August 7-13, 2018  - Footgolf, Charity Shopping and Dinner

We discovered a new sport - footgolf.  Since many golf courses are in financial straits because the number of golfers is declining, some of the shorter courses have switched to footgolf.  Footgolf is just what the name implies, a mix of football (soccer) and golf.  Footgolf is a game to test your dead-ball power and precision.  All you have to do is complete each hole, kicking the football into the over-sized cup using your feet, in as few shots as possible.  The beauty of the game lies in being able to strategically combine power and precision every time you play.  And for £7.50, it made for a couple of hours of entertainment and fellowship.  Gatwick Footgolf is only about 4 miles from the London Temple.

Gatwick footgolf course layout.  It looks like it was a 9-hole par 3 golf course that was converted to footgolf.

Footgolf course in perspective.

Number 1 tee box.

There were some nasty water traps in the course which got quite mucky if you went too far into the rough.

Fishing a ball out of the water hazard!  As you can see, it was pretty muddy!!

Clyde Page (South Jordan, UT) taking his tee-shot.

Ron Linford (Casper, WY) with a booming tee-shot.

Jim Guenther (Sylvan Lake, AB) taking his ball out after making the only hole-in-one from either team of men.

Elder Burkinshaw taking his tee shot on the second hole of the footgolf course.  Notice the style and technique! ;-)

Footgolf scorecard - Elder Burkinshaw had 2-over-par for the winning score.  Also based on our lowest stroke per hole, we had 8-under-par to beat the other foursome of men.

While the men were playing footgolf today, the women went shopping at the Charity Stores (thrift stores) in Oxted. As Sister Burkinshaw doesn't really like shopping she went along just to enjoy the other sisters and hoping for a nice lunch. High Street in Oxted has about eight charity shops, but does not have a lot of places for lunch so those who did eat got a sandwich at subway. A few did find some good bargains so all in all it was good.

Oxted - High St. shopping district.

One of the older buildings on High Street where the Cinema is located.

Thai food Dinner at the Siam Orchid which is owned and operated by Brother Appleyard one of our periodic temple workers. We planned it for a Monday evening when they are typically closed, we had 11 couples join in the fun. Elder Burkinshaw is on the left in the back corner sitting across the table from the Turner's (Blackfoot, Idaho). Brother Turner was Nathan's (Aaron and Leah's son) primary teacher, they have just arrived and will be serving a 23 months mission. Starting on the left the Lamoreaux's (Provo, UT), Elder Burkinshaw, Turner's and Lindford's (Casper, WY). Brother Appleyard is the man in the plaid shirt standing.

The other table of missionaries. Starting on the left McQuivey's (Oakton,Virginia), Wolsey's (Raymond, AB), Page's (South Jordan, UT), Guenther's (Sylvan Lake, AB), Wade's (Northampton, UK) and Rogers' (Gillingham, UK)

As our table was served 30 minutes before the other table where the Guenther's rode with us were waiting, we walked down to the church where we had parked the car to bring it closer to the restaurant. It was an old church and had a cemetery in the courtyard. That reminded us to look at "Map My Ancestors" on Family search to see if we were close to where any family members were either born or buried. The closest family member was John Stevens born in Newington, Surrey, England about 11 miles north. Newington is just south of the Tower of London. John Stevens was Grandpa Walter Gillins Stevens' (Sister Burkinshaw's grandfather) father. He was born in England, emigrated to the US on 15 October 1863, married Sarah Ann Eyre in Parowan, Utah in 1885, returned to serve a mission in the United Kingdom in 1892 and was buried in Parowan 25 May 1934. There are numerous pictures and information about John Stevens on Family search. The obituary in the Parowan Times said, "Death came Wednesday noon to John Stevens, 77, faithful church man and esteemed citizen of this community, as a result of a paralytic stroke suffered by him Saturday night....The deceased was born in London, England in September, 1856, a son of Robert and Mary Fowler Stevens. With the family and other Latter-day Saint converts he came to American in 1853. They were passengers on the sailing vessel, Amazon, and were seven weeks on the water. They crossed the plains by ox teams with a company of emigrants and came direct to Parowan where he has since made his home...." 

It was a fun evening and doing a little family history review provided a pleasant ending to our busy day. 

Love to all,

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw