www.talkingbowls.com

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Friday (22/01/10)

Quiet day on the bowls front for me again so decided to go through a load of bowls related paperwork (got it coming ut of my ears) some of it goes back a few years though.

Renewed the domain name www.broomfieldbc.com for Blakey Jr, it's a good website that he maintains himself for the benefit of his club... he does a great job.

Spoke to Mel Evans today, still having problems with his eye (more gory details) but seems in good spirits. He gave me some good news regarding Staffordshire County Bowling Association supporting a company providing a bowling greens seminar that all greenkeepers should make the effort to attend..... I'll probably go just to be nosey though I usually stay well clear of greenkeeping duties.

Osprey Water Management continue to support our efforts to bring crown green bowling to the small screen (depends on your monitor size I suppose)

Apparently the meeting on Wednesday with a Media Production Department went very well and they were impressed with our efforts thus far having been shown the DVD that was created... though I really think that their financial demands would require massive investment of monies that we just don't have at the moment.... guess we'd better walk before we run. (Feedback on the DVD, when you get to see it is essential)

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Saturday (23/01/10)

I've Finished doing the fixtures for the Dudley Building Society Bowls League and Wolverhampton Works League... they will be available online soon.... c'mon W&W, I'm ready to move on to my next mission.

Written out an Invoice for my maintenance, service and hosting of the BCGBA Website at www.crowngreenbowls.org , strangely the BCGBA Balance Sheet apparently shows (inaccurately) the costs in the Expenditure column... but the money isn't in my Credit column at Nat West ???? mmmmm strange eh ?

Agreed to sponsor (along with Rigby Taylor Ltd, Mansfield Sands, Fatboys and Barnwell Services) the Free Press Cup in 2010.... better to sponsor than actually run it..... where is the money coming from ? See Above (oops LOL)

Arranged a meeting for another bowling venture to be announced soon, no details just yet but something will be thrashed out on Tuesday/Wednesday Night.

Thanks for reading my bowls diary (I'm not the hardest working man in bowls.... but I'm trying LOL)

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Sunday (24/01/10)

Got nagged at via email for missing a league off the BCGBA website database... grovelled a little.

Updated the Briggs Indoor Bowls League website.... www.crowngreen.com/cannockindoor

Started printing off fixtures to hand out at tomorrow's DBSL meeting.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Monday (25/01/10)
BUSY NIGHT

Received a phone call from Wolverhampton Works League Secretary informing me that 2 Cup dates & 1 Individual Merit needs to be factored into the Saturday League fixtures...... damn it.... thought I'd got that sorted.

Attended the Dudley Building Society League AGM... voted into the continuing roles of Fixtures Secretary and County Delegate.

Found out that Codsall Ex-Service will be using Goodyear's green on a Saturday (that'll affect the fixtures again.. Goodyears play in Works League too)

Jobi1 elevated himself to Forum No.1 by buying me a beer.... good man !!!

Re-adjusted the league fixtures to fit the new information, Works League is not perfect but hey... that's as good as it gets... sent the Fixtures to the respected Secretaries to confirm.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Tuesday (26/01/10)
EVEN BUSIER DAY

My hosting account company auto-renewed domain name www.crowngreen.com ... thank the lord.. coz I'd forgotten and the whole of crown green bowling on the internet would have come crashing to the ground !

Contacted by BCGBA regarding a meeting that was cancelled last month, Pat Crowther is also panicing a little about another website that has been requested... I'll get back in touch with her soon.... I'm just too busy with things that people actually bother to pay for !!!

Barry Jones sent me a draft copy of the Divisional make-up of W&W Leagues for 2010 but still awaiting certain clubs to confirm involvement.... started shuffling W&W fixtures to cope with the suspected changes.

Suspended a Forum Member's account... only the 2nd ever to get that treatment... having received three complaints about the member in question I felt time had come to act. The member is not BANNED from the site, just suspended whilst things calm down a little. Anonimity by members is fine by me as long as the line is not crossed.

Had a meeting with an unnamed bowls business man regarding setting up a new website to promote the game alongside the business plan..... just need to work out some costings and how I will be involved... further discussions are planned.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Wednesday (27/01/10)

Started putting together a sample site for the company that I held discussions with yesterday... I'm happy enough with it so far but haven't revealed it to them yet.

Received a call from a major bowls league regarding giving them a presence on the internet... sent some basic costings (almost 90% cheaper than a quote already received)... I must be bloody mad !

Updated the Fantasy Football Carling Cup with the Finalists now decided.... it looks like money is coming in (not massive amounts) from my bowls websites.. I may finally be able to offer prize money (Don't hold me to it) Laughing

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Thursday (28/01/10)

Received a call from a Smethwick & District team that will not be playing next season and resigning from the league.... wrong person to inform but I'll pass the info on.

Attended the Dudley & District League Meeting which was the most interesting meeting of the year so far for me... much debate... much fun. Mandy landed herself the Competitions Secretary job (again) and I kinda landed myself the job of compiling the fixtures for the reorganised Thursday League.... though I've finished them already so not bad going.

Confirmed that I will be attending the Lloyds Bowling Club Presentation Evening in Manchester after the Talkingbowls Radio team (Mel, Lynn & Myself) received an invite as special guests........ that's a hell of an honour for a Hilly House B' team bowler (I've come a long way in this game... but I'm still crap at bowling)

Helped out a couple of young guns who are working to provide competitions for you bowlers to play in...... I've been concerned for years that the game will die due to lack of administrators but these guys give me faith.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Friday (29/01/10)

Received an email from a colleague I'm working with for the BCGBA Database, the work he has carried out is extensive and many clubs will be added to the BCGBA website and the Google Earth map when I get a few spare hours (bloody unlikely looking at my diary)

Prepared a bit of free advertising for a company (related to crown green bowling) and therefore maybe of benefit to you lot.

Arranged a meeting for next week to sort out and prepare for Smethwick & District League meeing.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Saturday (30/01/10)

Attended the Prize Presentation evening of the Lloyds Hotel Bowling Club (Manchester) as an honoured guest for being the producer of talkingbowls radio, I was even asked to present a trophy to Dave Jackson to comemorate a memorable season. WHAT AN HONOUR !!!!
Didn't think we'd (Mel, Lynn and I) would get there safely as Mel chose to drive..... in the dark.... with sunglasses.... !!! (film reference... "It's 70 miles to Manchester, we've got a tank full of gas, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses... hit it !)..... a real white knuckle ride.
Mel and Lynn also did a bit of presenting of trophies too... when Steve Ridley (club secretary) managed to get the microphone back the night continued smoothly and good fun was had by all.
Also in attendance were BCGBA Cheif Executive John Crowther and Development Co-Ordinator Pat Crowther and various other distinguished people (how did I manage to get on this list... I just press a few buttons)
The Lloyds Bowling Club (BCGBA Team Champions) were very hospitable hosts and ran a very professional evening befitting of a very professional outfit and I'd like to express my gratitude for inviting talkingbowls to the evening.... as I said before, it was an honour to be involved.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Sunday (31/01/10)

Back down to earth..... updated the Cookley Indoor Bowls League website (a little late)... www.cibl.crowngreen.com

Updated the Briggs Indoor Bowls League website... www.crowngreen.com/cannockindoor

The draw for the Antony Pagett Open Bowls Competition was announced via the talkingbowls.com chatroom by Mandy and yet again it's thrown together some great draws.... a fantastic competition run by a fantastic organisor... talkingbowls.com is proud to have her on board.

Received an email from the master of Ye Olde Knowle's website who has taken my BCGBA database and developed it further with a covering letter offering assistance to help me develop the database for the benefit of bowlers and potential bowlers... when I get the chance I will explore his recomendations and respond..... in the meantime.. have a look... www.yokbc.co.uk

So much to do... so little time... and tomorrow was supposed to be the announcement date for Saturday League fixtures...... not gonna happen... still waiting on W&W clubs.

Mel Evans · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:50 am Post subject:

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Monday (01/02/10)

Official Fixtures Release day....... oh wait... damn it... nevermind.. try again tomorrow.

Received a couple of calls today (from Bowlers) but bad timing meant I couldn't answer.. hopefully nothing serious, will try to get back to them tomorrow.

Started improving my Crown Green Bowling database many extra clubs from Cheshire/Manchester that I had no knowledge of.. will take some time to stick them on the Google Earth map and onto BCGBA website but.. will get there eventually.

Yet again, I'm impressed with the power of the Internet and talkingbowls in particular as I have heard good things about Midlands based competitions that are filling quickly.... If I can help promote your comp... I will !!! (all for the good of the game and all that)

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Tuesday (02/02/10)

Received an apology for the delay in payment from the BCGBA for the talkingbowls produced DVD (maybe we should have a whip round)

Met with Barry to put the final touches to the W&W fixtures… then came the curve ball…. A totally different matrix to any that had been considered before…. Can I do it ? Of course I can… but it won’t be quick.

My old man turned 70 today... but he had to wait until I lost all my money in GarytheP's poker night before I went round to see him..... call it priorities !!

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Wednesday (03/02/10)

Received information for a new bowls website that is being put together, got to work on it… hopefully it will be a success for the people involved

Updated a little info on the Summit Garage Premier League website

Received some information for BCGBA website, will update when I’m less busy. (sorry… no pay.. no play)

Coventry & District Bowling League confirmed their intentions for me to provide the leagues (Mid-week & Saturdays) with a place in the 21st Century

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Thursday (04/02/10)

Released the W&W Premier fixtures… not perfect but they fit… I expect complaints from Moor Lane

Purchased the domain name for Coventry & District League and set to work on inputting 2010 fixtures into the software and uploading to the new website.

Coughed up for talkingbowls.com to remain free for all in 2010… the paypal account took a big hit but extra work taken on this year means I can still self fund it…. Saves me begging you lot for money !

Updated Cookley Indoor Bowls League website… www.cibl.crowngreen.com

Received payment for Broomfield BC website www.broomfieldbc.com

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Friday (05/02/10)

Received Competition information for input onto Coventry & District website (still not ready to go LIVE) gimme a little more time.

Released W&W Alliance & Business Houses fixtures….. awaited the fan to be covered in excrement (wasn’t disappointed)… maybe I should have waited.

A couple of clubs sent me information for BCGBA website… must be a new season coming up ?... also received more for the main database.

Improvements to the new company website were made thanks to input from one of the directors.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Saturday (06/02/10)

Received info about a club website that I wasn’t aware of.. http://www.methleybowlingclub.co.uk will add to BCGBA website when I can.

Went out.. so didn't do anything else today..... lazy bastard !

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Sunday (07/02/10)

Updated the Dudley Sports Indoor bowls league website with latest info.. www.crowngreen.com/dudleyindoor

A Hilly House delegate was sent to the Kingswinford & Brierley Hill Monday Night Bowling league AGM… must have gone okay coz I haven’t had any info that I need to know.

Updated the Briggs Indoor Bowls League… www.crowngreen.com/cannockindoor

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Monday (08/02/10)

Was asked if I knew any info about a ladies competition in Shropshire, I didn’t, but put them in touch with someone who does.

Attended the Oldbury & District Bowling League AGM… very easy going as always, though I had to make a counter proposal to rescue the Oldbury Cup from extinction.. okay theres only 8 entries but why punish those few who want to play in it by scrapping it ?

Received a request to promote a competition at Haunchwood, only too happy to help as North Mids have come onboard with talkingbowls.com to improve the website. Hopefully the competition will be a great success.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Tuesday (09/02/10)

Set up the W&W fixtures on BJ’s computer and completed the matrix for the W&W handbook… though there is a possibility that the fixtures might change due to the opinions of a few.. watch this space.

More info for BCGBA site, trouble is I’m up to my ears in Fixtures !!! It’ll have to wait.

Poker night.. played in a rage… not a bad way to play… was going really well.. then had brain fade and lost the lot…. Great fun though.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Wenesday (10/02/10)

Staffordshire CBA AGM, not a great night for talkingbowls as one speaker after another put the boot in (that’s how it felt). I was not a happy chappy. One of the speakers explained his words, which I appreciated and calmed me down a little. (I’d had a drink…) LOL

Managed to get Ant Aldridge elected as Staffordshire Development officer… a real good appointment for the county…. 1st job Develop better communications.

I think that the meeting went well and was well attended.. apart from the above, I think it was the best one for some time.

Held another meeting with a company that I will be providing webspace for… all going well.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Thursday (11/02/10)

Received communication from Staffordshire CBA Secretary to reiterate that no offence was meant personally to me at the AGM which I accepted as the case and I replied with my thoughts of the meeting and hope that we can move forwards from there…

Received a call from Mac Farlow who also expressed that no offence was intended at the AGM, once again I accepted his opinions and hope that he accepted mine, all in all I think we all have agreed that talkingbowls can be a fantastic tool for passing information but can be prone to misinformation and unwarranted criticism…. I don’t want to get into a public debate, so I’ll leave it there. LOL

Informed of a potential virus posted on talkingbowls (it wasn’t) but appreciated Spud’s vigilance and swiftly made him a Main Moderator (be careful he’s got power now) LOL

Tried to torrent some important software that would be of great assistance to my bowling website empire.. it was full of fake viruses.. took a few hours to flush the system out…. Purchased Anti-Virus software (I know, I know… after the horse has bolted)

Received communication from a suspended forum member.. replied to the questions raised.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Friday (12/02/10)

Met with Colin Grove, Smethwick & District Bowling league to confirm divisional make-up of the league and to prepare for Monday’s AGM

Purchased another domain name and set to work on setting up the new website.

Updated the Dudley Indoor Bowls League website.. www.crowngreen.com/dudley indoor

Was requested to provide a matrix for the Kingswinford & Brierley Hill Monday Night Bowling league… (as long as I don’t have to formulate the fixtures.. no problem) LOL

Received information that Eddie Elson former BCGBA Secretary (when the sport was big news) was a fan of talkingbowls but not of the Deepest Sympathy section that is sadly filling up too quickly for his liking. (Nice of him to drop us a line)

The Talkingbowls Production team finally received a cheque from the BCGBA for their promised sponsorship/funding…. Out of the red at last !! (Thanks for funding it until now Mel & Jim)

Had a long (into the night) meeting with someone who is working hard to promote & develop the sport locally as well as nationally… (received payment for the new website)

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Saturday (13/02/10)

Prepared fixtures for Smethwick & District league, hopefully no changes on Monday and it’ll be smooth running in 2010 (but I doubt it)

Received Oldbury & District fixtures for publication on the Oldbury League website, though due to being half asleep forgot to update the website.

Provided Woodman Saltwells with a place on talkingbowls… welcome to the madhouse !

Put together a matrix for an 3 alternative solutions to the WWCBA fixture debate… awaiting tomorrows decision.

Had some fantastic news from Great Barr Bowling Club who will be hosting an Under 21 competition and have been requested to help promote the event… which I quickly proceeded to do (see homepage)… hopefully it will be a massive success… I also offered to help sponsor the event by throwing a little cash into the pot.

crowngre · Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 5496

Sunday (14/02/10)

Updated the Cookley Indoor Bowls League website.. www.cibl.crowngreen.com

Received an unexpected confirmation that the 14 team matrix was not to be amended and the fixtures displayed would stand.
Received another BCGBA website change… still on my to do list.

Updated the Briggs Indoor Bowls League website at www.crowngreen.com/cannockindoor