The social event of the weekend was the Sunday night quiz – Boys v Girls. Devised by Kayla and Gary the men had to answer girlie questions (e.g. What is the average number of items girls get in a handbag?) while the ladies had to answer boys questions (e.g. What is LBW?). It seems the girls were able to take on the boys questions with ease while the boys struggled at times.One of the big questions was why the boys had Commodore Shunty as captain when he hadn’t won anything for such a long time! The other sad truth is that the boys did know the answers, but didn’t recall them when required – ask Ian Preston!

Congratulations to the girls on winning by the narrowest of margins 🙁

The Leap Year Quiz night started with the usual banter. Why hadn’t William booked meals for Bridget and Ginge, and why hadn’t he told Dee that the questions were based on Leap Years?! Is he really on the blue WKD?

Anyway, the quiz master and his glamorous assistant had prepared a wonderful hotpot (yes, that’s the one without the crust for those Lancastrians reading this!) for the two dozen contestants. In fact it was believed that the Fantastic Four were ringers, as they were such good friends of the quiz master.

Anyway, proceedings got underway, and yes there was a rowdy table – none other than Bridget’s Brood (surely her school kids would have had detention for such behaviour?!). It started with repeated requests for the questions to be read out again (No that wasn’t because William was searching for answers on his phone, there was just too much gabbing by the women), and continued to the answer stage when they repeatedly roared as they supposedly had the right answer. That attitude did eventually spread across the other teams, as they secured another point.

When it was all over, there was a countdown from 70 (the maximum score), and it seemed like an eternity before the winners were identified – the Fantastic Four with 54 points. Fix I hear you cry (as did all the other teams). The answer paper was submitted for checking, only to find that they couldn’t add up! So the countdown continued and at 48 (whose age is that you ask?!), Bridget’s Brood gave another roar. The paper was checked and they were declared winners. They were just awarded the wine (as if Bridget hadn’t had enough by then!)- Kayla had left the half eaten box of Chocs at home (joke!).

Sorry you all missed out on a good night, but you were invited!

The first social of the year comprised a walk around the Wythop area for over 20 members. Despite a poor forecast, the weather was a little mizzly at times, and slightly muddy underfoot for a short while, but everyone made it to the end and returned to the club for some of Kayla’s homemade soup.

The next event is the Leap Year Quiz on 23 February with a tatie pot supper. Miss it miss out!

As the end of the year approaches, the last party of the season, and probably most well attended(!) took place in the clubhouse last weekend – The Christmas Party! – there was a buffet, plenty of games, some dancing and then someone noticed Santa! He had to leave his sleigh across the lake but hitched a lift from the club dory and some not so little helpers!

He led the singing of some Christmas carols, handed out presents to all the children and then went on his merry way (merry being the operative word after yet another glass of sherry!)

We held our annual bonfire night social, which, with a little help from all those attending was as spectacular as ever. About 50 members and guests came along with display fireworks which were all set off under the careful supervision of the Nicholson family (with the help of Martin the arsonist?!). Following last year, Dave couldn’t hear for a week so Pauline advised him to wear earplugs. Word is he is enjoying the silence so much he’s going to keep them in!!!

Kayla and Gary manned the galley and provided hot dogs, burgers and toffee apples (sponsored by a local dentist?)