Worked out well!

The decision to enter two Club teams in the Dorset Short Mat League Div 5 could have had disastrous consequences but as it turned out it proved successful.
Last Sunday (April 5) saw the final matches of Verwood's 2008/09 campaign resulting in the two teams gaining 1st & 2nd place.
The Forresters won the Division and automatically gained promotion. For some reason the organiser of the League will not decide until the start of next season whether the Potters, runners up, earn promotion as well.
What ever the decision the Club has had its most successful year to date.
Apart from a few County competitions I am entered in, this is the end of my indoor season for another year and the attention now moves to outdoor bowls starting April 15th.

Happy Birthday!

To celebrate Yvonne's birthday I arranged a Spa Break at The Hilton Hotel , Bath. Although we have visited Bath on many occasion's this time the visit seemed more relaxing than previous visits.

Normally we are rushing around shopping and trying to cram in as much as we could for the time allowed. This time, apart from a session at the new Spa Baths, we had no agenda.

We arrived on Sunday morning after an eventful drive down. We (I) chose a different route and I have to confess we got lost. When we arrived in Bath we found that the annual Bath Marathon was taking place and a lot of the roads were closed and we could not get to the hotel. Having found a parking place we took a 20 minute walk to our hotel and met up with Lynn & Mick who had travelled down for the "Birthday Girl".

The Break included a bottle of champagne in the room and two 2 hour sessions in the new Spa Baths but when I made the booking I mentioned that the visit was to celebrate a special occasion.

When checked in, the Hotel had given us a free room upgrade, fresh fruit and a bottle of wine in the room and a birthday card for Yvonne.

We had lunch with Lynn & Mick and then I had to make the 20 minute journey back to the car, by which time I could get into the Hotel car park.

In the evening, after Lynn & Mick left for their journey home, we dined in the Hotel.

The sunny weather continued into the Monday and after a leisurely breakfast we strolled around the city and in the afternoon spent our 2 hours in the relaxing Spa Baths.

On Tuesday, our final day, we awoke to another fine day and having checked out of the Hotel we took a boat ride down the river Avon to the village of Bathampton and back.

Medhupparu 2009

Medhupparu has not lost any of its charm in the last 12 months.

Since we visited last year improvements have been made to the facilities but little else has changed. The staff are still friendly and many that we have got to know over the four years we have been visiting the island, still remain. The tranquility has not changed and the snorkeling still provides surprises.

However, the credit crunch has left it's mark. The staff numbers have had to be reduced and when we were there the remaining staff were told that further cuts would have to be made.

The island is fully booked up until the end of May but from then on, so far, the bookings are down. Due to this there is talk of closing some of the accommodation and part of the bar and dining room.

Let's hope that we are in a position to return in 2010 and if we do it looks as though our party numbers will be increased.

Travel woes as snow falls across UK

Heavy snow has caused travel chaos as bus services were suspended, trains were cancelled and delayed, and some airport runways temporarily closed.
An army of snow ploughs and gritters were working to clear roads as much of the UK was blanketed in snow.
London Transport suspended its bus services because of dangerous conditions on the roads.
A number of train services linking London and the south coast were also delayed or cancelled as snow drifted onto the tracks.

Gatwick Airport and London City Airport were both temporarily shut as their runways were de-iced.

Southeastern Trains said it had cancelled all rail services into London after heavy snow fell overnight Kent and Sussex.

VERWOOD 7:30AM FEBRUARY 2, 2009

Marching onwards and upwards!

I hope I am not tempting fate but Verwood Short Mat Bowling Club are on a high this season. Let's hope it continues!
The Potters have played 8 matches so far and are top of the table with 34 points. The Foresters, who are considered to be the "first team", have played 7 matches and are lying in second place with 29 points.
We are halfway through the season and the two teams have a return crunch match against each other on February 6th.

Films to watch out for in 2009

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

So here we have an X-Men prequel (set 17 years before the last film) where we find out how Wolverine became practically indestructible and grew those fancy claws.

Angels & Demons

Whatever you may have thought about The Da Vinci Code, it still went on to be one of the biggest films of all time. So here we have another Dan Brown tale which finds Tom Hanks chasing around Vatican City looking for something or other.

Goodbye 2008 and hello 2009!

For some 2008 was not the best of years and they are probably glad to see the back of it. So for those people, look forward to a happier 2009.

From a personal point of view there were many happy memories during 2008 and we are looking to an eventful 2009.
We have two major holidays booked, a return to the Maldives in February and Egypt in September.
Squeezed between the two is a short break in Bath for Yvonne's **'th birthday. Visitors from across the Pond in May. My **'th birthday in August and my retirement. Another trip is in the planning stage for December.


To everybody that gets to read this HAPPY NEW YEAR!