Some News Newsletter from President Jean Moran

It feels like we have been in lockdown forever and we seem to be moving out of the honeymoon period when it was all quite novel. Advertisers on the telly have switched from shouting at us, to talking in soft, soothing voices to keep us calm and sane, constantly telling us how much they love us and care for us. Who can seriously believe that? “No contact”, replaces “sugar free” as a selling point for their products and we are bombarded with celebrities “zooming” from their own homes to tell us how we could exercise and look as trim, taut and terrific as they do. If they could only see me in my ugg boots, trakkie bottoms and nightie they might falter in their unwavering enthusiasm to convert me! Zoom has taken on a new meaning - fuzzy pictures gazing up the nostrils of the speaker and sound that doesn’t seem to keep up with the movements of their lips. New catch phrases such as “We’re all in this together” make me feel like throwing one of my ugg boots through the telly! Shopping is again morphing into a different experience. I have now abandoned the white gloves as nearly every shop has hand sanitizers at the entrance. The bigger supermarkets have automatic dispensers but not all automatic dispensers are created equal! My local supermarket has a retarded one which reluctantly dribbles out a few drops if you can get the hand movements under it at the right tempo. Waving your hands underneath to get a dribble looks like you are practising for one of the latest dance crazes. In stark contrast, at another supermarket I visit, the sanitizer is ejected at warp speed. If you don’t get your hands cupped together in time, it blasts through the gap and you get the additional benefit of sanitised feet as well. If you are quick, it will hit your hands - and then bounce straight off and cover your stomach.

Cabin fever hit me last week - I woke up in a murderous mood ready to savage someone, who unfortunately turned out to be hubby. He innocently asked what was for breakfast - “Same as every other bloody day” I snarled. Bravely, he tried the cuddle approach - “mmm what’s that perfume you’re wearing?’ he asked. “Pine-o-Clean” I growled back. He retreated, wounded, to a safe distance whilst I smashed and stomped around the kitchen. Otherwise I have been managing to stay fairly sane and I hope you are coping too.

There are a lot of newsletters flying around at the moment. This one is the official newsletter from CCBC and will keep you informed on what is happening (or rather, not happening) at the bridge club. The new kid on the block is the NSWCC BBO Newsletter and this is bringing you up to date on the newly formed “Central Coast Bridge Base Online Bridge Club” which is a co-operative of the Brisbane Waters, Central Coast, Central Coast Leagues and Community Bridge Clubs. In a true co-operative spirit, reflective of the times, we have come together to try and provide bridge for those who wish to continue playing during social isolation restrictions. Given our age group demographic and the nature of the game it is likely that we will be one of the last social activities to have restrictions lifted and so this initiative is very important. Not only that, but it is anticipated that it is a service that will have value in post pandemic times. Imagine those times when you would like to play bridge but have to stay at home due to injury or illness, waiting for a tradesman, being a carer or even bad weather. On line bridge could be the answer and so we are keeping an open mind about continuing this into the post pandemic bridge world. Plunging into the world of internet bridge can be daunting at first but the NSWCC BBO newsletter provides lots of information to ease you in and as always Gary Barwick is more than happy to provide assistance to anyone struggling to master it.

Many of you may be wondering when we will be getting back to face to face bridge at the club and the short answer is that we don’t know. Advice from the Covid-19 Help Line (Service NSW) is that if a club owns or leases the premises used or hires any sort of community centre, public hall or the like, they cannot open. This effectively clears up any confusion over the use of the word “club” in the recent easing of current restrictions. Coming up in August is the NSWBA Novice and Restricted Congress and due to the uncertainty of when restrictions will be lifted this event will be cancelled. In the meantime we must all bat on. At least we can now play social bridge with friends in their home and for those wishing to further their skills there are the opportunities offered on BBO. As always, stay safe and sane. Jean.

June 2020