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I killed a tree...
Jan. 20th, 2010 09:49 pm...seriously.
Okay, not literally killed it. Was playing Petanque today (it's been described as aerial lawn bowls by one friend). It's a French game using small metal balls that we call boule that are, ours anyway, 721grams (which is nearly the heaviest weight for competitions. Those things are damn heavy to throw), the lightest is about 600g.
Anyway, we play this on the Esplanade (beautiful when the water's in, not so much when it's out. Mud flats anyone?) and there's a big tree over the court. Some of the branches hang a little low. Well, today I was having a few problems getting that boule where I wanted to go (usually I'm a bit better than I was today, did do some pretty good shots, though). The ground was a little damp, so I had to really, really fling the damn thing to get it anywhere near where I needed it to go. This particular shot the jack (little, fluro-coloured wooden ball a~all the way up the other end of the court. I have to get as close as possible to it as I can) was...well, at least 8m away. Too far, really, but there you have it.
So, queue me standing on the mat lining up my shot, concentrating on where I had to get that boule (which is too heavy for me and a little big for my hand), and knowing that I'm going to really have to fling that thing if I wanted anywhere close to the jack. So, I prepare myself and fling!
Next thing I know there's a loud *crack* and the ball's coming back at me. Much ducking was to be had. I'd hit one of the low hanging tree-branches. Oopsies. Then the sap just starts pouring out of the spot I'd hit and onto the court...
...let's just say I got teased a lot for the rest of the afternoon and leave it at that.
The good news is that, judging by where the spot is, I was actually going on the right line. Had that branch not been in the way I probably would've had a really good shot on my hands.
Stoopid tree, it got in the way and kept dropping green ants on me. Those little bastards hurt when they bite (yep, I got bitten. Once on the neck and once between my toes).
Okay, not literally killed it. Was playing Petanque today (it's been described as aerial lawn bowls by one friend). It's a French game using small metal balls that we call boule that are, ours anyway, 721grams (which is nearly the heaviest weight for competitions. Those things are damn heavy to throw), the lightest is about 600g.
Anyway, we play this on the Esplanade (beautiful when the water's in, not so much when it's out. Mud flats anyone?) and there's a big tree over the court. Some of the branches hang a little low. Well, today I was having a few problems getting that boule where I wanted to go (usually I'm a bit better than I was today, did do some pretty good shots, though). The ground was a little damp, so I had to really, really fling the damn thing to get it anywhere near where I needed it to go. This particular shot the jack (little, fluro-coloured wooden ball a~all the way up the other end of the court. I have to get as close as possible to it as I can) was...well, at least 8m away. Too far, really, but there you have it.
So, queue me standing on the mat lining up my shot, concentrating on where I had to get that boule (which is too heavy for me and a little big for my hand), and knowing that I'm going to really have to fling that thing if I wanted anywhere close to the jack. So, I prepare myself and fling!
Next thing I know there's a loud *crack* and the ball's coming back at me. Much ducking was to be had. I'd hit one of the low hanging tree-branches. Oopsies. Then the sap just starts pouring out of the spot I'd hit and onto the court...
...let's just say I got teased a lot for the rest of the afternoon and leave it at that.
The good news is that, judging by where the spot is, I was actually going on the right line. Had that branch not been in the way I probably would've had a really good shot on my hands.
Stoopid tree, it got in the way and kept dropping green ants on me. Those little bastards hurt when they bite (yep, I got bitten. Once on the neck and once between my toes).
