So
Thursday morning and breakfast before hopping on the bus to the venue to start
work. The Vugraph theatre is a gym style room with wooden floors and the
acoustics are very poor but it is what it is and the first match goes without
much of a problem - Israel beating Italy 24-6. I am on the lookout for some
hands to report for the bulletin but not much strikes me as worthy.
The Bulletin notes that Taicang (pronounced Tie-tsang) has a population of 600,000 of which 25% play bridge - the highest per capita of any city in the world. I discovered over breakfast that the Bulletin had prepared an article about China and Taicang how the government works etc. and it was all removed due to censorship - not to my taste.
Just a note that there are 20 teams competing in the Junior division U26, 17 competing in the youngsters division U21 and 10 in the girls U21. In general terms teams have had t qualify to make it through their zones to the tournament and the competition is GENERALLY of a high standard. So with around 330 players and captains and maybe 60 officials and workers the tournament brings 400 people to Taicang for 11+ days the value of which was demonstrated by the attendance of the Mayor and other high officials at yesterday's opening ceremony.
Lunch comprises a KFC box with two burgers and some hot soft drinks which I manage t change for cold ones in the President's private fridge. I am a little overdosed with Asian food but not to the point of KFC two days running - blargh!
The two matches after lunch go without a hitch and the day finishes with me being very tired - not surprising after 7.5 hours of commentating. Unlike the Open Championships where I am rostered for 50% of the time it is 100% here although a third commentator Whois a bulletin editor has offered me a session or two off which I will take later the in the tournament.
There is no wireless Internet in the VG theatre so on the way back to the hotel I buy a router for $13 figuring what is the risk. A quick Asian dinner provided by the WBF and definitely below par and I head to my room to find that the only interface to set up the router is in Chinese. I am pretty chuffed to work it out and after watching some of my TV shows (The Wire) a relatively early night's sleep.
The U20 team running second while the U26 team are moving up the leader board after a poor start. the girls aren't doing well but I hear aren good spirits and enjoying themselves.
Next morning I wake to the burglar alarm at home phoning me and manage to disconnect my voicemail on my mobile phone through stupidity. I pay the price with thirty minutes of (thankfully) Skype to Telstra after which it is fixed. Quick breakfast and off to the venue.
Wireless Internet works which is good and we commentate anwild set involving Denmark and Netherlands which ends up drawish.
Lunch - you guessed it - KFC but at least this time it actually included some chicken not just burgers which was fun. Another KFC and I resign. I may buy a ramen noodle soup on the way home and bring it for lunch. The fridge n the hotel is empty which would make this possible.
While at lunch I am interviewed off camera by a crew making a documentary about bridge the aging population and how it ca be fun for kids. They say they want to interview me on camera which I am fine with.
Two more sessions after lunch and a very tired commentator packs up his chattels and joins the 22 members of the three Australian youth teams and their captains and coach for a sensationally delicious Japanese dinner. Unfortunately I burn my lips on the Ramen soup but lesson learned.
The kids are ebullient with the U26 running 4/20 the U20 running 3/17 but the Girls running 10/10 but enjoying themselves.
The visit to the Ramen restaurant opens up a whole new part of town to me. A bustling area with thoroughly modern shops and lots of young people and clearly the action part of town.
Back to the hotel to do my BAS tax statement and watch the preparations for the Olympic opening ceremony before a late night.
Next morning and I catch up on a few emails and let everybody know that I am expecting a second grandchild in January. How excited am I? Actually slightly terrified but well talk about that another time. A quick breakfast and off the the venue.
Not often that I bless my health or constitution but noting that there are only squat toilets available at the venue I take the opportunity to do so!!!
One meets so many investing people in the bridge world. I have been having breakfast with the web designer for the event who is a 30+ Greek guy who has been telling me about life in Greece. He owns a computer hardware business with two others and even with a drop of 40% in turnover the business is not losing money. That said life is tough and very political. Then there is an Italian guy who is doing a PhD involving youth participation in bridge and is surveying everybody as part of his thesis.
Anyway yesterday I made some suggestions as to which matches we should broadcast and an happy that my suggestions have been adopted. The first match Australia vs Israel turns out to be a good choice when Australia wins 19-11. Off to lunch and you guessed it K....Farking....C. No says I as PO and I march off to......Pizza Hut in protest.
The Bulletin notes that Taicang (pronounced Tie-tsang) has a population of 600,000 of which 25% play bridge - the highest per capita of any city in the world. I discovered over breakfast that the Bulletin had prepared an article about China and Taicang how the government works etc. and it was all removed due to censorship - not to my taste.
Just a note that there are 20 teams competing in the Junior division U26, 17 competing in the youngsters division U21 and 10 in the girls U21. In general terms teams have had t qualify to make it through their zones to the tournament and the competition is GENERALLY of a high standard. So with around 330 players and captains and maybe 60 officials and workers the tournament brings 400 people to Taicang for 11+ days the value of which was demonstrated by the attendance of the Mayor and other high officials at yesterday's opening ceremony.
Lunch comprises a KFC box with two burgers and some hot soft drinks which I manage t change for cold ones in the President's private fridge. I am a little overdosed with Asian food but not to the point of KFC two days running - blargh!
The two matches after lunch go without a hitch and the day finishes with me being very tired - not surprising after 7.5 hours of commentating. Unlike the Open Championships where I am rostered for 50% of the time it is 100% here although a third commentator Whois a bulletin editor has offered me a session or two off which I will take later the in the tournament.
There is no wireless Internet in the VG theatre so on the way back to the hotel I buy a router for $13 figuring what is the risk. A quick Asian dinner provided by the WBF and definitely below par and I head to my room to find that the only interface to set up the router is in Chinese. I am pretty chuffed to work it out and after watching some of my TV shows (The Wire) a relatively early night's sleep.
The U20 team running second while the U26 team are moving up the leader board after a poor start. the girls aren't doing well but I hear aren good spirits and enjoying themselves.
Next morning I wake to the burglar alarm at home phoning me and manage to disconnect my voicemail on my mobile phone through stupidity. I pay the price with thirty minutes of (thankfully) Skype to Telstra after which it is fixed. Quick breakfast and off to the venue.
Wireless Internet works which is good and we commentate anwild set involving Denmark and Netherlands which ends up drawish.
Lunch - you guessed it - KFC but at least this time it actually included some chicken not just burgers which was fun. Another KFC and I resign. I may buy a ramen noodle soup on the way home and bring it for lunch. The fridge n the hotel is empty which would make this possible.
While at lunch I am interviewed off camera by a crew making a documentary about bridge the aging population and how it ca be fun for kids. They say they want to interview me on camera which I am fine with.
Two more sessions after lunch and a very tired commentator packs up his chattels and joins the 22 members of the three Australian youth teams and their captains and coach for a sensationally delicious Japanese dinner. Unfortunately I burn my lips on the Ramen soup but lesson learned.
The kids are ebullient with the U26 running 4/20 the U20 running 3/17 but the Girls running 10/10 but enjoying themselves.
The visit to the Ramen restaurant opens up a whole new part of town to me. A bustling area with thoroughly modern shops and lots of young people and clearly the action part of town.
Back to the hotel to do my BAS tax statement and watch the preparations for the Olympic opening ceremony before a late night.
Next morning and I catch up on a few emails and let everybody know that I am expecting a second grandchild in January. How excited am I? Actually slightly terrified but well talk about that another time. A quick breakfast and off the the venue.
Not often that I bless my health or constitution but noting that there are only squat toilets available at the venue I take the opportunity to do so!!!
One meets so many investing people in the bridge world. I have been having breakfast with the web designer for the event who is a 30+ Greek guy who has been telling me about life in Greece. He owns a computer hardware business with two others and even with a drop of 40% in turnover the business is not losing money. That said life is tough and very political. Then there is an Italian guy who is doing a PhD involving youth participation in bridge and is surveying everybody as part of his thesis.
Anyway yesterday I made some suggestions as to which matches we should broadcast and an happy that my suggestions have been adopted. The first match Australia vs Israel turns out to be a good choice when Australia wins 19-11. Off to lunch and you guessed it K....Farking....C. No says I as PO and I march off to......Pizza Hut in protest.
We arrive back to the second match to find out that there will be an appeal at 19:30 tonight which will make it a Looong day!!! Oh well appeals are usually very interesting but the Ramen meal I had planned with PO may not happen.
Tomorrow is
the one day of the qualifying (days 1-6) when there are 4 matches or 64 boards
versus the 'normal' 48 but I have arranged one match off as it is very tiring
and hard to do 9 hours of commentating. From days 7 to 9 when the quarter and
semi finals are contested there are also 64 boards so will again try for a
session off. OH! Lunch is.....Chinese food!!!
So just to
report that I am enjoying myself a lot. The "work" is easy albeit
tiring, the people are all fine and cooperative, the meal company is good and
if I have a complaint it is the heat and humidity.
There hasn't
been anything remarkable to report in the bridge department except for one hand
where E/W can make grand slam in three strains and small slam in other two -
not something I have seen before.
The Appeal is problematic. All five members
of the committee wish to overturn the decision of the tournament director
having sympathy for the appellant’s position but are advised that according to
law this isn’t possible – absurd in the extreme.
Next day is a four session day but I have managed to get somebody
to relieve me and give me a session break during which I go out shopping buying
some baby clothes at Wal*Mart and having a lunch. Spoke too soon above – had a
call of nature and managed to find a normal toilet but forgot that in China
toilet paper is a BYO item – had to find a restaurant and buy some serviettes.
Both Australian teams U26 and U20 doing very well running third well ahead of the eight position required to qualify.
Another early night after a light meal.
Catch you soon and will post some pics with next Blog
XD
