Bridge and Afternoon Tea

Dearest Readers, I know many of you are bridge players and you're wondering about our experiences playing bridge in the UK so far.

Well, I can tell you it's pretty much the same as back home! We always have a great time if there's a bridge game involved. I've now played three times at the Oxford Duplicate Bridge Club; and then on Sunday Robin and I drove into London for a special bridge event: a commemorative Swiss Pairs game + "a sumptuous Afternoon Tea" at the Wimbledon Bridge Club. We found the players at the Wimbledon Club friendly, welcoming, and of varying bridge abilities.

On the way home, Robin educated me on the difference between "High Tea" and "Afternoon Tea." It's the latter that is fancier, and many visitors consider it a special experience while in the UK. "Afternoon Tea" at the Ritz in London costs £72 (~$88)!

I mistakenly believed "High Tea" meant something even more posh, but no - that's a term to indicate a plainer and more hearty meal, what Americans might call supper. Historically, the upper class took Afternoon Tea to tide them over until a late dinner, while the working class would have High Tea as their evening meal, eaten much earlier.

But even a bargain Afternoon Tea is a treat, and the Bridge Club apparently has a chef on staff much beloved by the players. We could see why! We played 36 deals and at the halfway point, each table received a delicious platter of finger sandwiches (egg, cheese, salmon, or chicken - no crusts); currant scones hot from the oven, served with strawberry jam and clotted cream; and a slice of cake. Of course there were many teas to choose from but as a non-tea drinker, I was happy to savor the food.

We haven't enjoyed the Oxford club quite as much. I found a great partner, an American college student here for junior year abroad. But the games have been rushed, with the Director hovering and exhorting people to play faster. In one round of the game I played with Robin, we had just finished Board 3 out of 5, and there was some confusion over how many tricks had been won by Declarer. The four of us were having a cordial discussion to reach agreement on the correct score, when the Director rushed over and harshly told us to stop talking and start playing the next hand. Now really! This Director had never seen Robin or me before - what if we had been novices? We would have left with tears in our eyes never to return. And it's so unnecessary! We ended up finishing our round with 6 or 7 minutes to spare.

There's a delicate balance in competitive bridge between serving the interests of the competition (keeping to the time limits, following the rules); vs. keeping it fun and friendly enough to appeal to players of all levels. A sensitive and sophisticated Director can do both at once. I have more to say on this matter, but will save it for another time.

Meanwhile, there is a bright light at the Oxford Bridge Club named Charlie Bucknell. Twice now he has invited me and my partner to join him and his friends for lunch at the pub and a review of the deals after the Friday morning game. Charlie is a professional player and teacher, and his "audience" enjoyed hearing his wise advice about the difficult hands. Robin and I also enjoyed a special wine-tasting and bridge game organized by Charlie last week. With any luck, I'm going to recruit him to co-teach a class with me online this winter - stay tuned! Meanwhile, we will continue to visit various bridge clubs and tournaments when we're not too busy sight-seeing. Nothing can deter us from the best game in the world!

Older and Less Fearless

There are only some photos from our October garden today, nothing related to my topic! Don't ask me to name any of the flowers, I'm clueless in that department though I enjoy looking at them.

So - I finally started driving in England, but only on quiet roads with Robin coaching me. I am not at all comfortable driving on the left!

When I was in my 30's, I visited my sister who was living in London for awhile. Her friend had a car and we went on a road trip. I asked to try driving, and the friend graciously allowed me, though he seemed a little tense. I remember it being fun! Now 30 years later, I'm pretty nervous. After being here a month, I finally got around to asking Robin for a driving lesson.

With the steering wheel on the right, I can't judge the center or side of the roads (which are frequently super narrow). I'm afraid I'll turn into the wrong lane, or go the wrong way around one of the gazillion "roundabouts." The idea of merging onto the "motorway" is stressful. I've been driving for 45 years and I've driven myself across the US several times. But getting older, at least for me, has taken away some of my fearlessness. Change becomes harder.

I suppose this whole year is about change, and I can't deny there have been moments of anxiety getting our dogs and ourselves safely and comfortably relocated. I countered these concerns with somewhat obsessive planning and plenty of lead time to triple-check every detail! Now we are certainly enjoying each "change of scenery" we are privileged to experience.

Planning won't help with that unexpected truck (or lorry as they are called) barreling towards me around a blind corner on a narrow road. But I can't ask Robin to do ALL the driving for the next 11 months. At the very least, I need to get myself to the grocery store and the vet. Next week, we leave on an 11-hour road trip to the Isle of Skye, and I hope to help with the driving. Clearly, I must get out there and practice.

Coming this month: Bridge Games, London Cocktail Week, The Isle of Skye. No more "philosophy!"

Hobbit Country

Druids gather at ancient site

The Rollright Stones

Charming town of Broadway

Bubbly = great w/ Sun. Roast

The English Cotswolds, a range of scenic hills with picturesque towns, are designated an AONB: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are lucky to live not far from there. From a web article Literary Cotswolds:

"The Cotswolds town and area surrounding Moreton-in-Marsh inspired the fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, who was a regular visitor. Moreton is thought to be Bree in Lord of the Rings and The Bell Inn in the heart of the town is the inspiration for The Prancing Pony. The Four Shire Stone (Three Farthing Stone), The Rollright Stones (Barrow Downs) and Broadway Tower (Amon Hen) are all only a few miles from Moreton.

As a devoted fan of both Tolkien and beautiful scenery, I was excited to visit this slice of England. On Robin's "Intro to the Cotswolds" tour with Jim and Eileen last weekend, we did see the Rollright Stones and the towns of Broadway, Chipping Campden and Chipping Norton.

It is indeed captivating scenery. We even ran into some people dressed up to celebrate the Fall Equinox at the Rollright Stones, which date from 4000 BC! (We guessed to call the costumed people "Druids" - there does seem to be such a self-described group in the Cotswolds.)

Despite the mystique of this ancient site, I thought the area around Stonehenge, about a hundred miles south and which I visited many years ago, was more evocative of Tolkien's Barrow Downs. But on our next Cotswold trip, we'll be sure to stop in Moreton-in-Marsh.

Meanwhile, the town of Chipping Norton boasts the Blue Boar Pub, where we got a reservation for Sunday Roast Dinner. Think roasted meat, potatoes, misc. vegetables, a Yorkshire pudding (popover), and lots of gravy. This is a ubiquitous English tradition and suffice it to say, we will be back to the Blue Boar.

Finally, for you poetry lovers: "T.S. Eliot was a regular visitor to Chipping Campden, and often went walking in the Cotswold hills with his friend Emily Hale. His...wonderful children’s poem, The Country Walk, highlights his fear of cows whilst on one of his Cotswold rambles!"