112 Bingo

the2ofus


Joined: 13/02/2008
Posts: 637

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 12:31

Had an enjoyable evening last night at the Bingo (despite not winning !!!!) I thought the idea of being served snacks at our tables was much better than on previous occasions where as soon as the buffet was put out there was a mad dash to get into the Q and if you were not quick enough (as happened to several of us) you were near the end and there was very little left at all !! At least the way it worked last night everyone got the same.

BUT can i make a complaint and a suggestion - If in future you do not intend to start the Bingo until nearly 8.30 pm could you NOT advertise it as starting at 7.30pm !! I had checked the posters and ianwefs had aslo confirmed on an earlier thread that the start time was 7.30.

Our group (which included guests from UK who had arranged a babysitter (paid) for the evening ) arrived at the Mountain View at 7pm which we thought would give us plenty of time to get a drink buy our tickets and START playing bingo at 7.30. Oh no - the actual time we started was 8.25pm. So we had sat there for nearly an hour and half. Which was a wasted hour and half paying for a babysitter from our friends point of view !! Was it a ploy to get people to buy drinks and hence boost the bar takings of the hotel ? Or was it, as a friend commented it seemed to him, simply the chosen few/click running the event to suit themselves hence the delays because the chosen few were busy chatting to each other.

Although i agree and support the ideas behind the fundraising the impression that our visitors got from last night was not a "positive" one. That very negative impression will be passed onto their friends etc etc which will result in lost "funds" for the 112 (or whatever it is called now).

lindoc


Joined: 30/08/2007
Posts: 220

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 13:18

Have to agree with the2ofus, i arrived same time 7pm and waited hour and half for bingo to start, and it was advertised for 7.30,

cleos


Joined: 13/03/2008
Posts: 77

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 13:33

Mmmm... I know it is only Bingo but at the end of the day we are paying money to play Bingo and raise funds. I too was at the 1st event at Mountain View and felt like an unwanted intruder/outsider. It is the first time i have been and i will not be going back again - it was, as commented on by the2ofus, more like a private Bingo evening run for the convenience of the "In Crowd". I know it is always a case in such social gatherings that everyone sticks to who they know - but not so as to make "outsiders" feel totally unwelcome !! It was supposed to be a fundraising event for 112 (apparently it has changed it name but don't know what to !!!) open to everyone with the intention of playing bingo and "raising funds". If people want to have a social gathering to discuss what happened at the ball and all the latest gossip then can they not organise an event for that purpose ! That is not why i went and i too was cheesed off by sitting just waiting for them to decide that they were ready to start. Even after they had decided to start (1 hour later than advertised)---Oh no lets wait (another 5 mins) cos so and so isn't ready yet !!!

I also thought the bar service was bad - 3 times they got the order wrong - the bar area was totally full of smoke - the waiter service was slow and soft drinks flat.

Will perhaps stick to the Cancer Charity Bingo instead.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 13:56

was this organised by ex pats for ex pats

regards , simbas

the2ofus


Joined: 13/02/2008
Posts: 637

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 15:34

Hye simbas

It was organised by ex pats but I don't know whether there was the intention that it be specifically for ex-pats. From a fundraising point of view (the benefit of 112) it should not be aimed at just 1 group of residents.

There were a few "Cypriots' taking part but the majority of participants were British.

As an ex pat myself i was appalled by the impression they gave - that of a self important group and their friends for whom the whole evening revolved around. Never mind anyone else who had made the effort to go salong and support, what is after all, a good cause.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 16:36

hi the2ofus , thats a real shame , you would think they would go out of their way to make you feel welcome , especially as it was a fundraising exercise , they are supposed to be charitable group , well they are losers , nobody will want to support their causes , its the people they are supposed to be supporting i feel sorry for, their selfish attitude will do nothing to raise funds for cancer relief.

regards , simbas