In December our village once again held its
biannual Christmas Lunch. If that sounds rather dull to you then we
should tell those who did not come that is is one of those very special
occasions that brings us together and makes us the community we are. Special
this year were the presence of three wonderfully well behaved and
enthusiastic children whose eyes became as big as church steeples when
Father Christmas arrived with just sufficient sugar rush to keep them
hopping till Christmas Eve.
Also
special about this occasion is the charge per person, only five pounds
per person with children coming for free! This slight of hand is managed
by the Parochial Church Council who organise the event and are
gratefully subsidised by local charities. So hats off to them for more
than beating inflation !
Imagine
this.....you arrive and have a glass of very nice fizz put into your
hand, you mingle and greet friends and meet new people, who in this
atmosphere soon become new friends. We are called to order and there at
each place is some wonderful pate served with a nice garnish, dressing
and crusty bread. Guests bring their own preferred drinks so some have
their beer, others copious amounts of wine while others go for the Tizer
option. Horses for courses.
The
pate consumed and we get called up to select our main course. This year
lovely hot casseroles of chicken, or beef or turkey and a vegetarian
option for those of that kidney - if that is not the wrong expression !
Sprouts ( of course!) carrots and potatos are in abundance and the noise
level beginning to go up and up.
Next
come the puds , trifles, apple crumbles and so on, a rich selection.
Once seconds and thirds have been consumed then Father Christmas arrives
with impeccable timing and after he has done his stuff David announces a
game of Pass the Parcel. A large well wrapped parcel was placed at the
head of each table and the music began with people tearing off layer
after confounded layer as the parcels began to lose size. At this point
some notable rowdy's, perhaps thinking it was Mess Night, began hurling
scrunched up paper from table to table ! No way to behave ! Finally the
secret centres were revealed as Terry's Chocolate Oranges and
amazingly the last people to unwrap them happened to be the children!
It
is a great way to begin the real run up to Christmas, wish ones friends
and neighbours the compliments of the season as well as have a darned
good meal for a fiver. And you don't even have to wash up if you are not
Linda Cawston, Heather Phillips, Judy Wilson or David Taylor.
You
might have even won a glorious Christmas Hamper except that was won
this year by a slightly bashful (for once) Martin Kinna.
As
ever the moving of tables, the decorations, the table flowers, the
cooking of all the food, the planning and the clearing up was done by
what Sidney Greenstreet would describe as "the usual suspects" . Let us
give them a rousing cheer and yet another for all of us who were there.
May this new year be brighter, happier and healthier for us all !
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.