It has been great being back playing bridge at Easts and it is particularly pleasing to now have sessions on Wednesdays. The number of tables at all sessions is less than at pre COVID times but is slowly building up and I hope will continue to rise. Unfortunately our trial of Tuesday night sessions was not as successful as we had hoped and we have discontinued them but we may consider another trial later in the year.

Congratulations to those who have just completed the bridge lessons with Nick and we look forward to seeing you at the regular duplicate sessions.

All keep well in this cold wintery weather.

Terry

It has been lovely to be back playing face to face bridge at Easts. The number of players is slowly increasing at the Monday and Tuesday afternoon sessions.

The "experiment" of holding a Tuesday evening session has not been as successful as we had hoped so we will be discontinuing it for the time being. We may revisit the idea in the coming spring .

The really GOOD news is that we will be resuming Wednesday afternoon sessions from May 18th. I know this is something that members have wanted and we have to thank the management of the Easts Club for their co operation with this.

Our beginner's classes have just concluded and it is hoped that we will gain a few new players from the group.

Terry Maunsel

It has been wonderful to be back playing bridge face to face at East’s over the last month. The table numbers are smaller than pre Covid times but are gradually increasing. For me it has been so pleasing to see how much enjoyment members have had just being able to see one another across the bridge table.

At present we have sessions on Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon (supervised) and the new Tuesday evening sessions. We encourage you to attend this new session and mention it to friends who may not be able to attend afternoon sessions. It is very easy to join friends for a meal or drink in the adjoining bar and bistro areas before play.

The committee is in discussion with the management of Easts re resumption of Wednesday afternoon sessions and are hopeful of a positive result.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Helen Van Dam and Shirley Rowan who stepped down from the committee at the recent AGM for their assistance over the years. Welcome to the new committee with a special welcome to the new members Adelia Tchelnokov and Gaby Paroz.

Here’s hoping we have an uninterrupted year of face to face bridge

Terry Maunsell

 For a variety of reasons we dd not send a newsletter to our members  for February.

Here is a list of what we hope will be our face to face sessions at Easts and  BBO sessions in February.

Monday  7th February        Cancelled

Tuesday   8th  February      Cancelled

Wednesday 9th February   Online BBO

Monday   14th February    Cancelled.                       

Tuesday   15th February     Cancelled  

Wednesay 16th February   Online BBO

Monday  21st  February     Cancelled                        

Tuesday  22nd February     Cancelled.  

Wednesday 23rd February Online BBO

Monday 28th February       Easts.                       

For face to face sessions please book at

 https://www.easts.bridge-club.org/bridge/au2065/upcoming-events

While it was hoped to re-commence face to face bridge on 14th February, there hs been little interest from our players, Covid case numbers are still above 12,0 a day,  and our directors are not available the next week because of the Gold Coast Congress. So we plan to re-start on Monday 28th February.

A plea to all our playing members to exercise diligence  when we return to face to face bridge - wear masks as required and monitor for any symptoms however slight.  If you are feeling even  mildly unwell please   ISOLATE AND TEST IMMEDIATELY.

Remember  that membership renewals are due and that the AGM will be held on March 14th at the completion of the Monday bridge session.

On a sad note , Hilda Harris a much loved member of the club passed away recently aged 99. She will be sadly missed by her many friends at the club and especially her playing partner Ted Popper. 

Our condolences to her family.

It is certainly exciting after all these months to be able to say we will be back playing bridge face to face in the Bondi Room of Easts Club. The session times are listed in the newsletter. As mentioned elsewhere in the letter, you will be required to show your vaccination certificate when you enter the Club or your medical exemption letter. We will also make sure that the correct covid protocols will be in place at the bridge table. While the Easts Club has been closed, changes have been made to the catering at the Club. Lunch specials are back and there are a number of more reasonably priced meals available. In addition, you can order coffee at the bistro or at the adjoining Artie’s Bar and it will be bought to you in the Bondi Room where you will be playing. I encourage you to take advantage of these facilities. I look forward to seeing familiar faces across the bridge table very soon.

Terry

The last month has certainly been one of mixed emotions .

 Firstly we were excited to be returning to Easts Club to resume our bridge sessions on Monday and Tuesday afternoons . We were also planning the introduction of sessions on Tuesday nights. We did manage the first session back at Easts on Tuesday  June 22nd  which was the final of the three well received “Improvers’ Sessions” conducted by Nick Hughes. It was wonderful to see some familiar faces returning now that we were back “home”.and were looking forward to others returning over the next few weeks.

BUT then, we like all of Sydney went into “lockdown” due to the spread of COVID 19 infections mainly centered in our local area. The Committee and our Director, Nicoleta sprang into action and hastily arranged some BBO sessions for those members who wished to participate. 

I hope we will be able to resume our Face to Face sessions at Easts before too long. I will continue to update you over the next few weeks but encourage you to participate in the BBO Sessions in the interim.

Finally I would like to thank my fellow committee members for their assistance  with the logistics involved in the return  to Easts and the numerous communications we have had re the lockdown.

Terry Maunsell

Thank you to the members who attended the AGM held on May 17 and enjoyed the light refreshments afterwards.

Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to return to Easts as we we had hoped. I am hoping to meet with management in the next couple of weeks to get a firm date for resumption of or sessions there . When we do return to Easts we look forward to running our Wednesday session as well as Monday and Tuesday sessions. Until then we will continue at our alternative venues when they are available.

We all owe Allen Rosenberg many thanks for all the work, he has done as President . The last year has been particularly difficult with COVID restrictions and the refurbishment of Easts playing havoc with our bridge sessions.  I certainly have big shoes to fill.

Terry Maunsell

President

Easts management have apologised that we are unable to return to the club as envisaged at the beginning of April. However, they believe that the operation of the bridge club while much of the Bondi Room is now used as A Sports Bar and for other activities will be unworkable and of no benefit to the bridge club. This is a major disappointment for our committee and our members. It is unlikely that we can return before renovations are competed in late May. In the meantime, we will use existing alternative venues, and continue discussions with Easts management regarding reopening plans.

To play in our Monday and Tuesday sessions, please book at: https://www.easts.bridge-club.org/bridge/au2065/upcoming-events .

Our Beginners' course starting on April 13th also moved to COA (starting time now is 2pm). 

EASTS LEAGUES CLUB UNDERGOING MAJOR RENOVATIONS

Because the Bondi Room is being renovated, we have had to find new venues for January through March.

Sessions will be held as usual at Easts Leagues Club on Monday 28th and Tue 29th December.

Monday sessions next year:

The first session will be held at Easts on Monday 4th January.

There will be no bridge on Monday 11th January and Monday 18th January.

Subsequent Monday sessions will be held at Church in the Marketplace, corner of Oxford street and Newland Street from 25 January, until further notice.

Tuesday sessions next year:

All sessions from Tuesday 5th January, until further notice will be held at COA Sydney, 25 Rowe Street, Woollahra. This is a five minute walk from Easts and is immediately behind the station carpark.

(The Wednesday BBO game will continue as before. No Saturday bridge)

To play on Monday or Tuesday, you will need to BOOK online. This is because we are restricted to eight tables in play. To make a booking, follow this link:

https://www.bridge-club.org/bcorg/user/upcomingEvents.faces?club=au2065#

Stay tuned for more details via email.

Alerting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2UFOOVR5P8&list=PL9lOXJf9R9em-kAdxhUGxQniqZJm1PpCl&index=6

Undoing a mis-click (if tournament set up allows it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luz8aoeVpIY&list=PL9lOXJf9R9em-kAdxhUGxQniqZJm1PpCl&index=7

Chatting, Undoing and Claims on BBO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQNH99Ksrrs&list=PL9lOXJf9R9em-kAdxhUGxQniqZJm1PpCl&index=19

Checking Results on BBO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-5jB-Ih4LM&feature=youtu.be