Bocce anyone??

Bocce in the park. The boss man in action.

The old boys were out in force today in Queen’s Park. The sun was shining, the breeze was mild, the court had been swept of leaves and the wives wanted them out of the house. It was Bocce day.

Now this is a very serious business. There was the boss man, the important man with the tape measure, the other male competitors and the male spectators. This is a man’s game. And at Queen’s Park in Moonee Ponds, this is an Italian man’s game.

It may be played at a seemingly leisurely pace but these boys are serious. The tape measure comes out to confirm positions and closeness to the ever important jack. There are rules. There is the ‘code’.

I had never seen the game up close but I must say I was impressed by the Bocce balls. Each man has his own set and they are all recognisable by their distinctive and individual markings. Almost like tribal tattoos are the etched markings on the silver Bocce balls. And the boss man……his Bocce balls were impressive. They shone brightest in today’s sunlight and they had the most distinctive patterns. You just knew that they belonged to the boss.

This is serious business when the tape measure comes out.