TO BE LUCKY

The force that causes things, especially good things, to happen to you by chance and not as a result of your own efforts or abilities:

Our home where we lived halfway between Bristol and Bath in Somerset before we moved to Spain was such a ëluckyíbuy as it was being advertised in large letters in an estate agent window, I could not miss it as I walked past.

The property was on the end of a chain and if not sold the chain collapsed. There were seven days to buy and complete. As we had nothing to sell it was possible and we made it happen. It was a small three-bedroom semi detached house, which was disappointing as we had planned to buy something larger off plan, so my burning desire on arrival was to improve it and if possible, turn the small 850 square feet residence into something larger.

And the improvements in size were achievable, by adding a side extension and improving the ground floor by adjoining the garage into the living accommodation and encroaching that into the garden. We added another bedroom and a bathroom, and when complete the house was nearly twice the original size and a dining table you could walk around.

It was a beautiful summer's evening when the extension into the rear was finished with the patio and the garden laid out and as there were no houses to the rear, also South facing, it was an ideal place to sit in the evening sun.

The ground floor design had wide open glass to the living area overlooking the patio, making it part of the lounge with three metre heavy glass panel sliding doors between the two, giving an open appearance.

Four of us had been sitting on new patio furniture and when the sun disappeared over the trees, we stood up to move inside. We were ëluckyíbecause as we vacated the chairs the four panes of the sliding doors, which had been fitted the previous day fell outwards smashing the table and chairs we had been sitting on ñ a moment earlier we would have been badly hurt.

I have always enjoyed writing and have had items published in the past. About six years ago I was ëluckyíto be talking with Lynn Penhaul over coffee when she suggested we should form a writerís group, after talking to like minded people we met in her house for the very first time and the Hondon Writers Circle was born.

The group met on a regular basis and still do. Before breaking up a session, a word or maybe a phrase is decided on for homework, the idea for a story to be produced around the words for discussion at the next session.

In April 2019 the phrase for homework was ëJourney not taken.í The following was my input.

It was after the second World War when the ëUrneyífamily, (And as everyone knows that means ëfirstíin ancient Greek) along with their young son ëJoímoved away from their homeland of Greece and settled in the U.K. Up to that period and for three generations before they were recognised businesspeople in dairy farming.

Following their losses at the hands of the invaders they salvaged what they could and managed to set up a similar business in Southern England. As the country struggled to recover from the period of conflict and started to flourish and so did the family. They were very proud of the fast delivery service of dairy products where their milk carts would go out daily to serve their customer and it was often said ìUrneyís had the fastest milk carts in the West.î

Their son ëJoíwas a sad disappointment to them as he refused to follow in their footsteps and to be the first ëUrneyíto go out in the world and earn a living other than in the dairy industry.

Brugmansia is an exotic, long lived, small tropical tree in the family Solanaceae, more commonly called Angel’s Trumpet.

Producing dramatic pendant, trumpet or funnel shaped fragrant flowers, up to 30ft when grown in the ground, adapting well to containers, where the plants remain a much more manageable size.

Individual blooms can range from 4-24? in length, depending on the cultivar.

They come in many shades of white, yellow, gold, orange, peach and pink in singles, doubles, triples, and quadruplesand a few shredded forms.

Their fragrance varies considerably, with intensity ranging from none to overpowering.

As a child, and as a result of the original travelling away from the familyís homeland, this had induced in him the desire to travel.

Jo scoured the newspapers looking for work that included travelling and was content when he managed to gain a post as a ëClient Service Manageríwith a shipping company. He was a little disappointed when he realised it was a ferry company and what he thought was a very important job turned out to be a steward standing behind a bar serving drinks, and all the other chores of clearing up that went with it. Nevertheless, he persevered with his employment.

From a very young boy Jo had been fastidious in keeping a diary and each day before retiring he would make notes of the hours of activities. On a daily basis, the ferry with him on board, travelled back and forth to France, besides serving he recorded the actions and deeds of the travelling public. In his twentieth year of working on the ship and finally being promoted to Purser, he gathered up his writings and put them into book form. It was A5 in size with an attractive red cover and the name ëJourneyíflourished in gold print across the front of the finished item. It looked impressive.

He had a sizable number printed and travelled around the small shops delivering them on the basis the owners would pay him on a regular basis for the ones they had sold. The first week came to an end and he set off to collect the revenue. At the first shop on a corner with its wares displayed to the front, he pushed the door which set off a bell as it opened. Behind the counter was Mr Singh, wearing a coloured turban on his head and who was serving a customer. He looked up at the sound and shaking his head said in broken English ìíJourneyínot taken.î www.facebook.com/percy chattey

The intoxicating fragrance, described as musk, lemon, mint, lily, hyacinth, citrus, jasmine and gardenia, is most noticeable on warm summer evenings.

Position in full sun, with some afternoon shade, and they will continue to flower year round.

Water only as necessary, to keep the soil barely moist. Leaves will droop, when it needs watering and will quickly recover, once watered.

In Spring you can prune, hard if necessary, which will encourage bushy growth, shape the plant, or limit size. Easily propagated from stem cuttings, which are rooted in water, or in damp sand. Use semi-ripe wood stems that have begun to change colour from green to brown, the diameter of a finger and 6-8? long.

Cuttings can be taken any time the plant is actively growing; any part of the trunk or branches can be used. Brugmansia is a very heavy feeder and should be fertilised regularly, maybe as often as twice a week during the growing season. The more food you give it, the more flowers it will produce.

High Scores

180's - James Brown 3, Darren Hurcombe

1, Mark Farmer 1, Andres Liamazares 1

177 - Matt Smith

140's - total 31

Mark Farmer 8, Matt Smith 5, James Brown

4, Dave Rowlinson 3, Andres Liamazares 2

Darren Sanderson 2, Lee Maiden, Arold K, Ben Kernahan, Paul Moody, Suso Madrid, Bob Smith, Steve M.Dalton, (all 1 each)

Highest Finish

Ben Kernahan - 144 (T20,T20,D12) Matt Smith - 106 (T20,S6,D20)

Most Finishes

Mark Farmer 8, Matt Smith 5, Darren Sanderson 4, Suso Madrid 4, Bob Smith 4, Dave Rowlinson 4, John Crabbe, Andres Liamazares, James Brown, Jesus Madrid, Paul Moody (all with 3), Liam Lumb 2

1. Darren Sanderson & Mark Farmer beat Andres Liamazares & Macos Lopez 2-1

2. Liam Lumb & Dave Rowlinson beat Bob Smith & Simon Perryman 2-1

3. James Brown & Paul Moody beat Terry David & John Crabbe 2-0

4. Matt Smith & Suso Madrid beat Jesus Madrid & Jeff Saunders 2-1

Semi Finals Best of 5 - 601

Smith & Madrid 3 Brown & Moody 2

Sanderson & Farmer 3 Lumb & Rowlinson 2

FINAL - BEST OF 5 - 601

Sanderson & Farmer 3 Smith & Madrid 0

Matt Smith and Suso Madrid just failed in their attempt to retain the prestigious league pairs title, the accolade going the way of Mark Farmer and Darren Sanderson. lt was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggests. Farmer was in scintillating form recording a total of 5x100,140,180, and taking the 1st leg on a 54 out.

Sanderson did his fair share by taking the 3rd on D4, following a 140, and the match win- ner with S20,D20.

The 2nd leg against the throw, the champions recorded a straight 180,140,100 before Sanderson completed the 601 on D4. Smith and Madrid are no slouches and found the T20 comfortably, but scored too many 80+'s, just 2 x140 from Smith and a 121 from Madrid.

The winners experienced a tough semi against Lumb and Rowlinson, the latter nailing 6 tons or more and 2 outs, partner Lumb just fading in the 4th and 5th legs after 140,125,100, 2x80+, in the opening three. The 3 winning legs were shared by the champs, Farmer ensuring a final place on D10. ln the other semi featuring Brown and Moody, the total scorecount from both pairs was 13 tons or more and 11 scores of 80+. Brown recorded a 180 in each of the 1st three legs - magnificent ! Moody took the 1st on a 60 out, Madrid lev- elling on D16 after returning 2 tons. Brown found D16 in the 3rd after 180,140, Smith making it 2 apiece with 140, D11. Brown's 140,96 insufficient as Smith hit 95,140,100,D10, to make the final.

A real showpiece for local darts at the spacious New Tavern, venue, now being followed this week by the commencement of the 2nd half of the league season, concluding late May.

DIVISION DIVISION A A

CBowlsGeckos97(6)EmIsleCavaliers(6)84

LaMarinaSharks54(2)QuesadaSwallows(10)101

SanLuisLions102(9)SanMiguelApaches(3)70

GreenlandsCedars63(1)VbellaLanzadores(11)104

SanMiguelApaches95(9)GreenlandsCedars(3)63

P PWWDDLLDifDifffPts Pts

QuesadaSwallows1546425280122

SanLuisLions1547325104115

GreenlandsOaks1541430180110

VistabellaLanzadores1545327109108

EmeraldIsleCavaliers1643334128103

CountryBowlsGeckos153663311499

SanMiguelApaches1526643-17068

LaMarinaSharks1525347-27761

GreenlandsCedars1513458-46828

DIVISION B DIVISION B

QuesadaSwifts93(8)EmIsleClaymores(4)79

ElRanchoMustangs78(3)VistabellaPicadors(9)111

QuesadaSwans105(6)LaMarinaSeagulls(6)80

SanMiguelNavajos91(10)LaSiestaGolds(2)70

P PWWDDLLDifDifffPts Pts

QuesadaSwans1645134185115

SanMiguelNavajos1545228238108

QuesadaSwifts153933311799

LaMarinaSeagulls1537533-4395

EmeraldIsleClaymores15363366391

VistabellaPicadors1535139-3187

LaSiestaGolds1535139-8183

LaSiestaBlues15361384582

ElRanchoMustangs1522350-49349

DIVISION C DIVISION C

EmIsleOutlaws83(8)CBowlsPanthers(4)79

VbellaConqídores98(8)LaSiestaSilvers(4)80

MontemarMatadors100(5)GreenlandsElms(5)80

P PWWDDLLDifDifffPts Pts

CountryBowlsPanthers1344021262110

SanLuisTigers1340322223103

MontemarMatadors143742915397

SanMiguelCommanches13332308281

EmeraldIsleOutlaws1330332-9673

GreenlandsElms1325238-15452

VistabellaConquistadors1323339-15550

LaSiestaSilvers1422543-31550

Monday 27th and our Explorers had a bye, whilst our Pathfinders travelled to Quesada to play their Pearls.

We have always said that every shot counts and today was a prime example we won 2 games by 1 shot and lost 2 by 2 shots, also very close and it resulted in us getting 4 points and the Pearls 8. Our 2 winning trips being Trevor Hancock, Alan Birch & Len Daniels 17-16, and Audrey Birch, Norman Ship & Garth Slater 20-19.

Wednesday saw the end of our Birds League, followed on by a fine meal, the actual presentation is due this finals weekend, but I can give you the final table and the names of the winners.

The table reads: Puffins 42, Sparrows 37, Magpies 30, Eagles 28, Swans 25, Robins 18

Which seems a shame because if you are British the Robin would be our favourite bird, however in this case the Puffins came out on top consisting of John Rae, Janet Parsons, Trevor Hancock & Tom Spencer and deserve our congratulations.

Friday 3rd and the Seagulls are playing in the afternoon so unfortunately their result will be too late for this report. The Sharks however played in the morning at home to our geographically our closest opposition, Quesada Swallows, and I am afraid we did not fare well at all, winning just 1 trip, Janet Parsons, Margaret MacLaughlin & Anne Stone 14-12, and losing the overall shots 54-101 giving us just 2 points. By Dave Hadaway