Golf at St Andrews (no not that one)

Eddie kindly picked me up just before 7 am and we went to his Golf Club in the suburbs of BsAs. It was built by some Scots who happened to be building a railway back in 1890. The club and the whole area ended up taking the name San Andreas. They held many Argentinian Opens there before championship courses needed to be so long. It is a lovely course but boy was it hot! It was estimated to be 35 degreees.They play an informal game (with a name that doesn't translate) amongst 3 four-balls and i mananged to contribute lots of poor golf to help our team lose which resulted in several "fines" in the form of wine.

Eddie's friends were a kind bunch of English speakers - Brian, a Scottish enginner born at North Berwick. He works for the National electricity company. As another flock of green Parrots flew over, he mentioned the menace they are to the cables (nibbling at them) in the north of the country. So much so that they issued the locals with free shotgun cattridges. Seemed like a plan but the locals used the catridges to take potshots at the glass insulators on the pylons! I remember doing something similar with Reg's air rifle in East Coker (until I buggered it up).Nico the Doctor was a nice guy who played better thn his 14 handicap and Peter. Peter was the Argentinian cricket Captain for 2 ICC World Cups and is still Vice President. He has travelled the world playing cricket and hosted the MCC with lots of England players. He also played Rugby to a high standard but never quite made the National side. His son Andy played for the National youth sides.Then there is Jorge who is car mad and drives a Lotus 7.

We had a rather good lunch with lots of wine from Mendoza and my first sirloin steak - this was about the size of a small family roast but was delicious (served with onions). I think we finished lunch at about 4 but before the end we were talking about the Argeninian Millie Millia (but it is 1000 miles not 1000 kilometers). Another of their friends is the organiser. I have asked to see what we would need to enter next October. We will discuss again next Saturday when i bellieve we are drinking again after some Golf.

The one thing that people had said before i came here was that, the people are very nice and helpful. I can honestly say that everyone I have met so far has been just that................I will meet the customs men on Tuesday so i will see if the same holds true after that encounter!