259th Post

Thirteen arrived for play today including Colm and Maureen who hadn't played in a number of weeks on account of the Covid pandemic.  About half of us wore masks today, despite the discomfort, to reduce the possibility of transmission especially when we forget the social distancing regime.

We had good games and we're grateful for the group on piste 4 for including Yvonne who was unavoidably delayed despite having started their game.

Out thanks to Yvonne, who has supplied us with coffee and biscuits for the past few weeks after the games. 

Gerry not alone raked the pistes before we arrived at all but came to watch and walk about during the session.  Sheila also arrived to view proceedings.  She hopes top be back playing shortly.  We won't be playing 'competition' until September [ virus permitting! ] but the games today were very competitive nonetheless.

Maureen and Gerry back again.

Now there's a cluster....

The Raiders of the Marked Ark......

Mike....beyond the Pale.

Gerry practicing in Alden Park before lunch and on to St. Anne's after lunch.....

258th Post

Twelve today on a morning that started out damp but finished off breezy and sunny.  Judy and Brogan are back playing regularly, thankfully.  Masks / visors are not obligatory outdoors but some of our members are wearing them and the onus is on each of us to maintain social distance especially when gathering, leaving and collecting your boules after each end.  Moving them away with your feet to a free area before picking them up is workable.  Please don't take offence if another player ask you to move away a little if they're feeling uncomfortable.  Usual hygiene practices should be adhered to.

Gerry paid us a welcome visit while in recuperation....

Now there's a right cluster......

This is called rubbing it in!!....that blue peg never got a chance to move.....

Now that's proper Social Distancing....

The Evergreens.......

257th Post

Eleven made it to St. Anne's on Wednesday for the Boules.  We had some bunting up to mark yesterday's French National Holiday.  There is still the strange spectre of Covid-19 over proceedings but we all enjoyed our games and the noticeably larger numbers in the park on weekdays meant we had many spectators.  We won't be playing competition until September probably, providing there isn't another 'lockdown' caused by another 'Wave'.
It was great to have Brogan and Judy back playing again.

Brogan gave us a rendition of 'La Marseillaise' and Happy Birthday for the Alden Park crew.

Taking a break from watching oul' films on TV...!!!

Some of the interested spectators....

Some of the St. Anne's crew made it to Alden Park yesterday where we had a French-Themed day with a game of boules first, followed by whatever 'goodies' people brought for themselves and we closed off proceedings with four individual competitions testing Shooting and Pointing skills. The weather was kind to us and the forecast rain stayed away till we had finished at noon.  Below are a few photos from the morning of the 14th.  The first four photos are of the individual winners.

Honestly we were socially distant except for the photo of the group....

Gerry and Nigel winners of the team competition.

Gerry and Agnes getting into the spirit of things.


Hard not to notice the Wildflower Garden just inside the car park entrance to St. Anne's.

Eileen and Tom doing a bit of maintenance on the Pistes on the 12th July.....an alternative to Marching!

[ from - Enjoying St. Anne's Facebook Page]  

Some proposed additions to the Red Stables/Playground area of the park. 

When Tony and Mike met were the Park Supervisor and Dublin City Council Chief Engineer in 2019

these were mentioned, as was the redevelopment of the Boules Area......Hopefully they haven't forgotten us!