Blogfromthebarn

Things that one is really too old to be doing - No 17 - Paintball


Noun

• S: (n) paintball (a game that simulates military combat; players on one team try to eliminate players on the opposing team by shooting capsules of paint at them)
• S: (n) an expensive exercise where a pair of elderly gentlemen who should know better run around yelling, swearing and sweating profusely whilst being shot in the back by their 12 year old team-mates.

I may have acquired 14 spectacular bruises and a pulled hamstring but I did capture the last flag, delivering ultimate victory to the Reds and humiliation to the Blues but this was little thanks to our team, 5 of Callum's young friends and ChaCha who (whilst James and I relived scenes from our past, I guess neither of us will ever get over Nam!) mostly huddled together in relative safety, spraying pellets, £10 for 80 !!! in all directions.

The military lessons these kids seem to have learned mostly address 'spray and pray', 'friendly fire', 'collateral damage' and 'plausible deniability'.

I may possibly be judging the little ones harshly, I distinctly heard James advising them during the briefing to take full advantage of the cover provided by large, stationary objects, " You know, like Stuffy"
It's an expensive days play, the pellets are extortionate and the site sells them for 8 times what you can pay on the web, the food is execrable and there are a disturbing number of people who take it all a little too seriously, however as an adrenaline rush and an occasional laugh it's great sport and many thanks to James and Callum for taking ChaCha and I along.

posted by Stuffy @ 10:39 am