Pool Table Adventure

The Village of Brantwell has just completed a new Club House. I volunteered to set up the pool room. We were gifted three tables. These tables were slate covered and one was 5 by ten feet. It weighed a ton. I gathered a group of men interested in pool and we undertook the task of taking the tables apart. We then hauled them out of basements and loaded them in my van.

Taking them out of the van and hauling them to the clubhouse was a difficult and physically demanding for people averaging 80 years old. We managed to get them into the basement of our clubhouse. Now we had to put them together and level them perfectly. New cloth was purchased and another task was to stretch it properly over the slate.

None of our group ever did this before but trial and error brought us results on the smaller two tables. The larger snooker table was a mean beast and we actually put it together and apart three times. After completing this task there was only three of us still standing . Neil had to leave so Joe and I played five games. We tried all the tables and felt happy with our work and we really felt proud with the look of these beauties as they grace our new pool room.

Pool Table Adventure

The Village of Brantwell has just completed a new Club House. I volunteered to set up the pool room. We were gifted three tables. These tables were slate covered and one was 5 by ten feet. It weighed a ton. I gathered a group of men interested in pool and we undertook the task of taking the tables apart. We then hauled them out of basements and loaded them in my van.

Taking them out of the van and hauling them to the clubhouse was a difficult and physically demanding for people averaging 80 years old. We managed to get them into the basement of our clubhouse. Now we had to put them together and level them perfectly. New cloth was purchased and another task was to stretch it properly over the slate.

None of our group ever did this before but trial and error brought us results on the smaller two tables. The larger snooker table was a mean beast and we actually put it together and apart three times. After completing this task there was only three of us still standing . Neil had to leave so Joe and I played five games. We tried all the tables and felt happy with our work and we really felt proud with the look of these beauties as they grace our new pool room.

Bringing Home the Pool Table

Here at our clubhouse we are setting up a pool hall and games room. I am in charge of the games room. We have been given three tables for our use. One is brand new and we have to set it up. One is already set up and the third is another story.

This friend of the club donated his snooker table as long as we had it out in two days, It is one of those old beautiful slate 5 by 10 tables. It weighed a ton. Three slabs of slate each weighing 400pounds and everything put together with huge bolts. Five of us with my van went to the house and were greeted by a nice lady who directed us to the lower floor around two turns on a narrow stairway.

We looked at each other and agreed to get it home. Everything went well until we tried to move the slate top. Old bolts set in epoxy glue faced us and after many tries we managed to get it free. The climb up the stairs was tragic as the weight and close quarters were challenging and as I was the fifth person all I could do was supervise. We managed and after 6 hours we managed to put all the pieces in the van. Tires were flatter and every inch of the van was full.

We drove carefully home and unloaded the table. A $8000  table was ours. He also gave us all the equipment and numerous cues and chalk etc. As we sat for a while drinking cold water we all agreed that we brought the table home and we will never let it go with our help. Talking to the crew today I was informed that volunteering with me is  a dangerous undertaking as we all are stiff and sore but happy.

Views from Our Balcony

Our bungalow has a walkout lower level and above it is a nice size balcony. It is large enough for a barbecue , two small tables and four Muskoka chairs. In the winter and the leaves are gone there is a wide open space to view the creek and protected area.

In the spring the view changes and we receive a protection area for our privacy and most important to become home to much wildlife. Birds ,squirrels, rabbits and racoons abound. In the creek we have a family of mallards and other animals. At night fireflies light up the grassy area and we are always entertained by nature.

We love our home and immediate area and feel fortunate to have found our retirement oasis.