CHRISTMAS PARTY 2010

Having decided not to run the gauntlet of the youths again this year we had opted for the last weekend before Christmas and what had been advertised as a Dining-In Night.  This didn’t quite happen and we had to queue for a carvery.  This said, the food was excellent and the tables all very nicely decorated

The weather however, was disastrous, quite a lot of snow inland and promise of a big freeze later on for the evening. This deterred several people with far-flung addresses so our numbers were a little reduced. None of the Wayfarers turned up and the Birthday party in the Bar was also cancelled. This meant that the Solos, Social Sailors and a small party of Fifteens had the place to ourselves as no-one else turned up either.

Assorted exotic hats were admired beforehand and it was obvious that some people had made a tremendous effort with their designs

It was a very cold night and the heating in the dining room was still not mended properly so Nick had a gas blower going for us which, although noisy, worked wonders for the temperature. (Nick was supposed to be flying out of Gatwick for a skiing holiday next day but don’t know if he would have made it!)

Having partaken of the main course the balloons were pumped up. There were some rather good wizzy ones which went rather more in straight lines, lighted ones which were also quite good missiles, and caterpillars. The Social Sailors seemed not to know what to do with the modelling balloons and just blew them up till they burst but Robert and Kate made a very large animal with a fifth appendage which no-one could quite explain. This was deemed the best model and Anthony P kindly insisted on procuring some bottles of wine from the bar for a prize for this and for the Hats Competition which was divided into two sections.  Barry, with his Solo motiffed top hat won the mens and Sheila P the ladies with her very flamboyant flashing sun hat

A happy and somewhat noisy time was had by all and the

participants left about 10 ish to slither their way through the car park and homewards.