I have wanted to write this newsletter for so long, as my friends know, I love to play cards. A result, no doubt, of a childhood spent in remote corners of the world. And today, I am still playing these games with friends and family of all ages and nationalities. My favourite evenings have been spent playing Rummy or Biriba on a terrace overlooking the Aegean or in front of a roaring fire in Blighty. Those early childhood family games of Uno, Patience, Whist and raucous rounds of Oh Hell have now largely been replaced by the more sedate International Rummy or Biriba… although not always!
Cards have no language barrier; AI will not replace them. They are completely democratic; no special skills or specific clothing are required. They are, in my view, a perfect tool for engaging a younger generation. Once you have played a few times, you know the rules, yet every game unfolds differently. It is a game of observation, instinct and vigilance. Extremely mobile, you can slip them in your pocket; no power supply is needed, and you can play with as few or as many as you like. They are also extremely sociable; a whole evening can be spent just chatting and playing.
It should never be stressful. I do not consider Poker or Bridge card games; they are too contentious, too prescribed, with too much at stake. You want a game that holds your interest but can be chatted through, drunk through, smoked through and, on occasion, cheated through. Competitive enough to be spiky, but not enough to leave home after losing…
Our beautiful Connolly cards are made by the best card makers in Belgium, and they come in a double pack, with a hand-finished leather case and a wicked joker. The perfect house gift.
- Isabel
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