Deuce

Today

For the first time since late 2005, Paul & I have had a game of badminton. Pretty evenly matched, I must say, although I did have the handicap of having also walked the 5 miles to Shepton.

I can't say that we're very good at the game, but being evenly matched is key; if either one was always winning or losing it wouldn't be any fun. So I think we'll go again next week.

In My Day

As earlier blogs will attest, ours was not a sporty family. There was the occasional desultory game of cricket on the lawn (driven mostly by my brothers' enthusiasm) and we used to play "piggy in the middle"......

Sport at school divided into gymnastics, sports and games. Gym was completely unnerving. I couldn't vault the box, climb up a rope or do handstands, somersaults or cartwheels. And as for touching my toes.....

Sports involved jumping, running and throwing things. My long legs meant that my jumping was not the worst and I could balance an egg on a spoon. By I had no turn of speed, nor muscle strength for throwing heavy objects.

Games included: netball, hockey, rounders and tennis. Hockey I avoided whenever possible. Netball I was a fair-to-middling goal shooter. Rounders - I could catch and throw a ball but my inability at running meant that I was often easily caught out. My reputation for physical awkwardness meant that I was always the last to be chosen for a team (didn't the teachers see how humiliating that was? or would they have stopped it if they had?).

I was never brilliant at tennis, but I could hit the ball and as it didn't involve being in a team or cold muddy weather, I rather liked it. It generally involved a fair amount of time lolling on grass in warm weather, talking to friends. Badminton is clearly its gentler friend.

And it burns 6 points an hour!