Another Good Club Night December 2007

This was our one social event of the year and it's a fitting time to have it with everybody getting in a festive mood. It all started for Derek, Bill, Sheila and I at mid-day as we were invited out to lunch with Angy and some of the service users at PDS Crafts, we all had a brilliant time, their lovely people and it's so good to see them laughing so much, we thanked them for starting the seasonal festivities off so well.

So no sooner was I home and it was time to join the others at the hall to set out tables, chairs, food and lathes. With the usual crowd of helpers it's soon done and there's time for a cup of tea and chat before the members arrive. A good few other members arrived early to help us and hot on their heels the others arrived, very soon close on 100 people have found a seat and are busy chatting, some had the usual cup of tea or coffee on arrival. The new quarterly Club magazine was there along side the Monthly News Letter.

Don called for silence, some did, some didn't so he called again, it reminded me of last Saturday at the junior club, only difference was tonight it went quiet on the second call, Saturday, well that's another story altogether, see "Dec Junior Meeting" article. With the notices done with it was over to Bill to explain the turning competition for the night and create two teams, one headed by Bill himself and the other Peter, Bill showed us what to do and we where off. 18 members turned this year which I think is a record so another plus to the club members. For the non turners of the night there were a number of A4 sheets with trivial questions and the like to do, this causes a lot of discussion and judging by the fact that every table had a go, its very popular. Me, well I'm hopeless at it, so obvious when the answers given but not even worth me starting, my turnings not much better but I enjoy that!

The turning competition, it was interesting to see the members turning with some unusual cuts going on, all the shapes pretty much the same apart from Ken, only to be expected, sorry I should have said, the project was a Bud Vase. Most as I said copied Bills original, playing safe is always favourite when you have a crowd watching you but over all it was a good show and an interesting thing to do at a social. Our team won which was only to be expected, that's Peter's help and guidance plus WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS………….ok its just a bit of fun, don't get carried away, WE ARE …….sorry.

Next it was time for something to eat, a good spread of hot and cold food plus drinks had be beautifully laid out, this was mainly done by Aline and Sheila, during the consumption, probably not the best word to use, lets say while they were eating they went back through the questions to see if they could do any more and chatted to others on the nearby tables, its surprising to see how many of the wife's know each other! With the tables cleared and every body with tea or coffee Don went through the answers, as usual there was the usual ooohhss and aaaaahs as some of the answers were slightly controversial, in a light hearted way you understand. With the scores tallied the prizes were handed out, Smarties for the smart people! That done with it was time for Bill to present Aline with a lovely basket of fruit for her work through the year which was graciously accepted and then it was over to Trevor to call the raffle numbers while we started to tidy up. With a good number of helpers in the hall and kitchen it was soon done, the members passed on the seasons greeting to each other and away out into the cold night air they went. Tonight was the highest attended social we've had I think so proof that it's all getting better and better, and that's down to everybody. So with them all gone we check the hall, turn the lights off and there goes another memorable club night.