As a last fun bowling session, an idea was mooted “how about a night bowl session”? OK, we had had a few drinks at a ladies get-together, but the idea seemed to go down well.
The idea came when we were bowling in a competition fairly late in the afternoon and we were having trouble seeing the jack. What if the jack was illuminated? So, having given it some thought and research, it was decided to try using glow sticks (used at parties) to delineate the ditch so no-one fell down it, and the rinks, and using glow cups for “jacks”. After checking sunset times and the possibility of a full moon, we decided to go ahead on 23rd September.
It did turn into a fun evening. We started when there was still a little light to lay out the lights and by the time we were ready it was full dark. Glow in the dark stickers for the bowls didn’t work well but fortunately head-torches and mobile phones worked well to work out who had won the ends.
Skips waving glow sticks as if they were guiding airplanes instead of where they wanted the bowls to go had limited success but accuracy was surprisingly good even though bowls visually disappeared after about 20 metres.
Lots of laughter and encouragement ensued and I haven’t heard that any neighbours complained.
Everyone enjoyed the experience and have asked for it to be repeated both at the beginning and end of next season. One husband (who shall be nameless) grumbled “do I have to go”, but was actually the last one off the green. We will count it as a success then.
So, see you next season
Sue Aplin
