Croquet Practise

 

A young Andy Murray (no, not that one) awaiting his turn at croquet practise. At the time, his sister (Trudy) was the number 16 seed in the Hampshire under 12s girls croquet rankings.

Bonus - RIP David Lynch

That's Boules To You, Madam

 

A tedious slide can be made to seem more interesting, through the choice of an amusing title.

In some cases, but apparently not here.  Clearly, it's a game of petanque.

Bonus - R.I.P PeeWee Herman / Paul Reubens

STEEEEE - RIKE ONE !

 

I believe that that is the correct call for this odd game of Rounders that the colonials seem obsessed with.

Over here in civilization, it's a game played solely by school kids.

Bonus - Better Call Saul was robbed.

Bonus 2 - 

"Ignore The Fruitcake"

 

In today's episode of "West-Country Games" (Series 8, Episode 14, Scene 3, if you're keeping track) we see Doreen Butterclough playing the traditional Somerset game of "Ignore The Fruitcake".

At the time of photographing, Doreen had managed to ignore a slice of Dundee Cake for 27 hours, still well short of Mrs Edith Blatt's record.

Bonus - the Binturong, also known as the bearcat, has musk glands emit an odor reminiscent of popcorn.

Bonus 2 - The western banjo frog (Limnodynastes dorsalis) is also known as the pobblebonk

Wiling away the hours.

Confining at home due to the COVID-19 lockdown, people are rediscovering the simple delights of jigsaws.

Even me !

Bonus -  What Google Earth of 1600 would have looked like.

Bonus 2 -  RIP Florian Schneider.

Larking About

Jenny, Meg and Walter, larking about outside the o'Brien's house.

Playing the game "Pinky Armadillo", the rules of which have been forgotten.

Bonus -

More Hula-Hoopers

I have received an email,

Dear Prince Igiwembe,

   No, I can't help you with your transfer of finds from the Nigerian National Bank.  However, can I interest you in some male potency pills?  They's made a new man out of me.
Your sincerely,  Mrs Trellis of North Wales.

And here's a slide of some more Hula-Hoopers.

Bonus - Worth a try   and Spotted at the Women Against Trump March

At The Hop, The Hula Hoop Hop

Looks like today's slide dates back to the arrival of the Hula Hoop craze in 1958. The Hula Hoop has an interesting history,  It also plays a centra; tho' apocryphal, role in teh rather fun movie The Hudsucker Proxy.

Bonus - New York - Murder and Population by Year.

Intense Scrabble Concentration

Yes, the photographer has caught a tense moment.  Alice has just placed TWATBADGER on a Triple Word Score, and Henry is debating whether to challenge on the basis that it should be two separate words.

History does not record the outcome of that debate.

Bonus - PornHub's 2016 Year In Review.(Possibly NSFK)

Bonus 2 - Brave

Strip Canasta

Tonight, Matthew, I will be playing the role of Middle Aged Bloke Joining Work Colleagues For Evening of Alcohol, Food, Games and Chat.

Might  have a game of Poker, but unlikely to play Strip Canasta like these crazy kids.

Bonus - Might even play "Cards Against Humanity"

Bonus 2 -

Slugger Hendricks

Never seen the point of Baseball Or softball, or whatever. Basically it's just rounders.... a kids game.

Yet, America seems to love it.

Whatever.

Bonus - Japan's Beloved Christmas Cake Isn't About Christmas At All

Shuffleboard at Viking Court Motel

Well, Google has failed me again. No sign of a "Viking Court" motel. The "Thos O Huff" realtors prefab would suggest Madeira Beach, Florida, and the presence of shorts and Santa (beside the Viking sign)  would support that, but....other than that...nowt.

Bonus - I'm sure my petrol cap was on this side

Party Games

A Jerry The Mouse T-Shirt and a box of Popeye candy (spinach flavour?) adds a very 1960's flavour to this slide.

Bonus -

The Test Driver Game

The Perfect Distraction for kids on Summer Holidays - an indoor game of "The Test Driver Game."

Quite possibly minutes of fun and laughter.

Bonus - Interesting Maps.

The Latest Craze

Do kids still have crazes?

When I was a wee lad, I recall brief crazes for marbles, yo yo's , clackers,  and jew's harps. I don't recall actually joining in with the mania (That's the Engineer in me...always questioning "Why?" and "Why Bother?"), but somehow I can't imagine kids of today being as daft. OK, they may be obsessed with Pokemon BattleDroid Card sets, but that seems different.

Will we even see the return of Hula-Hoops to school playgrounds?  One of the great fads of all time.

Bonus - The De-Evolution of Adverts.      A fantasy about how adverts could be improved, ending with the awsome line, "All commercials are now just a flaming baby skull barking ethnic slurs." A parable for our entire culture of poshlost. (Google the word poshlost. It's a very good word that we all should learn and use.)

...and Mother joins in the games

Oh yes. It's a real slide. It may look like an advertising set up, but it's a genuine family slide.

A game Mom...and Pop a few folk back...join in the kids game of Tug-Of-War. And a fashionable bunch they are too. Those short are just so 1970's.

Bonus - If you like those short shorts.... this may bring back memories and raise a smile.

Petanque !

Zut Alors !!

A game of Petanque?  On a British Blog ?? What will the Daily Mail say?

(Yes, Daily Mail, bstion of Little England and poor quality journalism.)

Bonus - Indian Pole Acrobatics.   Wow.  Just Wow!

Hmmm triple word score?

Marjorie is wondering whether she should risk FROTTAGE.   It would include a triple word score bonus, but was it in the dictionary?

Anton over at The Enemies Of Reason is hosting some interesting Winterval Cards (as might feature in the Daily Mail.)  Well worth a visit.  This is my effort.