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.