Good day all,
Another week gone by and another newsletter! The “curve is flattening” and today some restrictions have been eased – this is all extremely hopeful. We also have a new section to our Newsletter, I will keep you in suspense!
Earlier in the week I went to the club and saw a council truck driving over the road that we have requested to have repaired. I got SOO excited and phoned Kerrie when I got home to say that I think things may be happening. Well… This photo will show you what was done!! No one was more deflated than me! You all know me 😏 I’m a glass half full person! So perhaps that’s just a beginning! There’s still hope.
We do have some very good news for you all. We have purchased a dishwasher for the club, no more hand washing of mugs and crockery. We are applying to to the council for a grant to have the installation cost covered. The highly researched and discussed dishwasher will be able to take 50 mugs. We have also decided to procure our own mugs, this will be available for the use of members – so when you return – we ask that you take home your mug. This will ensure that all mugs will be washed properly and hygienically. My thanks to all involved in this process.
Pat Hosen and Hilary Tunnard have been very busy creating a 40th anniversary commemorative book. I have had the pleasure of seeing it and it is absolutely beautiful. They are so cleaver – they have used photos taken of us all at the 40th anniversary celebration as well as photos of those members who couldn’t make the celebration. To the left is the cover and we will show you two pages at a time each week in this newsletter. Thank you Pat and Hilary for the hours spent on the book. We also want to thank Pat for donating the cost of the book.
That is all from me this week, keep well and stay safe.
In recent weeks an intrepid group of players has been exploring the world of online bridge and learning to play together using virtual tables at Bridgebase Online (BBO). This play has included casual hands with friends from our club plus the occasional team match in which two teams of four play against each other. Naturally there have been some teething troubles as we learn new skills but the latest sessions have gone smoothly and up to 18 people from our club have been online at the one time. Thanks for your perseverance and patience.
The next stage of this online bridging is currently in the pipeline with news that the Australian Bridge Federation has made arrangements with BBO so that our club is able to run online sessions (called a Tournament on BBO) which will mirror how we play at our regular club sessions. If we get enough participants we can even award Greenpoints for these sessions.
This will be a good step as the tournament format will allow us to have 20-30 boards, a regular movement and a result at the end of the session.
Because we are a small club and may not have enough members online for a fully functioning session on our own we are also in conversation with Mandurah to see about hosting sessions jointly. This is likely to mean larger and more regular sessions for online play.
Those registered for online play will receive emails in coming days about the next steps as we work out the details and make a start.
In the meantime more online players are welcome.
Mike Fulwood (Online Coordinator)
The steps are
Kerrie Kingston – Secretary
I’m relatively new to Rockingham Bridge Club and, although initially nervous, have felt so welcomed by our wonderful members. I have a lot to learn about playing bridge and it’s been hard to take it all in, but it’s been enjoyable and interesting. Thank you to Di and Nicky for being such patient teachers.
About myself, I grew up in the inner suburbs of Melbourne and after graduating from RMIT worked as a medical librarian at several local universities and hospitals. It was a very interesting profession but after my son, Mark, was born I looked for a change. I moved to WA and qualified as a primary teacher. I enjoyed working up north and lived a very different lifestyle to metropolitan Melbourne! I learned that barbecued goanna is tasty, that driving three hours to go to Kmart is quite acceptable and that red dust makes for a nice tan. Despite the ‘attractions’ of the north, when my son was approaching high school I decided to settle in Rockingham where my sister lives.
I worked at Coolongup and Safety Bay while Mark finished high school. He then went on to complete two university degrees and eventually a PhD. Needless to say, I’m very proud of him. He now works for Disability Services as an executive manager. Mark eventually met a lovely girl and they live in Wellard with their two young children, Mia and Peter.
I had to retire early from teaching due to ill health and filled my time with grandchildren and Mah-jong until I discovered Bridge. Now I am very busy enjoying both games! Being Secretary is a new role for me and I will try to do my very best. Please let me know if you have any helpful hints!
This year has brought a new and unexpected challenge for all of us in the form of Covid 19. I am sure that we are all missing our Bridge and the companionship it brings but we will get through this and once again be enjoying our wonderful game.
Meanwhile keep safe and well.
Here are some videos, images that will hopefully bring some joy.
Soloists might be able to keep themselves entertained, but for orchestral musicians, things are a bit different without their playing partners. So what are they getting up to in lockdown?
The Philharmonia Orchestra’s principal trumpet, Jason Evans, demonstrates his own solution to the problem of musical solitude in this rousing rendition of John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever.
In the ensemble’s take on Bach’s Air on a G String, you can watch the musicians’ faces closely as they play and it’s never been easier to hear each individual instrument.
Players recorded their sections separately, starting with principal keyboard Steven Devine and continuing with bass, cello, viola and finally the two violins.
Experienced players may find the problem in this riddle, more quickly than others, but even if you are less experienced, you can find it too, so give it a try (the worst thing that can happen is that you will learn something new ☺.
Whether you succeed or not, we hope that your brain had a workout. The answer will be in next week’s newsletter.
And now for the weekly riddle:
You’re in South and the contract is – 4♠.
West leads with ♥9.
1. How many losers do you count?
2. How many tricks can you count?
3. How should you play in order to enhance your chance of making the contract?
Hello to all Members. If you know of any of our members who are not well, please let me know and I will send them an appropriate card.
Thank you.
Betty Philpot.
Welfare Officer.
That’s all folks. Stay safe, keep healthy and if you have any news, stories, jokes and tips that you want to share – please complete the form below.
