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The snooker room at the Club is hallowed space, quiet and peaceful where members can relax over a game of 'sticks'
The table is a museum piece, more than a century old. The line markers embedded in the sides of the table top, are small pieces of ivory. Even the score boards are ancient, bearing the scars of hundreds of cigarette burns, from days of yore when smoking was still permitted.
The historic Graaff-Reinet Club is a typical Victorian club of which there were many scattered in towns and cities throughout South Africa. Whilst most of these Clubs have had to close their doors the Graaff-Reinet Club has survived and is currently financially sound and stable.
Established in 1875 it is the second oldest Club of its kind in South Africa and celebrates its 150th anniversary next year.
Operating in Victorian times, before telephones, electricity, radios, motor vehicles etc. these Clubs were important sources of news and current events to their members. The Graaff-Reinet Club was, and remains, an integral contributor to the social heritage of the town.
It started off as an exclusively men's club but has since admitted women as full members
The Transformative Power of Travel: A Journey into the Heart and Mind
Introduction
Traveling is a fundamental aspect of the human experience. Since the dawn of civilization, humans have ventured far and wide, seeking new horizons, experiences, and connections. Traveling is not merely the act of moving from one place to another; it is a profound journey that can transform individuals and societies alike. This essay explores the extensive impact of travel on individuals, their perspectives, and the broader world.
I. Cultural Enrichment
Travel opens doors to cultural enrichment and exposure to a diverse world. When we embark on journeys to distant lands, we encounter traditions, customs, and lifestyles that differ from our own. This cultural immersion leads to a deeper understanding of humanity's rich tapestry. As we interact with people from different backgrounds, our prejudices and preconceived notions are challenged, ultimately giving way to a more inclusive worldview.
For example, a traveler who explores the markets of Marrakech or the temples of Kyoto is likely to appreciate the beauty of diversity and realize that there are countless ways to live, love, and find meaning in life. This cultural enrichment leads to personal growth and a heightened sense of empathy, promoting harmony in an increasingly interconnected world.
II. Personal Growth and Self-Discovery
Travel is a powerful catalyst for personal growth and self-discovery. Leaving the familiar confines of home and stepping into the unknown forces individuals to adapt, problem-solve, and develop new skills. Whether navigating a foreign city's public transport system, communicating in a different language, or making new friends on the road, travelers are constantly challenged to step outside their comfort zones.
Through these challenges, individuals learn to be more independent, self-reliant, and resilient. They discover strengths and abilities they never knew they had. Moreover, travel provides an opportunity for introspection, enabling travelers to reflect on their life choices, values, and aspirations. It can be a transformative experience that leads to personal growth and a greater sense of purpose.
III. Expanding Horizons
Traveling expands our horizons in multiple ways. Geographically, it allows us to explore new landscapes, from pristine beaches to towering mountains, and to witness the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Historically, it provides insight into the past, allowing us to visit ancient ruins, museums, and landmarks that tell the story of human civilization.
Intellectually, travel encourages learning. From learning about different cuisines to understanding the history and politics of other nations, travelers often return home with a broader perspective and a more informed worldview. Additionally, travel broadens our social horizons, as it fosters the development of connections and friendships with people from all walks of life. These expanded horizons are not only enriching but can also inspire a lifelong passion for exploration and learning.
IV. Fostering Creativity
Travel has long been associated with sparking creativity. The novel experiences, sights, and sounds encountered on the road can be a wellspring of inspiration for artists, writers, and creatives. Novel environments, new faces, and the challenge of adapting to unfamiliar situations all contribute to stimulating the mind.
Famous artists like Vincent van Gogh drew inspiration from the landscapes of Provence, while authors like Jack Kerouac found the material for their greatest works during road trips. Travel opens doors to new perspectives and experiences, often giving rise to innovative ideas and creative breakthroughs.
V. Building Empathy and Tolerance
Travel fosters empathy and tolerance by exposing individuals to different cultures, beliefs, and ways of life. When we immerse ourselves in unfamiliar surroundings, we are compelled to engage with the local population and experience their daily lives. This first-hand experience of diversity can break down stereotypes and promote a more accepting and understanding society.
Additionally, travel often leads to witnessing the challenges faced by others, whether it be poverty in a developing country or social injustice in a foreign land. These experiences can ignite a passion for social change and inspire individuals to become more active global citizens.
VI. Environmental Awareness
Travel can also nurture a deep sense of environmental awareness and responsibility. Witnessing the natural beauty of the world, from lush rainforests to delicate coral reefs, can make travelers more cognizant of the need for conservation. Many travelers return from their journeys with a heightened commitment to protecting the environment and supporting sustainable tourism practices.
Conclusion
Traveling is a transformative experience that can enrich our lives in countless ways. It opens doors to cultural enrichment, personal growth, self-discovery, expanded horizons, creativity, empathy, tolerance, and environmental awareness. As we venture out into the world, we not only discover the wonders of our planet but also the boundless potential within ourselves. The transformative power of travel is a force that can shape individuals and, collectively, shape the world. It serves as a reminder that, in our shared journey through life, there is much to learn, explore, and embrace beyond our own comfort zones.
The Perfect Break: A Snooker 147
Introduction:
In the world of cue sports, achieving a maximum break of 147 in snooker is the pinnacle of skill, precision, and strategic brilliance. A snooker 147 is a frame where a player pots all 15 red balls with 15 blacks followed by the colors, scoring the maximum possible points in a single frame. It is an extraordinary feat that requires a combination of technical expertise, mental fortitude, and a touch of magic on the green baize.
Technical Mastery:
To embark on the journey toward a snooker 147, a player must first showcase unparalleled technical proficiency. The precise control of the cue ball, the accurate striking of red and black balls, and the ability to manipulate the angles with finesse are crucial elements. The delicate balance between power and subtlety becomes evident as each shot is meticulously executed. Top players display a level of cue ball control that seems almost otherworldly, guiding it with precision across the table to set up the next shot.
Mental Fortitude:
Achieving a snooker 147 is not merely a display of physical skill; it is also a testament to mental fortitude. The player must maintain focus and composure throughout the frame, resisting the pressure that inevitably mounts with each successful pot. The ability to overcome nerves, stay in the moment, and make split-second decisions is what separates the greats from the rest. As the break progresses and the audience holds its collective breath, the mental strength required becomes as integral to the achievement as the technical prowess on display.
Strategic Brilliance:
Beyond individual shots, a snooker 147 requires strategic brilliance. Players must plan several moves ahead, considering the position of the balls on the table and anticipating potential obstacles. The art of positioning the cue ball for optimal potting angles and setting up subsequent shots is a chess-like aspect of snooker that adds depth to the game. A player's understanding of angles, spin, and ball trajectories comes to the forefront as they navigate the intricacies of the snooker table.
A Touch of Magic:
In the pursuit of a snooker 147, there is an intangible quality—a touch of magic that elevates the break from a mere sequence of potting to a sublime performance. It's the moment when a seemingly impossible pot becomes reality, or when a player salvages a challenging situation with an audacious shot. This touch of magic adds a layer of excitement and unpredictability to the game, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression.
Conclusion:
A snooker 147 is a rare and remarkable achievement that goes beyond the numbers on the scoreboard. It encapsulates the essence of snooker—a sport that combines technical mastery, mental fortitude, strategic brilliance, and a touch of magic. As players strive for perfection on the green baize, each attempt at a snooker 147 adds to the rich tapestry of the sport, creating moments that are etched in the memories of fans and players alike.
The Billiard Room
As one of the showpiece main rooms of Billilla mansion when male guests came to call, the billiard room is one of the grandest rooms in the house. With an interconnecting door between it and the adjoining dining room, whilst the women retired to the feminine surrounds of the drawing room, the men could retreat to this strictly male preserve with their brandy and cigars and discuss business over a game or two of billiards.
Although part of the original 1878 house and featuring some High Victorian detailing, the billiard room did not escape the 1907 redecoration, and as a result it also features some very fine Art Nouveau detailing.
The Billilla billiards room is also one of the most intact rooms in the whole house, as it still features its original and ornate Victorian carpet and the original walnut Alcock and Company billiard table and scoreboard.
A very masculine oriented room, the walls feature Victorian era dark wood dado panelling about a third of the way up the walls. Above that the walls are simply painted, and even to this day they still feature marks where chalked cues once rested. Original ornate Victorian gasoliers that could be swiveled into position still jut from the walls above the dado panelling. With their original fluted glass shades remaining in place, the gasoliers still have functioning taps to increase or decrease the gas supply.
The room is heated by a large fireplace featuring an insert of beautiful tube lined Art Nouveau peacock feathers, once again quietly underlining the fact that this is a man's room.
The Victorian era carpet of the billiard room is still bright and in remarkably good condition for its age. It is thick and dyed in bright colours in a pattern designed to imitate ornate floor tiles.
The ceiling of the billiard room is decorated with ornate stylised foliate Art Nouveau patterns and mouldings of leaves. Whilst Art Nouveau is often referred to as a feminine style, the ceiling of the billiard room shows how when applied in a particular way it could also be very strong and masculine.
Suspended over the walnut Alcock and Company billiard table the gleaming polished brass foliate style gasolier has subsequently been electrified and features five of its six green glass shades.
One of the few more feminine touches to what is otherwise a very masculine room are the stained glass lunettes over the billiard room's three windows. In keeping with other original windows of the house, they feature a single flower, in this case a red tulip.
Alcock and Company Manufacturers was established in 1853 when Melbourne was still a very new city of less than twenty years old. they still manufacture billiard tables from their Malvern establishment today.
Built in High Victorian style in 1878 for successful gold miner Robert Wright, Billilla mansion was originally a thirteen room mansion erected on seven and a half acres of land.
When economic boom turned to bust in the 1880s, the property was purchased in 1888 by wealthy New South Wales pastoralist William Weatherly who named it Billilla after his land holdings and established a home there for his wife Jeannie and their children Violet, Gladys and Lionel.
The house was substantially altered by architect Walter Richmond Butler in 1907, extending the house beyond its original thirteen rooms and adding the Art Nouveau façade seen today.
After William Weatherly's death in 1914, his wife, who was much younger, remained living there until her own death in 1933. She bequeathed the property to her daughter, Violet, who maintained the home with reduced staff until her own death in 1972.
The property was purchased in 1973 by the Bayside Council who subsequently used Billilla as a historical house with guided tours, a wedding and events venue, a school and finally in 2009 as an artist's precinct in the property's outbuildings. Billilla is a beautiful heritage property retaining many of its original features thanks to its long private ownership still incorporating a stately formal garden and the magnificent historic house.
Billilla, at 26 Halifax Street, Brighton, is one of Melbourne’s few remaining significant homesteads, built on land which had originally been owned by Nicholas Were. The house has a mixture of architectural styles, featuring a Victorian design with Art Nouveau features and has exquisite formal gardens, which retain much of their original Nineteenth Century layout.
Billilla retains many original Victorian elements and a number of outbuildings still stand to the rear of the property including the butler’s quarters, dairy, meat house, stable garden store and coach house.
Billilla was opened to the general public as part of the Melbourne Open House weekend 2022.
Billilla was used as a backdrop in the 1980 Australian Channel 10 miniseries adaptation of Sumner Locke Elliott's "Water Under the Bridge". It was used at the Sydney harbourside home of Luigi, Honor and Carrie Mazzini.
This and That & Snooker Room,Mere, Wilts
A Good Friday 2017 visit to Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire.
A look around the inside of Eastnor Castle.
Billiards room (snooker room)
Snooker table
A Good Friday 2017 visit to Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire.
A look around the inside of Eastnor Castle.
Billiards room (snooker room)
Snooker table
A Good Friday 2017 visit to Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire.
A look around the inside of Eastnor Castle.
Billiards room (snooker room)
Snooker table
A Good Friday 2017 visit to Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire.
A look around the inside of Eastnor Castle.
Billiards room (snooker room)
clock
Ashley plays his 10th game in the 19 years he lives here. An average of half a game a year. He blames his dad for making him "I hate snooker".
A Wex event looking at different types of lighting for portrait photography Held in a log cabin in Norfolk
A Wex event looking at different types of lighting for portrait photography Held in a log cabin in Norfolk
A Wex event looking at different types of lighting for portrait photography Held in a log cabin in Norfolk
A Wex event looking at different types of lighting for portrait photography Held in a log cabin in Norfolk
