| Coming Up ............... |
As the Staffford Room is unavailable on 2 June, the Summer Trophy (3) competition has been moved to 9 June.
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| Are we nearly there yet? |
Every parent's unfavourite question from little voices on the back car seats now keeps cropping up in bridge clubs, schools, homes, hospitals and workplaces. Is Covid finally on the way out? Are we nearly there yet?
ABC Chairman Sarah Chamberlin said: “It’s such a joy to see people and catch up. I really hope that clubs like ours will take off again in 2022, especially as we play in the afternoons.”
With most restrictions now lifted – whether or not you agree with the timing - we thought it right to update you on what's happening at ABC and how the past nearly two years have affected the club.
Well, we are still here playing online via RealBridge on a Wednesday afternoon and Face-to-Face at the Costessey Centre on Thursday afternoons. Wednesday numbers are reasonable – averaging over nine tables during January. Face-to-Face is more disappointing and so far we are not covering costs, which is not a situation which can continue indefinitely.
The Stafford Hall is huge and airy and an ideal location for returning as safely as possible to Face-to-Face bridge. We play with windows open. Why not give it a try and see how you feel about it? Omicron appears to be peaking and we are optimistic that, week on week, more of us will feel confident enough to meet again.
Also most of us have taken to playing RealBridge during Covid and we have every intention of continuing to play online on Wednesday afternoons. The great advantage is that people can join us from anywhere in the country – or indeed the world. We can now claim to be ABC International with members in Sri Lanka and those who join us from their holiday homes in Portugal, France and the Canary Islands!
People have been playing and joining from Yorkshire, Kent, Essex, Warwickshire and Peterborough. Not only that, much-loved club members who have moved away like Paul and Sue Hutchings are able to join us regularly from Sussex.
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| Getting Back to Bridge |
It can all feel rather daunting.
Some of us, for whatever reason, didn't take to playing bridge online. With lockdown and shielding that might mean you haven't picked up a card for two years.
We understand. And we hope we've come up with a solution to ease you back gently into the game we love. The ABC committee has members on standby to partner you and help you get your confidence back up again. It's like riding a bike. Give it a try and it will all come back to you - and we promise not to get impatient if it's a slow process!
Just go to the bottom right Find a Partner item on this page and say you need a Back to Bridge partner.
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| Paul Gilbertson |
We are sorry to report the death of Paul Gilbertson. Many of you will remember him as a loyal ABC member who we knew had not been well for some time.
His sons Steve and Andrew wanted to tell his friends and inform them that their Dad has already been cremated but, as he loved gardening, they've arranged for him to be placed in an acorn urn which will be planted with a tree in the orchard at GreenAcres, Colney (NR4 7TY).
If anyone would like to attend the planting they are meeting at the Gathering building in Colney for 9.30am on Thursday 31st March. They will then go to the plot and can say a few words if required. A plaque will be added later.
There is nothing planned afterwards so it will just be a short process to say goodbye and for anyone to visit afterwards should they so wish. If you would like to attend please text/call Steve and Andrew on 07919 892797.
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| NCBA ..... forthcoming County Events |
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| Play Bridge in Norfolk - or PBIN for short |
There's now one website where you can find all you need to know about playing bridge in Norfolk.
It's got info on everything from teaching in schools, U3A, fast track learning, individual tuition and clubs from easy starters to county level. Plus links to the EBU, NCBA and EBED and the low-down on the county's affiliated and non-affiliated clubs.
So, if you've just moved to Norfolk and are interested in learning bridge from scratch or improving or awakening your skills, you know where to go. PBIN's primary aim is to get more people playing in clubs - but their secondary objective is just encouraging more people to learn and play wherever! Tea and cake in the kitchen anyone?
Click here to find out all about it.
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