Out of my league
Bridge league that is. We played bridge where the league never steps.
Gail and I got invited to play social bridge tonight by our friends Helen and Raleigh Davis. I am so accustomed to official, scheduled, planned, ruled, authorized bridge games I’d pretty much forgotten that most bridge in this country is played in houses and country clubs, not ACBL sanctioned clubs.
The facility was pretty damn nice:
Bridge clubs don’t usually look like this
Our host is an architect; he designed his own home in the Walnut Creek hills. Surrounded by oak trees, it’s a palace with a view all the way to the delta.
Table #1, in the den. More great views. The floors are covered because they have a new puppy.
I just kept wanting to take more photos, the house is so nice:
The decor here is outstanding.
There were 3 tables in play. We were the substitutes for a couple who couldn’t make it. Besides our hosts, we didn’t know the other players, but it turns out that we have many friends in common–they play in Moraga with David Geary, Conrad Robertson, Winnie and Jerry and Barbara Hanson.
The food at a home game is pretty good:
Smoked salmon beats peanut butter pretzels any day.
After the game there was homemade carrot cake in the dining room:
Much better than eating at card tables
This was just a fun evening. The competition wasn’t strong; we came in 2nd out of 6. There were no masterpoints, and nobody cared. There was also no director, no timer, no rule book and no pressure. Just a pleasant evening with friends old and new. It doesn’t hurt to remember that bridge can be a pastime, not always a cutthroat battle.
Totally Unauthorized 
I have the exact same placemats. My mother bought them in the Phillippines. Small World