New Years Day Fancy Dress at Queen Square
 
Greetings!

New Year, New team - Starting with the Christmas Special we have a new editorial team Mary Bradridge, Cary Bush and Terry Basson. We have worked on redesigning the newsletter and will welcome all suggestions and contributions for future letters. We are planning on issuing monthly news letters with a number of regular features so your help is required.

Articles in this newsletter
Members Profile             (planned as a regular feature)
The Little Piglet               (planned as a regular feature)  
Photo's of the Month       (planned as a regular feature)
Joke of the Month            (planned as a regular feature)
Umpires Question            (planned as a regular feature)
Larkhall
Update on Larkhall Hall Piste
View towards the club house where the pistes will be placed
Larkhall Sports Club Chair Paul Rankin, has contacted us to propose an alternative site for the terrains, right in front of the clubhouse. This has been prompted by a very recent opportunity for LSC to bring forward plans to level the top field and and install all-weather pitches, which will considerably enhance the club's facilities and ability to generate income.

 

Although a change of plans at this late stage is complicated, members of the committee feel that the new location would be much better in terms of access to the terrains and to clubhouse facilities and our enjoyment of the game, and overall would be a far better option for the Club than the original location which is rather tucked away in a corner of the top field.

 

There are a number of issues that we need to clarify with Sport England; the terrains will need to be redesigned, and we may need to reapply for planning consent. The Project Management sub group and Club Executive Committee are working on these changes as a matter of urgency as we still need to have the work completed by September to qualify for the Sport England funding.

 

Views from the clubhouse overlooking the new pistes

The other good news is that we have completed the tendering process, having received 5 quotes in total, and have found a contractor whose quote for the work means that we can build the terrains without having to raise significant extra funds. We hope that we will be able to work with the same contractor on the revised plans.

 

We will continue to keep members up to date as developments happen. 
Members
Members Profile

Hello, my name is Vivienne Bolton and I have been a member of Bath Pétanque Club for about 5 months.

 

How did you get to hear about the club?

My friend and work colleague, Mike Dodd MD of Academy MR and principle member of SCABS - who are former winners of the Bath Open, entered a few teams into the Sherston tournament last summer and invited me to go along despite never having played boules before. So, with borrowed boules from Pauline his wife, I experienced my first team match and loved it. People I knew and those I had never met before were friendly and encouraging, so I asked if anyone knew of a club in Bath and CoBPC was recommended. On return home, I Googled the details, got in contact, went along to a practice session on a Wednesday at Queens square, borrowed a set of boules from the club's secretary and became thoroughly hooked!

 

What do you like most about being a member of CoBPC?

There is a very easy atmosphere, with lots of humour and comradery. New members are welcomed to such an extent you feel you have been part of the club for years rather than weeks, so any embarrassment about being the newbie is very quickly lost. The training sessions are excellent helping you to learn different methods of play and strategic tactics, which over time I am assured, will bring an improved level of skill - I live in hope! I like the flexibility of the practice sessions and the challenge of playing on different surfaces, either at Alexander Park or Queen Square, (I haven't played on the piste at Larkhall yet!) and look forward to the matches and tournaments.

 

What things do you do other than play pétanque?

I am a busy independent HR Consultant and Business Coach, as well as being an Artist.  In addition, I am also Secretary to Combe Down Art Group, a position I have held for some six years or more, a member of the Bathampton Art Group, a part time student with the Open College of Arts and more recently, a volunteer at the Holburne Museum - so I pack quite a lot into my week!

 

How would you describe your most recent achievements?

That has to be having a pencil and charcoal portrait of my Mum entitled 'Nona' being accepted by Bath Society of Artists for their 109th open exhibition at the Victoria Gallery last spring. I was blessed not only to see it hung up with the local greats, such as Peter Brown and David Cobley, but was also able to wheel Mum into view it several times at her request before she died. It now hangs in pride of place in my living room, but can also be viewed on my website www.vivbolton.com.

 

Do you have any other hobbies?

Apart from my love of books, reading (I can heartily recommend H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald), and walking my springer spaniel, I also have been needle felting for just over a year. Initially inspired by the availability of wool from my brothers' Hebrideans sheep, I was extremely lucky to find an excellent tutor in Wales for the day that inspired me, and then the rest was trial and error until selling my first woolly sculptures at Glastonbury Wool Festival in October. A photograph of my latest work - a pied wagtail on a shell, is shown below and further details of my work can be seen on my other website www.wildwoolysculptures.com

 

How would you describe your approach to life?

I reached a stage a little while ago when materialism took a back seat over experientialism - life to me is a series of adventures and activities that bring happiness and meaning to life. So for me it's all about the joy of being with like-minded people, integrity, personal health and wellbeing, focusing on what matters in the moment and enjoying the journey whatever that brings.

 

Finally, do you have any plans for 2015?

I feel honoured to have been asked to write this bio and to be invited to share space with a fellow CoBPC artist for the Bear Flat Open Studio from 23rd to 25th May - none of which would have come about had I not joined the CoBPC. Further ahead, I intend to enter more art exhibitions, continue to run several craft stalls in and around the Bath area to promote my needle felted sculptures, and fit in as many games of boules I can, followed by the occasional gluten free pie washed down with a drop of cider!!!  


 

Club Fees

Annual Club Dues

The system for payment of the annual dues remain exactly the same as last year with the exception that the fee has increased from £24 to £30. This includes your  EPA membership (£18) and a contribution to the region of £2.

Members can pay 1 of 3 ways

    1. Give or send Cary Bush a cheque / cash for £30. If by mail to 11 Dunsford Place, Bath BA2 6HF
    2. Transfer £30 directly to the clubs bank account  Name of Account: City of Bath Pétanque Club Bank:  HSBC  Sort Code: 40-09-44    Account Number: 90213977
    3. Pay the EPA & Regional portion on line (£20) and let Cary have the additional £10 (using either of the methods shown above.  
Queen Square - Wednesday Contribution
Over 2 years ago  the council decided that the club should pay for the usage of Queen Square on a Wednesday morning. Members have the choice of either paying a £1 each time they play or a lump sum of £25 which allows you to play any Wednesday you wish in 2015. Monies are collected by Chris McGinn.


 

Future
Future Events

Every Wednesday morning 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Queen Square.

The regular Wednesday morning boules has now returned to Queen Sqaure. New members welcome

Every Sunday morning 11.00 a.m. to approx. 1.00 p.m.  Alexandra Park

Esperanza Isaac and Tony Ambrose have recently started an informal gathering at Alexandra Park for those members who wish to play a couple of friendly games. It is open to all members and friends with the option to join a group and have lunch afterwards. Just turn up and enjoy a game and retain those skills learned during the summer break.

Jersey Open  May 2nd to 4th 2015

After a years absence a number of club members will be attending this event which includes a doubles competition on Saturday, a melee on Sunday and a triples competition on Monday. If anyone is interested in entering the competition could they please let either Cary Bush or Di Greenaway know.

For details of the club visit their website

 

Piglet

Our Piglet (Cochonnet) corner

 

The editorial team would like to introduce to our readers the  'Piglet Corner'.

 

A 'Thought of the Month' will be published from any member who would like to submit to the editor ( Cary Bush) their shared moments of interest which have caught their attention. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

  

We hope it will encourage you to reach into our Newsletter and contribute special moments which floated past your eyes during the month  or perhaps a little story which touched a special spot. I am sure many Boules players have joyous moments that they are just busting to share. Now's your chance!

 

All Items will be published at the editorial teams discretion.  

 

The Clock

The clock master was about to to fix the Pendulum of the clock when, to his surprise, he heard the Pendulum speak!

 

" Please sir, leave me alone" the Pendulum pleaded. " It would be an act of kindness on your part. Think of the number of times I will have to tick day and night. So many times each minute, sixty minutes an hour , twenty four hours a day,  three hundred and sixty five days a year ... Millions of ticks, I could never do it."

 

But the clock master answered wisely. "Don't think of the future. Just do a tick at a time and you will enjoy every tick for the rest of your life."

And that is what the Pendulum decided to do. The present moment is never unbearable if you live it fully. Joy and pain are part of the pattern - be able to face the New Year a day at a time.


 

Anon

Photos
Photos of the month
After the success of the December newsletter we thought that we would start a section of 3 to 6 memorable photographs of the month that not only provide some humour but also represent the some of the pleasures of the club
 
Who said reggae music was a thing of the past ?

 
Finally, the lean too for which we all have been waiting.

 
What did Christine put in his shampoo ?

 
Joke
Joke of the Month
The rain was pouring and there was a big puddle in front of the piste. A ragged old man was standing there with a rod and hanging a string into the puddle. A tipsy- looking, curious gentleman came over to him and asked what he was doing.
'Fishing, I'm very hungry' the old man said simply.
'Poor old devil,' the gentleman thought and he invited the ragged old man for a drink and a sandwich in the pub.
As he felt he should start some conversation, the gentleman asked, 'And how many have you caught?'
'You're the eighth,' the old man answered.


Umpire
Umpire's Question
Starting this month we are going to feature an incident or question that has been raised by a member during the previous 4 weeks.

The game had started and the match was into its fourth end when one of the players from team A bent down and picked up a large leaf and removed it from the terrain. Team B advised team A that the leaf should remain in place until the end of the game.

You, as the umpire are called out and asked for a ruling as well as an explanation.

 
Generation
Generation Cup
There is a possibility that we may start a new competition this year to encourage younger players to join the club. If successful we would look to expand it in 2016 when we have our new pistes at Larkhall Sports Club. The Competition will consist of teams of 3 with one from each generation, Grandparent, Parent and Child.  As it will be a new competition it will not be limited to club members. If you would be interested in participating in such a competition could you let either Terry Basson, Cary Bush or Mary Bradridge know so that we can try and plan  the competition. 
 




 

Sincerely,
 
Cary Bush
City of Bath Petanque Club