4 Nations 2013

Yesterday we played the annual 4 Nations tournament. This year it was held at Monte Mar. Allen was again playing for the Welsh team & I was Captain of the English team.
Each nation played 3 matches both morning & afternoon with 1 rink from each nation playing a rink from each of the other 3 nations.
After the morning games Ireland led with 2 wins out of 3, Scotland & England were joint second with a win & a draw. The draw was on my rink where we fought back from 11-3 down to tie 19-19. Wales were holding the rest up with just a single win courtesy of Allens rink.
In the afternoon everyone was in with a chance. Wales got the first win on the board with a huge win against Ireland. Ireland then sneaked a win against England having been down right through the game until the final end. England then beat Wales & Scotland so with 3 wins & a draw England finished with 7 points. Wales finished on 6 points. With one game still on the green Ireland were leading against Scotland. If Ireland clung on they would win the 4 Nations but if Scotland could win England would be Champions.
At this stage I went in with the bribe - if Scotland won the game I would bake a batch of muffins for the Scotland Manager Brian Robertson snr. He had a quick word with his son who was skipping for Scotland - get 3 & I get the muffins. It came down to an umpires measure but Scotland got the 3 needed & England were Champions.
This is the first time that England have won as the 3 previous years were Scotland then 2 wins by Wales who finished second this year.

Not long to UK

The days are rushing past & it will soon be time to go to the UK. This time I am travelling on my own as Allen is playing in the Spanish National Bowls Championships.
The day after I arrive is my Great Nephews 5th birthday. Doesn't seem like 5 years ago since he made his entrance into the world.
I am staying with my nephew Andi, his lovely wife Chloe & my 2 gorgeous great nephews for 6 nights. The 22nd is D Day as my dear sister Lynda will reach the milestone of 60 years young.
Lynda & Chloe have been coming up with things to do while I am with them & I have also sorted some things out. Packages have been arriving at Lyndas & all 3 of us will have the necessary equipment to start Kumihimo!!
I have also sent felt corsage kits for all 3 of us.
On the Thursday I go up to Cheshire. I will be meeting my dear friend Joan from New Zealand who I have never met but we email each other daily. Joan has arranged for us both to visit the Craftsuprint offices. Joan is a Craftsuprint designer & I am a registered cardmaker for them. Rob, the boss has kindly offered to take us both to lunch.
Saturday evening I go to my friends Pat & Bob at Warrington for the night. I have known Pat since I started work at Nat West Bank way back in 1973. We spent many happy evenings in pubs & travelling around East Yorkshire in her little mini.
Sunday I make my way back to Birmingham airport where I am staying at a hotel overnight before my return flight.

Im back

Well after some time away I am back.

I am still bowling, although not as much as before as I am trying to have a life outside bowls - if there is one.

I am doing a bit of knitting but arthritis in my fingers means I am limited to how long I can do before the hands start to hurt, I have a couple of projects on the go but neither seems to be drawing me to finish them at the moment.

I am still making cards & have just found a charity which is very much close to my own heart so have donated almost 200 cards to them to sell so they can raise funds. The charity is PetsinSpain who rescue dogs (& cats) that have been abandoned & also ones from the municipal dog pounds. They get them vet treatment & grooming then they go into foster care until they can be found their "forever homes". As I already have both a cat & a dog who are getting on in years I cant help them by fostering but I can donate my cards to help them raise some money.

I have also joined a gym with Allen in an attempt to get fit but am limited at the moment to how much I can do due to a muscle problem in the largest muscle in the body... Ill leave that to you to work out.

Anyway I will try to post more over the coming months.

Friends

In a previous post I mentioned about my internet friend Joan in New Zealand & how we had never met. Well, that will be changed in May 2013.
As my sister Lynda turns 60 in May & my eldest great nephew will be celebrating his 5th birthday 4 days earlier, I decided that I would go to England to be there for both milestone events.
Allen wont be going with me as he will be playing in the Spanish Nationals, but I am giving them a miss this year.
I got onto the internet looking for a flight at a reasonable cost & managed to find one into Birmingham on the day before Haydns birthday - perfect. I have hired a car to go to Gloucester & will stay with Lynda until the day after her birthday.
Amazingly as I was booking my flights to UK Joan was doing the same from New Zealand so she could visit her Mum in Sandbach. The dates coincided (spooky), so on 23rd May 2013 Joan & I will finally meet in person in Cheshire. I will have 2 1/2 days there before I return to Birmingham for my flight home.

Stamping & Colouring

Allen bought be 96 Spectrum Noir pens for Christmas & I have started playing with them. It takes me back to my childhood but it is relaxing to do.
My first 2 attempts have turned out well & for a beginner I am happy with the results.
The first one uses a Tilda image & backing sheets bought from Craftsuprint in pinks & plums. I have also had my Cuttlebug die cutting machine out to make some flowers & swirls.

The second one is also a Tilda image but this time I have done the backing sheet myself using a Designer resource from Craftsuprint. Cuttlebug Flowers & swirls to finish.



Will post others as I do them.

New Look Valencian Championships

This year the Valencian Bowls Championships have changed format. Instead of single sex disciplines , this year there are Mixed Pairs & Mixed Rinks. North & South Alicante are playing down to Semi Final stages in their own area, then the 8 pairs/teams will play off.
Matches started today.  At San Luis Mel & Colin Highland overcame the pairing of Mike & Florence Edwards of Greenlands. In  the afternoon at San Luis Roy & Sally Cordell played against clubmates Paul & Jean Parkes. I have not heard the result of this match yet. The rest of the San Luis teams were in action at La Marina.
Keith & June Jones beat Gail Watson & Fred Willshire (Greenlands), Margaret & Ian Rogers beat Alan & Sheila Booth (San Miguel), Sheila & Mike Cox beat another San Luis team, Ann Holland & Ray Pollock. Les Bedford & Sheila Cammack also beat another San Luis team - Bobbie & Trevor Vanner. Allen & I were up against Violet Campbell & Fred Roberts (Quesada). This was a tough old game & with 2 ends to play it looked as though we would lose, but a 4 on the 17th end put us 1 shot ahead with 1 end to play. At one stage they held the shot needed to force an extra end but we managed to pick up 2 shots to win by 3.
All the winning pairs play again tomorrow.

My Kiwi Friend

Many of you will wonder how you can have a friend who you have never met but who means the world to you. Well, I assure you it is entirely possible.
About 18 months ago a lady in New Zealand asked a question in the Craftsuprint forum about a card design. Having bought the same design in a different colour I was able to help her along the way to make hers up.
This led to various emails & it turns out we are alike in so many ways. Similar looks, size, sense of humour, hobbies & also in life events.
We are now firm friends & are in contact daily just to chat, sometimes to moan about life in general, but mainly just for friendship.
Joan is originally from the UK but has lived in New Zealand for a lot of years. She is currently having treatment for breast cancer but she stays positive through it all & if she is having a down day she knows I am here to lift her spirits & to sometimes chide her.
It would be so lovely if at some stage in the future we could meet but that will have to wait a while.
Until then we will continue to have our long distance chats with a 12 hour time difference - while one of us is having breakfast the other is having dinner.
Joan has recently become a designer for Craftsuprint & is going through a learning curve but I am always here to encourage her in her efforts & she will shortly make silver as a designer & gold as a crafter.
So if someone says how can you have a friend you have never met, just tell them EASILY.

Future Visitors

Whoa Whoa. My lovely sister is coming to visit again. I got a text from her with her available dates & within 1/2 hour I had her booked on a flight for November. She will arrive with us late evening on Friday 16th & leaves late evening on the following Wednesday. This will give her 5 full days therapy shopping & I have already booked a girls day out on the Tuesday. Seems ages until she comes but I know the time will quickly pass.

Paso de los Pescadores

On Monday, a number of the International Costaleros who carry one of the Easter floats in Torrevieja were asked to assist with carrying the Paso de los Pescadores (Fishermans Float) as they were short on numbers.

Quite a few of the Internationals turned up & all were given a shirt with the Paso badge on. The picture shows Allen & another San Luis member Les Bedford proudly displaying their shirts.

The float was taken from the church down to the harbour & loaded onto a fishing boat decked with flowers.

The boat then sailed off into the sunset for a trip around the harbour.

When they returned it was almost dark. The boat & all the support boats were decked out in lights.

They unloaded the float then a choir sang for about 30minutes before a spectacular firework display. The float was then carried back to the church. Some of the International Costaleros retired to a bar for an after carry drink & for some toasted cheese & ham sandwiches at midnight.

Here we go again

Last night was the opening ceremony of the Spanish Nationals Bowls Championships.
Today we start playing & it will be a long 2 weeks as I am also organising.
Temperatures well into the 30s so lots of water will be needed.