A 2 Season Country

Standard joke in the sGWN , Canada has 2 seasons , winter and patio
Yes , whenever possible the plastic chairs come out and al fresco dining , wining  and shivering , just happen

In the Loop , news - social page , the banner " Why Patio Sucks "
The reasons include 
cold food
plastic chairs
bugs in your hair
shivering
car exhaust ( hopefully , not bus exhaust b/c that is visibly toxic )

As a couple , we studiously avoid patios. And here in the s GWN smoking is not allowed inside. Thus , if the patio is non - roofed , the smokers can smoke out there. W/ a roof of any kind , smokers must move 60 ft form the tables ( in theory )
No thank you , inside is good

Follow up : the Wheel Re - Invented - Re - Invented
The poker table top is now done. The quarters are now 1 / 2 s. The quarters of the eight sided top  were joined by using 1 in x 1 in strips of wood along the long margin ( the diameter and one end ).
The strips were glued and screwed. Glued b/c there really was not much to drill into.
Clamped and allowed to set , the strips hold nicely
Next 1 in rigid foam was cut to shape ( a part octagon ) and glued in place between the wood strips. 
The result is excellent. The top is solid and sits beautifully. The tears and rips are no longer evident. Later , the surface may need re -gluing , we'll see.
The acid test , of course , is the first game w/ players leaning and physically abusing the surface. Before , you could see the table top flex and pull part as guys leaned on the edges.   
One problem might be , keeping the 1 / 2 s to -gether. Recall , the velcro is no more. It seems as though the halves won't move much but 200 lb of poker player could make a difference
However , I left about an inch to 3 / 4 in between the wood strips when affixing them. This spacing means there is room for magnets and a metal strip on opposing 1 / 2 s. These dyominium magnets are the kind that hold doors closed in cupboards.
I'll pick up some magnets when I go to LeeValley Tools to replace the Weatherboy monitor which is kaputzy - ky.
Success. so far

BTW -the polls didn't understand the people. We , now , have a majority Liberal legislature ( Democratic ). We voted , so , we get to live w/ our choice. That's the harder part.
Its the old " be careful what you wish for "
The Republicans ( Progressive Conservatives ) took one in the ear

BTW II - the ' Emoticon ' robot is named Pepper.