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Post by Rajiv on May 16, 2013 14:00:57 GMT 8
For Labour Day (next Wednesday, 1 May 2013), the game will be from 5 to 6 pm at The Grandstand. I will not schedule the regular night game at Khalsa. Gerard has asked that I schedule the Khalsa game on Wednesday as usual. I'll do so. With a public holiday midweek, and 2 games scheduled for Wednesday, over this week, games that are too slow to fill up will be cancelled. , the extra game from 5 to 6 pm at The Grandstand was cancelled due to insufficient players. Next public holiday is Vesak Day on Friday, 24 May 2013. A covered pitch at The Premier Pitch at Grandstand is only available from noon to 3 pm that due to a camp! I sometimes wonder if any football is played there.  I'll try two slots for Vesak Day: * 5 to 6 pm at the Rainforest Arena @ The Grandstand (just a bit further up from The Premier Pitch). It is an uncovered pitch. 6-a-side at an introductory rate of $9 per player. If it fills up fast, I'll see if a bigger pitch is available. The bigger pitch will be $10 per player. * 9 to 10 pm at Khalsa. |
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Post by Rajiv on May 26, 2013 8:16:02 GMT 8
.... I'll try two slots for Vesak Day: * 5 to 6 pm at the Rainforest Arena @ The Grandstand (just a bit further up from The Premier Pitch). It is an uncovered pitch. 6-a-side at an introductory rate of $9 per player. If it fills up fast, I'll see if a bigger pitch is available. The bigger pitch will be $10 per player. * 9 to 10 pm at Khalsa. No names down for either of the two games ( 5 to 6 pm or 9 to 10 pm), so both cancelled. With the long weekend (Friday to Sunday), even both Thursday night games were cancelled. .... Eve of public holiday plus long weekend.  The games on Saturday and Sunday weren't/aren't too affected though. June school holidays next month, so numbers will continue to be volatile. |
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Post by Rajiv on Jun 15, 2013 10:37:17 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Aug 2, 2013 18:22:56 GMT 8
.... ..., the following Thursday is 8 August 2013, both Hari Raya Puasa and the eve of National Day, .... .... ..., the Thursday games on ..., 8 ... August 2013 will be at Khalsa only. .... No covered pitch available at The Grandstand between 4 and 7 pm on either Thursday or Friday. I'll move the Khalsa game on Thursday to 5 to 6 pm, and I'll try a 6-a-side at The Rainforest Sports Hub from 5 to 6 pm on Friday. I'll leave the game on Wednesday night at Khalsa, the eve of the long weekend, as it is, from 9 to 10 pm. With a 4-day long weekend, I'm not sure how the games next week and the following week will be affected. |
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Post by Rajiv on Oct 17, 2013 9:08:28 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 19, 2013 8:15:28 GMT 8
We managed the regular Saturday game at The Grandstand on Deepavali (2 November 2013). The next two Tuesdays are Christmas eve and New Year's eve. I won't schedule the regular Tuesday night game at Kallang, or any game for that matter, on those days. I'll schedule the regular Khalsa games on the Wednesday itself (Christmas Day and New Year's Day) and see how those fill up. The covered pitch at The Grandstand is not available from 22 December 2013 to 5 January 2013, so a 5 to 6 pm game on the covered pitch (as used to be considered for public holidays) is not an option.
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 19, 2013 20:56:08 GMT 8
Received the following message from Ian this morning, regarding the game at Kallang:
The impression I've been given is that a lot of the Kallang regulars will either be away or have other commitments. I think I need a show of interest before I try to re-schedule the Tuesday night game over the next two Tuesdays.
Further, unless it is raining, 4 or 5 pm is very warm within the enclosed space of a pitch at The Cage. The alternatives are a morning game at The Cage (making sure players turn up, and are on time, will be an issue) or having the game on a small pitch at East Coast (not popular with players from other parts of Singapore).
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 20, 2013 8:55:00 GMT 8
Ian messaged me as follows last night regarding having a Christmas eve game at Kallang from 5 to 6 pm instead of the usual 9 to 10 pm on a Tuesday:
Ok, I'll give it a shot.
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 31, 2013 10:30:49 GMT 8
Ian messaged me as follows last night regarding having a Christmas eve game at Kallang from 5 to 6 pm instead of the usual 9 to 10 pm on a Tuesday: Ok, I'll give it a shot. The re-scheduled Tuesday game was cancelled due to insufficient numbers. The game at Khalsa on Wednesday (Christmas) night was also cancelled due to insufficient players. With several withdrawals, we struggled to fill up the game on Thursday night (26 December 2013), with Sean Luo introducing 4 friends for their first game to make up numbers. The Sunday game at The Grandstand was also cancelled. I'm not sure whether it was due to being on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year, or the fact that the Premier Pitch's covered pitches at The Grandstand are closed for refurbishment, but we only had one name down. The game last night (30 December 2013) at East Coast was also cancelled as we were stuck at 11, and not enough players were willing to switch to a small pitch for a 5-a-side. With no names down for the game tomorrow (New Year's Day) at Khalsa, I'll replace it with a game at Kallang, so those who prefer Kallang don't miss out completely over this holiday period, and we only need 10 for the game to go on. As it is a public holiday, I will bring also the slot forward to 8 to 9 pm. For those who prefer Khalsa, there are still places for the Khalsa game on 2 January 2014. |
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Post by Rajiv on Jan 25, 2014 23:04:56 GMT 8
The game at Kallang on New Year's Day was also cancelled. So for the two weeks over the Christmas/New Year period, we only had 5 games in all: .... .... * 21 to 26 December 2013: 3 games, with the Sunday game (at Rainforest Sports Hub) cancelled, attempts at having games on Christmas eve (Tuesday) and Christmas Day (Wednesday) unsuccessful, so games only on Saturday, Monday and Thursday. * 28 December 2013 to 2 January 2014: 2 games, with the Sunday game (again at Rainforest Sports Hub) cancelled, game on Monday cancelled, no game scheduled for New Year's eve (Tuesday), and both games scheduled for New Year's Day (Wednesday) cancelled, so games only on Saturday and Thursday. With games affected by Christmas and New Year, only 19 games in December 2013. .... With players returning to work and their weekly routines, the number of games per week has gradually increased since the start of the year, returning to the basic 6 last week. However, we have two days of Chinese New Year next weekend - Friday, 31 January 2014 and Saturday, 1 February 2014. Numbers do not return in full until after the 15th day of the Chinese New Year. Even when asking around to fill up games, several players reply to say they will only be back then. In the first few years of doing this (starting 2008), we often had extra games on public holidays. I think players saw our games as a break from their routine, rather than as part of their routine, so they were more likely to play on public holidays. However, in the last couple of years, treating a public holiday like a Saturday or Sunday hasn't often worked out. Players increasingly see our games as part of their routine, so when they have a public holiday break, they take a break from the games as well. Perhaps it is a change in the profile of our players, with more serious players compared to more leisure players in the early years. Or perhaps it is a broader change in the way players see public holidays - as a time to get away or do something different, rather than just some extra leisure time. Perhaps a combination of both factors. Whatever the reason, I have been more cautious in scheduling extra games from 5 to 6 pm at The Grandstand on public holidays. Also, the covered pitch at The Grandstand, which is the preference for that time slot, has not been available. Whatever I may say about public holidays generally, Christmas/New Year and Chinese New Year/Chap Goh Mei, being such major events/festivals affecting virtually everyone, and all within a period of about two months, affect numbers significantly. For the eve of Chinese New Year on Thursday 30 January 2014, with reunion dinners, we already see a rush for the Khalsa game on Wednesday ( filling up within a couple of hours), with no one down so far for Thursday at Khalsa. This morning: .... The thread for Thursday is up. I know it is the eve of Chinese New Year, but those who can play on Thursday, please put your name down for that. If it doesn't look like the Thursday game will go on, I'm prepared to consider, as a one off for the Chinese New Year, and subject to the availability of a second hour, having 3 teams playing 2 hours on Wednesday. Currently, there is no two hour slot (9 to 11 pm) available at Khalsa, nor at The Grandstand (whether with the Premier Pitch or the Rainforest Sports Hub). I've asked them to let me know if two hours becomes available. With no one down for Monday (27 January 2014) at The Grandstand, and with all the Khalsa regulars rushing for Wednesday (29 January 2014), with no one down for Thursday (30 January 2014, Chinese New Year eve) at Khalsa, I'll schedule an extra game from 5 to 6 pm on Friday (the first day of the Chinese New Year). The question for me is whether it should be at the Grandstand or at Khalsa. The Premier Pitch's covered pitch is not available, but one of their uncovered pitches is, as is a pitch at Khalsa. However, with so many on waitlist for Wednesday at Khalsa, and with a second game at Khalsa being unlikely this week due to Thursday being Chinese New Year eve, I am inclined to have the Friday game at Khalsa. Also, we can go ahead at Khalsa even with 12, while we need at least 14 for The Grandstand. Also, if I have the game at The Grandstand, I will have to pay for 2 hours, which would mean switching the Saturday game to the uncovered pitch again. Taking into account all the above considerations, I'll schedule Friday's extra game at Khalsa. However, it is also a long weekend, so players may be away. Games that are very slow to fill up or are well short of players will be cancelled. |
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Post by Rajiv on Jan 31, 2014 12:26:04 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 24, 2014 14:54:01 GMT 8
It was the school holidays in Singapore from 15 to 23 March 2014. There was a distinct decline in numbers, with the game on Tuesday (18 March 2014) cancelled, and a struggle to make numbers for both Sunday games at The Grandstand ( 16 March 2014 and 23 March 2014), as well as the game on Thursday (20 March 2014) at Balestier Road, albeit with several post-poll withdrawals. Those with children in school often find themselves unable to play due to additional family commitments during the school holidays. The picture is complicated with several expats, PRs and even Singaporeans having children in international schools, which may their term break at different times. However, a lot of expats also seemed to be away over the past week. The game today (Monday) at East Coast filled up after much messaging, with several non-regular players, while the game this coming Thursday (27 March 2014) is proving slow to fill up, so I'm not sure if the effects of the holidays are carrying on for an additional week. On the other hand, the games on Tuesday (at Kallang) and Wednesday (at Balestier Road) have filled up fairly quickly. There are of course other factors. With the financial year for many companies ending on 31 March 2014, employees may be tied up at work. Also, as stated in a post above: .... .... Players increasingly see our games as part of their routine, so when they have a public holiday break, they take a break from the games as well. Perhaps it is a change in the profile of our players, with more serious players compared to more leisure players in the early years. Or perhaps it is a broader change in the way players see public holidays - as a time to get away or do something different, rather than just some extra leisure time. Perhaps a combination of both factors. .... The same considerations may apply to any kind of holiday period. The "etcetera" in "Public holidays etcetera" as the subject of this thread doesn't really explain the broader considerations. I have changed the subject to "Public holidays & seasonal factors". The next public holiday is Good Friday (18 April 2014). I suppose Easter break is more significant in in the west than it is in Singapore. Let's see how numbers hold up over the next 4 weeks. |
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Post by Rajiv on Apr 23, 2014 8:58:36 GMT 8
From the "Days, times & locations" thread: .... I'm not sure how many people are away, but with Easter break in international schools last week, this week a short week with Good Friday on 18 April 2014, and a long weekend coming up, I'm pretty sure numbers will be affected. .... Both Brendan (via e-mail) and Babs (via WhatsApp) contacted me to ask if we could have a game at The Grandstand on Good Friday. There is no availability from 4 to 8 pm on a big covered pitch at The Grandstand, so the options are: - 3 to 4 pm or 8 to 9 pm on a big covered pitch.
- 5 to 6 pm on an uncovered big pitch.
As 8 to 9 pm on a public holiday may be too late, and an uncovered pitch carries the risk of cancellation due to heavy rain (and it has been raining a lot recently), I'll put up 3 to 4 pm on a big covered pitch. If there is a preference for either of the later slots, I may change the time/pitch. This thread star
....
With 3 new players, the game from 3 to 4 pm on Good Friday on a covered big pitch at The Grandstand filled up and went ahead. This thread started off as a discussion on treating public holidays in the same way as Saturdays and Sundays, and to have an extra game from 5 to 6 pm on a covered pitch at The Grandstand. For a year or two now, lack of interest from players, or non-availability of a pitch between 4 and 7 pm, has meant we haven't had such an extra game since New Year's Day 2013. Next Thursday (1 May 2014) is also a public holiday - Labour Day. I will try an extra game again. This time, both a 3 to 4 pm and a 5 to 6 pm slot is available. 4 to 5 pm is not available. Since 3 to 4 pm worked out last time, I will schedule it for 3 to 4 pm. However, if there is a preference for 5 to 6 pm, I will change the time. I will also look into scheduling an extra game for the Vesak Day public holiday on Tuesday, 13 May 2014. The extra game on Labour Day (Thursday, 1 May 2014) will be in place of the night game at The Grandstand on Monday (28 April 2014). Likewise, any extra game on Vesak Day will be in place of the night game at The Grandstand on Monday (12 May 2014). The extra game on Thursday or Tuesday is better spaced from the 2 regular games at The Grandstand at the weekends, so there is no point having the game on Monday as well, especially since the Monday night game at The Grandstand has yet to take off despite efforts since the start of the year. In fact, I might skip Monday, 5 May 2014 as well, and only try again from Monday, 19 May 2014 onwards. |
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Post by Rajiv on May 5, 2014 19:32:58 GMT 8
.... Next Thursday (1 May 2014) is also a public holiday - Labour Day. I will try an extra game again. This time, both a 3 to 4 pm and a 5 to 6 pm slot is available. 4 to 5 pm is not available. Since 3 to 4 pm worked out last time, I will schedule it for 3 to 4 pm. However, if there is a preference for 5 to 6 pm, I will change the time. I will also look into scheduling an extra game for the Vesak Day public holiday on Tuesday, 13 May 2014. The extra game on Labour Day (Thursday, 1 May 2014) will be in place of the night game at The Grandstand on Monday (28 April 2014). Likewise, any extra game on Vesak Day will be in place of the night game at The Grandstand on Monday (12 May 2014). The extra game on Thursday or Tuesday is better spaced from the 2 regular games at The Grandstand at the weekends, so there is no point having the game on Monday as well, especially since the Monday night game at The Grandstand has yet to take off despite efforts since the start of the year. In fact, I might skip Monday, 5 May 2014 as well, as only try again from Monday, 19 May 2014 onwards. The extra afternoon game on Labour Day was cancelled, with numbers stuck on 8, and the regular Thursday night game not filling up until later. I have a covered big pitch at The Grandstand from 4 to 5 pm on Vesak Day (Tuesday, 13 May 2014), so I'll try an extra game again. |
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Post by Rajiv on Nov 28, 2014 16:50:24 GMT 8
From above: .... .... This thread started off as a discussion on treating public holidays in the same way as Saturdays and Sundays, and to have an extra game from 5 to 6 pm on a covered pitch at The Grandstand. For a year or two now, lack of interest from players, or non-availability of a pitch between 4 and 7 pm, has meant we haven't had such an extra game since New Year's Day 2013. Next Thursday (1 May 2014) is also a public holiday - Labour Day. I will try an extra game again. This time, both a 3 to 4 pm and a 5 to 6 pm slot is available. 4 to 5 pm is not available. Since 3 to 4 pm worked out last time, I will schedule it for 3 to 4 pm. However, if there is a preference for 5 to 6 pm, I will change the time. I will also look into scheduling an extra game for the Vesak Day public holiday on Tuesday, 13 May 2014. The extra game on Labour Day (Thursday, 1 May 2014) will be in place of the night game at The Grandstand on Monday (28 April 2014). Likewise, any extra game on Vesak Day will be in place of the night game at The Grandstand on Monday (12 May 2014). The extra game on Thursday or Tuesday is better spaced from the 2 regular games at The Grandstand at the weekends, so there is no point having the game on Monday as well, especially since the Monday night game at The Grandstand has yet to take off despite efforts since the start of the year. In fact, I might skip Monday, 5 May 2014 as well, and only try again from Monday, 19 May 2014 onwards. The extra game on Vesak Day (Tuesday, 13 May 2014) was also cancelled with only one name down. Apart from National Day (Saturday, 9 August) and Hari Raya Haji (Sunday, 5 October) for which there was already the usual evening game on the big pitch at the Premier Pitch, I have not tried an afternoon or evening game on a big pitch at The Premier Pitch for the public holidays since then: - Hari Raya Puasa on Monday, 28 July 2014.
- The public holiday on Monday, 6 October 2014 as Hari Raya Haji fell on a Sunday.
- Deepavali on Wednesday 22 October 2014.
From now on, having an extra game in the afternoon/evening on a public holiday will be exceptional. I have added an Annex 1 to the Overview thread for the "Weekly Round Ups, Tables & Game Records" board, showing the number of games played per month over the course of the year, from 2011 to date. The big dip in October 2014 was uncharacteristic. The haze, another seasonal factor, was bad in October and the first half of November, but only caused one game to be cancelled. Numbers are generally down between December and February of the following year. It starts with players being away during the school holidays or with more social engagements towards the end of the year. It can kick in earlier, with the game at The Grandstand last Sunday (23 November 2014) cancelled with numbers stuck at 7. Although there can be a small pick up in the new year, numbers don't usually pick up until after the 15 days of the Chinese New Year. From the "Weekly schedule & number of games" thread: .... from next week onwards, I will schedule two games on Tuesday separately. As such: - We will have a 7-a-side game scheduled every night from Monday to Thursday.
- One of those will be from 8 to 9 pm, the Tuesday night game at SBSA @ Kallang.
- The Tuesday night game at The Cage will be unaffected.
.... The game at SBSA has yet to take off. I won't try again until next year. I'm also away from 27 December 2014 to 10 January 2015, so regular games during that period that are slow to fill up may be more readily cancelled. |
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 26, 2014 11:14:11 GMT 8
From the schedule thread for the game on Tuesday, originally scheduled at The Cage @ Kallang: 5 on waitlist for tonight (Monday night at Macpherson), but only 4 names down for tomorrow, and only 1 name down for Wednesday (Christmas eve). I think a lot of the Wednesday regulars won't be playing on Christmas eve, but most of those who want to play 7-a-side at Macpherson or at Khalsa won't play 5-a-side at The Cage. If those who want a game this week but didn't get in for Monday, can't make it on Wednesday and don't want to play 5-a-side at The Cage are interested in playing tomorrow, we can have a 7-a-side game at SBSA @ Kallang from 8 to 9 pm instead of The Cage game from 9 to 10 pm. On a separate thread on the schedule board: With such short notice for the extra game today (Friday), and my being away from tonight onwards, I haven't asked around. There are no names down, so the game has been cancelled. Next Wednesday is New Year's eve. We only had one name down for Christmas eve. I imagine there will be even less interest in a game on New Year's eve, so I won't schedule a game for next Wednesday, especially as I will be away. Instead, I will schedule two games on Tuesday, a 7-a-side at SBSA @ Kallang from 8 to 9 pm, and the usual 9 to 10 pm game at The Cage @ Kallang. As I am away, the game that is slow to fill up will be cancelled. |
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Post by Rajiv on Feb 13, 2015 8:59:54 GMT 8
Apart from a general slowdown towards the end of last year, We had several games cancelled over Christmas and New Year. As I pointed out earlier on this thread: .... In the first few years of doing this (starting 2008), we often had extra games on public holidays. I think players saw our games as a break from their routine, rather than as part of their routine, so they were more likely to play on public holidays. However, in the last couple of years, treating a public holiday like a Saturday or Sunday hasn't often worked out. Players increasingly see our games as part of their routine, so when they have a public holiday break, they take a break from the games as well. Perhaps it is a change in the profile of our players, with more serious players compared to more leisure players in the early years. Or perhaps it is a broader change in the way players see public holidays - as a time to get away or do something different, rather than just some extra leisure time. Perhaps a combination of both factors. .... , but next Thursday and Friday (19 and 20 February 2015) are the Chinese New Year public holidays. Numbers have slowed down over the past 2 weeks, and based on past experience, I don't really expect numbers to fully pick up until after Chap Goh Mei, the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year. I won't bother scheduling a game on Chinese New Year eve (next Wednesday). Instead, I will do the following: a. Switch the Tuesday game to a 7-a-side at SBSA @ Kallang (the Monday game at Macpherson already has 4 on waitlist). b. Put up the Thursday night 7-a-side game at Khalsa a day early (today). c. Put up the Friday night 5-a-side game at The Cage @ Kallang a day early (tomorrow). Additionally, tomorrow (Saturday) is Valentine's Day, and the Saturday game has been slow to fill up. |
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 29, 2015 20:57:43 GMT 8
It's Good Friday this week. The games yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) at the Grandstand were slow to fill up. For the Sunday game, we struggled to get the minimum number (14). The games on Monday (at Macpherson) and Wednesday (at Khalsa), which have been filling up fast with several on waitlist, have just about filled up. Lots of places left for Tuesday at SBSA and Thursday at Khalsa. In the circumstances, I won't schedule a game on Good Friday itself (3 April 2015). Continuing from the post above, we only had 3 games the week of Chinese New Year. We had 5 games the following week. We were back to 6 games the week after, but only managed a 5-a-side on the Thursday, which was Chap Goh Mei. |
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Post by Rajiv on May 26, 2015 8:54:14 GMT 8
Monday, 1 June 2015 is a public holiday (Vesak Day). As it is a long weekend, I won't schedule an extra game at Khalsa on Sunday. I will leave the regular Monday night game at Macpherson, even though I am not sure how the public holiday will affect numbers. It is also the start of the school holidays in Singapore. For the school holidays in June, I will not schedule any extra games, either the extra Sunday evening game at Khalsa or the Tuesday night game at East Coast. From the "Days, times & locations" thread: .... I will continue to schedule a Friday night game at The Cage for the rest of May 2015. .... The Friday night game is currently part of the regular schedule, so I will continue to schedule it through the June holidays. |
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Post by Rajiv on Jul 13, 2015 9:09:20 GMT 8
Continuing from above, as the international schools and those who follow an international calendar have summer vacations between June and September 2015, numbers don't usually pick up until late August 2015. The Tuesday night game at the Grandstand has been cancelled 3 weeks in a row - 23 June 2015, 30 June 2015, and 7 July 2015. The last occasion was a pity, as we were only one short. The game on Saturday, 11 July 2015, was also cancelled, one short. Also from the post above. .... The Friday night game is currently part of the regular schedule, so I will continue to schedule it through the June holidays. We've only had one Friday night game so far, on 27 March 2015. I stopped scheduling the Friday night game with effect from 26 June 2015 (http://giffas.proboards.com/board/11/schedule-system-playing-rules?filters[]=label_id:eq:43). This Friday (17 July 2015) is Hari Raya Puasa. Although it is a long weekend, I will schedule a game. I've asked around and two slots are available:
I'll schedule both and see whether either gets a response.
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