NEWMARKET COMMUNITY HALL DOUBLE-BOOKED FOR YOGA AND BINGO, NEITHER SIDE WILLING TO BUDGE
Downward dog versus two fat ladies. The hall manager has gone to lie down in her car.
The Newmarket community hall was the scene of a quiet but bitter stand-off on Wednesday after the booking system allocated the main room to both a beginners' yoga class and the weekly bingo night. Neither group would move to the kitchen.
The yoga instructor, Annika Pohjola, had laid out fourteen mats by 6.45pm. By 6.50pm, Beverly Chen, 73, had arrived with the bingo machine, a tin of shortbread, and what witnesses described as "a face on her". Beverly's group has used the hall on Wednesdays since 1989. Annika's lot started in March.
"I'm not moving the machine," Beverly told The Daily Yarn, while plugging in the machine. "It's heavy and it's older than half these yoga people. They can stretch in the carpark."
Annika produced a confirmation email. Beverly described it as "lovely for her". A compromise was briefly attempted in which the yoga class would do silent floor work while numbers were called. It collapsed when someone shouted "legs eleven" during savasana and a woman from Remuera started laughing and couldn't stop.
The hall manager, reached by phone, said the booking system had been "a bit funny since the update". She was sitting in her Corolla eating a muesli bar and declined to come back inside.
At time of filing, the bingo had won by attrition. Three yoga mats remain rolled up by the fire exit, unclaimed.
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Reader Letters
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day you’d never see this kind of stuff up. If the hall was booked, we’d know it in writing and in respect! These computers are as helpful as a chocolate teapot.
BerylT
Honestly, I’m with Beverly. Who has time for yoga mats when there’s shortbread and bingo on the line? Priorities, people!
yogifrommteden
Was at the class, Annika was doing her best and it’s not easy finding space in Newmarket these days. Why should we move when we booked fair and square?
SandraMcK_Auckland
HA, should've seen this coming! They've messed up my Parnell cricket bookings too. It's a conspiracy, I tell ya. THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
Just_the_facts_please
Actually, they both could've used the hall if they agreed to split the time evenly, starting with yoga. Just a simple logistical oversight!
Trev23
Lol. Silent yoga to bingo numbers, what a combo. Sounds like a chance to finally zen out to ‘two little ducks’!