The Highs and Lows

That sum's golf up pretty well really. There are days when everything goes your way and times when it doesn't and the last few weeks have certainly been like that. We are entering the knock-out match period of the season, and I have been dashed a few times on the 18th green. Sometimes you think you have been beaten, which is fine, other time you think you have lost which is a very frustrating feeling. I also entered an English Golf Captains event at THE Wilmslow and did not play very well. I am not a great fan of the Wilmslow course and I am unsure why they have added the THE to the front of their name. Wilmslow is part of the Viagra triangle in the Eastern part of Cheshire, the other two towns being Alderley Edge and Knutsford, so maybe it is a supplemental boost to their perceived status in that part of the County. All very strange though.

SWMBO and I were delighted to be able to host the ex-Captains, the Council members and their partners together with some ex-Captains widows in our garden as an opportunity for them all to get together. The ladies in particular had probably not seen each other for 18 months or so. It was a very convivial gathering which I think everybody enjoyed. The Club then hosted an array of Captains from the Cheshire and Lancashire clubs for a match and some refreshment afterwards. I was able to make a short speech and enjoy a few beers with the locals.

I was disappointed that an opportunity to play at St Andrew's in the Old Tom Morris 200th birthday celebrations  passed me by, but a further Salver Day at Wallasey in the middle of June  focused my mind and that earlier disappointment was washed away when yesterday I was able to help our 1997 ex-Captain win his Salver Day for the first time after 24 years of trying.

So the highs and the lows of the game have been encapsulated into the month of June, I await with interest what July will have in store.   

Going going gone

One thing I have missed out on during lockdown more than others is a rummage around a good old fashioned auction house. I have had to travel further than normal since the closure of the Wirral Auctions site in Birkenhead, and I still do wonder where all the eclectic 'treasure' which Neil used to sell, has gone. The Hoylake rooms have always been poor quality, but the other major sites seem to be Knutsford and Macclesfield way.

I have, therefore, been much more selective at what I look at and bid for, as you can never be quite sure what you are getting unless you have seen and felt the goods during the preview days.

So I have taken my financial life in my hands again today and speculated a bit over some art prints and posters to see whether after a bit of restoration they can be sold on to accumulate some funds for more investment. Antique bargaining for me is very similar to my golf equipment process. For example, when I purchased my Q follow golf trolley SWMBO indicated to me that it would be sensible to sell one of my other 'golf toys' before I laid out for this new one. That way we are fairly golf neutral, and that's the way I  try to be with auction items.

So the main purpose today was to buy enough stock to sell most on via E-bay and recoup funds to pay for the good ones to be restored. Whether or not that will happen remains to be seen, although the collection of Harold Riley prints I had hoped would be part of the process had a reserve of £40-£60 and went for almost £1000. I couldn't see much profit in that sadly.

Anyway, I am expecting viewing days to be reinstated shortly albeit with a booked visiting slot, which will get me out of the house to do something other than play golf! 

Happy Days....

 

And there is the unmistakable figure of Lester Piggott, or is it Joe Mercer?

Me and the missus went to the races yesterday. Well, it was called Knutsford races, but it was actually a point-to-point meeting in a field at the back of Tabley Hall. It was really quite good fun.

There were eight races in all, and most had between 8 and 15 runners. There were plenty of bookmakers around the place, as well as refreshment outlets and a few retailers selling the obligatory checked jackets, felt hats and designer wellies.

Loads of people were in no need of these, however, as they were well decked out in designer county wear. The car parks were full of Range Rovers, Land Rovers and other 4 x 4 gas guzzlers, each with a boot stashed with booze, barbecues and Belinda or Brian.

One poor child was wearing her pony club top, monogrammed with her name, Tabitha. Her mum was either a Bewitched fan, or thought a spot of magic had conjured young offspring from place or places unknown.

Point- to-Point has been a traditional add-on activity for the hunting and farming community for centuries and is used to keep the horses and riders in some sort of trim when the hounds are not active. Horses used to race cross country between 'flags', the points, taking any route they could to win the race to the finish, but these days the racing is on more conventional tracks, as with the meeting yesterday.

It is not unusual to get a fair bit of skulduggery at these meetings, and one odds-on favourite was placed nowhere yesterday, prompting a stewards enquiry. On the whole though it seemed to be good honest endeavour by a predominantly young set of riders. We had a couple of places, although most of the races went to form, so betting on the favourite had no value. That said a 25-1 outsider won the last.

Must put new designer wellies on my Christmas list ready for the meeting next year.