As of writing this post (somewhere towards the end of July), South Africa is still under lockdown to slow the potential spread of Coronavirus infections. Cigarettes are still contraband, alcohol is still illegal – and I’ve seen more than a handful of people remove their masks for the purposes of snacking in-store, only to replace the mask between mouthfuls. 

I’d say the government has made some decisions considered questionable, including the bans, and not limited to back-and-forthing on regulations (and then immediately publishing the results as New Law).

Here are some other things I’ve noticed during lockdown – and how bridge is the answer to life, the universe and everything. 

Distancing? Play More Bridge

Since social distancing kicked in, the idea of people “gathering” or “getting together” has almost started to feel like an unfamiliar concept over the past couple of months. 

People are being told to avoid social gatherings at home, but then told the same gatherings are fine as long as they’re sitting at a restaurant table. What’s stopping infection potential here – the size of the table? 

If you’re distancing and want to avoid total alienation, convince friends, family members and anyone else you haven’t spoken to in a while to play online bridge.

Missing people? Play more bridge.

Queuing? Play More Bridge

Curfews, distancing and general nationwide panic means that queues have become longer, unless you have spectacular timing or damn good luck when getting to the store. Are you going to be standing there for one hour, or two? There’s no way to tell unless you phone someone and ask.

What better for getting stuck in an endless line of people than playing a few hands of bridge? 

It sure makes the time go by better. 

Stuck in a queue? Play more bridge.

Curfew? Play More Bridge

I’m not the social kind of night owl that goes out to a club until 4AM – but some people are, and many people miss it. 

Curfews now mean that people have to be at home during certain hours. The government has been entirely unable to tell people howthese hours have been set, or why they have changed several times over the past few months.

Whether it makes any sense is a debate for another column, but bridge is another pastime that be taken up from home – and with international players online anywhere, it might not be a night-club, but it’s a club where you can interact.

Stuck at home? Play more bridge.

Stressed? Play More Bridge

Sometime into lockdown, people are stressed, and stress levels are going up.

There’s something about stressed minds that seems to push people into downloading games like Candy Crush. I can’t say how many people I’ve seen play it while trying to out-wait endless queues or just cope for a few minutes.

Online bridge is a great way to deal with stress, especially during these times. 

Stressed out of your mind? 

We all are. Play more bridge.