May 01 2010
If you are an observant sort of person, you may have noticed that the photos page has disappeared from the site – we are changing the way the photos are dealt with, and have a bit of “behind the scenes” work to do before the page goes live again, so in the meantime, please bear with us.
Thanks.
Apr 03 2010
Its been a while since the last update, this is a fairly quiet time of the year as far as special events go, but plenty to look forward to, and a fair bit of planning going on.
A new programme is now available on the programmes page, taking us up to June, with some great stuff there – including big events like Brean – the party weekend down near Weston-Super-Mare, SADY – a camping weekend with entertainment in Yorkshire in June and our own Midsummer Party at Tottenhill in July. Planning is also well underway (with a few initial hiccups) for WASH in November. Locally, we will be going ice-skating in May, also camping in some beautiful North Norfolk countryside at Kelling Heath, and a day out on the Nene Valley Railway once again (back by popular demand!).
Recently on a National level, we had the National AGM where the National Committee for the next year were elected, events promoted and views aired – a very postive and constructive day followed by some great evening entertainment from Craig Harper, a semi-finalist in Britain’s Got Talent 2008. A great event all told.
Last Monday’s club night was spent playing games on the Wii at Paul & Dawn’s house – just proving that we are all a bunch of children! Mario Kart got very competitive! Good Friday saw a party at Dawn P & Colin’s place.
More fun to come!
If you want to be kept up to date with whats happening with WASH planning, then there’s a new blog site now set up – see the link on this page (under the caption competition).
Christine T
Feb 27 2010
Back to our traditional NYE party venue for this year, at the “Pig Farm” as some of us know it, otherwise known as Dave & Sherrie’s house. This year somebody decided a barbecue would be a good idea, even in this cold weather!
Food and drink was in abundance as normal, some good bombay potatoes, salad and dips to go with the burgers etc., the two Dawns kindly offered samples of some drinks that they bought on their visit to the Lincoln Christmas market and gave us the chance to all try something different, Sherrie added her sloe gin, and some home-made cranberry vodka – very interesting!
Midnight, and the chimes, arrived and were celebrated, and then the snow arrived. I don’t know who started the snowball fights, whether it was us or the kids, but a few of us wrapped up warm (silly hats!) and braved the weather to go hurl snowballs at each other. Unfortunately the big kids (well, me at least!) ran out of energy before snow, which was plentiful, and abandoned that idea to go warm up in front of the log burner in the living room and discuss such interesting subjects as accounts, housework, DIY – we certainly know how to party!!!
An impromptu haircutting session happened sometime during the evening after one of the kids taunted one of the adults on his lack of hair and got threatened with the hair clippers, we couldn’t catch him, but Stephen did say he needed a haircut so Sherrie obliged!
As usual, a rather random evening, and a very late night before we all crashed either on the floor/sofas in the house (too hot because of the log burner) or in the “shed” (apparently very cold!). Some of us looked healthier than others in the morning, possibly depending on how many shots they had partaken of the night before, Dawn P? After cups of tea, coffee and a helping of the trifle which didn’t make it to the table the night before for breakfast we all went our separate ways – and so 2010 starts…..
Dec 06 2009
Our numbers were this year were the absolute minimum we can run with, but what amazed me was the atmosphere was as good as ever, and how many ‘WASH virgins’ there were. This hopefully will encourage those who didn’t come this year thinking it wouldn’t be the same, to return next year.
My Highlights:
At this year’s WASH the main entertainment of Sunday evening was Tight Fit, they went down well with most Plussers on the dance floor and a couple on stage, but the real highlight was that the band turned up at our chalet Karaoke party afterwards. Everyone thought it was really cool and the real fun part was in the kitchen where Denise Waterman started a singing game.
Back to the more traditional dates next year so at the end of WASH 2009, the next WASH was less than 52 weeks away….and counting!!
Photos to follow
Paul C
Dec 04 2009
What an amazing weekend! I think everyone has said what a great atmosphere there was this year, and we all felt it – there was so much good stuff, some great bands, and of course on Sunday Tight Fit who, whilst (by their own admission) not being the best band musically ever, were certainly the friendliest and most fun.
The themes for the evenings were, on Friday Halloween as it was Friday 13th and even the band dressed up, Saturday was 50′s night with the shown C’mon Everybody, and Tight Fit headed up the 80s themed night on the Sunday. Daytime activities included aqua aerobics, karaoke, the WASH quiz, some jive lessons from Xavier Navarre in preparation for the 50′s night, and a showing of the film The Boat That Rocked which went down very well - certainly the best film I’ve personally seen for a long time.
Of course the usual caravan parties followed the party nights at the venue, and even the Sunday band joined in – so friendly and happy to pose endlessly for photos with admirers!
With the worry of low bookings this year it seemed to make the weekend even more special than usual and we were all sad that it was over so soon. Roll on next year
Christine T
Oct 07 2009
For the second year running the “Scalextric Challenge”, was held at Electric Tracks in Spalding, Lincs. Afterwards, everyone went for a meal at the Blue Bell Pub in nearby Whaplode St Catherine, and then most camped over. The event was attended by members of not only our own area (Anglia & South-East) but also Midlands, North Thames & Chiltern, and Southern Areas as well.
Some arrived on Friday evening, camping in the pub beer garden after a Chinese buffet in the restaurant, and some late night chatting and chilling. Breakfast on both days was at the Farm Cafe on the A17, where some geocaching also took place with a race going on to see who could get to the cache first – sneaking out of the cafe whilst others weren’t looking (we’re just off to the toilet….we’re not looking for the cache….) was a tactic employed by some. Then a relaxed day in Spalding (more geocaching by the sneaky ones!) before heading back to the pub to meet the rest of the arrivals and we managed to turn tent erecting into a spectator sport, shouting helpful advice at useful intervals…
Off to the racing then, and the shout “no running” could be heard several times but its difficult not to! A sample of the cakes on offer at the snack bar kept us sustained during the racing, obviously to good effect for some! We first raced 8 tracks, recorded total number of lapse and were then split into two tables to fight out the final placings.
The trophies for the race results were handed out as follows:
1st – Iain Parkes (Fareham & Gosport)
2nd – Dave Taylor (Kings Lynn)
3rd – Tracy Thorne (Dunstable)
Basically once again a small, but extremely fun, weekend which seemed to bring out a very competitive streak in some…! The food, the beer and the relaxed atmosphere seemed even better this year than last, and the brief non-guided tour of brewery at the pub as we were packing up on Sunday was interesting too, even if we were left to our own devices to work out what it was all about. Dawn P even managed to find a pink beer barrel! This is one that will certainly be on the calendar again for next year, although maybe earlier in the year to avoid the rather chilly camping conditions (army surplus jumper over pyjamas for sleeping, and added dr martens for my “early morning heading to the loo “fashion!). I can’t wait to do it all over again!
Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention, although I didn’t take a trophy I was over the moon to actually get joint first score, and I hadn’t been practising, honest!
Photos to follow.
Christine T
Aug 06 2009
A mid summer Christmas Party I hear you say!!!! Yes,that is correct. An idea conceived in the pub over the Christmas period 2009 - there is no national Christmas party were we can all get together and celebrate, each group is busy doing their own thing, and people generally have too many commitments already to be able to host a National Christmas party, so what about turning our mid-summer party weekend into a Christmas celebration. It certainly seemed a good idea at the time, but you try finding Christmas Decorations in June/July time – thankfully there is Ebay!!
Over 60 people decided that they would join us, and take part in a weekend of camping and BBQing and some even got involved with the National Rounders Competition.
Santa even attended, although strangely Keith managed to miss him as he wasn’t around at the time….
Friday was , shall we say ‘WET’ and I am sure that errecting tents within feet of trees wasn’t the greatest idea but everyone lived to tell the tale! Special entertainment was provided by Lucy Smith, who rocked up at dusk during a
downpour and discovered that she had only brought half her tent – DOH.
Once we had gorged ourselves on pizza and chinese we were ‘entertained’ by a spot of karaoke. Some ill-advised individual, had a selection of shots glasses and drinks on display and this led to the idea of playing ‘Fuzzy Duck’. Come about 3.30am once the drink had all been disposed of, the intelligencia of Plus went to bed.
Saturday dawned far too early but at least it had stopped raining. Upon the return of the rounders teams we had a bit of a BBQ and I reckon about 20 or so were taught how tio Jive. Keith proved that he is an extreme athlete in the body of Bernard Manning!
After the usual cheesy party songs, Christmas was was followed somewhat more quickly than usual by New Year, and the evening ended music-wise with everyone singing Auld Lang Syne
After the disco some more ‘Fuzzy Ducking’ was taken part in, as those who had suffered the previous evening thought it would be a giggle to inflict it on more people and as such there must have been 18 or 20 people all round a table being silly duckers.
Paul C/Christine T
Jul 30 2009
Quest is the second-tier of Plus, catering for members over the age of 36 – the biggest Quest group in the country is Lincs Quest, which is also a group which we have cultivated an association with in the last few years. Every now and then we like to drive up and visit on a group night (usually the group’s birthday party) or attend their weekend events.
Last year I saw pictures of some friends in Lincs Quest dressed up to take part in Cleethorpes Carnival and thought it looked fun, so I offered to join them for 2009, with my partner who is actually a member of their group. The carnival had no actual theme, so I thought we could go as the Men in Black. Some of the other characters from Lincs Quest were Spongebob Squarepants, Fred Flintstone, Batman, a pirate and a scarecrow (hope I haven’t missed any out!)
The kids we saw were most disappointed to find out that the Men in Black we had no water in the gun, but apparently its not allowed, so instructions to “soak me” couldn’t be carried out! My cuddly alien came along to keep me company and entertained the kids by waving at them – amazing how many waved back!
It felt like we had walked miles by the end, but I don’t think it was actually very far….I’m not sure how much we actually collected for Lincs Quest charity but the collecting boxes certainly felt very heavy by the end!
The next day was an archery day organised by the same group, which also went very well – up at Manby where it always seems to be windy!
Looking forward to next year already! Thinking caps on for imaginative costumes!
Christine T
Jun 20 2009
Once again we fancied a dayon the trains at the Nene Valley Railway which would incorporate some sightseeing, some walking, some real ale and some good food. Its also a great day out for the families amongst us, as it appeals to big kids and real kids alike! We started this time at Wansford which is the main NVR station, and our first train was diesel drawn, taking us to Ferry Meadows where we had time for a cup of coffee and a gingerbread man before hopping back onto the train (steam this time) to join the late-risers (aparently a good evening was had the night before and some were suffering..). Quick change of platforms and back onto the diesel drawn train back towards Peterborough stopping at Orton Mere. Each train has its own bar carriage which was quickly sought out, and bottled real ales were served, albeit rather frothy ones.
Orton Mere was our lunch stop, with a meal at a pub which is about 25 mins walk from the station - the food was pretty good here, and well worth the walk. The walk back to the station was along the river, and was very pleasant due to the good weather which somehow we had managed to be blessed with. On to Peterborough then, and the end of the line. Travelling in first class carriages for this trip – the ones with a corridor down one side and compartments with sliding doors.
In Peterborough there is (a short walk from the station) a floating bar and chinese restaurant. The bar sells such a selection of real ales as you would ever wish to find on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and while most stayed to sample some of these, some of us went for some retail therapy into the City, and straight to the Lush shop, returning just in time to meet the beer drinkers to head back to the station..
Back onto the train, and staying on until the end of the line at Yarwell Junction via a long tunnel, we watched the engine uncouple from the carriages, drive to the points where it swapped tracks and headed back past the carriages to hook up at the other end. The last trip of the day was back from Yarwell to Wansford after which we all adjourned to a another pub in Peterborough for the rest of the evening.
A really good day out which was made even better by the good weather we had, and this time no thunderstorm to soak us all at the end of the day like there was last year, and still enthusiasm to do it all again another time!
See photos page.
Christine T
May 21 2009
Eurovision – what a great excuse for a party!! And every good party needs….puddings! Well its more a combination of two separate ideas really, we have had a Eurovision party previously, and before that we had a pudding party, both held at Dave & Sherrie’s place, which once again was the host venue. The basic idea was that everyone brought a pudding to share, and we spent the evening listening to songs, good, bad and some distinctly odd, shouting at the TV during the scoring!
We ran a quick sweepstake, which was a close-run thing and Lynne narrowly lost to Becky on the last set of scored.
As far as food goes, despite Sherrie promising “nibbles”, we have more of a feast awaiting us when we arrived, not leaving much room for puddings, but with a gap of a few hours in between we gave them our best efforts! Of course the evening was also an excuse for disposing of a few alcoholic beverages, as most of us stayed overnight. Some drank more than others…..Colin?!!! As usual (and don’t ask why) the few who remained at nearing 2am spent time sitting on the kitchen floor chatting.
Later in the morning, after we had managed to get some sleep, it was time to pack up the leftovers and head home – pudding for breakfast anyone?
Christine T
