Coming home from the ballet – got picked up twice for Random Breath Testing. Does this mean I can have that second Chimay next time?
[answer=no]
Random also describes my first attempt at being a BBO VuGraph operator.
Bridge
you’re the card professional in the family and they flog you at Hearts!
I never write “proper” bridge posts because frankly I’m not sure many bridge players read this site – and I wouldn’t want to bore you, and those bridge players who may venture across this blog, lets be honest folks, are probably vastly more able to comment. Hence usually you’ll get… played bridge tonight. Again I was crap.
And I was pretty crap tonight. For a start I was running late – and I discovered a universal truth about speeding when running late… It is much better to be clocked by a speed camera rather than pulled up by an actual traffic cop. Not that either happened, but I did think to myself as I sped along Mounts Bay Road (until I spied said traffic cop in the left hand lane further up), “I’d rather not be stopped if I’m going to be done for speeding tonight”. Being late and poorer sucks.
So I was a bit “OMG have they started yet” as I sat down at the table.
The first set was “a bit ordinary”. They seemed to do everything right, I couldn’t seem to take a trick, we lost.
The second set I sat down and said “This is going to be a good round partner” in a firm and confident voice! I practiced “The Secret”. The secret is that you can manifest your future by believing it. So I did. And we had a 20 point win.
And here’s my moment of glory.
Partner says 2C (showing a shit load), RHO says 2S (showing spades), I’m sitting with ST8, H982, DAJT63, C532 – in other words not much apart from the Ace… I pass, LHO says 3S (I think), Partner says 5C, RHO passes, and I after deep and meaningful agonised thought, reason that he doesn’t know about my ace and anyway we’re going to have a good round, remember, 6C. Pass from LHO, deep thought from Partner… (and here’s where I should have willed him to go 7 but instead sent telepathic NO NO NOs across the table) …we made 7C. But they only bid 5 - so we rocked!
Later when we were in 6D off two (what were we thinking???) our team-mates were in 4SX making – total yay!
Told you it was going to be a good round.
The last round were against a very sweet couple who played a blinder of a round. But. We are only half way through and everyone knows that the underdog always wins a split round!
I haven’t felt well today. Over indulged in some rather fine red wine last night. It was good fun. I gave myself a leave pass to play bridge in the afternoon and then stayed on to dinner at Pavorottis (in Hampton Road… okay hearty Italian – you know the sort) and more drinking back at a house overlooking the river.
The lady who owns the house impressively breeds seahorses. How many people do you know who do that? I only know one. She has two marine tanks and several freshwater ponds. We stayed up late, playing Oh Hell and I got home rather worse for wear (though apparently not disgracing myself) and hit the Panadol.
Today while no headache, I definitely feel a bit seedy.
But its back to work tomorrow. Sigh. And my cold seems to have settled. Touchwood.
One hour before Big Brother starts…
Played bridge tonight. Not my best effort.
To cope with the cold I’m fighting I took two cold/flu tablets that make me sleepy so then I thought, I’ll have a cup of coffee to balance that. Now, even after a gin and bitter lemon, it’s nearly one o’clock and I’m wide awake.
Went shopping today and so along with my new specs I’m wearing my new Jag jeans (25% off) and a new Flower top. The jeans are high-cut. Not Kath-high but higher than hipsters. Thank goodness they are back in. Not that I minded wearing the lower cut but they didn’t really suit my muffin top. Ewww.
The jeans are also very long so I wore my highest black boots which made my legs look about 4 inches longer, balancing my heavier-side-of-average thighs. Gotta love that. Playing bridge I was sitting down most of the night so no problems with sore feet. So I guess I won’t be taking up those babies any time soon.
It was so nice to find a pair of jeans that looked okay – mostly they just look crap – and were on special – that I bought two pair.
Not sure the glasses work so well for bridge. First of all, I don’t really need them to see the cards… and while my vision is clearer for writing scores with them on, I can get by quite easily (at this stage). The problem is that because my long sight is fuzzy with them on, looking across the table to my partner or further afield is disconcerting.
So I think, despite their inate grooviness, I won’t be wearing them much – probably only when I’m reading a book or something like that. And yes, I’ll be cultivating that over the top of my glasses look when disturbed.
PS: I gave the details of the manufacturer – Roger Henley – to one of my fellow bridge players who told me she hasn’t updated her glasses for 5 years because she hasn’t seen frames she likes better than the ones she has… anyhoo, she rang up the factory – and spoke to Roger himself. Apparently he sounds very nice. I look forward to seeing her new specs!
Just saw the photos of my imaginary friend’s wedding and they are lovely – makes me feel all soft and gooey inside. Awwwww. 
It’s been a week for romance – not that I’ve been getting any with Groover “on location” – another friend announced her engagement this week. She proposed. By post-it note. Now that has to be original doesn’t it?
It was one of those electronic post-it notes and she left it up on her shared computer at home. You know, the will you do me the honour… I’m serious! kind of note.
Anyway eventually, after some prompting he turned the computer on and said yes. Love in the electronic age. Interestingly I wouldn’t have picked an electronic proposal from that couple… they just don’t seem geeky enough!
She is so happy and it lifted my week to see her so.
In other news, I’m playing in the mixed teams again. Again with The Physicist but this time with another pair. So far 2 draws and we’re ahead half-way through the third match. And speaking of The Physicist – he is starring in The Einstein Factor this Sunday night. His chosen topic – the works of Mahler. Yes, I know all the famous people dahling…
One more day and I’m on a week’s holiday… heaven.
I’ve put my name forward to be a BBO operator at the ANC championships in July. That is – if selected – I’m going to learn how to be a Bridge Base Online operator and then will assist in putting the final stages of the Australian National Championships online during the Finals in Fremantle.
I figure this is one way to see the best players in Australia in action and get one of the best seats in the house… or at least a fairly close seat!
It should be a great event. I’m hoping to play in one of the side events but I’m sure I’ll be free to help out during the finals…
When the politicians jockey for who can be the most green. Pur-leeze – do they really think the electorate has no memory at all?
They just come out looking pathetic although today I think Howard is looking slightly less pathetic (got a good hit on the “farmer” comment).
And honestly did Mike Rann need a week to think about Howard’s water offer? How could he lose by handing over the basket case that is the Murray Darling to the Feds? His state has the most to benefit and it costs him nothing. On top of which they weren’t exactly covering themselves in glory managing it themselves.
Does he think the voter really can’t see through his blustering?
I hate to say this – for I have no love lost for our PM – but get a grip Labor!
In the meantime – I’m getting a first life.
Yes I actually bought the tee-shirt. The ultimate geeky anti-geek statement. I only wish I’d received it in time to wear to my friend C’s 40th – he who claims I’m a closet geek – it would have been fun. In fact the party was fun anyway despite my skipper status.
We went to the Brisbane Hotel which has transformed itself into a trendy Subi Hotel style eatery/pub. Very impressive.
On Sunday I took the kids to their first Bridge lesson (poor things – imagine having me as your mother…) which they professed to enjoy. I hope they continue but if not at least we can play kitchen bridge occasionally.
And we sat down and worked out how to play Power Grid – a new game my sister sent from the states. It’s brilliant. Really complicated to work out but so realistic and fun to play. We love it.
And finally – Happy Birthday Mike!
I thought things were supposed to quieten off around Christmas but I’ve just been getting busier and busier.
Still only a few more sleeps before we can relax and for me that means two weeks dahn sath dahling chilling out on the decking with a glass or two of chardy… or maybe sav blanc. Wet and in a glass anyway.
This year I’m taking our coffee machine.
The question is – can I fit in time for a game of bridge? Must get the kids lessons as really, apart from slave labour – what are kids for? Making up a four at bridge is the least they could do.
In fact they are pretty good card players already. Don’t bet your house when playing them at Brag… and take your tricks early in 500. So it can only be a matter of time… mwah ha ha ha.
I’m really enjoying playing at the moment – apart from the cards themselves which don’t seem to go our way all that often – the social aspect is great, often staying past midnight waffling about what could have been if only I’d not led that diamond. Drinking wine and eating cheese… if only work didn’t interfere quite so much.
Engineers’ wives may complain when their husbands travel to far flung places to build bridges and my “wife” may complain soon too as I slowly get caught up in the bridge world again.
I say slowly but it feels as if I’m obsessed. Suddenly reading novels seems pointless. Why would you when you have an advanced card play book to peruse? Work just seems to get in the way of my next bridge round and family? I was measuring the minutes of contact time with my children last week.
Well that makes it sounds worse than it is but I do love being back playing bridge – it’s such a great game. Of course I’m sure I’m the most frustrating person to play with as it takes me a while to catch on to the various conventions and remember them all.
As I have warned my various partners – I’m an intuitive player – and that’s NOT a good thing when it comes to bridge when it’s logic and statistics that make a great player.
Having said that, I note in the West’s column today that the only person making a certain 6H contract at a certain congress recently was the one who ‘went with her gut’ so perhaps there is hope for me yet.
And after the first week of the State Mixed Teams – we did have one win (out of three) against a very fine team (half of them are in the Nationals) – so all is not completely lost.
Going back to South Perth Bridge Club brought back heaps of memories. This is where I learned to play and it was a blast to meet up with all those players I used to know.
Okay okay – I know I’m obsessed. Anyone up for a game?
