Bingo

On Friday evening, I joined in  the  popular pastime, that of playing Bingo.  It was arranged as a social evening at  my local Health Club.  I have played Bingo a couple of times in my life, but not for several years so I was surprised to receive a set of books, each containing five sets of bingo cards on one page.  A little unsure as to what I had to do my friend explained the procedure.  She had come armed with a special marker pen, which glancing at her during play, certainly made playing much easier.  At last the Caller called the usual  'Eyes down and Looking',  and we were off.   Now I thought I had a good level of concentration, but my oh my,  how hard it was to monitor all 5 cards at once, I am sure if I had won, I certainly wouldn't have 'called'  in time.  First looking for a full line, then two lines, then full house.   I didn't come close to winning, but I have to confess I enjoyed the evening, a couple of glasses of wine, and a nice chat to friends, during the periods in between games.


I have thought about the evening since, and looking back, I noted that playing the game, is both good for concentration, and also for taking your mind off other things, becoming totally transfixed on the task in hand, that of marking off each number as they where called.  I think that had I played this game, whilst I was working, it would have been great for stress relief.   I can understand why millions of people play each week.   Certainly you get an adrenalin kick, especially if you are looking for just one number, excitement at the prospect, that you might win a prize, the power to switch off the brain and leave your problems behind, for a short while, and the social benefit of being with other like minded people, all having fun.  I certainly will join in the next session when arranged, and this time will definitely go armed with the special bingo players marker pen.  

Spring Cleaning

This is my first ever blog. It is a horrible foggy Devon Day, and at last I have just performed a task I have been meaning to do for ages.  I have cleaned out my cabinets and washed and dried an assortment of glass ware and ornaments all things I have collected in the short space of my life.  My morning as been spent locked in my memories, from my 1953 Coronation commemorative mug, to a recent trip to Greece.
  I think to myself, I must get rid of some of this junk, but as they create memories and take me back to times good and bad, I am reluctant to let them go.  So whilst they gather dust, and take up space, I think for a time they must remain. 
One of the items is a china tea cup and saucer, taken from my Mother’s house after she passed away.  Each one of my other siblings  one Brother and two Sisters, have a duplicate set displayed in their houses, so along with memories, of Mother and 'Home' I am also taken to them, and wonder what they are doing, being scattered between Lancaster in England and Ontario in Canada.
I have a selection of beer glasses, legally taken from various bars in Europe, including two very attractive ones taken from a ski lodge in  Scheffau in Austria, after a scary trip up the mountain on a gondola; we enjoyed a lovely walk enjoying the views, and beauty of this mountain landscape.  So before descending we enjoyed a wonderful glass of beer, and for no reason, I can recall, we seemed to break into laughter.  This trip helped me to overcome my fear of heights, and we continued to explore higher and higher, during this holiday. Other glasses collected, include those from our favourite holiday haunt, Kalami in Corfu Greece and two wine glasses given to us when we did The Wine Tour in Cape Town. South Africa.  We have tea glasses from Turkey, and a Rovers Return glass bought when we did The Coronation Street Tour, in Manchester.
I also have lots of little bits and pieces such has birthday candles, little gifts from the children, a couple of Union Jacks, A Canadian flag, and a Greek flag.  
So as you can see how can I possibly get rid of these items, I expect I will continue to collect, and moan regularly about the cleaning and dusting, that they create.  I have enjoyed my morning, looking back, and now I must look to the future, and make my lunch.  I hope this little blog is of interest, thank you for reading it.  Barbara