Five weeks after the originally scheduled date, we completed our outdoor round of matches at Victoria Park, in Deal. The weather stayed fine for us, just a strong breeze, which allowed us our usual midday gathering on the front, for tea, coffee, and a snack. Plus, there was a stroll along the front, all the time taking the opportunity to catch up on chat (since the last time, two days earlier!)

  It was a blustery walk along the front, but we were not blown away until later on the rinks, after some more tea, coffee and a welcome from our hosts. Actually, three rinks did pretty well. All three of them in contention for a good portion of the matches…..

  On rink three Lynne, Penny and Peter were 8-6 up at the half way stage, but then lost four ends for an aggregate twelve shots to trail 18-8. They won two of the last three ends but a five shot loss in the other saw Alan, Frank and Anita win 23-11.

  A similar story, on rink four, where Marian, Bella and Hans were 8-6 up after nine ends, but lost six shots in the tenth for Rene, Peter and Fraser to go into a 12-8 lead. RBBG immediately pulled back two shots to 12-10, but the final five ends were mostly one way traffic for Victoria Park to run out 20-11 victors.

  On rink two, there was a slightly different pattern. After the first few ends, it was level, until Norman, Alan and Ruth scored a crucial six shots in one end, so that at half way they led 12-5. The second half was largely even, RBBG ahead by 7-6, but that left the overall score at 18-12 in our hosts’ favour. The difference was that six shot end – RBBG rink honours to Albert, Hetty and Chris.

  And then there was rink one! Trudy, Ian and Bill were 3-2 up after four ends, but then the rot set in. Bill came on for Trudy, after eight ends, but the story was unchanged. Rosemary and Ivy were putting in consistent woods around the jack and David either simply added to the count total or removed RBBG woods, as appropriate. He would push our occasional shot wood away to take a couple. Brian even did it for him – a measure for shot, and Brian sought, with the final wood of the end, to ease the RBBG wood clearly into shot and perhaps pick up another. However, he knocked it away to give Victoria Park three! At one stage it looked like it would be a record RBBG rout, but we won the last two ends (just by one shot!) to lose 29-5.

  But it was all very enjoyable on the green, despite the strong breeze, hence the literal and figurative blowing away. And there was more laughter, as we enjoyed our fish and chips – a big thank you to all who helped in the kitchen. RBBG at least mopped up the raffle prizes without reply – we have found our niche activity!

  It was a grand day, but for Brian there was one element missing, and he knew what it was. He asked Fraser, on the way out, if there was a gagging order on the singing, (understandable!), but Fraser said he had been waiting for Brian to start.

  EVERYONE – BE WARNED! No-one leaves next year without a few songs!!