Hi All,

Five and a half tables last night – Paul instituted a new movement (courtesy of Robert Stephens at the Links) which enables everyone to play two boards per table with everyone instead of 3 boards with only some and a dreaded 3 board sit-out if uneven number of pairs. Good job – thanks Robert and Paul.

Another innovation is the Clock Timer which ticks away quietly, visible to all, which hopefully will assist us in keeping to time, particularly those new to Duplicate Bridge – some like it, some do not – lets try it out.

To my dismay I hear that members do not like my little bell – it has already been hidden from me once. Forgive me if I am clumsy with it, learning curve. I am going to persist however in the hopes that after a month or so quiet will prevail during playing time and it will become an automatic discipline for us all – a help to all of us with personal concentration and respecting that of others. At such time we might go out to the football field and bury the darn thing. Do not ask for whom the bell tolls …. it tolls for thee.

Paul now has SABF numbers for all new members – if, when entering names on the Bridgemate somebody’s name does not appear, please call Paul. (Previously you were able to ignore the ‘no name’ and proceed.

Finally – TEAMS OF 4 LEAGUE. We have entries for 6 teams – a list will be placed on the Notice Board, with the schedule, for your perusal. Please note that this event is scheduled for the last Tuesday of the month, but not every month, so keep your collective ear to the ground and check the Noticeboard schedule. If you turn up unexpectedly you may buy all of us a drink and do a bit of kibbitzing. NB First match Tuesday 26th February – if you are a team member short, please find a substitute. A membership telephone list will be placed on the beautiful notice-board that Caroline has put up for us and in due course sent out to all.

There has been some discussion about creating home and away matches, which could be squeezed in before the end of October and which would make the competition more balanced, perhaps fairer. Seeing as all playing in the League are Tuesday night players anyway it would not entail any additional nights, we would just designate extra Tuesdays as Team nights. Marg O’Neil is the only Thursday-afternoon-only player who has entered the League so it will entail her turning out on a few more Tuesday nights – we shall heap her with praise and blandishments. A minus in the equation would be that the few Thursday players who do come on Tuesday nights, would have a few fewer nights to play – how do we feel about this? Particularly, off the top of my head, Geoff, Charles, Trevor, Dallis and Rosemary

There are other suggestions about the format which, hopefully it is not too late to incorporate e.g. once everyone has played their 5 matches, the teams running second and third would have a play-off and the winner of that would play off against the initial winner. Exciting stuff? This needs to be cleared by the Committee – the initial matches will not be affected in the meantime – if you have comments, please let us know. We thank Lisa and Clifford for providing us with the necessary hands.

Hopefully you will all by now have paid your subs .. deadline approaches. Remember, you will be given a special Membership ‘credit card’. which, when swiped by the barman, will entitle you to a Beer or Appletiser at special Membership rates! This card is in place of the old metal tab system.

Again a long letter – but just imagine if I tried to explain all this in the Hall. Be happy, be very happy.

Onward and upward,

Bridie.

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