Last game of 2011

Test message from new phone. This was our last game of 2011. The weather was a bit iffy as you can see. Our fancy dress match has been cancelled because there was not enough names to make it worthwhile.
To Andrew Maggi Matthew and Claire, happy new year already. To the rest of you happy new year when it comes.
David and Sheila

"Home" again

Yesterday was a day of travel and today finds us back in Bahrain. The weather? Well I am delighted to say it is fine and dry. The temperature when we landed was 17 degrees (8pm local time). Its now 8 am and the sun is shining. Its still 5am as far as our body is concerned so it might be some time yet before Sheila surfaces.

We have now flown British Airways, Emirates and KLM and find there is really not much to choose. Emirates is definitely the best cuisine and service but their route (Dubai and Glasgow) is much less convenient. BA (London Edinburgh) and KLM (Amsterdam Edinburgh) are pretty much of a muchness as they say. There is little to choose between them in terms of food and route. I would say KLM has a better on board entertainment system because you can choose to start a film whenever you want whereas BA was a fixed rolling programme and you didnt know when things would start. I suppose when we fly again next we'll take everything into consideration and go for the one thats cheapest, as we always do!!!

We will probably pop down to the golf today and then we must visit the supermarket to restock the fridge. I think I can post directly from my new mobile to the blog so I'll give it a try sometime today. If that's the case you might get a few more pictures as it will be much easier. Its only a 2 megapixel camera though so dont be expecting stupendous quality.

It was great catching up with the family and enjoying our New Year steak pie a few days early. It is worth every penny of the flight money for Barbara's steak pie alone. Thanks Babs, much appreciated. It was great to get the guitar out again with Alex and John and play a few old favourites mixed in with some new "experiments". I have left it with them to get us a summer gig or two.

OK breakfast time. I hope the weather is kind to you for the rest of the winter.
David and Sheila

Holiday begins for real

Today we arrived back in sunny Scotland. Look us up if you can.

The Russell Cup

This weekend was the Russell Cup weekend. It is a two day strokeplay competition with a Medal each day for the best scratch score. The best scratch score on Friday was a 72 (2 over par). What did I score? 72. The best scratch score on Saturday was 71 (1 over par). What did I score? 71. You must have won both Medals, well done. Nope! You must at least have won one medal then? Nope. On both counts I lost on countback. Amazing or what. The consolation was that it was a different person on each day that won the medal so I did win the Russell Cup for the best combined score. I then discovered that it is the "Club Championship" and so I am the official Club Champion for 2011! Photo to follow. Can you see the smile from there?
Need to get some beauty sleep before work tomorrow. It's our celebration of Bahrain National Day (Officially 16th Dec) so its traditional arabic dress or red and white.

Cheers for now
David
Awali Golf Club Champion

Day/Night Golf

Yesterday saw the rescheduled Day/Night golf challenge take place. It was a pairs event so naturally we entered together. The first 7 holes were played in daylight and then the same 7 holes repeated in the dark. The balls were illuminated and there were a few runway-type markers beside the greens to show where they were. The hole had an illuminated ring inside and the flagstick had a light on it. All very interesting. The format was fourball so that means each team plays alternate shots with the same ball.

We started off quite slowly and then reached the par 3 which for us was our 5th hole of the 14. It was my turn on the tee shot and I played a beauty into about 12 feet. It was a nearest the pin hole and I was at that time nearest. Sheila then promptly putted it into the hole for a 2 (nett 1 with our handicap deducted). A magic 2. From that point on we played great. It's definitely the best Sheila has ever played and after the break we played great in the dark. We finished with 29 stableford points and managed to finish 3rd overall. Incidentally my nearest the pin was never beaten so we won that too. Our haul included two bottles of whisky (Dave and Babs - we need you to come and help us polish those off because they go off if they lie too long!!!!), two beer glasses, two foam bottle holders, two christmas stockings full of goodies some of which might find their way under the Christmas tree - never look a gift horse in the mouth - and finally a cool bag. Not bad eh!

We are playing the big grass course at Riffa today so I better go and get ready.

Cheers for now
David

We're going soft!

OK, ok we are going soft I know. We had to put the heater on last night because it has turned "cold" here. Winter has truly set in. Its amazing how chilly it feels when the sun doesn't shine. We have had a couple of rainy/cloudy days and the temperature has dropped to about 12 degrees. The locals are struggling to cope and we are feeling the "nip in the air". Let's hope it doesnt last too long. The golf is cancelled this weekend because the course is still waterlogged. The "fairways" will really be fairways when we get back. It's astonishing to see how quickly the green plants shoot up from what was dry baked ground. The seeds obviously just lie there waiting patiently for the opportunity and when the rains arrive they waste no time in sprouting. I will try to take a picture or two when we get back on course.

We are on holiday on Monday and Tuesday this week so its school on Sunday, holiday Mon Tue and then school Wed and Thu. Then we only have four and a half days school before the Christmas hols.

We are due to play Riffa Royal Golf Club on Monday. It will be Sheila's first go on a Championship course. We need to use up my "free" tickets. If you recall some time ago I was given a free round after being invited to the member/guest day and then we got a free voucher when we bought our new putters from the golf shop. £240 worth of golf for free. Lets hope the sun shines on Monday because its still VERY pleasant when it does. It's what you would call "perfect" weather when the sun is out.

We just found out last night that the golf competition that we were due to play on Saturday this week has been rescheduled for .... yes you guessed, Monday (if the course is open by then). It is the "Day/Night Golf". We play 7 holes in the afternoon (after our 18 holes at Riffa) get a quick sandwich and then we play 7 holes at night then we get a meal. Now I know what you are thinking. It will be DARK at night!!! Correct. And there are no floodlights at Awali!!! Correct. So you won't see where you are going or where the ball goes!!!! Incorrect. The course, or at least 7 holes of it will have had small airport runway guide lights strategically placed on it and the BALLS LIGHT UP so that you can see them. The guide lights let you know WHERE you are and where you are going but you can't actually SEE where you are or where you are going. We saw them playing this competition last year before we were members so thought we would put our names up this year. Should be fun. We will be ready for bed on Monday night I am sure. Good job Tuesday is also a holiday. We'll need it to recover.

So a weekend with no golf ahead. I suppose we'll do a bit of our own Christmas shopping, maybe see if we can find a few special items to bring back.

TTFN
David