Week 27 Getting Back into the Swing!

Rotary Engagements since July 1                                                  181

Change in heading to the post this time – having completed all the official club visits there won’t be any change there so I’ve taken those bits away.  However, I am still “keeping score” of the engagements and as we enter the second half of the Rotary year we’ve had 189 days, so the number of engagements isn’t quite keeping up with the Royal Family, but at almost one a day it’s not so shabby!

 

Started the New Year with a first outing for me to the Ascot Charity Wheelbarrow race in Sunninghill.  It’s a bit of an understatement to say that I could have picked a better day for my first visit.  And to be honest, I was expecting a small handful of entrants and my fellow marshals to be all that appeared. 

Well I’m happy to report that the world, or at least this part of Berkshire, is completely bonkers!  20 teams braved the torrential rain and strong winds & to their credit a large contingent of the community turned out to cheer the teams on and to dig deep into their pockets, raising close to £6,000 for the Day Centre and other charities. 

Fancy dress was the order of the day – very damp fancy dress, with the undertaker fittingly bringing up the rear.  Wet it might have been but the spirit of the day was not dampened in the slightest.  Well done all of you!!

Friday saw the annual Mid-Term District Executive Dinner.  40 of us gathered principally to wish DGE Tim Cowling and Linda bon voyage as they prepare to jet off to San Diego for training.  Seems hardly possible that Joan & I were being wished well before we went!  Regardless, we had a great evening.

Sunday and another annual event, this time the RC Elthorne-Hillingdon President’s drinks, otherwise known as a chance to see how much weight we’ve all put on over the Xmas period.  Great to be with fellow club members for the occasion, for which we were graced by the Mayor and Lady Mayoress – getting to be a habit (in a good way).

Weeks 25 & 26 A Combined Seasonal Post& Travelogue

Club Visits since July 1                                                         63

Rotary Engagements since July 1                                          178

Official Club Visits with Chicken dinner since July 1                10 !!

Very early start to week 25 with the annual Christmas breakfast at RC Ascot on Monday, with the club carrying on the tradition of hosting the RIBI President Nan Macreadie in company with 80 other Rotarians and guests.  We were also privileged to have an informal Q&A with Nan afterwards.

Monday evening out with Santa again in Ickenham – a damp evening, but not as bad as forecast, turned out to be a decent result, which was much the same on Tuesday when we moved on to the first of the three North Hillingdon  Large contingents of children out that night and kept the pace down – used up every minute of our allowed time – don’t want to disappoint anyone!!

rounds in and around Long Lane.

In many ways a sad Christmas lunch meeting with RC Caversham on Wednesday with what could turn out to be their last Christmas meeting unless there’s a pretty dramatic turn of events early in the New Year.

Those who have followed my earlier blogs will have recognised that when there’s a holiday, there tends to be news of the journey.  So, in keeping with the tradition some abbreviated thoughts on our family cruise over Xmas .  Setting off from Barcelona on Thursday 19^th December we (Joan, our daughters Jo & Emma, son-in-law Alx and grandson Edward) joined the just over 2000 passengers & 500 crew aboard the Norwegian Spirit.  Sailing in the early evening we were aboard for the next 36 hours en route to Casablanca, taking us through the Straits of Gibraltar in the early hours of Saturday 20^th before our day in port.  Let’s be completely upfront about this, Casablanca is, well not to put too fine a point on it, a dump – sorry Morocco, but it’s just not a nice place – generally unattractive and dirty.  So swiftly on, via another full day at sea, to Funchal, which was delightful.  A pretty town on a pretty island with nice warm weather – I like mid 60’s in December (high teens for those in degrees C) – definitely goes on the list of places to spend a Christmas in the future.  Arrecife, in Lanzarote was our next stop – just half a day here on Christmas Eve – temperature in the low 70’s (21C) sunny – picturesque (for an afternoon, probably not longer!).  And the  we set off for Malaga – essentially spending 36 hours making our way up the Atlantic coast of North Africa.  The captain warned us to “expect some movement” – masters of understatement these Norwegians!  Suffice to say that Christmas Day was short on festive cheer and mostly rather queasy at best (further detail not required!).   

By contrast, Boxing Day in Malaga was another, this time unexpected delight – definitely a city worthy of further exploration over a weekend or even a week.  Another day in the mid to high-60s with lots of sun, followed by pour last full day making our way back through the Med up to Barcelona.

I can see most of you thinking – he’s had an entire week without Rotary!  - but that wouldn’t be entirely true – I thought I caught a glimpse of a familiar face early on in  the cruise, but there, on Christmas morning was RC Newbury Secretary Gordon West with his wife Barbara, son Andy & daughter in law Hannah with their children and Hannah’s mother and Aunt.  So a Rotary make-up opportunity!  And of course, having met up with them we then kept bumping into them during the remainder of the cruise.

And now we’re back – has to be said we arrived back to gorgeous sunshine, albeit with somewhat chillier temperatures!! All set now for the next 26 weeks of our Rotary year.  Happy New Year everyone!!!

Week 24 – Christmas is Coming…

Club Visits since July 1                                                         63

Rotary Engagements since July 1                                         173

Official Club Visits with Chicken dinner since July 1          only 10!!

Memorable day last Monday – club visit number 63!  Celebrating their 4^th anniversary (& therefore their 5^th charter night!) off to RC Kingham & the Wychwoods – just about the furthest distance from home, both in time & distance and nestling right on the Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire border a lively group led by President Jacqui.  A fun festive evening (fun’s clearly a big part of the deal at this club) – although I was defeated by the quiz – obviously much too learned for me!

Tuesday a lovely (non-Rotary) treat – Christmas Carol Service for grandson Edward’s school, Northwood Prep.  Lovely to see a school celebrating in a traditional way despite the multi-faith students, together with a choir including students and parents alike.

If it’s coming up to Christmas, then it’s out with Santa!  Every year our club takes to the streets of Ickenham & Hillingdon with our Santa float, Santa and a string of “elves” house to house collecting for a particular charity – this year the Samaritans (and other Rotary charities).  So both Wednesday & Thursday we sought out the kids (old & young) and took Christmas to our community (that’ll be a feature of next week as well).

Friday, a treat, the RC Elthorne-Hillingdon Christmas Party & President’s Night combined in the prestigious surroundings of the Officers’ Mess at RAF Northolt – only one of our number managed to stray near the runway!  Great to be joined by the Mayor & Mayoress of Hillingdon, Alan & Lynne Kaufmann.  Probably the biggest carvery celebration ever!  President Shirley to be thanked for the arrangements – great idea for a great celebration.

And Saturday morning, a change of emphasis; looking forward to the planning for our Vocational Training Team (VTT) who will be off out to Uganda in April.  Great to see the team melding together and a treat to be part of their preparations.

Special day on Sunday!  Having warmed up with grandson Edward’s Carol Service on the Tuesday, it was all out to St Giles Church in Ickenham for the District 1090 Carol Service.  Brilliantly led by our Honorary Rotarian, Rev Philip Robinson and complete with a Rotarian choir (RC’s Bracknell, Cookham Bridge, Elthorne-Hillingdon, Loddon Vale, Maidenhead Bridge, Marlow & Reading Matins)  pulled together by David Pope (RC Abingdon) and accompanied by organist John Halsey (RC Windsor & Eton), our congregation enjoyed a full Nine Lessons & Carols, followed by the obligatory mince pies (courtesy of Elthorne-Hillingdon Inner Wheel).

Week 23 - What passes for a Slow Week!

Club Visits since July 1                                                         62
Rotary Engagements since July 1                                        167

Official Club Visits with Chicken dinner since July 1            10 !!

For the first time  in this Rotary year I didn't make an Official visit to a club this week.  With only 1 club left to visit that delight awaits Week 24!

First duty of the week was our District Council on Tuesday, where members of all 63 clubs in District 1090 have an opportunity to receive reports from our committees and comment on them.  We also had our annual accounts for the last year which show a healthy position.

 Thursday over to Henley for a couple of meetings related to the conference we're running in March - all seems to be going swimmingly well at the moment - fingers crossed that it remains so!!

And Saturday spent the day at the Headquarters of Rotary International in Britain & Ireland (RIBI) discussing the work of our charity, the Rotary Foundation in our islands - comparing notes & exchanging ideas - at first glonace that no doubt sounds rather dull, but it was actually pretty interesting and useful.

So that's it - as I said at the top - what passes for a slow week!!  No photos this week, sorry, must try harder!

Week 22 – Variety is the Spice…..

Club Visits since July 1                                                           62

Rotary Engagements since July 1                                          163

Official Club Visits with Chicken dinner since July 1             10 !!

A fascinating week – lots of very different experiences, almost all of them great fun, with just a couple slightly nerve-wracking (I’ll let you guess which).

 Monday out to RC Princes Risborough – fair to say that President John guides(?) a fairly unruly bunch of great-hearted members, with a club in the rudest of rude health.  Terrific evening with the new members of the Royal Grammar School High Wycombe Interact Club being inducted.  Thoroughly enjoyable!

As was lunch on Tuesday at RC Henley-on-Thames – clearly a three-line whip had been exercised by President Roger – a great turnout from this regenerating club – looking forward to an expanded repertoire of service for the future.

 

And also our evening at RC Windsor St George was equally enjoyable – celebrating their 31^st charter anniversary members were joined by others from RC Windsor & Eton, Burnham & Maidenhead Bridge.  President Al kept good order, as you’d expect from his profession really!

Wednesday an exchange of ideas between those of us in “the succession line” (me, DGE Tim & DGN Fred) catching up and looking forwards in the company of District Secretary Greg.

Thursday a slightly unusual club visit – was my pleasure to talk to the ladies of Uxbridge Inner Wheel – actually they’d originally booked a far better speaker – my wife Joan who’s far more interesting than am I, but they seemed to tolerate what I had to say.

Then, Thursday evening a critical stage in this year’s District darts competition.  Having lost our first match against Princes Risborough in the absence of our team captain in hospital it was vital that we performed well against Maidenhead “B”.  Which we did – triumphing 4-0, although doubles still seem to be a problem for us – just more of a problem for them.  Star player Gur was in good form.

Friday lunchtime saw me at the RC High Wycombe Sporting Lunch.  More than 200 packed into Adams Park to hear not one but two England Internationals – Martin Bayfield (all 6’ 10” of him) and David Trick (somewhat shorter).  Good company & a good chunk of funds raised – don’t know the total yet.

 

 






Highlight of the week was being at the Annual Santa Fun Run in Marlow.  The sight of 2000+ Santas setting off around the town was just tremendous.  An absolutely superb family occasion and RCs Marlow & Marlow Thames were superbly supported in their organisation by other clubs (Maidenhead Thames, Henley Bridge, High Wycombe, Misbourne Matins amongst them) – well done all for rating such a great family occasion.