Tenpin bowling yesterday morning was an education! Holiday makers have arrived in their droves and it is wonderful to see them using OUR facilities!
Normally our group will take up two lanes while we play and, in the odd instance when others arrive, they might use one or two of the other lanes. This means that we are able to spread ourselves leisurely on the 9 seats provided, use the balls that we covet, and never have to worry about anything else.
We definitely are never a serious bunch. The noise, screams, laughs and antics could be very embarrassing should they be captured on TikTok or any of the other social media platforms! But this is our silly time and we love it.
Yesterday was different. Every lane was over full to capacity. There were mothers and grannies, ouma and oupas. Teenagers and toddlers who had doting mothers helping them to push the ball down the alleys while they were sitting on the floor holding them upright.
Each time the ball got a skittle down it was greeted with huge applause by everyone in their party. Some used the plastic slide for the slightly bigger children and this gave them that little extra help to send the heavy ball into motion.
Sadly the club has a shortage of medium weighted balls with bigger finger holes. These are the ones that we grab and keep when we arrive.
Not because we are being selfish, but as we age, our finger joints have developed larger sections…. I believe arthritis might just be responsible for this, but whatever the reason, this makes it impossible to use the lighter, smaller holed balls.
Fortunately, I believe that the order has been placed for new bowling balls, which should be arriving within a few months. This, and the new shoes, also on order, will be a great draw card for the establishment.
It was a relief to get out of the alley away from the noise, but, as usual, we had a super day and the scoring was not too bad either.
In the afternoon I spent my time on the balcony.
With it being enclosed I have found that the plants I used to grow on it not doing as well as they did. The beautiful hard driftwood, which I had the orchids and ferns attached to, is of no use now, so I decided to remove them and give them to Petros to find a good spot in the garden to use them as a feature there.
I had attached them to brackets that my brother, Ray, had drilled into the wall and it was easy enough to get them off. Now I only have a mosaic on that wall that I did years ago when I thought that I might enjoy it as a hobby.
I didn’t. But the tree is simple in design and I love the colour of the old crockery, mirrors and tiles I used. Unfortunately it was done on chipboard. Before the balcony was enclosed rain got onto the mosaic and has damaged the back, but now it will be nicely protected.
It is 9:30 now and I feel so decadent still lying in bed when the rest of the world is going about it’s business.
I hear the sounds of cricketers playing on the fields at Lords and Legends, traffic in the distance and life in all its glory. I need to rise and partake!
Enjoy the poem. It is lovely.
My Credo Of Life
© Patricia A Fleming More By Patricia A Fleming
Published: April 2018
Let me live within the moment.
Let me feel all that I can.
Let me cherish life for all it’s worth,
With everything I am.
Let me see what’s right in front of me,
With vision crystal clear.
And face what’s waiting there for me,
With no hesitance or fear.
May I wake each day with gratitude,
For all my life may be.
And always feel that wonderment
At the world surrounding me.
May I welcome any strangers
With an open heart and mind.
And always stand for what is right
With all the strength that I can find.
Let me forgive myself for my mistakes,
While forgiving others theirs.
And never grow indifferent
But always strive to care.
Let me not forget what matters
In the scheme of every day,
To live each precious moment
In a kind and loving way.
For this moment now is everything,
Nothing matters but today.
So I’ll willingly embrace it
And not let it slip away.
For it passes all so quickly,
And one chance is all we get.
And a life of wasted moments
Is a life filled with regrets.
