Entry for March 03, 2007

I was at the Hamilton Caledonian Bowling Club's Annual Sportsman's dinner last night. One of the regular fixtures in my calendar, and one that I really enjoy. My pal Iain's dad is a stalwart of the club and they raise a huge amount of money each year for club funds.
There is something oddly comforting about the whole affair: guys with a penchant for sport, high-waisted trousers and overcooked lamb gather together once a year to listen to minor celebrities from the world of Scottish football. They all sit in the hall, under the names of the past champions, knocking back the pints and wolfing down processed apple pie with cream.
These are all guys that I seem to know in one way or another - even though I hardly know any of them. But they're all from my home town, and they seem like friends of fathers, or maybe slightly drunken uncles, let loose from their womenfolk for six pints and an evening of adventure. It somehow feels like every wedding I've ever been at, or every silver wedding, or surprise fiftieth birthday party. There's a feeling of drunken good-humour, and friendship.
And the beer's cheap too.
Click on the link for a visit to the comedy festival website, where you can get tickets for Match Play. Remember to quote "Playmatch" and you should get 2 for 1.