Back in September Steve made the suggestion of a club Christmas night out. Having done some groundwork, it became evident that his initial plans couldn’t come to fruition, with his original venue unable to accommodate us. However, we wouldn’t be deterred and sought out an alternative venue at, relatively central, Bluewater. With an upstairs seating area, which we could reserve for ourselves, we decided to go ahead and book Pizza Express for Wednesday 29th November, hopefully, just getting in before the Christmas ‘do’s’ really kicked off.
Jenni went into full organisational mode, handing out menus and instructions (who said this was an ‘easy going affair’?) and, over the next few weeks saw a steady trickle of deposits from members and their better halves, meaning that we eventually had a booking for 30 people!
Come the evening, Claudia was tasked with putting a cracker on every place setting and trying to arrange, what we now realise were hanging Christmas decorations onto the tables to try and bring some extra festive cheer. Slowly but surely members and their better halves arrived and the merriment began. The only unfortunate soul not to make it was chief supporter, April, having been laid low by a nasty bout of tonsillitis!
With the pre-ordered menus checked with the kitchen, and drinks orders taken, it was finally time for everybody to sit back, relax and enjoy themselves.
The conversation flowed, the food was served hot and in a timely manner, the staff were accommodating and everyone was enjoying seeing fellow competitors in their ‘real’ clothes, rather than their fencing kit!
At the end, thanks to Jake’s mum, we were given further festive cheer with a discount, which allowed everybody cheaper drinks, the staff a larger tip and a few pennies back for everybody who attended. One point to note is that next year, better crackers are required (eh Richard) – but at least you all got a hat! It was a wonderful night out with good food, great company and an appearance by both the club Captain and vice-Captain (make the most of it Joe, because next year, with a new baby, you’ll have to learn to eat with one hand, or with cold food!).
A massive thank you to everybody who came along and for making the organisation so easy. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed yourselves and roll around Christmas 2024 for the next one! In the meantime, have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Here’s to a happy, healthy, prosperous and successful 2024. Keep fencing….
Our upstairs tables with the backdrop of the Bluewater Winter Wonderland.
The crowd – pre drinks and food (although you’d be hard pushed to realise it, given Steve’s facial expression and Dave already has his eyes closed!)
And Dave’s awake again!
Steve: “how much have you had to drink Scott, I tell you, you’re the cap-i-tan”
Scott: “No, you’re the cap-I-tan, I’m the Captain!”
Peter: “Do you think she’s put sword tips in here; making it a dough ball cookie, rather than a fortune cookie”
Richard: “I bet the centre of those dough balls has more fun than what came out of my cracker!”
Sandy: “Ho, Ho, Ho, that’s the most unctuous starter they do here Rob, you chose well”
Rob: “He impersonates Anton Ego, from Ratatouille, one more time, I’m never going to let him beat me at club….ever….again!”
Scott: “Who are these people? I don’t recognise any of them without a mask”
Joe: I’m clearly looking too interested; Steve’s still talking
Scott: Next year, we must make sure that Gaye attends, she’s the only one who can keep Steve in check
Mark: Ha, Ha, I’m at the other end, I can’t hear Steve!
Dave: “The spare parts weren’t in the dough balls Peter. I’m pretty sure they hid them in the crackers”
Richard: “Not in my bloody cracker! Got this stupid hat, a stupid joke, but no toy!”
Henry: “If I excavated this, I wonder what I would find?”
Sandy: “And Rosie, there was this one time that I hit Rob at fencing. I thought I had the better of him…and then it was gone…just like that…”
Thank you all for a very lovely evening and have a very merry Christmas one and all.