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New Year - 2004/5

Stewards Report

Please see Dorset Diary February/March 2005 for "more" photos.

Thank you to everyone who attended the New Years Meet at Dudsbury it was a fantastic weekend.

We arrived Wednesday at around 11.00am to be greeted by Russ, Dianne’s brother- in-law, who showed us around the site, where the water was (where?? behind that prickle Jayne, oh yes) the waste, how to lock up etc. So fully prepared we set up camp.

First to arrive was Dawn and Mike, closely followed by Chris and Lyn, who only lived five minutes down the road, and brought their van out early.

After setting up I went into the kitchen, Dianne said she had bought everything for us as Mick and I were working up until the last minute. Well she thought of all but the Oil (we won’t let her forget that one) we were indeed well catered for, right down to the Marigolds. Thank you Dianne.

Wednesday night we decorated the hall, there were people buzzing everywhere with a bit of sparkle, Xmas trees, baubles, lights. The final effect was superb, thank you to everyone who helped.

Thursday evening we had a fish and chip supper and then Gordon came out to entertain us, Anne was not very well and so they couldn’t camp. We had a few songs and then the Mummers Tale, which was excellent. We all had a very enjoyable evening thank you Gordon. Hope Anne gets well soon.

Friday lunchtime some of us went to the Owls Nest for lunch and we were thinking of going there New years day but they couldn’t accommodate us, nor could the Angel, they were full. Anyhow when we got back from lunch we started preparing the hall for New Years Eve, putting tables out and putting up balloons, where were we going to hang the net, no, net too big, black sacks filled with balloons, held together with pegs, hanging from the ceiling should work. We thought they would get pulled down far before midnight but miraculously they didn’t.

When I walked into the hall that evening, I thought I’d walked into a hospital ward as everyone had their pyjamas on!!! The men were dressed as mothers, wives, Andy Pandy?, mother Xmas’s, pink bombshells, Phil at this time had his pyjama top and sports trousers on. Then came the music, “I want to break free” by Queen and in came Phil Cope with his red baby doll nightie, hold up stockings and not a lot else, except a “Hoover”. It was really funny, well done Phil. Please see Dorset Diary for photos.

Everyone turned out in fancy dress and it was great fun, the best thing was we didn’t have to change to go to bed!

Midnight arrived and down came the balloons, poppers etc, we partied on until 2am and got to bed at around 3am. Thank you Mother Xmas, (Jerry) for doing the disco, as usual it was FANTASTIC.

Next morning the pub walk was rained off, only Stuart and Alan were brave enough to walk but we had the lunch at the Curlew, good food, well recommended, and not too expensive.

That evening we had an Italian meal, Pizza, baked potato and salad. The girls put the potatoes in the oven, but SOMEONE turned the oven down and they were not cooked in time. We are still investigating who turned the oven down Jean said it was her but we reckon she was covering for, yes you’ve got it Old Father Time. Anyhow due to the potatoes not being ready and the pizza’s not even being put in the oven, the people arriving for dinner had to wait. Well I was shoved through the kitchen door and told to entertain the troops and in good old fashioned manner started to try and sing pub songs, but couldn’t remember the words, let alone the tune (what I don’t do for this DA). I gave up when Sue came in with napkins in her ears, but it was a bit of a laugh. I tried to get back in the kitchen but wasn’t allowed, I thought about going round the outside but thought again (they would probably lock me out) so I insisted I went back in the kitchen and eventually they let me in. Dinner was eventually served, and very nice it was too, lovely pizzas.

Then we had a game of (yes me again) Pictionary. Well this didn’t go down too well at first, then the game became a bit competitive and it was a race to the finish. Some pictures were a bit obscure Dawn? to say the least.

The next day we had brunch, organised by Brenda, we had sausage, bacon, egg, toast, beans, and waffles, well done Brenda, we know whom to come to now for catering assistance (are you free Valentines?). After that all we could do was sit around the fire and chat. Bob, Sue, Sandra, Stuart all went for a walk with the dogs, taking Poppy with them who disgraced herself by rolling in the unmentionable, so she had to have a bath when she got back.

During the evening we had sandwiches, left over pizza crisps etc. and played celebrity Taboo. This proved to be even more exciting than Pictionary and Mike (Roy Rogers) had us in fits, he couldn’t make up his mind what he was meant to be explaining, was it The Wizard of Oz or was it Alice through the Looking Glass?? When his team did guess the answer it was the wrong one and he thought it was right. We all got lost on that one Mike, but you are a good sport and it’s nice to see you looking so well again.

Thank you to everyone who helped, sweep, tidy, lay the fire, clean the kitchen, toilets, cook, wash up, put up tables, lay tables, etc etc. Everyone pitched in and did their bit it was a great way to start 2005, Happy New Year to one and all. Dudsbury is a lovely venue and has a great atmosphere what with the open fire and quiet surroundings (except when the Dorset’s are there).

Mick and Jayne Cooper