It seems that recently our normal arrival time at a Mog event is ‘late’.
The Not the Christmas Lunch (NTCL) was no exception so we rather missed out
on the normal car park chat before going into Gissing Hall. I think it was
the entirely unnecessary time we took over putting the hood on before we
left home. I say unnecessary but I have to say I think we were a lot warmer
on our return journey than would have been otherwise the case. Of course,
the reason we put the hood on was that the weather forecast was a bit grim.
The rain did not arrive though.
This was the second time we had been to Gissing Hall for our NTCL and the lunch was served in the same room so I knew the way. After we had entered the room I set forth, immediately towards the bar. There was a slight delay here as I kept bumping into people I knew and suddenly realised again how easy it was to be accepted into the warm embrace of Folkmog friendship. There were fifty two Folkmoggers present plus Brian and Jean Lee (MSCC deputy chairman)
Reaching the bar I discovered that I had left all my money with Diana who, of course, was on the other side of the room talking to Maurice. I retraced my steps and just had time to do the reverse journey to get drinks before we were called to sit for lunch.
A
splendid lunch it was to. I had the pate followed by the lamb shank and it
was really nice. As far as I could tell everyone else seemed to be enjoying
their meals as much as was enjoying mine. While eating there was the normal
Chris Dady quiz to consider. This, as normal, looked nice and easy at the
beginning but proved to be fiendishly difficult to get completely right.
I was among the whole room that was stunned by the number of 4/4’s
that have been produced. The winners of the quiz were Roger and Chrissie
Tatton.
After
lunch, Maurice stood and said a few words and presented the yearly awards.
This was difficult for him as he had just recovered from a nasty cold which
had left his throat a little sore. Diana and I were surprised, pleased and
extremely grateful to be awarded the supporter of the year award. Sally and
Chris Dady were the second recipient of the Folkmog Achievement award, previously
won by Ian Charity and Dylis.
The awards were closely followed by the raffle which was well supported and thanks should go to all those that brought prizes.
As last year the meeting began to break up at about four o’clock but
there seemed to be as many friends to talk to after lunch as before so I
guess we were very nearly the last to leave at about four thirty.
I must apologise for the lateness of this report. I have, for some time, been promising Diana’s brother-in-law that I would do a web site for him. He is walking from John O’Groats to Lands End to raise money for a spinal injuries research charity and the spinal unit at Oswestry Hospital. If you are interested in why please go to www.vaughanscharitwalk.co.uk .