Yet another  year has passed.  Where does the time go?  What occupies my time that prevents me from writing a short simple blog every now and then?

Well, there’s work for a start and when you’re sitting at a computer for most of a working day, you don’t always want to strain your eyesight in the evenings.

Then there’s bowls.  Bowls, bowls, bowls – outdoor in the summer and indoors during the winter months.  This indoor season, which started in October 2016, saw me taking on the Ladies’ Captain’s role and playing quite a strong part in the admin for the indoor section. This includes, typing and putting up sign-up sheets for every match, helping to select teams for every match, liaise with external caterer for large club matches or baking/providing for internal weekend games. This often means a dash to a supermarket or large wholesale warehouse in my precious lunch breaks.  Then at the weekend, setting up, clearing up, manning the bar (all with help – what a great lot of club members we have!), playing and trying to keep everyone motivated.  My partner, who is Men’s Captain, and I couldn’t have achieved what we have without the support of the club members.  We are so lucky.

And now, I’m in the throes of organising a tour to Potters Holiday at the end of November for 30+ bowlers.  I must be totally mad!  As most of the bowlers are over 70, am I responsible for their behaviout?  Is it like taking a school trip away?  Should I do a refresher first aid course?  Of course the answer to the latter is obviously ‘yes’ regardless of whether we go on the trip or not.

On top of this, there are club competitions, national competitions, county matches and friendly matches to fit in all year round.  I’m not complaining.  I love it!  It’s just the responsibility that sometimes gets overwhelming.  Stay positive in public – scream at home!

On top of all the bowls and keeping the Facebook page current, there’s the amdram.  two productions a year with a three month rehearsal period for both with Stopgap Theatre Company in Isleworth, West London.  Last February, I had a cracking part in a French Farce ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’ .  It was such fun even though there were a mountain of words to learn as well as a dignified stripping in re-dressing on stage without any member of cast or audience seeing any more than they ought to!

In the summer production, John Mortimer’s ‘A Voyage Around My Father’, I had a selection of characters to play – great as i got to wear a variety of wigs and change face, so to speak as well as accents.  It was also great fun being in the same production as my eldest son – he’s very good on stage.  Much more naturally gifted than his mother.  He’s also got the lead in Gloc Musical Theatre’s production of ‘Urinetown’ in May 2017.  I’m very proud of him.

In 3 week’s time, I shall be the victim as well as the perpetrator of a crime in the black comedy-cum-psychothriller.  It’s not my favourite part, to be honest.  I do not like physical violence and I’m finding it difficult to be the character doing the dirty work and disassociating it from my normal self.  If only they let me wear a wig then I’d know I wasn’t me!

Needless to say, for the time being, any baking has gone by the board.  My new relationship is blossoming and it’s lovely to have someone to talk things over with most evenings, share meals and not feel trapped and lonely.  There are other benefits too – lovely!