Attempt Twenty Nine

LAST MEAL: Pork chops and creamy mash with green beans.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: More long marathon training style runs.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Target assurance in a non-profit environment.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 3

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 41

Bad news, Ocean Bowl fans. I have decided to take a short break from trying to get a perfect score for the next six weeks or so. This isn't a coincidence; it's mutually beneficial for the bowl as they are exceptionally busy in the Summer months and it also means I can take my children to the beach and the castles and the steam trains and the go-karts...

This meant I had to work really hard to go out with a bang, a plan that went out of the window as soon as I realised that I had left my new ball at home and so had to rely on my faithful green companion. A good start meant I lost my focus a little and dropped vital points by not dropping vital pins. My score is therefore a perfect graph of overconfidence followed by attempting to regain said confidence.

I let myself down, I let you all down but, worst of all, I let myself down again. I did get a strike though and I haven't seen one of those in a couple of weeks.

Attempt Twenty Eight

LAST MEAL: Ribs in a home-made sauce.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Long marathon training style runs.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Using a new ball.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 4

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 41

I have begun training properly for Amsterdam marathon. This has made me tired. I am allowing for this.

This week I also managed to secure a loaned ball so I don't have to suffer the embarrassment of asking people if I can borrow a ball that's on their lane. They always look at me like I'm a bit simple and this way no-one ever needs to know that I am.

I had a couple of games to get used to the movement of the new ball and I think my positioning needs to stay the same. Whether I'll remember this or not is yet to be seen.

Attempt Twenty Seven

LAST MEAL: Sausage and bacon cous-cous for logistical reasons. I wouldn't normally eat cous-cous.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Watching children bowl in Exeter.

METHOD OF FOCUS: High-fiving a small person after each strike.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 7

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 39

Once again I'm actually fairly happy with my score and two strikes per week over the last two weeks is helping towards that. I dropped slightly this week but a four on frame four, which I'd like to say is in honour of someone or something but I can't, will do that. 

I have been gifted a ball which I will endeavour to get hold of before next week, although that may lead to a period of adjustment. Hey, I can't be this super-fantastic every week.

Attempt Twenty Six

LAST MEAL: Roast chicken and veg.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Cricket tour in Bath.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Watching Spain play Italy in Euro 2016.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 5

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 37

I was all over the focusing this week. Watching football is a great way to zone out and the big screen at Ocean Bowl with a bowl of chips makes bowling come alive.

I was even fairly happy with my score by the end. I was robbed of a strike in the first frame and that may have put me off a perfect game but we'll double check that hypothesis next week. For now I'm off to watch England play Iceland.

Attempt Twenty Five

LAST MEAL: Lamb shank and mashed potato.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Driving to Wales and not coming back in time.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Holidaying.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 4

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 37

I'm cheating a little this week. Although I'm in Wales until tomorrow I did manage to sneak in an extra game at Ocean Bowl to cover the fact and here it is in all its glory.

There's something about getting away for the third time in a year that really focuses a bowler and I'm sure after next weekend, when I'm in Bath for three days, I will be all about the bowling - not least because I'm going on a cricket tour. Hey, I have to bowl in the cricket, the action must transfer a little.

Attempt Twenty Four

LAST MEAL: Slow cooked gammon, rice and peas.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Walking at the weekend. Hey, I don't have to push it every week.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Looking at cars to buy.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 4

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 36

I'm going to shadow the England football team's performance in the European Championship. That is, I set out to do well this evening yet my performance led to an unsatisfying conclusion. This is quite common in a few aspects of my life.

There was a small child bowling on the lane next to me and he was loving the atmosphere in Ocean Bowl. He cheered every ball he bowled and high fived his Mum when she got a strike, something I'd love to do with my family but unfortunately I take the game far too seriously. My children sit in a darkened room when we return so that they don't have to look at my gloomy face.

Here's the score that compliments a heavy weekend on the beer ever hopeful of an England win. Come on lads, I need that perfect game.

Attempt Twenty Three

LAST MEAL: Traditional roast chicken with all the trimmings.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Bowling at a different venue.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Sliding along the floor.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 8

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 34

Yes, it's true. I cheated on Ocean Bowl with a venue in Mansfield while I was away. I wasn't proud but my score proves that it's not Ocean's fault I'm such an awful bowler.

As ever I felt pretty tired and vague while bowling and I think it comes back to the Monday night thing - I've been busy all weekend, I may have had a bit to drink, I'm often tired after the weekend but it's the only day that I have free so I don't have too much choice in the matter. If possible I will chuck in a few late week bowls to test the theory. 

That said, another couple of strikes in the bag. The top screen is my official score for this week, the other a filthy reminder of why you should always stay faithful to the Bowl.

Attempt Twenty Two

LAST MEAL: A grilled breakfast...for tea.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Eating giant fruit.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Earworm of "Where have all the cowboys gone?".

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 6

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 33

I had a bit of an off-air hissy fit after last week's game and went to put that right as soon as I stepped into Ocean Bowl. The weather was perfect as I was inside and so I had no excuses not to give it my all with caution.

I think it paid off as the slight lift in my score was evident. Had I knocked over more of the pins I'm confident my score would have been higher, such is the game, and I will keep that in mind as I move forward. I think I may have really figured this bowling thing out.

Attempt Twenty One

LAST MEAL: Chicken New Yorker at Ocean Bowl. They do great food, too.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Installing a leisure battery in a campervan.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Thinking about installing batteries in campervans.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 10

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 33

We went for the Ocean Bowl experience once more tonight, dining and drinking before the main event. Judging by my score I probably should have bowled first but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I've included the scores of my children at their request. For those who say I never do anything with my kids, here's the proof that you're wrong. Next week we're all going for a big, long run. Also below is a picture of my beautiful hands after having to do some real work.

Attempt Twenty

LAST MEAL: Sausage casserole.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Half a bottle of port with a bottle of blue WKD. Happy anniversary to us.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Thinking about doing a marathon.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 3

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 32

I was presented with an opportunity to do the original Athens marathon last week but this week has put paid to the idea as I have a very important friend's wedding to go to over the same weekend. The desire to run again is strong in this one and so I am looking at booking into Amsterdam marathon instead so costs of flights, accommodation and other stuff were flying around my head when I should have been thinking about bowling.

That said I did manage a whole strike, which is nice.

Hopefully I'll have booked up by the end of the week and life can return to normal with my focus on Ocean Bowl instead of Amsterdam. I know I'm full of excuses but that's not likely to change.

Attempt Nu-nu-nu-nu-Nineteen

LAST MEAL: Roast Chicken and vegetables just like my children's momma used to make.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Dancing 3 miles through the streets of Helston on Flora Day.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Bringing three generations of Lander males (and three Lander females).

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 8

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 32

I won't waffle on too much tonight, suffice it to say that with six of us using the lane at Ocean Bowl I was slightly put off my stroke. I can't blame anyone other than myself as I relaxed into the game and enjoyed the time with my family thus enduring a lower score than I would have hoped for. Never mind, eh?

This followed a family-heavy weekend with the festivities of Flora Day in Helston so I can claim tiredness with a lack of focus. Still, that's what next week is for.

Attempt Eighteen

LAST MEAL: Pulled BBQ gammon and wedges with minted peas.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Foam bowling.

METHOD OF FOCUS: The outstretched arm.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 3

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 29

It was busy in Ocean Bowl this evening and I knew getting my ball was going to be a problem, however I sucked it up and used a different ball as I knew I'd be building on last week's techniques. Recently I read a passage in a document about motorbike control of all things and the part that really stuck out was about looking where you want an object to land - obviously in a motorbike you have to look away since, as stated, 'a motorbike is like any other weapon and will land where you're aiming it'. By reversing this procedure with the bowling ball and leaving my arm outstretched a little longer I found the strikes came a touch easier. I also had to shift slightly to the right as my position last week was more suited to a left handed bowler, the ball hooking anti-clockwise in my case and leaving a few too many pins.

This is a lot to take in but the gist is that I think I may be beginning to crack it. Three strikes this week certainly suggests I'm starting to get it right and I hope to continue this. The slushy may have helped but it's impossible to tell at this early stage. Incidentally the family were back this week so I definitely can't blame them.

(See if you can spot the deliberate wobble...)

Attempt Seventeen

LAST MEAL: All-you-can-eat breakfast - fried, continental, everything else.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Signing up for Brighton Marathon 2017.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Checking out my shoes between shots.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 8

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 28

What's the best way to tell my family that they're no longer welcome at Ocean Bowl? I think this is going to get a little awkward.

I went on my own due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control and I seemed to be in the zone, concentrating only on the pins and nothing else (except my shoes, as previously stated). Whether this was loneliness or just what I need I'm not sure, however my run of spares was achieved with relative ease. Only the one strike to speak of and a missed pin in the last frame, both of which mean my score is lower than I thought it would be yet it has risen slightly and I am very happy with that.

I should also mention that, although applying for a marathon shouldn't count as supplementary training, it has shifted my mental state by an unfathomable distance and this may even have caused the positive effect on my game. We'll see how the coming weeks prove or disprove this theory.

Attempt Sixteen

LAST MEAL: Chicken kievs, but not the shop bought things. Cheese wrapped in chicken wrapped in bacon. 

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Building a go-kart.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Contemplating Guatemala.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 3

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 26

Here's a graph of my scores over the past few weeks -

I can't seem to stop the rot but if Apollo 440 are anything to go by then you can't stop the rot, can't stop the rot, you can't stop the rot, can't stop the rot. You know, hashtag misheard lyrics.

Not even two strikes could cheer me up this week. I felt a bit peculiar going into frame four but that's no excuse for anything, particularly as the support of the Ocean Bowl staff was still with me.

Incidentally, look at these cheeky little buggers.

More crime solving and bowling next week, folks.

Attempt Fifteen

LAST MEAL: Everything. It was a concoction of leftover casserole, leftover curry, fresh vegetables and a handful of spices, hence I named it Everything. 

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: A 26.2 mile bike ride from Helston to Land's End.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Taking a six year old.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 1

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 25

I'm not completely sure what happened today. Things were just about back to normal at Ocean Bowl as the school holidays had finished so the lane ambience was more familiar however I couldn't manage to make the big round thing knock over the long things at the end of the aisle. That said I just about managed to get one more strike to add to my tally, although that's not the name of the game.

People who don't know me may think I love to exercise as I've completed a half marathon and a marathon bike ride this year but sitting on the sofa and watching TV is my default setting and it's very much business as usual from now on. My sporting focus will be 100% bowling.

Here are the scores; as you can see I very nearly got beaten by my youngest daughter.

Attempt Fourteen

LAST MEAL: Roast Chicken and Pepper Pasta. 

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Watching the film '300'. Turns out it wasn't even about bowling.

METHOD OF FOCUS: A subtle arse wiggle before each frame. Nothing inappropriate.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 5

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 24

Ugh. Just ugh. I made it to Ocean Bowl after a lengthy trip to Treliske (nothing out of the ordinary) and it was just enough to throw my routine off. Furthermore we discovered that my middle child is bad luck; after the first three frames she wandered off and my score speaks for itself. Frames seven and nine were spent discussing what bad luck she is and they were no good for me either. In the future she will be kept at a distance.

I was a bit gutted to see my score sink so low and the lack of strikes damages my chances of getting 100 strikes this year. I'm going to have to pull something big out of the bag next week to make up for my poor, poor form and if that means sending the children abroad I will have to give it a go.

Attempt Thirteen

LAST MEAL: Ploughmans courtesy of the Star and Garter, Falmouth. 

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: A 10k bike ride.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Watching the trains go by outside.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 6

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 23

Mrs. Lander and I were granted a reprieve from the children so we took advantage and went to the Star and Garter pub in Falmouth on advice before making our way to Ocean Bowl. Readers are invited to accept this as a recommendation as their menu is sublime and the staff are beyond courteous.

I was challenged to a game by the aforementioned Mrs. L and I couldn't help but accept as neither of us are particularly competitive. The game was played in good spirits although my score has dipped slightly of late.

Fortunately we managed to get there before it got too busy but I'm assured that anybody looking to bowl will likely need to book during the holidays. Give them a generic search engine search and then a tinkle.

Attempt Twelve

LAST MEAL: Sausage casserole with waaaaaaaaay too much chilli courtesy of the young chefs.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Running into Ocean Bowl as quickly as possible.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Weighing up every ball in the place.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 3

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 22

I'm not going to lie - we ran into Ocean Bowl tonight because there was a coach load of people outside and we were sure they were going in to bowl as well. We were right. Fortunately I was on a lane and chucking balls before they'd even made it in.

The score tonight is a bit dismal and it's hard to pin down exactly what went wrong (no pun intended). Perhaps I was a bit distant and my mind took me down memory lane too many times (no pun intended) but, whatever the problem, I really ballsed up this week (no pun intended).

As for strikes...well, they were harder to come by than a forty foot man made of gold giving out free tickets to England games provided you show the top of your box of cereal within thirty days. 

Attempt Eleven

LAST MEAL: Homemade chunky oxtail soup.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Running 13.1 miles around Falmouth the day before, parking courtesy of Ocean Bowl.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Saying something more appropriate after non-strike producing attempts.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 6

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 164

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 18

I've noticed in recent weeks that I swear a lot during bowling and it's an involuntary response to not getting a strike. With this in mind I tried incorporating a simple sigh when pins were left standing and, although the people around me generally don't hear my awful language, I think the young family beside me would have been grateful.

On Sunday I took myself off for Run Falmouth, a half marathon on a gorgeous day across the best course I think I've ever run around for that distance. This meant that my back was aching slightly, though nothing on what I've suffered with silently over the last few weeks, and also my hips were a touch sore. That said I managed another four strikes this week by employing the same stance and position as last week.

My score wasn't quite as high but I can put up with that as it didn't drop dramatically. I suppose I'm technically a third of the way to my goal; I just need to add another eight strikes on to the end of my game. Maybe next week.

Attempt Ten

LAST MEAL: Mighty Meatzza - essentially a giant burger with pizza topping.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: Deep, hard, satisfying sleep.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Playing three children at air hockey.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 7

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 142

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 14

I ditched the gutter blocks and went feral tonight, wild and free as bowling should be played. My back was feeling good and I wasn't distracted by girls having birthday parties so I could really focus and use what I've learned already to drive my score up.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that it actually worked, too. I have delivered another milestone of a first double and almost achieved a turkey, missing out by a single pin. I can't promise I can maintain this week's score but it is certainly something to build on.

Big thanks to the team at Ocean Bowl for putting on the party and for providing my wife and I with a roast dinner for Mother's Day.