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Christmas Rally, Hose Village Hall 14th-16th December
2007
 Area
6's Christmas Party! This is the big one! The rally I look forward to
throughout the whole year. It's not a party night, it's a party weekend,
from the minute you arrive it's party time.
I have never been disappointed yet and this year was no exception.
Almost every area member was there with the exception of a couple unable
to attend due to illness, they were greatly missed. Lets hope next year,
God willing, we get 100 per cent turnout. Colin and Paul were up with
the lark, so as to arrive early to supervise the parking. Everyone gets
hard standing. By the time I arrived over half were there and the
parking was immaculate, straight rows just like a parade ground. Phyl
arranges all the catering, and our van and car are loaded to the hilt
with goodies so Colin kindly saves us a space near the hall. Within
minutes of our arrival everybody mucks in and helps us unload. The
kitchen has been refurbished with a very large new cooker and a massive
two-door fridge. This makes the storage and preparation much easier and
ideal for our needs. It was an exceptionally cold weekend, which made it
very fortunate for us that we had the use of the hall for all three
days. We could all use it to keep warm.
Brian, the Organiser, was one of the early birds so when John, his
assistant, arrived he offered to make him and Margaret a warming cup of
coffee. This was a fine gesture except he made it out of gravy granules
instead of coffee. He even put an extra spoonful in because he thought
it looked weak as he added the milk. Well done Brian, you can't be good
at everything. Despite it being one of the coldest days of the year John
Iliffe had to have his barbecue and by late afternoon it was going well,
cooking a couple of pounds of sausages for his drinking mates. We
managed to stick it out until all the sausages were gone and we had
downed half a dozen bottles. Best part of the rally.
Friday evening we all congregate in the hall for bingo, very ably called
by Paul, and a few drinks and a laugh. This went on until well after
midnight, the boss getting a little worse for wear.
Early Saturday morning and Phyl had her little band of helpers lined up
in the kitchen dishing out the jobs whilst the rest of us started
setting out the tables in the main hall. In the side room Mandy and Jane
spent most of the morning setting out the Tombola stall. Besides all her
other jobs Margaret managed to keep the pot boiling, dishing out hot
drinks throughout most of the day. By 3pm they were queuing for the
Tombola then there's one mad rush. Dave won the star prize a bottle of
whiskey and within 20 minutes it was all over, and the girls had made a
tidy sum for the club funds.
 After
a short respite it was time for a visit from Santa Clause. Each year the
under 16s get less and less. This year there were only nine and all but
two of them were teenagers. We need some more youngsters. Everybody then
retired to their vans to prepare for the evenings festivities. That is
with the exception of Phyl and a couple of her mates who stay behind to
make the final touches to the buffet, and what a buffet it was. 6pm and
everyone returns dressed in their finery and the ladies had certainly
pulled out all the stops, and were obviously on the pull. I love to see
a little bare flesh.
 Spot
on 6.30pm. Brian said grace and everyone started on the buffet of hot
roast beef and turkey, fresh salmon, numerous different pies - in fact
just about everything you could think of all washed down with copious
amounts of wine. The pots were then cleared, the chairs and tables
pushed back, the disco blared out and everybody started to party. There
was dancing and games until 10pm, when we had a short break for the
raffle then back to the drinking and dancing. Even Phyl got up to teach
one of her granddaughters how to jive and it's only a few weeks since
she had a complete knee replacement. There'll be no holding her once she
gets the other one done. The disco finished at midnight but the party
carried on until the early hours. I'm not sure what time it finished but
it was gone 2am before I got into bed.
Sunday morning and the ones that were in a fit state turned out to clean
the hall. Many hands make light work and it wasn't too long before it
was all cleared away and Margaret had the kettle on for coffee morning.
There was tea, coffee, two types of Christmas cake and selection boxes
for the kids. Brian made his little speech thanking everyone for their
help in making the party such a great success. But at the end of the day
it is all down to Brian and Phyl who are the main driving force behind
it all, they put a lot of work in behind the scenes. To finish off the
rally I distributed next year's rally calendars.
That's it now until the day meet in February. By the time this gets into
the newsletter Christmas will be over so I will wish everyone a happy
and prosperous New Year.
Metal Mickey
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New Year Rally Great Blakenham, near Ipswich December 28th 2007 -January
1st 2008
 Happy New
Year to all areas. Hope you had a good one. Well the weather was not bad. We
arrived on Thursday night to be greeted by our new Organiser Mark. We got set up
then Teresa and Philip followed us in. The rest of the Committee was already
there. We got everything into the hall and then went for some supper, then an
early night.
Got up the next morning and went shopping. When we got back a few more members
had arrived, then some more later. We had 16 units altogether which was a shame.
That night we had a bit of disappointment because the bowls club did not make
it. Still, we had fun. We got Martin playing Tri-ominos with both Sues. Mark and
a crowd - too many to mention - were having fun, going by the shouting and
laughter going on. I think they were playing Trivial Pursuit and the other table
with all the Pattersons and friends on were playing cards, but poor Roy - we
will say no more (haha).
Next day was the kids' party. What fun they had with all the games and Santa
coming, and then chicken and chips for tea. Then in the evening we had bingo,
with some better off than others. There was one that shouted for a line but he
had already got two lines on the other cards so he lost out because he had to
share.
The next night was Cowboy and Indian. It was very good. Everyone, you all looked
great. We had horse racing and then Philip did us hot dogs with onions. They
were lovely. Then we had a game of pass the parcel for grown-ups with a few
surprises in it. I've never seen a parcel go round so quick.
On New Year's Eve the women went shopping to get all the food for the evening -
what a lovely spread. The tables looked very good with the decoration done by
the teenagers. After we had been fed and watered, it was time to dance the night
away. A good time was had by all. Thank you to everyone that made the weekend
great and the new Organiser, hope we did not boss you too much.
Ken Rose
 
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