Miss-timing

Like my golf swing, got it all wrong today. Thought a quick walk in Ottobeuren, collect the dog food from the butcher & be home for lunch. Lovely day & so time to try out a new walk in open countryside, this time around the Ottobeuren Golf Course which I had never seen. A brisk one hour walk turned in to a 2 hour marathon & by the time we got back the shops had closed for lunch (this is rural Bavaria & not Kensington High Street). No dog food & back home although Pedro's famous organic milk ice cream parlour with it's outdoor chairs & umbrellas on the marketplace were very inviting. A very good webcam, of the rather boring marketplace. If it gets too bad you can always phone friends on the mobile & have a one-way Skype. By the way the webcam stays on after 6:00pm but the pavements are rolled up.

Anyway turned in to a very pleasant walk, a little hilly but very mixed between tracks through pastures, forest, over fairways, through farmyards, along hay meadows waiting to be cut but now thanks to the flooding full of debris and thus useless. Golfers and particularly the greenkeepers were friendly despite the 3 of us meandering across the fairways. When the track suddenly died out, one player came over & very pleasantly pointed out where to walk. I think they caught on that two border collies knew the codes of conduct, sitting still when they were driving, not walking in front or behind when they were putting etc. The Blip is of the clubhouse. Was a bit disappointed when I worked out how far we had been - around 8km=5 miles. Still, Angie will probably give them a proper run this evening with the horses.

Have a bit of golf blood in me, having been given sawn off clubs by my father from a very early age. He loved his golf, even building an 18 hole course in Trinidad and I had many great rounds with him even if his subtle words to unnerve me always worked He loved touring in Scotland & Nort England to do some golfing and had a time sharing flat at Barnham Broom Hotel & Golf Club in Norfolk. His last club was at Middleton-St-George in Co. Durham. He finally gave up at around 80 when all his partners had died off, of heart attacks on the course.

I still have my clubs but have never played in Germany. Don't have the time nor money and there are no public courses, at least that I know of. Would however love to play a round one day & perhaps will take advantage of the trial days they sometimes hold. Another connection is through my daughter's husband, Barry, who is a professional Greenkeeper in Ireland.

One for you Dad - even if not as good as your three holes in one. For you too Barry & Kate, Elliot & Charlotte.