Don't worry. I'll soon get back to blogs on interesting topics such as Maori culture and life in New Zealand. Having friends staying who are roaming around N Z on holiday from Scotland is providing a relief from the routine which has become my life here. The routine is, by the way, a statement of actuality and certainly not a complaint. I have come to accept that even a day in which nothing of apparent interest happens is a day to be valued for its mundanities.
But today has been anything but mundane. I had a match at 1000 with my mentor, Jayne, who took me under her wing on the open day at Merewa Croquet Club when I first discovered the sport. Jayne is one of the most enthusiastic of players whom I both admire and like immensely. The match was to determine which of us would represent the Club at the play-off for the Hawkes Bay Golf Croquet Silver Badge. Unfortunately one of us had to lose. My win had the irritating consequence of reducing my handicap from 6 to 5. Good for the 'image' but bad for the number of strokes I now give to the opponents whom I usually meet.
I played an Association doubles match in the afternoon. Our (Frank and my) opponents included the Club's Handicapper. Frank and I won 17:3. My handicap was immediately reduced from 22 to 16! Bummer.
When the Association match ended Marsha and Callum arrived for a few games. One of the Club's senior players offered to make up a foursome: she partnered Callum and I partnered Marsha. Marsha and I got a drubbing - it looked as if I was played out. Actually the truth is that they were just much better than Marsha and I. Callum is a natural. After Chris left Callum and I had a game. After 6 hoops the score was 3:3. I, with my 5 handicap, was struggling against a player who had had a mallet in his hand twice! Experience and luck however prevailed and I managed to save my dignity and win. Give Callum more experience and the opportunities and he will come back and thrash me; of that I'm certain.
But today has been anything but mundane. I had a match at 1000 with my mentor, Jayne, who took me under her wing on the open day at Merewa Croquet Club when I first discovered the sport. Jayne is one of the most enthusiastic of players whom I both admire and like immensely. The match was to determine which of us would represent the Club at the play-off for the Hawkes Bay Golf Croquet Silver Badge. Unfortunately one of us had to lose. My win had the irritating consequence of reducing my handicap from 6 to 5. Good for the 'image' but bad for the number of strokes I now give to the opponents whom I usually meet.
I played an Association doubles match in the afternoon. Our (Frank and my) opponents included the Club's Handicapper. Frank and I won 17:3. My handicap was immediately reduced from 22 to 16! Bummer.
When the Association match ended Marsha and Callum arrived for a few games. One of the Club's senior players offered to make up a foursome: she partnered Callum and I partnered Marsha. Marsha and I got a drubbing - it looked as if I was played out. Actually the truth is that they were just much better than Marsha and I. Callum is a natural. After Chris left Callum and I had a game. After 6 hoops the score was 3:3. I, with my 5 handicap, was struggling against a player who had had a mallet in his hand twice! Experience and luck however prevailed and I managed to save my dignity and win. Give Callum more experience and the opportunities and he will come back and thrash me; of that I'm certain.
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