ANOTHER COLLINS FUNNY

Kalium is the Latin scientific name of the element potassium (K). It exists in the blood of humans within a specific range. If it goes much above that range, the person might have HYPERKALEMIA. If it goes much below the range, it might be a case of HYPOKALEMIA.

Now, check the acceptability of those two highlighted medical terms on your magic Zyzzyva to find out that Collins accepts HYPOKALEMIA but rejects HYPERKALEMIA.

Not that it concerns me, for I never went beyond 8 letter words, but I felt sorry for players like Daniel Piechnick who was capable of stitching the 10 letter word BIOWEAPONS through three other words on the board.

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU

For many years, I have been a regular guest at most South Australian Scrabble tournaments (101 tournaments in 10 years). The problems of old age have eventually caught up with me, and I am finding it difficult to cope with frequent flying from Melbourne to Adelaide and returning on the same day.

An alternative had always been to play in Victoria. However, that was unacceptable to me for as long as the committee running the show had hostile or incompetent members.

An unexpected change of ASPA(Vic) leadership changed the landscape. It is not clear whether the change has been the result of a coup or a sudden realisation by the old guard that it was about time to surrender. Whatever the case may be, the majority of the current committee members are either friendly past players or sensible new players, some of whom have already welcomed my return.

The main purpose of this post is to thank all members of ASPA(SA) for the many years of enjoyable friendly tournaments, their hospitality and frequent lifts to Adelaide Airport.

I will certainly continue to make the trip for major SA tournaments. I already miss you all!