This quarter writes Colin Pearson we have a short report on assisting the Anglo Turkish Society at their Games afternoon in January, news of our next Annual Swiss Teams tournament in May, a profile of one of our newer bridge members, and our usual updates on Islandsbc online bridge scores and where you can play Bridge in North Cyprus. The online tournaments – now in its 4th year - continues to go from strength to strength with the first Saturday in January having a record 14 pairs playing.

ANGLO TURKISH ASSOCIATION - GAMES AFTERNOON – WEDNESDAY 10th JANUARY 2024

Members of the Monday Bridge Club led by its Chairman Janice Harper attended the Anglo/Turkish Association for those who opted to try playing bridge at their Games afternoon held at the Seaangle Bar Çatalköy. In total some 5 members were given a taste of the pleasures of playing bridge and invited to join our regular sessions after further lessons.

SWISS TEAMS TOURNAMENT – THURSDAY 16 MAY 2024

Following the success of last year’s Swiss Teams Tournament, we plan a further one to be held once again at the Korineum Golf Resort on Thursday 16 May 2024. Once again, teams will be playing for the Trophy and the Plate. Already 33 members have registered for this popular event.

ROSIE ANSTEY

I came to live in North Cyprus in 2014 because of the great weather and slower pace of life.  Before this, I owned a Wellbeing centre in the UK, where I worked as a Counsellor, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. I have spent most of my working life helping and supporting people in overcoming issues and making changes in their lives.

Coming from a medical family – my father was the Chief Consultant Anaesthetist in Surrey and my mother a Nursing Matron, led to me to setting up Surgery-Cyprus.co.uk to enable patients from here, UK and Europe in having surgery in the TRNC at our amazing medical facilities. Patients elect when they have their procedures and we schedule surgeries quickly and efficiently, whilst saving up to 50% on UK prices. Surgery-Cyprus has an elite team of doctors and professors covering a wide range of specialties here in Northern Cyprus and we organise everything for our patients.

Any surgery can be a daunting prospect for people who are not familiar with the medical world, and knowing what questions to ask or what to expect can be a challenge to patients. Booking your surgery through Surgery-Cyprus offers patients a high personal level of care, organising everything including travel, accommodation, liaising between the doctors and hospitals, whilst keeping patients supported and informed every step of the way before during and after their surgery. I believe it takes a lot of stress away from the patients and their carers.

When my original bridge partner and friend died of cancer I was devastated and thought about giving up playing bridge. However, I decided to channel my energies and do something positive. I wanted to be able to help others suffering the loss of a loved one especially here in Northern Cyprus. I trained and gained a qualification as an International Wedding, Funeral & Family Celebrant, and I am a member of the UK Society of Celebrants. I am also licensed to officially marry people in the USA and Canada. This means I can officiate at all types of ceremonies to offer people a tailor-made, personal ceremony whether that be a funeral, memorial, wedding, vow renewal or child naming ceremony. My background as a counsellor, and being a good communicator used to public speaking, has definitely been a huge benefit in my work as a celebrant.

I first took up bridge in 2019 with my original bridge partner, taking lessons from Susan Cahit. Our motivation was to learn a new skill, meet like-minded people and have some fun. Sadly, COVID interrupted us playing and learning. I wasn’t ready at this point for the online tournaments organised by Islandsbc. My original bridge partner then sadly passed away. However, with my wonderful friend and new bridge partner Yvie, we started playing face to face bridge regularly when the Korineum Golf Resort Monday bridge club restarted in March 2022. Bridge is a brilliant way for people of all ages to keep your brain active and have some fun whilst meeting new people. The members of the Kyrenia Bridge Club have been very welcoming, and a huge support to Yvie and me, and we look forward to continuing to learn and improve our game.
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