Newsletter 13 December 2024
In our newsletter this week..
- Message from the President
- 2025 Calendar
- Kieser Balance and Bone Loading Class
- Pizza Night
- New Members
- John Brockwell's Column
- Upcoming Events
- Ian Morison
- A tricky hand
- Lighter Moments
Message from the President
Christmas Closure
As you are all aware, this year the club will only be closed on Christmas Day. We will be open for the rest of the festive season so you can still enjoy your game of bridge!
Beginner Lessons in 2025
We have an exciting new Education Program commencing in the new year! The Beginner Lessons will be starting in the 2nd last week of January 2025. These lessons will be held in the club on Wednesday evenings (22nd ) and Friday mornings (24th) and continue for six weeks finishing at the end of February. If you know of anyone wanting to learn our “addictive” game please get them to contact our Managers -
For futher details refer to our webpage through the link below.
Gift vouchers for lessons are also available for purchase from the office.
Supervised Sessions 2025
The Supervised Sessions will be taking a break over Christmas and New Year. Please rejoin the sessions when we return next year:
- Jan 29 - Dec 17 Wednesday 7pm-10pm
- Jan 31 - Dec 19 Friday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree
It’s the season of giving and this year we are again supporting the Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree Appeal which collects gifts for children of all ages who would otherwise miss out on Christmas gifts.
If you would like to support this appeal please bring unwrapped gifts for boys and girls and leave them under our Christmas tree. While gifts for any age are appreciated, Barnardos always finds it most difficult to provide suitable gifts for teenagers (don’t we all!) So, gift vouchers for movies, bowling, JB HI-Fi, or sports stores, hygiene or pamper packs, and clothes would be the most suitable for that age group. Barnardos have provided a list of gift ideas for all ages, and this list is up on the club’s noticeboard. And thanks so much for your generosity.😊
Barnardos will be collecting the gifts from the club on Tuesday 17 December 2024. Money donations will be accepted by the office.
Christmas Celebrations at the Club
This year CBC is planning to celebrate Christmas at all club room sessions from Monday morning 16 December to Friday 20 December. At each session, there will be a short break in play. Members will be offered a glass of champagne/orange juice/mineral water and a sweet treat courtesy of the Club. Note that the session may finish a few minutes later than usual. We hope you can join one of these sessions, decked out in your festive gear.
- Mary
2025 Calendar
The 2025 Calendar has been released and is available on our website and through the link below:
Travel Associates
As you know, Travel Associates have sponsored the Club for many years.
To enable the reconciliation of travel commission due, please advise Elizabeth if you have booked travel with any of the Travel Associates’ offices since July 1 2024.
Kieser
There are still spots left to join the free introductory balancing and bone loading class.
See below for details and email the office if you are interested in attending. Places are limited.
- Time: 17th of December at 10:00am
- Location: OL room at the Canberra Bridge Club
- What to bring: Please wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes. Just bring a drink bottle and yourself!
Wednesday Night Pizzas
The Wednesday night pizzas provide the opportunity for social interaction while enjoying a pizza sampling. It provides a great opportunity to talk to and socialise with your fellow players, which is not always the case when engaged in playing bridge.
- 18 December - 6:30pm
- $5 payable on the day for half a pizza
Those wishing to partake should place their name on a list on the noticeboard or contact Jon Pike directly. His email is
New Members
Canberra Bridge Club welcomes the following new and returning members to our club:
- Jeanette Abrams
John Brockwell's Column
Recorder matters
Someone once said "Bridge is a beautiful game". Someone else said "Bridge is a game for ladies and gentlemen ". Old-fashioned words perhaps, but nice words. They assume that everyone who plays a game of bridge should find it an enjoyble experience. But that cannot happen if one encounters discourtesy. The committee of the Canberra Bridge Club is aware of that and has put in place a Recorder system and has appointed several Recorders.
A Recorder is an approachable person whom you can consult if you have been the victim of discourtesy, be it from another player, a director or an official. The Recorder is there to lend a sympathetic ear. If there is an incident at the table that makes you feel uncomfortable, consult a Recorder. Recorders are not policemen or judges. Their primary role is to pour oil on troubled waters.
Over the next few weeks this column will deal with Recorder matters and will identify the Club's Recorders and will tell you how to contact them. In the meantime, if something occurs that makes you feel uncomfortable, you may speak to Elizabeth.
Ian Morison
A Tricky Hand
A hand came up in this week’s Tuesday afternoon session underlining the importance of the intermediate spot cards when deciding how to tackle a suit. This was the hand:
- Steve Geddes
Lighter Moments
1. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
2. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
3. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'
4. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
5. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
6. The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
7. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
8. A backward poet writes inverse.
9. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
10. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
Thanks to all our members who have been patient and accommodating of the visitors who have been playing in the OL room throughout the week. I heard that it had a dramatic ending and for whose who would like to know the details try the link below. Otherwise, it is good to have the place back to ourselves.
Don't forget, all bridge sessions online or at the club will be running as per usual with the exception of Christmas Day.
Elizabeth
