Welcome!

One of the gifts I noticed at the Secret Santa we had at the office and also among family were card games. From Junior UNO for the grandkids, right upteam is anything to go by, they definitely are! Beth is a lot like me with cards, and needs the rules explained to her pretty much every time. But her favourite is a game I’d never heard of called Yaniv. ‘It’s brilliant,’ she said. ‘I play it with my sister and her hubby’s family. It’s the only game I ever win at!’ Lisa, who used to work at years ago and has returned to help us out over the holiday season, comes from a big card-playing family. ‘My dad, Micky, was a notoriously ruthless player and never once let me win,’ she said. ‘When he pulled the cards out to play UNO with my then six-year-old daughter Ava, I was sure he would have mellowed with age. But leopards don’t change their spots and he kept winning until the ever diligent Ava piped up, ‘Grandad, why are half your cards on the floor? Are you cheating?’ Mari also played cards often as a child and also with her own children. ‘One of best memories of my grandad is him teaching me how to play cribbage when I was about 12,’ she said. ‘I was so proud when I finally cracked it. And it helped with my mental arithmetic! Also, my nana taught me a crazy card shuffling trick that I still show off with now!’ I know there will be lots of readers and their families on holidays now. And for many, card games will be on the agenda. It’s lovely to think of all the happy memories you’ll be making. But whatever, you’re doing, I hope you are enjoying 2022!