tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466188617536260422024-03-19T03:07:28.597+00:00Anna @ ECatsBridgeA blog about the bridge world, the wonderful world of a great card game. And a bit about me too !annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-70010645468145502892012-11-13T21:10:00.001+00:002012-11-13T21:10:07.248+00:00Children in Need and things ..Well, Children in Need seems to be going well - we have lots of clubs taking part, though it is a shame we lost so many with the Police thingy elections - hopefully those displaced from their own clubs will play elsewhere. You can see the up to date total on the website - <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/" target="_blank">http://www.ecatsbridge.com/ </a> so watch it as it rises and lets see how close to last year's total we get !<br />
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It has been a strange summer without the BGB or EBU Sims to deal with ... we are still trying to sell the house, but haven't had any joy, although we do have a couple who seem interested, so please all of you, keep your fingers crossed for us. We really do need to move on !<br />
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We are still pretty busy on the Sims front, as the World Bridge Federation has introduced four new Simultaneous Pairs to raise money for Youth Bridge, so that we can assist some of the less developed countries - have a look at our <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/info/calendar.asp" target="_blank">calendar </a>and you can see the dates there. Do join us if you can ... it is a very worthwhile cause and the entry fee is very low. All the details are <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/WBFYouth/default.asp" target="_blank">here</a>. Then there is the new Celtic Simultaneous Pairs ... the first one is in December and you can read about it <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/celtic/default.asp" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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We had a lovely trip to Scotland earlier in the autumn, in our new motor home ... named Badger ... We were so fed up with putting our lives on hold because of waiting to move, and getting really down about it so we had a rush of blood to the head and bought Badger and it is really great fun ! We have kitted him out with lots of bits and bobs and he will be getting internet satellite very soon so it makes it easier for us to work while we are away. I love cooking so we had a wonderful time visiting local farm shops and buying lovely local produce for me to be inventive with. The only reason for a visit to a supermarket was to buy wine ... and nothing else !!<br />
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What else - well I had a trip out to Lausanne to the WBF head office there for some meetings about Anti-Doping in bridge, which were fascinating. And we also talked a lot about the WBF website and I will be doing some work for that after January.<br />
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So - that's about it really - do join us for some of the simultaneous Pairs in the future won't you - many of the ones we run are for Charity so you can do some good while playing your favourite game !annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-40906227801714431182012-05-24T12:51:00.002+01:002012-05-24T12:51:49.184+01:00Neglected and unloved ..<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.. that's what my poor blog is. Neglected and unloved. Somehow it slips my mind, which is NOT GOOD. I really will try and do better but judging from past experience, I hope you won't hold your breath !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So - what's been happing in ECatsBridge and the bridge world. Well, Mark has been beavering away and has created a new archive area where we have old bulletins (lots of them!), old system cards (lots of them too) and old programmes from events. If you know of any that are missing and can send us hard (or soft) copy that would be great ... if it is a pdf file, though, please can you make it a searchable one, as the whole point of this archive is that you can search it. Have a go - look for a player's name, or an event, or in the systems search for a convention. It will come up with whatever it can find for you. Not bad huh ? Anyway you can find it at: </span><a href="http://info.ecatsbridge.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://info.ecatsbridge.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thesystems for the European Championships in Dublin aren't there yet, becauuse the players keep sending me revised versions, and anyway I am still waiting for one or two. Once it is a complete set I will put it there, but in the meantime you can find them, with all the information about Dublin, at: </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.ecatsbridge.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - go to the bit about EBL news and the links are there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are, of course, moving rapidly towards the World Bridge Games being held in lovely Lille in France - as normal there is a Transnational Teams - in this case it is a World Transnational Mixed Teams for you to play in if you don't make it to your National Team ! It's such a lovely event, happening during the second week of the Championships, and giving you the chance to enjoy the marvellous atmosphere not only of the World Bridge Games but because this event is part of the World Mind Sport Games, there will also be Chess, Draughts, Go and Xianqi (Chinese Chess) to enhance it all. So do give some thought to making up a team and joining us in Lille. We would love to see you there. You can find more information at </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.ecatsbridge.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> of course (look in the WBF section). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world wide bridge contest is happening next weekend, alongside our Queen's Diamond Jubilee - what are you all doing to celebrate I wonder ! for all the information about the WWBC go to </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.ecatsbridge.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (there's a surprise) and the link is on the front page.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next event on our calendar is the Bill Hughes Simultaneous Pairs held in the last week in June - </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/info/billhughes.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information about that one. The organiser has been very busy this year inviting overseas clubs to join in, so hopefully it is becoming more of an international event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next comes the </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/info/kidneyresearch.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simultaneous Pairs in aid of Kidney Research</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on 12th July. Clubs wanting to join this event should email me (</span><a href="mailto:anna@ecats.co.uk"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">anna@ecats.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) as soon as possible. If you are a non-affiliated English club you can still play - we have set up a separate session for non-affiliated clubs, and there will be a combined overall ranking to show where you came across the whole field. The event has booklets and so forth just as it always has done, and we welcome all comers. It is such a worthy cause and I am sure many of us know people who have had, maybe still have, kidney problems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally (finally) the sun has decided to shine, so I am rather hoping that my little vegetable patch will start to grow ... it's been pathetic so far ! I can just about rustle up enough lettuce leaves and herbs for a nice herb salad, but that's about it so far this year. I think the mice ate all the peas I sowed, and the kittencs haven't managed to eat the mice (yet!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway- time to get back to the Rules and Regulations for the World Championships, oh joy !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">take care and I will try and be better about blogging more regularly, though I say that every time don't I !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">anna</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-67118669004334742782012-03-21T11:57:00.000+00:002012-03-21T11:57:02.592+00:00Apologies ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... for not having posted for a while - quite a good reason actually, as I have had a problem with my eye, and have been struggling to keep my work at the screen to a minimum ! Turned out to be a very large cyst on the bottom lid and five cysts on the top lid ! Easily dealt with once the hospital appointment came through, and much much better now. Makes you realise just how precious sight is though - one friend of ours, an IT journalist, suddenly lost the sight of one eye and is threatened with losing the sight in the other, and that really is terrible. I have been slightly incapacitated no more than that, but I now have some inkling of what he is going through and my heart goes out to him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What with that and trying to sell the house ... very depressing that we can't seem to manage it but then again, worse things happen at sea, as they say ! But spring is springing, the daffodils are out, the little birds are singing their hearts out and the sun is shining. It's lovely to have the office door open again, despite the kittens rocketing in and out and sending papers in all directions or landing on my keyboard and deleting things accidentally !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What news in the bridge world ? Well quite a lot actually ! Despite no longer being involved with the EBU or BGB Sims, which the EBU have taken over in their entirity, including writing their own scoring program, I seem to be very busy which is good (pays the bills anyway !!). We have just finished the Charity Challenge - I am keying in the last of the results for clubs who can't do it themselves, then we will give it a day or two and finalise that one. We had to run it as two sessions as the EBU won't permit non-affiliated English clubs to play in a licenced event, so we divided it into affiliated and non and were very pleased to have 26 non affiliated clubs taking part just for the fun of it and to raise funds for the </span><a href="http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prostate Cancer Charity</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Thank you to all who took part and especially to many of you who generously donated extra funds for the Charity over and above the entry fee. We will be sending the Charity a good sum after expenses have been deducted, which is great news.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am now starting work on publicity for the </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/wwbc/default.asp." target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">World Wide Bridge Contest</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - again unfortunately the EBU won't permit non-affiliated English Clubs to participate, so players wishing to take part will need to find an affiliated club in England to play at, or go to Wales or Scotland ! It's a good event, and we do hope lots of clubs will join us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will still be running the </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/wbu/default.asp" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WBU Simultaneous Pairs</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (March and September). These are Green Pointed, and the entry fee is £2.50 per player and we send out the normal organiser pack just as we always have done, so do join us for those if you can. Our own </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/cin/default.asp" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Children in Need event</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is in November as usual of course - the EBU allows non affiliated clubs to play in that one which is great and again, we will be sending out booklets as normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are rapidly approaching the WBF online womens' bridge Festival - full details of that are at: </span><a href="http://www.wbfwomensbridgeclub.org/"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.wbfwomensbridgeclub.org/</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> so if you are a woman player or know of any who would like to join in, do have a look at the site and register if you have not already done so. It is running from 16th - 22nd April and promises to be good fun. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 2012 World University Teams Championships
organised by <a href="http://www.fisu.net/en/Accueil-950.html" target="_blank">FISU</a> will be held from 9th - 15th July 2012 ... </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/News/Youth/unichamp2012.asp"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">read more</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> . Do let any bridge playing / university attending youngsters you know about this as it is going to be a great event.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And of course -<strong> the World Championships</strong> ! The date and venue for these has now been confirmed as Lille - at the Grand Palais - a really good venue. It is the 2nd World Mind Sport Games, so as well as the 14th World Bridge Series there will be Chess, Draughts and Go Championships and, by invitation, Xianqi - Chinese Chess. The dates are 9th - 23rd August. The event is for National, Open, Women's and Seniors Teams, but there is also a Transnational Mixed Teams Championship, open to players who are members in good standing of their NBO which probably means that you could play ! In a World Championship ! How cool is that. A Mixed Team must be made up of two Mixed Partnerships, so - have a think about it and book the dates. The Transnational will actually start on 17th August ... </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2012WMSG/default.asp" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">click here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information and do keep coming back as we will be posting more details on the site as soon as they become available</span>.annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-53744875231154282132012-01-25T15:38:00.000+00:002012-01-25T15:38:23.758+00:00Did anyone notice ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... what happened to January ... normally it seems quite a slow month but this one has whizzed past without me noticing !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a bit of a sad one really - my last ever BGB Simultaneous after more years than I care to remember. As you will probably know by know, the EBU has decided to take it over, calling it the British Simultaneous Pairs, I think, and running it themselves. And of course they are doing the EBU Simultaneous pairs as well - we will do the Bridge England one on 7th February, and it seems the Stratified ones in March and then that's it. Mind you, when we first started doing Sims, the EBU thought it would never catch on and didn't start using us for quite a while!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>BUT</strong> - <strong>ECatsBridge will still be running plenty of events so you won't lose usthat easily</strong> ! We have all the Charity Pairs and will still run the World Wide and the European so watch this space for news of all those won't you ? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Charity Challenge is the next one which will be on Thursday 8th March. It is in aid of the </span><a href="http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Prostate Cancer Charity</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> this year which I am sure you will agree is a very very worthwhile cause ... did you know that it is the most common cancer in men ? I didn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because the terms of the EBU licence for English clubs state that, in order to receive overall master points, only affiliated EBU clubs may participate, we are running <strong>two separate sessions</strong> for this event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One will be for the EBU affiliated clubs, plus all the Scottish and Welsh clubs and any overseas clubs wishing to join us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other will be for the <strong>non-affiliated clubs</strong>, but we will also display an overall ranking list so people can see where they came in the whole event. That way the non-affiliated clubs are not left out in the cold ! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because of all this we have offered to reduce the entry fee from the normal £3.50 per player to <strong>£3.20 per player</strong>, as the EBU members will all still have to pay the P2P charge, and we don't see why the non affiliated clubs should have to pay extra to cover licence fees etc. We are <strong>DELIGHTED</strong> to have had a lot of clubs email us though, and say that they will still collect the £3.50 per player so that the Charity is not disadvantaged. Isn't that lovely of them ? And we are hoping that some clubs will run raffles etc to help raise additional funds. Please, if you can, go along and play in the event - I will put up a list of participating clubs around mid-February so you can try and find a club near you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am constantly being asked about the 2012 World Mind Sport Games - where and when will they be held ? I am sorry but I don't have an answer yet, but I will announce any decision as soon as I hear about it, and send out press releases, newsletters etc as well as putting it onto the website. Incidentally if you want to register for our newsletters, please </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/newsletters.asp" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">click here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong> and just follow the on-screen instructions</strong>.</span><br />
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Mark and I are both looking for additional work to fill the
gap left by the loss of the BGB and EBU Sims and hope to be working with some different websites soon. And we will be adding to the information on the ECatsBridge site in our spare moments, so do watch for that, as hopefully you will find things there to interest you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are really hoping to move this year - we have been here 17 years (yes really !) and both want a change. So please keep your fingers crossed that we can sell the Station ... because of the nature of our work, being 99% internet based, we can work wherever we are on the planet as long as we have a good Broadband connection and with the modern developments in satellite broadband even if the landlines don't support it, we can make it happen wherever we go !</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So ... the world (well the UK) is our oyster and we may yet head to the far North ! Watch this space for news ...</span> </span></div>
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<br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-5539977592193494882011-12-19T15:28:00.000+00:002011-12-19T15:28:10.522+00:00So this is Christmas ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... or very nearly - presents are all bought and some of them wrapped up. Tree is up and looking very festive. And I am very excited as all the family are coming here for Christmas - My daughters, Vickie and Catherine, my granddaughter, Jasmine (she's Vickie's daughter), Catherine's husband Mark and their baby son, Sammy who I haven't seen since September when he was 2 days old; Mark's sons (that's "my" Mark - Mark Newton) are both coming, Tim and Oliver and then throw into the mix my 10 year old cat Phercad, the new Cloud kittens and it's going to be gloriously chaotic. And wonderful. And I can't wait!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the work front, all the "have to" jobs have been done so anything I do this week is a bonus for next year. Everything is in place for the <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/results.asp?eventid=bgbw2012&future=true" target="_blank">BGB Simultaneous Pairs</a> in January - the last BGG event I will be doing, and I am ready for the <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/wbfcharity/Default.asp" target="_blank">WBF/ECats Charity pairs</a> at the end of January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Admittedly there is quite a long list of "New Year" jobs, but I will come back refreshed after the break and really look forward to tackling them with zest !! I hope !!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So really what remains is to wish any of you reading this a very very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and (dare I wish it) Prosperous New Year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">love to you all</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">anna</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-5024142452656399782011-11-29T11:57:00.001+00:002011-11-29T12:32:33.405+00:00CiN, Kittens & bridge<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So - we have been back from the Championships for AGES and I haven't caught up with my blog at all. Sorry about that, but what with coming home with two small kittens (Nimbus and Cirrus - two Chocolate Burmese boys), with the Children in Need Sims on top of us, it was all just a bit much !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So - Children in Need - well, what a dream We - well - all you wonderful bridge players - have now raised over half a million for Children in Need over the past 10 years. How cool is that ! And it looks as though this year is going to be at least as good as last year ! We are still getting cheques in, and a lot of clubs haven't actually emailed to tell me how much they raised, so there are lots of nice suprises in the post. I am still staggered by some of the clubs - the Ace of Clubs for raising over £1,800, Adur Valley with over £1,600 and Summertown with over £1,100. But somehow singling those out seems a bit off, given how magnificently some of the other clubs rose to the challenge of fund raising - I just can thank you all enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We were fortunate enough to be sent tickets for the BBC show, which was enormous fun. They didn't present any of the cheques this year, which was a bit sad, but I am told that the ticker tape thanked the bridge players at one point. The show was great - we were a bit worried as there weren't any seats left, but in the end we stood very close to the stage and the four hours just flew past ... though I do admit that my feet were getting a little tired about 20 minutes from the end! Then we drove home in thick fog which wasn't so good - Mark insisted on doing all the driving which was magnificent of him, especially as we had to go via Felixstowe, adding an hour to the journey, to drop my daughter, Vickie back home, as she had to teach exam classes (ballet, tap and modern) at 10 on Saturday morning. She said her feet have only just recovered, but it was worth it as all her students passed their exam the following Monday :-).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Just waiting for a couple of queries on the scores to be answered then I will finalise it, do the master points and ... start looking forward to next year !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In quick succession that was followed by the European Sims, which is now over (master points to be sorted there too !) and now I am starting to gird my loins for the BGB Winter Pairs - the last BGB we will ever do !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The kittens settled in very quickly and are fun, naughty, affectionate and playful. the purrs start the moment they are picked up and they are deliberately naughty running into rooms they are not allowed in - the hall is one - and then lying down waiting to be picked up and cuddled. They have learnt that they are not allowed on the kitchen work surfaces which at least means they jump down in a hurry when we walk into the room :-). Our Maine Coon, Phercad, looks ENORMOUS beside them and they are still a bit wary, in an inquisitive way, when he is around. But his tail is a source of endless fascination. When he feels they are getting a bit uppity he hisses and they back off, but he is being very good with them, and just retreating with dignity when it all gets too much. Nimbus is the adventurous one, doesn't look before he leaps, which results in some embarrassing tumbles. Cirrus is far more serious, carefully judging the distance before jumping on something, and giving careful consideration to the world around him. They have their last injections on Thursday and then can be introduced to the big wide world outside the windows.Luckily we have a very safe back garden where they can explore to their hearts content ! And then we can get the litter tray out of the sitting room ... hurrah !!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">so that's about it for now - hope you like the piccies of the kitties :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">anna</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u4YI-I5KCIK5_gMBDapIiYLYsxV0dns3EXW6HRIzmO28x23PatV6spiMXaRJse_ybyfNcxCV7AyTbk6wiBnb6UpzDKvmT5x5zfz97_tXDRQCZgOb098JoCwzp3BcL9CYr7jYGA2HXQ/s1600/double+trouble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u4YI-I5KCIK5_gMBDapIiYLYsxV0dns3EXW6HRIzmO28x23PatV6spiMXaRJse_ybyfNcxCV7AyTbk6wiBnb6UpzDKvmT5x5zfz97_tXDRQCZgOb098JoCwzp3BcL9CYr7jYGA2HXQ/s320/double+trouble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8Ids6l2wtlD5eyPiAZNyMh6hmL-9tvOubjcbrf33vF9qX7XtJ5lw1vl1b5tnp59u0k6avDASxkTx0YCob1hyphenhyphenD2FsP-tQRc7tmAuiPIo71_wAHLuMT0D1PiAPIoUmxCqxtKfh_n7d_Q/s1600/Cats+on+my+Shoulders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8Ids6l2wtlD5eyPiAZNyMh6hmL-9tvOubjcbrf33vF9qX7XtJ5lw1vl1b5tnp59u0k6avDASxkTx0YCob1hyphenhyphenD2FsP-tQRc7tmAuiPIo71_wAHLuMT0D1PiAPIoUmxCqxtKfh_n7d_Q/s320/Cats+on+my+Shoulders.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmsaShD2gdPuNK0yc-M19y0Ud4aopyQec5nqffiTiWONyma2m9IVTnaDtpQLgDzTf2zbf9El76LfohaPlzQJJi7hamlNRo6KCWQyRo36DBHQscxIqZHF1MdO0hQ6Wex4-mYRM7xfNmg/s1600/Bundle+of+Purrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmsaShD2gdPuNK0yc-M19y0Ud4aopyQec5nqffiTiWONyma2m9IVTnaDtpQLgDzTf2zbf9El76LfohaPlzQJJi7hamlNRo6KCWQyRo36DBHQscxIqZHF1MdO0hQ6Wex4-mYRM7xfNmg/s320/Bundle+of+Purrs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-60381496952692882182011-10-28T11:22:00.000+01:002011-10-28T11:22:05.762+01:00Nearly there ... wherever "there" is !!These have been brilliant championships ! Lots of work, but you expect that, but also lots of socialising which has been really good fun ... we had the Staff Dinner last night where we were all presented with plaques to remember the event by; the night before was the sponsor's dinner, but sadly I couldn't go to that because I had to be here for the Anti Doping tests, but I understand it was - fabulous!!<br />
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Tonight we are off out with friends from the Bulletin and Press Room for dinner at a local curry house - something of a tradition at these events.<br />
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We escaped for a brief while this morning - Marina (PA to the WBF President), Carol (Secretary to the WBF Executive Council), Sevinc (Member of the Executive Council) and I - to go to a shop in Veldhoven - a really amazing Garden Centre but the real reason for going there was their Christmas department which was just gorgeous. We all spent too much money on new decorations ready to be squirreled away for a month when we get home, before putting on our trees !<br />
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As for the bridge - well, it got pretty exciting yesterday with the semi finals, to the point where even I was watching the results coming through and I confess that is a rarity ! One of the matches was won by 0.3 IMP ... talk about close ! And a lot of the other matches were close as well. Now we just hope that the finals will be as good - it is quite sad when you have good semi finals and then the final turns out to be a big disappointment. <br />
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The duplication of the boards is done and dusted - can you believe, the team duplicated 50,052 boards over the two weeks! <br />
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The trophies are all here and polished, and looking splendid and ready for presentation on Saturday. Speeches are being written (oh I DO hope they keep them short !) and, of course, all the last minute things are being remembered that haven't been done during the week ! <br />
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I am going home with a number of joyous tasks, like re-sectioning all the Conditions of Contest, setting up World Simultaneous Pairs to raise money for Junior Bridge (well that will be quite fun actually!), setting up contact lists for Junior Administrators, Tournament Directors and things like that. All interesting but time consuming.<br />
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And of course very soon after we get home we have the Children in Need Sims - fingers crossed lots of people come and play in that. I will get the club lists up as soon as I can once I get back !annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-35390859160516841712011-10-24T18:09:00.000+01:002011-10-24T18:09:02.528+01:00Tiring ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has reached the stage where everyone is getting tired ... the quarter finals are coming to an end and even I am watching the results on the screens ...but that is more becuase I am too tired to do much else !! For some reason we didn't sleep last night - not sure why but it was one of those nights when you watch the clock as it ticks the hours away ... and 04.00 wasn't a time I wanted to see!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I have a meeting with the Anti Doping Commission at 7.20 then we are going out for dinner with Marina and Carol, which is going to be good fun. Nice to get out and escape. The weather has been amazing - cold and sunny with over night frosts, but we have been able to wander down to the lake where there are enormous carp who come to be fed and a heron that watches all the time ... the autumn colours are just lovely so it has been a good way to relax after our brief lunch - a nice walk round the building to get some fresh air!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The venue has been buzzing today with the transnational teams flooding in - we are hoping for a record entry. That starts at 8.30 tonight after the end of the quarter finals. I bet the Tournament Directors aren't looking forward to getting it going but I am sure they will do a great job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I need to go to the meeting so ...more another day. And I will try and take some pictures !!</span><br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-60135116734405087752011-10-19T16:59:00.000+01:002011-10-19T16:59:12.295+01:00One week in ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe we have been here a week already - time has seriously flown by ! Yesterday was a day of meetings for me - WBF Women's Committee first, followed by Systems Committee followed by a Technical Committee Meeting. All interesting and worthwhile ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then last night Mark and I were invited by the President to the Executive Dinner; sadly Mark wasn't well but I went along and it was a brilliant evening. I sat with Carol and Joan Gerard and Patrick Choy, and we had a DEEEEEEEEEElicious Italian dinner. Cippi Rona, the President's wife had selected the menu and wow was it good. Some lovely red wine made an evening to remember.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today has been a day of bits and bobs, sorting out the Minutes from the Meetings of yesterday, writing a report for the Bulletin about one of them, sending out the duplimate files for the Children in Need Sims (well, starting to anyway ...). I had a long meeting with PO Sundelin about the WBF Convention Card and the layout of supplementary sheets, the Guide to Completion and things like that. And now Mark and Federica are editing the picture of the five Presidents so that it can be printed and framed for each of them to have a copy as Gianarrigo (the current WBF President) wants to give them as a present at tonight's Gala Dinner (which we are going to later). So now I must go and change ... more anon !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">anna</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-16304289460567508472011-10-17T18:18:00.000+01:002011-10-17T18:18:40.601+01:00Finding our way about<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppoQmScDnuSMxy5LAliFvcV_2LkbhIr2UObYWRTbxy88FiVhoqRlxEnHMs1Z4HAY6Q6p8LWy3tFj-1td5BSia7XjHOIniLWQb5d6LJ2I8IdR6QC2vH5PdvQ7_9e2ajkk5Rm2u-xKsXw/s1600/http___www.worldbridge1.org_tourn_Veldhoven.11_Microsite_Bulletins_Veldhoven.2011.Bulletin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppoQmScDnuSMxy5LAliFvcV_2LkbhIr2UObYWRTbxy88FiVhoqRlxEnHMs1Z4HAY6Q6p8LWy3tFj-1td5BSia7XjHOIniLWQb5d6LJ2I8IdR6QC2vH5PdvQ7_9e2ajkk5Rm2u-xKsXw/s640/http___www.worldbridge1.org_tourn_Veldhoven.11_Microsite_Bulletins_Veldhoven.2011.Bulletin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Presidents at the Opening - from the left: Bobby Wolff, José Damiani, the Magician /Compere, Jaime Ortiz-Patino, Gianarrigo Rona (the current WBF President) and Ernesto d'Orsi</td></tr>
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We went to the Opening Ceremony (of course) which was enormous fun. ... the Compere, or Master of Ceremonies, was a magician and was most entertaining as well as doing a great job of introducing the "speech makers" and the teams and then we had an amazing performance from magicians and illusionists <a href="http://www.magicunlimited.info/">MagicUnlimited</a> ... they were excellent. At the end the Master of Ceremonies noted that no less than FIVE WBF Presidents were present and asked them to come to the stage for the raising of the WBF Flag and the playing of the WBF Anthem. You can see them all above ... a great occasion indeed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeDpyNBydN0UFAiiiJt_MWHVVoNkrEdJrBVVgLaQCdx3e4UaAe8rXkyxvkj6E1VU3RQ1qHjp3TCn1CJEJzL8A2NGmSnMAFzOFHVTrJDCesxXI0Z8Hl0ldFKxrWovI-wGpMt30nWUiCA/s1600/WP_000016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeDpyNBydN0UFAiiiJt_MWHVVoNkrEdJrBVVgLaQCdx3e4UaAe8rXkyxvkj6E1VU3RQ1qHjp3TCn1CJEJzL8A2NGmSnMAFzOFHVTrJDCesxXI0Z8Hl0ldFKxrWovI-wGpMt30nWUiCA/s320/WP_000016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark, Bud Schoder, John & Adele Wignall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After the ceremony the Dutch put on a truly splendid buffet, really yummy, with the wine very free flowing ! We had a lovely evening talking to friends ... I took some pictures on my phone, but the light wasn't brilliant so they aren't very good, but hey - they show the spirit of the evening and that's the main thing! They are the ones "decorating" this blog! Just to introduce a few of the people shown : Mark is "my Mark", Mark Newton of ECatsBridge. Bill Schoder, WBF Chief Tournament Director Emeritus and a member of the Laws Committee who is here with his wife. John Wignall is 1st Vice President of the WBF and is here with Adele, his wife. Al Levy is Executive Vice President of the WBF and his wife is Beverley. Richard Grenside is one of the Chief Tournament Directors here and is with his wife, Susie.<br />
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It always takes a day or three to find ones way about in this sort of event, and this one is no exception - the convention centre is HUGE and we seem to walk miles to get anywhere, but it is all good exercise and means that you meet up with different people all the time which is great fun. Play is well under way and everything seems to be going smoothly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w4SWag0K15cH1KQN2MEgOHFpp1tQNBo8dWp0LzDAqU7SJrJRWt64JuU2NcmFE1X6szEzPWF43qa8v9AK0kjcm1fEI6aLO93GdBw6IQAWH6ANAOvMfEDZ4ChOUjPo6M4SqDbwUhSytg/s1600/WP_000017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w4SWag0K15cH1KQN2MEgOHFpp1tQNBo8dWp0LzDAqU7SJrJRWt64JuU2NcmFE1X6szEzPWF43qa8v9AK0kjcm1fEI6aLO93GdBw6IQAWH6ANAOvMfEDZ4ChOUjPo6M4SqDbwUhSytg/s320/WP_000017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adele Wignall, Beverley and Al Levy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now it is all under way, with play starting yesterday morning. The Executive Council Meetings are keeping all the members very occupied of course, though tomorow is a day when the smaller committees are meeting - I start the day with the Women's Committee Meeting, followed by the Systems Committee then the Technical Committee, just in case I don't have enough to do. Mark gets the fun of the Technical Committee then a Master Points Committee Meeting and later in the week I will have an Anti-Doping Committee Meeting! Then all the Chairmen will report back to the Executive for decisions to be ratified and so forth. Actually a very efficient way of dealing with it all and getting the work done!<br />
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Anyway - hope you like the pictures ! And more before too long ... xxx<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw1R5brnTNwcZbfTnVQOTzT0Ax8fobNb09KRBpZoIbFbZE9sPZozh0ExqDBbjtMzBkZrHZWfnsSb5U-P0EIj89JHh1vtejCqcGG7s_aDRAVwCjXSbZrYQ22Rb__PksxhOPMvt3oKwdA/s1600/WP_000008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw1R5brnTNwcZbfTnVQOTzT0Ax8fobNb09KRBpZoIbFbZE9sPZozh0ExqDBbjtMzBkZrHZWfnsSb5U-P0EIj89JHh1vtejCqcGG7s_aDRAVwCjXSbZrYQ22Rb__PksxhOPMvt3oKwdA/s320/WP_000008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard & Susie Grenside, Carol von Linstow, Mark and Adele Wignall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZUJ545SQJdNOnaP3feFVe6P1Y84vtcYEYqnFGFEWq83kRQaXSdipVgbzmqBP1WKk5ObgkBCLS-F6MnMQSuEXpAMStu7lw_oRNa4BZjhsl9Y2bTbSP7XXp3IhyphenhyphenXCJYdAjhlZzYQr7EA/s1600/WP_000020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZUJ545SQJdNOnaP3feFVe6P1Y84vtcYEYqnFGFEWq83kRQaXSdipVgbzmqBP1WKk5ObgkBCLS-F6MnMQSuEXpAMStu7lw_oRNa4BZjhsl9Y2bTbSP7XXp3IhyphenhyphenXCJYdAjhlZzYQr7EA/s320/WP_000020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bud Schoder, US Captain, Bill Schoder (WBF Chief TD Emeritus)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-54134206780990265582011-10-15T16:48:00.001+01:002011-10-17T18:20:21.827+01:00Winding up ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a really good journey via the Channel Tunnel (such a great way to travel!) and an excellent motorway all the way from Calais to Veldhoven, we arrived at the Hotel and checked in. Our room is not the biggest we have ever seen, but is more than adequate, although I confess that some drawers would have been nice ! However, our main suitcase is doubling as drawer space, with reasonable effect and I must say that the bed is very comfy :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The office we are in could reasonably be described as enormous, with one wall being a massive window overlooking a grassed square with trees which is lovely. The sun is shining (long may it last!) and so I think all in all the working conditions are excellent. We have a water fountain, of course, and Lavazza coffee (thank you Madame Lavazza), so that is also good.There are plenty of offices available to us - something that doesn't always happen. Oh, and there is free wi-fi throughout the building, at very high speed, which is also a big bonus!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The playing rooms are brilliant as well - actually that is obviously the most important area, so it is good that they are brilliant! But I am sure all the players will enjoy them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The teams have been arriving and checking in all day, and all seem to have arrived safely which is always a relief. Lots of meeting and greeting of course, and I can't set foot outside the office without meeting some more old friends. It's always great to see everyone of course, so many people I see only once a year at these events. Our World Bridge Family !! It's lovely that so many of you have seen my pictures of my new Grandson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Captains' Meeting has just finished, after showing off the new camera technology that is to be used at some of the tables, which looks pretty impressive and will, I am sure, be welcomed by the players and spectators alike. I am trying to find a few minutes to put up the full list of people who are blogging from here - maybe I should be doing that before writing this, but I will get to it as soon as I can, I promise !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are all off to the Opening Ceremony at 6.30 and then play will get underway tomorrow. I will try and get some pictures to decorate the blog with, but don't hold your breath ... first I have to find where I packed my little camera !! and the battery charger and the leads. I am sure they are here somewhere, but just not quite sure where.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So now I must go and change ... more tomorrow (if I can ..)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">anna</span><br />
<br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0Eindhoven, The Netherlands51.441642 5.469722551.3624645 5.311794 51.5208195 5.6276509999999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-76321536160332148262011-10-10T13:06:00.002+01:002011-10-10T14:19:37.178+01:00New Grandson / World Championships / New Kittens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRAwY5jL-mV8vCbWIf-J_YHkSVWFfw1qytjAYRy68Ldy9VbVisLG-yvbfyZi_8EhUvg-P8am7061ps50EARkVduf-sDwIwvJkfV_oVnukTRYm53UUyXb9KsCar5BeuddSwdpfWkmoOw/s1600/Sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl6tZf9QBJ57cJaKutyU2_TgsH4ffwhuyokW98CJp1-rWiqlsZqvLZ9bHogOX3O7XkTOe3-BFoHb75dY9FnhzWE5yx2zewBZva2ZYUXW8Wj1CWsMEJL4_hqOvXox3d9E_9eGTyUPClQ/s1600/Anna+and+Sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl6tZf9QBJ57cJaKutyU2_TgsH4ffwhuyokW98CJp1-rWiqlsZqvLZ9bHogOX3O7XkTOe3-BFoHb75dY9FnhzWE5yx2zewBZva2ZYUXW8Wj1CWsMEJL4_hqOvXox3d9E_9eGTyUPClQ/s200/Anna+and+Sam.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, the excitement of the month has been the birth of my new Grandson ... Samuel Rhys ... who was born (a bit later than expected) on 23 September. And can I resist putting up a picture - don't be daft, of course I can't ! ... He is gorgeous. A solid little lad, weighing in at 8lb 15 oz which gave his mother a few eye-watering moments, but they are both doing fine. We went down to Bristol to see him (of course) and had lots of lovely cuddles. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRAwY5jL-mV8vCbWIf-J_YHkSVWFfw1qytjAYRy68Ldy9VbVisLG-yvbfyZi_8EhUvg-P8am7061ps50EARkVduf-sDwIwvJkfV_oVnukTRYm53UUyXb9KsCar5BeuddSwdpfWkmoOw/s1600/Sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRAwY5jL-mV8vCbWIf-J_YHkSVWFfw1qytjAYRy68Ldy9VbVisLG-yvbfyZi_8EhUvg-P8am7061ps50EARkVduf-sDwIwvJkfV_oVnukTRYm53UUyXb9KsCar5BeuddSwdpfWkmoOw/s200/Sam.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And now I am preparing to head off to the Netherlands for the World Championships. I will try and do a regular blog from the Championships, and will also put up a list of other blogs / links to where to get other information etc on the website - just </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/default.asp"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">click here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> to go to it. The excitement is all building up of course, and I am sure it is going to be a wonderful Championship so do keep an eye on how things go during the event. I would like to take the opportunity of wishing all the teams a safe journey to Eindhoven, and really hope they will have a great Championship, win or lose. Playing in an event of this stature is really exciting. I will put links to any blogs from the Championships on the website - just let me know if you are blogging (or tweeting come to that ...) and I will do what I can!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The BGB Sims runs this week, Wednesday and Thursday and the results will be in the usual place of course - </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/results.asp?eventid=bgba11&future=true"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>click here</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> to find them. Good luck if you are playing one evening - I hope you have fun and do well !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Because of the World Championships, we had to send the material out for the <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/cin/default.asp"><strong>Children in Need event</strong></a> a bit early - it is all on its way ... so if your club hasn't entered and would like to, drop me an email and we can get a pack off to you when I get back - there will be plenty of time!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Dm9lj4SFERWajZQPQNCBKsNfckVEOxW1rh42D6dmj7hZMDHeeNkYcDWL0lFE9QF-xtk0aoJYr4TK0vkdOwoOg94Hn3wD_JNZTYg8G3ZkMsaTv6zcBhTleN8whh6CkGhJY_Ffxhmgag/s1600/Phercad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Dm9lj4SFERWajZQPQNCBKsNfckVEOxW1rh42D6dmj7hZMDHeeNkYcDWL0lFE9QF-xtk0aoJYr4TK0vkdOwoOg94Hn3wD_JNZTYg8G3ZkMsaTv6zcBhTleN8whh6CkGhJY_Ffxhmgag/s200/Phercad.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On the way back from the Netherlands we will be stopping off to pick up two new additions to the family - two Chocolate Burmese Kittens. You may remember that I told you that Mark's lovely Burmese cat, Emale, died back in the summer, leaving us with just one cat, my completely mad Maine Coon called Phercad - honestly if he had a brain he would be dangerous! He is very lonely, all on his own, and to be honest it seems really strange with just one cat. We had only intended getting one kitten but ... but ... Pictures will follow in due course. And here is a picture of Phercad taken last Christmas to be going on with ! Don't worry, he was only posing for the camera with the ribbon round his neck - it's not a normal adornment !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So - watch this space for blogs from the Netherlands ...</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-22783629494649741782011-09-15T12:44:00.000+01:002011-09-15T12:44:12.615+01:00Busy times indeed ...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, a short while ago we really thought we had sold the house, so we hared off to spend a bit of time looking for a new one, and found some lovely ones that we would be happy to live in. But it wasn't to be. The buyer couldn't raise the money, which was such a shame ... all that excitement blown away. Now back to the drawing board - or at least the estate agents to try and find a new buyer. Ho Hum ... doesn't anyone want our lovely Railway Station ? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And all at a time when the bridge world is exploding with activity ! The WBU Sims last week, the EBU Sims this week, the BGB Sims coming up in October, and of course our own </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/cin/default.asp"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ECatsBridge Simultaneous Pairs for Children in Need</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> is on the horizon, with all the booklets arriving soon and needing posting ! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I will be sending confirmations to the clubs today, but if haven't yet entered... now's the time! Just </span><a href="mailto:anna@ecats.co.uk"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">email me</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> and let me know which club you are, which day you want to play and how many tables you expect and I will sort it out for you ... oh and don't forget to include a mailing address for the booklets !! Please join us and help us raise lots of lovely money for Children in Need ... we have raised a total of £464,176 since we started the event in 2002 ... can we top the half-million this year ? Wouldn't that be wonderful !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In addition to all that of course, there are the <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/default.asp">World Championships</a> in the offing ... they are in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and I have been working on the Systems for the event (you can find all of them by <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/regsystems.asp">clicking here</a>) as well as collecting the photographs of all the players for the badges, dealing with the regulations and all sorts of stuff. It seems never ending. I will be glad to get to the Netherlands for a break !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not much other news really - there hasn't been time for me to do much else really. I hope all is well with you as the new bridge season gets under way and let's hope for a nice sunny autumn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">anna xx</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-60764506966913434222011-08-25T11:46:00.000+01:002011-08-25T11:46:49.699+01:00Exciting day ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am a very proud grandmother - I really had to share it. My granddaughter Jasmine just got her GCSE results - she took 10 subjects and got straight A* across the board, plus a distinction ! I am just so pleased for her - a really wonderful result. She is very very excited :-)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And now, after the ringing round of the family and friends it is time to get back to my desk ! The material has all been sent for the Welsh Sims and the English Sims in September - the maps are on the website with the venues so if you are looking for somewhere to play, just <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/">click here</a> and you will find them under the More information links for the events.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I will be getting ahead of the game soon as well, sending out the material for the BGB Autumn Pairs and the <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/cin/default.asp">Children in Need</a> events early because of being in the Netherlands at the World Championships ... I hate fire-fighting so do try and stay ahead ! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Of course, it is all hotting up for the Championships in Veldhoven ... the systems are all on the website (<a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/systems.asp">click here</a>), we are collecting photographs from all the players ready for the badges etc. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On the more domestic front I am trying to clear things in the office so when we sell the house we can move easily, but that really isn't so easy. So much paperwork it's quite frightening ! And then you see fun toys like a scanning mouse and just have to buy it and add to the piles of "stuff". We have been here nearly 17 years, and there is just so so much ... ho hum. A selling spree on E-Bay may be the answer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And now I really am going back to my desk. But I just had to tell the world about Jasmine. I am so so proud of her ...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">anna</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-13072284399361106132011-08-10T12:05:00.000+01:002011-08-10T12:05:39.888+01:00Anyone want a cough ?I can't help feeling that a mid-summer cough is quite uncalled for ! Poor Mark had to put his headphones on and play lound music yesterday to drown the sound of my coughing !! I don't feel too bad, just hacking away like a good 'un. Ho hum.<br />
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It didn't stop us getting all the material sent out for the Welsh Bridge Union Simultaneous in early September though, and the results for the BGB Summer Pairs have also been sent (the files has=ve gone to the EBU for registering the master points as well ...) So that's two jobs out of the way. The EBU Autumn Pairs material will be sent next Tuesday.<br />
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We can still take entries for the WBU Sims and the EBU Sims so if your club would like to take part, do get in touch.<br />
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All the systems are now in for the World Championships, although there are still a few actually to be added to the site ... I iwll try and do that later today or tomorrow. Anyway if you are interested, you can find them all by<a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/systems.asp"> <strong>clicking here</strong></a>.<br />
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Did you see the article about Bridge Players in the Business Insider website ? <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-bridge-players-on-wall-street-2011-7"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to go to it ... see, we all have great business brains obviously !! I thought it was interesting though ...<br />
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Now, I wonder if anyone out there can help me ... I am looking for a copy of the World Championship Programme from Beijing in 1995 ... not to keep, but to borrow and scan. If you have one lurking in your archives and could send it to me, with your address contained in the package of course, I would love to get it scanned and would then return it to you immediately ... anyone ? Please ?<br />
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Right - time to put my work-hat on again and get on with things ! I will be in touch again soon ...<br />
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Look after yourselves, and enjoy the summer <br />
anna x<br />
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annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-84899998144468006512011-07-28T14:40:00.000+01:002011-07-28T14:40:07.631+01:00Displacement Activity ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have spent all morning checking in systems for the World Championships ... making sure I mark the pairs that have sent them (so I can nag the ones that haven't!), converting them from various formats to PDF etc and putting them into directories ready to go to the website for downloading in due course. Not the most exciting job in the world... so I thought I would take five minutes out to write my blog and tell you a few bits about what is going on !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, there has been a Press Release from IMSA concerning the SportAccord World Mind Sport Games in Beijing during December - </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Documents/files/IMSA/IMSAPressReleaseJuly2011.pdf"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to read that and </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Documents/files/IMSA/WBFTeamsBeijing2011.pdf"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to see which teams have been invited by the WBF to participate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The BGB Summer Pairs was held on Monday and Tuesday this week - results are all on the website as normal. The next one will be the WBU Simultaneous at the beginning of September closely followed by the EBU one. All the material arrives from the printer next week, to fill up my hall before we send it all out to the participating clubs - it isn't too late to enter though ! Just <a href="mailto:anna@ecats.co.uk">email me</a> if you want to take part and tell me which club, the address to send the material to, which day and how many tables you anticipate having and I will do the rest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">One of our main servers had a hiccup last week and we have presented it with a shiny new 2TB drive and have now got all our data back onto it from the backups. It's a great opportunity to have a good tidy up and get rid of duplicate files - quite staggering how many we have managed to accumulate !! And how long it takes to get rid of them as well. But it's a very satisfying task it has to be said and does mean that it is easier to find archive files etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There has been some information added about the World Championships, including the draws, and of course the systems will be going up quite soon ... just check back on the website and you will soon see if there are updates - <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/">www.ecatsbridge.com</a> and, of course, at <a href="http://www.worldbridge.org/">www.worldbridge.org</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On a personal note ... did I tell you I am going to be a grandmother again ? I have a 16 year old granddaughter (awaiting her GCSE results poor girl), and the new baby is due to my other daughter around mid-September. All very exciting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And now I am off back to those wonderful systems !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Keep safe ... xx</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-5872648939330367422011-07-14T13:03:00.000+01:002011-07-14T13:03:01.910+01:00Weather forecast horrid !<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Such a shame ... Mark was planning to take his sons to "Dragstalgia" at Santa Pod which they would all have loved, and it looks like it's going to pour with rain all day on Saturday and most of Sunday... and rain and drag racing don't mix. Maybe another time ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kidney Research Sims today - I do hope lots of you are playing to raise money for this extremely worthwhile Charity. The BGB Summer Pairs is at the end of the month of course - I have put the</span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/results.asp?eventid=bgbsum11&future=true"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> lists of clubs</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> up, so you easily see where you can go to play in it. That one is Green Pointed, so a chance to win some of those precious points! Non-affiliated English clubs may play in this event, but there is a surcharge of 50p per player.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then we have a "breather" through August before the </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/wbu/default.asp"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Welsh Simultaneous</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (also green pointed) at the beginning of September, and the EBU's </span><a href="http://www.ebu.co.uk/competitions/sims/default.htm"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Autumn Pairs</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> a week later. Clubs are, of course, welcome to play in either or both of these. English clubs must be affiliated to the EBU to participate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am starting on the fairly long haul of getting all the systems in for the World Championships in October - they need to be registered by 31st July, so if you are in one of the teams for the Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup or d'Orsi Seniors Bowl, please send your system to me as soon as possible. Players in the Transnational Teams only need to register Red Sticker systems, but are encouraged to register their convention card whatever system they are playing - but the deadline is much later. Details of the Championships can be found on my website, and I have now published the draws, regulations etc. so do go and have a look if you have not already done so - just </span><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/default.asp"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">click here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.You may also be interested to know that the World Computer Championships will be held during the event - more details of that are </span><a href="http://www.ny-bridge.com/allevy/computerbridge/index.htm"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For Junior players, the </span><a href="http://www.worldbridge.org/tourn/Opatija.11/Opatija11.htm"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>World Youth Bridge Congress</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> is being staged in Opatija, Croatia .. this is a great event for youngsters, giving them the chance for some exciting and challenging bridge as well as to make new friends within the bridge "family" and meet other like-minded young people - so if you are reading this blog, and know of some young bridge players, do pass the word along ! It was great to note that the team winning the USA Trials for the chance to be Team USA 2 in the Bermuda Bowl were all players who until very recently participated in World Youth events.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now I must get back to work ... I see some emails have pinged in with details of some more teams for the Netherlands and I need to go and deal with them :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Still haven't sold the house - don't forget, if you know someone who would like a lovely Old Railway Station ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">anna xx</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-15827208130640503422011-07-01T18:22:00.000+01:002011-07-01T18:22:57.971+01:00So long ....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have been reminded (thank you Robbie & Mike!) that I haven't posted anything to my blog for ages ... and he is right of course. I haven't. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The main reason has been big changes for us here at ECatsBridge with the EBU plans to take the EBU and BGB Simultaneous Pairs in-house after April next year ... they are going to be doing the organisation and are writing their own scoring program so a large part of our work will disappear. We will still be organising our own Children in Need and Charity Challenge events, of course, as well as the Welsh Bridge Union Sims and the ones like the Kidney Research etc - but we are going to miss it, not just financially, though obviously it makes a big difference, but also all the contact with the clubs which I really enjoy! I am sure, however, that with the events we will still be organising, that we will still have lots of contact and I look forward to that.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This has all resulted in a major decision to down-size, so our <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/contact/station.asp">Railway Station</a> is on the market ... if you know of anyone who would like lovely converted Old Railway Station in Suffolk do get in touch ! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On the bridge front, things progress much as they have always done - we are heading for the <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/info/kidneyresearch.asp">Kidney Research Simultaneous Pairs</a> (still just time to enter ...) and of course, the BGB Summer Pairs at the end of July. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My workload for the World Championships is building up nicely as the various systems start to arrive in my in-box, and (being one who likes to get ahead and hates fire-fighting) I have been getting stuff ready for the WBU Autumn Pairs at the beginning of September, plus the other Autumn Simultaneous and our own Children in Need event. In fact my eyes are on stalks this evening and it is really time to call it a day and head for the shops as I have friends coming for dinner tonight and promised them a curry ! And I need to marinade the chicken ... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For those of you who follow our <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/contact/ecatscats.asp"> ECats Cats</a>, you will, I am sure, be very sad to hear that Emale, Mark's lovely Burmese, developed a throat tumour and is now buried on the bank in the garden with Bear and Taggie. So we only have one cat for the time being ... maybe as we are moving it is just as well and we will wait until we are re-settled before thinking about another.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So ... lots happening, lots of changes in the offing. And I WILL try and remember to write my blog more often... apologies to you for not keeping up !</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">anna</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-45496744675827954912011-03-07T11:14:00.000+00:002011-03-07T11:15:03.443+00:00Sunshine<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>At last – some sunshine today ! Makes the world look so much happier <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lots happening on the Bridge Scene at the moment – the EBU’s first Stratified Sims is about to happen (it starts today). As the material is all sent by email, it isn’t too late for clubs to enter during the rest of the week ! details at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://ebunews.blogspot.com/2010/12/stratified-simultaneous-pairs-7-11.html">http://ebunews.blogspot.com/2010/12/stratified-simultaneous-pairs-7-11.html</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>you can just email me for the files (<a href="mailto:anna@ecats.co.uk">anna@ecats.co.uk</a> as usual) if you want to take part – tell me which club it is and which day you want to play and I will get the information to you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Forthcoming International events include the Cuba Bridge Festival from 20<sup>th</sup> – 28<sup>th</sup> May which combines the CACBF Zonal Championships with an Open Festival which sounds marvellous – have a look at <a href="http://www.festivalbridgecuba.com/">http://www.festivalbridgecuba.com/</a> which has the details. And if you need help booking flights etc go to <a href="http://www.cubarocks.co.uk">www.cubarocks.co.uk</a> – some friends of mine set this up and it really does make me want to go to Cuba ! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Then there are the European Open Championships in Poznan, Poland from 17 June – 2 July. The details are in a letter from the EBL President, Yves Aubry, which is published on the front page of the website at <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com">www.ecatsbridge.com</a> … you can download it from there and read all about it. Another great event for you to consider.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is the normal set of Simultaneous Pairs coming up of course – have a look at the calendar for the dates of these : <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/info/calendar.asp">http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/info/calendar.asp</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And then, come the Autumn we have the World Championships in the Netherlands ! The Transnational Teams is an Open event, so members in good standing of any WBF NBO are very welcome to participate ! Full details are at: <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/default.asp">http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/wbf/2011netherlands/default.asp</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now it’s time to close the door again – the sunshine may be enticing but the wind is still too cold to keep it open for long !<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Best regards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>anna <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-86811786018778022252011-02-18T11:25:00.001+00:002011-02-18T11:25:55.200+00:00What a week!<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Why are some weeks far more frantic than others – this week has been seriously frenetic, not just on the work front but on the home front as well! But today is Friday and I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend! Well fairly relaxing after I have dealt with the ironing, the general cleaning and getting ready for a dinner party that we are having here on Saturday evening <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have just sent out the files for the <b>EBU Stratified Simultaneous Pairs</b> – looks like that is going to be an interesting event, the first of its kind, where the participants will be competing in their own “field” as it were – details can be found on the <a href="http://ebunews.blogspot.com/2010/12/stratified-simultaneous-pairs-7-11.html">EBU Site</a> and it is not too late to enter ! The material is all sent by email, you see, so entries can be made right up to the last minute (well within reason – you do have to rely on me being at my desk to send the file out …). So – if your club is interested, do <a href="mailto:anna@ecats.co.uk">email me</a>. It is being played over a week <b>– Monday to Friday 7<sup>th</sup> – 11<sup>th</sup> March</b> with different hands each night so clubs can play every night if they want to … or at least players can go from one participating club to another participating club and play on two different days! The entry fee is only £2 per player as well and of course the commentaries will be on the website at the end of the evening for downloading and enjoying. I think the only proviso is that your club must be affiliated to the EBU …<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The week after that, on Thursday 17<sup>th</sup> March, there is the <b>Charity Challenge Simultaneous Pairs</b> – for the second year we are raising money for <a href="http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/">Epilepsy Action</a> and <a href="http://www.meath.org.uk/home.aspx">The Meath</a>, which is where Mark’s much loved sister Janet lived happily in safety until her death a short while ago following an epileptic seizure. We hope to raise a lot of money for these causes, so please please join us if you can.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Then we head for Spring – oh joy. And the April Pairs, but that is a way off yet. Hopefully the daffodils will be out soon – I have some primroses in a sheltered spot in my garden, and a few snowdrops, so there are signs that spring is coming! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Keep well – keep safe. And do join us for some of these events if you can !<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>all the best<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>anna <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-4616676407156480852011-01-19T14:57:00.000+00:002011-01-19T14:58:17.033+00:00It's an interesting world ...<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>First of all, have a look at this link to a U-Tube video about a “bridge village” in India … it’s a news story and I found it interesting … just <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPF5ndoLr_c">click here</a> to go to it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have been putting information up on the website about various events – the European Open Teams Championships in Poznan .. always a good event, that one. Then the World Youth Bridge Congress is being held in Opatija, Croatia from 21 – 30 August. A great event for Junior players – under 25 and Youngsters, under 20. So please tell your young bridge playing friends about it ! Also on the website are some details of the qualified teams and qualification events for the World Championships in the Netherlands as well, for those of you who are interested. You can get to all of these by going to the website at <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com">www.ecatsbridge.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It’s a busy time for Simultaneous Pairs as well – the BGB Winter Pairs was held last week, and next week is our ECatsBridge/WBF Charity Pairs for UNICEF … that’s just a fun event, with no master points or prizes. 8<sup>th</sup> February sees the first Bridge England Pairs (it’s not too late to enter if you want to ..) then the beginning of March has the new EBU Stratified pairs followed closely by our own Charity Challenge event. Email me if you want to enter any of these wont’ you ?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On the home front – well the weather hasn’t been conducive to doing much (it’s nice today at last) though we did bestir ourselves to go and see the films The King’s Speech and Black Swan, both of which were absolutely amazing – we really enjoyed them. The cats spend most of their time curled up on radiators (there’s a surprise) and the chickens sulk underneath their coop and complain loudly about cold feet … I gave some thought to knitting them little socks but decided that they probably wouldn’t like the colours I chose! The wild birds are munching their way through vast amounts of wild bird food and everyone envies our fish in their nice warm tropical tanks – one freshwater and the other marine!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So – what else can I tell you. Not a lot for now, so until next time, keep safe and warm and enjoy your bridge.<span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-76578739349879139302011-01-05T12:59:00.000+00:002011-01-05T13:00:22.609+00:00Happy New Year<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>So – here we are in 2011 ! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you are interested, we have a sale in our bookshop – <a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/acatalog/Sale_items_-_Half_Price__.html">click here</a> to have a look – you might find something you would enjoy !<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BGB Sims next week – do you remember last year when we had to postpone it because of snow ? I am anxiously watching the weather forecast but, fingers crossed, it looks OK at the moment so do find a club and go along and enjoy the hands. The lists of participating clubs are on the website as normal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year – we had a lovely relaxed time with family … lots of cooking and eating far too much of course, but it was fun and sort of cosy once the snow decided to clear enough to allow people to drive! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I don’t normally “do” new year resolutions but I will try and keep the one that says I should do my blog more often, so watch this space, won’t you <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>all the best<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>anna <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-63874348150413406402010-12-23T11:51:00.000+00:002010-12-23T11:52:58.039+00:00oh dear ...<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>It has been a pretty hectic run-up to Christmas one way and another, and I know I have neglected my blog shamefully … but at last it is just about here and I am going to close the office for a few days and RELAX ! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope that you all have a relaxed time over Christmas … and that you have a really good, peaceful, healthy and happy New Year in 2011 !<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-88312511104259513632010-11-25T10:35:00.000+00:002010-11-25T10:37:00.679+00:00Bridge players are amazing<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Yes, we are in a recession, yes “times is hard” but yes, bridge players are generous wonderful people !<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You have raised over SIXTY THOUSAND POUNDS for Children in Need. We can’t believe it ! We really didn’t think you would break last year’s magnificent total of over £58,000 and you have!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And we want to say thank you as loudly as we can ….<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>THANK YOU ALL<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Anna & Mark <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>The ECatsBridge Team</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946618861753626042.post-50532302933322040152010-11-24T10:31:00.000+00:002010-11-24T10:32:12.221+00:00Happy Thanksgiving ... and happy days!<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>First of all - to my American friends … have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Relax, enjoy and I wish you warmth, good friends and no indigestion from too much food <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For me, life is pretty frantic – the Children in Need event is still occupying a lot of my time, but for the £59,000 we have raised for the Charity it is well worth it ! I still have a few sets of results to key in, and will do them as soon as I can … and we are also waiting on the result of an appeal, but that shouldn’t take long I hope.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The European Simultaneous is running, and I am now looking ahead to the BGB Winter Pairs … all the material arrives from the printer this week ready for packing and sending on its way to get it out before Christmas. We are likely to be posting it in two batches, so if you are playing more than one day and get one set quite soon, don’t panic, the other set may be a week or so later. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am all set up for the ECatsBridge/WBF Charity Pairs at the end of January. As things stand this will be in aid of UNICEF, and we hope as many clubs worldwide will join us as possible. We have hands for every day from Monday 24<sup>th</sup> – Saturday 29<sup>th</sup> January … different hands each night … these will be sent by email. It is strictly for fun – no prizes, no master points, just some hands to play and see how you did playing against other countries. No entry fee, just please give what you can. If your club wants the hands, please just email me and I will send them out to you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On a personal note, we are in chaos at the moment, as the decorators are painting the hall (the one where we pulled the ceiling down and the floor up); it’s going to look wonderful when it is finished, and with the lovely high ceiling we now have, we will be able to have an even BIGGER Christmas tree (Mark is very keen on big Christmas trees!!!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>More anon …<span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881897172383481508noreply@blogger.com0