Life in 2014
Returned from Tasmania and South Australia to resume my addiction to the game of Bridge on January 13th
"We had a very successful AGM on Saturday, February 10th, which was attended by a large number of members, followed by a tournament and a meal at El Rancho - a very tiring day. Thanks to Tony and Katrina for organising". A vibrant meeting, with Liz making her voice heard.
The key issues from the AGM were with respect to the 6 resolutions:
Amendment to Article 22 of the Statutes - approved with a very significant majority (96 - 12)
Increasing Subscriptions - approved with a significant majority (76 - 27) - 30 euros from 1st January 2015
Discontinuing giving prizes - was defeated with a significant majority (85 - 20) - we continue to give prizes but to consider different distributions on occasions
Discontinuing hand dealt hands - was approved with a significant majority (81 - 20) - that is all hands will be dealt by the dealing machine in future
Lifting the ban on Peter Hindley and Fraser Dingwall - was approved with a majority
The membership thanked Phillip Carroll for his excellent Financial Report.
This year's new committee are Royston Bond - President, Sue Wood - VP, Jean Threlfall - Secretary, Bernard Rourke - Treasurer, Ed Morley - Bar Manager, Anita Dixon - Chief Tournament Director and Katrina Myerscough, Janet Hubbard, John Taylor, Sandra Bond and Sandra Benson - Committee Members.
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A tournament was held following the meeting
Sadly Bill de Havilland died in February. His widow Marion resumed playing at the Club, having been absent for several years caring for him. Bill & Marion had been friendly faces for me in my early years at the club.
February 14th saw a celebration, with chocolates for all, a carnation for each lady, and 50% prizes of Cava
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Also in February I gave a couple of lessons on Defence
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February 22nd. Anita and John hosted a Quiz night. The winners were Royston, Barbara and Eric.
Then in March, Vera & Peggy were made Life Members I was away for a week on the Norwegian Getaway
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And this was followed in April with Maria Teresa being made an Honorary Member- the first one in the club
Saturday April 12th . A successful Quiz night hosted by Jane and Ed . Refreshments were provided and the winners were Peter & Carole Burke and their team.
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Good Friday. Hungry members had a feast on hot cross buns!
Easter Monday saw a very friendly competition with 23 couples, and 16 people at least sporting Easter bonnets. The club was beautifully decorated by Janet, there being a small plant decoration with candle on each table, and a bag of Easter Eggs for all. The prizes were also of chocolate. and one person at each table got to take the plant decoration home
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| Decorated tables- Peter's hat | Anne, Ed & Janine |
Meg's winning bouquet |
Jane's winning Eeyore egg |
Janine's lovable puppy |
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Gaby and Audrey |
The photo-shy stars! |
Audrey - 2nd - and Bill |
Another effort to capture them! | Joy's refined bonnet |
St Georges Day, Wednesday 23rd April.
Patriotic members donned their red and white garbs and each table had its red rose. These were all gathered in at the end of play and taken to Pety, just released from hospital, by Sandra, who had also been shopping for Pety.
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Bill, Chris, Trish & Audrey |
Jane & Ed |
Meg, John & Janet |
Sandra with the roses |
Away in Bolivia & Argentina April 27 to May 22
May 10th. The Pairs Championship was held. Just 14 couples took part and John Hall & Derek Holdbach were the winners, closely trailed by Dick Craig & Richard Lightfoot
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May 24th saw a Bowling Competition at the Inn on the Green , organised by Ed. There were 23 members and guests bowling. A very enjoyable and fun evening had by all with a lovely meal provided by the bowls club - Janet, Amanda and Dennis. The winners were ??
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| Bernard, Veronica, Barbara. | Meg, Anita, Ed | Chris Threlfall plus hat |
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| Bernard | Lyn, Peter, Janine, Martin, Lyn, Arthur | Jean, John, Anita, Ed, Meg, Lesley |
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| Chris, Veronica, Bernard, Jean, Barbara, Royston | Peter, Lyn, Martin, Lyn | Jean, Janine, Arthur, Lesley |
Valles Match. This took place up at El Cid on June 7th. Royston persuaded me to abandon my principles and play once again!!. It was a very close outcome, with our team scraping home by just 4 Imps. The teams were: Pam, Pierre, Maureen and Bill (+56) ; Lyn, Peter, Chris and Trish [+20] : Barbara, Royston, Gabriella and Gudron ; Kay, Manny, Jane & Ed ; John, Meg, Liz and Rosemarie. A good tea was provided and then an agreable barbecue was had at Media Luna
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| Royston & Sylvia | Pam, Bill, Pierre & Maureen | Maureen, Pam, Bill & Pierre | Peter, Chris, Lyn & Trish |
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| Gaby Barbara,Gudron&Royston | Ed, Kay, Jane & Manny | John, Rosemarie, Meg & Liz | Kay, Trish, Peter, Lyn, Barbara |
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| Trish, Rosemarie & Ed | Kay, Manny & Trish | Jane, Peter, Lyn & Barbara | Presidents with the Cup |
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June 14th. The second Summer Party at the Javea Golf club.
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| Bernard, Veronica, Annamieke | Sue & Golf Club friends |
Jean,Jane,Ed,Chris,Ron,Joy, |
Janet,?,?,Carole,Peter,Pety | Alan,Anne,Eric,Barbara,Royston |
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Gerry,Judith,Kay,?,John,Ruth,?s, |
?,Elva,Brian,?s | Tony,Katrina,?,Kate,?,Maureen | ?,Janine, Arthur,?s | Peter,Lyn, ?s,Lynne,Nelke |
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The singer, Gill Henry |
Bernard and Peggy |
Finita,Peggy,Marieterese,?,Vera | Arthur and Janine |
Barbara and Eric |
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Peter and Carole |
Eric |
Sue, the organiser |
Anne and Alan |
Carole, Peter and Pety |
July 15th
Mary-Jo gave a 50 minute recital with her Viennese Quatetto Blanco after a Wednesday Gridge session . " 54 members/spouses/friends listened to a very good selection of music and we managed to get two encores as well. They played for free and we had a basket set up for donations to charity and we chose Caritas; the good news is that we raised over €250! Nibbles of crisps/biscuits/olives/peanuts were provided.
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September 28th. Car Rally - another great one, organized once again by Jean and Chris.
We started at St Antonio lighthouse - the devastation from the fires was horrendous to be seen - and we finished off at Cap de la Nau in glorious sunshine after seeing some terrific scenery.The winning car was Anita and John, and their friends; 2nd was Sandra and her grandson Ted, Sue and Pety; and 3rd Graham & Ann with Chris & David.
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.Then 3 different competitions at the Club. On September 26th there was the Mixed Pairs won by Maria & Richard, with Dick & Irene a close 2nd. Followed on October 1st by the Ladies Pairs- somewhat of a shambles!, travellers having to be used and excessive noise due to the other pool of 9 tables moving at different times - - won by Janet & Maggie, with Maria & Chris 2nd . Then on October 6th the Mens Pairs with 9 pairs competing- won by Peter Hall and Peter Hindley, runners up Carl-Heinz & Gerard. .
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Then off to the South Seas until November 22nd, missing the Remembrance Tournament on Nov 10th, the Club Teams Tournament on Nov 15th and, sadly, the Aspadis Tournament on Nov 22nd. Also a Quiz on Nov 8th. An action packed month!!
Friday, December 11th was he date of the long awaited Christmas Pantomime. Following a normal tournament with 18 tables, a plate buffet was served to more than 100 people, 5 of us serving it to ensure there was enough for everyone!. This was followed by half an hour's entertainment by a Dutch Shanty Choir - lots of good Irish songs included . Then Bernard's masterpiece - highly amusing if hardly word perfect!!
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Dutch Shanty Choir singing |
A good buffet |
& cheery server! | M.T, Peter, Meg | Dutch Shanty Choir eating |
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Joy, Audrey Sandra |
Gloria & Alice with spouses |
Finita, Vera, Marion & Peggy |
Derick,wife,?Mike Chris Smith | Graham, Mike & Veronica |
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Gerry & Judith |
Mike |
Sandra & Peter |
Ineke, Chris T, Tony, Peter |
Behind the scenes |
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Jean & Royston |
Bernard |
Tony |
Fred |
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Chris T, Sandra & Peter |
Bernard was made a hon.member | M.Therese, Bernard, U. sisters |
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The Club shut for refurbishment on December 19th, so the scores for the year end there. Maria and I still just topped the pairs with an average of 59.42, down from 2013, having played 68, 5 more than in 2013, games together. Maria topped the individuals with 59.23, 90 games, but I was down at 3rd, 93 games, with 57.62, only a smidgen less than John!! My play on Wednesdays let me down!
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