After a few attempts, the FGC is finally reopening on *Thursday 9th September, albeit with some restrictions (see below).
It has been a very long road to get to this point and it is very sad to say that not everyone who was with us at the beginning of the journey is here at the finish line. They are deeply missed.
We are still living in unprecedented times. The first global pandemic since the start of the modern age and it’s not been good.
So, lets celebrate the first baby steps out of the bunker into this Brave New World (words chosen carefully).
BTW, today in 490 BCE, the Battle of Marathon took place between the invading Persian army and the Athenians.
It is a little know fact that Philippides ran to Sparta to ask for help from Athens BEFORE the battle. A distance of 140 miles over two days.
AFTER the battle, the Athenian army quick marched the 25 miles back to Athens to see off a Persian flanking manoeuvre.
The two events have become conflated into the popular myth of the heroic run and final victory cry.
Who said “History is bunk”?
(Actually, Henry Ford never used those words …)
The following is the rules/guidance we'll be setting for those attending club in the foreseeable future. Remember above all of it though to be kind to those who may have had a completely different experience of the past 18 months to you. If someone you are playing with is feeling uncomfortable then do what you can to help.
We'd like you to take a lateral flow test before attending, ideally in the prior 24 hours but if you're taking regular twice-weekly tests anyway then your normal cadence is fine. Also, regardless of what the test might say please don't attend if you have any of the symptoms of Covid or if you have been in recent contact with someone infectious. If you need to get yourself some lateral flow tests, they are free and can be ordered from here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
At the venue please ensure you set up your table a good distance from everyone else. Be proactive in moving your table a little if needed to keep everyone spaced. We'll review the space available over the next few weeks and, if we think we risk overcrowding, we'll be setting attendance limits and issuing tickets.
Keep to your table. Wherever you end up playing games for the evening, stay there. Please accordingly try to accommodate whoever is at your table if your game finishes and you start a new one. It would also help if people could plan games ahead of time. No more than 6 people per table.
Wear a mask (unless exempt for medical reasons) whilst moving about the venue. You may take your mask off whilst at your table but please wear it the rest of the time.
We'll be keeping the windows open for airflow - please don't close them.
Hand sanitiser will be provided by the club. Please use it.
The games cupboard will not be in use for the time being. Please speak to Graham or Ian if you have any personal property in there that you'd like to reclaim. Accordingly bring games you'd like to play.
For the first couple of weeks we'll be treating this as an EGM (like silly games night) and won't be charging for attendance. In that period, we'll be working out how best to charge attendance without using cash. We'll be doing table sign-in with a separate form per table. So, in other words - no need for the entire club to mill around Alan.
If you have a positive Covid test in the week following your attendance at FGC please let us know so we can ensure those you were playing with are informed.
Obviously, we'll review the above rules regularly. Some of you will thing the above too cautious, some of you will think it not cautious enough. Please give us feedback and please don't give us reason to have to eject you. If you really disagree with above just let us know and then don't attend.
Posted Wednesday 8th September 2021 09:57:33 by Ian Pearson