tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:36:25 +0000A regular column for the Playing Bingo site by Gala TV's Brett Hyrjak - Bingo Caller of the Year 2006http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/index.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dio Bach)Blogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-5577299528615489145Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:26:00 +00002009-11-06T10:42:52.269Zme and the missus in vegasYes, you have read correctly, this will be the very last post on 'Brett's corner'!!!! After 2 and a half years of comment and criticism on everything bingo I have decided to pack away the laptop and switch off the wireless (metaphorically speaking, of course-I can't possibly cope without Facebook and TV on demand!!)I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for this site over thehttp://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/11/my-very-last-bretts-corner.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-2250454060229406773Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:18:00 +00002009-10-15T23:25:31.547+01:00Here's a story in the Kent area about a bingo hall in Maidstone that was victim to an attempted break in by two teenagers aged 16 and 17.............Dressed in camoflague they first tried to break into an upper entrance before giving up and scaling the rooftops to try to find access that way........with no success as one of them became trapped and had to be rescued by the authorities!What makes http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/10/wait-until-youre-18-people_15.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-5574570454128773988Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:12:00 +00002009-10-04T11:44:46.283+01:00Not so long ago we had the most people ever playing a game of bingo......how do we better that? By having the Worlds HIGHEST game of bingo ever played!!!!!A bingo manager has set themselves the challenge of reaching the highest point in the World (which is Mount Everest and not Blackpool tower as some people think!) and calling a game of bingo with some nutty players, and all in the name of http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/10/calling-on-mount-everestits-snow-joke.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-8092573757956080819Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:15:00 +00002009-09-27T15:39:05.779+01:00A few months ago we heard about a play in the north of England that depicted life in the bingo halls. You were even given a bingo ticket as an audience member and could win a 'fantastic prize' during the show!Well this weekend there was a performance of another bingo related play at London's Hackney Empire called 'Strictly bingo' a clip of which you can see here:As you can see it details the http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/09/slice-of-bingo-life-down-theatre.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-8019414050317490123Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:01:00 +00002009-09-18T06:22:13.422+01:00We have another tale here of disgruntled customer vs the bingo hall's. This time it involves a situation where the prize board had the incorrect amount displayed on it and the customer receives a lesser amount.This raises a potential minefield of questions to prove who is right and who is wrong in this instance:If the prize board displayed £5,000 and not £1,000 then why did nobody notice the http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/09/did-she-deal-or-no-deal-on-5000-or-1000.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-3832902102313939454Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:00:00 +00002009-09-11T17:25:54.660+01:00Did you say 'Free'? I hope you did! If you thought of any other four letter word then you are just naughty!! 'Free' is always a word that fills us with joy: from the promoters in the street who give you free samples of products, to the little known websites that offer free mobile ring tones and games....when you get something for nothing it really brightens up your day. The bingo industry http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/09/whats-your-favourite-four-letter-word.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-2781815556507064667Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:16:00 +00002009-08-20T21:54:38.745+01:00One of my pet hates about bingo advertising......actually ALL advertising........is when the adverts deliberately cloud the promotion....making the consumer think that they are getting something when in fact they are not.Do you remember when you were a kid at the funfair and you went on one of those stalls where you would have to get a certain score on a dart board to win a prize? Dotted around http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/08/no-deposit-free-100-bonus-at-britains.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-4758434846984901669Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:31:00 +00002009-08-10T23:42:26.368+01:00Another club shut down this week, this time in Scotland; one of the most bingo loving parts of the United Kingdom. It's pleasing to know though that the club was packed out for it's final night making sure that it would close down with a bang rather than a whimper.The other good thing is that once again a club in nearby Glenrothes is offering a coach service from Leven to there club....or should http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/08/another-weekanother-bingo-closure.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-6008622117769920854Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:38:00 +00002009-08-03T16:09:46.701+01:00When another bingo club closes in the country (which seems to be on a weekly basis at the moment) you not only lose out on your bingo playing fun; you also lose out on a valuable resource for the community. I'm not talking to the young players who visit the club once or twice a month who will simply drive to the nearest rival club...I am talking about the O.A.P's and others who visit the the clubhttp://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/08/as-one-hall-closesa-coach-door-opens.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-1504498945958880936Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:58:00 +00002009-07-29T02:19:14.186+01:00Hello again,Sorry folk's about not posting for a while.....it's been a busy time with me as I have been moving house and visiting the family back in Bognor Regis: I am now away from the rather weird sounding Fishponds area of Bristol and am living in the more Regal sounding 'Kingswood'. After rearranging rooms, unpacking boxes and setting up my new Internet connection, I am now raring to go with http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/07/hello-again.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-7172197253093977090Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:27:00 +00002009-07-02T22:55:59.467+01:00The bingo industry have finally joined forces, along with customers and have stormed parliament to urge the government to reduce the bingo tax laws: Well, when I say storm; I really mean that on one of the hottest days of the year around three hundred players and staff visited the capital to stage a peaceful demonstration on an open top bus whilst waving placards and chanting slogans such as '1 http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/07/hands-off-our-balls-players-storm.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-6001524699071135035Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +00002009-06-22T16:14:22.685+01:00You would think in today's climate that there would be plenty of seats available in the bingo hall to accommodate everyone. Well not for a 96 year old pensioner from Scotland who has now been banned from every club in the country after punching a manager in the face!!!!After finding out that her regular seat had been taken, the OAP decided to have a shouting match demanding her table back. http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/06/stop-bullying-playersno-matter-how-old.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-1268096957961192086Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:16:00 +00002009-06-14T04:46:24.203+01:00Remember a couple of years ago when Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Borat' invaded America causing mayhem, not to mention several lawsuits. Well his new alter-ego 'Bruno' has started where Borat left off; only this time he has upset the US bingo community!!A woman who ran a charity bingo game in America is suing the former Ali G star after she claims she was 'offensively touched, pushed and battered' which http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/06/i-like-very-muchits-nice.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-2241884145224764985Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:18:00 +00002009-06-09T04:23:08.237+01:00Just a selfish little thing. I searched for my name on Youtube and this little gem popped up!!!!! Me on the automated bingo TV service. Thanks to the person that uploaded it (I think I know who you are!!)Click and watch it and maybe I'll get a million hits!!!http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/06/wheres-my-hair.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-8022572931059321805Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:58:00 +00002009-06-09T04:15:17.123+01:00Yeah!!!!!!! Gordon Brown might have been perplexed the other day when the bingo player ranted at him about the unfair taxation on the bingo industry, but he will be fully aware of the game now as the bingo companies will be seeking to reclaim around £500 million for being overcharged on tax on ancilliary games.This story has been around for the last 18 months or so and it is pleasing to see thathttp://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/06/watch-out-taxmanbingo-wants-its-money.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-5612533148013356474Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:27:00 +00002009-06-02T15:04:53.880+01:00Here is a story about a blind woman in the states who has won a battle to make electronic tickets audible when a claim is found so that she can stop the game. Apparently in the US, up until this judgement the consoles played on in bingo clubs there had to be silent. Over in this country the sound on these machines vary from club to club and from each different brand of electronic gaming machine.Ihttp://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/06/you-dont-need-to-see-to-play-bingo.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-7691603335839788208Tue, 26 May 2009 11:14:00 +00002009-05-26T12:20:52.255+01:00A couple of weeks ago I mentioned about bingo's oldest player at 102. Well, another centenarian has now entered the 'record' mix as perhaps being the player who has travelled the furthest to take part in a session of bingo!!!!!Jean is a former Scot who is now based in Canada, who, for her 100Th birthday travelled over 3,000 miles to play bingo in a club in Dundee.........because it has a better http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/05/ton-up-your-bad-selves.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-4995278720685984877Tue, 12 May 2009 23:09:00 +00002009-05-21T00:44:53.419+01:00My main piece this month is a follow up to last months discussion over modern technology coming into the bingo clubs today. I ended the blog by stating that you can never get rid of the paper bingo but after reading articles this month I am not so sure. A woman was reported to have missed out on £1000 in winnings because the caller did not stop the game when she shouted and instead carried on. http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/05/youll-never-get-rid-of-dabberspart-2the.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-8124097176273776911Sat, 09 May 2009 18:50:00 +00002009-05-09T20:06:39.601+01:00What sort of lowlife would go to a social club to steal a pensioners handbag? THIS sort of man would and did. The good news is that he got caught: The bad news is that he got let off with just a community order. Bingo has always been known for being a friendly place where people can relax and enjoy themselves and even get to meet new friends. This pensioner was only being nice to a new face in http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/05/how-low-can-you-go.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-2638809647211803612Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:12:00 +00002009-04-30T21:25:42.924+01:00what is the secret to a long and healthy life? A report a few years ago suggested that bingo kept the mind active and improved the brains functions, which could explain how this lady is celebrating her 102nd birthday!!!!! Anne from Bradford celebrated this momentous occasion by going down to her local bingo to have a game. She has been doing this for decades and frequents the club around five http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/04/happy-102nd-birthday-to-oldest-bingo.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-2440569579309285400Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:36:00 +00002009-04-24T23:42:09.093+01:00A man has been jailed for 4 years after trying to guarantee themselves a win in bingo.....by robbing the place. After an attempt to rob a social club, Shaun Grooby then moved on to his local bingo club in Aylesbury where he managed to gain access to the clubs safe and £25,000 in cash. Fortunately justice has been served swiftly and this thief is now behind bars.http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/04/justice-in-bingo.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-1797693128889727362Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:20:00 +00002009-04-24T23:33:53.239+01:00Check out this meaty article from the local press recently about modern day bingo. The thing I like about this is that the journalist writing the article has actually made the effort to get away from the 'easy' stereotypical view of the bingo industry. It actually portrays a truer view of the industry and also highlights the more positive aspects of the clubs-including the new technology and the http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/04/journalist-who-has-actually-been-to.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-6958188925768574346Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:57:00 +00002009-04-16T04:17:12.445+01:00A story has grabbed me this month about a club that has decided to turn it's back on the 21st century bingo.....and is giving the traditional game another chance.For those of you that are not in the know the bingo world has changed in club in the last couple of years. Go to your local hall now and you will find electronic gaming sections where players can take portable consoles to there seats http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/04/youll-never-get-rid-of-dabbers.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-5039023208414879853Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:00:00 +00002009-04-06T21:40:05.699+01:00Nice sweet story in the press this week regarding a woman who's life was saved by an off-duty paramedic whilst down at the bingo. Luckily the paramedic was at the right place at the right time because he was only dropping off his wife at the club and not playing himself.Heart attacks, unfortunately are rather more common occurrences in the bingo than anyone would like. I think in my career it hashttp://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/04/all-999s-lifesaving-time.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-1271760750348413544Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:27:00 +00002009-03-27T13:14:36.108ZWell, another week, another bingo hall closes........as the recession hits the country big style, a flagship club in Preston has to shut its doors just 2 short years after a big grand opening!!!!!!What makes it more poignant for me is that one of my bingo buddies and north-west bingo caller of the year Allen is the caller there! (you can read more about him here)Brownie points to the company http://playingbingo.co.uk/bretts-corner/2009/03/another-club-closes.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (COTY Brett Gala TV)1