Bridge to a Miracle
Story by Mary Savko (BBO: mmary) The story I’d like to share is not connected ...
We all know the card game Bridge is played around the world and in many languages. I’d like to tell you about my experience. My lovely wife and I married about four decades ago and shortly thereafter lived in Lesotho, which many of you will know is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It has a population of around two million people and is reputed to be the highest country in the world – on the basis that its lowest point of 1500m is higher than the comparable point in all other countries, but I digress.
My wife was born in what was then Czechoslovakia and hence her mother tongue is Czech. It was compulsory to learn Russian in those days and she spent 14 school years toiling with the intricacies of that language. When she married this Pommy of course she had to develop her mastery of English and that she has achieved admirably, however her linguistic skills were truly tested when she agreed to learn Bridge. We joined a group of a dozen people being taught by Paddy (an Irishman) and Gerard (a Frenchman) – this was truly an international group.
We persisted with lessons for several weeks, but soon developed a routine which for us involved returning home each evening and my wife asking, “So David, now tell me what they said tonight” and I realised that she had understood little. Thinking about it, the tutors were talking in my wife’s third language, but with a strong Irish accent and an even stronger French accent, so it was obvious to me it was very difficult for her to understand what was being said. It formed the basis of a few humorous evenings together.
It’s true to say the language of Bridge is international and since those early days we have played in English, Afrikaans, Russian, Czech and Portuguese. No matter where we lived, finding the local bridge club was always the second thing (after only accommodation) we would focus on, but always resulted in many enjoyable evenings spent with like-minded people. Bridge has facilitated our coming together with many new friends from around the World and because we have always partnered each other we have benefitted with a much stronger marital bond. Unfortunately, my wife is losing her eyesight, so after playing together for 40+ years we must now make the most of social bridge, although I play in our local club in Tasmania.
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I grew up in Lesotho, so this story tugs at the heart strings. However, at that time, my mother insisted that bridge was a waste of time, so I had no intention of ever playing it. It was only when we got to the US and with some encouragement from my husband that I took the plunge. Now I love the game, and play as often as I can at our local bridge club, where I have also met some wonderful people.
How do I get on international bridge
Lovely story
Hi David
I used to play with you and Lida in Lesotho. I remember your 2D opening bid. What are you doing now? I'm happy for you to have my e-mail address. I'm going on holiday in a fortnights time so you may not get a prompt reply.
Christine and phil Thompson
Well done David.!His story is special! All I would like to add is that being a South African my country shares a border with Lesotho - both being on the African continent. My joy of "discovering" BBO is the great"variety " of players.
I find it exciting to be playing with players from the biggest to the smallest countries in the world. This makes Bridge an amazing "hobby" for many. I would just enjoy
it more if some players identified themselves and their countries. I would prefer not playing with "private"
bodies! But THREE CHEERS FOR BBO. I love it!!
Lovely story, thank you. I often use Google Translate to communicate with BBO partners from all over the world. However, details often get "lost in translation" , but we soldier on
You are so right when you say that bridge facilitates making connections. When I taught in a business school in Thailand, I started a bridge club to teach my graduate business students bridge, the rationale being that when they have to travel for business, it is a great way to get a foot in the door, no less than golf.
I, too, spent time in Lesotho, 1991/2, and we played rubber Bridge in a so-called marathon - a group of pairs who had to play each other on a round-robin basis in a specified period of time, about 2 or 3 months if I remember correctly. One of the pairs comprised David and Lida Barraclough and I'm quite certain that this story is from him. If so, Hello David, love to Lida, sorry to hear of her failing eyesight. Rose and I no longer play together but she normally looks over my shoulder when I'm on BBO and points out my mistakes.
Lovely story! Bravo and may the bridge force be with you!!
Lovely story! Bravo and may the bridge force be with you!!
Lovely story! Bravo and may the bridge force be with you!!
Lovely story! Bravo and may the bridge force be with you!!
Lovely story! Bravo and may the bridge force be with you!!