Round the bend

My associates have often found reason to shake their heads at my fondness for outre sports. Well, I have finally gone round the bend and participated in several ends of curling.

Yes, curling. This is a more benign form of a sport passionately followed throughout the northern latitudes, to the utter confusion of Americans saturated in industrial-scale athletics. Floor curling is suitable for basketball courts. The stones are relatively small. Instead of riding down the pitch on a surface of ice stimulated by sweeping, they ride on a triad of large ball bearings. But the concentration and enthusiasm is the same, and I can see where much of it is excellent training for the real thing.

After seeing a notice for the sport, I had dropped in at the Senior Centre to see if they were for real. Alas, one side were one short of the required four, and in short order I was surrounded and persuaded to take part.

I sucked.

However, it was enough of a learning experience that I'll be back when I can. Och aye.

PS: Murphy's Law has long dictated that as soon as I congratulate myself on keeping the Beast under control, it slips its chains. Things are not so good on the TN front.