I play croquet, but have also played shinty, cricket, rugby, hockey and golf.  

People who watch croquet say they cannot uderstand it - it is too complicated, but what is difficult about hitting a small ball through a hoop? You play with 4 coloured balls, blue, red, black and yellow. Blue and black are partner balls and red and yellow are partner balls. You play with either set. and your opponent with the other set.

When it is your turn, you may hit another ball which will earn you 2 free shots. That is then easy for you to hit your ball through the next hoop.What is more, you can hit each of the other balls once between any 2 hoops, thereby earning you 8 free shots to get through your next hoop. Easy!

The trick is to place the balls like the hands of a clock on the lawn, so they are in the right place for you to go through all the hoops in order.

If you miss a ball, it is your opponents turn, but if you get through all the hoops before your opponent, then you win the game and a free drink afterwards!

THIS YEAR My wife and I moved address from a 16th Century thatched cottage near Winchester to a modern development in Alresford. We had been in the thatched cottage for 16 years and were now getting older and finding it difficult to maintain the garden. Little did we know the problems that would emerge. Indeed we met several people who abandoned the attempt!  The septic tank had to be replaced. We insulated the house. Even so there were 'cold ' spots in it. The first sale fell through and when we eventually sold the house the sale money was late coming through, the agent had given the keys to the new owner and she had to go and get the keys back until the money came through! When it came to buying our house, a Deed of Variation was necessary to protect any lender against any sale by the developer. This took 6 weeks while my wife and my self had to live out of suitcases. Not to be recommended! Updated 10.10 23.