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Collingham Cricket Club, 26 - 28th February. I would like to say a big thank you to Malc & Dorothy Marvin for stewarding this meet and a big thank you to the Smith Family for the entertainment and to anyone else who I may have missed. The meet was a very well attended meet, with visitors from Nott's, Derby and Sheffield. There were 14 vans all together and we had a good time despite the weather being very English. We all met in the hall for a good catch up on Friday evening and again on Saturday for fun and games and an American Supper, then off to bed. It was again raining on Sunday for the 11am coffee morning. Where we finished off the American supper with fresh tea and coffee served by Malc and his many helpers and the it was time to head for home only to do it all again soon. Derek Beaumont |
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Valentines Meet 12th-14th February 2010 E-mail from Lynne & David Bulcock
-------------------------------------------------- We would like to thank the 14 units that supported us on the first meet of the year. There were 12 units from South Lincs members and two visitors from Northants (although Mandy, Andy and Louise are now considered as South Lincs regulars), and one from Yorkshire. Friday evening saw a general trickle of vans and once everyone was set up it was off to the hall for a get together to catch up on all the news since New Year. Whilst the adults were busy chatting and trying to attempt the quiz, the children (11 in total) all played happily together in the hall. The following morning it was all go as members braved the cold weather and attempted a treasure hunt around Great Hale (thanks go to Malc Smith for organising this). Following lunch it was back to the hall for the curling competition – which was finally won by Daniel Bycroft. Whilst taking part in curling and scoring, I was also supervising the ‘other half’ stirring the beef bourgionne in readiness for the evening meal. Dinner was ready for 5:30pm and everyone sat down to a meal of jacket potatoes, Beef Bourgionne, cheese or beans followed by fruit pie & custard or jelly and ice-cream. Everyone ate heartily, either the food was OK or everyone was famished following the busy day!!! Hilary certainly enjoyed the custard, as she was caught eating directly from the custard jug. We also had a cake, candles and a round of ‘Happy Birthday’ to celebrate Lynne’s 50th birthday (one of our camping visitors). Following the meal, an evening of games, music and bingo ensued. One game saw some members up and down like yoyos and walking what seemed liked miles – just think of all the exercise you did Derek, Carol, Mandy, Alan, Malc, and Laura. 11pm came quickly and following a bit of drama where Jensen had hurt his foot and required first aid from Clive & Denise & Nurofen from Tracey, everyone departed for bed. Sunday morning saw the coffee morning and the awarding of prizes for the various activities throughout the weekend. Malc, Dot, Bill and Bea won the treasure hunt, Daniel won curling, Carol won the couples quiz and Mandy, Andy and friends won the ‘Who am I quiz’. After more chat, people eventually drifted off and made preparations for home. We all enjoyed the weekend, thank you all again for your support – let’s hope this is the start to some great camping weekends this year. Hoping to see you all at Collingham in a fortnight. Karen & Nick Smith - Pictures appear on the Gallery Page.
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DA New Year Party. Great Hale Village Hall.
Dear all S.L.D.A members, first I would like to say a big thanks to all that were at the New Year Party for giving me such a good time. I did not want to attend this meet at first and now I am glad I did as everybody was so fantastic. We played curling and had a race horse meet and I won on one horse. There were puzzles to do and lots of other games & things. Everybody had a go in the kitchen from cooking the meals to washing up and the chef Derek with is fried egg and bacon every morning for breakfast was lovely, so look out Gordon Ramsey.
I think that everybody enjoyed themselves I know I did all though I am a blind member. So book my husband and I for next years party and a Happy New Year to all. From Dorothy & Malcolm.
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DA Christmas Party 2009. Great Hale Village Hall.
Friday evening saw 9 units arrive to camp for the DA Christmas Party Meet. By 8.00pm everybody was ensconced in the warm, comfortable, lounge room of the village hall to enjoy a quiet, relaxing get together. It was nice to see all the children, from those who could just walk to older ones all mixing and entertaining themselves through play. A bright, but cold Saturday morning dawned and the children were soon busy – cutting, stapling, gluing, making paper chains and elaborate baubles to be used later to decorate the stage and Father Christmas’ grotto. All this, under the watchful eye of Karen and Nickki, a big thank you to you both. By late morning Dick and Nick had constructed the grotto, and both it and the stage looked very Christmassy with both lights and the children’s decorations. The other men had erected the tables and awaited the arrival of Brenda, the catering officer. The afternoon saw a hive of activity both in the kitchen, where the food was being prepaid and in the hall where the tables were made to look very festive. Rick, the web master, arrived and was soon busy clicking away and making notes. Read his excellent, photographic report of the main part of the evening and look at the photographs of every child receiving their gift from Santa. The evening continued with the excellent disco ‘Rocket’ and the raffle raised £50 for ‘Lives’ the DA charity for 2010. News soon spread around the hall that Santa was outside of Andy and Chris’ caravan. Everybody was fascinated and memorised by the appearance of a very realistic, vocal and merry, 6 foot Father Christmas! The meet concluded on Sunday with a coffee and mince-pie farewell where Derek gave his thanks and updated us on the forth coming events. To the wonderment of the children ‘Father Christmas’ re-appeared outside the van again, still swaying, still singing….. and after such a busy night! What a brilliant way to end a Christmas Party meet! May I thank all those people who helped in the kitchen washing up etc and those who helped put away the tables on Saturday night. The tired elf! Many thanks to Malcolm Smith for this report. ------------------------------------------
Once again the hall at Great Hale was festively decorated and tables laid out awaiting the arrival of the partygoers. It looked a picture, but a lot was going on. Final touches were being added to the place settings and a busy team under the guidance of our Catering Officer, Brenda, were quietly going about their business. Everyone arrived on time to commence the dinner at 5.00pm. After Nick had said grace it was down to the serious work of devouring a wonderful cold plate of beef and ham followed by a choice of deserts. As if by magic, the committee had cleared the tables in record time ready for the arrival of Santa. The children were seated on the floor in a semi circle, where the sang and shouted until the curtains drew back to reveal the Grotto with Santa and his overworked Elf!
Three of the children awaiting Santa's arrival. Every child received a present, so there were no tears. Well done Santa, you made everyone happy. Next Dick presented Santa with his own gift as a reward for his hard work. Safe journey back to Lapland.
Dick giving Santa a little something for the journey home.
Our Chairman Derek Beaumont presented the cheque to Tom and Ellen Lucas of the RNLI. Like everyone else at RNLI, they are volunteers, running the gift shop at the Mablethorpe Station.
Derek Beaumont presenting the cheque to Ellen and Tom Lucas. Tom replied for the Lifeboats, thanked everyone for their help in raising the money and gave us an idea of what it would be used for. On average 21 people a day are saved, £1000 per head per year is spent on crew training. A Wessex all weather craft costs £2.6 million and a B Class inshore vessel costs £197,000 and only 3p in the pound is spent on administration. Now at this point in the evening, I had to leave and go and support my other interest Louth Town FC, so I left everyone to enjoy the Rocket Disco and a raffle for your 2010 charity 'Lives'. All photos from the evening are on the Gallery Page. Captions will be added ASAP.
The Web Master.
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Lincoln Christmas Market 2009 Another very successful Christmas Market is over. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meet and what a friendly crowd of campers came. By midday on Thursday vans were beginning to arrive. By 4.30 pm the first bus was ready to depart to the Christmas Market with ‘Santa’ aboard and with the departure of the second bus at 6.30pm there were some 50 odd (perhaps plus would be a better word!) people enjoying a less crowded Market. They arrived back just before 10.00pm and enjoyed a warming coffee and mince pie in the festively decorated marquee, meeting new people and partaking in the raffle and card tombola stalls, before retiring for the night Friday dawned bright and cold, but we soon warmed up as van after van arrived and was sited. The buses ran to time and very smoothly into Lincoln, with the driver joining in with the festive atmosphere of the meet. Each bus was accompanied by either Santa, (Little and Large), or by a strange looking elf with a yellow jacket, (‘Elf and Safety’). People alighted either in the centre of Lincoln or at the Cathedral. Many made more than one trip and everyone on their return received the same hospitality as on Thursday evening. The last van was sited by 9.00pm. Saturday saw another bright, but cold morning and again everything ran like clockwork with only one or two concerns. The first bus at 11.00am was completely full with even some having to stand, but no one who wanted to go was left. The only other headache was that by 3.00pm we had over 120 in Lincoln! (Hope they didn’t all want to stay until the last bus!!!) Thankfully they didn’t and with the rain beginning to fall many returned on the early evening buses, leaving just 50 to return on the last bus. With its arrival the raffle was drawn as we were aware that several vans wanted to make a mid-morning departure on their long journey home and so wouldn’t be at the farewell coffee morning on the Sunday. We woke Sunday to heavy rain and the marquee looking a little muddy, but as true campers we soldiered on with the coffee morning. Derek thanked people for coming to the meet, hoped they had enjoyed it and looked forward to seeing them in the future. He announced that the raffle had raised £56 and the tombola £75 towards the RNLI – the DA charity for 2009. Many voiced their appreciation on a very smooth, friendly, well organised meet and said how brilliant and efficient the transporting of people into the market had been. By 3.00pm all the campers had gone, the marquee was down, and the stewards were shattered, but happy that people had enjoyed the meet with South Lincs DA. A big thank you to Malcolm Smith for this report and everyone who made this event possible. -------------------------------------------- On the Friday afternoon we considered going to Whisby and catch up with a few people, but on hearing the traffic report we went for the easy option and took the Park and Ride from the Lincolnshire Show ground. Entry was easy, with hardly any queuing. We parked up and looked around for a landmark so we could find our car upon return. Then it was a short walk to the bus and within 15 minutes we were there. We did a full circuit of the one way system and were impressed. The crowds were there, the atmosphere was great and I got the impression that the Market had returned to it's roots. But it could have been the mulled wine! It was not so tacky as the last couple of years, more authentic, with traditional stalls, selling traditional fare. I also noted the high percentage of stall holders dressed in period costume. This really makes a difference. Just look at the photo below, first timers at a market, father & son, Vernon & Robert, making the effort to look the part. I am sorry I did not include Mary in the picture as she deserves it for her 'Truly Homemade' cakes, all made in Lincolnshire. With a cognac glaze - of course!
Vernon & Robert, without Mary. http://www.trulyhomemade.co.uk After taking more pictures, which appear on the Galley Page, we walked down hill into the City and had a great meal at The Green Dragon, (an old haunt of mine from my apprentice days). We walked back along Waterside South and spent some time watching the ice skaters. I did not spot any budding Torvill & Dean, but gave them 100% for effort. Then along with hundreds of others we made the trek up Steep Hill into the Bail. Where I had to stop at the whisky shop. All in all, it was a fantastic afternoon and evening. So, if you missed this years Christmas Market with the South Lincs DA, don't despair, just book early for the 2010 meet. Your Web Master and Bridget.
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Countryside Care 2010.
Please check the Diary and News Pages for future projects and if you are interested in joining us, telephone Dave Wilkinson on 01526 352847 or davberniewilkinson@btinternet.com
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Everybody
looked great in there full evening wear & the Disco
got everyone up on the floor to
dance. In the interval we had our Oscar Awards,
where some people got an award for the special
things they did in 2009.
Next on the evenings agenda was the presentation of our
cheque. for £1300.00 to our charity for 2009 RNLI. This
amount is only slightly less than we collected in 2008
and when you consider we are in the middle of a
recession, (if not depression), it is a fantastic
achievement. So if you gave to this deserving cause,
well done and thank you one and all.
