2 September 2012

Storytelling Sunday- The story of the games list

We are a a family who like playing games.

Monopoly, cluedo?  I hear you ask.

Oh yes and thirty others. We do games in a big way in the beach household. We research new games, visit games shops and pick up games in charity shops. 

There are the new games, the old favourites, the games that are dust covered, the ones that have been played so often the box is falling apart.


Our evenings in the holiday are often spent around a games board. The big debate comes before this though; what game shall we play? Naturally we have our own favourites. There are some games that two of us love but the other three hate, games that are played often because we all enjoy them, games that seldom come out because certain people raise such a stink about them!

Our method for choosing used to be done by vote; everyone picks one game and then you list all the games chosen in order of preference. This worked pretty well until we were playing the same games over and over again because they were the only ones getting the average vote.


Around nine months ago the middle brother and my Dad came up with a new solution. How about we made it our mission over the course of a year to play every game we had. Every game that was in the house we would play. No arguing, no voting. Everyone would get to play their favourite game but everyone would also have to play their least favourite. 

So, the middle brother wrote the now infamous games list. Beside each game was a number, 33 in total! When the time comes to choose a game, the brother whips out his phone and uses random number generator to decide what we will play next. The choice cannot be disputed; the phone has decided!


We have ticked off quite a few games in this time. Besides each game is a little note of who won and at the bottom is a tally recording our game wins to date. (You wouldn't have guessed the boys are sports fans would you?) So far my total is...one. one game won. Not great really!


It is a funny little tradition in our house. A way for us to have great family time. Many a laugh is shared around the games table and many the argument too!  The summer is coming to a close and for a while that crumpled list will go away until we all come together again- probably at Christmas!

This story was told in conjunction with Sian's Storytelling Sunday!

20 comments:

Irene said...

A great story, Abi. It is fantastic that your family still play boxed games and that the competition is so fierce. I love your photographs. Our family loves nothing better than playing cards or mexican dominoes (our favourite of the moment). My elder daughter does a happy dance around the table when she wins, which is quite often!

Sian said...

This really put a smile on my face! Your system of choosing sounds like the kind of thing would happen here - the choosing in itself becomes another game.

Thanks for sharing your story today Abi; and with those lovely, evocative photos too

debs14 said...

What a lovely insight into the Beach household! We were great games players too when our children were small and there was a period when we always HAD to play my daughter's favourite Sylvanian Families board game. Oh boy that was a tedious one! Looks like you have some good vintage ones there.

Miss Smith said...

That's such a great system! I LOVE board games and I now want to collect them and start a tradition like this. It sounds like you have a wonderful time :D

Amy said...

I am so impressed that the number generator comes out to help quell any familial discord ... we love games here too!

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

What a great idea! We were a games playing family when I lived at home, but didn't have such a fine collection to choose from.

Alison said...

HiAbi..just popped over from Sian's blog...we tend to get the board games out if the whole family are together at Christmas..but it's been quite a few years now since that happened! I'm very impressed with your selection of games!
Alison xx

Missus Wookie said...

Ah we love board games here too. Settlers, Carcossone are two favourites - we're also playing through our collection. But here it's because I'm determined to get rid of those we've gained and either haven't ever played or didn't like but have hung on to.

Quiddler, a card game was a hit of the 'never been opened list'. We mourned when the games shop by the British Museum closed a couple of years ago.

Lou said...

what a brilliant to solution and it sounds like it works too! loved your story Abi x

Elizabeth said...

How wonderful that your family played all those games. The random generator made it totally fair with no arguing. Great story.

Anonymous said...

We used to play lots of games when Gracia was small but not so much now although when we last went on holiday we took monopoly and when Gracia and Josh went to Europe for 5 weeks they took travel cludo.

Lizzie said...

Lovely story, Abi! It's great to get an insight into others' families and how they all get along.
We played a lot of board games when I was a kid; my mum has quite a collection. We also played quite a lot with James, but it kind of fizzled out. However, we had a power cut earlier in the year, which lasted all evening. We ended up playing board games by candle/lamp light and realised how much fun it was. We've tried to play more often since then.
And, of course, the "Uno" cards always go with us on holiday!

Valerie said...

Every holiday meal, we get out the trusty old games and sit down for an evening of rivalry and laughter. Thanks for sharing.

Cheri said...

Love this Abi! We had to give up games here because one of my girls got very competitive and would either cheat or throw a tantrum if she lost. Someday we'll have to dust them off and try again!

Ginger said...

I love playing board games, but we don't do it anymore as a family... I might have to bring them out at our next gathering!. It sounds like you all have lots of fun with this :)

Beverly said...

We are game lovers as well, Abi and each definitely has our favorites. The Beast has always loved Monopoly which I would rather do housework than play.

Maria Ontiveros said...

We used to play when the kids were little and still do sometimes during the holidays. But I'd like to do it more often.
Rinda

furrypig said...

I really like board games though I don't recognise any of yours. Now the children seem to prefer electronic games but for high days and holidays we regularly play cards and sometimes get a real game out!

Barbara said...

What a great idea to play all your games! I used to play games when the children were at home - all good fun. I didn't play much as a child as my sister got so upset if she lost.

I like your new blog design.

Jennifer Grace said...

Brilliant post Abi! I grew up in a board-game loving family too. One of my fondest memories is from a holiday when we rented a cottage in Scotland, and the game 'Hotel' was in the cottage - we played it every night. I have never played it since, as I'm not sure I want to risk altering the memory! We always played huge games with all the family at Christmas too, especially Bonanza and Charades.

My hubby's family on the other hand never really did board games, and the only times I tried to play with them they cheated - I was very annoyed! Hubby long ago learned never to cheat when we play. We mostly play scrabble these days, when my dad comes to visit. And we are amassing a variety of kiddie games that my daughter loves to play, so I'm sure the tradition will continue! x