Category: Games

Games nights

Oxford Phab return to Avon Tyrrell

We greatly enjoyed our Phab holiday in 2019, where we visited the New Forest Wildlife park and had a camp fire, and did high ropes, the climbing wall, archery, and some did canoeing and the zipwire. We had such a good time that we booked to go again in 2020, but a Global Pandemic upset our plans (as well as those of many others).

The ever helpful staff at Avon Tyrrell allowed us to roll over our booking to 2021, and then again to 2022 – and our much anticipated return became a reality. Sadly some of the members who came with us in 2019 could not join us on this trip, however we were joined by some people who had never been on a Phab holiday before, and a fresh perspective on trip was refreshing. As one of them, Libby, said

What an awesome weekend. It was great to spend some quality time with a range of top folk, learning together, challenging each other to get outside our comfort zones but knowing that we all had each other’s backs. It was a fun weekend, packed with lots of different activities and things to do, but one where we had the space and time to chillax and rest.

This sums the weekend perfectly.

It could not have happened without a lot of hard work, particularly from Mary, our club leader, but also financial contributions from The Bruce Wake Trust and Wesley Memorial Church. Their contributions enabled the holiday to be affordable for all our members.

  • Before holiday started a lot of effort had gone into buying food etc, cookng, and packing
  • Essential supplies packed !

Activities

We had a very action packed weekend, with different activities happening in parallel, so on Friday afternoon some groups were doing Archery, and some Canoeing. On Saturday we all went to Poole, where one group went on a boat trip to Wareham, another to Brownsea Island and another explored Poole town. On Sunday were further opportunities for Archery, Canoeing, High Ropes and the Climbing Wall.

Archery

Archery

Canoeing

  • Tom in the hoist

The canoes were used in pairs, joined together with a plank securely roped to the boats, making them very stable.

High Ropes

  • Tricia climbing the tree
  • Pulling herself along the high wire
  • Terry walking the tight wire
  • Terry reaches the end
  • Sarah – very high up
  • Helen enjoying the High Ropes

The High Ropes allowed us to push our boundaries, as well as simply have fun !

Climbing Wall

  • Helen climbing
  • Chris at the top
  • Tom ready to start the ascent
  • Libby at the top
  • Tricia climbing
  • Hanging in there
  • Abseiling down
  • Triumphant return to earth

The climbing wall had been replaced since our last visit, now even higher !

Poole

Our day out in Poole was so filled with variety that it deserves its own article – here.

The adventure continues …

The holiday was so good that we have already started planning for a return in 2023, meanwhile, if anyone who went has memories or pictures suitable for sharing on a public web site, please contact me, or post a comment.

Easter Bingo and Crafts

We have a tradition of playing Bingo in the run up to Easter, where our members bring Easter Eggs and other goodies, and then we play Bingo – the prizes being the treats that we have brought.

Easter Bingo Prizes

Once again Tom kindly volunteered to be our caller, his good humour and patience when we lose our place making the evening enjoyable for everyone.

Tom, at the controls of our Bingo machine

As if Bingo was not enough for one evening, we had a craft session too !

We were making butterflies to be used as decoration for the Purple Extravaganza – a Fun and Fundraising Ball being hosted by Harlow Phab, to raise money for the Kelly Jackson Memorial Fund. Kelly was an active member of Oxford Phab for many years, who liked purple and butterflies, and her presence is missed.

Birthday and Beetle

Nell has been coming to Phab for many years – not every week, as it is a long trip down from Cumbria. We were pleased to be able to celebrate her 90th birthday, with a cake, and a card.

She then joined us in playing Beetle – and had the highest score !

  • Helen did the most artistic Beetles

Video Games Night

Sarah put a lot of preparation into the Video Games night. She prepared a presentation with information about the Handheld Computer game systems she owns, putting them into their historical context and telling us more about them.

  • A slide from the presentation
  • Simon – projection operator

She also brought along a selection of handheld game consoles and some games

and told us about them

We also had George Martini come to give us a Zumba refresh, and we celebrated Wendy’s forthcoming birthday with cake !

Avon Tyrrell 2019 – Canoeing, Zipwire, Archery and Pizzas !

Unfortunately the hoist at the boathouse was broken, so only a small group (who also had to be prepared to forego a Sunday lie-in) were able to go canoeing.


As we always find, the instructor was very good, and had everybody playing ‘tag’ – which he was much better at than everybody else !

A group, mostly of members who had not been able to have a go last year, had a chance to try the Zip Wire.

It was a thrilling experience !

While some members were on the Zip Wire, others were trying their hand at Archery, as we did last year.


Having worked up a good appetite we returned to the Lodge for home made pizza as our Pizza Night in June had gone so well.

Fueled by our lunch we loaded the minibus and cars and went home for a rest !


Beetle Drive

Oxford Phab aims to provide activities for a wide range of abilities, and often games are played in a spirit of co-operation. Beetle can bring out the less patient side in everybody, which is why there is no record from tonight of anybody actually playing Beetle. Once games started there were no spare moments for photography. In the Phab spirit we felt the anguish of those throwing every number except six, while others on the table were trying to complete a Beetle, and kept throwing sixes which were useless to them.


Our final winner generously shared out the prize chocolates with the whole club.