3 TABLE FULL HOWELL - BridgeWebs



SANDBANKS HOLIDAY REPORT

Random jottings by Bob McMahon

SUNDAY

After an uneventful drive via the A3, having been persuaded by a warning of queues ahead on the M25, we arrive at the Sandbanks Hotel to find that the lift is out of action. I later recall that this happened last year and one of us was stuck inside for some time. Reception say engineers will not arrive till tomorrow.

Cannier travellers tell me that the Jazz Café next door did a good lunch with live jazz.

MONDAY

Weather looks changeable, so to Poole Quay for charity shops and a non-charity record shop. The multi-storey car park is surprisingly cheap at 80p per hour. Back on the Sandbanks, the Jazz Café is good even without live music.

TUESDAY

A lot of complaints about food and service reinforce the lift incident to convince me to look for another hotel. I resolve with the agreement of Margaret, Jeane and Helen to drive to Bournemouth to look for hotels.

First a quick look at the Haven Hotel, which looks a bit dear. Then we notice that the Swanage chain ferry is loading, so we join the queue and are over in a few minutes. We flash past the Studland road, I resolve to visit it another year, we call in at the Knoll House, once frequented by Enid Blyton and near to some Famous Five locations. It is worth a visit but over our price bracket, and family friendly(!!!).

To Swanage and a delightful alfresco lunch at a fairly-priced waterside restaurant. No hotel looked suitable but on the way back we looked at the Grand Hotel, still in Swanage. A magnificent view across the bay and a great place to stop for coffee on the terrace. Not enough single rooms unless we go in November, but otherwise excellent.

WEDNESDAY

No distractions today: straight to Bournemouth and while looking for another hotel Helen and I (M & J were visiting a friend) come across the Queens Hotel, on the East Cliff a short walk from the front. No sea views, but most other boxes ticked. Plenty of parking, rooms available as singles, old but reliable lift (with engineer on call), rooms a short flat walk from the lifts, bridge room adjacent to the dining room, ramps where necessary, ten-minute walk down to the shops, short taxi ride back, bus stop 200 yards away. One never knows what food will be like in a year’s time, but the menu looks good and interesting. An indoor swimming pool rounds things off.

The hotel is not perfect: it is clean but some rooms are in need of refurbishment. But the price should be about two thirds that of the Sandbanks, and the hotel, unlike some, wants our business. Their website, , gives pictures and more details. I welcome feedback: they are holding a provisional reservation for September 8th next year.

As it was close, we checked the hotel on the seafront: it cost more than double.

Back to the hotel and bridge. Most of the hands were reshuffled before I made a note, but a little opening lead problem: hand 27 from Wednesday, Cover up all the hands except East’s: What would you lead on this bidding?

Dealer S: 0-0 Bidding: N E S W

( A J 10 6 P P

( Q 10 7 3 1H 2C 2H P

( K 4 2NT

( A Q 9

( Q 8 5 4 ( 2

( A 6 5 ( K 8 2

( J 10 9 8 6 ( A 7 5 3

( 4 ( K J 10 6 3

( K 9 7 3

( J 9 4

( Q 2

( 8 7 5 2

North’s bidding is a trifle exuberant and would be punished if you led a diamond. Normal boring 4th highest (6 is not fatal as long as East gives up on clubs when in with (K: a diamond still beats the contract. But a diamond opening lead gets the contract at least two off for a top. Moral: if they bid No Trumps after you have bid, consider not leading the suit they know you hold, especially with a broken holding like East’s clubs. No, I didn’t find it: I was North and got an undeserved top when they led a club. Playing negative doubles, N-S should reach 2S, just making.

THURSDAY

Back to reality. Despite its faults, the Sandbanks Hotel is in a lovely setting and we have many happy memories. We might be back in a few years if the management sorts itself out. One last treat: having many times in the past noticed the Rufus Stone turning, we explore it. The original stone is encased in metal to escape further defacement. So to lunch in the pub named after the man whose arrow accidentally killed William Rufus and probably did the country a service. The Sir Walter Tyrrel pub did us a rather good lunch with a pleasant view of New Forest ponies grazing.

Finally, a quick advert for the Chatsworth Hotel Worthing: November 23rd. Be there or be square. And remember, this note, the latest holiday list and much, much more can be found on : Find a club in Surrey, and we are the A22 friendly club.

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