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.

Attempt Nine

LAST MEAL: Roast pork and vegetables prepared at Ocean Bowl followed by raspberry roulade and birthday cake.

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: A week of pantomime performances.

METHOD OF FOCUS: Taking my ten year old daughter bowling with her friends for her birthday party.

LUCKY LANE NUMBER: 8

BEST SCORE TO DATE: 142

CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF STRIKES: 12

Critics won't want me using this week's score as we had the gutter blocks up, however my final score was attained using purely the width of the lane and my conscience is clear as to whether they helped or not.

My ten year old daughter wanted a bowling birthday party and I felt it would be a great time to attempt a perfect score as I'd have the moral support of her closest friends. Unfortunately they started to get hungry by the end of frame eight so I was very much on my own before long.

I may be on the road to recovery with regards to my back so I'm hoping tomorrow's game will show an improvement. Tune in to find out.