[WVMtnBoy]

What a day! Began with a nice ride back from Gainesville on the bike which was followed by a nice nap. Then after being well rested met with the Ole Bishop, Mike Roberts and Fred Flintstone to try and play 18 holes at Bonifay before getting caught by the darkness.

We almost made it but could only get in 13 holes before we were forced to turn on the golf car headlights to find the golf balls. We gave a whole new meaning to twilight golf!! But, a good time was had by all! There were even a few pars made but no new members of the Gilchrist Birdie Club. Mike was presented with his "Birdie" pin by the Mayor to the appreciation of all who were present.

After winding our way through the golf course in the dark, the Mayor finally had to tell Mike that no, we could not cut through peoples yards to get back to the main road. As a result of this bad decision, we arrived at Bonifay Country Club for some much needed liquid nourishment only to find that the establishment closed at 9:00 (it was 9:01). The group then adjourned to the Mayors Residence for refreshments.

Next time we play twilight, we have to get some of the glow balls so we can play at least one more hole after dark!!!

Originally Posted by WVMtnBoy;69***4

What a day! Began with a nice ride back from Gainesville on the bike which was followed by a nice nap. Then after being well rested met with the Ole Bishop, Mike Roberts and Fred Flintstone to try and play 18 holes at Bonifay before getting caught by the darkness.

We almost made it but could only get in 13 holes before we were forced to turn on the golf car headlights to find the golf balls. We gave a whole new meaning to twilight golf!! But, a good time was had by all! There were even a few pars made but no new members of the Gilchrist Birdie Club. Mike was presented with his "Birdie" pin by the Mayor to the appreciation of all who were present.

After winding our way through the golf course in the dark, the Mayor finally had to tell Mike that no, we could not cut through peoples yards to get back to the main road. As a result of this bad decision, we arrived at Bonifay Country Club for some much needed liquid nourishment only to find that the establishment closed at 9:00 (it was 9:01). The group then adjourned to the Mayors Residence for refreshments.

Next time we play twilight, we have to get some of the glow balls so we can play at least one more hole after dark!!!

If you guys are looking for another guy to play twilight golf I'm available every Friday & Saturday evenings..I'd love to join in

[junction29]

Well we went out to play golf yesterday as we said and true to form, I developed my expertise for Hooking and Slicing a little further, whilst Her Ladyship showed me a clean pair of heels.

We managed to finish with Her Ladyship scoring one over par!*, whilst I managed three over par*, so not too bad, although we both lost some balls again.

Her Ladyship lost 3, two in the water and one in the rough and I lost 4, two in the water and two in the rough.

When we say water, we don’t mean lakes, these were very cleverly hidden but steep sided streams, just over small hills, so that as you hit the ball over the hill, it had no option but to roll down it into the stream, which couldn’t be seen from the other side of the hill – crafty a what?

Don’t forget when we say rough in the UK, we mean rough, with very dense grass which offers almost no chance of finding a ball if one ends up in it!

Well today is my Birthday, I am 29, no kidding! Her ladyship has been 29 for years and no-one has questioned it, so now that I am the same age as her (I married an older woman and catch her up for 6 months each year) and over the UK Official Retirement Age, so I have decided that I am not going to get any older and stay where I am.

When I was 29, I was still young and foolish and Her Ladyship says I am still foolish, so if I turn the clock back, I am back to being young and foolish again – it feels great already.

Her Ladyship has bought me a holiday for my birthday, a week in a 400 year old Country Cottage in Cornwall, which is an English County (like a State in the US only smaller) in the South West of the UK and a popular holiday destination.

I was a little worried about how much she had spent on me, but she reassured me that she got it at a discount if we would do some renovation whilst we were there.

When I asked what renovation needed doing, she replied that they have asked if we can mend the roof when we are there as it leaks when it rains – a good job I found out before we went, because now I can take my roofing ladders and wall ladder, to save me falling off the roof as I repair it.

[junction29]

Where was I – oh yes, to cut a long story short (yes I know it’s already a long story!), she has also booked us a couple of golf games in the vicinity of the country cottage as well, so it should be a good week and a great birthday present.

My sister has bought me a selection of English Beers, she said that I have seemed a bit low since we got back from TV and thought I needed cheering up with a few jars (English slang for a bottle of Corona).



My son has bought me a book by the famous golfer Ben Hogan, so now I am going to be studying it religiously for the next week or so, as my son, who is a good golfer, has challenged me to a game, at double or quits for his inheritance and this Ben Hogan book just might save me millions, well save me a few bob anyway (English slang for a few dollars) and with all the 'Bobs' I can count as friends in Gillyland, I am a very wealthy man by British standards.

Where was I – oh yes, to cut a long story short (yes I know it’s already a long story), my brother-in-law is taking us out for a meal and a drink tonight, but I think we have been away in TV for so long that he must have forgotten how much I can eat and drink! – I just hope he brings a lot of money with him, otherwise I can see us washing up dishes in the restaurant kitchen afterwards.

The grandchildren are coming to see us tonight before we go out, they have texted me Happy Birthday, don’t know what has happened to phone calls?, so I can let you know what they buy me in tomorrow’s post – that is if you want to know.

My wrist is aching with all this writing, so will have to close now before it ruins my golf game later today.

*Just for clarity and to avoid confusion, when we say 1 or 3 over par per game, we mean per hole – that is how it is described, isn’t it?

[Yankee Quilter]

Happy happy Andy!

[Flintstones]

Happy Birthday, Andy. Enjoy your day! We miss you here in the bubble!

[kittygilchrist]

Andy, Happy Day, and many more, my very first neighbor!

Emma sends regrets she will be unable to attend Millie's Annual Birthday Romp in your honor...the post card invitation was very cute...

[Teryl1949]

Originally Posted by WVMtnBoy;69***4

What a day! Began with a nice ride back from Gainesville on the bike which was followed by a nice nap. Then after being well rested met with the Ole Bishop, Mike Roberts and Fred Flintstone to try and play 18 holes at Bonifay before getting caught by the darkness.

We almost made it but could only get in 13 holes before we were forced to turn on the golf car headlights to find the golf balls. We gave a whole new meaning to twilight golf!! But, a good time was had by all! There were even a few pars made but no new members of the Gilchrist Birdie Club. Mike was presented with his "Birdie" pin by the Mayor to the appreciation of all who were present.

After winding our way through the golf course in the dark, the Mayor finally had to tell Mike that no, we could not cut through peoples yards to get back to the main road. As a result of this bad decision, we arrived at Bonifay Country Club for some much needed liquid nourishment only to find that the establishment closed at 9:00 (it was 9:01). The group then adjourned to the Mayors Residence for refreshments.

Next time we play twilight, we have to get some of the glow balls so we can play at least one more hole after dark!!!

As testimony to the events of last evening I hereby attach visible (barely as the sun disappeared long ago) evidence that 'glow balls' may be a great niche market for the Gilchrist folk. Or maybe I'll have to get some of those Night Vision Goggles.. His honor The Mayor failed to announce the downing of the last drop of his infamous Bonnie Sir Johnny.

[A-4 Skyhawk]

Originally Posted by WVMtnBoy;69***4

What a day!

Next time we play twilight, we have to get some of the glow balls so we can play at least one more hole after dark!!!

Dear Mayor -
Tomorrow morning we Tee off bright and early on Pelican. It's my understanding that you have never played Pelican before. You may want to see if you can find golf balls with built in homing devices rather than glow in the dark balls or balls that float.
TOMORROW MORNING will be a completely different experience

[A-4 Skyhawk]

DON’T FORGET THERE WILL BE A GILLY-BRATION TONIGHT AT EVANS PRAIRIE AT 7:00 ON THE BREEZEWAY

[james951]

Welcome. We will all be neighbors. getting work done never seems to stop. So take the time out to enjoy as you go along.

[junction29]

First of all many thanks to all who have wished me happy birthday and thank you Kitty for the card.

Don't panic about drinking the last bottle of Bonny Sir Johnny Ale, Your Worship, I have two bottles left in the drinks fridge in the garage and you are welcome to one of them if you start to suffer any withdrawal symptoms.

Well, to continue the narrative from this morning;

The Ben Hogan book I had for my birthday has made a huge difference to my game this afternoon, 100% difference to be accurate, instead of hooking and slicing some of my balls, now I am hooking and slicing 100% of them.

I think it would be a fair conclusion to say that I have probably misread the advice the book gives a little!

Her Ladyship wiped the floor with me yet again, but at least I am consistently poor.

She promised to give me a chance as it was my birthday, but I was so bad, that she was struggling to miss enough shots to allow me to even draw with her! .

Still, we have just got back and had a stiff whisky and suddenly everything seems fine again - I am going to recommend the whisky I drink to the UK's NHS (National Health Service) as a 'cure-all', it will save them £M's on prescription drugs.

Were was I? - oh yes, well to cut a long story short (yes I know it is a long story already), we popped down to see my sister-in-law at lunch time (Her Ladyship's big sister), she needs a bridge building over a small stream in her garden so that she can reach the garden on the far side to plant it out without getting her feet wet.

Like a wally (English slang for idiot), I volunteered to build her one - as I pointed out to Her Ladyship, when she asked me why I volunteered - it would be good practise for the roofing timber work I have to do in the holiday cottage she has booked and she could see my point.

But she then said "Why don't we fly Jimbo and Cathy out to help, it would be finished much quicker" and I looked at her in astonishment "Quicker? quicker?" I squeaked! "It would resemble the Brooklyn Bridge if Jimbo came over and I have to finish it in a week, besides, you know they only fly first class and that would double our material costs".

Were was I? - oh yes, well to cut a long story short (yes I know it is a long story already) Fortunately she could see the sense of my argument and let the subject drop.

Unfortunately, the reference to the Brooklyn Bridge got them both thinking about how fancy the bridge needs to be to look right in the garden - Will I never learn to keep my big mouth shut?

[junction29]

Were was I? oh yes, well to cut a long story short (I am not saying the next bit for a change ), whilst we were at the in laws, I got into a mild argument with the brother in law.

He said that 'Compete' meant the same as 'Finished' and I said they were not the same - he would not have it until I gave him the following explanation'

"When you meet the woman who you want to spend the rest of your life with and she turns out to be perfect, you are 'complete'.

However when you meet the woman who you want to spend the rest of your life with and she turns out to be a bitch, you are 'finished'.

Then when you meet the woman who you want to spend the rest of your life with and she catches you with a fancy woman you are 'completely finished' - needless to say he accepted my argument without question after that!

[Suebsl]

Happy Birthday, Andy. Sounds like it was fun!

[WVMtnBoy]

Sorry I missed your birthday, Sir John. We weren't advised of the Momentous Occasion. So "Belated happy Birthday!!!"

I saw some pics in the Daily Sun yesterday of the Royal Ascot race in Ascot but did not see you and your fair lady. Were you not in attendance???