Monday morning and off to Vega$. It is an easy but incredibly boring drive to Las Vegas 4.75 hours of dessert with small spots of beautiful cactus but mostly boring desert. There is almost nowhere to stop on the way but I do take a 10 minute break. They have now built a fast crossing of the Hoover dam which avoids possible 30 minute traffic jams.
I arrive around lunch time and check in telling the receptionsist that I would like a room on the second floor, near the entry to the convention area and preferably on the pool side. Of course without telling me he puts me on the third floor, car park side and as far from the lift as possible. I simply couldn't bother but you wonder if they listen or care.
I settle in, unpack and get the computers eady for Wednesday - hate leaving things for the last minute. I get a text from my good friend Boye Brogeland that he has just arrived which is unsual as he doesnt play till Friday and often arrives at the last minute but he has decided that as he was knocked out of the Spring Fours in London "early" he may as well take a few days time out. Anyway that evening we got to Rosemary's for dinner - a restaurant I rate as a 9. I have sent many friends there and nobody has been disappointed.
Next day I spend relaxing by the pool for a few hours and mooch around the casino being marginally in front - soon to change as it happens to marginally behind.
In the afternoon Alex, Andy, Boye and I go to the Premium Outlet Centre. Now imagine I actually spent 2.5 hours there and all I bought was a drink. The closest I got to buying anything was a Calvin Klein leather Jacket reduced to $A135 but I couldnt convince myself that I "needed" it. OK that never stopped me before but....
Boye and I head off to our annual 'date' at Nobu. This is a restaurant that we both love. The meal included some new taste sensations including Edemame with Chili and Truffle oil - cant wait to try that cooking that one! We allowed the waiter to choose our food insisting on only two dishes the Lobster Tacos and the signature Sweet Miso Black Cod. He didnt let us down bringing each course and telling us about how it was prepared with an amazing passion and enthusiasm. There were two oysters with the most amazing dressing, salmon tartare, yellow tail with jalapeno and to top it all off a dessert sampler inclduing chocolate and sour cheery spring rolls among many other delights. Boye rated it as the best meal he had ever had and I rated it a candidate for the title.
Wednesday and work time. There is a breakfast at 09:00 by the pool at which I take all the photos and then set up everything for the online presentation BBO. This year is remarkable we have 5 operators - normally it is a struggle - so I am not scheduled to do any operating. I do however do 18 boards when Andy' Hung's friend is playing excusing him from operating. To fully utilise all these resources we are adding a third Table for the last two days. It is quite a long day with the rbidge running from 10:30 to 20:30 and even though I am not actively involve once it is set up I need to be around to make sure everything functions properly.
You can see photos from the table - a touch I have added to the event at cavendish.bridgewinners.com and tonight (Sydney Friday 11:00am) you will be able to see live updates of the amounts bid for the pairs.
That evening - MORE FOOD. Juan Carlos Ventin a very wealthy Spnaish Businessman with whom I have become friendly mainly through fine dining joins myself, Boye (his partner) and two Swedish Players (Fredin and Wrang) for a dinner at Hank's, the fine dining here at Green Valley Resort. I must say I ordered something called a Seafood Gamble which was a cold plate of every imaginable Crustacean = oyster, lobster, crab, prawn, langustines, and many others I didn't even know. It was so filling I took half back to my room and had it for breakfast. As it was so fresh there was no problem with that at all.
The teams is won by Levin-Weinstein Jacobus-O'rourke and Hampson-Greco. As somebody noted usual Cavendish you play bridge for five days solid and at the end Levin Weinstein take home the prizes. I am there to take the 'official pictures' and am now in my room relaxing before the Auction this evening.
Love to all
XD
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