The first event on our calendar for 2014 was the post-Christmas dinner and we could relax and enjoy the evening now that all the festive preparations and activities were behind us. The hall had been decorated with fairy lights, the tables were glowing, literally, with snowflakes, not the white short-lived variety that fall from the sky, but ones that change colour frequently and were battery lit. A bargain in the January sales and safer than real candles!
We were able to select from a hot buffet, the most popular appearing to be the chicken curry, followed by dessert and coffee and mints. Our caterers from Totton keep producing delicious food. An enjoyable evening finished with a light hearted quiz.
To help work off all those calories our walking group met just two days later. Instead of trudging across muddy fields and paths, we opted for a route which took us down Red Post Lane and then along in front of the notorious mega-shed, across that much dreaded roundabout and back alongside the A342 – it’s amazing what you can see when on foot and not whizzing past in a car. We then travelled back to the Chalk Hill Blue public house for lunch; the majority of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals, but those opting for sandwiches were disappointed.
It was back to the Village Hall at the end of the month for our first meeting of the year and charity was very much the theme of the evening. Having supported the Andover Food Bank during 2013, it was time for President Sue George to hand over the sum of £137 to volunteer Janet Maughan. This was raised via our monthly coffee mornings and a collection in lieu of sending Christmas cards. Janet expressed the Charity’s thanks to our members for all their support during 2013 and gave us a summary of its origins, their present activities and future plans.
The evening had started with a minute’s silence in memory of Eve Barnett who had sadly died just before Christmas and a donation of £25 will be sent to Denman College in her memory.
Yvonne Campbell from Enham Trust had stepped in at the last minute to attend our meeting due to a diary mishap with two of their ambassadors. Yvonne explained that although the charity was founded in 1919 to assist wounded servicemen from the First World War, its aims and ideals have changed greatly. The nationwide charity now assists a variety of people with a wide spectrum of needs without any connection to the Armed Forces. There are numerous ways in which they can be offered residential accommodation and many benefit from direct employment by the Trust. Yvonne spoke of the continued need for volunteers and funds to fulfil their existing and planned projects.
A complete change of subject next month, as we have invited “Crazy Craft Recycler” Maggie Forbes to talk about her passion for finding a new life for used materials and fabrics. So if you wish to be inspired then please arrive for a 7.30 p.m. start on 27th February at Abbotts Ann Village Hall.
Diary Dates
08 February – Walking Group – cancelled!
13 February – Coffee Morning
13 February – Supper Club
18 February – Reading Group
22 February – Lunch Club – tbc
27 February – Monthly Meeting – 7.30 p.m. in The Village Hall – Maggie Forbes – Crazy Craft Recycler
Sharon King
