Last Thursday I set off once again for a few days of rest and relaxation in Sardinia. Little did I know that one of the most embarrassing experiences of my LIFE was shortly to take place in this haven of sunshine, peace and tranquillity.
It all started off as usual. I stepped off the aeroplane into a balmy 25 degrees, and met up with the best friends in the world after a brief train ride. Although I was extremely sleep-deprived from having spent Thursday night (awake) at the airport, I spent a perfect Friday afternoon and Saturday just chilling out in the nice weather and babysitting an adorable little girl called Martina, who hated me at first sight but loved me by the time she had to leave.
Saturday night was when The Event took place. Someone, I’m not sure who, came up with the idea that we should go ten pin bowling. Now I have gone bowling plenty of times in Australia before, and things have always gone just fine, so I don’t know whether it was the fact that I was in Italy or the fact that I hadn’t had enough sleep that was to blame for what happened.
Me, obviously before tragedy struck, since I am smiling
Mattia, Gabriele and Joni
Sala and Ingar
Now everything was going swimmingly until the very last round of bowling. I was the last person in my group to go, so I mean it was the very end. I looked up at the screen and saw that it was my turn to go so I went to choose my bowling bowl (I always go size 10). I picked it up, glanced at the alley, saw that all was clear and did my little run-up to release the ball.
Only as the ball was leaving my hand did I see that—horror upon horrors—the metallic bowling-pin gate was coming down!!! I have no idea of how or why, because I had been sure that it was clear before, but it was most certainly coming down now. Basically I immediately went into hysterics!! I ran back to the bench, buried my head in Ann Yvonne’s shoulder and cried “HELP!!!” Everyone’s eyes were transfixed on the lane, waiting to see if by any miraculous fluke the gate would go up again before my ball reached it. It was not to be. With a thundering CRASH that shook the whole building the ball impacted with the gate which instantly stopped moving! I had entertained a faint hope that possibly nothing would happen when a heavy bowling bowl travelling at high speed collided with the delicate machinery that comprised the pin gate, but this proved to be a vain one.
Seriously guys, can you even begin to imagine how I felt?? I was just thinking, WAAAAHHHH WHY ME????!!!!! I’m about to get shot by the owners of the centre, and I can’t even speak proper Italian to defend myself (the little I have managed to grasp thus far always seems to vanish completely in moments of stress). So everyone is gaping with open mouths at the scene of the crime, when one of the managers comes over. Since all I was able to stutter was “Mi dispiace” (I’m sorry) about 50 times, which obviously didn’t really serve to enlighten him as to what had actually occurred, Ann Yvonne took on the task of explaining. In the end he was very nice about it; contrary to my gravest fears, I hadn’t actually broken anything, so I was allowed to finish the game, still in a state bordering on complete shock.
After this traumatic experience, I must say the rest of the weekend passed in a relatively quiet and peaceful way. I, however, am scarred for life, and don’t see myself going bowling again in the near future.
Stian practicing a backflip, which I am going to film next time I come and post here
My darling Marco giving me the biggest bear hug ever!
But I have to conclude by thanking the guys down there for yet another enchanting weekend, truly I had a wonderful time!! It breaks my heart to leave, but I'll see you all again in 14 days!!!
