A Dull Men's Club Event

A report from the COVID-delayed party for Anorak of the Year 2021.

The Sun Trevor pub in Llangollen

We attended the first Dull Men's Club in-person event since before the coronavirus pandemic at the COVID-delayed party for the Anorak of the Year Award 2021 at The Sun Trevor pub in Llangollen, Wales on Saturday afternoon.

The Dull Men's Club Calendar for 2022

It was marvellous to meet up with fellow dullsters, including old friends as well as meeting some new characters.

Leland Carlson (Assistant Vice President) and Freddie (Apprentice Dullster) present at the Anorak of the Year awards

In recent years the Dull Men's Club has presented an 'Anorak of the Year' award. For 2018 it was presented to Kevin Beresford from Redditch, founder of the Roundabout Appreciation Society. For 2019 to Archie Workman, a drainspotter in Cumbria.

Because of the pandemic no award was given for 2020, instead we won The Dull Men's Club Self-Isolators of the Year Award.

The latest recipient of the Anorak of the Year Award was Rachel Williamson from Rhyl who is a Yarnbomber.

It's always a pleasure getting together at a Dull Men's Club event and the gatherings are anything but boring. Hearing updates from people on their pursuits, interests, hobbies and collections is fun and interesting, and the events always spark conversation and areas of mutual interest - Miniature Golf Day and Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day are both on the 21st September each year for example.

Milk Bottle collector Steve Wheeler has 27,000 milk bottles. Here he holds two new additions to his collection and museum after they were donated by a local farmer

There were a wide-range of dullsters at the event, including milk bottle collectors, park bench appreciators, hill measurers, yarnbombers, roundabout spotters, car park photographers, telegraph pole appreciators, brick collectors, paint inspectors and more.

The Dull Men's Club isn't all about watching paint dry

Find out more on the Dull Men's Club website.

Keep following the brown signs

A blog post about brown tourist signs.

I was pleased to hear that my fellow blogger, 'dull' person and fan of the quirky Amanda from Follow The Brown Signs was back in action after a hiatus.

We've always been interested in straying off the beaten path and even before we found out about Follow The Brown Signs we would look for and find different things to see and do while out and about on our travels.

Finding out about Amanda's mission and website in 2011 gave us even more ideas as well as another outlet for us to share tips and stuff from our own quest.

Just last week I spotted a brown sign, followed it and found a Pumpkin Garden!

Check out the Follow The Brown Signs website for more information and inspiration.

Here's a selection of brown tourist signs from our adventures.

The Dull Men's Club Self-Isolators of the Year Award

We won it.

We have been declared the Self-Isolators of the Year by the Dull Men's Club for the way we have continued to explore, promote and enjoy our minigolf hobby during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

In recent years the Dull Men's Club has presented an 'Anorak of the Year' award. For 2018 it was presented to Kevin Beresford from Redditch, founder of the Roundabout Appreciation Society. For 2019 to Archie Workman, a drainspotter in Cumbria.

Leland Carlson, Assistant Vice President of the Dull Men's Club said "Normally the Dull Men's Club would have awarded the Dull Man of the Year Award in person, but coronavirus has put a stop to our ability to meet up and discuss the merits of our member's interests and present the award. At the last event in Manchester in November 2019 we awarded Archie Workman the Dull Man of the Year Award for his services to the world of Drain Spotting."

Leland continued "2020 was certainly a different year to most and it's unfortunate that the wide-range of people who make up our club haven't been able to get together in person. We've had a lot of conversations and meetings online and found that members of the club have adapted remarkably well to life indoors. Many of the hobbies and pastimes we practise are perfect for whiling away the hours, days, weeks and months of a lockdown."

"Richard and Emily are long-standing members of the club and always supportive of our events and the interests of fellow Dull people. While on the surface minigolf is not the dullest of activities and many would argue it is far more flashy than its 'big' brother Golf, there are plenty of rabbit holes to head down to research, explore and archive in the mini game. Dullness is a spectrum and everyone's hobby or interest has a place on it."

We appear in the 2021 edition of the Dull Men's Club Calendar along with a number of other characters each with their own 'dull' pursuit.

It was fun to be included in the Dull Men's Club Calendar again this year after debuting in the 2017 edition. To have been presented with the Self-Isolators of the Year Award is a fine accomplishment.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and obsession with the game does cause mixed opinions - some people find our fascination with all things related to miniature golf over-the-top to the point of dullness.

We're looking forward to getting back out on our minigolf travels again soon

I have given presentations on the history of minigolf at a number of Dull Men's Club events and always get good feedback. Perhaps it's a nice palate cleanser on the agenda in-between talks about such things as roundabouts, telegraph poles, postcards, cacti, drains, lawnmowers, giant vegetables and valve radios. I'm certainly looking forward to the time when we're able to meet up in person again to hear about other people's hobbies and interests and also what they've been up to during lockdown.

Minigolfing activities we have been involved in during the last year have included:

• Creating crazy golf holes and obstacles at home.
• Promoting a minigolf bucket list of things to do.
• Judging a crazy golf course design competition with the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club community group in Knowle West, Bristol.
• Helping two charities re-open a crazy golf course on Princess Parade in Blackpool.
• Archiving contents in the online Crazy Golf Museum.
• Competing in tournaments on the Putt18 home putting game where we play against people in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and other parts of the UK.

When the first lockdown started we did wonder when we'd be able to play minigolf again, but as we're always keen to be active in minigolf projects we've managed to find lots to do.

I've been playing a lot of indoor golf in the last year

We have now visited 957 minigolf courses around the world since 2006, with 918 of them in the British Isles. In recent years before the pandemic we had visited around 60-80 new courses per year. We got off to a tremendous start to 2020 and visited 20 courses in the first 20 days of the year. But by the end of the year we had only been able to get to a total of 46.

Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew was the first course we've visited this year

Find out more on the Dull Men's Club website.

The Dull Men's Club 2021 Calendar is available from Amazon.

No sitting

A look at a shopping centre bench in the time of social distancing.

A bench in the Spinning Gate shopping centre in Leigh

We've seen a few other benches with social distancing signs and rules about sitting down during the pandemic, including a pair of socially distanced benches in Spinningfields, Manchester and these two in Colne, Lancashire.

I've been documenting the Covid-19 and social distancing signs I've seen during the pandemic here on the blog as well as on my Instagram account.

Socially distanced benches in Spinningfields

A pair of socially distanced benches in Spinningfields, Manchester.

One person only at this time

This doesn't look like the most comfortable bit of seating even at the best of times

We saw two other benches in the time of Coronavirus in Colne.

A bench at the Stockport Pyramid

What a spot for a nice sit down.

The bench is nestled between the Trans Pennine Trail, the River Mersey and the Stockport Pyramid.

Benches in the time of Coronavirus

A look at two benches in the time of social distancing.

We saw a few different social distancing signs on our walk round Colne in Lancashire on Sunday afternoon, including these two on benches in the town centre.

International minigolf on the Dull Men's Club blog

Check out the latest blog post on the Dull Men's Club website, it's about us and how we're coping in lockdown.

Minigolfers competing internationally from living room during lockdown — Richard and Emily Gottfried

At the North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough last June. It was our 900th course visit. What a difference a year makes

A look back at a Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening in Preston

A look back at the Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening in Preston, May 2018.

Back in May 2018 I was invited to be a speaker at the Dull Men's Club's 'Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening' at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston.

The Dull Men's Club is where dull men — and women who appreciate dull men — share experiences of enjoying everyday, mundane things, far from glitz and glam — "Celebrating the Ordinary".

The keynote speaker at the event was Dr Sandi Mann, aka ‘Dr Boredom’, author of The Science of Boredom: The Upside of Downtime, who spoke to the attendees about the benefits of boredom and her research on the Thirty Habits of Boring People.

My speech at the summit centred on the world of miniature golf.

Talking crazy golf at the Dull Men's Club Summit in 2018

Some highlights of my presentation covered my travels on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and how I, along with Emily, had - up to that point - visited 815 miniature golf courses since 2006.

Some of the intricacies of the sport were also discussed, with the show & tell element on minigolf balls being a particular highlight.

Check out the latest posts and interviews from the Dull Men's Club.

In November last year we had an enjoyable evening of mild excitement at the Dull Men's Club Anorak of the Year Award event in Manchester.

Related blog posts:
- Dull Men's Club
- A Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening in Preston
- A dull evening in Manchester

Links:
- Dull Men's Club website 
- Dull Men's Club blog "We’ve been trendsetters all along? Our way of life is now the ‘new normal’?"

Benches at Vickersway Park in Northwich

A look at the variety of benches at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire.

On Saturday we revisited Vickersway Park in Northwich to have a look at the Crazy Golf course and Putting Green there.

A view of the Vickersway Park Crazy Golf course

There are plenty of different benches in the park to have a rest on between walking, exercising and playing miniature golf.

A nice spot for a sit down

A seat next to hole 8

Benches next to an old pub sign in the park

A range of benches near the kiosk

The bench looked different on our last visit in September 2016

Northwich town centre is an interesting place to visit and we found out about the salt mining history of the area - and the problems the town has suffered over the years because of it.

There are plenty of benches around the town to have a nice sit down on between wandering.

Related blog posts:
- Benches
- Northwich
- Crazy Golf

A dull evening in Manchester

We had an enjoyable evening of mild excitement at the Dull Men's Club Anorak of the Year Award event in Manchester yesterday evening.

It was good to catch-up with our fellow dullsters and see presentations on topics including roundabouts, boredom and drains.

The evening was topped off with the presentation of the 2019 Anorak of the Year Award which this year went to Archie Workman for his outstanding work in celebrating the ordinary in his passionate pursuit of drainspotting.

Archie was presented with his certificate and a hi-vis waistcoat, rather than an actual anorak, by Leland Carlson Assistant Vice President of the Dull Men's Club and Kevin Beresford of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society who was also the outgoing Anorak of the Year from last year.

I was delighted to be able to give a presentation to the group about the crazy world of minigolf, the history of the game, the sporting side and tournaments, equipment used and the wide-range of ephemera and collectibles related to miniature golf.

Dr Boredom with some of the delightfully dullest men in Britain at Anorak of the Year event in Manchester. The discussion of the merits of various mini golf balls was a real lowlight. @dullmensclub @RoundaboutKevin @TheLengthsman @putting_gott pic.twitter.com/gOQmymv1x2

— Sandi Mann (@SandiPsych) November 27, 2019

For more information visit the Dull Men's Club website.

Dull Men's Club - Anorak of the Year

A dull event is being planned to announce 'Anorak of the Year'. It will take place in Manchester on Tuesday 26th November, 6pm to 8.30pm.

The Dull Men's Club celebrates the ordinary.

If you'd like to see more simple, everyday, run-of-the-mill things visit the Dull Men's Club website.

Benches in Middlewich, Cheshire

A look at some benches on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Welcome to Middlewich. Please take a seat

I was in Middlewich on Saturday and as it was the my first time in the small town I had a good wander around.

On my walk I found the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

A nice spot for a sit down. If it wasn't tipping it down that is

The thing that really caught my eye was this unusual bench next to the towpath.

A narrowboat bench

The seat part is meant to depict a cargo of salt

A view looking north

As it was raining quite heavily I didn't get to walk too far alongside the canal, but on my wander I did spot some other benches of interest.

Can you spot the bench in this photo

There it is

What a view

Another nice bench. This one depicts the three locks at Middlewich

Looking back at the Dull Men's Club's Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening in Preston

A look back at the Dull Men's Club's Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening in Preston.

A year ago yesterday I was a speaker at the Dull Men's Club's 'Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening' at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston.

Talking (minigolf) balls

Where has the last year gone*.

Showing off my Putter to the audience

The keynote speaker at the event was Dr Sandi Mann, aka ‘Dr Boredom’, author of The Science of Boredom: The Upside of Downtime, who spoke to the attendees about the benefits of boredom and her research on the Thirty Habits of Boring People.

The Dull Men's Club is where dull men — and women who appreciate dull men — share experiences of enjoying everyday, mundane things, far from glitz and glam — "Celebrating the Ordinary".

Some highlights of my presentation covered my travels on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and how I, along with Emily, had - up to that point - visited 815 miniature golf courses since 2006.

The desk space in the lecture theatre was a lovely shade of grey

Some of the intricacies of the sport were also discussed, with the show & tell element on minigolf balls being a particular highlight.

Later that evening I visited the 816th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when I swung by the indoor Crazy Golf course at Level Preston. We've now visited 887 courses.

One of the holes at Trailer Trash Jim's indoor Crazy Golf course at Level Preston

Following the event we've since met up with fellow dull man and writer Elliot Windmill who profiled us on his excellent website.

Playing Crazy Golf with Elliot at Manor Park in Glossop

One of the other guests we met at the event was Martin, head of the Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society. Interestingly (for some) Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day and Miniature Golf Day both fall on the 21st September each year. Martin also wrote a nice blog post following the event.

A telegraph pole I spotted on our visit to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway heritage steam railway in the Lake District last year

What a wonderfully dull world we inhabit.

Related blog posts:
- A Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening in Preston
- Meeting the Dull Men of Great Britain – The Crazy Golfers
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Dull Men's Club
- Preston

Links:
- Dull Men's Club
- Lossul
- Sandi Mann's website

* I would have put an exclamation mark at the end of that sentence, but they are frowned upon by the Dull Men's Club.