Friday 8 May 2015

Anyone for croquet?


Another week zipped by and time to think about the small things that have put a smile on our faces over the last seven days.

I am not celebrating the fact I had a throat infection last weekend which made me feel a little rough, but I am celebrating the fact it didn't last too long and I am feeling much better now.

It was hubby's birthday recently and I bought him a croquet set. It is something he has been wanting for a while now, so it was well received. We managed to invite a few folks around on Monday and had a rather jolly game between the rain showers. It was fun and enjoyed by all. I think it is definitely going to become a firm favourite to play around here. Anyone else ever played?

As I wandered round, desperately trying to perfect my technique and correct swing, it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and her, rather strange, game of croquet. I must say I had some sympathy for young Alice! (Please note: no hedgehogs, flamingoes or other creatures were harmed in our game! Although there may have been some bruised egos flying around!)
"The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away, comfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down, but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it would twist itself round and look up into her face with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing...."   From Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 
I was delighted to see a Greater Spotted Woodpecker in the garden for the first time this week. We have a Green Woodpecker who visits sometimes, but it is lovely to know another species is close by too. Sadly I didn't have a camera to hand when I saw it, but hopefully it will pay another visit soon.

And finally ....

Happy Flora Day Helston. 




Thanks to our lovely host Lexa and her team of co-hosts

 L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge

Katie @ TheCyborgMom

36 comments:

  1. It's been years since I played. Glad you two have something fun to do together. Especially now that you are feeling better.

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  2. Good to know you've recovered from that, keep smiling always!

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  3. I think I played, if you can call it that, when I was like 5 or 6.

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    1. I'm still trying to get my head around the rules!

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  4. Enjoy the games. I love croquet, but I'm such a cheater. Have a great weekend.

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    1. I suspect there may have been some dubious play going on! All good fun!

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  5. We love playing croquet in this family. Love the flowers. Looking forward to something coming up soon.

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  6. Pleased you are feeling better,
    I thought you wrote you bought hubby a CROCHET set, I'm sorry Suzanne but I had to write and tell you.
    Happy Floral Day Helston.
    Yvonne.

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    1. Hehe! Not sure he would have been quite so pleased with that!
      Thanks for the visit, Yvonne.

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  7. So glad you're feeling better and everyone is enjoying your husband's new gift.
    Happy weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Deanie. Hope you enjoy your family weekend.

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  8. Beautiful flowers for Flora Day! I love croquet; made me think of Alice too, (smile). Glad your better!

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    1. Makes me smile too, Dixie. Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. I used to love playing croquet as a child at home but then one day my brother and I devised bike polo using the croquet set - it was the best game EVER but resulted in the lawn becoming totally churned up and various things broken - needless to say parents weren't best pleased and croquet set seemed to vanish after that! Have a lovely weekend and so pleased to be joining in this blog hop Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace

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    1. Oh dear! It sounds like you invented a wilder version! Welcome to the hop and my blog.

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  10. Croquet! I loved playing that when I was younger. Thanks goodness I didn't have to play using a flamingo! lol I'm glad your sore throat went away quickly. Have a lovely weekend! :)

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    1. Thanks, Lexa. I have been surprised by the number of folks who have played before. Hope your weekend is going well.

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  11. Croquet is a great family summer game. Glad you weren't feeling poorly for too long.

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    1. Me too, some people I know have been ill for a couple of weeks with a similar thing!

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  12. i love this
    you have a lovely blog,
    i followed you DEAR, please kindly follow back.
    http://melodyjacob1.blogspot.com/ #MELODYJACOBS
    thank you.

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  13. Hi Annalisa - croquet is a brilliant game - used to love it as a kid, and now when a chance arises .. the croquet is put out. I have your infected throat and wish it would go away - had something else as well .. not sure what though: not used to being 'coldy' ... maybe I'll catch your cure?! Oh yes ... two weeks is about right!

    Flora Helston ... must be wonderful and such a great custom to be a part of ... to see and to partake in. Great community builder ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  14. I have not played crochet in years.
    I love woodpeckers:)

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  15. I don't think I've ever seen a woodpecker. How weird am I? :) Glad you are feeling better and that it didn't last too long!
    Katie @TheCyborgMom

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  16. Croquet is fun. Haven't played that in years!

    I'm glad you're feeling better. :)

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  17. That's a gorgeous pic for Flora Day:)

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  18. Hi Suzanne,

    I do hope your throat infection has totally vanished. We need you to maintain that singing voice.

    I'm sure your hubby was delighted with the croquet set. And yes, I'm now thinking of Alice in Wonderland.

    Take care and have a nice week ahead.

    Gary

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  19. I remember that scene in Alice in Wonderland, Suzanne. I still laugh.
    Croquet--I have played not so much now as much as I did when I was about 25. The military post lived on had an English Unit and they loved to play so we did. :-)

    I love watching the birds and we have several woodpeckers here, my favorite is the redheaded Woodpecker. It's huge and I have a nesting pair, which I love having.

    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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  20. I love to play croquet. Our yard is all hill, so we can't have a set, but I grew up playing it. Glad you're feeling better!

    We used to have an oak tree in our back yard that drew in woodpeckers, but it's gone. I miss seeing them!

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  21. I used to play a lot a long time ago, even playing games against myself when no one else wanted to play. Now I don't know if we even have a croquet set around the house anymore.

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  22. I loved that game when I was a kid. We'd play until it was so dark we couldn't see the wickets! Great gift.

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  23. I did play croquet when I was a kid. It was definitely one of the more manageable sports for me!

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  24. Croquet is fun!

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  25. I like croquet, and we have an old set. My husband prefers golf, so we go that direction, but I have a running 'Alice' joke. I'm so terrible at the sport, I can imagine the queen saying "off with her head!"

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