for promotion.
Verwood have had to make team changes due to David Knight, who plays number 2 in the Triples, having to drop out, being replaced by myself. My position as lead in the Fours is being taken by one of the reserve players.
Broadstone head the division with 4 wins and 2 losses in the Fours and 5 wins and 1 loss in the Triples. Verwood are lying in third place with 4 wins and 2 losses in the Fours and 3 wins and 3 losses in the Triples.
This is Verwood's only home game until the final game of the season in April and although Verwood have two games in hand over second placed Whitechurch, who they have beaten at home and away, they need to beat Broadstone to maintain their aim for promotion.
Verwood have had to make team changes due to David Knight, who plays number 2 in the Triples, having to drop out, being replaced by myself. My position as lead in the Fours is being taken by one of the reserve players.
Friday, 19 January 2007
Thirteen killed in UK storm chaos
At least 13 people are now known to have died in Britain's worst storms in 17 years as another death was reported.
A man was killed while refuelling his car at a petrol station in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, on Thursday when the garage canopy was blown off by high winds and fell on him.
The dead included a two-year-old boy as savage storms swept across the country.
Forecasters predicted the storms would calm down, but warned it would remain windy, with gusts of up to 40mph and colder temperatures on the way.
Morning commuters faced continuing problems on the transport network during the clear-up operation.
While the worst of the weather has passed, many train firms warned of delays as repairs were carried out following the gales.
The roads were said to be mostly clear but airports were still warning of cancellations.
A severely reduced service is operating on GNER's East Coast main line between London and Edinburgh while an emergency timetable was in operation on the Virgin Trains West Coast main line.
GNER spokesman Alan Hyde said: "We have been working hard to ensure that our trains and crews are in the right places to run as normal a service as possible.'' The Stansted Express is operating every half hour and Silverlink has cancelled all services between Watford and St Albans Abbey. Heathrow Airport said it was expecting flights to return to normal.
A spokesman for the Highways Agency said there were no major problems on the roads this morning and that everything had been cleared following yesterday's storms.
London Bridge train station was re-opened after being closed when part of the station forecourt roof collapsed.
South Eastern Trains reported a series of delays and cancellations to services between London Bridge and Kent stations.
There was widespread disruption for commuters Thursday night as thousands struggled to make their way home amid road closures and rail cancellations.
At London's Victoria station, hundreds of commuters waited on the concourse as train after train was cancelled or delayed.
A man was killed while refuelling his car at a petrol station in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, on Thursday when the garage canopy was blown off by high winds and fell on him.
The dead included a two-year-old boy as savage storms swept across the country.
Forecasters predicted the storms would calm down, but warned it would remain windy, with gusts of up to 40mph and colder temperatures on the way.
Morning commuters faced continuing problems on the transport network during the clear-up operation.
While the worst of the weather has passed, many train firms warned of delays as repairs were carried out following the gales.
The roads were said to be mostly clear but airports were still warning of cancellations.
A severely reduced service is operating on GNER's East Coast main line between London and Edinburgh while an emergency timetable was in operation on the Virgin Trains West Coast main line.
GNER spokesman Alan Hyde said: "We have been working hard to ensure that our trains and crews are in the right places to run as normal a service as possible.'' The Stansted Express is operating every half hour and Silverlink has cancelled all services between Watford and St Albans Abbey. Heathrow Airport said it was expecting flights to return to normal.
A spokesman for the Highways Agency said there were no major problems on the roads this morning and that everything had been cleared following yesterday's storms.
London Bridge train station was re-opened after being closed when part of the station forecourt roof collapsed.
South Eastern Trains reported a series of delays and cancellations to services between London Bridge and Kent stations.
There was widespread disruption for commuters Thursday night as thousands struggled to make their way home amid road closures and rail cancellations.
At London's Victoria station, hundreds of commuters waited on the concourse as train after train was cancelled or delayed.
Monday, 15 January 2007
Recipe of the Day
This recipe may not be unique but from a personal point of view it is over 50 years old and I can remember as a child my Mum making them.
FLAPJACKS
6 ounces of Oats
3 ounces of Butter
4 ounces of Soft Brown Sugar
2 ounces of Golden Syrup *
Place the Oats in a large mixing bowl.
Melt the Butter, Sugar & Syrup over a low heat (do not boil).
Add the melted ingredients to the Oats and mix well.
Spoon the mixed ingredients into a shallow baking tray (Make sure the tray is well greased with Butter).
Place into a preheated oven at 360F (about 185c) for about 25 minutes.
* Particularly popular in England (where it's also known as light treacle), this liquid sweetener has the consistency of corn syrup and a clear golden color. It's made from evaporated sugar cane juice and has a rich, toasty flavor unmatched by any other sweetener. Golden syrup, the most readily available brand being Lyle's, can be found in some supermarkets and many gourmet markets. It can be used as a substitute for corn syrup in cooking and baking, and for everything from pancake syrup to ice cream topping.
Happy Feet
Voices: Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Robin Williams, Johnny A Sanchez, Carlos Alazraqui
Set in the freezing world of the emperor penguins, Happy Feet is the story of misfit Mumble (Elijah Wood), who is the only member of his colony ever to have been born without the ability to sing. He can tap dance like crazy, but the others think he’s weird and his lack of a ‘heart song’ (the unique song every penguin uses to attract a mate) looks certain to doom him to a lonely life of misery.
Mumble finds friendship when he runs into a bunch of fun-loving adelie penguins, but ends up cast out from his own community when the elders identify his ‘un-penguin’ dancing as the cause of their food shortage.
Happy Feet ticks the boxes for cuteness, humour and drama quickly enough. The newly hatched penguins are hard to resist, especially Mumble, who has to make a concerted effort not to start dancing at any given moment; the adelie penguins (who are all Hispanic for some reason) provide a steady stream of chuckles; and Mumble’s encounters with leopard seals and killer whales throw up a couple of arresting action sequences that might have younger kids hiding behind their popcorn. Some of the musical numbers come off better than others but are mostly kept pretty brief.
After a year of mediocre, uninspired talking animal movies, it’s great to see one that is actually visually memorable. The filmmakers have obviously studied natural history series like the BBC’s Life In The Freezer to get the penguins’ world looking almost as stunning as the real thing. The snow, ice and skies look real and so do the penguins - apart from all that singing, talking and dancing, of course.
When he is cast out and goes looking for the aliens (humans) that he believes are responsible for the penguins’ plight, you really feel for Mumble, and Happy Feet has you just where it wants you.
Set in the freezing world of the emperor penguins, Happy Feet is the story of misfit Mumble (Elijah Wood), who is the only member of his colony ever to have been born without the ability to sing. He can tap dance like crazy, but the others think he’s weird and his lack of a ‘heart song’ (the unique song every penguin uses to attract a mate) looks certain to doom him to a lonely life of misery.
Mumble finds friendship when he runs into a bunch of fun-loving adelie penguins, but ends up cast out from his own community when the elders identify his ‘un-penguin’ dancing as the cause of their food shortage.
Happy Feet ticks the boxes for cuteness, humour and drama quickly enough. The newly hatched penguins are hard to resist, especially Mumble, who has to make a concerted effort not to start dancing at any given moment; the adelie penguins (who are all Hispanic for some reason) provide a steady stream of chuckles; and Mumble’s encounters with leopard seals and killer whales throw up a couple of arresting action sequences that might have younger kids hiding behind their popcorn. Some of the musical numbers come off better than others but are mostly kept pretty brief.
After a year of mediocre, uninspired talking animal movies, it’s great to see one that is actually visually memorable. The filmmakers have obviously studied natural history series like the BBC’s Life In The Freezer to get the penguins’ world looking almost as stunning as the real thing. The snow, ice and skies look real and so do the penguins - apart from all that singing, talking and dancing, of course.
When he is cast out and goes looking for the aliens (humans) that he believes are responsible for the penguins’ plight, you really feel for Mumble, and Happy Feet has you just where it wants you.
2006 in Brief
Last year seemed to fly by and was full of happy memories.
It started off with a holiday in The Maldives to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary which occurred in December 2005.
The summer in the UK was one of the hottest on record which meant we could spend a lot of time relaxing in the garden.
In April I had my first year playing outdoor bowls for Verwood Bowls Club second team in Division 3 of the Dorset Premier League and Division 4 of the New Forest League. We won both leagues and earned promotion for the 2007 season.
Unfortunately the same success was not achieved in Division 5 of the Dorset Short Mat League, which is played indoors. We won the WOODEN SPOON for coming bottom of the league.
In May Yvonne spent an enjoyable time with her friend Chris in Spain which kept the tan topped up.
In November, thanks to a sale by British Airways why pay the full price, we spent a very happy time visiting the folks in Colorado Springs.
In December we took a break in Bath, one of our favourite places in the UK, to celebrate our wedding anniversary and the year finished with a very happy, full of food and drink Christmas on the Isle of Wight with our very dear friends Jackie & Cliff.
It started off with a holiday in The Maldives to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary which occurred in December 2005.
The summer in the UK was one of the hottest on record which meant we could spend a lot of time relaxing in the garden.
In April I had my first year playing outdoor bowls for Verwood Bowls Club second team in Division 3 of the Dorset Premier League and Division 4 of the New Forest League. We won both leagues and earned promotion for the 2007 season.
Unfortunately the same success was not achieved in Division 5 of the Dorset Short Mat League, which is played indoors. We won the WOODEN SPOON for coming bottom of the league.
In May Yvonne spent an enjoyable time with her friend Chris in Spain which kept the tan topped up.
In November, thanks to a sale by British Airways why pay the full price, we spent a very happy time visiting the folks in Colorado Springs.
In December we took a break in Bath, one of our favourite places in the UK, to celebrate our wedding anniversary and the year finished with a very happy, full of food and drink Christmas on the Isle of Wight with our very dear friends Jackie & Cliff.
Into the Unknown
Although the best way of communicating with family & friends is still through face to face meetings, technology has advanced so much allowing us to communicate in other ways as well.
Writing letters, telephone, telex and fax have been overtaken by broadband internet, e-mails, free computer to computer telephone calls, live webcam sessions and more recently blog sites.
A blog site is not something I had thought of starting until Ian persuaded me during our visit to Colorado last year.
Do I know what I’m doing? Not really, although he assures me it’s simple.
Writing letters, telephone, telex and fax have been overtaken by broadband internet, e-mails, free computer to computer telephone calls, live webcam sessions and more recently blog sites.
A blog site is not something I had thought of starting until Ian persuaded me during our visit to Colorado last year.
Do I know what I’m doing? Not really, although he assures me it’s simple.
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