Above: Gary, Chops, me and Covey admiring the fantastic British weather at the BBQ. Not one bit of blue sky...
Just before I begin about the barbeque, I have to mention the Wimby final. What a game. Not just because of the truly incredible tennis, but also because that match will probably represent the end of the Federer era in tennis. The next few years are going to be very interesting, in particular next year's Wimbledon. I would love to see Fed come back and reclaim his title; that would be more enjoyable to watch than him winning seven straight championships. I'm already excited! It was also nice to book a win on the event with my lay of Roger.
Ok, the barbeque. I finished work at 3 and rushed to the tennis club as quickly as I could. The gang for the day (Daz, Covey, Chops and Gary) were already playing darts. We were going to play a Davis Cup of darts with a few singles and doubles matches between the LDC and the LDO (the two rival darts 'organisations' in the club... don't ask). I was leading Gary 2-1 in our singles game when our team was called up to play our first match in the petanque contest.
A quick bit of background; I have won the petanque contest so many times I have honestly lost count. Which put me under a great deal of pressure to perform, along with the rest of my team. Anyhow, in our first game we comfortably beat Pat Cava & co to get to the semi (we got a bye in the first round, probably due to my true legend status in the event).
Things got a bit hairy in the semi. Daz and I were behind all the way against this young couple, until we were 8-9 down and suddenly snatched a 3-pointer to win the leg. Over on the other court, Chops and Covey had been trailing massively (8-2 down at one point I believe) but took heart from our last-minute winner and came out on top to send us to the final. Their opponents were taking it very seriously and were visibly pissed off to lose, which made it even better for us, haha!
The final was interesting to say the least. I think it would be fair to say that everyone involved was absolutely plastered, and Kevin Tye was giving his trademark banter to go with it. We rolled with the punches though, and Chops and Covey finished off their opponents in quick time. When they announced that they had triumphed 11-3, Daz and I were already 6-3 up so we knew we had won the tournament before having finished our game. Upon realising this, Chops and Covey became particularly excited on the sidelines (from their position on the kids tennis court) and began singing etc. Covey shook the fence next to the tennis court, and in the process knocked over my pint which smashed all over the playing surface. All the players found this funny, but not the spectators who gave many disapproving glances. Steve Dunn also didn't like it and I bore the brunt of his bollocking, despite being nowhere near it and still playing the game!
So that was that; we won the championship.
During the afternoon we'd also played a game where we threw pound coins at the wall, and whoevers landed furthest away had to do a tequila. We were also watching some dreadful tennis that was being played in the 5.30 coaching session, and were gambling with each other on the outcome of various points being played. It's an incredibly fun pastime; you get really involved in the game even though the standard is just dire (and God knows what the players thought we were doing; screaming and shouting after each of their points from inside the hall behind the court).
We grabbed a bit of the barbeque (a few undercooked burgers and sausages, probably because the chefs were Charlie and Eric who were zonked on something that definitely wasn't drink) and made our way back inside to continue the drinking.
By the time the DJ started the disco, things were starting to get a bit hazy. I can remember doing lots of really loud hand-clapping to certain songs, which embarrassed Gary no-end. We asked the DJ for so many fundamental party tunes (Ghostbusters theme, MC Hammer, Just Jack) yet he had none. We had to settle for Shakira and Wyclef in the end, which was still fun. Those who know me will know that I'm no dancer, so it always spells trouble if I'm on a dancefloor. Well we were all up there making fools of ourselves, and it was great. Tony had to come over about ten times and tell us to get off the floor if we had glasses in our hands; each time resulting in us sitting down for five seconds and then going back.
Ian Crew made the announcement that we had won the petanque, and no one else in the club really cared. We had walked to the back of the bar as well in order to get maximum visibility as we walked up to the stage, but we just ended up looking like tits. The prize was a crate of beer, but I still would have preferred some silverware to go with my ever-growing collection at home.
Several drinks later, the night was over and I remember having some kind of argument with Kevin's mates afterwards but I have no idea what about. This morning I woke up with a baguette in my room (guess I must have nicked it from the leftover food) and a text from Covey saying: 'mate how much did we drink yday? i got a crate of beer by my bed i dnt remember bringing home and i've been chundering all morning! when u goin work?'
I think that about sums it all up!
My sister and I are having a party round our house on Tuesday night, which should be good as always!
Thanks for reading
-J
Ok, the barbeque. I finished work at 3 and rushed to the tennis club as quickly as I could. The gang for the day (Daz, Covey, Chops and Gary) were already playing darts. We were going to play a Davis Cup of darts with a few singles and doubles matches between the LDC and the LDO (the two rival darts 'organisations' in the club... don't ask). I was leading Gary 2-1 in our singles game when our team was called up to play our first match in the petanque contest.
A quick bit of background; I have won the petanque contest so many times I have honestly lost count. Which put me under a great deal of pressure to perform, along with the rest of my team. Anyhow, in our first game we comfortably beat Pat Cava & co to get to the semi (we got a bye in the first round, probably due to my true legend status in the event).
Things got a bit hairy in the semi. Daz and I were behind all the way against this young couple, until we were 8-9 down and suddenly snatched a 3-pointer to win the leg. Over on the other court, Chops and Covey had been trailing massively (8-2 down at one point I believe) but took heart from our last-minute winner and came out on top to send us to the final. Their opponents were taking it very seriously and were visibly pissed off to lose, which made it even better for us, haha!
The final was interesting to say the least. I think it would be fair to say that everyone involved was absolutely plastered, and Kevin Tye was giving his trademark banter to go with it. We rolled with the punches though, and Chops and Covey finished off their opponents in quick time. When they announced that they had triumphed 11-3, Daz and I were already 6-3 up so we knew we had won the tournament before having finished our game. Upon realising this, Chops and Covey became particularly excited on the sidelines (from their position on the kids tennis court) and began singing etc. Covey shook the fence next to the tennis court, and in the process knocked over my pint which smashed all over the playing surface. All the players found this funny, but not the spectators who gave many disapproving glances. Steve Dunn also didn't like it and I bore the brunt of his bollocking, despite being nowhere near it and still playing the game!
So that was that; we won the championship.
During the afternoon we'd also played a game where we threw pound coins at the wall, and whoevers landed furthest away had to do a tequila. We were also watching some dreadful tennis that was being played in the 5.30 coaching session, and were gambling with each other on the outcome of various points being played. It's an incredibly fun pastime; you get really involved in the game even though the standard is just dire (and God knows what the players thought we were doing; screaming and shouting after each of their points from inside the hall behind the court).
We grabbed a bit of the barbeque (a few undercooked burgers and sausages, probably because the chefs were Charlie and Eric who were zonked on something that definitely wasn't drink) and made our way back inside to continue the drinking.
By the time the DJ started the disco, things were starting to get a bit hazy. I can remember doing lots of really loud hand-clapping to certain songs, which embarrassed Gary no-end. We asked the DJ for so many fundamental party tunes (Ghostbusters theme, MC Hammer, Just Jack) yet he had none. We had to settle for Shakira and Wyclef in the end, which was still fun. Those who know me will know that I'm no dancer, so it always spells trouble if I'm on a dancefloor. Well we were all up there making fools of ourselves, and it was great. Tony had to come over about ten times and tell us to get off the floor if we had glasses in our hands; each time resulting in us sitting down for five seconds and then going back.
Ian Crew made the announcement that we had won the petanque, and no one else in the club really cared. We had walked to the back of the bar as well in order to get maximum visibility as we walked up to the stage, but we just ended up looking like tits. The prize was a crate of beer, but I still would have preferred some silverware to go with my ever-growing collection at home.
Several drinks later, the night was over and I remember having some kind of argument with Kevin's mates afterwards but I have no idea what about. This morning I woke up with a baguette in my room (guess I must have nicked it from the leftover food) and a text from Covey saying: 'mate how much did we drink yday? i got a crate of beer by my bed i dnt remember bringing home and i've been chundering all morning! when u goin work?'
I think that about sums it all up!
My sister and I are having a party round our house on Tuesday night, which should be good as always!
Thanks for reading
-J
1 comment:
Very sad that I was not there for the BBQ and to watch your moment of glory (again) in the petanque and that I won't be around for Tuesday. Fancy throwing another bash the week later? AP
Post a Comment